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Geology and geochemistry of Tertiary basalt in south Wadi Hodein area, South
Eastern Desert, Egypt

Article  in  Arabian Journal of Geosciences · August 2012

DOI: 10.1007/s12517-012-0525-6

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Geology and geochemistry of Tertiary
basalt in south Wadi Hodein area, South
Eastern Desert, Egypt

Hassan A. A. Shahin & Masoud

S. Masoud

Arabian Journal of Geosciences

ISSN 1866-7511

Arab J Geosci
DOI 10.1007/s12517-012-0525-6

1 23
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 Author's personal copy
Arab J Geosci
DOI 10.1007/s12517-012-0525-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
Geology and geochemistry of Tertiary basalt in south Wadi
Hodein area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt
Hassan A. A. Shahin & Masoud S. Masoud
Received: 27 April 2010 / Accepted: 24 January 2012
# Saudi Society for Geosciences 2012
Abstract Tertiary basalt is widespread in the area south of
Wadi Hodein, south Eastern Desert, Egypt. It is the youngest
unit in the basement rocks of the Central Eastern Desert
classification of El Shazly (Proc 22nd Intl Geol Congr, New
Delhi 10:88–101, 1964) and El Ramly (Ann Geol Surv
Egypt II:1–17, 1972), traversed all the previous succession
of the basement rocks as well as the Nubia Sandstone of
Cretaceous age, forming sheets, small hills, ridges, and
dikes. This Tertiary basalt is strongly associated with the
opening of the Red Sea. Geologic, petrographic, and petro-
chemical studies as well as microprobe and X-ray analyses
were performed on samples from Wadi Hodein Tertiary
basalt. Field and petrographic studies classified the Tertiary
basalt in south Wadi Hodein into porphyritic olivine basalt,
plagiophyric basalt, and doleritic basalt. Opaque minerals
(magnetite and ilmenite) constitute 6–7.5% of this basalt.
Petrochemical studies and microprobe analyses reveal that
they are low-TiO2 basalt with low uranium and thorium
contents, classified as being basaltic andesite to andesite,
originated from calc-alkaline magma, and developed in
within-plate tectonic environment. Scanning electron micros-
copy shows that magnetite and ilmenite are the prevalent
opaque minerals in this Tertiary basalt. Field radiometric
measurements of the Tertiary basalt in south Wadi Hodein
reveals low uranium and thorium contents. Uranium contents
range from 0.5 to 0.9 ppm, while thorium contents range from
1.2 to 3.2 ppm. Fractional crystallization and mass balance
modeling indicate that the most-silica low-TiO2 Tertiary basalt
in south Wadi Hodein can be derived from the relatively less-
H. A. A. Shahin (*) : M. S. Masoud
Nuclear Materials Authority,
P.O. Box 530 Maadi,
Cairo, Egypt
e-mail: hassanshahin03@yahoo.com
silica low-TiO2 Tertiary basalt of south Quseir and Gabal
Qatrani through fractional crystallization of plagioclase,
olivine, augite, and titanomagnetite oxides. Tertiary basalts in
south Wadi Hodein and south Quseir have nearly the same
age, 25 Ma (Sherif, The Fifth International Conference on the
Geology of Africa, 2007), 24 Ma (Meneisy and Abdel Aal,
Ain Shams Sci Bull 25(24B): 163–176, 1984), and 27 Ma (El
Shazly et al., Egypt J Geol 1975), respectively. Finally, the
fractionation modeling and geochemical characteristics of
these basalts suggested their origination from one basaltic
magma emplaced in late Oligocene.
Keywords Tertiary basalt . South Wadi Hodein . Egypt
Introduction
Tertiary basalt occurs in several localities all over Egypt
mainly at Gabal Qtrani, Cairo-Suez District, south Quseir,
