1. Libyan ProjectLibyan Project
Objectives:Objectives:
Geological mappingGeological mapping
Mineral explorationMineral exploration
Scope:Scope:
Six 1:250,000 sheetsSix 1:250,000 sheets
Covering 100,000 km2Covering 100,000 km2
South Central LibyaSouth Central Libya
1

2. The Ben Ghnema granitoid batholitThe Ben Ghnema granitoid batholit
2

3. Boundaries of the
Ben Ghnema batholith
over Landsat image
Granite
•Biotite
•Amphibole – biotite
•Two mica
Leucogranite
Granodiorite - tonalite
Granodiorite
Dolerite
Quartz-syenite
Aplite dykes
White quartz dykes-veins
Pegmatite dykes
Black quartz veins - Silicified
fault zones (auriferous)
Leucogranite dykes
Determined rock types
3

4. The Ben Ghnema batholith granites
outcrop in a system of circular tors
(clusters of boulders) ranging up to 1
km in radius
4

5. Strike of dykes-veins on a:
A.Macro scale (Landsat ETM 7+ reprocessed to emphasis the dykes
and fracture zones) and
B.Micro scale – field photograph.
A B
5

6. Geological map Uranium in rock samples.
Highest values in syenite
6

7. Porphyritic biotite granitePorphyritic biotite granite with white and pink feldsparwith white and pink feldspar
All in the same boulderAll in the same boulder
7

8. Leucogranite/ Microgranite
8

9. Two mica granite, very susceptible to weathering
9

10. Xenolith in the granite
10

11. Ranges of normalized plot of REE in granites,
granodiorites and leucogranites of the
Ben Ghnema batholith.
The Hf - Rb/10 – Ta*3 discrimination diagram for
granitic rocks for the Ben Ghnema batholith. (After
Pearce et al. 1984). (WPG = within plate granites;
VAG = volcanic-arc granites; ORG = ocean-ridge
granites; syn-COLOG = syn-collisional granites).
Some laboratory results - geochemistry
11

12. 12
Some laboratory results - Geochronology

13. Some laboratory results - petrology
Biotite granite with amphibole Leucogranite
Granodiorite Black quartz with pyrite and Au
13

14. Auriferous quartz veinsAuriferous quartz veins
•Mainly dark redish brown to black,Mainly dark redish brown to black,
sometimes yellow brownsometimes yellow brown
•Ranging in size from several metersRanging in size from several meters
to 10’s of kilometersto 10’s of kilometers
Details
14

15. Panoramic view of the extension of the dyke from the
previous picture (looking North)
15

16. 16

17. White quartz vein, Cu minerals present
17

18. 18
The basalts of HarujThe basalts of Haruj

19. 19
Basalt flows

20. 20

21. 21

22. 22

23. Home sweet Home or Camp No.1Home sweet Home or Camp No.1
23

24. Camp No. 2
24

25. Camp No. 3
25

26. Preparations of a flying camp
26

27. Discussions and preparations for the next day
27

28. Processing of the collected field data (on a daily basis)
28

29. “Computer Centre”
29

30. 30
Butte

31. Playa
31

32. Desert pumpkins
32

33. Stone drawings
33

34. Almost every day.............
34

35. II World War?
35

36. II World War?
36

37. One of many found
37

38. Oh, Oh... a gibli is coming, run to the tents!
38

39. Not a gibli but real rainNot a gibli but real rain
MMaybe the first one in a 100+ yearsaybe the first one in a 100+ years
39

40. Going 120 km/h....
40

41. Here 1.20 km/h.... Maybe!
41

42. Ah, tee time at last!
42

43. Lunch at the Ritz..
43

44. Geophysical team at work.
Visited by the Boss! Just in case....
44

45. 45
Hm.. this isn’t easy! Yes.... this is much better !
“With a little help from my friends”.

46. Part 1. I wonder what’s on the other side of the dune?
Part 2. Just one more dune!
46

47. An abounded drilling site for oil
47

48. It’s notnot all sand!
48

49. It’s not all sand!
It’s not all sand!It’s not all sand!
49

50. A water hole
deep in the
basalt field
50

51. Entrance to the Nagha oil field camp
51

52. Nagha oil field camp
Remember this camp?
52

53. This is not a hotel. It’s a room in the “camp”.
53