Lower Eocene shale, south-west Aswan, Egypt: Remote sensing analysis, geological investigations and innovative utilization of Ca-bentonite
2022
Ali-Bik, Mohamed W. | Abou Elmagd, Kamal | Bakry, Abdel-Rahman | Taha, Maysa M.N.
The Sinn El-Kaddab plateau, south-west Aswan, Egypt is topped by the Lower Eocene Dungul Formation, which comprises the Nagb Dungul Limestone Member, being underlain by the Abu Ghurra Shale Member (Ca-bentonite). Remote sensing techniques were employed to discriminate the different geological formations of the area. Mineralogy and chemical composition of Ca-bentonite were highlighted. It is composed mostly of silt and clay fraction enriched in montmorillonite, which has high absorptive capacity and water holding power. Geochemically, it contains appreciable concentrations of iron, manganese, potassium, zinc and nickel. Based on its physical and chemical properties, it has been tested in cultivation of pure sandy soil for retaining water around the roots of the plant for as long as possible and to enrich the fertility of the soil. The Egyptian common beans (Paulista var.) were selected to follow the effect of the investigated Ca-bentonite on vegetative growth and seed yield as well as its role in rationalizing the required irrigation water. It proved high efficiency in increasing the productivity of the plant and in rationalizing the irrigation water to about 50%. The vegetative growth increased by about 58 %, as well as the seed crop including seed index, number of seed/per pod and seed germination. The considered Ca-bentonite is a good source for improving the physical properties of sandy soils as well as increasing their fertility. Its role in rationalizing the required irrigation water in cultivation of sandy lands is vital and of prime importance.
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