Abu Zaabal, Baharyia Oasis, East Samalut, and south Wadi
Hodein, south Eastern Desert. They have K/Ar ages be-
tween 16 and 27 Ma (Meneisy and EL Kalioubi 1975;
Meneisy and Keuzer 1974; Abdel Aal 1981a, b; Meneisy
and Abdel Aal 1984; Sherif 2007). The intraplate continen-
tal basaltic volcanism is considered the youngest unit in the
basement rocks of the Eastern Desert.
Tertiary basalt in south Wadi Hodein is located in the
Shalatin area, south Eastern Desert of Egypt between
latitudes 22°40′30′′–23°09′ N and longitudes 35°18′–35°42′
E, covering about 2,157 km2 (Fig. 1). Geomorphologically,
the area is characterized by the rough Red Sea mountains,
moderate isolated hills, conical low hills, Wadi floors, and
coastal plain. These Tertiary basaltic rocks have been sub-
jected to several studies mainly by Sabet (1958), El Hinnawi
(1965), El Hinnawi and Abdel Maksoud (1968), Ghanem
 Author's personal copy
Fig. 1 Location map of
Tertiary basalts for each of
south Wadi Hodein, south
Quseir, and Gaba Qatrani
(1972), Meneisy and Keuzer (1974), Abdel Monem and
Heikal (1981), Meneisy (1990), Abdel-Meguid (1992),
EGSMA (1992), Sadek (2004), Obeid (2006), Sherif
(2007), and Abdeen et al. (2008).
The most important study was given by Abdel-Meguid
(1992) who classified the Tertiary basalt occurring in Gabal
Qatrani, south Quseir, and East Samalut areas into two main
types—high-TiO2 basalt and low-TiO2 basalt. Also, he
concluded that the continental intraplate basaltic volcanism
which produced Tertiary basalts distributed in Egypt was
contemporaneous with the opening of the Red Sea and uplift
of Afro-Arabian dome. Moghazi (2003) studied the Tertiary
continental basalt flows from the Shalatein area, Red Sea
Arab J Geosci
coastal plain, and he concluded that there is no evidence of
significant crustal contamination or a lithospheric mantle
signature in these rocks. Also, he said that the normalized
trace element patterns and diagnostic elemental ratios are
very similar to those of modern ocean–island basalt.
Recently, Sherif (2007) studied the petrology, geo-
chemistry, and K–Ar ages of Paleogene basalts, west
Shalatin, south Eastern Desert. He concluded that these basalts
are of continental origin and have two distinct volcanic phases
related to middle Eocene (50 Ma) and the late Oligocene
(25 Ma). The present study deals with the geology, petrogra-
phy, radioactivity, geochemistry, fractional crystallization, and
mass balance modeling of the Tertiary basalts, which occur in
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Arab J Geosci
south Wadi Hodein, south Eastern Desert, and to better under-
stand its relation with other occurrences of Tertiary basalt
exposed along the Red Sea such as south Quseir.
Geologic and tectonic setting
The area of study is covered with a succession of igneous,
metamorphic, and continental sedimentary rocks ranging in
age from Precambrian to Quaternary (Fig. 2). Wadi Hodein
extends for more than 50 km forming alluvial fan near the
coastal plain of the Red Sea, composed mainly of recent sedi-
ments, weathering materials of the basement rocks, isolated
hills of Nubian Sandstone, and loose sand.
The basaltic rocks in south Wadi Hodein crop out as
small separated hills, ridges, and dikes intruding basement
rocks and Nubian Sandstone (Figs. 3, 4, and 5). They are
massive, greenish black to black in color, fine-grained, and
Fig. 2 Geologic map of the studied Tertiary basalt in south Wadi Hodein area, after EGSMA 2002
displayed well-developed porphyritic texture with clear
black euhedral to subhedral phenocrystals embedded in
