The U. Pliocene-Pleistocene Nile sediments cropping out around Sohag area constitute three terraces that could be subdivided into four lithofacies:

Facies A: Dominantly flood plain fine siliciclastics sediments (the lower part of the highst terrace)

Facies B: Mixed coarse clastics-carbonates and dominant fine siliciclastics deposited in lacustrine environments (the upper part of the highst terrace)

Facies D: dominantly flood plain fine siliciclastics as well as carbonate sediments accumulated on both sides of Facies C (the lowest terrace). Distribution and facies changes exhibited by these sediments in this particular area proved that at least three stages of the River Nile development could be encountered:

1- In the early stage of the River development Facies A and facies B deposited in the so called "Nile Gulf" during Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene time.

2- By the beginning of Middle Pleistocene in the second stage the Nile Gulf was connected to the south with sources that led to accumulation of the lower and middle parts of Facies C.

3- By the end of Pleistocene at later stages the path of the Nile shifted towards the east and led to the deposition of the upper part of Facies C and the youngest Facies D to the east.