Spectral Analysis of Aeromagnetic Data for Geothermal Reconnaissance of Quseir Area, Northern Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

Dipolar aeromagnetic anomalies of the Quseir area and its extension to the offshore Red Sea have been interpreted to have a strong relation to the thermal sources of the Red Sea geothermal system. This interpretation is supported by field observations, which show that, most of these anomalies are found to be associated with diabase dyke intrusions. In order to investigate the aeromagnetic anomalies in relation to the thermal sources of the Red Sea geothermal system, spectral analysis and 2-D modeling have been applied to the aeromagnetic data. The integration of spectral analysis and 2- D modeling of aeromagnetic anomalies provided reasonable geological results, useful to further geothermal exploration. Spectral analysis suggests that the Quseir area is underlined by a Curie-point isotherm depth as shallow as 10 km. This shallow Curie-point isotherm implies a promising thermal heat flow greater than the average heat flow of the Red Sea margin. A detailed fit of the observed aeromagnetic anomalies to theoretical data by a computer model indicates that the sources could be approximated by a set of magnetic bodies of finite depth and dipping to the north east. Depths to the bottom of the magnetic bodies indicate a general increase in the geothermal gradient to 64oC/km toward to the Red Sea. This geothermal gradient indicates geothermal resources with, temperatures greater than 100oC at depths of less than 2 km. Consequently, the Quseir area is a promising area for further exploration of geothermal resources near the Red Sea in Egypt.