microcrystalline groundmass. These basaltic rocks are char-
acterized by the presence of amygdales filled by calcite. The
basaltic hills range in width from 200 to 400 m and in length
from 250 to 600 m. These hills and ridges are few meters
higher than the surrounding Wadis and aligned in NW
direction parallel to the Red Sea trend. This trend of basaltic
rocks coincides with the same trend of south Quseir Tertiary
basaltic rocks (Sabet 1958; Abdel Aal 1981a, b).
Materials and methodology
Twenty samples from the best exposures of representative
basaltic rocks were collected for this study. From these, 15
samples were selected for thin sections to study optical
mineralogy of this basalt. Backscattered electron (BSE)
 Author's personal copy
Fig. 3 General view for the studied Tertiary basalt in south Wadi
Hodein area
imaging was used to illustrate the textural and mineralogical
characteristics of the samples.
Six representative samples were selected for geochemical
analysis of major and trace elements from the collected field
samples. Major element analyses were done by using X-ray
fluorescence method and trace elements were determined
using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry at
the laboratories of the Nuclear Materials Authority. One
sample was analyzed in the Centre de Recherches Petrogra-
phiques et Geochimiques, Nancy, France using a CAMECA
SX-100 electron microprobe methods.
Petrography
More than 15 thin sections were studied petrographically
using the polarizing microscope and scanning electron
Fig. 4 Close view for the studied Tertiary basalt in south Wadi
Hodein area
Arab J Geosci
Fig. 5 Contact between Tertiary basalt and ferruginous Nubian Sandstone
at Wadi Hodein
microscope (SEM) with BSE imaging. The microscopic
investigation of these selected thin sections revealed that
the presence of three main petrographic lithotypes, namely,
(a) porphyritic olivine basalt, (b) plagiophyric basalt, and (c)
dolerite basalt. Magnetite, ilmenite, titanomagnetite, and
zircon are the common accessories.
1. Porphyritic olivine basalt
Porphyritic olivine basalt is hard, massive, black in
color, and characterized by porphyritic texture. Microscop-
ically, it consists of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine,
and Fe–Ti oxides. The phenocrysts consist essentially of
olivine, titanauguite, and titanite. Plagioclase occurs
as euhedral to subhedral prismatic to tabular crystals
(up to 3 mm long) (Fig. 6a). Clinopyroxene phenocrysts
(1–5.5-mm long) forming euhedral to subhedral crystals
of greenish blue color (Fig. 6b, c). Some crystals
show partial alteration to hornblende. Olivine phe-
nocrysts (1–4.5-mm long) in the form of euhedral
crystals are mostly fresh and slightly show some alteration
along cracks in few crystals (Fig. 6d–f). The Fe–Ti oxides,
represented by small inclusions of magnetite and titano-
magnetite, occur in the clinopyroxene phenocrysts or as
interstitial grains. Titanite occurs as euhedral phenocryst
in the groundmass (Fig. 6g). Zircon occurs as inclusion in
the clyinopyroxene (Fig. 6h). The groundmass is crypto-
crystalline to microcrystalline and consists mainly of
plagioclase laths, clinopyroxene, and titanaugite.
2. Plagiophyric basalt
Plagiophyric basalt is hard, massive, dark grey to
black in color, and shows porphyritic texture. Micro-
scopically, it consists essentially of plagioclase and tita-
naugite, forming the phenocrysts. This type of basalt
shows plagioclase enrichment, containing an abundance
of plagioclase phenocrysts. These rocks have been
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Arab J Geosci

