Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
of the Stratigraphy of
Qatar, Middle-East
(1816 to 2015)
Locality:
Latitude:
Longitude:
Elevation:
Cliff height:
Formation:
Feature:
Picture taken:
Dukhan town, Qatar. Behind the djebel at the 4th holes golfs tee box.
2526'18.91"N
5047'2.87"E
~45 metres at base
About 9 metres at the highest point (use Toyota Prado as scale)
Lower Eocene Rus
Normal fault with at least a 5m throw (layers on the left are not present to the right)
April 4th 2015
Locality:
Latitude:
Longitude:
Elevation:
Cliff height:
Formation:
Features:
1.3 kms north of Hazm Mishabiyah and 4.6 kms east of the Abu Samrah border post
2444'59.00"N
5053'45.46"E
~46 metres at base
~18-20 metres from the base (use Toyota Prado as scale)
Miocene Dam
Stratigraphy of the Dam Formation displaying the limestone and green & red clay
layers of the Upper Salwa1 (bottom) and Lower Al-Nakhsh (top) Members (see
Leblanc, 2009)
Picture taken: April 4th 2015
Locality:
Latitude:
Longitude:
Elevation:
Cliff height:
Formation:
Feature:
Picture taken:
Some talks are currently taking place to rename the Salwa Member of the Dam Formation as Al-Kharrara Member,
as originally proposed by Al-Saad, 2002. This is due to the fact that the term Salwa has been used since the early
1950s for the name of a member of the sub-surface Cretaceous Simsima Formation.
Page 1
A Historical Account
of the Stratigraphy of
Qatar, Middle-East
(1816 to 2015)
2015
By: Jacques LeBlanc
Published on December 1st 2015 on
https://sites.google.com/site/leblancjacques/fossilhome
Page 2
CONTENT
List of Appendices
Acknowledgements
About the author
Introduction
SECTION A: The surface geology of the offshore islands
SECTION B: Onshore & Offshore (excluding the islands)
Chapter 1: Pre-1920s
Chapter 2: The 1920s
Chapter 3: The 1930s
Chapter 4: The 1940s
Chapter 5: The 1950s
Chapter 6: The 1960s
Chapter 7: The 1970s
Chapter 8: The 1980s
Chapter 9: The 1990s
Chapter 10: From 2000 to 2010 and beyond
Conclusions & Recommendations
References
Further Reading
Appendices (see next page for more details)
Pages
4
5
6
8
10
30
30
34
38
68
75
101
121
136
156
166
173
175
199
204
Page 3
APPENDICES
#
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
TITLE
The First Oil Discoveries in the Middle East (Sorkhabi, 2010).
Coordinates of some Qatar localities mentioned in the text.
Lower Tertiary Foraminifera of the Qatar Peninsula. By: Alan Hilder Smout (1954).
An analysis of the nature of the relationship between the sedimentological and structural
history of the Qatar Peninsula (Persian Gulf) from Upper Jurassic to Recent times and
the significance of this relationship in regards to specific structural problems in this and
other areas. Thesis (Partial) by: Walter Sugden (1961), Including his original Dukhan
Type Section and his Supplement which presents the evolution of his original 1953,
1955 & 1956 Lexicons; the 1956 version having been submitted to the Stratigraphic
Committee in 1959
Minutes of the Geological Liaison Meetings Held from 1966 to 1973 Between several
Middle Eastern Oil & Gas Operators and National Petroleum Companies. Compilation
of documents used by A.J. Standring to update W. Sugdens 1959 Lexicon for the 1975
Lexicon of Qatar.
The Stratigraphic Lexicon of Qatar. By: Walter. Sugden, A.J. Standring and Claude
Cavelier (1975)
Transcripts of interviews with Dr. Claude Cavelier (2013-2014). (French original with
English transcript). Interviews conducted by Jacques LeBlanc.
Transcript of an interview with Mr. Abdallah Salatt (2013). Interview conducted by
Jacques LeBlanc.
Geological Description of the Qatar Peninsula (Arabian Gulf). By: Dr. C. Cavelier
(1970).
Timeline of the terminology used for the Onshore Formation names in Qatar up to 1985.
By: Jacques LeBlanc (2014)
Formation Charts (3) of countries belonging to the Organization of Arab Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OAPEC). By: M. Labadidi et al. (1985).
Two charts from Arabian Plate Sequence Stratigraphy. By: P.R. Sharland, D.M.
Casey, R.B. Davies, M.D. Simmons and O.E. Sutcliffe (2004).
Middle East Geological Timescale (2 charts). By: Moujahed I. Al-Husseini (2008).
Phanerozoic cycles of sea-level change on the Arabian Platform. Haq, B.U. et al (2005).
PAGE
205
207
211
351
599
935
1063
1132
1147
1206
1208
1212
1215
1218
Page 4
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Several people made this work possible. I am especially indebted to:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Mr. Hussain Al-Ansi, Geologist and Assistant Manager at Qatar Petroleum, for his insightful
conversations, guidance, and helpful suggestions; and commenting on certain aspects of this report.
Mr. Abdallah Salatt, former Qatar Petroleum Board Member and first Qatari geologist who also
participated in the 1969-1970 Qatar Geological Survey. I thank him for the time spent with me during
an interview conducted in relation to his participation in the 1969-1970 Survey.
Dr. Ali Trabelsi and C. Edward Wright geologists at Qatar Petroleum for their thourough revision of
the document.
Dr. Claude Cavelier, Engineer-Geologist and former employee of B.R.G.M. in France, who was in
charge of conducting the 1969-1970 Qatar Geological Survey. I thank him for the time spent with me
during several phone interviews conducted in relation to his participation in the 1969-1970 Survey, and
for providing me with photos and documents that would otherwise have left a big information hole in
this report.
Mrs. Danielle Labrot, who manages the Amicale of the B.R.G.M. in Paris, France, for putting me in
contact with Dr. Claude Cavelier and to help with the general transmission of documents.
Mr. Clive Sugden, who lives in Trinidad and who is the son of Mr. Walter Sugden, QPD
employee/geologist in Dukhan from 1951 to 1959 who prepared several stratigraphic documents
discussed herein. I thank Mr. Clive Sugden for his openness at discussing the background information
concerning his father and for providing me some pertinent documents.
Claire Grainger, Alumni Relations Officer, Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford
for providing pictures of Mr. Walter Sugden
Mr. Peter Housego, BP Archive Manager, University of Warwick for providing numerous documents
relating to the early days of exploration in Qatar and allowing to publish some of the material provided
Mr. Abdulrahman Alsharhan, for providing his detailed biography and allowing me to published
some of the sections which appeared in his articles on the geology of the Middle East.
Mrs. Frances Gillespie, for sharing her knowledge on the history of Halul island.
Mr. John Smout and Dr Elizabeth Harding (ne Smout), with whom I had several email exchanges
about their father, Dr. Alan Hilder Smout, former geologist for the Iraq Petroleum Company. They
both generously provided pictures and information about the life of Dr. Smout.
Mr. Anthony John Standring, former I.P.C. palaeontologist, for the few exchange of emails we had
together regarding his life in Qatar and in the Middle-East in general.
Dr. Moujahed Al-Husseini, Editor-in-Chief, GeoArabia, for his permission to publish Arabian Plate
Sequence Stratigraphy (2004), Phanerozoic cycles of sea-level change on the Arabian Platform (2005)
and Middle East Geological Timescale (2008).
Dr. Bruno Granier, of Universite de Bretagne Occidentale in France, for providing some of the
minutes related to the 1966-1973 stratigraphic meetings.
Mr. James Hall, of Shell Ltd., for providing surface geological information on Halul Island and
making me aware of the existence of the 1985 Stratigraphic lexicon from the Organization of Arab
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).
Dr. Ivan J. Sansom, from the University of Birmingham, for taking pictures of the fish plates
encountered in the core from DK-0065 well. This portion of the core resides at the British Museum of
Natural History in London.
Also, this work could not have been achieved without the collaboration of my wife Beatriz who was
always very helpful and supportive during this research.
Page 5
Fig 1: Left: The author, on a guided tour of the Miocene of Qatar (Feb 2014); Fig 2. Right: Caricature of
the author posing with a nautilus. By: Romeo Estrada Solis (a friend and geologist at Qatar Petroleum)
Born in 1958 in Victoriaville, Province of Quebec, Canada, he studied Mining Geology at the
Universit du Qubec Chicoutimi and graduated in 1986. Upon graduating, he found work
immediately with an oil company in Calgary, in the Province of Alberta. In 1993 he started
working overseas and never looked back. He worked in Colombia (South America) during two
occasions for a total of 3 years; his first assignment dealt with the Exploration, Production,
Exportation and Sale of museum quality minerals & fossils, while the second, through a project of
the Canadian International Development Agency, dealt with the improvement of the institutional
capacity of the Colombian Ministry of Mines & Energy as well as the Colombian Ministry of
Environment to fulfill their respective mandates to regulate the energy, mining and petroleum
sectors. Later, he ventured to the French African countries of Niger for assignments in Oil & Gas
Data Management and Gold Exploration; and then in Chad, for the International Financial
Corporation (IFC) within the WorldBank Group based in Washington, as an Advisor to the
Petroleum Minister. Prior to finding employment in Qatar, he worked in Libya for six years for two
assignments in Benghazi and Tripoli dealing with the Management of Oil & Gas Data.
Page 6
Page 7
INTRODUCTION
The story of stratigraphy in Qatar started as early as 1816 when Halul island was first discovered
and positioned on maps by the early European explorers of the Arabian Gulf2. More than one
century had to pass before Anglo-Persian Company, economically driven by the potential of finding
oil, judged it worthwhile to pay a visit to the mainland. Since then, and especially after the
discovery of oil in 1940, a good number of geologists have mapped, in detail, the surface and
subsurface formations of the country. The early geologists in Qatar, having no stratigraphic
information to correlate with Saudi Arabia, did their very best to name and correlate the formations
using only reports and studies originating from Iraq which had first discovered oil much earlier at
Kirkuk and where huge efforts have been made since to name and map the most important outcrops
and subsurface formations.
Over the years each new stratigrapher on the scene in Qatar would refine the work of their
predecessors. The lexicons made public in the 1950s and 60s in neighbouring countries would
help in this task however, some of the earlier interpretations made in Qatar were never corrected to
reflect the information in these Lexicons. These discrepencies in the nomenclature started to appear
when correlating from a country to another. There was also a tendency for the eastern side of Qatar
to correlate with Abu Dhabi and the western side of Qatar to do the same with Saudi Arabia/Iraq.
The draft of what would have been the first official stratigraphic lexicon of Qatar in 1959
[Appendix 4, Supplement] had been written by only one man (Walter Sugden) who worked
diligently at it since his arrival in Qatar in 1951. Unfortunately, this first draft was never published,
for reasons explained in the text, until an updated version appeared in 1975; this one incorporating
newly acquired geological knowledge of the subsurface added by A. J. Standring and a detailed
description of the surface formations by Claude Cavelier.
In 1984 QP/Qatar agreed to update some of the Formation names used in the Lexicon as an attempt
to unify the nomenclature country-wide (Hamam, 1984 & Cobb, 1985), however, none of the
updates were ever formally presented to the public and thus in the years following the update,
authors of articles on the geology of Qatar were still using incorrect terminologies.
The problems faced by todays geologists and explorationists in their day-to-day work in Qatar, and
by Qatar Petroleum (QP) as the custodian of all the geological data in the country, are many. On
one side, all post-1975 attempts at unifying the use of formation names had either failed or were
never made public; today, for instance, the onshore and offshore still use slightly different
nomenclatures. Moreover, the 1975 Stratigraphic Lexicon itself remains as of today the only
publicly official reference document on formation names, lithologic composition and formation
correlation within Qatar and with its neighboring countries; it would greatly benefit to be updated
with new information acquired in and out of Qatar since its first appearance.
The 1975 Lexicon was an attempt to unify the formation names. While it was well received by the
oil & gas and scientific communities, there were always some authors who preferred to stick to the
pre-established nomenclature; e.g: using Simsima member instead of Umm Bab member of the
Dammam formation. It is also important to note that the 1975 Lexicon does not discuss the PreKhuff (other than the Wajid just below) and as of today (2015) no formal description of the Pre2
The term Arabian Gulf is used in this publication however, the reader must be aware that earlier authors used the
term Persian Gulf to define the same body of water located between Iran to the northeast and the Arabian Peninsula to
the southwest
Page 8
The Pre-Khuff section of Qatar is composed of a thick sequence of siliciclastic deposits, which are estimated to be
approximately 7500 feet in thickness. Six wells to date (2012) have penetrated the Pre-Unayzah (Hercynian)
Unconformity in Qatar, with three of these in Dukhan. The most recent well, Jasseseyah-1, tested gas from the Unayzah
and Jauf and has validated a working Pre-Khuff hydrocarbon system in Qatar. The three deepest Pre-Khuff
penetrations in Qatar reached total depths in the Qasim Formation, and demonstrate a stratigraphic succession and
hydrocarbon system comparable to the prolific Paleozoic Hydrocarbon System of Saudi Arabia. The main source rock
of the system is the Early Silurian Qusaiba Shale, which is expected to underlay the entire Qatar Area. The Qusaiba
Shale averages about 750 feet in thickness, with a well-developed hot shale at its base. The two primary Pre-Khuff
reservoir targets are sandstones of the Early Permian-Late Carboniferous Unayzah Formation and the Early Devonian
Jauf Formation. Both reservoir units are very well developed in Qatar, with the Unayzah having up to 300 feet of net
reservoir thickness and the Jauf up to 200 feet of net reservoir. (Wender 2012)
4
Excellent books by Mr. Mortons son (Michael Quentin Morton) on the history of hydrocarbon in the Middle-East are
available commercially.
Page 9
SECTION A
The surface geology of the offshore islands
The Honourable James Ashley Maude (Maude, 1817), Captain of his Majesty's ship "Favourite"
made the discovery of eight islands on the 13th , 14th and 15th of July 1816 in the Arabian Gulf
during a cruise for general protection of trade. The islands in question were (as they were spelled in
those days) Dauss, Jaramain, Arzenie, Dalmy, Seer Beni Yass, Danie, Sherarow and Hawlool; the
last two now being within the Qatar borders (spelled Shraouh and Halul today).
Sherarow appears low with two small hummocks on each extremity and off the northern
point at half a mile a small rock projects above water, and a few smaller rocks off some
white sandy bays at the foot of the hummocks, which appear formed of dark metallic
substance: the island is a narrow and about 3 or 4 miles in length: in a north western
direction from the isle, the coast ought to be approached with care as it is very low but
said to be clear of shoals. The channel between Danie and Sherarow is clear of shoals,
but the overfalls are rather sudden; but we had not less than 3.75 fathoms, sand and a
mixture of white coral.
Hawlool appears high in the centre gradually decreasing at each extremity; no trees
and no appearance of vegetation; the water deep close too.
The eight islands discovered (including Halul & Shraouh) appear formed of a metallic
substance of a brownish colour, their base being formed of coral. They are said not to
produce any good fresh water, but by digging wells, I have every reason to imagine
from the appearance of the soil and what I witnessed on the island of Arzenie, the rain
baving formed high banks by the rapidity of its torrents, good water might be procured.
I do not imagine any of these Islands were equal to much cultivation without the aid of
considerable industry, but tbeir situation appears particularly convenient, as they are
placed nearly in the centre of a very extensive pearl fishery on which the finest pearls
in the world are produced, the season for the fishery from April to September; the
extent of the bank is 200 miles in length, East and West and North and South 70 miles.
Following Maudes discovery of these islands, the first systematic survey of the topography of the
Gulf was carried out between 1820 and 1829 by the Officers of the East India Company's Bombay
Marine. In 1821 Lieutenant J. N. Guy surveyed from the Trucial Coast to the tip of the Qatar
peninsula at Ras Rakkan; Captain George Barnes Brucks then continued up to the Shatt al-Arab
(Iraq). The task was completed in 1825 and the results were published in 1829 by Brucks.
Describing briefly the topography of Khor al-Odaid channel, Brucks mentioned Wakra, which was
composed of coral and small rocks and situated about ten miles east of al-Bida. [Rahman,
Halibur (2010)].
The maps (Fig. A-01 & A-02) prepared by Captain George Brucks for the United English East
India Company in 1823 and 1830 respectively show the location of Hawlool. These appear to be
the earliest existing maps on which the island is shown. The 1823 detailed map of the island (Fig.
A-01) was mapped by trigonometric calculation. In his accompanying Memoir Descriptive of the
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 10
Fig. A-01: Lt Guy & Lt Brucks map of Hawlool island (1823) done by trigonimetrical calculations.
( http://www.heritagecharts.com/mapchart.php/381/21/hawlool_island__halul_island__qatar_ )
Page 11
Fig. A-02: Portion of Brucks map (1829) outlining Qatar and its offshore islands (Provided by F. Gillespie)
The successful completion of Brucks survey in 1829 was a remarkable achievement. The survey
included comprehensive information regarding the tribes, towns, villages and resources of the
Arabian shores. However, as incorrect longitudinal information appeared in the survey, Lieutenant
C. G. Constable (son of a distinguished landscape painter) and A. W. Stiffe were employed in 1857
by the Indian Navy as the Surveyor to an Expedition to correct it. They carried out their tasks in
command of the Surveying Brig Euphrates. The revised text was published by the Admiralty as the
first edition of the Persian Gulf Pilot in 1864. The Persian Gulf Pilot was a significant
improvement on the reports of Colebrook and Brucks' on the geographical location of the towns of
Qatar. It referred to some new places, namely, Ras Abu Aboud and Doha. While the former was a
natural harbor with no settlement, the latter was a well-developed town. [Rahman, Halibur (2010)].
Page 12
Much admired by Darwin for his research Carter returned to his home town of Budleigh Salterton after
twenty years as a doctor in India. He settled in the family home of The Cottage on Fore Street Hill, better
known today as Umbrella Cottage.
While Carter spent quite some time on the Eastern coast of Arabia (Oman) in the mid 1850s, there
is actually no account of him having ever visited the Arabian Gulf. He is, however, known as the
first scientist to have written, even though very briefly, about the geology of Halul Island. In his
two articles (Carter, 1859 and 1860) he reports on some geological specimens and sketches brought
back by Lieutenant C.G. Constable. Regarding Halul Island, Carter had this to say: the little
island of Hawlool, which is outside the "Great Pearl Bank," 180 feet high, and 45 miles north of the
last mentioned, is again composed of volcanic rock capped with Milliolite.....
From the samples and sketches provided by Lieutenant Constable, Carter also continued with the
description of other islands in the Gulf, such as Hormuz and Bahrain, and even mentioned the
occurrence of naphtha floating on the waters near what is now known as Kuwait. He also makes
some important geological observations for the Gulf area in general which are quite pertinent to the
geology of Qatar and the entrapment of Oil & Gas.
Observation 1: the existence of a volcanic area, including all the islands at the eastern end of the
Gulf and part of the mainland, which is characterized by the presence of trap-diorite and a great
development of rock-salt, gypsum, sulphur, pyrites, specular iron-ore, etc..
Observation 2: When were the volcanic islands of the Gulf raised above the sea? This seems to
be answered by the position of the Miocene formation at the island of Kishm, which, resting upon
these rocks, and being capped with a material which must have been deposited at the bottom of the
sea, proves that the elevation of these islands, or this volcanic out-burst, took place after the
5
When the Asiatick Society was created in 1784 in Calcutta, India, all the thirty European gentlemen who had
assembled accepted its membership and the purpose of its existence which was later written in its first Memorandum of
Articles: "The bounds of investigations will be the geographical limits of Asia, and within these limits its enquiries
will be extended to whatever is performed by man or produced by nature". Throughout its existence the Society
underwent several name changes; its current one (2014) being The Asiatic Society. But by the mid 19th century,
however, it was known as "The Asiatic Society of Bengal".
Page 13
In 1908 he published an account of his eight month long expedition to the Arabian Gulf which he
had undertaken few years earlier from November 1904 to June 1905. During this relatively short
period in which he had to arrange for his own land and sea transport, we owe him the first colored
geological map of the countries surrounding the Arabian Gulf (Fig. A-05), especially outlining the
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 14
Fig. A-04: Diagrammatic Section from north to south through Bahrain (Pilgrim, 1908)
He then proceeds by making the first geological description of what was to become later the Rus
and Dammam Formations which are very well defined in Qatar (Table A-01);
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 15
Fig. A-05: Geological sketch map of the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman with adjoining portions of Persia and Arabia (Pilgrim, 1908)
Page 16
Pilgrims description
Hard pale coloured limestone containing numerous
flints
2 Hard pale coloured limestone without flints, sometimes
containing a few foraminifera and echinoids
3 White limestone containing foraminifera in plenty,
weathering with a peculiar frosted appearance
4 A yellowish layer with thin bands of biscuit shale,
sometimes sandy, abounding in shells, especially
Ostrea elegans var. exogyroides and sharks teeth, no
foraminifera.
5 A soft chalk-like limestone of a dazzling whiteness, in
parts clayey, in parts with calcareous nodules,
containing nodules of ironstones. There are a few
darker sandy layers intercalated and one 6-inch band of
smooth unctuous shale
Table A-01: Geological description of what was to
1
Thickness
(ft)
12
Rus Formation
9
18
0.5 to 2
40
TOTAL
81
In addition to the above, he also described at a locality across the plain to Djebel Dukhan (Bahrain),
about 2.4 kms away from the cliffs, a soft sandy marl containing abundant quartz geodes. This is
assumed to be part of the Rus Formation since the same geodes occur in this formation in Qatar.
The geodes in Bahrain, however, are mostly known to contain oil (Figs. A-07 & A-08) while in few
instances the oil has dried up. This phenomenon has never been observed in Qatar even though
Cavelier (1970) made a reference to a location near Simsima with geodes containing oil. A
conversation with Dr. Cavelier in 2014 revealed that only one such geode had been found after
breaking opened several hundreds of them. While investigating the location of Simsima, the
present author could only find geodes containing dried up recent organic material.
Using all the above information, Pilgrim then drew the first known geological sketch map of
Bahrain (Fig. A-06)
Page 17
Fig. A-06: Geological sketch map of the Bahrain islands, Arabian Gulf (Pilgrim, 1908)
Pilgrim did a remarkable work in such a short period to explore the Arabian Gulf and in the
conditions he describes. His observations of the land and geology of many Gulf countries would
become the basis that many scientists who were to follow him would use in their own studies.
However, because the science of geology was still at an early stage back then, some of his opinions
on certain topics such as the formation of gypsum and the origin of oil are not to be taken seriously.
He wrongly suggested that the gypsum is of volcanic origin - effusion of sulphurous fumes (pages
33, 132) and completely disregards the possibility of it forming in a drying sea (sabkha). He also
associates the formation of petroleum in the Gulf to volcanic activities (pages 145-146).
Page 18
-------A visit by British mineral prospectors to Halul Island was made in July 1909. Iron oxide deposits
were discovered in varying quantities, but often powdery and mixed with stones and mud.
Evidently it was not considered worthwhile to proceed with the removal of the mineral from the
island. (Gillespie, 2002)
The next known/published record on the geology of Halul Island and the other offshore islands is
somewhat much later. We have to wait until 1967, then 1970, 1988, 2004 and 2008 to obtain a
more accurate description of the units. It is also known that Qatar Petroleum keeps updating the
surface geological map of Halul; its first version was presented to the public during a GIS
conference in 2011 in Doha.
Until the middle of the 20th Century, the island was used as a shelter by fishermen during storms.
Sailors and pearl divers also used the island as a resting station during their long voyages in the
Gulf collecting pearls. In the mid-1950s, with the drastic increase in oil exploration and production
in territorial waters around Halul the importance of the island increased and attention was given to
its usage as a loading terminal for vessels transporting tools and equipment needed for exploration
and drilling operations.
In the early 1960s the importance of Halul Island further increased with the start of oil production
from offshore oilfields in Qatar territorial waters close to the island. Eventually, Halul became a
loading terminal for crude production from those fields with the preliminary infrastructure
developed between 1964 and 1966 ( www.qp.com.qa ), once the sovereignty over the island had
been settled diplomatically (February 1962.6 ) after several years of negotiation between Qatar and
Abu Dhabi.
In 1869 a buoy from the harbour of Basra, at the northern end of the Gulf, got adrift and was eventually thrown up on
the shoreline of Halul island. An assistant to the British Political Resident in the Gulf wrote to the ruling sheikh of Abu
Dhabi, asking for assistance with its retrieval. From this date onwards the British had regarded the ruler of Abu Dhabi
as overlord of the island. (Gillespie, 2002).
Page 19
Page 20
Fig. A-09: First geological map of Halul Island, scale 1:10,000 (Nicol, 1967)
Later, Cavelier (1970b) in his Geological survey and mineral substances exploration in Qatar
gave a fairly detailed account of the geology of the offshore islands (Halul, Shraouh, and Ishat). A
brief summary is given below:
Page 21
Fig. A-10: Halul Island with its current oil related installations. (from QPs 2011/12 Annual Reports)
Page 22
0.35 m
About
0.50 m
From
0.15 to
0.20 m
0.10 m
Not
mentioned
1.10 m
From
0.25 to
0.30 m
0.05 m
0.05 m
Max.
Page 23
0.15 m
From 0
to
0.02 m
2.30 m
0.15 m
0.07 m
0.15 m
1.05 m
0.70 m
Not
mentioned
The accurate dating of the series encountered in Ishat is not directly possible, as no typical
fossil was found. The whole unit seems to correspond to old calcareous muds deposited in a
quite shallow (abundance of Pelecypods and particularly Cardium) marine environment.
Owing to the evolutive conditions of sediments, a pre-Miocene age must be excluded; these
deposits may be compared to those of the hillocks encountered to the south of the Niqian Qatar,
the Miocene age of which seems to be established with regard to the Djebel al Odeid. A
detailed study of this massif would probably allow the Ishat deposits to be correlated with the
Miocene series ; however, Djebel al Odeid lies in Abu Dhabi [now reported to be within Qatar
even though it was within Saudi Arabia for a long time] territory and was not surveyed. As a
first estimate, owing to their marine nature, the deposits of Ishat were related on the map to the
Lower Dam Formation.
-------Seltrust (1979) was hired in 1977 to ....undertake a programme of geological and geophysical
work, both ground based and airborne...designed to achieve a qualitative, quantitative and economic
assessment and to determine the development potential of the mineral occurrences and to determine
the reserves of the mineral occurrences in Qatar considered by mutual agreement between the
Industrial Development Technical Centre (IDTC), the employer, and Seltrust to have forseeable
commercial development potential.
The research resulted in nine (9) volumes which detailed all possible mineral occurrences in the
country, including on Halul island. The geological map of Halul surveyed by Seltrust is shown in
fig. A-11. The only mineral occurrences that were outlined as having possible commercial value
were gypsum and haematite, the latter with its derived red ochres. The gypsurn mainly occurs either
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 24
Fig.A11:GeologicalmapofHalulisland(Seltrust,1979).QPinstallationswereremovedfromtheoriginal
Page 25
Fig. A-12: Lithologic Section of Halul Island Fig. A-13: Stratigraphic Section of Halul Island
(Sadooni et al, 2004)
(Nasir, 2008)
Page 26
Fig. A-15: Geological map of Halul Island Fig. A-16: Geological map of Shraouh Island (Sadooni,
(Sadooni, 2004).
2004)
The volcanic rocks of Halul and Shraouh islands are the only rocks of igneous origin known to be exposed in
Qatar. They are also the oldest.
Page 27
Page 28
Table A-05: Stratigraphic relation of the Hormuz Formation (HF) in Sir Bani Yas Island
The Miocene rocks surrounding the plug are gently dipping in all directions. The Pleistocene rocks
around and within the plug are nearly horizontal. Some Pleistocene rocks (within the salt plug) are
disturbed and occupy different elevations with different dips. Their collapse may be due to solution
and leaching of the underlying evaporites. Sinkholes (few meters deep) are common. Field evidence
suggest that salt piercement is post-Miocene.
Fig. A-17: Distribution of Hormuz salt plugs in Arabian Gulf. 1: Dalma, 2: Sir Bani Yas. 3: Gebel Dhana
Page 29
Page 30
In academic circles his book never received the acclaim which it deserves. In England, scholars
were avid for precise geographical information and scientific facts, and expected any traveler in
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 31
Page 32
Fig. B1-02: Itinerary followed by Palgrave during his 1862-63 travels through Arabia. ( www.wikipedia.org )
Page 33
In 1925, the Colonial Office approved Anglo Persian Company's application to survey the peninsula
and the way was clear for the first geologists to visit. The survey party was led by geologist George
Lees with Haji Williamson as guide (Figs. B2-02 & B2-03). Captain Smith from the British-Indian
Army joined them. Lees chartered a thirty-five ton motor launch and set sail from Bahrain on 1st
March 1926. Before reaching Doha, however, bad weather and rough seas forced them to seek
shelter for the night in a small cave near Fuwairat on the north-eastern coast of Qatar. As the sun
rose next morning, Lees went for a walk along the jagged shore. Seeing something black and shiny
in the bright sunlight, he stopped to pick it up, turning it over in his hands. It was a piece of bitumen
washed up by the sea, probably the result of submarine eruptions of oil (Morton, 2010a).
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Fig. B2-07: Geological map of part of South-East Arabia on the scale of 48 miles to the inch, or 1 :
3,041,280. (Lees, 1928b)
Page 37
Page 38
Fig. B3-02: Bertram Thomas and the party that accompanied him in the crossing of the Rub al Khali
(Thomas, 1932)
Throughout his journey, Thomas collected several fossils which he kept preciously with him and
which he handed-over to L.R. Cox for palaeontological description. Appendix II of his publication
Arabia Felix reports Cox findings as follows:
The fossils collected by Mr. Bertram Thomas in his traverse of the Rub' al Khali,
like those obtained on his previous expedition, are all from a white limestone of
Middle Eocene age. They come partly from the southern part of the Rub' al Khali
interior and partly from the low-lying plain beyond Misaimir, in the hinterland8 of
Doha, on the Persian Gulf. The Eocene limestone thus seems to be the most
widespread sedimentary formation in this part of Arabia. The following species
are represented; all those identified specifically are forms discussed in a recent
paper by myself on mollusca from the Eocene of India (Trans. R. Soc. Edinb., vol.
lvii, pt. I, No.2, 1931).
From the Rub' al Khali Interior: Ostrea brongniarti (Bronn), thick depressed left
valve (near Ramlat Ubaila); Lucina pharaonis, (Bellardi), two internal casts
(Kharaimat Fasad); Hippochrenes, cf. amplus (Solander), internal cast
(Kharaimat Fasad).
From the Plain beyond Misaimir, Doha hinterland: Ampullospira, cf. oweni (d'
Archiac and Haime), Gisortia sp., Campanile sp., all internal casts.
The above determinations confirm a preliminary report on the age of the fossils
made by Dr. J. A. Douglas, palaeontological adviser to the Anglo-Persian Oil
Co., Ltd.
8
Page 39
Page 40
Fig. B3-03: Empty Quarter journeys of Thomas (green), 1930-31 and Philby (orange), 1932
9
The name Bahrain- two seas, applied originally to the whole area from Doha to Qatif. The islands that are today
called Bahrain were in early times known as Awal.
Page 41
Page 42
Fig. B3-06: Qarn Abu Wail where Philby collected the first Miocene samples from Qatar. This
hill is today officially recognized as one of the points separating Qatar with Saudi Arabia.
the lower slopes of the hill were full of interest. A few fossils I had picked up
at the base proved to have slipped down from a thick fossiliferous stratumperhaps a 100 feet or so-underlying a 50 foot thickness of unproductive sandstone
at the top. I soon had a couple of haversacks full of these relics of an ancient
oyster-bed, which has proved to be of Miocene age; and I was gratified at finding
also a single well-fashioned flint implement.. Our descent by another route
proved to be no easier than the ascent but in due course, loaded with fossils, we
reached the bottom and mounted our beasts to visit Sikak
Once his journey of the Rub al Khali was completed all fossil and rock samples collected were
presented to Dr. L.R. Cox of the Anglo-Persia company for description and analysis. His
description follows:
Page 43
Page 44
At daybreak on 25th August 1932, Mylles and Haji Williamson on the S.S. Khuzistan arrived off Doha. Charles
Mylles represented a new breed of negotiator, the managerial face of the company, quite different from the folksy,
amiable style of Williamson. He was an Anglo Persian manager from Abadan, a man of firm views and an unwavering
belief in the rightness of his cause. He did not suffer fools gladly, and his reports were peppered with comments about
the "stupid", "greedy" or "complete oafs" he had to deal with. But he was a canny negotiator, well versed in the ways of
palm tree diplomacy. Morton (2010b)
11
On 27th August, Mylles and Williamson returned to Doha to see the Sheikh. Mylles had sent ahead the presents - two
hunting rifles flown out from London - and it was a happy Sheikh that now greeted them. At one point, he mentioned
(as if in passing) the high price of petrol. Mylles took the hint and offered him 100 free tins of BP motor spirit. This the
old man accepted and within minutes a two-year agreement for 1500 rupees per month was agreed. Morton (2010b)
Page 45
Fig. B3-08: The Chevrolet brought in to Qatar by Shaw & Cox in 1933 (QP Website, www.qp.com.qa )
Page 46
Fig. B3-09: First geological sketch map of Qatar (Shaw & Cox, 1933). Approx Scale: 1:250,000
Page 47
Group Name
Alluvium
Beach deposits
Dune Sand
Iraq
Gravels
Quaternary
Thickness
Rock Types
Clays, sands, etc..
Calcareous sands, shelly
limestone
Characteristic Fossils
None
Recent mollusca,
foraminifera, etc..
Up to 60 ft
Disconformity
Loose or poorly consolidated
Usually less gravel composed of quartz,
than 1 ft
chert, limestones and some
igneous and crystalline pebbles
None
Miliolite
Up to 50 ft
106 ft
Lower
Miocene
Miocene
(Burdigalian)?
55 ft
82 ft
10 ft
?
Abaruk Beds
40 ft
Eocene
(Lutetian)
50 ft
10 ft
Dolomitic limestones
20 ft
Eocene
40 ft
20 ft.+
Foraminifera and
Mollusca of Recent
types in lower beds
Archais adunca,
Dendritina ranger,
Miliolidae, etc..
Ostrea latimarginata,
Placuna sp.
Large gastropods;
Lituonella sp;
Coskinolina sp;
Radiate
Nummulites
Dictyoconoides
kohaticus, Alveolina
elliptica, Nummulites
atacicus, etc..
?
Ca 5 ft. +
Gypsum
Fig. B3-10: The general succession of the rocks exposed on the Qatar peninsula. Shaw & Cox, 1933
Page 48
A hard, laminated dolomitic limestone, about 10 feet thick occurs 20-30 feet
below the top of this group:
At the base there is a hard band of limestone less than one foot thick with
abundant Miliolidae and a small species of Alveolina.
10 feet
4 feet
2 feet
12 feet
Soft, yellow, white and brown marls and shales with thin limestone bands.
Abundant Dictyoconoides Kohaticus, Nummulites spp., few Alveolina cf. elliptica,
sharks teeth, fragments of a small ribbed oyster: abundant limonitic nodules and
selenite crystals.
