Evolution of the Arabian continental margin in the Dibba Zone, Northern Oman Mountains

Robertson, Alastair H. F.; Blome, Charles D.; Cooper, Daniel W.; Kemp, Alan E. S.; Searle, P.

doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.1992.049.01.17

Cited by 54 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…3a), and where deep duplexes made up of platform carbonates are progressively stacked in an out-of-sequence mode, resulting in the refolding of the former sole thrust of the Hawasina-Sumeini allochthon ( Fig. 3a and b Graham 1980aGraham , 1980bLippard et al 1982;Watts and Garrison 1986;Robertson et al 1990;Watts 1990;Watts and Blome 1990;Eilrich and Grötsch 2003). Most of this part of the Omani belt was probably deformed during the Late Cretaceous, soon after the thrust emplacement of the Semail Ophiolite on top of the Hawasina basinal domain (Glennie et al 1974;Dunne et al 1990 O'Connor 1986, 1988;Warburton et al 1990).…”

Section: Main Lithostratigraphic and Tectonic Unitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleo-fluids characterisation and fluid flow modelling along a regional transect in Northern United Arab Emirates (UAE)

et al. 2010

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In the Northern Emirates, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous platform carbonates of the Musandam parautochthonous units are tectonically overlain by siliciclastic units of the Hawasina-Sumeini allochthon, which derive from the former paleo-slope domain and a more distal basinal portion of the Arabian margin of the Tethys, respectively. All these tectonic units display numerous evidences of paleo-fluid circulations, accounting for dolomitisation and recrystallisation of the rock matrix (Musandam Platform units), as well as cementation of fractures. Polymict breccias of Upper Cretaceous Ausaq Formation which underlay the sole thrust of the Hawasina-Sumeini allochthon also record episodes of hydraulic fracturing, whereas fluid inclusion data indicate precipitation at high temperature in relation to paleo-fluid flow. Petrography of thin-sections (conventional and cathodoluminescence microscopic techniques) as well as fluid inclusion and stable isotopes analyses, were combined with microtectonic studies. These analytical data document (1) the paragenetic sequence of diagenetic products for the Musandam Platform (which constitutes a carbonate reservoir analogue) and Sumeini units of the Dibba Zone, as well as (2) the nature of the paleo-fluids circulating along fractures and the sole thrust of the Hawasina-Sumeini allochthon. The main results of this petrographic approach are qualitative, evidencing (1) the rapid and vertical transfer of hot fluids in the vicinity of the former slope to platform transition, accounting for episodes of hydrothermal dolomitisation, as well as (2) early (i.e. pre-orogenic) and late (i.e. post-orogenic) episodes of emersion of the carbonate units, accounting for additional interactions with meteoric fluids and karstification. In order to better link these diagenetic events with the overall burial, thermal and kinematic evolution of the Arabian margin, basin modelling with Ceres2D, including fluid flow and pore-fluid pressure modelling, was subsequently performed along a regional transect (D4) located in the vicinity of the samples localities and cross-cutting the Northern Oman Mountains from Dibba in the east up to the Arabian Gulf in the west. New subsurface constraints provided by deep seismic profiles were used to constrain the architecture of the cross-section, and to test various hypotheses on the lateral and vertical connection, timing and hydrodynamic behaviour of the faults. This Ceres basin modelling also provides new quantitative estimates of the paleo-fluid pathways, of the timing and velocities of the fluid transfers and of the evolution of pore-fluid pressures. Ultimately, this integration of petrographic studies on surface samples and coupled kinematic and fluid flow basin modelling provides an updated scenario for the succession of tectonically controlled episodes of fluid rock interactions, namely dolomitisation and karstification recorded in the Mesozoic platform carbonates of the Northern Emirates.

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Section: Main Lithostratigraphic and Tectonic Unitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleo-fluids characterisation and fluid flow modelling along a regional transect in Northern United Arab Emirates (UAE)

et al. 2010

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“…Obductions are tectonically rare events, but the Semail is almost unique in its state of preservation. For this reason the geological studies of the Emirates and Oman have focused on the petrological details of the ocean crust (Lippard et al 1986), and the structure and stratigraphy of the rocks below the Semail (Robertson et al 1990, Searle & Cox 1999 which record the stages of the obduction process. On the basis of these data sophisticated models for oceanic crust generation, intra-oceanic crustal detachment, partial subduction of continental crust and obduction of oceanic crust have been constructed for this region (Boudier et al 1988, Hacker et al 1996, Gnos & Nicolas 1996, Gregory et al 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The March 11, 2002 Masafi, United Arab Emirates earthquake: Insights into the seismotectonics of the northern Oman Mountains