Fig. 6 a Photomicrograph
showing subhedral to eubhedral
tabular plagioclase crystals. b, c
Photomicrograph showing
subhedral to euhedral clinopyr-
oxene phenocryst displays
alteration in the core and
periphery. d–f Photomicrograph
showing euhedral olivine
phenocryst including black
inclusion of Fe–Ti oxides. g
Photomicrograph showing
euhedral titanite phenocryst.
h Photomicrograph showing
zoned zircon in large
A B
clinopyroxene phenocryst

C D

E F

G H

named as "high alumina basalt" by Kuno (1960), who large phenocrysts (up to 6 mm long) and the second
regarded them as products of an independent magma occurs as microlites (>0.1 mm) in the groundmass. Tita-
type. Plagioclases range in composition from labradorite naugite occurs as large phenocrysts (up to 4.5 mm long)
to bytonite and occur as two generations; the first forms forming euhedral to subhedral crystals of pink to greenish
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Arab J Geosci

Fig. 7 EDX pattern and BSE of basaltic rocks in south Wadi Hodein

blue color. The groundmass is cryptocrystalline and

consists mainly of plagioclase laths, microlites of titanau-
gite, and Fe–Ti oxides.
3. Dolerite basalt Table 1 Major oxides (in weight percent) and trace elements content
Dolerite basalt is hard, massive, dark gray to black in (in parts per million) of the studied Tertiary basaltic rocks
color, fine to medium-grained, and characterized by S. no. 1a 2a 3a 4a 5a 6a
non-porphyritic texture. Texturally, it is cryptocrystalline
in nature. Ophitic texture is dominant. Microscopically, it SiO2 53.63 58.29 58.14 61.98 54.97 61.13
consists of plagioclase commonly labradorite in compo- Al2O3 11.93 10.84 12.54 11.37 8.71 11.02
sition and clinopyroxene mainly augite and titanaugite. TiO2 1.98 1.92 1.52 1.55 1.40 1.40
Magnetite, titanomagnetite, and ilmenite are the main Fe2O3 13.98 13.58 13.98 13.18 16.77 14.78
opaque minerals. The groundmass is cryptocrystalline to CaO 8.4 5.6 4.2 2.8 11.2 2.8
microcrystalline and consists mainly of plagioclase, MgO 2 2 2 1 4 2
clinopyroxene, titanaugite, and Fe–Ti oxides. MnO 0.15 0.16 0.14 0.17 0.16 0.15
Na2O 4.94 4.94 4.55 5.17 1.14 3.78
Opaque mineral K2O 0.77 0.72 0.92 1.23 N.d 0.77
P2O5 0.26 0.52 0.16 0.28 0.06 0.20
The opaque minerals (primary) of the basaltic rocks in Wadi Trace elements
Hodein area constitute 6% to 7.5% of the rock. Primary Cr 119 102 170 44 80 73
opaques are magnetite and ilmenite. These minerals occur Co 44 44 49 50 54 48
as inclusions in olivine and clinopyroxene phenocrysts or as Ni 61 66 150 21 36 45
fine minute patches in the groundmass. SEM and electron Cu 54 57 56 45 38 49
probe microanalyses indicate that magnetite and ilmentite Zn 123 109 106 106 137 117
are the dominant opaque and magnetite is generally more Zr 244 181 193 218 49 127
common than ilmenite (Fig. 7). Rb 18 13 19 18 u.d 8
Y 7 2 u.d u.d 25 u.d
Ba 330 351 351 457 131 285
Geochemistry Pb 22 13 19 11 15 21
Sr 444 428 380 499 46 389
The geochemistry of the studied area is focused mainly on Ga 16 18 4 20 22 22
the geochemical characterization of basaltic rocks to clarify V 272 291 326 398 261 310
their chemical composition, chemical affinity, magma type, Nb 14 10 10 19 u.d 10
and tectonic setting. The analytical data show low-TiO2
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Arab J Geosci

Table 2 Electron microprobe

analyses (in weight percent) for Number SiO2 Al2O3 FeO MgO Na2O K2O CaO TiO2 UO2 ThO2
the studied olivine phenocrysts
H38-1-1 0 2.065 0.527 3.582 3.522 0.195 0.075 20.818 0.019 0
H38-1-2 33.96 0.06 6.384 35.563 0.433 0 0.245 0.066 0 0.003
H38-2-1 34.232 0.081 0.578 35.447 0.402 0 0.219 0.053 0.001 0
H38-2-2 33.278 0.021 7.02 31.7 3.047 0.155 0.365 0.082 0.032 0
H38-2-3 34.79 0.031 14.07 37.663 2.051 0 0.201 0.024 0.067 0
H38-3-1 43.866 28.087 0.812 0.029 0.015 0 13.437 0.15 0.017 0.006
H38-3-2 33.212 0 15.71 31.092 2.38 0 0.383 0.053 0 0