20 feet
Soft, brown, dolomitic limestones with some banded layers and thin interbedded
yellow shales. No identifiable fossils, occasional traces of shell fragments.
20 feet
12
Note 1: At that time Shaw & Cox could not make out if the Abaruk beds were of Eocene or younger age; today they
are the top member of the Middle Eocene Dammam Formation as per the 5 members below them. Note 2: Today the
Abaruk Beds are spelled Abarug Member, with a G, as defined by Cavelier in the 1975 Lexicon
Page 49
White or yellow massive limestone with large Gastropods, cf. Cidaris sp., sparse
Nummulites and Coskinolina or Lituonella.
10 feet
Hard, white limestone with a thick shelled oyster and abundant Alveolina cf.
elliptica. Nummulites sps.
20 feet
Yellow marls and shales with abundant N. atacicus and other Nummulites,
Dictyoconoides kohaticus, and echinoid spines; fish-teeth and thin oyster shell
fragments (cf. O. bellovacina) also present. Limonitic nodules and selenite
crystals
38 feet
Alternating hard, dolomitic limestones and yellow marls with selenite crystals and
quartz-lined geodes near the base; the limestones contain badly preserved
Nummulites and shell fragments; no fossils were obtained from the marls.
20 feet
Outside of the Dukhan anticline, in the main body of the peninsula there is one natural outcrop
exposing a section comparable in thickness with those of Djebel Dukhan. This remarkable outcrop
occurs in a solution cavity or sink hole known as Dohl Misfir, some 8 kms southeast of Ghafat.
The following section was measured by Shaw & Cox in this cavern (Fig. B3-13):-
Page 50
(exposed on the surface and in the entrance to the cavern) massive cream or white
and pink limestone with large Campanile like Gastropods Coskinolina sp., and
sparse Nummulites.
56 feet
6 feet
12 feet
5 feet
4 feet
28 feet
Well bedded, white, limestones alternating with thin yellow marls or shales.
12 feet
149 feet
Total
Fig. B3-13: First description of the stratigraphy observed within the Misfir cave. The
uppermost 88 feet resemble the upper massive limestone of J. Dukhan; the thickness is here
nearly double. Below there are 49 feet of well-bedded, yellow marls and limestones similar to
but 20 feet thinner than the middle group in Dukhan. At the base the white chalk closely
resembles the lowest beds exposed in Dukhan though the quartz geodes were not found here.
Unfortunately it is not possible to back this suggested correlation with palaeontological
evidence, except in the case of the uppermost limestones. The middle group, in spite of careful
search, failed to reveal any trace of organic remains. At the close of the survey, the cave was
revisited and the upper part of the well-bedded, middle group examined again to find the rich
Alveolina-Dictyoconoides horizon which outcrops at the surface only five miles away at
Ghafat but without success (Appendix 2). The evidence however, of the general sequence and
similarity in total thickness is too strong to allow of any other correlation with the Dukhan
beds. It is possible that the upper fossiliferous part of the Dukhan middle group being here
developed in a massive limestone facies, the characteristic fossils do not appear. (Shaw &
Cox, 1933)
While no Eocene gypsum beds were seen anywhere at the surface of Qatar, Shaw & Cox inferred
the presence of such bed below the base of this sequence from material thrown out of a well.
Near Umm Al Thurus a well had been recently dug to a depth of more than 100 feet and we
were able to examine material that had been thrown out (Fig. B3-14). The surface in this
locality was of the upper massive limestones. The debris contained a considerable amount of
yellow marly limestone and yellow shales evidently representing the middle group though
none of the material was very fossiliferous. Some specimens contained small Nummulites.
The white chalk group was represented by typical samples and there was in addition a
considerable amount of
i Mottled red and green marl
ii Green marl with nodular gypsum
iii Massive dark-coloured gypsum
These last three types lay on top of the pile of debris and, according to men who took part in
the digging, the material lay in the above order (i) on top. The well was said to have been
Page 51
13
Fathom is a unit of length equal to six feet (approximately 1.8 m), mainly used in reference to the depth of water
Page 52
MIDDLE CHALKY
GROUP
GYPSEOUS GROUP
6 ins.
8 feet
3 feet
1 foot
9 feet
1 foot
2 feet
1 foot
10 feet
2 feet
4 feet
3 feet
6 feet
1 foot
14 feet
4 feet
6 feet
1 foot
8 feet
2 feet
4 feet
2 feet
8 feet
1 foot
4 feet
1 foot
4 feet
2 feet
12 feet
1 foot
23 feet
2 feet
10 feet
1 foot
4 feet
1 foot
5 feet
1 foot
24 feet
6 feet
2 feet
1 foot
2 feet
4 feet
2 feet
Page 53
Page 54
They finally concluded that the prospects of success in drilling on Qatar are clearly much less
favourable than they would be in similar circumstances within the normal folded zone of the IraqPersian geosyncline, but there is a fair chance that a profitable field may be developed in Djebel
Dukhan. The prospects for the main structure of the peninsula however are more speculative but, if
subsurface conditions are favourable, it would contain a much greater accumulation of oil.
Detailed geological mapping would be necessary to exploit economically an oil field in Qatar but
further surface evidence, from the peninsula itself, will not throw more light on the question of
whether or not oil is there in commercial quantities.
They recommended that a well be drilled near Daaisa on the crest of the Djebel Dukhan structure.
If this well should prove successful, detailed mapping of the main structure should then be
undertaken before locating a test well or wells on that anticline. A full field season of six months
for two geologists would be necessary to elucidate the exact form of this structure.
At that time, the party had no knowledge of the stratigraphy and structure at depth but, since the
surface rocks were clearly of Eocene age as in Bahrain, both anticlines seemed first-class prospects
for Cretaceous oil.
In the course of their return from Qatar, Shaw and Cox met Sir John Cadman, the Chairman of
Anglo-Persian Oil Company and Iraq Petroleum Company, who was en route to Tehran, and gave
him an oral report of their findings. Shaw soon returned to the United States because of failing
health and Cox wrote the final report. Their work was followed up in the winter of 1933-1934 by a
precise survey of a critical traverse to determine the amplitude of the main anticline of the
peninsula, which Shaw and Cox had outlined only by aneroid readings in their reconnaissance.
William E. Browne, chief topographical surveyor, and D. C. Ion (Fig. B3-17), geologist, of AngloPersian, made the survey on a line selected by Cox. The report, written by Browne, was presented
on January 15th 1935 (Browne W. E., 1935). In years 1934 and 1935 Mylles (and Haji
Williamson) returned several times to Qatar to negotiate a long term concession with Sheikh
Abdullah. On May 17th 1935, Mylles put his signature to a concession agreement signed in Doha
for a period of 75 years in return for 400,000 rupees on signature and 150,000 rupees per annum
with royalties (Al-Othman, 1984). In the evening, Sheikh Abdullah sent round two rugs to Mylles
with a friendly letter asking him to accept them as a momento of his time in Qatar. Although it was
against Company rules to accept such gifts, Mylles did not have the heart to turn them down. "It is
quite impossible to explain the position to the Sheikh, who would regard a refusal as an insult to
himself." That noted, he took his leave and departed. With this agreement signed, Anglo-Persian's
option was converted into a formal concession (Fig. B3-16) to Qatar Petroleum Company Ltd., a
subsidiary of Iraq Petroleum Company.
Page 55
Fig. B3-18
Pierre Lamare
(Ciry, 1969)
We also owe L. Picard the first cross-section from Africa to the Persian Gulf (Fig. B3-19)
Fig. B3-19: Cross-Section from Sudan (Africa) to the Arabian Gulf (Picard, 1937)
Page 56
Fig. B3-20: First colored Geological Map of the whole Arabian Peninsula, including Qatar. (Lamare 1936)
Page 57
Page 58
Fig. B3-22: A rare photograph of Mansour bin Khalil Al Hajri taken in 1933 before he lost his
eyesight (Left). Fig. B3-23 Mansour bin Khalil with his son Hamad in Dukhan after he had lost his
eyesight (Right). www.qp.com.qa
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 59
Page 60
Fig. B3-25: Williamson & Pomeyrol at the edge of the Nijian (dune area in SE Qatar) with their
vehicle during the 1937-38 survey. In his 1949 publication, Pomeyrol briefly describes on
laymans terms the phenomenom of the Singing Dunes and compares the generated sound to the
engine of a plane, or an aircraft squadron if many people run down the steepest side of a dune.
-------------------------------------From a historical point of view, we learn from Williamson & Pomeyrols report (Williamson,
1938a) that the first mechanically drilled well in Qatar is the Doha-1 water well spudded and
completed respectively on December 6th and 28th 1936 by Anglo-Persian Company. The details of
this water well and the few others that followed before the drilling of the first Qatar oil well (DK0001) are given in Table B3-01.
Lastly, aside from surveying the whole of the Qatar peninsula, Williamson also participated,
together with D. Glyan Jones in surveying the areas from southwestern Qatar to the regions which
today extend from the border of Oman and UAE. It is Williamson and Jones who gave us the first
geological description of Djebel Odaid (Table B3-02), the Miocene escarpment south of the Inland
Sea [Khor al Odaid] and currently in Saudi Arabia but which has belonged in different time periods
within Qatar, UAE (Abu Dhabi) and Saudi Arabia. (Fig. B3-27).
Fig. B3-26: Approximate location of the first water well drilled for the Dukhan oil operations [Refer to Table
B3-01 and Appendix 2]
Page 61
Location
Spud
Date
Compl.
Date
Depth
(ft)
Results
Rock
Dohah-1
Dec 8th
1936
Dec.
26th
1936
86
Abandoned because bailer was lost (top at 62 ft) and hole caved on
top of bailer to 39 ft
Limestone
with marl
(Eocene)
st
th
Dohah1A
Dec 21
1936
Feb 9
1937
486
Raiyan-1
Feb 18th
1937
April
18th
1937
605
Dec 24th
1937
Jan 27th
1938
301
Feb 8th
1938
Feb
20th
1938
205
March
2, 1938
May
30th
1938
1040
Zekrit-1
Khatiyah1
Khatiyah2
Waters from all shows very saline. From 312 ft downwards strong
smell of H2S. After shutting off the top waters with the 8 5/8" casing
a series of shows was encountered from 312 ft to bottom. as all the
shows were very saline the casing was all recovered and the well was
plugged at 100 ft.
Shows from 22 to 95 ft. 100 to 160 parts per 100,000. 324 to
bottom, very saline and sulphurous. Surface waters were fairly good
but as the aim of the well was to find artesian water, it was continued
to 605 ft. All water below 100 ft was very saline and had a
sulphurous odour. The well was abandoned.
All shows over 300 parts per 100,000. Owing to the excessive
salinity of the water the well was abandoned.
720 gallons per hour at 91 ft from surface. Very saline, greatly in
excess of 300 parts per 100,000. The water, although of very poor
quality was used for building purposes.
720 gallons per hour. 88' from surface. Very saline, greatly in excess
of 300 parts per 100,000. No good water was found. A 8 5/8" casing
was run in and the well was then tubed and equipped for pumping
water to supply the rig and camp.
Table B3-01: Details of the first mechanically drilled water wells of Qatar (Williamson & Pomeyrol, 1938a)
Page 62
Limestone
with marl
(Eocene)
Limestone
with marl
48 ft and 175
ft show
Limestone and
Marl.
Limestone
Limestone
with marl
Description
Pebbles and gravel on top of hill
Marls, pinkish white, hard, with lamellibranch casts.
Harder sandy band in marls
Marls, pinkish white, hard, with lamellibranch casts
Gypsum
Marls, white and pink, with Clausinella etc. Selenite
Gypsum, interbedded with red, ochreous marls . (Gypseous)
Gypsum, white and red, with streaks of marl containing Clausinella.
Marls, pink, with gypsum nodules.
Sandy marls with Clausinella.
Gypsum
Marls, pink, with 0.5 m shelly limestone in middle
Gypsum
Marls, pink and white mottled with gypsum nodules.
Marls similar to above but harder
Marls, pink and white mottled.
Marls, white, shelly, with sandy and gypseous streaks.
Obscured
Shelly limestone exposed on shore
Total thickness of the Miocene
Pliocene
Miocene
Thickness
(m)
1.0
3.0
0.5
3.0
0.5
7.0
4.0
3.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
7.5
1.0
21.0
9.0
14.0
14.0
4.0
1.0
95
Table B3-02: Djebel Odaid section; accurate coordinates unknown (Williamson & Jones, 1937-38:
BP plc ARC62746w)
Page 63
The Drilling of Dukhan No. 1 oil well [DK-0001] - the discovery well (1938) (Appendix 2)
In 1937, the AngloIranian Oil Company (AIOC)16 on behalf of IPC created a new company called
Petroleum Department (Qatar) Ltd. (PDL), which took over the concession and its operations. The
operations were managed from the APOC offices in Kirkuk, Iraq. This new company included:
Royal Dutch Shell 23.75%
British Petroleum Company 23.75%
Cie Francais des Petroles 23.75%
Standard Oil of New Jersey 11.87%
Mobil Corporation 11.87%
Partex (Gulbenkian Foundation) 5.1%
PDL proceeded with the drilling of the first well, Dukhan No. 1 [DK-0001], at the location which
Baker selected, on October 6th, 1938 (Fig. B3-29). The rig which was used was a fixed
construction, welded and bolted together on location. All building and drilling materials as well as
most supplies had to be transported from Bahrain to Dukhan by boats, mostly flat top barges. In the
Bay of Zekrit17 a jetty was built to receive the supplies (Fig. B3-28). Transports were frequently
interrupted by adverse weather conditions such as severe sandstorms and gales. Eventually, after
459 days, on the 8th of January 1940, Dukhan No. 1, completed at a depth of 5686 feet (1733 m),
was handed over to the Production Department as a producing oil well with a production of 4,480
barrels of oil per day (bopd). Of the 459 days from spudding to hand over, drilling and coring took
172 days.
Over the drilling period, the well was logged from 0-2326 feet by E. J. Daniel, from 2326 to 2912
feet jointly by E. J. Daniel and N. T. Langham and from 2912 to 5686 feet by N. T. Langham.
These two wellsite, or resident, geologists were responsible for virtually all operations. In
addition to gathering geological information, they also acted as mud engineers; Kirkuk did not
deem it necessary to deploy one of these valuable experts to Qatar, except at the very end of the
well when yet another fishing job was at hand. (Kok, 2012; Langham, 1940)
This short summary of the history of the well is largely based on the Final Well Report which
Daniel and Langham jointly produced. In between the bone dry technical words of these gentlemen
one can read the serious problems, often despair, about the difficulties which they encountered and
what they did to overcome these. For example: after only five days of drilling circulation was
completely lost. They carried on drilling with seawater without any returns until on November 2nd,
1938 they set the 16 casing at 934 feet. Two weeks later, on November 17th drilling resumed with
a drilling mud made up of seawater mixed with local salt and mud. The mud was made from the
16
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) was an English company founded in 1908 following the discovery of a
large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract petroleum from Iran. In 1935 APOC was
renamed the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) and in 1954 it became the British Petroleum Company (BP), one of
the antecedents of the modern BP plc.
17
The name Zekrit is spelled differently over the years and according to the topic. The use of the Formation named
Zekrit was abandoned in 1950 and splitted in the current three formations: Hith, Qatar and Fahahil. The term
Zekrit is also applied to the Bay east of Dukhan, while Zekreet is used for the name of the town located on the
Zekrit Bay.
Page 64
Fig.B328:MapshowingthelocationoftheJettybuiltforthepurposetoreceivematerialfromBahrainfor
thedrillingofDK0001(Note:Thenumbersarethesoundingsinfeettolowesttidelevelobservedupto
January16th1938).Scale1:50,000.Source:QatarDigitalLibraryhttp://www.qdl.qa
18
A new shale deposit was later found previous to the completion of DK-0002 (16kms south of DK-0001) when it was
known from experience of the shales used on DK-0001 and DK-0002 that either a better shale mud needed to be found
or some measure be made to artificially condition the shales available. The green shale deposit known as Huweila
Shale from the Miocene Dam Formation (see front cover picture), located by road roughly 25 kilometres south of DK0002, was used exclusively in the drilling of DK-0003. One of the features of the shale is that when ground in a ball
mill it can be introduced direct to the mud stream, if necessary, by putting it through a Cement Mixer. This makes an
unloaded mud of 77 lbs. per cu.ft. which is satisfactory for ordinary drilling without treatment and can, due to its good
suspension properties, be loaded with barytes at the time of mixing or later as required. It responds well to artificial
treatment of gums and bentonites. Johnson & Storey (1971) also mapped the Huweila shale. It happens to stretch over
a length of at least 20kms from the QNCC quarry to Al-Nakhsh Hill. Further investigation by LeBlanc (2009) also has
it spreading to the border with Saudi Arabia. The Huweila shale is also very well known to archeologists since ancient
people made good use of it for potery and other artifacts. Today, it is used at the Umm Bab Cement plant. (Al-Malki
(1994))
Page 65
Eocene
The known stratigraphy and oil horizons of Bahrain were known to be approximately as follows
(Sorkhabi, 2010), Table B3-03:Thickness exposed: 290' measured section
Thickness drilled 1300'
Base of Eocene or Top of Cretaceous 1323' at first occurrence of glauconite.
Cretaceous
Thickness:
First Pay 500' Section - Shale with limestone streaks - one limestone streak having produced
sufficient oil to be called "1st Pay". Occurs 1480 to 1980' generally non-commercial.
Second Pay (= Bahrein Oil Zone) ("Main Pay") 100' thick. Consists of porous gray limestone with
interbedded shales with underlying shales, lenticular siltstones and fine sandstones, highly productive
in certain parts of the field. The "Main Pay" lime and these porous siltstones pays are called
collectively the "2nd Pay".
Average depth "2nd Pay" wels is 2250'
Water level is - 2175' below sea level giving an oil column of 375' in "2nd Pay".
Producing section = 1950' to 2325' using elev. of wells average 150' or producing section
of 1800 to 2175 subsea.
Third Pay is encountered between 2700 and 2800 feet but so far commercial production found in only
1 well. It occurs sporadically in a thick section od porous limestone with shale breaks.
Fourth Pay - (Deep Pay) (Damman or Arabian Oil Zone) - Gas and distillate between 4165 and 4640'
- vertical extent and potentialities of the dark oil zone are not determined as yet.
The deepest Bahrain well (Well No.52) was believed to have the following tops and an elevation of
189' (Table B3-04):1635
1865
1875
1990
3375
3674
3960
3970
4030
4260
4781
5162
5225
The starting horizon of Dukhan No.1 was 86.75 feet (26.45 m) below the "Alveolina Bed" marker
and the Well was expected to reach the Bahrein "2nd Pay", its first objective, at 2200 to 2250
feet. The equivalent horizon was actually encountered at 2408 feet (Top Mauddud Limestone) but
commercial oil was not found. This being the case the Well was continued, in accordance with the
agreed policy, to search for lower productive zones, if any, and in particular for the Bahrein "4th
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 66
Fig. B3-29: The Qatar discovery well, DK-0001. Picture from QP Website, www.qp.com.qa
A post drilling analysis of the stratigraphy of the Dukhan No. 1 well [DK-0001] revealed the
following with regards to the formations penetrated (for clarity, we include here also the equivalent
names known today) (Table B3-05):Depth (ft)
0000 - 1010
Bahrein
1010 - 1656
Tayarat Limestone
1656 - 2408
Khatiyah
1656 - 2072
Upper Khatiyah beds
2072 - 2408
Lower Khatiyah beds
2408 - 2589
Mauddud Limestone
2589 - 3038
Rutbah Sandstone
3038 - 5047
Musandam
3038 - 4151
Upper Musandam beds
4151 - 5047
Lower Musandam beds
Mauddud
Nahr Umr
Thamama Group
5047 - 5686
Hith
Qatar
Fahahil
Zekrit
Page 67
Page 68
Page 69
The units now named the Hith, Qatar and Fahahil Formations were originally treated as one, the Zekrit Formation.
Name abandoned in 1950.
20
A sandstone formation, now recognised only in outcrops in the Rutbah and Wadi Hauran area of Iraq. The name was
originally applied to Middle Cretaceous sands of Albian or Cenomanian age in Iraq. It was used, in 1940, to describe
the Albian terrigenous clastics encountered beneath the Mauddud Formation in Dukhan Well No. 1. In 1950, following
the definition of a more precise equivalent unit in south Iraq, the name Rutbah Formation was replaced by Nahr Umr
formation in Qatar
Page 70
Fig. B4-01: Example of a fault seen in the Rus Formation at 252619.52 and 50472.66
2) A thickness of about 68m (Fig. B4-02) is visible on the surface (Rus & Dammam Formations).
Unfortunately it was not possible to find a complete section, or several sections of this
thickness, which would have allowed knowing and locating all the formations. This was
expecially true for the thick limestone between the top of the Alveolina bed and the base of the
21
Unfortunately, we were not able to locate Mr. Mortons geological report of that area.
In those days the surface formations of Qatar had not been given their present names. Only the Abarug beds (then
spelled Abaruk) on the Ras Abaruk peninsula had been previously named by E.W. Shaw and P.T. Cox during their
1933 geological reconnaissance and also used subsequently by Williamson & Pomeyrol in their 1938 geological report.
22
Page 71
Fig. B4-02: Marks used for the mapping survey between the North End of Qatar and DK-0002 with their
vertical distance to Alveolina bed, by Max Chatton, Divisional Palaeontologist. 1:300. Dated: 25-9-1948
While Chatton & Mortons reports shedded some light on the overall thicknesses of the
formations/members exposed on the Dukhan anticline, the results were essentially the same, and
after completion in 1949, very little surface investigation was found to be worthwhile. The
Geological surveys revealed the Dukhan anticline and the main peninsula high, exposing mainly
beds of Eocene age, with Miocene resting unconformably upon them mainly in the southwest.
(Morton 1976).
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 72
Associated with the Central Mining Corporation of London; joint operation in the Gulf was in the name of the
International Marine oil Company, formed ad hoc and registered in Canada.
24
Please refer to one of the footnotes under The 1969-70 Geological Survey of the Surface formations of Qatar
towards the end of the chapter discussing the 1960s and which mentions about a contradiction with Caveliers 1970b
report..
25
The report we took this information from ( BP plc ARC62746w) does indeed mention Djebel Nakhsh, however,
since there is no sign on this djebel of any prior gypsum exploitation, it is assumed that the location is in fact Djebel An
Nafkhah located just 3.4 kms to the SW; where extraction is still on-going by QNCC
26
We assume that the quarry in Umm Bab had already started exploitation of limestone by the time gypsum started
being exploited in Djebel Nakhsh
Page 73
Page 74
Page 75
Page 76
New Names
Top of Aruma
Top of Nahr Umr
Top of Thamama
Top Riyadh
The other markers (top of Khatiyah Unconformity, top Mauddud Limestone, and top No. 1, 2, 3 and
4 Limestones) were to remain unchanged.
Page 77
Pleistocene
Miocene
Uplift
with
strong
folding
Subsidence
? Uplift
Oligocene
Subsidence
Eocene
Upper
Middle
Lower
Uplift
Subsidence
Uplift
Subsidence
Cretaceous
Upper
Uplift
Subsidence
Middle
Uplift
Subsidence
Lower
Jurassic
Upper
Middle
Lower
Triassic & older
Uplift
Subsidence
Uplift
SEDIMENTS
Terraces; miliolites; fresh-water limestones; dune sands; alluvial
clays, sands and gravels
None known
Neogene
Continental
Sands, etc.
DIASTROPHISM &
VULCAMISM
AGE
Subsidence
Massive limestone
Not known (no well had reached that depth at this time in Qatar)
Page 78
Fig. B5-04: First geographical map of Qatar compiled from the air photos of the 1947 survey (Browne, 1952)
Page 79
At the outbreak of WWII he found himself stranded in Iraq [Fig. B5-06]. As a Smout, June 21st 1980
foreigner he was rounded up and routinely imprisoned. Nobody in Iraq knew quite
what to do with foreign nationals. He told tales of supplementing the meagre porridge he was fed each day
by catching cockroaches, which he fried on the single pot-bellied stove in the barracks where he was
imprisoned. After being in prison, his love of food was a pleasure he enjoyed for the rest of his life.
Eventually he was released, but with no possible way of returning home to England through war-torn Europe
he decided to go to India. Travelling alone, only with what he could carry, he made the 3,200 km journey
largely across deserts safely. He joined the Indian army, where he was made an Officer [Fig. B5-07]. His
particular role in India was in surveying, mapping and printing remote parts of India on a mobile printing
press, in case the war should ever extend to those remote regions.
After WWII he married Dr Joan Haythorne, a newly-qualified doctor whose family lived in the next door
house to his own family in England. Alan had bought a car which he had laid up on bricks before the war to
preserve the tyres and on his return to England was one of very few young civilians with a motor car.
During the 1950's he worked for the Iraq Petroleum Company [Fig. B5-08]. With a young family he didn't
wish to leave for long periods while working abroad and fearing future unrest in the Middle East, he joined
British Petroleum where, apart from oil exploration, he spent time developing computer programmes to
describe and plot a completely new class of recursive spiral for which he had written the formula. These
spirals were mirrored by the tests of foraminifera and he had many examples.
He was an early adopter of computers, working on the famous Eniac IV computer at the BP research facility
in Sunbury-on-Thames. He continued to compute his spirals until his death, although the work was never
published. Nature once rejected a draft as being too technical and specialised for their audience.
Taking early retirement from BP, he applied and was accepted as curator of the Booth Museum of Natural
History in Brighton, UK, a job for which he was hopelessly over-qualified but which nevertheless amused
and occupied him. At this time his knowledge of computing was put to good use and he established a
practical working database system to catalogue all the various collections which came under the care of the
Brighton Pavilion, which included the Booth Museum.
In his later life he took a keen interest in cosmology and felt that much was wrong with many theories
currently in vogue, citing the reason for this as the fact that astronomers generally know very little geology
and geologists very little astronomy. His extensive and deep mathematical abilities allowed him to be able to
take his geology into cosmological realms with ease.
Socially he was a keen traveller and camper and he became secretary of the Motor Caravanners Club. He
also fund-raised extensively for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a UK charity dedicated to saving
lives at sea. In later years he was a tutor for the Open University.
27
The text in the framed area, and all pictures, were generously provided by Dr. Alan Hilder Smout's daughter and son,
Dr. Elizabeth Harding (n Smout) and Mr. John Smout ( js@jsdesign.co.uk ), ( www.jsdesign.co.uk ).
Page 80
28
The study does not mention which wells but must certainly include DK-0001, DK-0002 and DK-0003
Page 81
TERTIARY
TIME UNITS
Eocene
Group
Early
Hasa
ROCK UNITS
Formation
Member
C
B
Umm er
Radhuma
A
SALWA
Late
Simsima
Maastrichtian
Aruma
Middle
Ruilat
Coniacian/
Santonian
Halul/Laffan
Mishrif
Cenomanian
CRETACEOUS
Janaan
D
C
Ahmadi
Wasia
Mauddud
Albian
Nahr Umr
B
A
BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC
UNITS
1-Lockhartia Acme Zone
2-Acarinina broedermanniA. pentacamerata
Assemblage Zone
3-Lockhartia prehaimei
Range Zone
4-Omphalocyclus macropora
Local Range Zone
5-Orbitoides faujasii
Local Range Zone
6-Gansserina gansseri Interval Zone
7-Hedbergella planispira
Local Range Zone
8-Dictyoconella minima
Range Zone
9-Asterohedbergella
asterospinosa
Total Range Zone
10-Hensonina lenticularis
Total Range Zone
11-Orbitolina qatarica
Total Range Zone
12-Asanospira diyabi
Total Range Zone
Table B5-02: Foraminifera content of the Cretaceous & Tertiary formations over the Dukhan field (Al-Hitmi, 1994)
Page 82
Fig. B5-09
Walter Sugden
1960 picture at the
Department of Earth
Sciences, Oxford
University
In searching logs and cuttings for the source of high-pressure sour gas which caused a blow-out in Murban1 (UAE), he noted indications of oil saturation in the A and B zones of the Thamama reservoirs which had
not been recognized in the course of drilling. In a sense this represented the discovery well of the Murban
field. With a colleague he correctly interpreted faulting in Fahud 1 (Oman) and recommended drilling a
further well, which, drilled some years later by another company, located the first Oman oil field.
Sugden had a very large measure of independence and a strong interest in research. When he was unable to
obtain leave of absence to work for a higher degree he resigned (in 1959) and commenced study at Oxford.
Unfortunately he was not able to get the release of certain specific data, so a major part of his presentation,
although sound in arguments and conclusions, was not accepted by the examiners in 1961 (Appendix 4).
He then obtained a lectureship in the Geology Department at Townsville, Australia, then an extension
college of the University of Queensland.
Much of what he did has not been written up, perhaps because he was his own sternest critic. His
publications were concerned with a variety of subjects structural analysis, recent sedimentation, Arabian
Gulf hydrology, the development of pyrite, dreikanter, etc... His interests at Townsville (now the James
Cook University) included Devonian structure and stratigraphy, recent sedimentation and experimental
devices.
Walter married three times. He married his first wife (Mable Mulzac, 1927-2008) on January 3rd 1946 in
Trinidad & Tobago and had only one son (Clive Sugden born July 18th 1946) who still lives in Trinidad
(Personal communication). His second wife, Kate, died in 1971 in Australia (date of marriage unknown).
They had two children; Hugh and Christina. Ten months prior to his death, Walter married his third wife,
Elly (full name unknown).
Page 83
The ultimate objective of Sugdens work was a detailed stratigraphic nomenclature, with the intent
of including it as a Supplement to his thesis (As mentioned above, the latter was presented in
1961 but rejected by the examiners) and having it published as the first Qatar stratigraphic Lexicon
[Appendix 4, Supplement]. On June 12th 1959 W. Sugden handed over to the Sub-Commission
of the Stratigraphic Lexicon the text of the Qatar fascicle and it was accepted for publication. The
printing of the Qatar fascicle however had to be postponed for several reasons29:
29
A.J. Standring (also discussed in a subsequent chapter) accepted in early 1963 to undertake the amendments and
improvements to Sugdens work. He became quickly aware of the necessity to perform a deep reshuffling but he
endeavoured to respect as much as possible the original version. Walter Sugdens Stratigraphic Lexicon of Qatar,
revised and completed by A.J. Standring, was presented to the Sub-Commission on August 30th 1971 and published in
1975 [Appendix 6].
Page 84
The secretary of the Sub-Commission was planning to gather into one fascicle the
various Lexicons of the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula (project that was later
cancelled).
With new information obtained as a result of the drilling of the Dukhan Deep Test
Well (DK-0065) in 1959, a revision of some sections became necessary (see Dukhan
Deep Test below)
Exploration rights in offshore Qatar waters were assigned and held fully by Shell
Company of Qatar (S.C.Q.) from the period since 1952 this lead to the discovery
of two commercial oilfields in the 1960s, at Id-al-Shargi and Maydan Mahzam (to be
discussed in a subsequent chapter). This company adopted the stratigraphic
terminology used by Q.P.C., but found it necessary to define some additional
formations not recognized in the onshore area and also modified the sense in which
certain formation names were applied.
In Sugdens original report [Appendix 4, Supplement] a large number of unit names were
adopted from B.P.C. nomenclature. Such names were used where units could be readily correlated
which had already been named in the B.P.C. area. Various names were also adopted from
ARAMCO nomenclature. These however were mostly group names and very few formation or
member names were taken from ARAMCO. This was due to the absence of precise formal
definitions of the smaller ARAMCO units. While Sugden had a certain amount of information on
the smaller ARAMCO units (e.g. the Buwaib, Yamana and Sulaiy) he did not have enough to
enable him to correlate precisely between the ARAMCO units and the Dukhan succession in the
Q.P.C. area. Thus, while ARAMCO names were used for the groups, subdivision into formations
was based almost entirely on the Dukhan and B.P.C. succession. (See Sections in Appendix 4, end
of Supplement). In his own words (Sugden, 1954 unpublished report):
The division of the corresponding outcropping Aramco section into units is based on its
topographic expressions as benches, scarps and dip slopes. This is an entirely
satisfactory method for outcrops but it is dependent on the behavior of the rocks towards
weathering agents. In well sections however, particularly where there is some lateral
change of facies, the breaks which give weathering features at the surface are not always
apparent. This is so in the case of the Qatar section and it is not possible to correlate
between the Qatar section and the outcropping Aramco section on the basis of available
descriptions of lithology. Consequently it has been found necessary to divide the Qatar
section into units according to its own attributes and to correlate with Aramco units by
fossil range information. The application of this method has resulted in the following
approximate correlations:
QATAR UNITS
Darb Formation
Diyab Formation
Araej Formation (above Uwainat Member)
Uwainat Member
Araej Formation (below Uwainat Member)
Izhara Formation
Gulailah Formation
Suwei Formation
ARAMCO EQUIVALENT
Combined Jubaila and Hanifa
Formations
Upper four fifths (approx..) of Tuwaiq
Mountain Limestone
Lower fifth of Tuwaiq
Upper Dhruma
Upper part of Middle Dhruma
Lower part of Middle dhruma and
Dhibi Limestone
Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of Lower Dhruma
(Bramkamp) and upper Marrat
Middle Marrat
Page 85
Fig.B510:GeologicallogofwellDK0048(StaffofQP,1956)
Page 86
Page 87
X
X
Brachycythere wellingsi
Cytherella bilobata
2010-2190
2050-2190
X
X
Eobuntonia ? curta
2050-2160
Eobuntonia seminuda
2020-2160
2050-2150
Cythereis ? dukhanensis
X
X
2020-2030
2010-2030
2030-2040
2020-2030
2020-2060
2030-2050
2020-2100
2050-2250
2020-2030
2060-2150
2670-2680
2190-3100
2540-2550
2195-2935
2195-3100
2200-3150
2200-2220
2570-3100
2640-2650
2370-3000
2500-2900
2525-3200
2520-2690
2465, 2650-60
2620-2840
2640-3175
2930-2940
2640-3100
2640-3100
2640-3100
2640-3000
Haplocytheridea bramkampi
Haplocytheridea subovata
X
X
Brachycythere hasaensis
Cytheropteron qatarense
Anchycythereis quadrata
Bairdoppilata orientalis
X
X
X
Mesocythereis hensoni
Krithe pyriforma
Cythereis hindei
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Paracypris glabrans
Bairdoppilata sp.
Monoceratina compressa
Cytherelloidea kuwaitensis
Cytheropteron sculptum
Amphicythereis bahreinensis
Amphidentina nasri
X
X
X
X
Cytheropteron burganensis
Cytherella dammamensis
Clitherocytheridea dunningtoni
X
X
Depth (feet)
Very Rare
Rare
Common
Type Locality
DK-0045
Depth (feet)
Very Rare
Rare
Common
Type Locality
Abundant
DK-0042
Table B5-03: Cretaceous
Ostracods Ranges in two
Dukhan Field wells. (Sayyab,
1956)
2210-2250
2210-2250
2210-2220
2210-2250
2210-2220
2210-2250
2210-2220
2210-2250
X
X
2220-2250
2220-2230
2230-2240
2210-2240
3000-3200
2900-3000
2800-3100
Amphicythereis hasaensis
X
2740-3100
Monoceratina trituberculata
X
4810-4820 ??
