Geomagnetic Investigations of a Desert Eye Structure, Egypt

Circular and elongate structural basins and domes known as “Desert Eyes” and their associated faults are prominent bedrock features of the Western Desert of Egypt. This study reports preliminary results of a high-resolution magnetic survey of the El Kasr structure, a well exposed Desert Eye southwest of Aswan, Egypt. Magnetic surveys were conducted with an east-west azimuth to constrain the subsurface geometry of possible faults. The absolute regional variation in the geomagnetic field is a sparse 40 nT even though survey lines cross distinct formation contacts. Slight along strike variations in the induced magnetism are detected as the surveys progress northward, parallel to the structure. However, there is little evidence in the pre-processed data to suggest any significant north-south trending subsurface structures. Forward modeling of the data provides better constraints on the subsurface geometry of the El Kasr Desert Eye structure and its potential relationship to local faults.