content (1.40–1.92%), relatively high silica content (33.212– diagram suggested by Cox et al. (1979) (Fig. 8), the basalt
61.98%), high Na2O content (3.78–5.17%), low uranium samples fall in the basaltic andesite and andesite fields. While
(0–0.067), low thorium (0–0.006), and low incompatible the Zr/TiO2 versus SiO2 diagram (Fig. 9), suggested by
elements (K, Ba, Rb, Zr, and Nb) (Tables 1 and 2). Tertiary Winchester and Floyd (1977), shows that the analyzed
basalt (TB) chemical analyses for south Quseir and Gabal basalt samples fall in the andesite field.
Qatrani after Abdel-Meguid (1992) are listed in Table 3.
Alkaline affinity
Chemical classification
On the Na2O + K2O versus SiO2 diagram (Fig. 10), after
The classification of the studied basaltic volcanism is adopted Irvine and Baragar (1971), all the basaltic samples show
by plotting the analyses on the Zr/TiO2 and Na2O + K2O subalkaline affinity.
versus SiO2 diagrams. On the SiO2 versus K2O + K2O
Magma type and tectonic setting
Table 3 Chemical analyses of Tertiary basalt for south Quseir and
Gabal Qatrani, after Abdel-Meguid (1992) On the Zr–Ti/100−Sr ternary diagrams of Pearce and Cann
(1973; Figs. 11 and 12), the basaltic samples fall in the cal-
S. no. South Quseir Gabal Qatrani alkaline basalt. According to the log Zr –log Ti plot of
AMB-1 AMB-2 11-1 11-2 15-1 15-2 Pearce (1986), most of the basaltic samples fall in the
within-plate field.
SiO2 50.88 51.99 51.60 52 51.89 51.99
TiO2 2.07 2.00 2.14 2.08 2.20 2 Radiometric investigation
Al2O3 16.09 16.11 15.37 15.40 15.31 16.11
FeO 10.57 10.49 10.70 10.86 10.87 10.49 Regional field radiometric measurements, using a portable
MnO 0.17 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.17 0.16 four-channel, gamma-ray spectrometer model GS-256 were
MgO 5.31 5.31 5.30 5.43 5.40 5.31 carried out on Tertiary basalt south Wadi Hodei. Field
CaO 8.97 8.93 8.60 8.59 8.61 8.93 radiometric measurements of this Tertiary basalt reveal low
Na2O 3.03 3.27 3.09 2.99 3.03 3.27
K2O 0.82 0.82 0.92 0.92 0.85 0.82 18
P2O5 0.32 0.33 0.35 0.36 0.33 0.33
Trace elements 15
Ba 210 200 223 222 213 200 Phonolite
12
Na2O+K2O

P-N Trachyte
Cr 94 94 96 93 90 94
P-T Benmorite
Ni 53 51 47 51 48 51 9 Rhyolite
Mugearite
Rb 23 29 30 32 30 29 B+T
Hawaiite Trachyandesite
6 Nephelin Dacite
Nb 17 18 20 20 18 18
B-A Andesite
Zr 200 203 221 219 208 203 3 Basalt
Y 36 35 40 41 38 35
Sr 387 349 334 341 350 349 0
35 45 55 65 75
La 24 21 27 27 20 21 SiO2
Ce 32 35 50 37 39 35
Nd 24 25 29 27 28 25 Fig. 8 SiO2 versus Na2O + K2O diagram for studied basalt, after Cox
et al. (1979)
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Arab J Geosci

80 Ti/100
Rhyolite
Com/Pan

70 Rhyodacite-Dacite

Trachyte
SiO2

60 Andesite TrAn

Phonolite

50 Sub-Ab
Ab
Bas-Trach-Neph OFB IAB
40
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10
CAB
Zr/TiO2*0.0001

Fig. 9 SiO2 versus Zr/TiO2 diagram for studied basalt, after Winchester Zr Sr/2
and Floyd (1977)
Fig. 11 Ti/100−Zr−Sr/2 diagram for Hodein basalt. Boundaries from
Pearce and Cann (1973)
uranium and thorium contents. Uranium contents range from
0.5 to 0.9 ppm, while thorium contents range from 1.2 to
opening of the Red Sea and uplift of Afro-Arabian dome
3.2 ppm.
(Abdel-Meguid 1992).