Bythocypris oblongus
X
2210-2250
Macrodentina cretacea
X
3020-3030
Note 1: Monoceratina trituberculata is not in DK-0042 well section, but is mentioned in the text on page 61. Depth is
doubtful
Page 88
Fig. B5-12: Qatar portion of the Geologic map Fig. B5-13: Qatar portion of the Geologic map of
of the Western Persian Gulf quadrangle the Central Persian Gulf quadrangle (Bramkamp
(STEINEKE et al. (1958)).
et al (1961)).
Page 89
This map gives a good idea of the general structure of Qatar and localizes the main groups of
outcrops except for the South of Qatar which is not represented. By comparison with Caveliers
1969-70 surveys [discussed in a subsequent chapter], presented at a different scale, and taking also
into account the different subdivisions adopted on each map, particularly for the Eocene, the map is
on the whole accurate, though may lack in detail; more especially the extension assigned to the
outcrops of the Rus Formation (including the Midra Shales) is often too exaggerated, particularly
in the north-eastern part of Qatar. The divergences in the limits of the Eocene-Miocene contact in
the south-western region of Qatar result probably, partly, from a difference in interpretation of the
poorly fossiliferous nodular calcareous deposits, lying between the Eocene and Miocene. The
Q.P.C. geologists attributed these beds to the Miocene, while Cavelier classified them as Eocene,
and compared them to the Abarug Member, typical in the region of Dukhan and the Alat Member
of Saudi Arabia. (Cavelier 1970b).
30
Page 90
Fig. B5-14: Geological map Jameson (1959), revised from Brown (1949) [no other info available]
Page 91
PLEISTOCENE?
Middle
Dammam
Eocene
Lower
Rus
NAME
Blown Sand
Sabkha
Depression muds
and silts
Miliolite
Abaruk Bed31
Abaruk Chalk
Surface Dolomite32
Simsima Chalks33
Including red Bed
Alveolina Beds34
Midra Shale
Rus Chalks (base
not seen)
THICKNESS (ft)
0 50?
0 10
0 - 60
Ca. 6
Ca. 35
Ca. 80
Ca. 30
4
0 - 10
180
UER (concealed)
Page 92
Fig. B5-15: 1/100,000 maps (North Sheet) from Le Grand Adsco, prepared by Stevenson (1959)
Page 93
Fig. B5-16: 1/100,000 maps (South Sheet) from Le Grand Adsco, prepared by Stevenson (1959)
Page 94
Age
Palaeocene
Upper Cretaceous
Middle Cretaceous
L. Cretaceous-Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Jurassic
Trias-Permian
Permian or older
Palaeozoic
Unit
Lithology
Limestone
Lst., dol. And shale
Lst., shales and sst
Limestone and shale
Anhydrite & Limestone
No. 3 Lst Limestone
No. 4 Lst Limestone
Darb
Limestone
Diyab
Argillaceous Limestone
Araej
Limestone
Uwainat Limestone
Ishara
Limestone
Gulailah
Lst., dol. And anhydrite
Suwei
Marl, sst., lst. & anhyd.
Bahrein Unit A
Dol., lst. and anhydrite
Bahrein Unit B
Sandstone
Unknown
? Shales and sst.
Hasa
Aruma
Wasia
Thamama
Riyadh
Table B5-05: Predicted Formation Sequence in Dukhan Deep Test well DK-0065 (R. Milne, 1959)
The well was also cored at various levels. Examination of a thin streak of micaceous siltstone in
Core 35 at 12560 revealed a large impression of an organic structure35. The Divisional
Palaeontologist, A.J. Standring, decided to forward the small core specimen to Dr. White, then
curator at the British Museum of Natural History in London. Dr. White identified it as the right
anterior-lateral plate of a new arctolepid arthrodire i.e. it comes from the dorsal part of the base of
the right pectoral spine of one of these fish (Figs. B5-18 & B5-19). The age confidently suggested
by Dr. White was Lower or Middle Devonian. Ten years later, the same Dr. White wrote an article
on the specimen (White, 1969) and named the new fish Qataraspis Deprofundis.
Figs. B5-18 & B5-19: Part and Counterpart of the right anterior-lateral plate of a new arctolepid arthrodire
called Qataraspis Deprofundis. (Pictures taken in October 2012 by Dr. Ivan J. Sansom from the University
of Birmingham).
35
It is rare to find fossil remains of vertebrates in cores. The most common fossils found are invertebrates such as
small bivalves; however sometimes bigger invertebrate are discovered such as in wells DK-0040 and in DK-0051
which display in the Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks (respectively) imprints of ammonites
Page 95
Page 96
Fig.B522:MobiledrillingplatformMU1gettingreadytodrillMatbakh1(M1).
Page 97
1941
1942
20
30
40
50
Thousand Feet
10
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
World War II
1940
1939
60
Million Tons36
1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Note: Cumulative Oil Productive for Onshore only. Offshore production started in
1964
36
There are more or less 7 barrels of oil per Metric Tons. One barrel weighs about 140 kgs.
Page 98
1959
Table B5-10: Relationships of the several Lower Cretaceous units in Iraq (Dunnington et al, 1959)
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 99
ROCK UNITS
Hofuf Fm
Dam Fm
Hadrukh Fm
THICKNESS
(m)
(Type Section)
AGE
95
Miocene or Pliocene
90
84
Unconformity
Dammam Fm
Rus Fm
Umm er Radhuma Fm
28
56
About 229
Aruma Fm
144
42
Unconformity
Wasia Fm
Unconformity
Biyadh Sandstone
About 270
Lower Cretaceous
34
Lower Cretaceous
Yamama Fm
58
Lower Cretaceous
(Neocomian)
Sulaiy Limestone
About 180
Lower Cretaceous?
Riyadh Group
Hith Anhydrite
Arab Fm
Anhydrite
Limestone, dolomite and anhydrite
71
127
Jubaila Limestone
Limestone
Hanifa Fm
Tuwaiq Mountain Lst
Limestone
Limestone, mainly coral-bearing
101
215
Dhruma Fm
383
Marrat Fm
111
Middle Jurassic
(Bajocian Bathonian)
Lower Jurassic (Toarcian)
315
About 326
116
235
Triassic or Jurassic
Middle Triassic
Permian or Triassic
Permian (Probably Upper)
276
Over 200
About 725
Over 600
Buwaib Fm
Unconformity
Disconformity
About 110
Unconformity
Unconformity
Minjur Sandstone
Jilh Fm
Sudair Shale
Khuff Limestone
Unconformity
Jauf Fm
Tawil Sandstone
Tabuk Fm
Saq sandstone
Unconformity
Basement Complex
Page 100
Wikipedia ( www.wikipedia.com ) tells us indeed that Standring Inlet (660'S 613'W) is the easternmost of three
inlets on the north coast of Jason Peninsula, Graham Land, Antarctica. It is 9 nautical miles [17 kms] long and is filled
with ice shelf. It was surveyed by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1953 and named in 1956 by the
FIDS for Anthony J. Standring, geologist at Hope Bay in 1953 and 1954, who visited Jason Peninsula with the survey
party.
Page 101
A compilation of his 1961 & 1962 reports put together is summarized below:
It was recognized that certain subdivisions of the Qatar succession were of local significance only and that
redefinition of some formations would simplify correlation with other areas. It was also seen that, in one
case, comparison with stratigraphy to the north would be made clearer by replacing a local name (Khatiyah)
with one of more widespread application (Ahmadi).
The revision followed the recognition, in other Company areas of operation, that formations are often
diachronous, having faunas diagnostic of different ages in different locations. Thus formational units are
not synonymous with time-units and do not necessarily contain the same fauna everywhere.
The revised rock unit classification for Qatar (excluding offshore) was presented in August 1962 and
compared together with the previously used nomenclature (Table B6-01). The changes were:
1) Reverting to earlier practice, two formations were recognized in the Upper Cretaceous, the Simsima
and Ruilat formations which together comprise the Aruma Group.
2) The name of the formation lying between the Mishrif and Mauddud formations was changed from
Khatiyah to Ahmadi. The use of the latter name recognized its similarity in facies to the formation
of the same name in Kuwait and South Iraq. Its limits in Qatar are those of the former Khatiyah fm.
3) On grounds of regional correlation, the sequence between the base of the Shuaiba formation and the
top of the Yamama formation of Qatar was now designated the Ratawi formation in its entirety. It
thus includes the former Hawar and Kharaib formations, which are relegated to the status of
members, to be retained for the time being for local convenience.
4) The former Gulailah has been subdivided into two new formations. The upper, carbonate unit, not
recognized in the type section of the Gulailah (in well Kharaib No. 1), is of probable Lower Jurassic
age and is so far unnamed. An unconformity separates this formation from the underlying redesignated Gulailah fm whose fauna and relative position supports a probable Middle Triassic age.
5) The Suwei formation, which underlies the Gulailah is approximately comparable with the Lower
Triassic Sudair formation of Saudi Arabia both faunally and in lithology. The two formations are
not, however, strictly the same.
6) The clastic Bahrain Unit B yielded a Devonian fauna in its lower part. It is believed, however, that
its upper part may be younger in age, spanning, in part at least, the interval between Devonian and
the overlying Permian Bahrain Unit A.
Note: We also compare the onshore and offshore nomenclature used in the mid 1960s in Table B6-02.
Page 102
Page 103
Paleocene
Eocen
e
Miocene
THAMAMA
WASIA
Lower
JURASSIC
Upper
ARA
B
Middle
ARUMA
RIYADH
CRETACEOUS
Upper
Middle
LOWER FARS
DAMMAM
RUS
DAMMAM
RUS
UMM ER RADHUMA
UMM ER RADHUMA
SIMSIMA
RUILAT
MISHRIF
AHMADI
MAUDDUD
NAHR UMR
SABSAB
SHUAIBA
HAWAR MBR
KHARAIB
MBR
ARUMA
MISHRIF
KHATIYAH
MAUDDUD
NAHR UMR
SABSAB
SHUAIBA
HAWAR
KHARAIB
YAMAMA
SULAIY
HITH
RATAWI
YAMAMA
SULAIY
HITH
QATAR
QATAR
FAHAHIL
FAHAHIL
DARB
DIYAB
DARB
DIYAB
UWAINAT
MBR
ARAEJ
IZHARA
Unnamed Formation
Middle
GULAILAH
GULAILAH
Lower
SUWEI
SUWEI
BAHRAIN UNIT A
BAHRAIN UNIT A
BAHRAIN UNIT B
BAHRAIN UNIT B
PERMIAN
TRIASS
IC
FORMATION
LOWER FARS
IZHARA
Lower
Carbonif. Devonian
Page 104
FORMATION
Middle
Lower
LOWER FARS
LOWER FARS
Middle
DAMMAM
DAMMAM
RUS
RUS
UMM ER RADHUMA
UMM ER RADHUMA
Lower
Paleocene
Eocene
Miocene
SIMSIMA
RUILAT
MISHRIF
AHMADI
MAUDDUD
NAHR UMR
WASIA
SABSAB
SHUAIBA
Lower
HAWAR MBR
KHARAIB MBR
YAMAMA
SULAIY
ARAB
Upper
RIYADH
HITH
SHUAIBA
HAWAR
KHARAIB
YAMAMA
SULAIY
HITH
QATAR
FAHAHIL
DARB
JURASSIC
WASIA
QATAR
DIYAB
DARB - DIYAB
Upper Araej
Middle
UWAINAT MBR
ARAEJ
Uwainat
Lower Araej
IZHARA
Lower
IZHARA
Unnamed Formation
Middle
GULAILAH
Lower
SUWEI
GULAILAH
PERMIA
N
TRIASSIC
SIMSIMA
SHARGI
HALUL
LAFFAN
MISHRIF
KHATIYAH
MAUDDUD
NAHR UMR
ARUMA
THAMAMA
Middle
ARUMA
THAMAMA
CRETACEOUS
Upper
Carbonif. Devonian
BAHRAIN UNIT A
KHAIL
SUDAIR
KHUFF
BAHRAIN UNIT B
PRE-KHUFF
38
Up until the mid 1960s, the stratigraphic nomenclature used in Qatar was based primarily on work by Qatar
Petroleum Company (QPC) geologists and modified by Shell to fit their particular needs in the eastern offshore areas.
QPC relied on information from Iraq and Kuwait, and Shell used some information from Oman and UAE.
Page 105
Fig. B6-03: Structural Contours on the Alveolina Bed of the Eocene Dammam Formation. Contour
interval = 10m (Browne & Sugden, 1954)
Page 106
M. Claude CAVELIER40, senior engineer geologist, B.R.G.M. Orlans (France). (Fig. B604)
M. Abdullah SALATT41, chief of the geological section of the Department of the Petroleum
Affairs, Government of Qatar, Doha (Qatar ). (Figs. B6-05 & B6-06)
M. Yves HEUZ, experienced assistant geologist, B.R.G.M. Paris (France).42
The aim of this team reconnaissance was to draw up a programme of detailed investigation and
exploration for minerals in the peninsula and the islands of Qatar in order to assess the possible
mineral deposits in the country, with a view towards exploiting such findings economically. For
that purpose, all available geological information were gathered and implemented by field work in
order to get a good basic, geological map at a scale ranging from 1/100,000 to 1/200,000 according
to the existing topographic or photographic materials.
Field work was initiated in the southwest corner of the country, in the Salwa/Abu Samrah area
mainly because the Doha-Salwa road was the only one leading straight to the border and because
Cavelier had a copy of Philby's geological description of the nearby Qarn Abu Wail [1933] (as
discussed earlier). The first camp was therefore near Salwa on the Qatari side, while the second
camp was up north in Djebel Dukhan by Fahahil and the third and last camp was by Sauda Natheel
near the border with Abu Dhabi (today that same border is with Saudi Arabia). The vehicles were
three Land Rovers and a Dodge Power wagon; the drivers were Bedouins, the labors Pakistani and
the cook was from French Somalia.
From the Sauda Natheel camp the entire southern border was mapped with great difficulties
because of the lack of topographical maps (the topography had to be mapped first in order to
overlay the geology) and the fact that the team got lost during one occasion in Khor Al Odaid
(Inland Sea). Aerial photos from a Hunting Geology and Geophysics Limited survey were used to
help in the mapping of all areas but their quality in the southern part of the country was very poor
39
Unfortunately, no pictures of field work have been located for the 1969-70 geological survey; however Mr. Salatt
says that he may have some in boxes somewhere. Mr. Cavelier had brought to Qatar only one film roll of 36 pictures,
and while he did use the whole roll, when he returned to France the film came out blank, probably due to extreme heat
and light exposure.
40
The present author had the pleasure to interview Dr. Cavelier in December 2013. The two interviews (in French)
total 2 hours and 12 minutes of recording time. The full transcript and translation of these recordings can be found in
Appendix 7.
41
The present author had the pleasure to also interview Mr. Salatt in December 2013. The interview totals 1 hour of
recording time. The full transcript of this recording can be found in Appendix 8.
42
Dr. Cavelier discusses briefly Mr. Heuz in his interview with the author. Mr. Salatt also says that Mr. Heuz was a
Basque from the southern part of France (Appendices 7 & 8).
Page 107
A geological map at a scale 1:200,000 (end of Appendix 9). Even though some slight
modifications and adjustments were made to it by future geologists, this map remains as a
whole quite valid today.
43
The Agreement on settling borders and ownership of islands between Qatar and Abu Dhabi was signed on March 20th
1969 [Al-Othman, 1984] just on time for Caveliers survey to assess the islands of Shraouh and Ishat.
44
http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?sum=443&code=qb&p1=3&p2=3&case=87&k=61&p3=5
45
There seems to be some contradiction with Cavelier's 1970b report and our earlier findings discussed under
Mining/Quarrying at the end of the chapter of the 1940s. Cavelier states "The survey identified one resource that
could be immediately used by the concrete industry; a supply of gypsum that was previously unknown. At that time, the
cement plants were importing all of this material from Saudi Arabia. After the mapping survey of the resource in the Al
Nafkha area took place, these companies started to mine the gypsum in Qatar and use it for local cement production".
Page 108
He married in 1955 with Maryse Bourrat and had two daughters; Myriam born in 1956 and Fabienne born in
1957. Myriam also gave birth to Claire in 1988, the only grand-child of Dr. Cavelier.
He started his professional life as a technician in 1955 with the BRGGM, which became in 1959 BRGM
(Bureau de Recherches Gologiques et Minires), and retired from it 40 years later in 1995 as the Geological
Director. During this time he wrote hundreds of technical/scientific articles.
Except for a long stay in the Antilles in 1964, he had never worked out of France when he first came to
Qatar. In 1969 Cavelier was selected to head the Qatar Project mainly on the basis that his interest and
specialization were on the geology of the Tertiary, he knew how to map, and study the useful mineral
substances. Indeed, he was an expert cartographer and had worked 10 years in a service dedicated to public
works as well as searching for useful substances.
Once the Qatar Survey came to an end, he returned to France and prepared a second contract, at the request
of the Qatari Government, that would have studied the sea water of the sabkhas and the sabkha deposits,
etc; in essence, a project that would have helped to develop the mineral resources of the country.
Unfortunately, the latter was never signed (see Appendix 7 for more details).
Between 1971 and 1973 he contributed in writing the chapter of the Qatar Stratigrapic Lexicon dealing with
the surface geology (the latter was published in 1975). Around 1973 he became the Head of the Geological
Mapping and Geology Department at the BRGM and went to Syria on few missions to train the Syrian
geologists to do detail geological mapping at scale 50,000. After Syria, he had a mapping project in Saudi
Arabia and visited its team as often as he could. Promoted as the Geological Director at BRGM in the early
1980s, he looked after several mapping & geological projects in the mountains of Oman and other arid areas
of Saudi Arabia.
During his career he was also a member, then Vice-President, then President of the International Paleogene
Stratigraphic Sub-Commission of the International Union of the Geological Sciences, so through these
functions he wandered around the world quite frequently to study the Paleogene (Caucasus, Patagonia,
etc...).
Page 109
46
The text within this frame comes from a mixture of the June 2009 newsletter of the Qatar Geological Society (QGS)
and the December 14th 2013 interview that the author conducted with Mr. Salatt [Appendix 8]
47
2517'3.52"N and 5132'26.86"E
Page 110
Miocene
Age
Pliocene
Upper
Formation
Equivalence
Upper
Dam
Lower
Upper
Middle
Eocene
Member
Hofuf
Middle
Lower
Subformation
Dammam
Abarug dolomitic
Limestone and Marl
Alat
(S.A.)
Simsima Dolomite
and Limestone
Khobar
(S.A)
Alveolina
Limestone
(S.A.)
Saila Shale
(S.A.)
Midra Shale
(S.A.)
Dukhan Alveolina
Limestone
Lower
Lower
White Limestone
(Bahrain)
Orange marl (Bahrain)
Brown crystalline
Limestone (Bahrain)
Sharks tooth
Shale (Bahrain)
Rus
Palaeocene
Upper
Middle
Umm er
Rhaduma
Lower
Possible
disconformity
Upper Cretaceous
Aruma
Table B6-03: Stratigraphical scale of tertiary rocks in Qatar as defined by Cavelier (1970a & b)
Fig. B6-07: Claude Cavelier (left) and Yves Heuz (right) with 3 friends (centre); December 31st 1969, Doha
Page 111
Formation
Principal events
Time
Quaternary
2.5 my
Surficial deposits
10 my
Miocene
Middle
Lower
26 my
Hofuf
Upper
Dam
Brackish
Evaporitic
Continental
Isolation of Qatar
Pliocene
Upper
Domain
Marine
Very
shallow
shallow
Lower
(Hadrukh)
Oligocene
37 my
Upper
Complete emergence
Middle
Eocene
Lower
Dammam
Upper
Lower
Rus
Shoal in NE
Basin isolation
Umm er Radhuma
Paleocene
65 my
Possible disconformity
Maestrichtian
Cretaceous
Aruma
Table B6-04: Schematic table summarizing the Qatar Tertiary History, as defined by Cavelier (1970a & b)
Page 112
Fig. B6-08: Structural cross-section in the Maydam Mahzam Field of Qatar showing oil and gas distribution
in the Jurassic reservoirs (al Sharhan et al, 1997)
Page 113
Million Tons48
Table B6-05: Annual Cumulative Oil Production, Dukhan & Offshore (Al-Kubaisi, 1984)
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Note: Offshore oil production started in 1964 from the Idd Al-Shargi field. In 1966, the
second oilfield (Maydan Mahzan) also started producing.
48
There are more or less 7 barrels of oil per Metric Tons. One barrel weighs about 140 kgs.
Page 114
49
In 1963, the U.S.G.S. published the first complete map (1-270A) since Lamare (1936). (Fig B6-11)
Page 115
Fig. B6-10: Generalized Geologic map of the Arabian Peninsula (Powers et al, 1968)
Fig. B6-11: Generalized Geological map of the Arabian Peninsula (U.S.G.S, 1963)
Page 116
Fig. B6-12: Schematized regional correlation of rock units, Southern Iraq, Part A. (Al Naqib, 1967)
Page 117
Fig. B6-13: Schematized regional correlation of rock units, Southern Iraq, Part B. (Al Naqib, 1967)
Page 118
Fig. B6-14: A Correlation of the Tertiary formations from wells in the A.D.M.A. Concession (Fox et al
1967)
Fig. B6-15: Suggested Correlation of the Middle Cretaceous succession in Abu Dhabi Marine Areas with
adjacent wells (Fox et al 1967)
Page 119
50
Note that Bahrains central point is also called Djebel Dukhan; not to confuse with the Djebel Dukhan of Qatar
Page 120
51
Hunting Surveys Ltd was well qualified to undertake the task, having gained much experience in this field as one of a
consortium of companies which carried out the Saudi Geodetic Project to a specification prepared on the advice of an
international team of acknowledged experts.
Page 121
Page 122
Page 123
Fig. B7-01: Cross-section across Saudi Arabia and Qatar (Schlumberger, 1975)
Page 124
Fig. B7-02: Cross-section across Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Iran (Schlumberger, 1975)
Page 125
Fig. B7-03: Generalized Mesozoic stratigraphic sequence (left) with revised lower Cretaceous terminology
(right) as proposed by Schlumberger, 1975
Page 126
Halite
Anhydrite
Dolomite
Calcarenite
Limestone
Marl
Page 127
Quaternary
Pliocene
Upper
Members
Marine,
shallow
Environments of sedimentation
Marine Lagoonal and
Continental
evaporitic
littoral
Middle
(Helvetian)
(Burdigalian)
Lower
Dam
Miocene
(Pontian)
(Tortonian)
Formations
Hofuf
Age
Upper
Lower
(Aquitanian)
Eocene
(Lutetian)
(Cuisian)
(Thanetian)
Middle
(Montian)
Lower
(Damian)
Umm er Radhuma
Paleocene
Upper
Abarug
Umm Bab
Dukhan
Lower
Upper
Lower
(Ilerdian)
Upper
Rus
Middle
Dammam
Oligocene
Upper
(includes zones
5 and 6 of
Smout)
Lower
(zones 1 to 4 of
Smout)
Table B7-01: Summary of the Tertiary stratigraphic series of Qatar (Sugden et al, 1975). This figure updates
the age of the Dammam Formation compared to Tables B6-03 & B6-04 above.
Page 128
FORMATION
Lower Fars
HASA
Dammam
Rus
UER
ARUMA
Simsima
Fiqa
Halul
Laffan Shale
Mishrif
WASIA
Ahmadi
Mauddud
THAMAMA
Nahr Umr
Shuaiba
Kharaib
Yamama
Sulaiy
Hith Anhydrite
Qatar
Fahahil
Darb
Diyab
Araej
Uwainat
Izhara
Gulailah
NOTES
Exposed on the flanks of Dukhan field. This unit can be traced as a continuous development into the type
area in the Fars Province of Iran. The USGS has termed the Lower Fars as Dam Formation in southern
Qatar.
This unit forms the surface of a large part of Qatar. Subdivision has been done: Units 1 and 2 are the
Abaruk beds, Unit 3 is the Upper Limestone, and Unit 4 is the basal Midra Shale. The type section is the
rimrock on the Dammam Dome in Saudi Arabia; final uniformly deposited marine carbonates.
Considered to represent the terminal, shallow-water phase of the Paleocene to Lower Fars sedimentary
cycle. Type section is below Umm er Ru'us on the southeast flank of the Dammam Dome in Saudi Arabia.
Uniform lithology over a large area. Basal shale-marl member was formerly called the "Shammar Shale."
Type locality is near Umm Radmah wells in Saudi Arabia. Shallow-water depositional environment.
At the contact with the Umm er Radhuma Formation, there is a distinct change in fossils, from Cretaceous
to Paleocene. The type section is DK-0028. The Simsima was named to correct correlation difficulties with
the Iraq succession. Has been subdivided, on the basis of fossil assemblages, into the Salwa and Jana'an
members. Shallow-water depositional environment.
Has been further separated into the Arada and Shargi members. Found in the Qatar offshore and by one
well in the Dukhan field, DK-0051. Shallow-water depositional environment. In Shell area, the Shargi
Formation is equivalent to the Fiqa Formation.
Shell correlation places the lower 82' of the type section into the Laffan Formation. Shallow-water
depositional environment.
Basal unit of the Aruma Group. Good marker bed that is widespread.
Eastward from Dukhan, the carbonate Mishrif thickens and the Ahmadi shale thins until it does not exist in
the Abu Dhabi onshore. Type section is Zubair-3 in southern Iraq. Shallow-water depositional environment.
Present in some offshore areas and correlated by Wintershall in the Qatar Marine B-1 and B-2 wells. Type
locality is Burgan-62 in Kuwait. Shallow-water depositional environment. Replaced Khatiyah because of
ambiguity.
Very widespread and distinctive. Sometimes referred to as "Orbitolina concava Limestone". Shallow shelf
carbonate that ended the Albian cycle of sedimentation begun by the terrigenous clastics of the Nahr Umr
Formation.
Widespread. Type section is in Nahr Umr-2 in southern Iraq. This was the last major clastic deposition.
Type section is Zubair 3 in southern Iraq. Probably deposited in shallow platform environment. A
widespread, transgressive carbonate unit. Shell has subdivided this formation into four units down the
section: A, B, C, and D.
Widespread, especially into U.A.E. Common practice in the eastern offshore of Qatar has been to consider
the Kharaib and Ratawi as one unit (For the basal Ratawi, the type section is in Ratawi-l in southern Iraq).
A widespread unit that has the type section in the Al Qusaij'a upland of Saudi Arabia. Formerly contained
three formations: Karanah, Qartas, and Misfir.
Has a consistent lithology and is widespread. The type section is at Dahl Hith in Saudi Arabia.
The type locality is in Saudi Arabia. Widespread and disappears in Abu Dhabi. It represents the final
shallowing and infilling of a long-established Jurassic sea that caused the deposition of vast thicknesses of
limestone. The top of the Hith is accepted as a convenient time boundary between the Jurassic and
Cretaceous.
Becomes more anhydritic and thins to the east. Three limestone members in Qatar can be correlated with
the Arab A, B, and C of Saudi Arabia; from top to bottom, they are Arab I, II, and III. The Arab III was the
first producing oil reservoir in Qatar. With the Fahahil Formation, the Qatar Formation is equivalent to the
Arab Formation of Saudi Arabia.
Easily defined in western Qatar and much of Saudi Arabia. Eastward, the underlying Darb Formation
becomes dolomitized, and the contact is obliterated. In Abu Dhabi, the unit is named the Arab Darb.
Fahahil is a transition from deeper to shallower water conditions.
Contacts with the Diyab and Fahahil become obliterated toward the east. (see Fahahil Formation)
Recognized locally in Qatar.
Widespread. The Upper Araej pellet grainstones and packstones make a sharp conformable contact with the
Uwainat Member. The Uwainat grades into the Lower Araej.
Middle member (Unit 2) of the Araej Formation. Pure carbonate, grainstone to packstone with interbedded
lime mudstones. Widespread in eastern Arabia. Important oil reservoir.
Has a porous carbonate bed and becomes increasingly sandy toward the base.
Top is a widespread unconformity. A hiatus in deposition. The unit is truncated over the Qatar Arch and
probably over other structures. The unit thins sharply toward the east. Deposited in shelf conditions.
Page 129
Suwei
Khuff
Wajid Sdst.
This unit is used in Shell reports, and it is published in an article by Jose R. Dominguez, 1965, "Offshore
Fields of Qatar," 5th Arab Petroleum Congress, 57 (B-1). It represents a Permian dolomite, anhydrite, and
gypsum section, unconformable below the Gulailah Formation and conformable over the Suwei (Sudair)
Formation. This is a local marker that has been carried from Oman.
Is equivalent to the Sudair. Suwei has become entrenched in the literature. In Qatar, has more dolomite.
Sudair is from Oman.
Signifies the beginning of widespread shallow-water limestone deposition in a shallow sea. Quiet
environment. Followed clastic deposition of most of the Paleozoic. Type section is in Saudi Arabia.
Type section in Jabal al Wajid in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to helping in our understanding of the development of the startigraphy in the offshore of
Qatar, DeGolyer et al's report helps at tracing back the geodetic issues faced by the offshore
operators (mainly Shell) in those days. As stated by them, "All well coordinates prior to 1975 are
suspect. It is better to use the later Shell maps because navigation errors have been discovered.
The Decca system was set up in the Arabian Gulf in the 1950's. The purpose was for navigation and
lacked the accuracy for well positioning. Decca received new data and, in 1974, moved one of
these stations. They established a new coordinate but did not announce it. The error correction was
insignificant for navigational purposes. A pipeline survey by Shell revealed the errors. Shell
corrected the coordinates. A flowmeter campaign in 1975 verified these corrections. Shell has
corrected all field wells and the seismic surveys run before 1976. Shell PED Report No. 75, March
1977, is the reference for these corrections."
Seltrust Engineering Limited (Seltrust, 1980)
Since oil was discovered in the country, Qatar had conducted few air photograph surveys. As
mentioned earlier, the first one took place in 1947 while the second and third ones took place in
1958 and 1971 (it is assumed that Cavelier had access to the 1958 photos to help him in his 1969-70
geological survey). These three surveys are considered the Historical Surveys of Qatar.
Thereafter aerial photo surveys became more frequent. In 1977 the Industrial Development
Technical Centre conducted Qatars fourth survey. This coincided with this same department hiring
Seltrust Engineering Limited of London to undertake a programme of work to investigate the
mineral potential of the State of Qatar. Field work commenced in January 1978 and was completed
12 months later in January 1979. A supplementary part of this programme was the production of an
updated geological map, at scales of 1:100,000 and 1:200,000, using as a base the new 1:100,000
topographic maps prepared in 1980 using the 1977 aerial photographs, by Hunting Surveys Limited
for the Ministry of Public Works, Engineering Services Division.
For the purpose of preparing the new map (Fig B7-05), the State of Qatar was separated into areas
(a) where the map was based primarily on interpretation of the 1:36,000 scale air photography
flown in 1977, and elsewhere (b) on the 1970 geological map of Qatar. In both cases data obtained
during the extensive 1978 field work by Seltrust Engineering Limited was used in reconciliation.
During the course of the work, it became clear that the 1970 geological map was well founded and
that the main need for revision was the relocating of the geological boundaries to conform to the
new topographic base. The main differences between the 1970 map and the new 1980 map are :i
ii
iii
iv
Page 130
This work resulted in one geological map of the country (edition 1980) at scale 1:200,000 (Fig B702) and four sheets at scale 1:100,000 representing the North, North-Central, South-Central and
South quadrants.
From the point of view of the stratigraphy used, however, there are some points which remain
unexplained. At some occasions the conventions agreed in the 1975 Lexicon are being respected
and in other occasions they are not (we know Seltrust had access to the Lexicon since it is provided
as a reference). See the below table for the outline of these differences:
1975 Lexicon (section by Cavelier)
The spelling of Abaruk Member as used since 1953
is changed to Abarug Member
The Middle Eocene Simsima dolomite and limestone
Member, homonymous to the Maestrichthian
Simsima Formation of the Petroleum Geologists is
renamed Umm Bab dolomite and limestone
Member, from the name of a locality where this unit
is well exposed.
Page 131
Fig B7-05: Geological map of Qatar (Seltrust Engineering Ltd, 1980). Note: The original map we used for
this image had been stained by humidity; thus the brownish color seen especially to the left of the map.
Page 132
Fig B7-06: Structural cross-section in the Bul Hanine Field showing oil and gas distribution in the Jurassic
reservoirs (Al-Sharhan et al, 1997)
Page 133
Fig B7-08: Cross-section through the North Field illustrating the stratigraphy of the Permian Khuff
Formation with two significant markers (upper and middle anhydrite) and discovery well NWD-1. (AlSharhan et al, 1997)
52
Agreement on the sea boundaries between Qatar and Iran signed on Sept 20th 1969 (Al-Othman, 1984)
Page 134
Million Tons53
Table B7-03: Annual Cumulative Oil Production, Dukhan & Offshore (Al-Kubaisi, 1984)
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1970
53
1979
1980
There are more or less 7 barrels of oil per Metric Tons. One barrel weighs about 140 kgs.
Page 135
Fig. B8-01: Landsat interpretation of the geological map of Qatar (Hunting 1983).
Page 136
Page 137
Page 138
Page 139
In light of the above, the new stratigraphic columns of onshore & offshore Qatar were drawn and
distributed (Figs. B8-02 & B8-03). (Hamam, 1984 & Cobb, 1985) [Appendix 10].
The final results of the 1985 OAPEC meetings are shown in three charts for the Middle East. These
are given in Appendix 11 as:
Chart 1: Paleozoic in Middle East (OAPEC)
Chart 2: Mesozoic in Middle East (OAPEC)
Chart 3: Cenozoic in Middle East (OAPEC)
Having scrutinized these charts, however, the author has noted several discrepancies between the
1985 OAPEC correlations and the terminology agreed on (and presented to OAPEC) during the
internal meetings that took place in Qatar in 1984. The OAPEC charts and Lexicon do not offer
any explanations to why such important differences exist. Until someone can explain them, the
present author recommends using the agreed 1984 terminology as the basis for further correlation
studies within the country. Some of these discrepancies are as follow:
Page 140
Page 141
Fig. B8-02: Qatar Lithostratigraphic and Reservoir Units for QGPC (Onshore Operations) (Cobb, 1985)
Page 142
Fig. B8-03: Qatar Lithostratigraphic and Reservoir Units54 for QGPC (Offshore Operations)
(Hamam, 1984)
54
The Shuaiba Formation contains Reservoir Units A, B, C and D in the Fields Area and Reservoir Units Upper and
Lower in the North Area.
Page 143
Fig. B8-04: Generalized lithostratigraphic description of Qatar formation; Part 1. (Schlumberger, 1981)
Page 144
Fig. B8-05: Generalized lithostratigraphic description of Qatar formation; Part 2. (Schlumberger, 1981)
Page 145
Fig. B8-07: Cross-Sections along (top) and across (bottom) the Qatar Arch (Schlumberger, 1981)
Page 146
AlSharhan et al (1986b) published their correlation chart of the Precambrian to Jurassic Formations
of the Arabian Peninsula at the same time as Frei [in Focke (1986)]. Their terminology is slightly
different than in Fig. B8-08 above and does not penetrate deeper than the Tawil Formation (Fig.
B8-09). This difference is however understandable since the authors probably did not have access
to the latest information from newly drilled wells.
