Structural elements and incremental strain history of the basement rocks of Um Had area, central Eastern Desert, Egyptالعناصر التركيبية وتاريخ الانفعال المتزايد في الأجزاء الواقعة جنوب غرب صخور القاع: مثال من منطقة أم حاد ، وسط الصحراء الشرقية ، مصر

The Um Had area, central Eastern Desert, Egypt shows a regional stretching in the NW–SE and a contraction in the NE–SW direction. Major NW–SE folds, small recumbent folds, and local thrusts and reverse faults were recognized. Complicated relation between folds and boudinage was identified. This stretching amount ranges from 1.282 to 1.309. Earlier coaxial and later non-coaxial strains were inferred. The change from axial to non-coaxial stress regime was gradual and the latter was associated with minor clockwise and anticlockwise rotation of structural elements. During the non-coaxial strain, strain fringes were formed as a consequence of the high circulation of fluids in low temperature and high pressure conditions. Superimposed strain fringes indicating right- and left-lateral senses of movement were recognized. At least three generations of fringes were recognized, implying three stages of non-coaxial stretching. Each generation has about 15 increments which show irregular strain gradient and intensity over the different increments. Eastwards, the strain increments became mature and westwards, the finite strain increases. The strongest finite strain was found in a narrow belt delimiting the basement rocks on the west and underlying the Phanerozoic sediments. Chocolate-tablet structure was recorded and indicates later multidirectional tension. Not all Nubia Sandstone exposures are overlying the basement rocks and some are separated by NW–SE normal faults. Major NW–SE normal faults are cutting basement rocks of different ages.