Evolution of the tertiary flood basalt
Almond (1986a, b) proposed a tectonic–magmatic system
and crustal extension began in the Late Cretaceous in Arabia
and northeast Africa to be responsible for the northwest
trend of the Red Sea basin. Contemporaneous with the first
stage spreading of the Red Sea, a major period of continen-
tal flood basalt in Ethiopia and Yemen (Zanettin et al. 1980;
Mohr 1983), as well as the extrusion and intrusion of basalt
flows, sheets, and dikes in the Eastern and Western Desert
and Sinai (Steinitz et al. 1978; Abdel Monem and Heikel
1981; Abdel Aal 1988).
The activities of volcanic eruption and flow of Oligocene–
Miocene are synchronous with the opening of the Red Sea that
took place from 24.6 Ma ago (Harland et al. 1982). Tertiary
volcanics distributed in Egypt are contemporaneous with the
Fractionation modeling
Mass balance has been an important tool for petrological
and geochemical studies, such as mineral reactions, trace
element distribution, fusion, crystallization, and mixing
(Albaréde 1995). GLG-Modes program (Ford 1995) is one
of the mass balance calculations, designed to calculate the
proportions of mineral phases present in a rock from chemical
analyses of the rock and the constituent minerals. The
program solves linear least-squares mass balance equations of
Wright and Doherty (1970), makes calculations, and traces the
composition of derivative magmas as phases are added or
subtracted from an initial magma. The principles of
the calculation consider a set of geochemical analyses of
representative whole rock samples (e.g., from a volcanic),

20
18
16
14
Na2O+K2O

12
10
8 Alkaline

6
4
2 Subalkaline

0
35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
SiO2
Fig. 12 Log Ti−log Zr diagram to discriminate different tectono-
Fig. 10 SiO2 versus Na2O + K2O diagrams for studied basalt fields magmatic environment for the studied basalt. Boundaries after
after Irvine and Baragar (1971) Pearce (1986)
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Arab J Geosci

Table 4 Fractionating modeling and mineral composition used in mass balance calculations (Wright and Doherty 1970) for south Quseir and south
Wadi Hodein (TB) as one system

Observed daughter Observed parent Calculated Weighted Fractionating phases (Deer et al. 1966)
(s. no. 4a) W. Hodein (s. no. AMB-2) S. Quseir parent residual
An37 Ol. Aug. Ti-Mag.

SiO2 63.82 52.02 52.09 −0.08 52.63 38.75 51.13 0.10

TiO2 1.60 0.16 2.03 0.02 0.00 0.00 1.41 26.40
Al2O3 11.71 16.41 16.48 −0.07 30.23 0.11 2.57 1.00
FeO 12.21 10.68 10.78 −0.10 0.00 24.28 11.83 71.20
MnO 0.16 0.16 0.14 0.02 0.00 0.15 0.30 0.60
MgO 1.03 5.42 5.45 −0.03 0.00 36.55 15.49 0.50
CaO 2.88 9.10 9.15 −0.05 12.62 0.19 17.26 0.00
Na2O 5.33 3.33 3.34 −0.01 4.28 0.00 0.03 0.00
K2O 1.27 0.84 0.48 0.36 0.26 0.00 0.00 0.00

Note that the analyses were recalculated to 100% and the total iron is given as FeO* (total ferrous). The composition of the fractionated phases
(An37, Ol., Aug. and Ti-Mag.) are from Deer et al. (1966). Residual liquid (sample 4a)029.32%, fractionating phases070.68% (plagioclase
41.48%, olivine 6.49%, augite17.76% and titanomagnetite 4.95%). Sum of square of residuals (∑R2 ) is 0.156

which are to be tested for the validity of fractional crystalliza-
tion processes for their evolution.
The rock with the lowest SiO2 content can be assumed to
be the parent rock of a sample with a higher SiO2 content
(the daughter rock). To test this hypothesis, a mass balance
calculation could be performed, knowing the compositions
of the parent and the daughter rocks and their respective
modal minerals. The compositions of the fractionated
phases are chosen from Deer et al. (1966) with the guidance
of the normative and microscopic studies. The method tries
to minimize sum square of the residuals (∑R2). The smaller
value of the (∑R2) indicates a good fit of resulting model.
The calculations have been performed for Wadi Hodein and
south Quseir Tertiary basalts as one system, Wadi Hodein
and Gabal Qtrani Tertiary basalts as another separate system,
the basalts of south Quseir and south Wadi Hodein system as
one system, and Gabal Qatrani and south Wadi Hodein basalts
as another system.
Within the basalts of south Quseir and south Wadi Hodein
system (Table 4), the observed daughter or the most composi-
tionally evolved basaltic sample (no. 4a, Table 1) can be derived
from the most mafic magma of the observed parent basaltic
sample (no. AMB-2, Table 3) by fractional crystallization of
plagioclase 41.48%, olivine 6.49%, augite17.76%, and titano-
magnetite 4.95% with 29.25% residual liquid (sample no. 4a).
The relatively small value of ∑R2 (0.156) indicates a good fit.

