2012 Volume 121 Issue 1 Pages Cover01_1-Cover01_2
Nubian Sandstone was deposited from the Cambrian to the Cenomanian in sedimentary environments from the eolian to the marine. Nubian Sandstone is a stratigraphic unit name based on its lithological similarity and wide distribution. The sandstone unit forms the Nubian aquifer system, and the aquifer system covers four countries, i.e., Egypt, Sudan, Chad, and Libya. This is a typical transboundary aquifer.
Groundwater in the Nubian aquifer was recharged by rainfall transported from the Atlantic Ocean several tens of thousands of years ago by the paleo-easterly wind. Water infiltration to the Nubian aquifer is considered to occur at present from Lake Nasser, which was formed by the construction of the Aswan High Dam in 1969. Stable isotope data on groundwater samples from monitoring wells support the occurrence of the mixing of two types of water; i.e., groundwater recharged several tens of thousands of years ago and water currently infiltrating from the Lake Nasser.
In addition, this aquifer is a typical, excellent petroleum reservoir, especially in the Libyan petroliferous region, and is one of the best sandstone reservoirs in the world.
This photograph was taken at Abu Simbel.
(Tomochika TOKUNAGA and Hiromi HONDA)