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Petrogenesis of artifact‐bearing fossil‐spring tufa deposits from Kharga Oasis, Egypt
Author(s) -
Nicoll Kathleen,
Giegengack Robert,
Kleindienst Maxine
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6548(199912)14:8<849::aid-gea8>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - tufa , geology , petrography , quaternary , facies , diagenesis , spring (device) , artifact (error) , geochemistry , paleontology , archaeology , geomorphology , carbonate , structural basin , geography , mechanical engineering , materials science , engineering , neuroscience , metallurgy , biology
Petrographic and geochemical study of artifact‐bearing fossil‐spring tufas in stratigraphic contexts associated with Upper Acheulean and Middle Stone Age‐to‐historic artifacts provides a basis for characterizing and comparing Quaternary tufa deposition and diagenesis across the Kharga Oasis region of south‐central Egypt. Analysis of tufa deposits at Refûf Pass, Midauwara Pass, A‘in ‘Amur, and Umm el Dabadib suggest that the low Mg‐carbonates were precipitated by similar inorganic and biogeochemical processes operating within freshwater spring‐fed alkaline stream environments throughout Quaternary time. Detailed petrographic studies suggest that the tufas are relatively pristine, with the original rock textures well preserved with minimal postdepositional alteration. Microstratigraphic details indicate that a variety of interformational facies were present within the former stream environments; understanding these contexts is valuable for interpreting prehistoric human activities. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.