Table 5 Fractionating modeling and mineral composition used in mass balance calculations (Wright and Doherty 1970) for Gabal Qatrani and
south Wadi Hodein (TB) as one system

Observed daughter Observed parent Calculated Weighted Fractionating phases (Deer et al. 1966)
(s. no.4a) W. Hodein (s. no. 15-1) G. Qatrani parent residual
An37 Ol. Aug. Ti-Mag.

SiO2 63.82 53.05 53.04 −0.01 52.63 38.75 51.13 0.10

TiO2 1.60 2.15 1.98 0.17 0.00 0.00 1.41 26.40
Al2O3 11.71 15.81 15.81 −0.01 30.23 0.11 2.57 1.00
FeO 12.21 10.74 10.84 −0.11 0.00 24.28 11.83 71.20
MnO 0.16 0.17 0.15 0.03 0.00 0.15 0.30 0.60
MgO 1.03 5.25 5.25 −0.01 0.00 36.55 15.49 0.50
CaO 2.88 8.85 8.94 −0.09 12.62 0.19 17.26 0.00
Na2O 5.33 3.08 3.41 −0.34 4.28 0.00 0.03 0.00
K2O 1.27 0.93 0.53 0.40 0.26 0.00 0.00 0.00

Note that the analyses were recalculated to 100% and the total iron is given as FeO* (total ferrous). The composition of the fractionated phases
(An37, Ol., Aug. and Ti-Mag.) are from Deer et al. (1966). Residual liquid (sample 4a)033.99%, fractionating phases066.01% (plagioclase
37.37%, olivine 5.40%, augite18.78%, and titanomagnetite 4.43%). The sum of square of residuals (∑R2 ) is 0.322
 Author's personal copy
Within the basalts of Gabal Qatrani and Wadi Hodein
system (Table 5), the observed daughter or the most
compositionally evolved basaltic sample (no. 4a, Table 1)
can be derived from the most mafic magma of the
observed parent basaltic sample (no. 15-1, Table 3) by
fractional crystallization of plagioclase 37.37%, olivine
5.40%, augite18.78%, and titanomagnetite 4.43%, with
33.99% residual liquid (sample no. 4a). The relatively small
value of ∑R2 (0.322) indicates a good fit.
Conclusions
Wadi Hodein Tertiary basalt occurs as sheets, small hills,
ridges, and dikes. They were erupted during the extension
associated with the initial stages of opening of the Red Sea.
This basalt characterized by porphyritic texture and the
groundmass is holocrystalline. They consist essentially of
plagioclase feldspar, clinopyroxene, olivine, ilmenite, and
magnetite. Petrographic studies distinguished this basalt into
porphyritic olivine basalt, plagiophyric basalt, and doleritic
basalt. Scanning electron microscopy and electron probe
microanalyses show that magnetite and ilmenite are the
prevalent opaque minerals in this basalt. Petrochemical
studies reveal that they are low-TiO2 basalt with depletion
in uranium and thorium contents, classified as being basaltic
andesite to andesite, originated from calc-alkaline magma,
and developed in within-plate tectonic environment. Fractional
crystallization and mass balance modeling indicate that the
most-silica low-Tio2 Tertiary basalt of south Wadi Hodein
can be derived from the relatively less-silica low-TiO2
Tertiary basalt of south Quseir and Gabal Qatrani through
fractional crystallization of plagioclase, olivine, augite, and
titanomagnetite oxides. Finally, from the geochemical charac-
teristics and fractionation modeling of this basalt, it was
suggested that they originated from one basaltic magma
emplaced in the Late Oligocene.
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