Page 147
Fig. B8-09: Tentative stratigraphic correlation chart (Precambrian to Jurassic) across Arabian Gulf and adjacent areas (Alsharhan, 1986b).
Page 148
With a 35-year career (as of 2014) Alsharhan has experience in the oil
industry and with academia, both as professor and Dean of College of
Science at UAE University. Academia enabled him during the past 25
years to publish more than 90 scientific papers in international journals and 8 books on his research interests
which concentrate on the petroleum geology of the Middle East, water resources and integrated management
and climatic changes and desertification of the Arabian Gulf region. He also presented over 60 abstracts at
several international conferences and meetings. He was the first UAE national to be promoted to professor,
based on his academic teaching and his administration, research, participation, organization and chairing
sessions in regional and international events. He also served as reviewer for international scientific journals
such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and member on advisory board of
Journal of African earth Sciences, International Association of Sedimentology, Arabian Journal of
Geosciences and Middle East Petroleum Geosciences (GeoArabia).
Alsharhans understanding of the sedimentology, environment of deposition and Petroleum Geology of all
the formations presented in the stratigraphic columns of each of the Arabian countries is impressive. Among
other publications, he co-authored Sedimentary Basins and Petroleum Geology of the Middle East (1997)
with A. E. Nairn, Hydrogeology of an Arid Region: Arabian Gulf and Adjacent Areas (2001) with Z. Rizk,
A. E. Nairn, D. Bakhit, and S. Al-Hajari, and Water Resources in the United Arab Emirates (2008) with Z.A.
Rizk. He co-edited five books; among them Quaternary Deserts and Climate Change (1998) with K.
W.Glennie, G. Whittle, and C. Kendall and Middle East Models of Jurassic/Cretaceous Carbonate Systems
(2000) with R. W. Scott. For the most part, his collection of papers can be downloaded freely from
http://www.megeuae.com/ .
His career so far has been very diverse, starting as a Geologist at the U.A.E. Ministry of Petroleum and
Mineral Resources, 1978-80; then Research Assistant (graduate student), Department of Geology,
University of South Carolina, 1981-85; Assistant professor of geology (1986-1990);
Associate Professor
of geology (1990-1995); Assistant Dean for Research at Faculty of Science (1992-1994); Director of Desert
and Marine Environment Research Center (1990-1996); Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs (1994-1995); Professor of geology since 1995, and Dean of Faculty of Science (1995-2003). Outside
of the university he holds or has held several positions such as: Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Cement
Company (2003-present), Chairman of International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (present), and President
of American Association of Petroleum Geologist, Middle East Region from 2011-2013.
In recognition of his work and academic performance, he received several scholarships and awards, such as:
Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence, 1987; Fullbright Scholarship, 1990; Best Scientific Research
in the College of Science, U.A.E. University, 1995; Abdul Hamid Shoman Award for Best Youth Arab
Scientists in Geology, 1995; International Whos Who of Twentieth Century Achievement for Contribution
to the Field of Geology, USA, 1996, 1998, 199; Dictionary of International Biography, 1996; Certificate of
Merit for Distinguished Service, UK, 1996; Twentieth Century Award for Achievement in the Field of
Geology, UK, 1997; Millennium Hall of Fame for Significant Contributions to International Society, USA,
1997; Twentieth Century Achievement Award in Five-Hundred Leaders of Influence, USA, 1997; Diploma
of Honour Twentieth Century Award for Achievement in Recognition of Outstanding Achievements in the
Field of Geology, UK, 1997; Director General Honours List for Contribution in Research and Studies on
Petroleum Geology of the Middle East, UK, 1998; UAE Appreciation Award in the Field of Environment,
2010; Gulf Council Cooperation Personality Prize for Environment, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2013.
Page 149
Alsharhan (1994b)
Cobb (1985) Onshore
Hamam (1984) Offshore
Shows Fiqa & Ruilat Fms
Shows Fiqa & Ruilat Fms
Shows only Fiqa Fm
Ahmadi / Khatiyah
Ahmadi
Khatiya
Kharaib / Ratawi
Kharaib
Kharaib
Darb / Jubaila
Jubaila
Jubaila
Diyab / Hanifa
Hanifa
Hanifa
Hamlah is Jurassic
Hamlah is Triassic
Hamlah is Triassic
No mention of Khuff for which the
top is Triassic
Table B8-01: Comparison of Alsharhan (1994b)s Qatar Mesozoic stratigraphy nomenclature with the QP
internally approved scheme (but not used widely) discussed earlier.
Page 150
Fig B8-11 : Lithostratigraphic correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Aruma Group in the Arabian Peninsula. (AlSharhan et al, 1990)
Fig B8-12 : Lithostratigraphic correlation of the Middle Cretaceous Wasia Group in the Arabian Peninsula. (AlSharhan et al, 1988)
Fig B8-13: Lithostratigraphic correlation - Lower Cretaceous Thamama group in the Arabian Peninsula (AlSharhan et al, 1986)
Page 151
Fig B8-14: Cretaceous stratigraphy and source-reservoir-seal distribution and producing fields of Qatar. (AlSharhan,
1994b)
Page 152
Fig B8-15: Triassic-Jurassic stratigraphy, source-reservoir-seal distribution and producing fields of Qatar.
(Alsharhan, 1994b)
Page 153
Page 154
Fig. B8-16: Evolution of the Cambrian to Devonian Stratigraphy in Saudi Arabia for 1966 to 1987 (Vaslet, 1990)
Page 155
Page 156
As can be seen above, even after so much work had been done on the stratigraphy of Qatar by
Sugden, Standring, Cavelier, Cobb, Hamam and others, most companies (even QP) were still using
their own make-shift stratigraphical column. This was certainly out of necessity since no one was
willing to take the lead and enforce a country-wide QP approved column.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Page 157
Fig. B9-02: Amoco's Generalized petroleum geology stratigraphic section for Qatar (Nelson et al, 1991)
Page 158
Page 159
55
During the next 14 years (2000-2014) several authors will research the Quaternary period. Authors such as Jeremy
Jameson, Christian Strohmenger (both of ExxonMobil-Qatar and working for the Qatar Centre for Coastal Research,
QCCR, within ExxonMobil), and Michael C. Poppelreiter contributed greatly to our knowledge of the Holocene and
Pleistocene deposits of coastal Qatar.
Page 160
Fig. B9-03: Localities studied in Qatar by Fig. B9-05: Contact between Futaisi and Dabb'iya
Williams (1999)
Members at Fuwayrit (Williams, 1999)
Page 161
Page 162
Fig B9-08: Christian (1997) summarizes the Cretaceous lithostratigraphy of the Arabian Gulf countries
Page 163
Fig. B9-09: Generalized Palaeozoic stratigraphic column of the Ghawar Area (Al-Hajri (1999)
Page 164
Page 165
We do not include here the specific detail of the reference. We want the reader to realize that the issues presented in
the few paragraphs that follow are observations on the part of large international agencies skilled in geological analyses
and problem resolution - and that as late as the early 21st century, they still saw a problem that had not been addressed
for years. We want to indicate that this was an external criticism, and that the comments by the IOC showed how severe
the issue was and that imposition or calculated manipulation in the very least was considered. It positively stresses the
fact that QP/Qatar is better off doing its own work (provided it maintains focus) and set the rules for its partners rather
than the other way around.
Page 166
Page 167
Fig. B10-01: Sequence stratigraphic gamma ray interpretation of the Early Jurassic of Qatar-United Arab
Emirates (Sharland et al., 2001)
Page 168
At the time of this writing (2014), the OGV Directorate is composed of six departments; namely Exploration & PSA
Oil Development (EX), Dukhan Field Development (FD), Maydan Mahzam & Bul Hanine Fields Development
(FO), Gas Development (NF), Drilling (DR) and Technical Research Centre (TR).
Page 169
Page 170
Page 171
Page 172
Page 173
Page 174
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Further Reading
Abu-Zeid, M. and M. Boukhary 1984. Biostratigraphy, facies and environment of sedimentation of
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in the Miocene argillaceous rocks in Qatar, Arabian Gulf. Qatar University Science Bulletin, v. 7, p.
245-264.
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Chisholm Colin, ExxonMobil Development Company (2014). Driving Continuous Performance
Improvement in Qatra's North Field. IPTC 17319
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Bashari, A. 2005. Khuff formation Permian Triassic carbonate in the Qatar-South Fars arch
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Buchem (van), F., T. Krarup, H. Ohrt, I.A. Al-Emadi and K. Habib 2008. Stratigraphic architecture
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Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
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Appendices
Page 204
Appendix 1
Page 205
APPENDIX 1
The First Oil Discoveries in the Middle East
(Rasoul Sorkhabi (2010) published in Geo Expro, volume 7, no. 1.)
1940 (January):
Dukhan field (Dukhan-1 well), Qatar, by the Petroleum
Development of Qatar (a subsidiary of the AngloPersian/IPC). Reservoir: Zekrit (Arab) limestone (Upper
Jurassic), 1733 m deep; oil 37 API (Limestone 3) and
42 API (Limestone 4). Export began in 1949.
1953:
1908 (May 26):
Masjid Sulaiman field (Masjid Sulaiman-1 well),
southwest Zagros basin, Iran (Persia) by the Concessions
Syndicate Ltd. (owned by Englishmen William Knox
DArcy and Lord Stathcona, and the Scottish Burma Oil),
forerunner of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later
British Petroleum).
Reservoir: Asmari limestone
(Oligocene-Early Miocene), 354 m deep; oil 39.4 API
gravity.
1956:
Marmul field (Marmul-1 well), Oman, by Petroleum
Department of Oman (subsidiary of IPC). Reservoirs:
Umm Er Radhuma (Paleocene) 576 m deep (18 API) and
Biyadh sandstone (Lower Cretaceous) 854-976 m deep
(20.8 API). The field was non-commercial. 1963-67: The
first producing fields, Yibal (1963, depth 2275 m, 38
API), Natih (1963, depth 2202 m, 31 API) and Fahud
(1964, depth 590 m, 33.6 API) (all Cretaceous
limestone), in Oman were discovered by Shell and Partex
(Gulbenkian Foundation). Production began in 1967.
1956 (October):
Karatchok field (Karatchok-1 well), northeastern Syria,
by the American independent James W. Menhall Drilling
Company. Reservoir: Massive Limestone Formation
(Cretaceous), 3155 m deep; oil 19-21 API. Production
began in 1969.
Page 206
Appendix 2
Page 207
APPENDIX 2
Coordinates of some Qatar localities mentioned in the text
All coordinates are in degree decimals
Locality
Abu Samrah
Al Bida
Al Kharrara
Al Khor
Al Qalail
Awainat Ali
Bilad Ibrahim
Dhol Misfir Cave
Djebel An Nafkhah
Djebel Dhukan
DJebel Nakhsh
DJebel Odaid (Khor al-Odaid)
Djebel Thalata
Doha
Dukhan 1 well (DK-0001)
Fahahil
Fuwayrit
Ghafat
Halul Island
Hawar Islands
Ishat island
Jimiliya (Al Jumayliyah)
Khatiya
Khirsaat al Bahadh
Khor al-Odaid channel
Lusail
Mesaieed (or Umm Said)
Meshabiyah
Misaimir
Nasraniya
Qarn Abu Wail
Ras Abu Aboud
Ras Rakkan
Sabsab
Sakhama
Sauda Nathil (or Natheel)
Shraouh Island
Tuwair al Samir (or al Hamir?)
Umm Al Thurus (or Dhurus)
Wadi Huwaila
Wakra or Wakrah
Zekreet (town)
Zekrit 1 water well
Latitude
24.741090
25.281347
24.901984
25.674316
24.762373
25.474336
25.246667
25.175115
24.842686
25.422856
24.874080
24.566898
25.261504
25.280213
25.421967
25.286220
26.024623
25.243211
25.671667
25.681505
24.746546
25.617024
25.450471
25.061862
24.629762
25.498994
24.985573
24.737584
25.189167
25.406610
24.673275
25.284254
26.175775
24.981119
25.480877
24.555608
25.027208
24.725062
25.225022
25.066670
25.172235
25.485291
25.436693
Longitude
50.830634
51.546394
51.172035
51.508110
50.982803
50.782819
51.598056
51.211702
50.893266
50.786524
50.903528
51.406183
50.797219
51.511421
50.784681
50.794560
51.371999
51.151296
52.415000
50.766111
51.607650
51.083510
50.782831
51.166954
51.401379
51.483359
51.557335
50.895546
51.478611
51.075390
50.859493
51.575459
51.219996
51.100705
51.418467
51.074110
52.236468
51.050216
51.310276
50.827850
51.602698
50.847083
50.832991
Remarks
Border post
Now part of Doha
Page 208
Fig. Apdx 2-01: Djebel Thalata today showing Midra shale (base) and Dukhan (top) Members of Dammam Fm.
Fig. Apdx 2-02: The discovery well at Dukhan (DK-0001) today (2014)
Page 209
Fig. Apdx 2-03: The rich Alveolina-Dictyoconoides, bivalves and bioturbation horizon which outcrops at
Ghafat (Dukhan Member of the Dammam Formation).
Fig. Apdx 2-04: The author at the possible locality of the capped & abandoned Zekrit-1 water well
Page 210
Appendix 3
211
APPENDIX 3
British Museum (Natural History)
Lower Tertiary Foraminifera of the Qatar Peninsula, Alan Hilder Smout, 1954
LONDON
PRINTED BY ORDER OF
THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM
1954
Issues February 1954
Price Two pounds five shillings
212
213
214
PREFACE
In 1948 the Trustees of the British Museum published Dr. F.R.S. Hensons fundamental monograph
on the Larger Imperforate Foraminifera of South-Western Asia. Dr. A. H. Smout has now followed
with another valuable contribution to the study of Foraminifera from the Middle East, and, as
before, the material on which the work is based has been generously presented to the Trustees by
the Directors of the Iraq Petroleum Company.
Dr. Smouts systematic account of some larger Foraminifera belonging to the Rotaliidea, and also to
the Discorbidea, Miliolidea and Lituolidea, is preceded by a detailed investigation of the structure
of the test as a basis for a better understanding of the relationships of the organisms concerned. The
work was completed and ready for press in the autumn of 1951, but publication was unfortunately
delayed by external financial circumstances.
August, 1953
W.N. Edwards,
Keeper of Geology
215
AUTHORS PREFACE
This work is published by permission of the Management and the Chief Geologist of the Iraq
Petroleum Company, to whom my thanks are due for facilities for this research. It was commenced
as an investigation of the fauna from boreholes in Qatar for stratigraphical correlation under the
direction of Dr. F. R. S. Henson, whose valuable encouragement and advice have been generously
given. He suggested that the material was suitable for an investigation into the elusive relationships
between calcareous perforate Foraminifera, particularly the Nummulitidae and the Rotaliidae. The
examination of relatively simple types, such as Kathina gen. nov. has made clear the intimate
structure of the test, and given an understanding of homologies leading to a definition of the superfamily Rotaliidea and a coherent system of morphogenetic description for all families. A phyletic
link between the Rotaliidae and Nummulitidae is postulated, but in general the distinction of the
two lineages is emphasised. The evolution of non-spiral forms from spiral ones occurs repeatedly.
Certain postulated links between species with and without canal systems are rejected.
I am indebted to the authorities of the British Museum (Natural History), the late Sir Cyril Fox, Mr.
A. G. Brighton, Prof. Dr. G. H. R. von Koenigswald, and Prof. L. Picard, for access to the
collections and libraries of their respective institutions. Also to Lt.-Col. L. M. Davies, Prof. S. N.
Narayana Rao, Dr. H. B. Whittington, Mr. T. F. Grimsdale, Mr. V. J. John, and Dr. W. D. Gill for
gifts and loans of material. Discussions with Dr. F. E. Eames and Dr. W. D. Gill on the
stratigraphical palaeontology of India have been very helpful. Mr. T. F. Grimsdale has discussed
much comparative material from other regions; by his decalcification technique he has
demonstrated structures in Rotalia trochidiformis and kindly permitted me to figure them here. The
author is grateful to Dr. R. G. S. Hudson for general advice on palaeontological problems and to
Mr. G. F. Elliott for his assistance in proof reading and on bibliographical problems. Mr. C. D.
Ovey has also given much valuable advice and criticism, and has assisted in the preparation of the
manuscript for publication.
The term paratype is used to include all specimens from one palaeontological horizon within the
Jebel Dukhan area of Qatar. In the absence of outcrops it is not possible to designate a precise
locality for the new species.
The term instar originally referred to one moult of the exoskeleton of an insect, or the period
between moults. The term is applied here by analogy to the part of the test of a foraminifer formed
at a single episode, or to the duration of that episode. The layer of shell material formed at one
instar has important individuality, although the test is accretionary and there are no moults.
References to India apply to the sub-continent; certain localities mentioned are politically part of
Pakistan.
This work has been approved by the University of London for the award of the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy.
A.H. SMOUT
216
CONTENTS
Remark : The pagination below is from the original document and not from this transcript
PREFACE
AUTHORS PREFACE
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION TO THE GEOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY OF QATAR
SPECIES RANGES IN QATAR
THE TEST IN THE SUPER-FAMILY ROTALIIDEA
The Prototype
Diagnosis of the Super-Family Rotaliidea
Morphogenetic principles
Fundamental Plan of Growth
Crystalline Structure
Historical Review
Terminology and morphogenesis
Assessment of homologies
Pillars
Canal Systems
Apertures and Foramina
Nepionic Stages and Ontogeny
Evolution of the Rotaliidea
Morphological Sequences
Phylogeny
DESCRIPTION OF FOSSILS
Super-Family ROTALIIDEA
Family ROTALIIDAE
Genus ROTALIA Lamarck
Rotalia trochidiformis (Lamarck)
Rotalia hensoni sp. nov.
Rotalia dukhani sp. nov.
Genus LOCKHARTIA Davies
Lockhartia haimei (Davies)
Lockhartia prehaimei sp. nov.
Lockhartia altispira sp. nov.
Lockhartia diversa sp. nov.
Lockhartia conica sp. nov.
Lockhartia hunti Ovey
Lockhartia hunti var. pustulosa nov.
Lockhartia tipper (Davies)
Lockhartia conditi (Nuttall)
Genus SAKESARIA Davies
Sakesaria cotteri Davies
Sakesaria dukhani sp. nov.
Sakesaria dukhani var. cordata nov.
Sakesaria ornata sp. nov.
Genus DICTYOCONOIDES Nuttall
Dictyoconoides cooki (Carter)
217
Page
iii
v
ix
1
3
5
5
9
11
11
11
12
14
15
18
19
22
23
26
26
37
40
40
41
42
43
45
46
47
49
51
51
52
53
54
54
55
55
56
57
57
58
58
59
59
218
ABSTRACT
The basic structure of the test in Foraminifera of the super-family Rotallidea is discussed. The
family Rotallidae is revised. Comments are made on associated families and some new
interpretations of structure suggested for the genera Rotalia, Lockhartia, Miscellanea,
Dictyoconoides, Helicolepidina, Asterocyclina, Gypsina and others.
The new genera
Dictyokathina, Kathina and Daviesina are proposed.
The test in the super-family Rotaliidea is shown to be built of radially fibrous calcite deposited in
successive laminae, each of which encloses the whole of the previously formed test, plus any
chambers formed at the same time. Some part of a chamber wall is always perforate. There is no
individual wall to each chamber, but an internal septal flap makes septa or equivalent structures
double. The consequences of such a structure are indicated and a unified scheme of description for
all genera of the super-family is proposed.
The larger Foraminifera of the Paleocene and Eocene occurring in drill cuttings from deep
boreholes on the Qatar Peninsula of Arabia are described and figured. The following species are
recorded:
From the Middle Eocene: Alveolina elliptica var. flosculina Silvestri, A. delicatissima sp. nov.,
Dictyoconoides cooki (Carter), Nummulites discorbinus (Schlotheim), N. somaliensis Nuttall &
Brighton, Linderina brugesi Schlumberger.
From the lower Eocene: Sakesaria cotteri Davies, Lockhartia hunti Ovey, L. hunti var. pustulosa
nov., L. tipperi (Davies), Rotalia trochidiformis Lamarck, Nummulites globulus Leymerie.
From the Paleocene: Miscellanea meandrina (Carter), M. miscella (dArchiac & Haime), M.
miscella var. dukhani nov., Rotalia trochidiformis (Lamarck), R. dukhani sp. nov., R. hensoni sp.
nov., Sakesaria dukhani sp. nov., S. dukhani var. cordata nov., S. ornata sp. nov., Lockhartia
haimei (Davies), L. conditi (Nuttall), L. diversa sp. Nov., L. conica sp. Nov., L. altispira sp. nov., L.
prehaimei sp. nov., Kathina delseota sp. nov., K. selveri sp. nov., K. major sp. nov., Dictyokathina
simplex sp. nov., Daviesina khatiyahi sp. nov., D. langhami sp. nov., D. danieli sp. nov.,
Asterigerina dukhani sp. nov., Operculina sp., Dictyoconus indicus Davies.
219
220
221
Nummulites somaliensis
Linderina brugesi
Alveolina elliptica var. flosculina
A. delicatissima
Dictyoconoides cooki
Nummulites discorbinus
N. globulus
Lockhartia hunti
L. hunti var. pustulosa
L. Tipperi
Sakesaria cotteri
Rotalia trochidiformis
Miscellanea miscella var. dukhani
Lockhartia haimei
L. diversa
Sakesaria dukhani
S. dukhani var. cordata
S. ornate
Daviesina langhami
Kathina major
K. selveri
Miscellanea miscella
M. meandrina
Operculina sp.
Dictyoconus indicus
Dictyokathina simplex
Kathina delseota
Daviesina khatiyahi
Lockhartia altispira
L. conica
Asterigerina dukhani
Rotalia hensoni
R. dukhani
Lockhartia prehaimei
L. conditi
Omphalocyclus macropora
Paleocene
6
Cretaceous
Lower
Eocene
Middle
Eocene
X
X
r
X
X
A
R
A
A
cf
X
X
A
X
X
X
cf
A
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
cf
r
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
R
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
I
X
X
X
I
I
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
r
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
I
X
A
A
X
r: rare; X: common; A: abundant; I: form intermediate to another species; cf: doubtful determination
222
223
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
224
TEXT-FIG. 7: A single lamina drawn as a transparency to show the septal flap. The next lamina is drawn in outline.
In this case there is a 30 shift between the two.
Such a test could be formed by a Rhizopod as follows: the protoplasm of all the living parts is fluid,
or capable of being rendered temporarily fluid. The initial naked organism adopts the shape of
minimum surface energy of a liquid drop suspended in a liquid; i.e. a sphere. Throughout the life of
the individual there is an external layer of protoplasm that intermittently deposits an endoskeletal
layer of radially fibrous calcite on the external surface of the test. It first secretes a spherical
proloculum over most of the protoplasm, remaining external itself and maintaining communication
with the enclosed protoplasm by fine perforations that represent channels kept clear by the roots of
filose pseudopodia. After a period of intermission of shell deposition, an aperture is formed in the
proloculum wall and a blob of protoplasm is extruded to form the contents of the next chamber - the
deuteroconch. This drop is also shaped by surface tension, but it is trapped below the external layer
of shell-depositing protoplasm. Its tendency to become spherical is modified by contact with the
proloculum and by the pressure exerted by the external layer of protoplasm, partly caused by
surface tension and partly by a more obscure force that acts bilaterally and so defines the future axis
of coiling. This force is symmetrical in planispiral species and polar in trochoid ones. Surface
tension is greatest at small radii of curvature, so a small deuteroconch is approximately spherical.
Larger ones will be kidney-shaped and very large ones have the limbs extended round the
proloculum; in the extreme case the deuteroconch becomes annular.
225
226
The super-family Rotaliidea, as redefined here, is a very different group of genera from the
Rotalidea Reuss (1860) and much smaller than the super-family as proposed by Glaessner (1945:
143). It includes the families:
Rotaliidae
Nummulitidae
Elphidiidae2
Calcarinidae
Rupertiidae1
Orbitoididae (part)
Miogypsinidae
Discocyclinidae
Cymbaloporidae
Globigerinidae
Globorotaliidae
Gmbelinidae
Planorbulinidae
Although Glaessner's classification expresses the similarities and relationships better than any
previous one, he does not give a definition or a general account of structure. He has included a
number of genera that are traditionally associated with Rotalia, but are not related to that genus. The
majority of genera that are now to be excluded have considerable resemblance to Rotalia but have
single septa, or otherwise lack traces of a septal flap, and have no canals. The placing of these in a
separate super-family is of debatable value; but it is done here to emphasise the sharp division into
the two fundamental types of structure. Families have been used as far as possible in the sense that
1
2
227
Since this classification was drafted, Piveteau (1952) and Bermudez (1952) have published new classifications of the
foraminifera. Piveteau's super-family Rotaliidea and Bermudez's Rotaliiformes have much in common with Brotzen's
Rotaliiformes but explicitly include all the Rotaliidea as defined here.
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Canal systems
Canal systems are complexes of essentially tubular cavities of relatively fine bore within the shell
material. At the simplest, a radial canal connects an aperture of a chamber with the exterior. Where
this is later used as an exit for the protoplasm that will form the contents of a new chamber, it is
converted into a stolon. Usually, radial canals are not so converted. One may assume that the
formation of a radial canal is due to the emergence of a protoplasmic current from the test. This
keeps its own path free through all subsequent laminae. Ramifying canals are often present,
typically of finer bore than radial ones. They consist of short portions across the lamination and
longer sections more or less parallel to it, that result from inhibition of shell deposition by fine
protoplasmic currents in the external layer of protoplasm. These would originate from a pore
terminating a canal of the previous instar, and would make a long groove in the subsequent lamina.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
237
Marginal Cord
Canal
Trabecule
Septum
TEXT-FIG. 16: Lateral chamber wall of Nummulites elegans seen in transparency to show the structure of trabeculae.
(Compare Pl. XV, figs. 2, 3.)
instars, causing a deep groove that cannot be covered or obliterated subsequently. In Rotalia the
fissures seem to be partly infilled. A change from strong to weak protoplasmic streaming could
result in the development of a canal system both in ontogeny and phylogeny.
Some students of this group attach great importance to the taxonomic and phyletic significance of
canal systems. The assessment of them in special cases is not always easy. Their presence is
thought to be a super-family character, but the meaning of many known facts is not clear. For
instance, is Hofker (1928: 80) right in suggesting that Elphidium is related to Rotalia because its
lateral canals resemble the umbilical canal of the latter? Do the canals of Pellatispira make an
affinity with the Calcarinidae or Elphidiidae more likely than with the Nummulitidae? Is the
fissured skeleton of Miscellanea a stage in the evolution of the canal system of Nummulites?
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
238
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Their visibility is very variable and seems to require special conditions of preservation. Trabeculae
are caused by branches of the intraseptal canal system running out over the chamber wall, and the
shell above them is imperforate and hyaline, although the perforations tend to spread over the canal
and conceal it if the wall is thick. The canal itself runs only in the deepest part of the spiral lamina
and does not penetrate the later skeletal laminae.
239
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
The difficulty of observation will now be understood. If the preservation is perfect the later
thickening may entirely conceal the trabeculae, and if the canals and perforations are filled by
secondary deposition of calcite, or recrystallization, the trabeculae will again be obscured. Partly
decorticated specimens may be expected to show the trabeculae to the best advantage. Trabeculae
are not the rudiments of reticulate filaments, as was suggested by Boussac (1906).
The marginal cord is a region of the margin where the radius of curvature of the walls is necessarily
great. It is specialised in lacking the normal perforations but it is highly tabulated by ramifying
canals. The characteristic appearance is partly due to the crystal structure because the sharp radius
of curvature accentuates the fibrous appearance. The marginal cord may be thicker or thinner than
the rest of the chamber wall. Marginal canals are present in some annular species where there can
be no thickening of the margin and hence no proper marginal cord. In some spiral species the
marginal cord is not conspicuous. Rotaliidea without a marginal canal system are known, but some
of these have a thickened margin. It is not correct to call this a marginal cord. A single large
marginal canal has been described in Miscellanea, but this is an error; no such marginal canal is
proven to exist.
The appearance of the lateral thickening in axial and sub-axial sections is the same when vertical
canals or fissures are present. This has resulted in confusion between these structures. Only wellpreserved external surfaces or a tangential section will discriminate between them.
Apertures and foramina
In the Rotaliidea, a distinction must be made between an aperture, which is a relatively large hole
placing a chamber cavity in connection with the exterior, and an intercameral foramen, which
connects two chambers. The terminal chamber of a rotaliid is always thin-walled and is rarely
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
240
241
Gerontic Stage
In discussing ontogeny it is necessary to note the significance of the curvature of chamber walls to
elucidate their order of addition (Schenck, 1944: 278).
Chambers are concave towards those that are older. A chamber in contact with a previously formed
wall will conform to it, excepting that the new wall cannot be angular and therefore leaves small
cavities in any existing re-entrant angle. It will bulge owing to surface-tension forces on the free
side. If chambers in contact are formed simultaneously, they must obey the laws of surface-tension
films, i.e.:
1) three walls may meet at a point; two along a line;
2) the wall between two chambers of equal volume is flat;
3) the wall between two unequal chambers bulges into the larger.
Primitively, the test commences with a spherical protoconch. This has one aperture through which
is extruded a blob of protoplasm that adheres and forms the deuteroconch. This is often very large,
of a volume comparable with that of the protoconch. A large proloculum is often followed by an
even larger deuteroconch. Dimorphism (Lister, 1905), although very common, is not always present
in species of the Rotaliidea. A microspheric nucleoconch does not have an obvious deuteroconch,
and is followed by a spiral nepionic stage, no matter what the adult chamber arrangement may be.
This recapitulation is a mechanical consequence of the impossibility of such small chambers having
the two or more apertures needed to initiate a complex arrangement, and is not due to failure of
genetic factors to act until a late stage of ontogeny. The microspheric form may show modifications
of chambers in late instars that do not occur in the smaller megalospheric test because the latter
does not attain the critical size.
The megalospheric test may differ little from the microspheric in morphology, particularly where he
nucleoconchs are not of greatly different size. At the other extreme, the megalosphere is much
greater than the microsphere, while the corresponding test is several times smaller. The
megalospheric form tends to evolve a complex nucleoconch, but ephebic characters are sometimes
more primitive than in the microspheric test. Hofker (1948: 509-12) has shown that more than one
size of megalospheric nucleoconch may be possible in one species and in that case the larger the
nucleoconch, the smaller the final test. This is called trimorphism, although there may be more than
three types in a trimorphic species.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
242
Text-Fig. 25: The characteristic curvature of chamber walls by which their order of addition may be seen
243
244
Figures prefixed P .... are the registration numbers of the Geological Department, British Museum (Natural History).
245
TEXT-FIG. 26: Axial section of the margin of a planispiral evolute species showing the lamination. Each parting
corresponds to a chamber.
Fig. 27
Fig. 28
TEXT-FIG. 27: Axial section of an annular or cyclical species. The laminae still correspond each to one instar, but
there is only one per cycle. Lateral thickening persists but the marginal thickening disappears. Note the greater
magnification.
TEXT-FIG. 28: As Text-fig. 27 but lateral chambers are present. These reduce the lateral thickening, without reducing
the total amount of shell material.
246
TEXT-FIG. 29: Lateral external view of the margin of Nummulites, seen in transparency. Only the last whorl is seen.
The filaments are meandrine. The dotted line is the plane of section of Text-fig. 30.
TEXT-FIG. 30: Vertical section through test shown in Text-fig. 29. The left side assumes that the alar prolongations
are radial, while the right side conforms to the meandrine chambers shown in Text-fig. 29.
247
Elphidium adopts a different method of increasing the area of each chamber surface by the
protrusion of retral processes, the median layer and alar prolongations being unaffected. This leads
to no further modifications.
Differences of involution are a matter of the chamber cavities; the shell laminae normally remaining
strictly involute as is typical of the Rotaliidea. The primitive species show variability between
involute and evolute chambers and this variable stock persists from the Cretaceous to the present
day, the definitely involute and evolute stocks presumably being various lineages derived from it. A
few examples exist of involute lineages following trends typical of the evolute forms.
The restriction of the chambers to the median plane in Assilina is not accompanied by increased
chamber height or extreme compression. In some species the lateral parts of the laminae over the
poles become so attenuated that the shell layers can almost be said to be evolute. They still retain
their enveloping character at the margin.
Alternatively the nepionic chambers are involute and the later whorls become evolute, accompanied
by great increase in height, or the chambers are evolute throughout. The increase in height of the
chambers has the same biological effect as the twisting of filaments in enabling a progressive
increase in volume of the chamber to be accommodated in one dimension. It differs in accentuating
the complanate form instead of tending to render the test more globular. In this operculine type of
spire the chambers are more easily accommodated between the shell laminae if they are strongly
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
248
249
250
Fig. 32
Fig. 33
Fig. 34
Fig. 35
Fig. 36
TEXT-FIGS. 32-36: Axial sections showing the last whorl only of various trochoid genera, all with the same
conventionalised spire to show the different types of umbilical structure.
32 - Amphistegina and Asterigerina. The astral lobes are confined to the same radial sector as the chambers to which
they correspond. (In actual species they may be shifted to lie one sector back without change in the general principle.)
33 - Kathina. There are no umbilical chambers but each cortical chamber has an umbilical aperture continued as a
canal.
34 - Lockhartia. The umbilical cavities are shown to extend under the whole umbilical area and to have irregularly
spaced umbilical apertures. The cortical chambers have umbilical apertures opening into the plexus of umbilical
cavities. Pillars have been omitted for clarity.
35 - Lockhartia. The actual structure, with pillars.
36 - Rotalia. Deep fissures are seen to cut the whole base into pillars and the cortical chambers have umbilical
apertures opening into the fissure system. Later deposits fill up the middle two-thirds of the vertical course of the
fissures, converting them into a canal system, plus grooves.
251
252
TEXT-FIG. 37: Equatorial section through a multiple spire with three intercalary whorls to show the relationship of
chambers to lamination.
The degree of asymmetry of the root forms is slight. The spire is plane, not distorted to a conical
surface. Frequently, the median layer of orbitoidal species may be homologized with the cortical
layer of trochoid ones and the median part of the spire of planispiral forms. In the Miogypsinidae,
the characters of the thickening follow the chamber arrangement. Tan Sin Hok (1936 b, c, d; 1937
b, c, d) has demonstrated the details of chamber arrangement. The most primitive species have a
spiral nepionic stage. This has a spiral lamina and lateral thickening as in Rotalia. The last spiral
chamber has a proximal and a distal aperture. Therefore two chambers are formed at the next instar.
These usually have two apertures also and chambers are added one each side, while the middle
apertures form a single symmetrical chamber. This system results in the formation of an orbitoidal
type of median chamber layer in which the peripheral walls of the chambers are exposed for one
instar only, and are therefore not thickened. The lateral thickening is not affected and continues to
be massive. The nepionic spiral lamina continues to be thickened where it is exposed, but no more
thickening is added in such a manner as to continue the spiral. In Miogypsina and Miogypsinoides
the row of orbitoidal chambers does not surround the whole periphery of the test, with a few
exceptions in advanced species. There is no tendency for the row of chambers to shift their position
round the margin of the test from instar to instar, and only occasionally to lengthen more than
necessary to maintain a constant angle sub tended at the nucleoconch. The unthickened growing
edge is therefore flanked by margins that are progressively thicker as the peripherally situated
nucleoconch is approached. The extreme species have a great mass of thickening at the periphery
over the nucleoconch, where no chambers have ever been interposed. Tan traces the evolution of
complex megalospheric nucleoconchs in which the simple spiral nepionic stage eventually cut out.
