Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

Setup during HiTech AlkCarb: an online database of alkaline rock and carbonatite occurrences

Wadi Araba

stripes

Occurrence number: 
049-00-002
Country: 
Egypt
Location: 
Longitude: 32.48, Latitude: 29.13
Carbonatite: 
No

Nephelinites occur at a number of localities in Wadi Araba. They are apparently lavas but few details of field occurrence have been located. In one specimen pyroxene forms more than half of the rock with approximately 10% olivine, 14% opaque phases and interstitial nepheline 18%; some varieties contain analcime rather than nepheline. Rock analyses are available (Meneisy et al., 1976).

Age: 
A K-Ar date of 125±4 Ma was obtained by Meneisy and Kreuzer (1974a) on a sample of olivine nephelinite.
References: 

MENEISY, M.Y. and KREUZER, H. 1974a. Potassium-argon ages of Egyptian basaltic rocks. Geologisches Jahrbuch, Hannover, D9: 21-31.MENEISY, M.Y., OMAR, A.A. and SHAABAN, M.M. 1976. Petrology of the volcanic rocks of Wadi Araba - Abu Darag, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Chemie der Erde, 35: 63-75.

Location: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith