Chapter I: Front Matter

NORTH SIDE OF THE BIRKET EL QURUN, LOOKING WEST.]

SURVEY DEPARTMENT,
EGYPT.
* * * * *

THE TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY
OF THE
FAYUM PROVINCE
OF EGYPT

BY
H. J. L. BEADNELL, F.G.S., F.R.G.S.

[Decoration]

CAIRO
NATIONAL PRINTING DEPARTMENT
1905.

CONTENTS.

* * * * *

INTRODUCTION.

PAGES.

Surveying operations. Soil survey. History of discovery of
Fayûm vertebrate fauna 9

PART I.—TOPOGRAPHY AND STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY.

SECTION I.—CULTIVATED LAND—

Area. Composition and character of alluvial soil. Connection
with Nile Valley. Bahr Yusef and canal system. Ravines.
Alluvial deposits of Lake Moeris and prehistoric lake.
Increase of cultivated lands 11

SECTION II.—THE BIRKET EL QURUN—

Site, depth and dimensions. Remnant of Lake Moeris. Continual
shrinkage of lake. Deposition of sand in lake at present day.
Salinity of lake. Possible underground outlets. Currents 12

SECTION III.—THE SURROUNDING DESERT REGION—

Area and limits of Libyan Desert described. Rocks forming the
area. Importance of dip. Chief causes of origin of Fayûm 14

SECTION IV.—WADI RAYAN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD—

Colonel Western’s survey. Sir William Willcocks’ report.
Borings. Details of proposed reservoir. Schweinfurth’s
estimate of salt content. Willcocks’ “Assuan Reservoir and
Lake Moeris.” Detailed geological examination not yet
undertaken. Traverse from Nile Valley through Wadi Muêla and
Rayan to Gharaq. Warshat el Melh and springs of Wadi Muêla.
Der el Galamûn. Pass from Muêla to Rayan. Sand accumulations.
Wadi Korif. Springs of Wadi Rayan. Analyses and output of
water. Geological succession in Wadi Rayan. General geology of
floor and bounding walls. Ridge separating Rayan and Gharaq.
Apparent absence of Nile deposit and freshwater shells in Wadi
Rayan. Question of leakage through ridge. Permeability of Rayan
if used as a reservoir. Salinity of water 16

SECTION V.—CENTRAL AREA OF THE REGION—

Area and features. Dip-slope of surface. Drainage basins of
central plain. Pools formed by rainfall. Tamarisk growth. The
eastern area covered by alluvium. The bounding plateau to the
north. Ghart el Khanashat dunes 24

SECTION VI.—THE RIDGE SEPARATING THE NILE VALLEY AND FAYUM—

Width and highest points. Strata forming ridge. Gravel
terraces. Low points of ridge. Original access of Nile waters
to depression. Formation of lake and deposition of sediment
in Fayûm 25

SECTION VII.—THE NORTHERN DESERT REGION—

Escarpments and plateaux. Extreme west and south-west limits
of area. Ferruginous silicified puddingstone of ancient rivers.
Jebel el Qatrani. Widan el Faras. Elwat Hialla. Garat el Gindi.
Garat el Faras 26

PART II.—TECTONICS.

SECTION VIII.—FAULTING AND FOLDING—

Origin of depression. Evidence in drainage ravines El Bats and
El Wadi. Deep boring at Medinet el Fayûm. Dr. Blanckenhorn’s
theory that depression owes its origin to extensive fault
system. Fault theory disproved. Fault N.N.E. of Qasr el Sagha.
Numerous local strike faults of small throw. Occasional
influence of fractures in determining escarpments 29

PART III.—GEOLOGY.

SECTION IX.—GENERAL AND CLASSIFICATION OF STRATA—

Depression cut out in sedimentary rocks. Local lava flows.
Dip. Oldest beds the Nummulites gizehensis limestones of
Middle Eocene. Fluviomarine series of Upper Eocene and
Oligocene age. Absence of Miocene strata. Pliocene,
Pleistocene and Recent. Table showing succession and
classification of strata 33