et al. 2006

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A moderate (M~5) earthquake struck the northeastern United Arab Emirates (UAE) and northern Oman on March 11, 2002. The event was felt over a wide area of the northern Emirates and was accompanied by smaller (felt) events before and after the March 11 main shock. The event was large enough to be detected and located by global networks at teleseismic distances. We estimated focal mechanism and depth from broadband complete regional waveform modeling. We report a normal mechanism with a slight right-lateral strike-slip component consistent with the large-scale tectonics. The normal component suggests relaxation of obducted crust of the Semail Ophilite (specifically, the Khor Fakkan Block) while the right-lateral strike-slip component of the mechanism is consistent with shear across the Oman Line. Felt earthquakes are rare in the region, however no regional seismic network exists in the UAE to determine local seismicity.This event offers a unique opportunity to study the active tectonics of the region as well as inform future studies of seismic hazard in the UAE and northern Oman.

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“…Cenomanian -Turonian Allemann & Peters 1972;Glennie et al 1974;Lippard & Rex 1982;Robertson et al 1990a; Hatta Volcanic Formation…”

Section: Environment Of Depositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Jurassic–Cretaceous depositional and tectonic evolution of the southernwestern margin of the Neotethys Ocean, Northern Oman and United Arab Emirates

Phillips

Waters

Ellison

2012

Lithosphere Dynamics and Sedimentary Basins: The Arabian Plate and Analogues

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The concept that the autochthonous, parautochthonous and allochthonous Permian-Cretaceous sequences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman record the transition from platform, slope to basin sedimentation within the southern part of Neotethys has been fundamental to the interpretation of the geological history of the region. The results of a major geological mapping programme of the UAE, carried out by the British Geological Survey for the Federal Government of the UAE, coupled with the detailed examination of key sections within northern Oman has led to a re-evaluation of the geological evolution of this region. This detailed study has led to a greater appreciation of the sedimentology and depositional setting of the sediments laid down along the northeastern Arabian continental margin during the Jurassic to Cretaceous, allowing a more refined model of Neotethys Ocean basin evolution to be established. The model charts the progressive breakup of the Arabian continental margin and closure of Neotethys during the mid to late Cretaceous and is divided into three main stages: Stage 1 -Initial rifting and formation of the Neotethys Ocean, followed by a prolonged period of stable, passive margin sedimentation which extended from the Permian to Late Jurassic times; Stage 2 -Uplift and erosion of the shelf margin during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, coincident with increased carbonate-clastic sedimentation in the outer ramp, distal slope and basinal areas; Stage 3 -Increased instability during the Late Cretaceous leading to the breakup of the platform margin and foreland basin sedimentation accompanying the obduction of the Oman-UAE ophiolite. Data obtained for the upper part of the platform and platform margin to slope successions has revealed that the topography of the "shelf"-slope-basinal margin was more subdued than previously thought, with this more gentle ramp margin morphology persisting until early to midCretaceous times when the platform margin started to become unstable during ophiolite obduction. The thrust-repeated allochthonous sedimentary rocks of the Hamrat Duru Group were deposited on the outer platform margin/lower slope rise to basinal plain of this basin margin and includes the dismembered remains of two turbidite fan systems which fed carbonate-rich detritus into deeper parts of the ocean. A re-evaluation of the chert-rich sequences, previously equated with deposition on the abyssal plain of Neotethys, has led to the conclusion that they may record sedimentation at a much shallower level within a starved ocean basin, possibly in a mid-ramp (above storm wave base) to outer ramp setting. A marked change in basin dynamics occurred during the mid-Cretaceous leading to the development of a shallow ramp basin margin in Oman with terrestrial to shallow marine sedimentary rocks interdigitating with red siliceous mudstones. By contrast, the contemporaneous succession in the Dibba Zone of the UAE indicates considerable instability on a steep shelf break. This instability is recorded by t...

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Evolution of the Arabian continental margin in the Dibba Zone, Northern Oman Mountains

Cited by 54 publications

References 40 publications

Paleo-fluids characterisation and fluid flow modelling along a regional transect in Northern United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Paleo-fluids characterisation and fluid flow modelling along a regional transect in Northern United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The March 11, 2002 Masafi, United Arab Emirates earthquake: Insights into the seismotectonics of the northern Oman Mountains

The Jurassic–Cretaceous depositional and tectonic evolution of the southernwestern margin of the Neotethys Ocean, Northern Oman and United Arab Emirates

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