Acta Geophysica
vol. 59, no. 3, Jun. 2011, pp. 633-656
DOI: 10.2478/s11600-011-0006-4
© 2011 Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Gravity and Magnetotelluric Investigations
to Elicit the Origin of Hammam Faraun Hot Spring,
Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Mohamed ABDELZAHER
1,2
, Jun NISHIJIMA
1
, Gad EL-QADY
2
,
Essam ABOUD
2
, Osama MASOUD
2
, Mamdoh SOLIMAN
2
,
and Sachio EHARA
1
1
Geothermic Laboratory, Earth Resource Engineering Department, Kyushu University,
Fukuoka, Japan, e-mails: moh_zaher@yahoo.com (corresponding author),
nishijima@mine.kyushu-u.ac.jp, ehara@mine.kyushu-u.ac.jp
2
National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Cairo, Egypt
e-mails: gadosan@yahoo.com, eaboud@yahoo.com, usaad2007@yahoo.com,
amsoliman2001@hotmail.com
Abstract
There is a clear correlation between the principal areas of current
geothermal development and the seismically active boundaries of the
moving segments of lithosphere defined by the plate tectonic models of the
Earth. The tectonic position of Egypt in the northeastern corner of African
continent suggests that the most important areas for geothermal exploration
are in the region where a cluster of hot springs with varied temperatures was
located around the Gulf of Suez. Gravity and magnetotelluric surveys were
made in the area of Hammam Faraun hot spring, which represents the most
promising area for geothermal development in Egypt. These surveys were
carried out for the purpose of eliciting the origin of Hammam Faraun hot
spring. The results of the analyses and interpretations of these data show
that the heat source of the hot spring is due to uplift of hot basement rock.
This uplift may cause deep circulation and heating of the underground water.
Key words: geothermal resources, magnetotelluric survey, geothermal
development, Gulf of Suez, Hammam Faraun hot spring.