The landforms of the Western Desert are result of the interaction of structure, lithology and climate. The tectonic history of the Stable Shelf, in which the Western Desert is located, has controlled the development of the main landforms and lithology.
The lithologic column of the exposed rocks in the Western Desert consists of limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, sandstone, marl, claystone and phosphorite with rare gypsum. The rocks have been faulted, fractured and exposed in major plateaus after they have influenced by movement of, Hijaz, Najid and Alpine Orogenies.
The paleo-climates have denuded the major plateaus in steps form and caused development of different topographic features, because of their oscillation between tropic, humid and arid climates in repetition forms. The effect of the present arid climate gives rise to mechanical break down of the surface.
The landforms are classified according to relief building forces and geomorphic processes. The genetic units are; structural – denudational, denudational depositional, fluvial, solutional, evaporational and eolian origins. |