139736eo.pdf (20MB) - Japan Oceanographic Data Center

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH IN THE NORTHERN RED SEAAlthough a number of investigations have been carried out on the surface sediments of thenorthern Red Sea, it is hard to draw concrete conclusions due to the local nature of these individualstudies. The paleontological character of the sediments of the northern Red Sea recently wasdiscussed by CHERIF et al. (1983) using modern statistical methods.Although it has been fifty years since the "Mabahith" Expedition, more scientific informationis needed. In particular, there is need for:a) Baseline studies on the various geological aspects of the northern Red Sea sediments;b) Economic potentiality of the brine sediments in some deeps.Geological studies should concentrate on the following:a) More detailed knowledge is needed on the surface sediments of the northern Red Sea,particularly their geochemistry, biogeochemical cycle and rate of sedimentation.b) Various sources of Recent sediments should be defined more precisely, especiallyterrigenms sediments and eolianite deposits.c) Both the eastern and western flanks of the northern Red Sea are required, particularlystudies on the geology of coral reefs and reef sediments. This requires detailed transects on bothsides along the Egyptian and Saudi coasts. Such information does not exist yet.d) Degradation of coral reefs (biological and mechanical) and rate of production of reefsediments, calcification, diagenesis and reef conservation should be studied.e) The sediments in cores from some deeps in the northern Red Sea show someindications of brine precipitates. Long cores or deep drillings in the northem Red Sea are urgentlyneeded to assess the possible occurrence of hydrothermal metalliferous sediments. From scientificpoint of view, this will also help us to understand the evolution of the northern Red Sea.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe present work is based on published papers, unpublished reports and oralcommunications as well as the use of the online search facilities at several institutions, Gratefulacknowledgements are due to the IOC for providing me the opportunity to think and work on thisproblem. Special thanks are for Prof. Vigneaux for the careful editing of this paper.REFERENCESABDEL-GAWAD, M. (1969). Geological structures of the Red Sea area inferred from satellitepictures. In: E.T. Degens and D.A. Ross (eds.), Hot Brines and Recent heavy metaldeposits in the Red Sea. Springer-Verlag, New York Inc., 25-37.AKKAD, S. and DARDIER, A.A. (1966). Geology of the Red Sea coast between Ras Chagara andMersa Alma. Geol. Surv. Egypt, 35,67 p.BACKER, H. and RICHTER, H. (1973). Die rezente hydrothermal-Sedimentare Lagerstatte AtlantisII Tief im Roten Meer. Geol. Rundschau, 62,697-737.BACKER, H. and SCHOELL, M. (1972). New deeps with brines and metalliferous sediments inthe Red Sea. Nat. Phys. Sci., 240, 153-158.BEHAIRY, A.K.A. (1980). Clay and carbonate mineralogy of the reef sediments north of Jeddah,west coast of Saudi Arabia. Bull. Fac. Sci., Jeddah, 4,265-279.346