In early species both megalospheric and microspheric nucleoconchs are too small to form more than
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
253
TEXT-FIG. 38: Orbitoidal test. Idealised equatorial section showing the rapid breaking up of the spiral lamina by the
reverse spirals.
The chamber walls will be exposed for two or three instars, not long enough to form noticeable
thickening, but they will be a little thicker than the adult ones. With the fully established cyclical
habit the margin is exposed for only one instar, or for two in small spots between chambers if these
latter are widely spaced. In such a case the margin has only one lamina, or in places two. The
chamber wall consists of its own lamina and another of the septal flap of the overlying chamber.
This is not enough to show a thickness in any way comparable to that of the spiral lamina, nor is
there any spiral appearance. It is the totally enveloping nature of the laminae that renders this
gradual transition from spiral to cyclical habit possible.
Helicolepidina gyralis Barker & Grimsdale (1936: 236, pl. xxxii, figs. 4 and 5) is derived from
Amphistegina. It therefore belongs to the super-family Discorbidea, not to the Rotaliidea.
Nevertheless it illustrates an important principle common to both. The nepionic stage is spiral and
has a normal spiral lamina. Orbitoidal-type chambers are added later and these mostly have the
usual thin walls between them. Thickening persists in the form of a spiral lamina that becomes
progressively thinner. The explanation is that the orbitoidal chambers are formed in rows. Each row
occupies only part of the margin. This region is unthickened while the part of the margin remaining
exposed is thickened. Orbitoidal-type chambers usually have a distal and a proximal stolon or group
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
254
Fig. 39
Fig. 40
TEXT-FIGS. 39, 40: Helicolepidina.
39: Idealised equatorial section showing the generation of a spiral lamina after the establishment of
orbitoidal-type chambers because reverse spirals do not persist.
40: The partings between shell laminae are omitted, showing the lumina of the test black to accentuate the appearance
of the spiral lamina.
The typical orbitoidal test has arcuate chambers, each formed out of contact with others of the
cycle. In Discocyclina the chamberlets are analogous to orbitoidal chambers but are formed by
subdivision of a chamber by secondary septa and are in contact, so that the chamberlets are
necessarily bounded by straight radial walls. An orbitoidal species will never show the tailing off of
a cycle that is often seen in Discocyclina. The difference of principle between a cycle of small
chambers and an annular subdivided chamber is very profound. Yet both arise from the same
biological cause: increase of size with consequent unstable character of a large simple chamber.
Both have the same physiological value: the production of a small structural unit of constant size
allowing increase of number per instar to accommodate exponential increase of the volume of the
sarcode. Surprisingly, convergence of the two types can be complete. Chambers or chamberlets
both correspond to blobs of protoplasm independently extruded from the chambers of previous
cycles. If an orbitoidal species has crowded chambers, those of one cycle may come into contact
and will be separated by a double wall that has never been external. If the compression became
strong enough, rectangular chambers must result. Their radial walls are necessarily identical in
structure with the secondary septa of Cycloclypeus, Discocyclina, etc. Thus the difference of
homology could only be detected in the nepionic stage and would produce absolutely no
morphological effect in the adult. Asterocyclina is probably an example of this, for Bronnimann
(1946b) has shown that it has an orbitoidal nucleoconch and an ephebic stage that is homeomorphic
with Discocyclina.
255
Fig. 41
Fig. 42
Fig. 43
Fig. 44
TEXT-FIGS. 41-44: Orbitoidal chambers passing by crowding into a homeomorph of Discocycline chamberlets.
Visible partings are shown by solid lines, the dotted lines represent a theoretical distinction between primary chamber
wall and contemporaneously formed supplementary skeleton.
Phylogeny
The origin of the super-family Rotaliidea is not known. Generic records quoted in standard works
would suggest that the earliest species were Carboniferous, or even Cambrian. In fact, no species
with the full characters of the Rotaliidea is known before the Upper Cretaceous. The only common
simple spiral genus of the Cretaceous is Siderolites. Rotalia occurs rarely; Elphidium, or a form
very like it, is common in the Maestrichtian of Qatar; obscure members of the Nummulitidae have
been recorded in the literature. Orbitoididae are common in the Cretaceous but most of them are
probably not members of this super-family (Vaughanina is probably rotaliid).
The published suggestions of the phylogenetic origin of Rotalia, Nummulites, etc., are quite
unconvincing. Even the evolution of Elphidium from Nonion has been shown to be unlikely (p. 10).
The Discorbidea, which differ from the Rotaliidea in possessing no canals or double septa, but
otherwise are very similar, have a longer geological range and might be ancestral. The author's
experience indicates that the closer the investigations made into the structure of species, the less
confusion there is between the two groups. The reverse would be expected if there were many
phyletic interrelationships between them. This is the justification for removing the discorbid genera
from the Rotaliidea and thereby raising the serious practical difficulties of assigning orbitoidal
species to one super-family or the other.
256
257
258
DESCRIPTION OF FOSSILS
Order FORAMINIFERA
Super-family ROTALIIDEA Glaessner, 1945 (amended)
DESCRIPTION: The test is composed of concentric laminae of radially fibrous calcite which is
always perforate on the outer wall of a new chamber. Each lamina corresponds to one "instar" or
period of chamber formation. It completely encloses the whole of the previously formed test,
including the new chamber or chambers. The complete test may be regarded as composed of an
aggregate of concentric shells. Two laminae, where not separated by a chamber cavity, are
separated only by a parting, i.e. by a discontinuity of crystal structure visible in thin section. Where
no chamber intervenes, the shell laminae build up thick masses of "supplemental skeleton, or
"thickening. An essential feature is the formation of a septal flap that curves away from the top of
the corresponding chamber and runs over the former apertural face of the previous instar and
converts it into a double internal partition; which is, in spiral species, a double septum. The
chambers have no effect on the enveloping shell laminae, excepting to cause them to arch to
accommodate the lumen. By interrupting the piling up of laminae they can modify or even suppress
the building up of supplemental skeleton. By grooving and perforation of individual laminae, canal
and fissure systems may be built up in the supplemental skeleton and local hypertrophy results in
pillars, pustules and spines. Perforation is often progressively or abruptly modified during the
thickening of a chamber wall.
The chambers of successive instars are necessarily in contact but they are independent structures
and not homologous or analogous to segments of a tube. The nepionic stage is often spiral and there
is never a primitive tube. Very advanced genera have a complex nepionic stage that nevertheless
consists of discrete chambers.
The intercameral foramen is either a slit at the base of the septum or a stolon. It does not always
correspond to an aperture, but may instead be formed by resorption, presumably immediately before
a new chamber is formed. Umbilical apertures are often found in trochoid species and they do not
always take part in subsequent chamber formation.
The species ascribed to the super-family include those with many different chamber arrangements,
but they can invariably be related to modifications of a simple bilaterally symmetrical spiral form,
and the microspheric nepionic stage is nearly always spiral. Modified chambers tend to adopt a
constant and relatively isometric size and shape. The distinct median layer, marked by special form
of the chambers and the presence of septal flaps, is only very rarely lost, and even then it is present
in the nepionic stage. Uniserial growth is decidedly uncharacteristic.
Family ROTALIIDAE
DESCRIPTION : The test is free and trochoid, the spire simple or multiple. The dorsal surface has
solid supplemental skeleton and little or no involution of the chambers. The chamber layer,
corresponding to the median plane of the Nummulitidae, etc., forms a cortical layer of chambers.
The supplemental skeleton forms a large umbilical plug, never entirely solid. The chambers have an
intercameral foramen which is a slit at the base of the septum; in some cases at least it may be
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
259
II
III
IV
RELATIONSHIPS: The earliest definite record of the family is in the Upper Cretaceous; R.
skourensis Pfender, 1938, and Kathina bermudezi (Cole, 1947). The hypothesis that the family is
derived from Spirillina is supported neither by morphological analogy nor by direct evidence of
intergradation. The clear homology between the Rotaliidae and the simple spiral Nummulitidae
does not imply that there is frequent intergradation between the families. The Nummulitidae,
Elphidiidae and Calcarinidae are typically symmetrical while the Rotaliidae are differentiated on the
dorsal and ventral sides.
The resemblance of the Discorbidae to the Rotaliidae raises the possibility of a genetic relationship.
The Discorbidae lack double septa and canals and the Rotaliidae could be derived from them by
evolution of these characters, but there is no evidence of intergradation.
It is unlikely that there is any close relationship between the Amphisteginidae and the Rotaliidae,
but Carpenter (1862: 246-247) confused Amphistegina and Rotalia, and Davies (1932: 408-418)
wrongly described astral lobes in Rotalia and failed to state the features in which these genera
differ. In addition to the super-family characters that separate them, these genera do not have the
same chamber structure. The chambers of Rotalia are quite simple and there are no astral lobes or
ventral chambers, but canals are present. In other genera of the Rotaliidae where umbilical cavities
are present, each is never confined to a radial sector, but spreads over much of the umbilical region.
260
261
DESCRIPTION: The test is trochoid with a moderately curved "median plane". The dorsal
surface is rounded with a variable apical angle of about 120 degrees. The dorsal septal sutures are
straight and reclined. The margin is acute. The ventral surface is typically flat but sometimes
deeply convex. The ornament of the base is typical; in the centre there are a number of granules
separated by deep fissures. Oblique grooves on the base, often difficult to see, mark the inner ends
of the cortical chambers, and fissures run zigzag along the sutures. Only the last two or three
chambers are clearly seen externally.
The cortical chambers are evolute dorsally, the septa are straight and slightly oblique. The chamber
walls are strongly perforate. The intercameral foramen is a slit at the base of the septum. No
corresponding aperture has been seen on the terminal face, but preservation is not good enough to
be certain of its absence. All chambers are simple and have an umbilical aperture in the form of a
slit at the top inner side of the chamber. This opens into a tributary canal of a large spiral canal
passing below the cortical chambers in the umbilical plug and opening to the exterior among the
fissures of the base. The septa are obviously double but no intraseptal canals are present. The
umbilical mass is a cone with an apical angle of about 100 degrees and the fissures on the base cut it
into pillars that run nearly to the cortical chamber layer. They are visible in thin section, but only
the outer parts of them are visible in decalcified preparations and the fissures therefore must be
filled with unlaminated calcite. The ventral pillars are residual.
DIMENSIONS
Maximum
Minimum
2.3 mm
1.0 mm
Diameter
1.1 mm
0.4 mm
Height
5
0.7
0.3
H/D
There are about three whorls with 12-14 chambers in the last
Average
1.6 mm
0.6 mm
0.4
5
For all species covered the maximum and minimum dimensions and ratios are not all taken from the same specimen;
they are independently variable and sometimes the maximum diameter is associated with the minimum ratio.
262
263
Minimum
0.4 mm
0.3 mm
0.4
Average
0.6 mm
0.4 mm
0.5
264
Minimum
0.3 mm
0.1 mm
0.4
Average
0.6 mm
0.4 mm
0.5
HOLOTYPE: P. 40263.
PARATYPES: P. 40264.
DISTRIBUTION: Lower part of the Paleocene of Qatar.
REMARKS: The resemblance to R. mexicana is considerable, but the detailed appearance is
different. The resemblance to Kathina selveri (p. 62) is also great but the latter species lacks the
deep ventral fissures and the dorsal pustules. A canal system can be seen to exist but poor
preservation prevents adequate description.
265
266
L. haimei
L. prehaimei
L. altispira
L. diversa
L. conica
L. hunti
L. hunti var.
pustulosa
L. tipperi
Three other species have been assigned to Lockhartia. L. alveolata Silvestri, 1942, is insufficiently
described; in particular the type figure is inadequate to show the specific characters. L. bermudezi
Cole, 1942, has an axial plug without umbilical cavities or fissures. It has radial canals and agrees
with Kathina sp. nov. (p. 61, Pl. VII, figs. 9-13). L. cushmani Applin & Jordan, 1945, has a
structure superficially intermediate between Rotalia and Kathina. There are no umbilical cavities
but slits cut into the umbilical plug. These differ from the fissures of Rotalia in not anastomosing to
cut the shell material into residual pillars, and from the vertical canals of Kathina in having an
elongate, not circular, cross-section. Cole (1947: 239) redescribed this species and transferred it to
Rotalia, overlooking the fact that it thereby became a homonym of Rotalia cushmani Applin &
Jordan, 1945 (fide Applin & Jordan, 1950). L. Cushmani Applin & Jordan, 1945 (=R. cushmani
(Applin & Jordan) Cole, 1947, non R. cushmani Applin & Jordan, 1945) does not conform to any
described genus. The removal of these species reduces the known range of Lockhartia to Paleocene
and Lower Eocene, with one record (L. alveolata) in the Middle Eocene.
267
DESCRIPTION: The test is conical dorsally with an apical angle of about 120 degrees, decreasing
markedly in later whorls in some cases. The coarse ornament tends to obscure this alteration of
apical angle. The base is convex to a variable extent, with a slight bulge at the terminal chamber.
The margin is subacute. The spire is of three or four whorls, or, rarely, five in specimens from high
zones. The chambers increase in height slowly and appear about as high as long on the dorsal
surface, where they are strongly punctate with limbate sutures. The thickening of the sutures is
imperforate and encroaches on the chambers near the apex. The spiral suture often forms a strong
spiral bar at the apex and coarse pustules and bars may appear. The ornament is variable with
pustules only, bars only, or both in combination. The septal sutures are straight and inclined at
about 80 degrees to the spiral suture. Only one or two chambers are visible on the base. They are
punctate, lack a marginal band and have indented sutures. The rest of the base has a smooth
peripheral band, inside which is a zone of small granules which grades into the group of larger ones
occupying the umbilical area. The granules are of fairly even size, rounded or slightly polygonal.
The grooves between the granules are interrupted by horizontal plates which show pores between
the granules.
In axial section the chambers are seen to be very nearly evolute dorsally and are squarer than those
of any other species. The median surface approximates better to part of a spherical surface than to a
cone. The chamber cavities are therefore not very involute even on the ventral side and leave an
umbilical plug of about 120 degrees. The chamber walls thicken to fill this umbilicus and the
laminae spread apart to leave large umbilical cavities which intercommunicate by large pores in the
laminae. They are interrupted by the thickening of the laminae along radial lines to form pillars
which appear on the base as granules. Thus the umbilicus is filled by a spongy mass of horizontal
perforate plates and narrow pillars, leaving a considerable lumen between, which may appear
labyrinthine in sections. The intercameral foramen is a slit at the base of the septum and no aperture
corresponding to it has been observed. The preservation is not such as to enable one to be certain
whether the intercameral foramen is formed originally or later by resorption. An umbilical foramen
is present in every chamber in addition. Intraseptal canals are present.
DIMENSIONS
Maximum
Minimum
3.6 mm
0.8 mm
Diameter
3.0 mm
0.6 mm
Height
0.9
0.4
H/D
Ratio of chamber height to length: 1:1.
Three to 5 whorls with 16 to 24 chambers in the last whorl.
Diameter of nucleoconch 0.2 mm to 0.15 mm.
There are about 20 granules in the diameter of the base.
Average
1.8 to 2.3 mm
1.2 to 2.0 mm
0.7
268
Average
1.8 mm
1.0 mm
0.5
HOLOTYPE: P. 40059.
PARATYPES: P. 40159, 40161 i-cclxx, 40162 i-iii, 40185-6.
DISTRIBUTION: Typical specimens, unlike any other species of Lockhartia, are found in the
basal Paleocene beds in Qatar. At a higher horizon transitional specimens to L. haimei occur, the
likeness becoming progressively greater until, at the horizon when L. diversa and Sakesaria
dukhani appear, true specimens of L. haimei are found. Transitional specimens do not persist much
above this level, and typical specimens do not reach it.
REMARKS: This species is very like L. haimei, from which it is distinguished by external shape
and dorsal ornament. L. prehaimei has a very rounded dorsal surface and flat base. Its ornament is
of small bars all over the dorsal surface, occurring over the chambers as well as on the sutures. The
earliest transitional specimens have a tendency for the ornament to become coarser on the apex and
to retreat from the later whorls, the chambers of these becoming more clearly visible. After the
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
269
Minimum
1.3 mm
1.2 mm
0.7
Average
1.8 mm
1.7 mm
0.9
HOLOTYPE: P. 40066.
PARATYPES: P. 40067, 40160, 40197.
DISTRIBUTION: Paleocene of Qatar.
REMARKS: This species is intermediate between Lochhartia and Sakesaria in axial elongation. It
is placed in the former genus because the base of Sakesaria bulges, whereas that of L. altispira does
not. Resemblances to L. haimei, L. diversa and Sakesaria dukhani can be traced in this species and
a few truly intermediate specimens may exist, but the exact shape and ornament are distinctive.
Immature specimens of Sakesaria may have a similar axial elongation but the initial apical angle in
L. altispira is greater than in any specimen of Sakesaria.
270
Maximum
Minimum
3.2 mm
0.7 mm
2.9 mm
0.5 mm
0.8
0.6
1
Different populations have different average sizes
Septal sutures inclined about 60 degrees to spiral suture.
Diameter of nucleoconch 0.25 mm. (doubtfully 0.1 mm. in two specimens).
Ratio of chamber height to length about 1 : 1.
3 to 4 whorls, with 10 to 16 chambers in the last.
Average1
1.6 2.5 mm
1.1 2.1 mm
0.7
HOLOTYPE: P. 40060.
PARATYPES: P. 40061-4, 40135-9, 40157, 40159, 40187-94.
OTHER MATERIAL: P. 39665-6, 39702.
DISTRIBUTION: Throughout the Paleocene of Qatar, with the exception of the lowest zone. It is
also known from a Paleocene limestone at Kani Hanjir, N. Iraq.
REMARKS: The reticulate ornament is highly distinctive and may be recognised in random
section. Only Sakesaria dukhani approaches it in this character. The very early low zone
populations include specimens with less ornament and more visible chambers than is typical. The
ornament could have been derived from that of L. prehaimei but no intermediates have been found.
The ornament, general form, base, axial section and chamber shape are all distinctive in L. diversa.
The preservation is poor. The test is infilled with loose, finely granular calcite and some of the shell
material is often missing internally. The external characters are normally well seen and the
distinctive spire is usually observable.
There is no definite dimorphism. All the best sections show a large nucleoconch. Occasional
specimens, showing an apparently small one, may be badly sectioned.
Minimum
0.9 mm
0.6 mm
0.6
Average
1.2 mm
0.9 mm
0.7
271
MATERIAL: P. 40068
DISTRIBUTION: The type specimens from Somaliland are probably Lower Eocene. This species
is rare in the lower part of the Lower Eocene of Qatar.
REMARKS: This species is rare in Qatar and badly preserved, so that a satisfactory section has
not been prepared. The external characters are sufficiently distinctive for specific determination.
Average
1.5 mm
0.8 mm
0.5
272
DESCRIPTION: The spire is very flat; apical angle about 180 degrees, with little or no tendency
to increase in later whorls. The dorsal surface is ornamented with a considerable number of isolated
pustules, these being fewer and weaker towards the margin. The sutures are obscure on the dorsal
surface but those of the last whorl are slightly indented on the ventral side. The dorsal surface is not
curved at the margin, the ventral surface being inflected upwards instead. In axial section the
umbilical cavities are large and regular. The pillars are narrow but very distinct and the umbilical
plates well developed.
DIMENSIONS
Maximum
3.6 mm
Diameter
1.7 mm
Height
0.4
H/D
5 to 7 whorls with about 20 chambers to the last
Minimum
1.7 mm
1.4 mm
0.3
Average
2.3 mm
1.5 mm
0.4
273
DESCRIPTION: The test is conical dorsally with no ornament and flush sutures. The chambers
are finely perforate. The margin is subacute and the base slightly convex. The chambers can be seen
obscurely on the periphery of the base. The granules of the umbilical region are larger and fewer
than in any other species of Lockhartia.
In axial section the umbilical cavities appear so constricted that the spaces between the very large
pillars could be taken for fissures of the Rotalia type. Small portions of the horizontal plates
between the pillars may be distinguished in specimens from Qatar and also in the figure of the
holotype (Nuttall, 1926a, fig. 7). The normal lamination of the skeleton is clearly seen in the pillars
and, in addition, there are striations along their length which diverge to the sides of each. These
suggest canals but are more probably only markings in the shell substance. The species is strongly
dimorphic in Qatar, the smaller specimens having about four and the larger about seven whorls.
There is no difference between the first four whorls of the larger specimens and the test of the
smaller, and no significant difference in the size of the respective nucleoconchs has been detected.
The large specimens have an increase in length of the gerontic chambers of the last whorl that has
not been recorded in any other species of Lockhartia.
DIMENSIONS
Maximum
Minimum
4.0 mm
0.8 mm
Diameter
2.0 mm
0.5 mm
Height
0.8
0.6
H/D
Ratio of chamber height to length varies from 1: 1.0 to 1: 0.3
Whorl No.
1
2
3
4
0.22
0.42
0.68
0.98
Radius (mm)
8
14
16
17
Septa per Whorl
Diameter of nucleoconch about 0.15 mm
Average
3.2 and 1.1 mm
1.9 and 0.7 mm
0.7
5
1.29
17
6
1.57
18
7
1.82
18
274
I
II
III
IV
S. cotteri
S. dukhani sp. nov.
S. dukhani var. cordata nov.
S. ornata sp. nov.
Average
1.4 mm
3.4 mm
2.5
275
Average
1.5 mm
2.7 mm
1.8
HOLOTYPE: P. 40082
PARATYPES: P. 40083-4, 40154, 40203-4.
DISTRIBUTION: This species is known only from Qatar, where it occurs throughout the
Paleocene, with the exception of the lowest zone.
REMARKS: This species may be derived from Lockhartia altispira sp. nov. and it first occurs at
the same horizon as early forms of L. diversa and L. haimei, but no definite intermediate specimens
have been found. The high-zone forms have variations which suggest that S. cotteri may be derived
from this species. The umbilical structure is identical with that of S. cotteri. The preservation is
poor and particularly bad for sectioning owing to the finely granular recrystallisation. Specimens
are found lacking the characteristic ornament. These necessarily appear more like S. cotteri, but the
lack of ornament is due to post-mortem solution of the external layers of the test.
276
1.6 mm
2.7 mm
HOLOTYPE: P. 40085
PARATYPE: P. 40155
DISTRIBUTION: Upper part of the Paleocene of Qatar
REMARKS: This variety shows transition from the ornament of normal specimens of S. dukhani
with which it is associated in the upper part of the range of the species. Fully typical specimens of
the variety are rare, but specimens showing the tendency are common enough to be useful as a
stratigraphical guide.
Maximum
1.9 mm
3.5 mm
2.3
Minimum
1.4 mm
2.0 mm
1.2
Average
1.6 mm
2.8 mm
2.0
HOLOTYPE: P. 40086
PARATYPE: P. 40153, 40205.
DISTRIBUTION: Upper part of the Paleocene of Qatar.
REMARKS: This species has a close resemblance to S. cotteri and S. dukhani. The distinction is
made on the dorsal ornament.
277
DESCRIPTION: The dorsal surface is conical, flat or reflexed, with slightly indented sutures. In
Qatar the flattened type is most common. The multiple spire is of nearly rectangular chambers. The
ventral surface shows a peripheral band of chambers, the terminal chambers being evenly spaced
round it. The sutures are slightly indented. The umbilical region has the same structure as that of
Lockhartia and the plates and pillars are distinct. The plates bear numerous pores between the
pillars; these are umbilical apertures. Intercalary whorls arise throughout the life of the animal and
the spiral lamina shows little variation in thickness.
DIMENSIONS
Maximum
12 mm
Diameter
3 mm
Height
0.6
H/D
Diameter of nucleoconch 0.16 mm.
Minimum
6 mm
2 mm
0.15
Average
9.3 mm
2.3 mm
0.25
278
279
I
II
280
Average
2.0 mm
0.9 mm
0.3
5
26
2.0 mm
6
29
2.6 mm
HOLOTYPE: P. 40096
PARATYPES: P. 40097-100, 40164-71, 40209, 40214-5
DISTRIBUTION: Paleocene of Qatar
REMARKS: K. delseota is very similar to Dictyokathina simplex sp. nov. form A. (p. 65), but
differs by having a simple spire, for which reason the chambers of the last whorl are a little larger.
Rapid separation of these species is difficult in practice but nevertheless important, because K.
delseota occurs at a lower horizon than Dictyokathina simplex, and, after a zone of overlap,
disappears first. K. delseota has no polar ornament while Dictyokathina simplex usually has small
prominences both dorsally and ventrally. These are less distinct in specimens from the later
horizons. Kathina major is distinguished from K. delseota by the more acute margin, deeper venter
and more lax spire. K. selveri sp. nov. has characteristic faint radial grooves ventrally.
281
Minimum
0.8 mm
0.6 mm
0.5
Average
1.4 mm
0.8 mm
0.7
HOLOTYPE: P. 40095
PARATYPES: P. 40172 (i-xcvi), 40212 (i-ii), 40213.
DISTRIBUTION: Paleocene of Qatar
REMARKS: K. selveri is smaller than any other species of Kathina and its solid axial plug is
distinctive. It may be a variant of K. major but does not seem to be a young stage, since the height
of young K. major is less and the axial plug is less prominent; nor does it seem to be the
megalospheric form, because the nucleoconch is about the same size as that of K. major. The spire
is identical with the early whorls of K. major.
282
Average
3.0 mm
1.2 mm
0.35
4
30-36
2.4 mm
5
35-40
3.2 mm
HOLOTYPE: P. 40089
PARATYPES: P. 40090-4, 40173, 40208-11
DISTRIBUTION: Paleocene of Qatar
REMARKS: K. major is distinguished from K. delseota by its lax spire. The distinction from K.
selveri is the larger size and lack of a completely solid axial plug. The latter species is like K. major
in the character of the spire, but the different pattern of the base and the different shape makes it
safer to describe the two as separate species.
Four varieties are distinguished by the different patterns of the base; but, although the difference is
so great in extreme cases that it is difficult to believe they belong to the same species, intermediates
exist and confuse any sorting. Subspecies names are not proposed. Four general types can be
recognized:
The base has short grooves connecting the apertures, tending to be nearly radial near the
margin.
The base is evenly pitted by apertures of vertical canals in no special pattern and without
2
granules or grooves.
At the margin the radial and spiral sutures of the last whorl are visible and the apertures are
3
aligned along them, while those in the centre are like those of type I.
The grooves anastomose to form granules which are quite superficial. This may be a
4
gerontic stage.
There is no indication of stratigraphical value in these variations.
1
283
Average
2.4 mm
0.8 mm
0.3
DIMENSIONS: Form B
Maximum
Minimum
7.4 mm
6.0 mm
Diameter
1.3 mm
0.8 mm
Height
About 0.2
0.13
H/D
Chamber height averages 0.28 mm., ratio of chamber height to length 1:1
decreasing to 0.5:1 in later whorls.
HOLOTYPE: P. 40104
PARATYPES: P. 40105-6, 40174, 40209, 40217-20
OTHER MATERIAL: P. 40221-3
DISTRIBUTION: Paleocene of Qatar. A very similar form has been discovered in a hard
limestone from the Bazian Pass, Iraq. This is Upper Paleocene or very low Eocene in age and
contains a fauna of both Ranikot and Laki affinities, including Sakesaria cotteri, Rotalia
trochidiformis, Nummulites nuttalli, Miscellanea miscella, M. stampi and Assilina dandotica .
REMARKS: This species is clearly distinguished from all others of the Rotaliidae by the
appearance of the base and the umbilical plug in axial section, with the exception of Kathilla
delseota sp. nov. D. simplex has more strongly developed polar bosses both dorsally and ventrally,
and more tendency to dorsal pustulation. There can be no doubt, from the similarity between the
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
284
II
285
Maximum
3.5 mm
1.8 mm
0.5
1
0.12 mm
9
Minimum
2.3 mm
1.5 mm
0.2
2
0.35 mm
14
Form A
Maximum
Minimum
2.4 mm
0.4 mm
Diameter
1.0 mm
0.3 mm
Height
0.5
0.3
H/D
Diameter of megalosphere 0.05 mm, second chamber 0.08 mm
Average
2.9 mm
1.6 mm
0.3
3
0.77 mm
26
4
1.86 mm
48
Average
2.1 mm
0.8 mm
0.4
HOLOTYPE: P. 40123
PARATYPES: P. 40124-6, 40175-6, 40241-3, 40253
DISTRIBUTION: Middle part of the Paleocene of Qatar.
REMARKS: Small megalospheric specimens often resemble the young of species of Miscellanea.
The microspheric form is highly characteristic, being readily recognised by the asymmetry of both
shape and ornament. It is distinguished from D. langhami by the flange and the coarse ornament,
fine granulation being much less developed, and by the lack of monstrous specimens.
286
Minimum
0.9 mm
0.4 mm
0.2
Average
2.1 mm
0.8 mm
0.4
Form A
Maximum
Minimum
Diameter
1.6 mm
0.4 mm
1.0 mm
0.2 mm
Height
0.6
0.3
H/D
About 2.5 to 3 whorls with 20 septa in the last.
Chamber height up to 2.5 times the length.
Diameter of protoconch 0.08 mm., second chamber 0.09 mm.
Average
1.2 mm
0.8 mm
0.5
HOLOTYPE: P. 40119
PARATYPES: P. 40115-18, 40120, 40177, 40235-9.
DISTRIBUTION: Upper part of the Paleocene of Qatar.
REMARKS: This species is distinguished from D. khatiyahi by the ubiquitous fine granulation.
Small, complanate specimens of the megalospheric form cannot be satisfactorily distinguished from
those of D. khatiyahi, and with difficulty only from species of other genera such as Nummulites
scotlandica de Cizancourt or Assilina ranikoti Nuttall. The microspheric form, however, is quite
obviously asymmetrical. Even in the most complanate specimens the flaring of the last whorl is
noticeably less than in D. khatiyahi. The doubling of the margin is absolutely diagnostic, but,
unfortunately, is not always present.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
287
288
289
1944
1947
1948
The aperture is the same as that of Nummulites (Grimsdale & Smout, 1949: 324-325), i.e. there are
only a few inconspicuous pores on the apertural face (Vaughan & Cole, 1941: 33). There is,
however, a prominent inter cameral foramen clearly seen in both axial and equatorial sections
figured by Vaughan & Cole (1941, Pl. V, figs. 1, 2). This can only be formed by resorption.
The trochoid nepionic stage has been over-emphasised by Pfender and is not found in all
populations. Many species of Nummulites, e.g. N. gizehensis Forskl and N. bayhariensis Checchia-
290
II
1937
1937
Test lenticular
Test companate
M. miscella (dArchiac
& Haime
M. miscella var. dukhani
nov.
1854
1916
1926a
1927
1927
1935
291
2.6 mm
1.2 mm
MATERIAL: P. 40152
DISTRIBUTION: This species is rare in Qatar but the megalospheric form is recorded from the
Paleocene. Records of this species from India and Europe are all Paleocene, but as this name has
only recently been used for the Lowest Tertiary, the authors frequently refer to Lower Eocene.
Bursch (1947) records this species from the Upper Eocene to Middle Aquitanian. His figures and
dimensions are not typical of this species, an important difference being the much smaller size.
Bursch's material does not seem to have been adequate for description.
REMARKS: The rare megalospheric specimens found in Qatar show no transitions to M. miscella
var. dukhani nov. They add nothing to the knowledge of the species.
Minimum
1.6 mm
0.6 mm
2.0
Average
2.6 mm
0.8 mm
2.2
DIMENSIONS: Form B
Diameter
Thickness
D/T
Minimum
4.6 mm
0.4 mm
7
Average
6.3 mm
0.6 mm
9
Maximum
7.1 mm
0.7 mm
10
292
Alveolina meandrina Carter, pp. 251, 328, 381-2, pl. xvii, figs. 4a-f.
Alveolina meandrina (Carter): Carter, p. 72.
Alveolina meandrina (Carter): Carter, pp. 192-193.
Miscellanea meandrina (Carter) Nagappa, p. 43.
DESCRIPTION: Form A. The megalospheric form has a stoutly lenticular test, tending to be
biconical and with a subacute periphery. There are two or three small polar pustules. The whole of
the test is cut up into incised pillars, which appear externally as granules arranged in rows parallel
to the filaments. Those over the sutures are slightly larger than those between. There is no marginal
cord. The septa are very regular and run from margin to pole, but they are very strongly curved. In
equatorial section the chambers are about as high as long in the first whorl, increasing later. The
septa are gently recurved. The margin is about a quarter as thick as the chambers are high and is cut
into pillars, only the first one or two laminae being unaffected by the fissuring. In axial section the
recurved filaments ensure that from four to eight chambers are cut between margin and pole on each
side of the test. This gives a false impression that the alar prolongations of the chambers are
secondarily septate. The nucleoconch is large. The second chamber is large, but smaller than the
proloculum.
Form B. The microspheric form is very unlike the megalospheric externally. It is more than twice
the diameter and is oblately spheroidal. Externally it is entirely covered with small, very even
granules. When etched, the meandrine filaments appear to have a fingerprint pattern very like that
of Nummulites gizehensis Forskl. The meandrine chambers cross the periphery and the poles quite
indifferently, there being no trace of equitance.
The microspheric nucleoconch gives rise to a spire that takes about one turn before its whorls can
be compared with those of the megalospheric form. The microspheric form then adds two or three
whorls that are identical with those of the megalospheric. At about the size that corresponds to the
maximum attained by Form A, the median part of the chambers wanders from the strict median
plane. At the same time the filaments, which were radiate and increasingly curved, become
meandrine. In about the sixth whorl, the formation of equitant chambers ceases and only the lateral
chambers, corresponding to the meandrine filaments, continue to be added.
DIMENSIONS: Form B (Carters types, P. 30042-6):
Maximum
Minimum
5 mm
3 mm
Diameter
4 mm
2.6 mm
Thickness
1.4
1.1
D/T
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
Average
4.8 mm
3.7 mm
1.2
293
Average
2.3 mm
1.5 mm
1.5
294
295
6
13
1.0
7
14
1.4
8
17
2.0
9
18
2.5
10
18
3.0
Average
9.5 mm
3.8 mm
2.3
11
20
3.6
12
24
4.0
296
14
28
5.0
18
30
7.5
6
11
1.0
Form A
Maximum
4.8 mm
Diameter
2.7 mm
Thickness
2.0
D/T
7 whorls in a radius of 2.4 mm
Diameter of proloculum 0.3 mm
Whorl No.
1
2
3
4
7
11
Septa per quadrant
0.6
0.8
1.1
Radius (mm)
7
14
1.5
8
16
2.0
Average
4.3 mm
2.2 mm
1.7
9
18
2.5
Minimum
3.3 mm
1.6 mm
1.6
4
13
1.3
5
11
1.7
6
12
2.0
Average
4.2 mm
2.2 mm
1.7
7
13
2.3
297
DESCRIPTION: The test is small and lenticular with a sharp margin. There are distinct polar
plugs that show externally and the filaments are radiate and mostly gently curved. There are no
pillars. The spire is close-coiled, the chambers being a little higher than long. The septa are very
slightly curved and the tops of the chambers rounded. The marginal cord is inconspicuous.
