Remarks to the geological origin of the hills "Eight Bells" at the southern Gilf Kebir (Egypt)

Norbert Brügge, Germany

Dipl.Geol.

The conical high hills, named "Eight Bells", are located directly southern of the Gilf Kebir plateau. The geographical position is approximately 22° 47' N and 26° 16' E.
It is remarkable, that all eight hills are strung on a line. Up to now was not known, whether it is a particularity. However in images of the satellite "Landsat" we can see crater-shaped structures in the northwestern extension of the hills chain.
During a visit of the hills in 2006 the author has found now references for tectonic processes. The hills chain is composed of sandstones the Paleozoic period (ca. 400 Mill years old), which were uplifted over the level on a fault. At different places large blocks represent the methamorhic Basement. Basaltic plugs or a granitic intrusion were not found however. It could exist however a connection with the crater-shaped structures in the northwestern direction. Therefore magmatic processes are postulated as origin of the uplift.
They have a connection with the wide-spread intrusiven Magmatismus in the region, which have produced numerous craters and dykes. (Clayton Craters, crater field Gilf Kebir etc.)