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Golden Triangle Geosites: Preliminary Geoheritage Assessment in a Geologically Rich Area of Eastern Egypt

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Abstract

The Golden Triangle economic zone of eastern Egypt stretching between the Nile Valley and the Red Sea coast is a historical mining area, which is vast and rich in geology. Although none single study can comprehend the entire geoheritage of this area, field investigations and literature analysis permit to identify the eight most notable localities, which are interpreted as geosites (Sukari gold mines, Al-Fawakhier gold mine, Um Greifat polymetallic ore quarry, Gebel Abu Sha’ar El-Qibli manganese quarry, White Sand quarry, Gebel Duwi (including phosphate mines), Sodmein cave, and Meatiq dome). These geosites represent broad spectrum of unique phenomena. The latter are assigned to the stratigraphical, palaeontological, palaeogeographical, tectonic, igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, mineralogical, geomorphological, economical, and geohistorical geoheritage types. Semi-quantitative assessment of these geosites indicates on the biggest value of Gebel Duwi, the Sodmein cave, and the Al-Fawakhier gold mine. The identified geoheritage of the Golden Triangle requires geoconservation and exploitation for the purposes of science, education, and tourism (some experience has already been accumulated), and the relevant initiatives can be managed within a geopark framework. This preliminary assessment proves geoheritage richness of the study area, and it establishes frame for geoconservation activities, and, particularly, search for more geosites. The presence of similar geologically rich areas in the other parts of Egypt makes urgent development and implementation of the national approaches of geoheritage management.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank the journal editor and the reviewers for their thorough examination of this paper and helpful recommendations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. K.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management (the First Cossack University), Zemlyanoy Val Street 73, Moscow, 109004, Russia

    Dmitry A. Ruban

  2. Higher School of Business, Southern Federal University, 23-ja Linija Street 43, Rostov-on-Don, 344019, Russia

    Dmitry A. Ruban

  3. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Farid Nada Street 15, Benha, 13518, Egypt

    Emad S. Sallam

  4. Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA), Salah Salem Road 3, Abbassiya, 11517, Cairo, Egypt

    Tarek M. Khater

  5. Department of Commodity Science and Expertise, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Stremyanny Lane 36, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    Vladimir A. Ermolaev

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Ruban, D.A., Sallam, E.S., Khater, T.M. et al. Golden Triangle Geosites: Preliminary Geoheritage Assessment in a Geologically Rich Area of Eastern Egypt. Geoheritage 13, 54 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00582-8

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