Microspheric and megalospheric specimens are present. The megalospheric form has a
deuteroconch of smaller size than the proloculum.
DIMENSIONS
Maximum
Minimum
3.2 mm
1.3 mm
Diameter
1.4 mm
0.7 mm
Thickness
2.3
1.6
D/T
There are 6 whorls in 2.7 mm diameter in what appears to be a microspheric
whorls in 1.5 mm diameter in a megalospheric specimen.
Diameter of protoconch 0.04 mm.
Diameter of nucleoconch with deuteroconch 0.09 mm.
Average
2.1 mm
0.9 mm
2.1
specimen and 4
298
Nummulites somaliensis Nuttall & Brighton, p. 52, pl. ii, figs, 10-14
DESCRIPTION: The test is complanate, moderately and irregularly stellate, with slight polar
swellings. The filaments are meandrine and the pillars narrow, long and numerous. The spire is
irregular, even reversing its direction in one specimen. The septa are moderately curved and the
chambers about as high as long. The spiral lamina at the margin is about half as thick as the
chambers are high.
DIMENSIONS: Form B
Maximum
22.0 mm
Diameter
3.2 mm
Thickness
8.3
D/T
Whorl No.
1
2
3
4
0.18 0.42 0.85 1.4
Radius (mm)
-5
6
8
No. of septa in turn
Approximate measurements at eighth whorl: Marginal
mm. Chamber length 0.4 mm.
Minimum
Average
15.0 mm
18.5 mm
1.8 mm
2.6 mm
6.3
7.2
5
6
7
8
9
10
2.1 3.0 4.7 5.5
6.4
7.1
10 10 11
---cord 0.5 mm thick. Chamber height
11
7.7
-0.8
MATERIAL: P. 40244-6.
DISTRIBUTION: Middle Eocene of Somaliland and Qatar. In Qatar this species is rare and is
confined to beds above those containing abundant N. discorbinus, Alveolina elliptica var. flosculina
and Dictyoconoides cooki.
REMARKS: The specimens from Qatar are in close agreement with those from Somaliland.
There is an accompanying megalospheric form in Qatar but rarity and bad preservation prevent its
determination. It is consistent with the megalospheric form described from Somaliland as the
companion of this species.
299
Linderina brugesi Schlumberger, p. 121, figs. 3-5; pl. iii, figs. 7-9.
Linderina brugesi Schlumberger: Ellis & Messina, et syn.
300
Average
7.6 mm
3.9 mm
301
302
Dictyoconus indicus Davies: Henson. p. 33, pl. xii, figs. 13-13b. et syn.
303
REFERENCES QUOTES
APPLIN, E. R. &
JORDAN, L.
-------------ARCHIAC, E. J. A.
D'
1945
1950
1850a
-------------- 1850b
ARCHIAC, E. J. A.
D' & HAIME, J.
18534
ARNI, P.
1932
BAKX, L.A.J
1932
BARKER, R.W.
1934
BARKER, R. W. &
GRIMSDALE, T. F.
1936
--------------
1937
BERMUDEZ P.J.
1952
BOUSSAC, J
1906
--------------
1911
BRADY, H.B.
1884
BRONNIMANN, P
1946a
-------------- 1946b
BROTZEN, F
1942
BRUNNICH, M. T.
1772
304
BURSCH, J. G.
1947
CARPENTER,
W.B.
1850
--------------
1856
-------------1859
--------------------------CARTER, H.J.
1861
1862
1852
-------------1853
-------------1861
-------------1876
CAUDRI, C.M.B.
1944
CHECCHIARISPOLI, G.
1905
--------------
1928
CIZANCOURT, M.
1948
DE
-------------CIZANCOURT, M.
DE & COX, L.R
COLE, W.S.
-------------COSIJN, A.J.
1949
1938
1942
1947
1938
305
1927
306
1902
307
HANZAWA, S.
--------------
HARPE, P. DE LA.
1935
1937
1881a
-------------1881b
-------------1883a
-------------1883b
HENSON, F.R.S.H.
1948
HERON-ALLEN,
E. & EARLAND,
A.
1908
--------------
HOFKER, J.
---------------------------
1913
1927
1928
1930
-------------1948
-------------1949
-------------1951
HYMAN, L.H.
1940
308
JENNINGS, H.B.
1916
LAMARCK,
J.P.B.A DE M. DE
1801
--------------
1804
--------------
1809
LEES, G.M.
1928
LEYMERIE, A.
1846
LISTER, J.J.
1905
MARIE, P.
1946
MERKEL, P.
1900
MYERS, E.H.
1935a
-------------1935b
--------------
1943a
-------------1943b
NAGAPPA, Y
1951
NUTTALL, W.L.F.
1925a
-------------1925b
-------------1926a
--------------
1926b
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Mus. Hist. nat. Paris, 5: 179-188.
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On the dimorphism of the English species of Nummulites, etc. Proc.
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The Life History of Patellina corrugata Williamson, a foraminifer.
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Morphogenesis of the Test and the biological significance of
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fig.
Biology, Ecology and Morphogenesis of a Pelagic Foraminifer.
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Ecologic Relationships of Larger Foraminifera. Report of the
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The Stratigraphical value of Miscellanea and Pellatispira in India,
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Two species of Eocene Foraminifera from India, Alveolina elliptica
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309
310
1944
SCHLOTHEIM, E.F
1820
von.
SCHLUMBERGER,
C.
--------------
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59-467, pls. 7-9.
-------------Deuxime note sur les Orbitoides. Bull. Soc. gol. Fr., Paris (4) 2:
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255-261, pls. 6-8.
Considerazione paleontologiche e morfologiche sui generi
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1908
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1939
32,4, 1: 1-102, pls. 1-12.
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1942
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SOWERBY, J. de
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1932
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Geol., Bandoeng, 4; 31-32, pl. 1.
1893
311
312
1858
WINCKWORTH,
R.
1945
WOOD, A.
1947
--------------
1949
YABE, H.
1918
1913
313
INDEX
The page numbers of the principal references are printed in CLARENDON type. An asterisk* indicates a figure.
A
Africa, East, 48, 82
alar prolongations of chambers, 6*, 8, 13, 26, 27*, 28
Algae, 1
altispira, Lockhartia, 3, 48, 50, 51, 52, 56, Pl. II, figs.
4-6
Alveolina, 2, 3, 82, 83, 84
-- boscii, 82
-- ciofaloi, 82, 83
-- delicatissima, 3, 83, 84, Pl. XIV, fig. 13
- - elliptica var. flosculina, 2, 3, 80, 82, 83, 84,
Pl. XIV, figs. 8-12
---- var. nuttalli, 82
-- elongata, 84
-- meandrina, 72, 74, 75
--oblonga, 83
-- subpyrenaica var. flosculina, 82, 83
-- terebrata, 84
Alveolinida, 82
Alveolinidae, 82-84
Ammonia, 41-43
Amphistegina, 12, 13, 31, 32*, 35, 41, 44, 48
Amphisteginidae, 9, 10, 41
annular chamber, 29, 30
-- growth habit, 30, 31
aperture, 5, 13, 22, 23, 30, 31, 33, 71
--, umbilical, 22, 31, 41-43, 45, 47, 49
--, ventral, 22, 31, 41-43, 45, 47, 49
Arabia, 1, 48
arabica, Operculina, 13
arborescent test, 33, 34
ARCHIAC, E. J. A. d', 12, 13,71
archiaci, Discocyclina, 25
Assilina, 26, 29, 39, 70, 72
-- dandotica, 66
-- ranikoti, 66, 69, 70, 72
Asterigerina, 3, 32*, 48, 81
-- carinata, 81
-- dukhani, 3,81, Pl. XV, fig. 4
Asterocyclina, 37, 39
astral furrow, 44
-- lobe, 31, 41-45, 47, 59
atacicus, Nummulites, 78
attachment disc, 33
axial plug, 8, 31
B
baculatus, Tinoporus, 26
Baculogypsina, 26
BAKX, L. A. J., 75
Baluchistan, 75
Barbados, 66
BARKER, R. W., 20, 39, 42, 45
bayhariensis, Nummulites, 71
Bazian Pass, N. Iraq, 66
beaumonti, Nummulites, 2, 78, 79
beccarii, Rotalia (Nautilus), 42, 43
bermudezi, Kathina (Lockhartia) , 41, 49, 61, Pl. VII,
figs. 9-13
Biplanispira, 22, 70
Borneo,48
boscii, Alveolina (Oryzaria), 82
BOUSSAC, J., 21
BRADY, H. B., 15, 31
BRIGHTON, A. G., v
BRONNIMANN, P., 37, 39
BROTZEN, F., 10
brugesi, Linderina, 2, 3, 81, 82, Pl. XIV, fig. 14
Bruguieria, 76
buranensis, Linderina, 82
BURSCH, J. G., 73
C
Calcarinidae, 9, 20, 38, 39, 66, 70
Camerina, 76
-- dickersoni, 71
--laevigata, 76
--matleyi, 71
canal, 9, 12, 13, 17, 19-21, 40-76
carinata, Asterigerina, 81
CARPENTER, W. B., 11-13, 15, 16, 18, 26, 41, 42, 44
CARTER, H. J., 13, 15, 75
CAUDRI, C. M. B., 71
cavity above septum, 5, 6*, 7*, 43 .
chamber arrangement, 5, 6*, 17, 22, 23, 24*, 25-37*
--, lateral, 17, 22, 26, 27*, 28, 30, 31
chamberlet, equatorial, 17, 22, 36, 37*
- - -, lateral, 17, 22, 26, 27*, 28*, 30
Chapmanina, 32
CHATTON, M., 44
ciofaloi, Alveolina, 82, 83
CIZANCOURT, M. de, 66, 71
COLE, W. S., 71
complanata, Operculina (Lenticulites) , 20, 75
conditi, Lockhartia (Dictyoconoides), 23, 47, 48, 55, 56,
Pl. V, figs. 16-19
conica, Lockhartia, 3, 48, 50, 53, Pl. IV, figs. 1-3
Conulites kohaticus, 59
- - -- var. spintangensis, 59, 60
--tipperi, 55
314
315
316
O
oblonga, Alveolina, 83
Omphalocyclus, 1, 39
-- macropora, 1
ontogeny, 23, 24*, 25
Operculina, 3, 12-15, 20, 22, 26, 39, 70, 75
- - arabica, 13
-- complanata, 20, 75
-- hardei, 76
- - inaequilateralis, 66
-- sindensis, 26, 66, 76
- - sp., 75, 76, Pl. XIII, figs. 8-12, Pl. XIV, fig. 1
Operculinella, 76
Operculinoides, 76
-- wilcoxi, 76
ORBIGNY, A. d', 13
orbitoidal habit, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 35*, 36*, 37-39
Orbitoididae, 9, 10, 35-37, 39
Orbitolinidae, 84
order of addition of chambers, 23, 24*, 25
ornata, Sakesaria, 3, 57, 58, 59, Pl. V, figs. 14, 15
Oryzaria boscii, 82
Ostracoda, 1
OVEY, C. D., v, 48, 56
P
Pakistan, v
Paleocene, 2, 3, 26, 39, 44-46, 49-53, 55, 56, 58, 59,
61-69, 73, 76, 81
paratype, use of term, v
Paronaea, 76
parting, 8, 11-13
Patellina cooki, 59
-- egyptiensis, 84
Pellatispira, 20, 22, 48, 70, 71
-- matleyi, 71
perforation, 7, 11, 12, 19-21
perforatus, Nummulites, 33
peripheral chamberlets, 5, 43, 45
PFENDER, J.,71
Phacites, 76
phylogeny of Rotaliidae, 37-39
PICARD, L., v
pillar, 12, 17-19*, 40-42
planispiral tests, 6*, 7, 9, 26
Planorbulinidae, 9, 10, 81, 82
preadaptation, 17, 38
prehaimei, Lockhartia, 3, 48, 50, 51, Pl. II, figs. 21, 22,
Pl. VII, fig. 14
- - , --, specimens intermediate to L. haimei, 50, 51
Pl. II, figs. 15-18
PREVER, P. L., 78
primary chamber wall, 14
proloculum, 7, 23, 24*, 25
protoconch, 23
protoplasmic streaming, 18
prototype of Rotaliidea, 5, 6*, 7-9, 15
Pseudovalvulineria, 42
317
318
W
WHITTINGTON, H. B., v, 83
wilcoxi, Operculinoides, 76
WILLIAMSON, W. C., 5, 11, 12, 15, 31 , 42, 45
WOOD, A., 10, 11
319
EXPLANATION OF PLATES
Figures that bear the same number, but are distinguished by small letters, are different views of the same specimen.
Some specimens that have been figured could not be preserved, for various reasons. These are shown by: Plate I, figs.
6a-n; Plate II, figs. 6-8; Plate V, fig. 18; Plate VI, fig. 7; Plate XII, fig. 5.
320
PLATE I
Rotalia trochidiformis Lamarck
FIGS
1
2-4
5
6 a-n
321
ROTALIA
322
PLATE II
Lockhartia haimei (Davies)
FIGS
1-5
6
7
8
9, 10
11-14
Dorsal views of five specimens to show the range of variation in Paleocene zones 3-6. X 12. P.40049-53
Ventral view, note the lack of an obvious aperture. X 16.
Lateral view. X 16.
The spire of a decorticated specimen. X 16.
Horizontal sections, pillars appear white, an umbilical plate grey and pores and cavities black in fig. 10.
Cavities in the septa are indications of intraseptal canals. Umbilical apertures are visible at A, and
intercameral foramina at B. X 25. P. 40181 i, 40182.
Vertical, nearly axial sections. The lamination of the shell material is seen and its relationship to pillars and
dorsal pustules apparent. X 25. P. 40183-4, 40181 ii, iii.
Lockhartia haimei, specimens intermediate with L. prehaimei
FIGS
15-18
19
20
Dorsal views of four specimens to show the range of variation in Paleocene zone 2. X 10 (16a. X 20).
P40054-7.
a. dorsal, b. ventral, c. lateral views. X 20. P. 40058
Axial section. X 25. P. 40185.
Lockhartia prehaimei sp. nov.
FIGS
21
22
323
LOCKHARTIA
324
PLATE III
Lockhartia diversa sp. nov.
FIGS
1
2, 3
4
5
6-9
10-14
15
16-20
325
LOCKHARTIA
326
PLATE IV
Lockhartia conica sp. nov.
FIGS
1
2
3
FIGS
4
5
6
FIGS
7
FIGS
8
9
10
Exterior views of ten specimens. X 13. P. 40069-78. P. 40069 Holotype, remainder Paratypes.
Paratype, vertical section. X 28. P. 40198.
Paratype, horizontal section. X 25 P. 40199.
Lockhartia tipperi (Davies)
FIGS
11
12
13
327
LOCKHARTIA
328
PLATE V
Sakesaria cotteri Davies
FIGS
1
2
3
FIGS
4
5, 6
7
8
9-12
FIGS
13
FIGS
14
15
FIGS
16
17
18, 19
329
SAKESARIA, LOCKHARTIA
330
PLATE VI
Kathina major sp. nov.
FIGS
1-4
5
6
7
8
9, 10
FIGS
11
12
13
331
KATHINA
332
PLATE VII
Kathina delseota sp. nov
FIGS
1a,b,
2a, b
3
4
5
6-8
FIGS
9, 10
11
12
13
FIGS
14
FIGS
15
16
17
333
334
PLATE VIII
Dictyokathina simplex sp. nov.
FIGS
1
2
3
4
5
6-8
FIGS
9
10, 11
335
DICTYOKATHINA
336
PLATE IX
Dictyoconoides cooki (Carter)
FIGS
1
2
3
4
5
337
DICTYOCONOIDES
338
PLATE X
Miscellanea meandrina (Carter)
FIGS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7, 8
9
10, 11
12
13, 14
Form B, a. lateral, b. marginal views of an etched specimen, showing meandrine filaments. X 15. P. 40108
Form B, axial section. X 15. P. 40228.
Form B, fractured surface. Owing to the meandrine habit, the appearance hardly varies with the direction of
the fracture, unless it strictly coincides with the nepionic equatorial plane. X 10. P.40109.
Form B, random section of a fragment. X 45. P.40229.
Form B, serial sections parallel to the nepionic equatorial plane, through a single specimen. X 15. P. 40230
Form B, equatorial section. X 15. P. 40231.
Form A, lateral views. X 15. P.40110-1.
Form A, marginal view. X 16. P. 40112.
Form A, axial sections. X 15. P. 40232, 40234.
Form A, nearly axial section. X 15. P.40233 (i).
Form A, equatorial sections. X 15. P. 40233 (ii), 40114.
All specimens from the Paleocene, Qatar.
339
MISCELLANEA
340
PLATE XI
Daviesina langhami sp. nov.
FIGS
1-4
5
6
7
8, 9
10
11
FIGS
12
341
DAVIESINA, MISCELLANEA
342
PLATE XII
Daviesina khatiyahi sp. nov.
FIGS
1
2-4
5
6
7, 8
9, 10
11
343
DAVIESINA
344
PLATE XIII
Nummulites somaliensis Nuttall & Brighton
FIGS
1
2, 3
FIGS
4
5
6
7
Form B, adult specimen in lateral view, showing the filaments but no axial plug. X 10. P. 40143.
Form B, juvenile specimen in lateral view, showing filaments and polar plug. X 10. P. 40127.
Form B, equatorial section. X 7. P.40247.
Form B, axial section. It is common to find the axial plugs disintegrated as in this specimen. X 10. P. 40248
Operculina sp.
FIGS
8
9-12
345
NUMMULITES, OPERCULINA
346
PLATE XIV
Operculina sp.
FIGS
1
FIGS
2
3
4
5
6
FIGS
7
FIGS
8
9
10
11
12
FIG
13
FIG
14
347
348
PLATE XV
Nummulites gizehensis Forskl
FIG
1
Axial section; the lateral splitting of the spiral lamina by meandrine lateral chamberlets can be seen. X 20.
P36475.
Nummulites elegans (J. de C. Sowerby)7
FIGS
2
4
Equatorial sections, cut very thick to show the lateral chamber walls; trabeculae can be seen originating from
intraseptal canals. Specimens from the J. J. Lister Collection. X 40. P.40267-8.
Trabecule. X 200. From specimen shown in Fig. 2.
Asterigerina dukhani sp. nov.
FIG
4
FIGS
5
6
FIG
7
FIG
8
7
According to Curry (1937), N. elegans is a synonym of N. planulatus (Lamarck) and these specimens should be
named N. prestwichianus Jones.
349
350
Appendix 4
351
APPENDIX 4
An analysis of the nature of the relationship between the
sedimentological and structural history of the Qatar Peninsula
(Persian Gulf) from Upper Jurassic to Recent times and the
significance of this relationship in regards to specific structural
problems in this and other areas.
By Walter Sugden
Abstract
The Supplement, which is subsidiary matter, describes the stratigraphy of the Qatar
Peninsula.
In the introduction to the thesis the principal geological features of the Persian Gulf basin are
considered. The geology of the sedimentary apron, including the Qatar area, which surrounds
the eastern side of the Arabian Shield is contrasted with that of the Zagros and Oman
mountains.
Appendix I gives the results of investigations of sea water salinity distribution in the Persian
Gulf, its relation to water circulation and to carbonate sedimentation and its significance with
respect to evaporite deposition. The origin of recent Persian Gulf sediments, both carbonates
and terrigenous components, is considered in some detail.
Appendix II records the results of experiments imitating the natural pyritic staining of
calcareous sediments by bacteria. These experiments are significant in respect to the origin
of certain types of limestones represented both in ancient sediments and in the recent
sediments of the Persian Gulf. This matter is considered.
Part I of the thesis proper describes the palaeogeography of Arabia from the Middle Jurassic
onwards with emphasis on sedimentological circumstances. Environments of sedimentation
in Qatar during the same period are described in greater detail. Conclusions arrived at in
Appendices I and II are used in the interpretation of sedimentary environments on both
regional and local scale. Features of importance in connection with structural history are
emphasized.
Part II deals with structure, Part I providing an essential background. It is illustrated that the
present structural development of Qatar has resulted from continuing (Jurassic to Tertiary)
development of individual anticlines and synclines accompanied by varying regional tilts.
An empirical three dimensional geometry is developed for such a case, relating the structural
form at one structural horizon to that at another. Equations expressing this geometry are
given which can be applied to the solution of certain structural problems. Possible
fundamental causes of the development of the Qatar structures are considered.
352
353
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Introduction
StructuralsettingoftheQatarPeninsula
Theareaofepeirogenicfolding
PartI
MesozoicandTertiarysedimentationintheQatararea.
Generalremarks
ThepalaeogeographyofeasternArabia
SedimentsofMiddleJurassicandolderage
UpperJurassicbelowtheQatarformation
TheQatarandHithformationsandtheirequivalents
LowerCretaceous,Sulaiy,YamamaandRatawiformationsandtheir
equivalents.
Cretaceous,KharaibtoMishrifformationsandequivalents
UpperCretaceoustoEocene.
TertiaryabovetheEocene
TheOmanandZagrosrangesandassociatedgeosynclines
SedimentationinQatar
Araejformation
Diyabformation
Darbformation
Fahahilformation
QatarandHithformations
Sulaiyformation
Yamamaformation
Ratawiformation
Generallithologicalfeaturesoflimestones:AraejtoRatawiformations
Kharaibformation
Hawarformation
Shuaibaformation
Sabsabformation
NahrUmrformation
Mauddudformation
Khatiyahformation
Mishrifformation
Arumaformation
Generallithologicalfeaturesoflimestones:KharaibtoArumaformations
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PartII
86
AnalysisofthedevelopmentofthemainstructuralfeaturesoftheQatarPeninsula
Generalremarks
87
TheDukhananticline
90
Relativeelevationequations
99
Thepracticalapplicationofrelativeelevationequations
110
Methodsofdeterminingconstantsforpracticalequationsandtesting
111
theseequationsforaccuracy
Deviationsbetweenthegeometryofrelativeelevationequationsand
118
actualstructuralform
Someparticularproblemsofpracticalapplications
127
ContinuityoffoldingoftheQataranticlines
138
Theinterplayofsedimentationandcontemporaneousfolding
139
Theoriginsofepeirogenictypefolding
141
Concludingremarks
151
AppendixI[Wasnotavailableinouroriginalcopy]
153
InvestigationsofseawatersalinitydistributionandrecentsedimentsintheQatararea.The
significanceofresultsinrespecttolimestoneandevaporitedeposition.
Generalremarks
154
HydrologyofthePersianGulf
155
Chlorinityandsalinitydetermination
157
Availablechlorinitydata
160
Somegeneralconsiderations
162
Runofffromthesurroundingland
167
TheTrucialCoastembayment
169
TheGulfsofBahrainandSalwa
171
SurfacechlorinitymapforthePersianGulf
181
EffectsofhighsalinityintheGulfuponfloraandfauna
183
CarbonatesandothersedimentsofthePersianGulf
191
Generalconsiderationsconcerningcarbonatesedimentation
191
OriginsofthesedimentsofthePersianGulf
197
ThenatureofthenearshoresandsofthesouthernpartoftheGulf
203
Resultsofmicroscopicstudyofbeachsands
207
Seawarddistributionofbeachsediments
222
RecentlyformedlimestonesinthePersianGulf
227
Noteonthebluegreenalgae
236
SignificanceofthehydrologyofthePersianGulfinrespecttothe
240
depositionofevaporites
355
Bibliography[Wasnotavailableinouroriginalcopy]
Supplement
StratigraphicnomenclatureofQatar,PersianGulf.(Typescriptpp.100.to
bepublishedintheLexiquestratigraphiqueInternational).
248
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296
300
Acknowledgments
The writer is indebted to the Management of the Iraq Petroleum Co. Ltd. for permission to
submit this thesis. Parts of it are based upon sample collections which were available to the
writer in consequence of his employment by the Company. Without the use of these the
thesis could not have been presented in its present form. Most of the laboratory work was
performed at the headquarters of the Qatar Petroleum Co. in Dukhan, Qatar.
356
357
358
359
360
361
PART I
Mesozoic and Tertiary sedimentation in the Qatar area
General Remarks
Mainly as a result of the drilling of oil wells a sequence of more that eighty five hundred feet
of sediments is known in the Qatar Peninsula. The oldest sediments are of doubtful age being
either Lower Jurassic or Triassic. The lowest part of the sequence which can be dated with
confidence is the Bathonian. The Upper Jurassic and the Cretaceous up to the Cenomanian
are believed to be fully or almost fully represented by several thousands of feet of sediments.
The remainder of the column includes sediments of Campanian to Middle Eocene age and a
thin section of Miocene (supplement, Fig. 2).
Carbonate rocks greatly predominate almost throughout the column, though there are
relatively short sections dominated by clastics or evaporites. The dominance of carbonates
with other supporting evidence strongly suggests that throughout almost the whole of the
period concerned, the area was situated within a global arid belt. At the present time there
are two such arid climatic belts, one north and one south of the equator, in which
evaporation on balance exceeds rainfall (For discussion of this point see Appendix 1).
Most of the sediments are of shallow water origin. Many of them were formed in a shoal
environment and it is improbable that any were formed in water deeper than that of an
ordinary continental shelf.
362
363
364
Plate 2
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
Sedimentation in Qatar
The general palaeogeographic background to sedimentation in Qatar has been indicated above and
brief descriptions of the sediments from the Jurassic onwards are given in the Supplement. It
remains to enlarge upon the circumstances of sedimentation in the Qatar area as far as these can be
deduced. Certain features of importance in connection with the structural history will be
emphasized, though the relevance of certain statements to the structural history will not always be
apparent until Part II is consulted.
It is convenient to discuss the manner of sedimentation according to formations or groups of
formations.
Araej formation
As with palaeogeography, the discussion can conveniently begin with the Bathonian Araej
formation.
There is a strong lithological resemblance between certain limestones falling within particular age
ranges in the Middle East and certain limestones falling within the same age ranges in Great Britain.
This matter will be considered more fully in later sections. In the meantime it needs to be
mentioned that many of the shallower water limestones of the Jurassic of the Middle East closely
resemble many shallow water limestones of the British Jurassic.
Excluding the Uwainat member (see Supplement) the Araej formation is made up of grey to bluishgrey limestones, many with an abundance of shallow water pellet debris and mostly with a
considerable argillaceous content. Where they are seen in an unweathered state much of the
Inferior and Great Oolites of Oxfordshire could be described in almost similar terms. Thus in the
deep excavations of cement works near Oxford it is seen that the Great Oolite in an unweathered
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
PART II
Analysis of the development of the main structural features
of the Qatar Peninsula
General Remarks
Some considerable time ago the writer worked in the foothills area of the Zagros in northern Iraq
and was there involved, among other studies, in attempts to delineate as exactly as possible the
structural form of the foothills anticlines. During this work he became very much impressed by the
results which could be achieved by the application of geometrical concepts of structural form. The
particular geometrical concepts and methods employed were those developed by Busk (1929). It
was found that by the judicious application of Busks concepts unusually accurate predictions of
structure, frequently tested by the drilling of oil wells, could be achieved.
Busks geometrical concepts can be applied only to strata which are of reasonably uniform
thickness and have all been folded together at one time. Hence they are of no use in areas like
Qatar where the strata are not of uniform thickness and have suffered a variable degree of folding
according to their age. But having been impressed by the utility of having a simple geometrical
concept of the form which a structure should take, the writer determined to try to formulate a
geometry applicable to plains type or epeirogenic folding in the same way that Busks
geometry is applicable in other circumstances. The results are to be seen below.
In the area of epeirogenic folding (see Introduction) of the Persian Gulf basin, in the plains areas
of the United States, and elsewhere there are many folds the principal character of which is that the
amplitude of folding increases with depth. These are the folds which are here of interest. As will
be seen, the study of the form and origin of these folds necessitates the recognition of numerous
precise stratigraphic levels or markers which may be assumed to have been planes at the time that
they came into existence. Fortunately the geological column of the Qatar area is well provided with
such markers, as has been indicated in Part I.
The following account gives the results of investigations concerning structural forms of the Qatar
Peninsula as revealed by these markers. The course of the account follows closely the course of the
original investigations.
It is to be noted that the work is based on structural data which has had to be treated as being strictly
confidential. Detailed figures and structural maps must of necessity be omitted in this account but
such detailed data is not necessary for the illustration of the principles involved.
386
Ashereusedthetermstructuralhorizonimpliesthepresentstructuralformofadefinitestratigraphiclevel,such
asthetoporbottomofamarkerbedorthecontactbetweentwodissimilarunits,whichcanberecognizedwithout
difficultyandcanbesafelyassumedtorepresentvirtuallythesametimelevelthroughouttheareaoftheQatar
Peninsula.
387
388
Depthofstructuralmarkersbelowsealevel(DukhanNo.1well)
(infeet)
Fig.4
PercentageofPresentStructuralDevelopment
(averagedeterminedfromsevenpairsofwells)
389
390
Ageofstructuralmarkersinmillionsofyears
Fig.5
PercentageofPresentStructuralDevelopment
(averagedeterminedfromsevenpairsofwells)
Anyone acquainted with work on absolute dating and Middle East stratigraphy will realize how
very approximate are the ages assigned to particular structural horizons in Fig. 5. Never the less the
figure has a great deal of significance and gives rise to the following comments and conclusions.
Fig. 5 is remarkable in that the plotted points lie on a line which is only gently curved. It is possible
that the straightness of the line is to some extent accidental or illusory. There are only seven plotted
points and if dating were better and a larger number of points were available the line joining them
might show more deviation from straightness. It is not however possible to say what effect an
improvement in absolute dating would have on the form of the line.
While the real accuracy of Fig. 5 is in doubt it is never the less certain that the history of folding
which seemed to be indicated by Fig. 4 cannot be supported. The main conclusion to be arrived at
from Fig. 5 is that folding of the Dukhan anticline took place from the Kimmeridgian to the Lower
Eocene at rates which were unrelated, during that time, to depositional or erosional events. Folding
seems to have been at a more or less steady rate.
391
392
Fig.6
In Fig 6A three imaginary structural horizons have been drawn in the same way with amplitudes
varying in the ratio of 1:2:3.
Fig. 6A demonstrates certain of the important features which have been shown to exist in the folds
of the Qatar Peninsula. It illustrates an increase in the amplitude of folding with depth and implies
that parts of the structure which were being more rapidly folded than others at any particular time
were also being folded relatively rapidly at all other times. Thus the sharper anticline on the left
would have been folded at all times at a more rapid rate than the gentler anticline on the right. Fig.
6A intentionally bears some resemblance to a cross section through the northern part of the Qatar
Peninsula. While no attempt has been made to conform to true scale, either vertically or
horizontally the comparatively sharp anticline at the left is roughly representative of the Dukhan
anticline as compared with the gentler swell to the right which corresponds to the high of the
northern and central part of the Peninsula.
Fig. 6 however fails to take into account an important feature which affects the final relative attitude
of the various structural horizons of the Qatar Peninsula and similar structures. This feature will be
briefly discussed.
In such a large area as the area of epeirogenic folding which is here under discussion and during
such a long period as is here involved, it is inevitable that structural tilts and warps on a regional
scale will have taken place.
393
394
Fig.7
Returning now to Fig. 6 it may be noted that the curves drawn with varying amplitudes are oriented
relative to one another by assuming a common vertical axis V and parallel horizontal axes H1, H2
etc. It is possible, as a mathematical expedient, to presume that this implies a lack of regional
tilting during the formation of the structures and to define lack of regional tilt in this way. But in
nature regional tilting would always be taking place and would result in uneven deposition or
erosion of sediments additional to that presumed in Fig. 6 so that the geometry of Fig. 6 would be
too simple to be applied to natural circumstances. A complete empirical geometry would have to
allow of the structural horizons being tilted relative to one another.
Thus with the above definitions of lack of regional dip in mind, let it be supposed that instead of
structures being formed without regional tilting, as indicated in Fig.6A, otherwise similar structures
were formed to the accompaniment of regional tilts in various directions. The result could be as
shown in Fig. 7A.
Fig. 7A differs from Fig. 6A in only one respect, this being that while a common vertical axis to all
three curves is assumed, the other axes of the curves are inclined at various angles to the horizontal.
This may be taken to represent regional tilting of the various structural horizons in various
directions at different times, the final regional dips resulting being indicated by the inclination of P1,
P2, etc.. to the horizontal.
Fig. 8B [7B] shows the geometry of Fig. &A [7A]. P1 and P2 represent planes of regional dip and
are the other axes of curves which have an arbitrary common vertical axis V. As in Fig. 6B the
relationship b/a is constant.
Fig. 7 thus illustrates in an empirical geometrical form the more important features which are
known to occur in the structures of the Qatar Peninsula. It illustrates an increase of the amplitude of
folding with depth, it implies that those parts of the structures which were being more rapidly
395
396
397
398
399
Deviation between the geometry of relative elevation equations and actual structural form.
An account has been given above of the manner of calculating the deviations between the perfect
geometry of relative elevation equations and the imperfect geometry of natural structures. The
nature of such deviations will now be considered in greater detail.
It may be possible, if Method A is to be used, to select from among a large number of available
points the basic data from which the constants of an equation are to be calculated. The nature of the
equations and practical experience both indicate that in such a case the best fitting equations, that is
to say those with the smallest average deviation, are in general obtained by following two
principles. These are that the four wells selected for basic data should as far as possible straddle the
whole of the area to which the equation is to be applied and that the four wells selected should
include one in a high structural position and one in a low structural position. However, even when
these general principles are followed it is not always possible to predict which set of four wells will
give the best fitting equation. Thus, for example, two equations relating the top of the Mauddud
formation to the top of the No. 3 Limestone have been calculated by Method A. Both sets of wells
appear to be placed to similar advantage, but on complete tabulation of deviations one equation
gives an average deviation of +/-69.5 feet while the other has a deviation of +/-76.1 feet. It may thus
be seen that where it is possible it may be desirable to experiment in order to achieve the best
results.
Method B can be employed to good effect only where data is available from a fairly large number
of bore holes.
Where Method B has been applied to data from the Qatar Peninsula it has been found that in general
it produces an equation slightly better than the best that can be determined by Method A. Thus, for
the same two horizons as are mentioned above and having the same data from which to choose, an
equation calculated by Method B has an average deviation of +/-66.5 feet. It has however been
found that with good fortune in the selection of basic data an equation calculated by Method A may
400
Amplitudeconstant,K
Averagedeviation(feet)
5.917
+/
3.135
+/
1.412
176.2
113.3
+/
66.5
Histograms (Fig. 8) drawn in the manner customary for such a feature, show the distribution of
deviations for the three equations.
As may be seen, and as might be anticipated, the average deviation is greater where the difference
in amplitude is greater.
401
Fig.8
402
Fig.9
There may be some approximate mathematical rule to this increase, but the writer has been unable
to discover it. It is however noteworthy that the average deviation does not increase in anything
like direct proportion to the amplitude constant. Its difference from one equation to another is small
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
403
404
Fig.10:StructuralcontoursonHorizon X
Some particular problems of practical application
It has now been illustrated that the structure of the Qatar Peninsula may be expected to conform
more or less to the empirical geometry which is expressed in relative elevation equations. It is
therefore to be expected that relative elevation equations will be of assistance in interpreting the
structure of the peninsula at depth from the structure at shallower horizons where this is known.
The manner in which relative elevation equations have been used for this purpose will now be
illustrated by examples.
405
406
Fig.11
407
Fig.12:StructuralcontoursonHorizonY
408
409
410
411
412
Fig13
413
414
415
Concluding remarks
Much of what has been said concerning the epeirogenic folding of Qatar is a wider application.
Qatar is merely a small part of a very large area of epeirogenic folding and this area is by no means
unique. Reference has already been made to the similar structures found in large areas of the
United States. Even in Great Britain, where structure has all sorts of major complications which
arose at different times, there is at least one anticline which is an excellent example of the
epeirogenic type of fold. This is the Market Weighton structure, so well described by Kent (1955).
The writer therefore has no doubt that his methods of structural analysis can be widely applied and
that his relative elevation equations provide a useful method of approach to practical problems of
epeirogenic folding.
The analysis of the Qatar structures has led to various useful conclusions. Perhaps the most
important has been that differential compaction can now be dismissed as being a prime cause of
epeirogenic folding. But the solution of this particular problem raises several others. If differential
compaction is not the cause of epeirogenic folding, what is? What is the strongest folding which
can be produced by these same causes? Are these causes such that the folding which they produce
can cease and then be revived on the same lines?
Answers to these questions cannot be provided from the study of the Qatar structures alone and it
would need widespread research before answers could be given.
416
SUPPLEMENT
417
1953
418
INTRODUCTION
In the course of efforts to coordinate and unify the rock unit terminology applied in the various
concessions of the associated companies it became necessary some two years to undertake the
revision of the Dukhan nomenclature. From time to time during the past two years therefore,
consultations on the necessary revisions have taken place between the writer, Dr. Henson and other
interested parties and various changes have been made. In the meantime the preparation of the
writers Dukhan Type Section slowly proceeded, particular attention being paid to the question of
nomenclature and the present report expresses the results to date of all the various investigations
which have been undertaken with the ultimate objective of a detailed coordinated nomenclature in
view.
As will be seen during the examination of the report, a large number of unit names have been
adopted from B.P.C. nomenclature. Such names have been used where units could be readily
correlated which had already been named in the B.P.C. area. It will also be seen that various names
have been adopted from ARAMCO nomenclature. These however are mostly group names and
very few formation or member names have been taken from ARAMCO. This is due to the absence
of precise formal definitions of the smaller ARAMCO units. While we have a certain amount of
information on the smaller ARAMCO units (e.g. the Buwaib, Yamana and Sulaiy) we do not have
anything like enough to enable us to correlate precisely between the ARAMCO units and our own
succession in the Q.P.C. area. Thus it will be seen that while ARAMCO names are used for the
groups, subdivision into formations is based almost entirely on the Dukhan and B.P.C. succession.
In this respect a re-examination of the ARAMCO well samples available at Dukhan would possibly
provide some further useful information but the writer has not had time to undertake such
investigations.
Descriptions of the Bahrain and Shammar Groups, shown in the Dukhan Type Section, have been
omitted since it is known that an ARAMCO geologist is at present engaged on a thesis on this part
of the section in which a formal nomenclature is included. It is therefore felt to be pointless to
describe, by other names, units for which formal terms will be published, probably in the near
future.
It will be observed that much available data on macro-fossils has not been included in the
descriptions of the units. This is an intentional omission and is due to the lack of time to examine
419
420
Underlying unit:
Overlying Unit
Description
section
Dammam Formation
H. V. Dunnington, IR/HVD/277, 20.4.51.
Dammam dome, Saudi Arabia. Approximate coordinates: 26 32N and 50
8E. No description of a type section is available and it is possible that none
exists
Rus Formation, contact conformable. The Midra shale occurs at the bottom of
the Dammam Formation over much of the oilfield area of Arabia and the
bottom of the shale readily distinguishes the bottom of the Dammam
formation.
Hadruck Formation, contact unconformable. (The Hadruck is the lowest
formation of the Miocene and is sporadic in its occurrence)
No precise description is given. Mr. Dunnington (IR/HVD/277, 20.4.51.)
however gives the following list of the divisions of the Dammam of the
Arabian oilfield area which indicate lithology.
Thickness
Age
Other localities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
None given
Middle Eocene
Abu Hadriya No. Well
Jauf No. 1 Well
Abqaiq wells
Bahrain wells and outcrops
Qatar wells and outcrops
421
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Remarks
Upper Limestone plus the Abaruk beds of Williamson (GR/97) and others.
Apart from areas covered by Lower Fars, recent deposits etc.. the Dammam
Formation is the surface formation over most of the Qatar Peninsula. Complete
sections are to be found over the area of the Dukhan anticline but elsewhere the
formation is not well exposed, being mostly covered with sand and the loose
detritus resulting from weathering.
Rus Formation, contact conformable. The bottom of the Midra Shale Member
is taken as the bottom of the Dammam Formation as is the case in Saudi Arabia
Lower Fars Formation, contact unconformable. The Lower Fars rests
discordantly upon the Dammam Formation, structure developed in the
Dammam Formation not being expressed in the Fars.
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, light grey, rubbly, of a nodular nature (Abaruk Member See
accompanying definition). Thickness ca. 6
2. Dolomite chalk, white, with disseminated silica. Calcite nodules in the
upper part. Thickness ca. 35
of 3. Dolomite chalk, white, interbedded with limestone, light grey, rubbly.
Chert nodules are of frequent occurrences. Coskinolina balsilliei,
Linderina buranensis, Dictyoconoides kohaticus, Nummulites discorbinus,
Alveolina elliptica, Lookhartia tipperi, L. hunti var. pustulosa, etc..
Thickness ca. 110
4. Shale and marl, light grey to yellowish. (Midra Member. See
accompanying definition). Thickness ca. 18
Averaging ca. 170 in the Dukhan area
Middle Eocene
With the exception of the Midra Member, the members into which the
Dammam of the Saudi Arabian oilfield area is divided are not distinguishable
in the Dukhan section
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
422
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
423
Localities
Remarks
424
Author, date
and references:
Synonymy
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
425
Rus Formation
426
Synonymy
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Remarks
427
Underlying unit:
Busaiyir Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53 (See also Dukhan Type Section,
sheet Q/01.0389A, W. Sugden, Feb. 1953)
Lower part of the Bahrain Formation of old reports on Dukhan stratigraphy.
See particularly F.R.S. Henson, CGLL/1157, 21.10.40
Dukhan No. 22 Well. Depth 201 to 1270
Coordinates: 252238N and 50 48 34E
Tayarat Formation, contact seemingly conformable. There is a very sharp
faunal break between the Tayarat and Busaiyir Formations of Qatar which gave
rise in the past to the suspicion that there might be unconformity between them.
It has however been found impossible to prove an unconformity in the Qatar
area at that point in the succession. The constancy of sequence of faunal zones
and lithology both above and below the contact indicates that there is no
angular discordance
The contact is placed at the bottom of the very marly section of the Busaiyir
which normally contains Lockhartia prohaimei, (Paleocene). This overlies
marly limestones and dolomites with Omphalocyclus macroporus,
Fissoelphidium operculiferum, Loftusia morgani etc.. (Maestrichtian)
Rus Formation, contact conformable. For further information see the
Overlying Unit
accompanying description of the Rus Formation
From top to bottom:
1) Limestone, light brown and light grey, mostly very dolomitic, very porous
and mostly with small aggregates of quartz and chalcedony, these being
particularly abundant in the upper part. Thickness 164. Fauna:
Lockhartia tipperi, L. hunti var. pustulosa, Sakesaria cotteri, Rotalia
trochidoformis.
2) Dolomite, brown, grey-brown and dark grey, saccharcidal, very porous,
Description
of
partly calcareous, particularly in the upper part. Thickness 260.
section
Unfossiliferous
3) Limestone, light grey to grey-brown, variably dolomitic, with streaks of
bluish-grey marly limestone towards the bottom. Thickness 430. Fauna:
L. altispira, L. conica, L. conditi, L. haimei, L. diversa, Kathina delseota,
K. selveri, K. major, S. ornate, S. dukhani, Daviesina khatiyahi. D.
langhami, Miscellanea miscella var. dukhani, M. arabica, M. meandrina,
Operculina libyca, Delheidia haydeni.
428
429
430
Author, date
and references:
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Remarks
431
Tayarat Formation
Author, date
and references:
Type Locality
Underlying unit:
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
of
Other Localities
432
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
433
Ruilat Formation
434
Laffan Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53 (See also Dukhan Type Section,
sheet Q/01.0389B, W. Sugden, Feb. 1953)
Lowermost part Tayarat of some old report on Dukhan stratigraphy, see
particularly R.M. Ramsden, RGQ/141.672/2382, 11.12.49
Dukhan No. 25 well. Depth 2002 to 2072
Coordinates 25 22 52N and 50 45 50E
Mishrif Formation, contact unconformable.
Synonymy
Type Locality
For previous reports on the nature of the unconformity see R.M. Ramsden,
RGQ/141.672/1714, 9.12.48; Monthly report for March 1949 and
RGQ/141.672/2382, 11.12.49
Underlying unit:
Owing to the structural development during the time of formation of the Wasia
unconformity and erosion subsequent to the folding, the uppermost beds of the
Mishrif Formation which are represented in downflank wells have been eroded
and are therefore absent over the crest of the structure
Ruilat Formation, contact conformable (For further details see the
accompanying definition of the Ruilat Formation)
Overlying Unit
Description
section
Thickness
Age
At the end of the deposition of the Wasia, uplift and erosion took place in the
Dukhan area and at the same time the Dukhan anticline suffered part of its
structural development. According to the writers calculations the degree of
folding which took place at that time was equal to about one fifth of the folding
at present developed in the Riyadh group limestones. This may be compared
with a calculation for the degree of folding subsequent to the deposition of the
Midra shale which shows that about one quarter of the present structural
development in the Riyadh is post-Midra.
of
435
Description
section
Grits, sand and sandstone, generally black to dark brown, rich in haematite
(black) and in limonitic concretions (yellow-brown). Coarse, ill-sorted grains,
of often rounded, frosted and wind-blasted. Often well cross-bedded. Some beds
finer grained, more angular, cream to green. Elsewhere colours vary to pink,
purple and mauve. Some fossil wood.
Thickness
Age
Other Localities
Remarks
In the section near Ain Wasia there is a lens of fossiliferous limestone with
Neolobites vibrayeanus (Cenomanian)
Ca. 100
Cenomanian at the level of a limestone lens near the top
Basrah area, Arabian oilfield area, Bahrain, Qatar
Abu Hadriya No.1
4915 6520
Abqaiq No. 6
2320 3275
Daniel (EJD/101) states Bramkamp believes the Wasia to be mainly if not
entirely Nahr Umr. This is further discussed under the local definition below.
436
Author, date
and references:
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Remarks
Averaging ca. 1600 at Dukhan. Varying due to the unconformities at the top
and bottom of the group and to intraformational thickening down the flanks of
the structure
Middle Cretaceous
The outcropping Wasia is ranked as a formation by ARAMCO. In Qatar
however the Wasia section is much more complete and has been reranked as a
group.
Correlation of the type outcrops with the Dukhan section:
As has already been expressed above, Bramkamp has stated that the
outcropping Wasia is mainly, if not entirely, Nahr Umr. However the
occurrence of a lens of limestone containing the Cenomanian fossil Neolobites
vibrayeanus near the top of the outcropping Wasia indicates that this lens is the
equivalent of the Mauddud. At Dukhan the Mauddud is believed to be
Cenomanian while the Asara contains the Turonian fossil Holectypus serialis
near its base (KB-1 well). The Turonian-Cenomanian contact at Dukhan is
therefore placed at the top of the Mauddud.
Thus it is believed that in the Aramco outcrop section the limestone lens, being
Cenomanian, is the equivalent of the Mauddud and therefore the part of the
Wasia outcropping above that lens should be correlated with the bottom of the
Asara. It may be noted that at Dukhan the bottom part of the Asara is very
similar in lithology to the upper part of the Nahr Umr.
Continues on next page.
437
Dukhan Section
Unconformity
Absent due to
non-deposition or erosion
Remarks
(continues)
Mishrif Formation
Rumaila Formation
Asara Formation
Mauddud Formation
Nahr Umr Formation
Sabsab Formation
Thamama
In Abu Hadriya No. 1 Well the succession of the lower part of the Wasia
corresponds with the description given for the outcrops. Thin beds of
limestone with Orbitolina concava occur from 5510 to 5525 and above and
below this limestone occur sandy shales with lignite. These limestone beds
have been correlated with the Mauddud. The Wasia succession at Abu
Hadriyah is more complete than at outcrop and the Mishrif formation can be
identified at the top of the group. The Abu Hadriya section thus supports the
correlation between outcrops and the Dukhan section given above.
As may be seen from the examination of descriptions or logs of the Wasia of
Basrah, the Wasia succession there is strikingly similar to that of Dukhan.
There is in fact such similarity that all the formation names of the Wasia of one
area are applicable in the other area.
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
438
Mishrif Formation
P. Rabanit, Report BGR/8, 8.7.52 (see also P. Rabanit, IR/PMVR/45, 17.5.52)
Thickness
Age
Other Localities
GJ/759-767
6370-6780
6870-7350
439
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Other Localities
The fresh water limonitic limestone described as occurring at the top of the
formation at Basrah is absent in Qatar wells.
Variable due to varying erosion at the unconformity at the top of the formation.
Over the area of the Dukhan field the greatest thicknesses and most complete
sections occur downflank where the greatest known thickness reaches about
250
Middle Cretaceous, possibly Lower Senonian
Abu Hadriya No. 1 4915 5010
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
440
Rumaila Formation
P. Rabanit, Report BGR/8, 8.7.52 (see also P. Rabanit, IR/PMVR/45, 17.5.52)
BGR/3, Upper Part of Khatiyah (part) and lower part of Khatiyah unit c
Synonymy, with
IR/PMVR/43. Mishrif (part) and Khuwaisa Formation.
references
GR/190, Globigerina-Oligostegina limestone
Zubair No. 3. Depth 7720 8072
Type Locality
Underlying
Asara Formation, contact conformable
formation
Overlying
Mishrif Formation, contact conformable
Formation
From base to top:
Description
of Fine grained, whitish chalky limestone passing into alternance of fine grained
marly limestone and marl. Globigerina sp., Oligostegina (ab)., Orbitolina
section
concave var. qatarica (rare).
352
Thickness
Middle Cretaceous
Age
Kuh-I-Anaran
GJ/747-758
Thickness 450
6780-7065
Thickness 285
Other Localities Nahr Umr No. 1
Ratawi No. 1
7350-7625
Thickness 275
441
442
Asara Formation
P. Rabanit, Report BGR/8, 8.7.52 (see also P. Rabanit, IR/PMVR/45, 17.5.52)
BGR/3, Lower part of Khatiyah Formation.
IR/PMVR/43. Asara, Tuba, Nukhaila Formations.
Zubair No. 3. Depth 8072 8470
Mauddud Formation, contact conformable
Rumaila Formation, contact conformable
443
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Remarks
444
445
446
Mauddud Formation
Type Locality
Underlying
formation
The contact between the Mauddud and the Nahr Umr is normally a sharp and
readily defined lithological change from arenaceous and argillaceous sediments
below to limestone above.
Asara Formation, contact conformable. (For details see the accompanying
definition of the Asara Formation ). In the original description of the rock units
Overlying
of Dukhan the formation overlying the Mauddud was known as the Khatiyah.
Formation
The Khatiyah has now been subdivided into three formations to correlate
with Basrah units and the name Khatiyah is therefore no longer used.
Limestone, light grey, earthy, mostly of fairly high porosity except for the
bottom few feet which are rather marly. In many sections the limestone is
Description
of quite silty. The upper part frequently contains beds with autoclastic debris.
The limestone is frequently rather dolomitic especially in the middle part.
section
Fauna: Abundant Orbitolina concava and Trocholina arabica. Also
containing T. altispira, T. lenticularis and Cyclamina whitei.
Type section (DK-1), 181
Thickness
Cenomanian
Age
All Dukhan and Kharaib wells. Juh No. 1
Bahrain, wells of Basrah area, parts of the oilfield area of Arabia.
Other Localities The Mauddud Limestone is believed to be represented as a thin lens at the
outcrops of the Wasia and as thin beds in Abu Hadriya No. 1. For further
information on this matter see accompanying description of the Wasia Group.
447
Remarks
448
of
Thickness
Age
Other Localities
449
450
Sabsab Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53 (See also W. Sugden , RGQ/141.672,
29.8.53 and Dukhan Type Section, sheets Q/01.0389 D2, and Q/01.0389 G2,
W. Sugden, Aug.. 1953)
Uppermost part of the Musandam Formation of F.R.S. Henson, CGLR/2345,
14.8.40
Dukhan No. 27 Well. Depth 3765 to 3902
Coordinates: Lat. 251754 N. Long. 504630 E
Shuaiba Formation, contact unconformable. A detailed description of the
relationship of the Sabsab and Shuaiba Formations is given in
RGQ/141.672/372, W. Sugden, 29.8.53
The Shuaiba limestone of Dukhan was deeply eroded prior to Wasia deposition
and the Sabsab Formation partly fills depressions which were eroded in the top
of the Shuaiba.
451
Age
Other Localities
Remarks
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
452
Thamama Group
E.J Daniel,
EJD/101, 23.5.51
R.V. Browne,
IR/RVB/5/141.671/219, 18.4.51
F.R.S. Henson,
CGLR/154, Jan. 1952
Saudi Arabia, somewhere between the oilfield area and Riyadh. Coordinates
not known.
Type area
No formal description of a type section is available and it is possible that none
exists.
Riyadh Group. Contact unconformable. The nature of the contact is described
Underlying unit
in the accompanying definition of the Riyadh Group.
Wasia Group, contact unconformable
Overlying Unit
E.J. Daniel (EJD/101) describes the Thamama Group as follows. From top to
bottom:
Thin bedded, flaggy limestone, yellowish, rather fine
textured, with thin, very shelly bands; also oolitic and
Buswaib
pseudo-oolitic; and lower thin platy white limestones.
Limestone.
Some thin sandstones and/or sandy limestones are said to
Ca. 130
be included in the upper part.
A big gap between these beds and the overlying Wasia is
Description
of
suspected.
section
Yamama
Formation
Yellow, thin bedded, detrital and pseudo-oolitic limestone
Ca. 210
Sulaiy Limestone
Well and thin bedded creamy detrital limestones
Ca. 170
Daniel notes that a limestone unit with Orbitolina discoidea occurs above the
Buwaib in well sections only.
Ca 510
Thickness
Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous
Age
Other Localities Basrah area, Arabian Oilfield area, Bahrain, Qatar
The Thamama Group has been previously described by F.R.S. Henson
(GRCR/154, Jan 52) but due to recent investigations which have revealed
Remarks
various interesting facts concerning the Thamama of Dukhan it has been
decided that the Thamama Group should be redefined in the present report
Author, date
and references:
453
As may be seen from the above, the available descriptions of the type outcrops
are insufficient to enable a detailed correlation to be made between the
outcropping units of the Thamama and the units into which the Thamama of
Dukhan has been divided. This problem might be partly resolved by a reexamination of the samples of Aramco wells which are available in Dukhan,
but the writer has not up to the present had the time to conduct such
investigations. Some remarks on this subject may however be made.
Remarks
454
Remarks (cont..)
Qatar Section
Unconformity
Shuaiba
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
Unconformity
Buwaib
?
?
Rakan
Karanah
?
Yamama
?
Qartas
?
Sulaiy
Misfir
Wakrah
Hith
455
Remarks (cont..)
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
456
Remarks
Shuaiba Formation
P. Rabanit, Report BGL/2480, 2/12/52 (see also D. Glynn Jones, GRCL/2691)
Orbitolina discoidea limestone. Final reports wells Zubair Nos 1 & 2 and
Nahr Umr No. 1
Zubair No. 3 well. Depth 9962 10132
Zubair Formation, contact conformable
Nahr Umr Formation, contact conformable
Dense, fine grained, whitish limestone with rare Orbitolina discoidea and
Choffatella decipiens.
170
Aptian
Zubair No. 2
10270 10434
Thickness
164
Nahr Umr No. 2
9321 ?
Unbottomed
Ratawi No. 1
9185 9465
Thickness
280
Burgan D.T. 1A
5025 5235
Thickness
279
In Nahr Umr, Ratawi and Burgan the limestone is dolomitised and contains
abundant Rudists.
457
458
Underlying unit
Overlying Unit
Description
of
type section
Thickness
Age
Other Localities
Remarks
Hawar Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53 (See also Dukhan Type Section,
sheet Q/01.0389 E2, W. Sugden, Aug.. 1953)
Part of Musandam Formation of F.R.S. Henson, CGLR/2345, 18.4.40
Dukhan No. 22 Well. Depth 4125 to 4170
Coordinates: Lat. 252238 N. Long. 504834 E
Kharaib Formation, contact conformable. In the type section and in many
others the contact is sharp and readily defined, being at the point where the
shale of the Hawar overlies the limestone of the Kharaib. In other section
however the Hawar shale grades into marl at the bottom and sometimes
contains beds of limestone. In such cases the bottom of the Hawar must be
placed as indicated by the individual merits of the section, but the bottom of the
Hawar is usually placed at the bottom of the lowest marl.
Shuaiba Formation, contact conformable. (See the accompanying definition of
the Shuaiba Formation).
Shale, blue-grey. Unfossiliferous
Type section (DK-22) 45.
Lower Cretaceous
All Dukhan and Kharaib wells. Juh No. 1.
As mentioned above the Hawar shale sometimes grades into blue-grey marl at
its top or bottom. In such cases the marl is normally included in the Hawar
Formation.
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
459
Kharaib Formation
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
460
Ratawi Formation
P. Rabanit, Report BGR/8, 8.7.52 (see also S. Nasr, Feb. 1950, amended P.
Rabanit IT/PMVR/43)
Ratawi Group (part), Divisional Monthly Report, Feb. 1950. Ratawi
Formation (part) BGL/1768
Ratawi No. 1. Depth 10870 to 11585
Rakan Formation, contact conformable
Zubair Formation, contact conformable
461
462
Rakan Formation
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
463
Karanah Formation
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
464
Qartas Formation
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
465
Misfir Formation
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
466
Underlying unit
Overlying Unit
Description
section
of
Thickness
Age
Other Localities
Remarks
Wakrah Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53 (See also Dukhan Type Section,
sheet Q/01.0389 E2, W. Sugden, Aug.. 1953)
Lowest part of the Musandam Formation of F.R.S. Henson, CGLR/2345,
18.4.40
Dukhan No. 27 Well. Depth 5295 to 5740
Coordinates: Lat. 251754 N. Long. 504630 E
Doha Formation, contact conformable. The bottom of the Wakrah Formation
is taken at the highest occurrence of the anhydrite nodules of the Doha
Formation. For further information on the nature of the contact see the
accompanying definition of the Riyadh Group.
Misfir Formation, contact conformable. For details of the contact see the
accompanying definition of the Misfir Formation.
Limestone, light grey and grey, fine grained, varying from compact at the top
to dense at the bottom of the formation. The upper and middle parts contain
beds which are slightly dolomitic.
In many sections, but not in the type section, a thin bed of pseudo-oolitic or
oolitic limestone occurs at the bottom of the formation.
Pseudocyclamina cf. bukowensis, sometimes occurs in small numbers towards
the bottom of the formation.
Type section (Dk-27), 445
Upper Jurassic, probably all Portlandian but the lower part may be upper
Kimmeridgian
All Dukhan and Kharaib wells. Juh No. 1
The Thamama of Aramco well sections usually has an oolitic and pseudooolitic limestone at the bottom. This is usually much thicker than the
corresponding pseudo-oolitic and oolitic limestones at the bottom of the
Wakrah Formation of Dukhan.
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
467
Riyadh Group
F.R.S. Henson
GRCL/154, 1.2.52
E.J. Daniel
EJD/101, 23.5.51
R.V. Browne
IR/RVB/5/141.671/219, 18.4.51
The Dahl al Hith, a cave near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Very little of the Riyadh
Group is exposed at outcrop and due to local circumstances there is no
Type locality:
satisfactory outcropping type section. (See Description of section and
Remarks below.)
Underlying unit: Jubaila Formation, contact not seen, presumed conformable.
Thamama Group. Contact believed to be unconformable at outcrop (see
Overlying Unit
below).
It is reported by E.J. Daniel )EJD/101, 23. 5. 51) that at outcrop most of the
anhydrite of the Riyadh Group has been removed by solution with the
consequent collapse of the remaining limestone beds. Moreover, most of the
area where the Riyadh should outcrop is covered by Pliocene or Quaternary
deposits. Only a partial section (of the Hith Formation) is exposed, this being
Description
of
in the Dahl al Hith but it seems possible that this section also may have been
section
reduced by solution (See Remarks below).
References:
Thickness
Age
Other localities
Remarks
The only description available of outcrops therefore is of 80 metres of bluegrey laminated anhydrite, (R.V. Browne, IR/RVB/5/141.671/219, 18.4.51).
This is believed to represent only the upper part of the Hith Formation
No true thickness measurable at outcrop
Upper Jurassic, probably all upper Kimmeridgian
Oil wells of the Bahrain, Dammam, Qatif, Abqaiq, Abu Hadriyah, Ghawar,
Fadhili and Haradh structures. Oil wells of the Qatar Peninsula.
R.V. Browne includes in his report IR/RVB/5/141.671/219 a photograph of the
Hith-Sulaiy contact at outcrop. As has been mentioned above, wholesale
solution of the Riyadh anhydrites has taken place at outcrop and it is not
impossible that the contact where photographed has been affected by such
solution. Judging only by the appearance of the photograph however the
contact there illustrated represents a tru original unconformable contact of the
Hith and the Sulaiy.
468
Remarks (cont..)
469
Synonymy
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Thamama
Description
section
Wakrah
Doha
Hith
of
Jaleha
Riyadh
Qatar
Juh
Umm Bab
Fahahil
Jubaila
Thickness
Age
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
470
Doha Formation
471
Hith Formation
Author, date
and references:
Type locality:
Underlying
formation:
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
of
Other localities
Remarks
472
Hith Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53 (See also Dukhan Type Section,
sheet Q/01.0389 F2, W. Sugden, sept. 1953)
Lower part of the Hith Formation of various reports issued since Jan. 1951.
(See R. V. Browne, DGLQ/140.3/14, 11.1.51 and F.R.S. Henson, GRCL/2512,
23.1.51) . As used in those reports the Hith Formation includes both the Hith
and Doha Formations of the present report.
Synonymy
Localities
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
section
Thickness
Age
Remarks
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
473
R.M.
Ramsden*
Hith Formation
Hith
Formation
Hith
Formation
Hith
Formation
Jaleha Mb
No. 1 Lmst
Juh Mb
No. 2 Lmst
Umm Bab
No. 3 Lmst
Fahahil Formation
No. 4 Lmst
Jubaila Fm
Bapco
terminology
A
B
Fourth Pay
Aramco
terminology
Arab Formation or
Zone
Former PDQ
terminology
Qatar Formation
Synonymy,
with references
Present report
A Lmst
1st Lmst
B Lmst
2nd Lmst
C Lmst
3rd Lmst
D Lmst
4th Lmst
Jubaila Fm
C
D
Jubaila Fm
474
475
Synonymy,
with references
476
Synonymy,
with references
Type Locality
Underlying
unit
Overlying Unit
Description of
section
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
477
Author, date
and references: R.M. Ramsden, Features of Limestones of the Rhiyadh Group of the SouthWest Persian Gulf Region. Thesis presented at Dept. of Geology and
Mineralogy, University of Oxford, May 1952.
No. 3 Limestone of the Qatar Peninsula.
limestone refer to it as the No. 3 Limestone.
478
Remarks
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
479
Synonymy,
with references
480
Kimmeridgian
All Dukhan wells which have penetrated to that Stratigraphic level. Juh No. 1
and Kharaib No. 1 and 2. Oil wells of the Bahrain, Dammam, Qatif, Abqaiq,
Abu Hadriyah, Ghawar, Fadhili and Haradh structures.
The thickness and lithology of the Fahahil Formation vary very little throughout
the area of the Dukhan field. In Kharaib No. 1 however, though the lithological
sequence is the same, the thickness of the Fahahil is only 124.
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/397
17.9.53
481
1955
482
Darb Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/13520
Upper part of the Jubaila Formation of some early interim memos on wells Juh
No. 1 and Kharaib Nos 1 and 2
Juh No. 1 well, Qatar peninsula. Depth 7107 to 7800
Coordinates: Lat 245348N, Long. 505955E
Type Locality
This section is chosen as the type since it is in the only well so far drilled in
which a large part of the Formation has been cored.
Diyab Formation, contact conformable. The contact is taken at the highest
occurrence of fine grained calcareous sandstones of the Diyab detrital facies.
Underlying
Unless this contact is familiar to the person wishing to establish its position it
formation
cannot be easily identified by unaided visual inspection of rock specimens. It is,
however, clearly revealed by the examination of thin sections by microscope.
Fahahil Formation, contact conformable. The contact is placed at the bottom of
the persistent dolomite which comprises the lowest part of the Fahahil Formation
(No. 4 Limestone) of the Qatar Peninsula. In the type section of the Darb there is
Overlying
a well marked facies change at the contact from medium grained, porous
formation
dolomite above to very fine grained compact limestone below, but elsewhere the
contact is not always so sharply marked. (For further details of the nature of the
contact see Remarks below.)
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, grey and light grey, fine grained, varying from very compact
to dense. A few beds rather dolomitic and occasional beds containing
scattered large pyrite stained pseudo-ooliths. Thickness 163. Fauna:
Common Valvulinella jurassica and a larger Valvulinella very similar to
wellingsi. Rare Pseudocyclammina sequana or perhaps personata in the
lowermost part
2. Limestone, dark grey, fine grained, dense. One or two thin streaks
Description of
containing pseudo-oolitic debris. Thickness 174. Fauna: Rare N.
type section
oolithica, V. jurassica and V. cf. wellingsi, P. sequana or personata and
P. cf. virguliana.
3. Limestone, grey, fine grained dense, becoming rather argillaceous
downwards, with numerous thin beds containing large, scattered, pyrite
stained pseudo-ooliths. Thickness 131. Fauna: Abundant P. sequana,
P. cf. virguliana and N. oolithica, V. jurassica and V. cf. wellingsi in the
lower part.
483
Description of
type section
(Cont)
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
Northwards and westwards from the Qatar Peninsula divisions 3 and 4 of the
formation as described above change in facies, although containing an almost
identical fauna and the Darb Formation, which shows lithological unity and
continuity over the area of the Qatar Peninsula and south-eastwards, has in
consequence been divided in the area of Bahrain and Central Arabia into two
units, the Jubaila Formation (upper) and Hanifa Formation (lower)
As indicated above the Darb Formation is the lateral equivalent of the combined
Jubaila and Hanifa Formations. The Hanifa as it occurs in Bahrain is a typical
shallow water, pellety, porous limestone similar in facies to the limestones of the
lower Riyadh and the Uwainat Limestone
Porous, petroliferous limestones of the Hanifa in Abu Hadriya No. 1 are known
as the Hadriya Zone.
484
Remarks
(Cont)
There is a little local lithological variation in the Darb Formation over the area of
the Qatar Peninsula, but the lithological sequence is very similar in its essentials
throughout this area. No difficulty is experienced in fixing the bottom of the
formation in the Qatar wells. In the case of the top of the Formation however the
contact is not always so distinct. The uppermost division of the Formation
sometimes shows irregular development of porous dolomite beds which may
merge with and become confused with the comparatively regular lowermost
dolomite of the Fahahil Formation (No. 4 Limestone) as for example in DK-40.
This is also true of the Jubaila-Riyadh contact in the case of some Aramco
sections. In such sections the top of the Darb Formation needs to be placed
according to the particular merits of the section or area concerned.
In some sections occasional streaks of the Darb Formation contain scattered
sponge spicules together with small usually spherical bodies of clear calcite
occasionally distinguishable as recrystallised radiolaria
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
485
Diyab Formation
W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/13520
Lower part of the Jubaila Formation of some early interim memos on wells Juh
No. 1 and Kharaib Nos 1 and 2
Juh No. 1 well, Qatar peninsula. Depth 7800 to 8125
Coordinates: Lat 245348N, Long. 505955E
Type Locality
This section is chosen as the type since the formation was cored throughout in
this particular well.
Araej Formation, contact conformable. There is a well marked change of facies
with little or no integration between the Araej and Diyab Formation. The typical
coarse, pellety limestones of the Araej are in sharp contrast with the silty
Underlying
limestones and extremely fine textured pseudo-oolitic, sandy limestones of the
formation
Diyab. There is also a marked micro-faunal change at the contact of these two
formations.
Darb Formation, contact conformable. For details see the accompanying
Overlying
description of the Darb Formation.
formation
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, dark grey, fine grained, dense, thin bedded, very argillaceous,
very silty, with thin beds of dark grey marl and with thin beds of grey,
dense, fine grained, slightly glauconitic calcareous sandstone. The sand
of the sandstones is mainly composed of calcareous debris and often
contains large quantities of microscopic pseudo-oolitic debris. There is
however a fair proportion of quartz grains. Thickness 77. Fauna:
Abundant sponge spicules and numerous small ostracods. Occasional
streaks of sandstone contain numerous small miliolids, occasional
Glomospira sp., and rare Nautiloculina oolithica.
Description of
2. Anhydrite, white, nodular, with stringers of grey, marly limestone.
type section
Thickness 2. Unfossiliferous.
3. Limestone, dark grey, fine grained, dense, argillaceous, silty, in part thin
bedded and with streaks of grey, dense, fine grained, calcareous
sandstone. Very rare thin beds of chert. The sands of the sandstones are
almost entirely made up of calcareous debris, quartz or other detrital
grains being very rare and microscopic pseudo-oolitic grains being
abundant. Thickness 77. Fauna: Abundant sponge spicules and
occasional small ostracods. Occasional streaks of sandstone contain
abundant small miliolids, occasional Glomospira sp., and Nautiloculina
oolithica.
486
487
Remarks
The nature of the thin detrital beds of the Diyab is such that it is not always easy
to decide whether they could best be called calcareous sandstones, sandy
limestones or sandy pseudo-oolites. These thin sands are however a constant and
typical feature of the Diyab.
The siliceous limestones of the Diyab typically contain abundant sponge spicules
and in many cases the spicules are accompanied by numerous small mostly subspherical objects composed of clear calcite. Some of these can be identified as
recrystallised radiolaria. Similar occurrences of radiolaria together with sponge
spicules are illustrated by Cuvillier (J. Cuvillier, 1951).
The Diyab lies between the Darb Formation, the lower part of which is correlated
with the Hanifa Formation, and the Araej Formation which is correlated with the
upper part of the Dhruma. The Diyab Formation must therefore be the
approximate lateral equivalent of the Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone of Arabia.
There is however very little internal evidence, either lithological or faunal by
which the correlation of these two formations can be confirmed.
W. Sugden
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
488
489
Age
Considering first the macrofauna which has been found in the lowermost part of
the Diyab and the uppermost part of the Araej, there are several species in this
part of the section in common with the fauna of Bramkamps Tuwaiq Mountain
Limestone. Thus Gryphaea balli, Exogyra nana, Chlamys curvivariens and
Chlamys macfadyieni have all been found both in the Tuwaiq and either
immediately above or a few feet below the Diyab-Araej contact. These species
are not however found in the upper part of the outcropping Dhruma.
On the other hand Torebratula cf. superstes which is found high in the Araej is
known only in the Upper Dhruma of Arabian outcrops. Macrofauna thus
indicates that the Diyab-Araej contact coincides more or less with the TuwaiqDhruma contact.
This coincidence is supported by foraminiferal ranges. Thus Valvulinella 54
of Aramco, which occurs in the lower part of the Tuwaiq and the upper part of
the Dhruma, is also present in the uppermost part of the Araej, and the range of
490
Age (Cont)
The lower limit of the Pfenderina 60 some of the Aramco outcrops falls in the
upper few feet of the Thambites Zone while in Qatar the lower limit of
Pfenderina 60 (Pfenderina helecoidea) is about 30 above the bottom of the
Araej. It is thus arguable that the Araej-Izhara contact corresponds roughly in
time with the top of the Thambites Zone. The part of the Araej below the
Uwainat Member would thus correspond approximately with the Middle
Dhruma, Divisions 6, 7 & 8 of Bramkamp (Arkell, Bramkamp and Steineke,
1952).
Thus to sum up it is argued that the Araej is the age correlative of the Aramco
outcrops from the top of the Dhruma to about the top of the Thambites Zone, that
is to say the Araej is the age correlative of most of the Middle and Upper
Dhruma and is thus according to Arkells dating of the Arabian outcrops of
Middle Bathonian to Middle Callovian age.
Kharaib No. 2 well
Depth 6653 to
6860 (not fully penetrated)
Juh No. 1 well
Depth 8125 to
8454 (not fully penetrated)
Dukhan No. 40 well
Depth 6713 to
6996 (not fully penetrated)
Bahrain No. 52 well
Depth 5685 to
6670
Other
Localities
Remarks
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
491
492
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
493
494
Age (cont..)
Other
Localities
Remarks
Depth 6670 to
7120
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
495
496
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
497
Remarks
(cont..)
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
498
499
Other
Localities
Remarks
RGQ/141.672/13520
10.1.1955
500
1956
501
QDLR/2
By W. Sugden
December 1956
502
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
Type Section
503
29.12.1956
W. SUGDEN
504
505
506
Locality
Underlying
formation
Overlying
formation
The Lower Fars Formation has its type section in central S.W. Persia.
Shaw and Cox (GR 61) first described beds of similar age and facies in Qatar as
belonging to the Lower Fars and subsequent references have adhered to the same
nomenclature.
Jebel Naksh (Lat. 2453, Long. 5054 approx..) exhibits the thickest section of
Lower Fars on the Qatar Peninsula and for that reason is chosen as being
representative for the area.
Dammam Formation, contact unconformable but not noticeably discordant in
individual outcrops. Shaw and Cox did not give details of the contact, it being
covered at the described outcrop. Where the writer has examined it, it consists of
sandy and marly beds with scattered quartz and igneous pebbles overlying
normal Dammam limestones or chalky beds.
None. Above almost all of the area covered by Fars on the Qatar Peninsula there
is a skin of a few inches of gravel containing a great variety of pebbles. In many
places the pebbles are in the form of dreikanters.
Shaw and Cox (GR 61) note the similarity of these gravels to the desert gravels
of Iraq and Kuwait. Their origin is however doubtful. In Qatar they are found
only above the Fars and do not occur where the Dammam is exposed at the
surface. This being so suggests that they are residuum from wind eroded beds
which originally existed immediately above the presently remaining Lower Fars.
Shaw and Cox (GR 61) give a detailed description of the Lower Fars of Qatar in
which the sequence is divided as follows.
Upper Gypseous Group
Middle Chalky Group
Lower Sandy Group
106 feet
55 feet
Ca. 100 feet
507
Thickness
Age
2. Marls, partly sandy, green, red, grey, yellow-green and olive green, with
beds of more or less sandy limestone, shale and sandy shale. Lowermost
few feet not seen but probably as described under Underlying
Formation above. Fauna: Ostrea latimarginata Vredenberg, Placuna
sp. Discorbis sp. D. rangii. Thickness ca. 100 feet.
Jebel Naksh (greatest known on the Qatar Peninsula) ca. 260 feet.
Elsewhere on the Peninsula thicknesses are less due to the erosion of the upper
beds and probably also to a lesser extent due to overlap of the lower beds by
transgression.
Either Lower or Middle Miocene. There is no conclusive evidence as to whether
the Lower Fars of Qatar should be placed in the Lower or the Middle Miocene
Beds which appear to be of almost the same age as the Lower Fars of Qatar are
known in the coastal area of the Hasa of Saudi Arabia.
According to Daniel (EJD/101, 30.4.51) the corresponding sequence has there
been divided into three as follows.
Hofuf
Dam
Hadrukh
It would seem that the Dam is more or less equivalent to the upper and middle
part of the Lower Fars of Qatar while the Hofuf may be represented by the
residual gravels which cover the Fars outcrops in Qatar. The Hadrukh may be
represented in Qatar but may equally well have its equivalents in the lower sandy
part of the Lower Fars.
Other
Localities
Although thicknesses are not quoted it would seem that the maximum thickness
of Miocene in the Hasa is between two and three hundred feet.
In the Kuwait area there is much the same succession as in the Hasa but a
considerably greater thickness and in the Basra oilfield area again a similar
succession but with many times the thickness.
In the Kuwait-Basra area the nomenclature applied to the three divisions has
been:
Dibdibba Formation
Zor Formation
Ghar Formation
There is reason to believe that in the Basra area the Dibdibba Formation may
include beds up to Pleistocene in age (Owen and Nasr, 1956) and there is thus
good reason to equate the Zor Formation with the Lower Fars, and the Dibdibba
with the Upper Fars and Baktiari.
It is interesting to note that in parts of the Basra-Kuwait area the surface
Dibdibba gravels contain dreikanters as does the thin skin of gravel covering the
Lower Fars of Qatar.
508
Remarks
The Lower Fars of Qatar appears to have transgressed into topographic lows
particularly those on either side of the Dukhan anticline and to have failed to
transgress over the northern part of the Peninsula. Lower Fars is also unknown
in Bahrain and there may well have been an island in Lower Fars times
comprising northern Qatar, Bahrain and possibly also part of the Dammam area
of Saudi Arabia.
13.12.1956
W. Sugden
509
Authors and
references
Sander deals at great length with the stratigraphy of the Hasa Series (Paleocene
and Eocene) of Saudi Arabia and it is not possible here to give a complete
translation. A translation of his description of the type section of the Dammam is
given and certain supplementary information has been condensed to a few
paragraphs
Near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Coordinates: Lat. 26173 N. Long. 50077 E.
Type Locality
about 7kms West of Jebel Umm er Rus
Rus formation, contact conformable. In most sections other than the type Sander
has taken the Dammam-Rus contact as being the bottom of the Midra Shale
Member of the Dammam, but for reasons which he does not mention the type
Underlying
section of the Dammam and one or two others include thin limestones below the
formation
Midra Shale. The bottom of the Midra shale is the obvious level at which to
place the contact.
Overlying Unit Miocene limestones, unconformable
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, whitish, fine grained, porous, with casts of molluscs.
Thickness 3.8 metres.
2. Limestone, light yellow, soft, saccharoidal, with a half metre bed of
dolomitic marly clay at the bottom. Thickness 4.9 metres
3. Limestone, light grey, hard, fine grained with traces of leached out
fossils. Thickness 5.7 metres.
4. Limestone, white, marly, hardened on the upper surface by weathering.
Thickness 1.9 metres
5. Limestone, white, massive, hard, rugged, speckled due to weathering.
Description of
Thickness 1.6 metres.
section
6. Limestone, compact, slightly marly, smooth weathered. Thickness 1.7
metres.
7. Limestone, granular, porous, feature forming. Thickness 0.8 metres.
8. Shale, Light greenish brown, waxy, very gypsiferous. Thickness 2.5
metres
9. Limestone, white to light grey, chalky, in part limonite stained.
Thickness 1.0 metre.
10. Shaly marl, limonite stained. Thickness 1.2 metres
11. Limestone, marly, and shaly marl, light grey, with oyster remains.
510
Fossils
Age
Latitude
Longitude
Thickness
(m)
32
179.5
121.7
121.6
Thickness
(ft)
105
588
399
399
Bahrain
2600N
5033.6E
Near Bejsa
2754.5N
4824.4E
Well near Mutba
2632.0N
4905.9E
Well near Araira
2550.4N
4852.0E
Well near
2416.35N
4912.2E
35.2
115
Haradh
Jafura
2459.7N
4953.7E
86.2
283
Fauna from Qatar is mentioned in a subsequent section. From Bahrain L.R. Cox
(1936) has identified the following macrofossils from the Dammam Formation.
Terrebellum carcassense Leymerie, Mytilus Cleopatrae Oppenheim, Ostrea
turkestanensis Romanovski, Spondylus radula Lamarck, Euphenax jamaicensis
(Trechmann), Lucina metableta Cossmann, Lucina (Loripinus) pharaonis
Bellardi, Chama calcarata Lamarck and Corbula (Bicorbula) subexerata
darchiac and Haime.
According to Sander, Roger and Calas (see Sander p. 60) have identified all the
above species among specimens from the Dammam of Saudi Arabia and have in
addition identified Rimella fissurella Leymerie, Marginella cf. ovulata Lamarck,
Lyria sp. Aff. Harpula Lamarck, Lyria turgidula var. Deshayes, Milthia mutabilis
Lamarck and Phacoides cf. latebrosus Deshayes. With the exception of O.
turkestanensis which was found only in the Midra shale the above fauna was
limited to the upper part of the Dammam.
Sander has identified the following foraminifera from the Dammam Formation.
Orbitolites complanata Lamarck, Dictyoconus indicus Davies, Nummulites
beaumonti dArchiac and Haime, N. discorbinus (Schlotheim) var. major
Rozlozsnik, N. staminea Nuttall, N. somaliensis Nuttall and Brighton, N.
globulus Leymerie, N. aff. Lucasanus Defrance, Dictyoconoides kohaticus
(Davies), D. cooki (Carter), Linderina buranensis Nuttall and Brighton, L.
brugesi Schlumberger, Halkyardia minima (Liebus), Coskinolina balsilliei
Davies, Alveolina subpyrenaica Leymerie. The range of these is given in a
diagram by Sander as is that of a new species described by him, Nummulites
cuvillieri.
Middle Eocene (Lutetian) and perhaps highest Lower Eocene (Ypresian)
according to Sander. This will be further discussed below.
511
Location
Wadi Sahaba
Near Mukhiyat
Well at Raudha al Hani
Hafar al Batin
Latitude
2410.5N
2524.9N
2456.2N
2811.3N
Longitude
4836 apprx E
4812.5E
4843.1E
4818.5E
Formation
Discordance
Member
Lutetian
Dammam
Ypresian
Rus
Sparnacian
Thanetian
Remarks
Umm er Radhuma
Alat Limestone
Marl
Khobar Dolomite
Marl
Midra Shale
Montian
Danian
Aruma
Maestrichtian
He gives a brief description of the members into which the Dammam has been
divided, stating that the Alat, Khobar and Midra Members take their names
respectively from outcrops near Alat No. 1 Well, the village of Khobar (on the
coast near Dammam) and the Jebel Midra Shemali (on the Dammam Dome).
However he makes no attempt to present formal definitions of these members,
stating that the names are sometimes used for the sake of convenience. Positions
of the members are not shown in any of his measured sections.
Sanders reason for suggesting the name Hasa Series for the Eocene-Paleocene
section is that the Hasa area of Arabia is the only area in which complete
outcrops are exposed. For this reason he is loath to adopt the name Bahrain
series suggested by Pilgrim (1908) since less than half of the Hasa Series is
exposed in Bahrain.
31.01.1956
W. Sugden
512
Type section defined by Sander (1952) from outcrops near Dhahran, Saudi
Arabia. Dammam Formation of Qatar first described as such by Sugden
(RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53) and now redefined in the light of additional
information.
Upper Limestone plus the Abaruk Beds of Williamson and Pomeyrol
(GR/97, Oct. 1938) and others.
Synonymy
513
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
Dictyconoides cooki (Carter) and Lockhartia cf. hunti Ovey and reports
the occurrence of a new species Alveolina delicatissima from this part of
the Dammam. Coskinolina balsilliei Davies has been identified by
Henson (1948). Lockhartia hunti Ovey var. pustulosa Smout and L.
tipperi (Davies) have also been found. Dr. R.G.S. Hudson records
Sismondia polymorpha Duncan and Sladen from the lower part of this
division.
4. Midra Member. Shale, light grey, with a foliate cleavage, changing
upwards to light grey marl, the whole being partly yellowish stained by
iron minerals. Thin beds of limestone sometimes occur within this
member. The more shaly parts are frequently gypseous. Thickness ca.
18 feet. Fauna: Dr. Chatton has identified Ostrea turkestanensis
Romanovski, from this member. Fish teeth are of common occurrence.
About 170 feet. The true thickness is difficult to measure with accuracy due to
the occurrence in the section of a long dip slope covered with weathered residual
rubble and sand.
Middle Eocene and perhaps highest Lower Eocene. It is agreed by all authorities
that all of the Dammam Formation above the Midra Shale is of Middle Eocene
age by comparison of its fauna with those of India, Somaliland and the
Mediterranean (Smout 1954, Sander 1952). It has however been suggested by
Calas (see Sander p. 61) that the Midra Shale may be uppermost Lower Eocene
on account of the occurrence in it of the single identified species Ostrea
turkestanensis. Since the underlying Rus Formation has not so far been dated
and the highest part of the Umm er Radhuma is Lower Eocene there would seem
to be no strong objection to the Midra being dated as of highest Lower Eocene
age.
In addition to localities mentioned by Sander, the Dammam formation is also
known from Abqaiq field (Abqaiq No. 6, G.L. to 450 feet) from Abu Hadriya
(Abu Hadriya No. 1, 155 to 785 feet) and from the Basra-Kuwait area. A
description of the Formation in the latter area is given by Owen and Nasr (1956).
It seems very probable that the limestone of division 1 of the above description
of the Qatar section corresponds with the Alat Member of Saudi Arabia and
Bahrain. For this there is as yet no proof but Sanders description of the Alat
conforms almost exactly to the nature of this particular limestone.
Divisions 1 and 2 of the above described section together constitute the Abaruk
Beds, so named by Williamson (GR 97). These form a distinctive section
which is very useful for mapping, but as two very different lithologies are
represented the Abaruk Beds as originally described cannot be conveniently
included in one member.
The Alveolina Bed is a thin zone at the bottom of division 3 of the above
described section. It is of 3 to 16 feet in thickness and contains one or very often
two beds of limestone with abundant Alveolina elliptica var. flosculina. These
beds are normally separated by an interval of marly limestone or shaly marl. The
Alveolina Bed or beds have been much employed as a marker for surface
mapping and the name has therefore been in common use for a number of years.
These beds disappear over the N.E. part of the Peninsula.
514
W. Sugden
515
Authors and
references
Sander deals at great length with the stratigraphy of the Hasa Series (Paleocene
and Eocene) of Saudi Arabia and it is not possible here to give a full translation
of all that he had to say concerning the Rus Formation. A translation of his
description of the type section is given and certain supplementary information
has been condensed to a few paragraphs
South West flank of the of the Dammam Dome, Saudi Arabia. Coordinates: Lat
Type Locality
2619.5N. Long. 5010.0E.
Umm er Radhuma Formation, contact conformable. Sander states (p.35) that the
contact with the Rus is usually marked by a fairly abrupt passage to anhydrites,
clays and limestones but he also says that anhydrites are often absent from the
Rus as is the case in the type section. He gives no criteria by which the bottom
Underlying
of the Rus may be recognized in such instances. It is however observed from
formation
Sanders described sections and elsewhere that the Rus is dominantly soft and
chalky in contrast with the underlying Umm er Radhuma and it appears that
dominant chalkiness could be accepted as a means of identifying the Rus where
it does not contain anhydrites.
Dammam Formation, contact conformable. For details of the nature of the
Overlying Unit
contact see the accompanying description of the Dammam Formation.
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, white, soft, chalky, with several thin oolitic beds, in part
limonite stained. Thickness 1.3 metres.
2. Limestone, white, soft, chalky, with aggregates of quartz forming brown
nodules. Thickness 2.3 metres.
3. Limestone, white, soft, chalky, weathering to rounded surfaces, with
several beds of hard crystalline limestone forming small ledges.
Thickness 8.5 metres.
Description of
4. Limestone, white, chalky, strongly limonite stained and with numerous
section
quartz geodes near the bottom. Thickness 13.9 metres.
5. Limestone, probably as in 4, but almost entirely concealed. Thickness
9.4 metres.
6. Limestone, grey to light grey, hard, compact, interbedded with chalky,
white limestone in the upper part. Thickness 9.0 metres.
7. Limestone, white to brown, hard, weathering to large rectangular blocks.
Thickness 12.0 metres.
516
Fossils
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
Latitude
Longitude
Thickness
(m)
66.6
Thickness
(ft)
218
Bahrain
2600N
5033.6E
Near Hafar al
2819N
4607E
67
220
Batin
Near Fadhili
2648.1N
4913.3E
86.2
283
Near Mukhiyat
2524.9N
4812.5E
12.1
40
Wadi Sahaba
2410.5N
~ 4815E
22
72
According to Sander the Rus of Saudi Arabia is almost devoid of fossils and so
far none have proved to be identifiable. Such is also the case in Qatar
Sander places the Rus Formation in the Ypresian stage of the Lower Eocene but
does not have very much justification for so doing. For further details see the
description of the Rus Formation of Qatar
Since the Rus frequently contains much anhydrite and since this is one of its
most distinctive and important features it may be of interest to give here one of
Sanders descriptions of an anhydritic section of the Rus. For this purpose his
section from Hafar al Batin (Lat 2819N. Long. 4607E) may be chosen. His
description is as follows.
From top to bottom:
1. Anhydrite, white and smoky grey with some gypsum and plastic, applegreen clay. Upper limit marked by a white oolitic limestone. Thickness
42.7 m.
2. Limestone, light brown, porous, soft, partly impregnated with gypsum.
Thickness 4.6 m.
3. Anhydrite, white, with a few thin beds of green clay and white marl.
Thickness 15.2 m.
4. Limestone, light brown, dolomitic, impregnated with gypsum. Thickness
0.9 m.
5. Anhydrite, white, with thin beds of limestone and perhaps some green
clay.
As in many other areas the occurrence of anhydrites in the Rus of Saudi Arabia is
sporadic and this is doubtless in part due to leaching out of calcium sulphate by
percolating water.
31.01.1956
W. Sugden
517
The upper part of the Umm er Radhuma can be safely dated as Lower Eocene
and all of the Dammam Formation above the Midra Shale is reliably dated as
Middle Eocene. The Midra Shale cannot yet be dated with certainty and while it
518
Other
Localities
Thus while the Rus may be of highest Lower and lowest Middle Eocene age
there is some indication that it may be all Lower Eocene.
In addition to sections described by Sander the Rus Formation is also known
from Abqaiq (Abqaiq No. 6 Well, 450 to 630 feet), Abu Hadriya (Abu Hadriya
No. 1 well, 785 to 1285 feet) and from Jauf (thickness ca. 430 feet). Owen and
Nasr (1956) describe the formation from the Basra-Kuwait area.
The Rus Formation of Dukhan is above described as being principally composed
of dolomite-chalk that is to say the chalk is dominantly made up of dolomite
with a relatively small proportion of calcite. This has been established by the
chemical analysis of two samples (see CHEM.QT/CO/17, P.R. Hannay, 11.6.51).
In rocks of such fine grain it is always difficult to differentiate calcite and
dolomite without chemical analysis and it seems likely that dolomitic chalks in
the Rus may be much more wide-spread than has hitherto been supposed. This is
particularly to be suspected from the occurrence of evaporites in the Rus and the
well-known association of evaporates with dolomite.
Remarks
Numerous partial sections of the Rus Formation are exposed along the length of
the Dukhan anticline and elsewhere on the Qatar Peninsula. It is also well
known from numerous oil and water wells. It is the lowest formation exposed at
the surface.
Gypseous and anhydritic intervals have been found in the Rus of many well
sections on the Qatar Peninsula. It seems probable however that in many places
much original anhydrite has been removed from this formation by percolating
water.
31.01.1956
W. Sugden
519
Authors and
references
Type Locality
Underlying
unit
Overlying
formation
Sander deals at great length with the stratigraphy of the Hasa Series (Paleocene
and Eocene) of Saudi Arabia and it is not possible to give here a complete
translation of everything he says about the Umm er Radhuma Formation. A
condensation of his description of the type section of the Umm er Radhuma is
given and certain supplementary information has been added.
Wadi al Batin, Saudi Arabia. Coordinates: Lat 2742 to 2759N. Long. 4500
to 4529E.
Cretaceous, contact conformable. Unit not named by Sander. Sander states that
the lower limit of the Umm er Radhuma is placed at a thin bed of dolomitic shale
beneath which Maestrichtian fossils are found and above which there is a
characteristic Paleocene microfauna. In such of his sections as show the position
of this shale it is included in the Cretaceous.
Rus Formation, contact conformable. For details see the accompanying
description of the type section of the Rus Formation
The following is condensed from Sanders description of the type section.
520
Latitude
Longitude
Thickness
(m)
Thickness
(ft)
Abqaiq wells
Composite
2600N
4942.9E
320.1
1050
section
Well and
exposures at Ma
2625N
4720E
232.2
762
Aqala
Fauna identified from Qatar is mentioned under the description of the Umm er
Radhuma of that locality.
Sander states (p.37) that a well preserved macrofauna has not been found
anywhere in outcrops and since he fails to mention macrofauna from any other
sources it is presumed that none has been identified.
His range chart of Eocene and Paleocene foraminifera shows the following
identifications for the Umm er Radhuma here given in descending order of
occurrence.
Fossils
Age
As well as species above named Sander describes one new genus, nine new
species and four new varieties belonging to the Rotaliidae but unfortunately most
if not all of these clash with new genera, species and varieties established by
Smout (1954). The writer is not qualified to discuss this problem but it would
appear that as regards priority Smout would have precedence since as far as is
known Sanders work remains still unpublished and therefore not readily
available.
Lower Eocene and Paleocene. According to Sander (see description of Dammam
Formation herewith) the Umm er Radhuma includes Montian, Thanetian,
Sparnacian and lowermost Ypresian, but he fails to justify such close dating. All
authorities are however agreed that the Umm er Radhuma includes both Eocene
and Paleocene.
521
Remarks
Location
Latitude
Longitude
South of Ansab
2852.7N
4442.2E
Wadi Sahaba
2410.5N
4830E
Mukhiyat area
2524.9N
4812.5E
Sander (p.37) states that here and there dolomitisation of the Umm er Radhuma
has been intense and it may be noted that dolomite is quite extensive in Qatar
sections of the Formation
31.01.1956
W. Sugden
522
Type section described by Sander (1952) from outcrops in the Wadi Batin, Saudi
Arabia. Umm er Radhuma of Qatar not previously described under that name.
Lower part of the Bahrain Formation of older reports on Dukhan stratigraphy
(see particularly F.R.S. Henson, CGLL/1157, 21.10.40).
Synonymy
Later described as the Busaiyir Formation (see W. Sugden, RGQ/141.672/397,
17.9.53)
Dukhan No. 22 well. Depth 201 to 1270 ft. Coordinates: Lat 252238N. long.
Locality
504834E
Simsima Formation, contact seemingly conformable. There is a very marked
change of fauna between the Tayarat and the Umm er Radhuma which leads to
the suspicion of hiatus between the two formations. The presence of such a
hiatus is supported by the occurrence of a short interval of blue-grey marl or
marly shale, which sometimes contains carbonaceous matter. This interval is
Underlying
usually about ten feet in thickness and contains neither the typical Paleocene nor
formation
the typical Maestrichtian faunas which occur respectively above and below. It
has not however been possible to illustrate unconformity, and the unfossiliferous
interval has been included in the Umm er Radhuma to which it is more akin
lithologically.
Rus Formation, contact conformable. For details see the accompanying
Overlying Unit
description of the Rus Formation of Qatar.
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, light brown and light grey, mostly very dolomitic, very
porous and mostly with small aggregates of quartz and chalcedony, these
being particularly abundant in the upper part. Thickness 164 ft.
2. Dolomite, brown, grey-brown and dark grey, saccharoidal, very porous,
partly calcareous, particularly in the upper part. Thickness 260 ft,
Description of
Unfossiliferous.
section
3. Limestone, light grey to grey-brown, variably dolomitic, with streaks of
bluish grey marly limestone towards the bottom. Thickness 430 ft.
4. Marly limestone, bluish grey, with beds of blue marl, particularly in the
lower part. Thickness 175 ft.
5. Marl, blue-grey, mostly rather pyritic. Thickness 40 ft.
Section described (Dukhan No. 22 Well), 1069 feet. The Umm er Radhuma does
Thickness
not vary greatly in thickness over the area of the Qatar Peninsula
The foraminifera of the Umm er Radhuma of Qatar have been the subject of
intensive investigation by Smout (1954) who records seven fossil zones within
the Formation. These may be related to the above described lithological
Fossils
divisions as follows.
523
Other
Localities
Remarks
31.01.1956
W. Sugden
524
Synonymy
The Simsima Formation coincides with the upper part of the Tayarat as it was
first correlated in DK-001 (see F.R.S. Henson, CGLR/2345, 14.8.40) and is
equivalent to the upper part of the more extensive Tayarat Formation of R.M.
Ramsden (RGQ/141.672/2382, 11.12.49).
The Simsima Formation coincides with the upper part of the Tayarat of Qatar as
referred to by Barber (1948).
The Simsima of Dukhan No. 28 Well (Lat 251712N Long 504846E) is
chosen as the type section, being representative of the Simsima of the Dukhan
Type Locality
anticline. In this well the Simsima Formation occurs between 1270 and 1800 ft.
depth.
Ruilat Formation, contact conformable. The contact of the Simsima and Ruilat
Formations is taken at the point where porous, partly detrital and often dolomitic
limestone above overlie fine grained, compact or chalky, sometimes rather marly
Underlying
limestones below. The change from one formation to the other is often
unit
gradational and indistinct and the contact must be placed according to the merits
of the section concerned.
Umm er Radhuma, contact seemingly conformable. For details of the nature of
Overlying
the contact see the accompanying description of the Umm er Radhuma
formation
Formation of Qatar.
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, blue-grey and grey, partly marly and partly earthy and porous
with beds of grey, marly dolomite. Thickness 90 ft
2. Limestone, light grey, earthy, silty, porous, with some pellet and much
Description of
fossil detritus, showing a great deal of patchy alteration to brown
section
saccharoidal dolomite. Thickness 300 ft.
3. Limestone, white to light grey, porous to moderately compact, dolomitic
in the upper half, with a limited amount of fossil and other detritus.
Thickness 140 ft.
Type Section. (Dukhan No. 28) 530 ft.
Thickness
Thickness does not vary greatly over the area of the Qatar Peninsula.
The fauna of this formation was first fully discussed in a report by F.R.S.
Fossils
Henson, A.N. Dusenbury and A.H. Smout (CGLR/2344, 20.11.40). as divided in
525
Other
Localities
Remarks
It would seem that the Simsima Formation is the equivalent of the Tayarat and
Qurna Formations and the upper part of the Hartha Formation of Basra. The
Tayarat of Basra is a Loftusia bearing limestone and thus correlates well with the
upper Loftusia bearing part of the Simsima Formation. The Qurna is
lithologically and faunally distinct from its supposed equivalents in Qatar but the
upper part of the Hartha Formation of Basra has a fauna including Dicyclina
schlumbergeri, Omphalocyclus macroporus, Dictyoconella cf. complanata and
Orbitoides media. All these species occur in the lower part of the Simsima
526
TherelationshipofUpperCretaceousunitsintheKuwaitandBasraareashasbeendiscussedbyOwenandNasr
(1956)andwillnotbegoneintoher.
527
W. Sugden
528
Type Locality
Underlying
unit
At the end of the deposition of the Wasia, uplift and erosion took place in the
Dukhan area and at the same time the Dukhan anticline suffered part of its
structural development. According to the writers calculations the degree of
folding which took place at that time was equal to about one fifth of the folding
at present developed in the Riyadh Group Limestones.
Owing to structural development during the time of the formation of the Wasia
unconformity and erosion subsequent to or during the folding, the uppermost
beds of the Mishrif Formation which are represented in downflank wells of the
Dukhan structure have been eroded and are therefore absent over the crest of the
structure.
The lower shales of the Ruilat Formation increase greatly in thickness down the
flanks of the structure, this being doubtless due to successive overlap of the
Ruilat towards the crest of the structure during its transgression.
Simsima Formation, contact conformable. (For further information see the
Overlying
accompanying description of the Simsima Formation of Qatar)
formation
From top to bottom:
1. Limestone, light grey, fine grained, silty, fairly compact. Thickness 35 ft.
Occasional Omphalocyclus macroporus (Lamarck)
2. Limestone, light grey fine grained, partly chalky or marly. Dark coloured
chert nodules and beds of silicified limestone occur frequently in the case
Description of
of the type section, but these are very irregular in their development and
section
in other sections are sometimes completely absent. In some sections
occasional beds contain scattered glauconite grains. Thickness 200 ft.
Unfossiliferous.
3. Limestone, light grey, silty, compact, with a little glauconite and
occasional minute pyrite nodules; becoming marly towards the bottom.
529
Thickness
Over the northern part of the Dukhan anticline the thickness of the Ruilat
limestones does not vary greatly, such variations as occur being due either to
structural position or to changes of the manner of intergradation with the
overlying Simsima and the underlying shale. In the same area there is however a
variation in the thickness of the shale from about 30 to about 90 ft. which is
attributable to the nature of the overlap at the Ruilat/Mishrif unconformity.
Elsewhere the thickness of both limestone and shale vary greatly due to the
lateral passage of limestone into shale as is illustrated, for example, by Juh No. 1
well. Further information on such changes in lithology are given below.
Upper Cretaceous, Campanian and probably lowermost Maestrichtian.
As indicated above, Omphalocyclus macroporus sometimes occurs in the upper
few feet of the Ruilat. The uppermost part of the type Ruilat is therefore
probably lower Maestrichtian.
The assignment of all but the highest part of the Ruilat to the Campanian depends
upon faunas found in Juh No. 1 well. Over most of the Qatar Peninsula no
fossils have been found in any but the highest parts of the Ruilat Formation. In
Juh No. 1 well however almost all of the Ruilat shows lateral facies change from
the dominant limestone of the type area to shale and marl with foraminiferal
faunas.
Age
From the interval 1955 to 2187 ft. of Juh No. 1 (which interval is approximately
equivalent to the lowest 230 ft. of limestone of the Ruilat type section Dr. A.H.
Smout (AHS/63/Juh 1/1261, 20.11.52) has identified the following fauna:
Globotruncana arca (Cushman), G. contusa (Cushman), G. lugeoni Tilev, G.
stuarti (de Lapparent), G. globigerinoides Brotzen, G. marginata (Reuss), G.
lapparenti Brotzen var. coronata Bolli, G. lapparenti var. bulloides (Vogler), G.
lapparenti var. tricarinata (Quereau), Globigerina cretacea dOrbigny, G. cf.
lacera (Ehrenberg), G. aspera Koch, Bairdia cf. deltoidea, Gyroidina soldani
dOrbigny, Gyroidina sps. 1 & 3, Gumbelina sps 3 & 4, Cibicides sps. Cf 2 & 25,
Allomorphina sp. 1, Vaginulina sp. 3, anomalina sp. 2, Pseudovalvulineria sps 1,
?9 & 13, Planulina sp. Cristellaria 14, Textularia 5, and Clavulina 12.
From immediately overlying beds in Juh No. 1 (1885 to 1955 ft) Dr. Smout has
identified: Monolepidorbis sanctaepelagiae Astre, Chrysalidina cf. gradata
dOrbigny, Planulina sp. Cf. 1. Cibicides sps. Cf. 2 & 25, Anomalina sps. Cf. 2
& cf. 6, Gyroidina sp. 3, Pseudovalvulineria sp. 1 and Bairdia sp. 3.
These two faunas give reasonable certainty that most of the Ruilat Formation is
of Campanian age and thus indicate that of the limestones of the Ruilat type
section all but the uppermost few feet are of Campanian age or older.
530
It is also known from Bahrain (Bahrain No. 52 well, depth 1465 to ?1500 ft),
Abu Hadriya (Abu Hadriya No. 1 Well, depth 4015 to 4915 ft), Abqaiq (Abqaiq
No. 6 well, depth 2275 to ?2395 ft) and can be identified in wells on the Trucial
coast.
For further information see Remarks below.
In the type section of the Ruilat all but the lowest part is composed of limestone
and it might seem natural to include this limestone in the Simsima Formation.
However, as has already been indicated above, the limestones of the Ruilat pass
into shales and marls over comparatively short distances (e.g. between Dukhan
and Juh No. 1). Furthermore the limestones of the Ruilat are in general quite
different in facies to the limestones of the Simsima. It thus happens that taking a
regional rather than a local view it is simpler to divide the Upper Cretaceous into
a lower shale-limestone unit (Ruilat) and an upper unit (Simsima) of limestone of
different facies rather than to attempt division into a shale and an overlying
limestone unit which is in some cases almost impossible due to intergradation. It
is for this same reason that separation of a lower shale formation (named the
Laffan Formation in previous reports) has here been abandoned.
Remarks
It is usual, but not invariable, that the upper part of the Ruilat Formation is
limestone dominated while the lower part is shale dominated, as in the type
section. The olive-grey and olive-brown colouration of the lower shales of the
Ruilat is a conspicuous feature in some areas (Qatar, Abqaiq and Abu Hadriya).
Elsewhere this colouration is not observed, and shales of the upper part of the
Ruilat are normally grey or blue-grey.
The Ruilat Formation takes its name from a locality in the middle of the Qatar
Peninsula.
Equivalents of the Ruilat Formation in the Basra area.
It would appear that the time equivalents of the Ruilat Formation in the Basra
area include the lower part of the Hartha Formation and the Sadi, Tanuma and
Qaib Formations. Paleontological evidence for such a correlation is that the
lower part of the Hartha of Basra contains Cosinella sp. and Monolepidorbis sp.
These species are also recorded from the Sadi Formation of Ratawi No. 1 Well
and M. sanctaepelagiae has been recorded from the Tanuma. In the Qatar area
Cosinella sp. is known from the ruilat of Bahrain 52 and M. sanctaepelagiae
from the upper part of the Ruilat of Juh No. 1.
531
W. Sugden
532
Age
Of these species the majority were originally described from specimens obtained
from Qatar. (For Z. langhami, Q. dukhani, D. minima and D. planatas see
Henson, 1948, for P. conica and D. qatarensis see Henson, 1947 II and 1949).
Middle Cretaceous, seemingly upper Cenomanian but may include lower
Turonian.
533
Remarks
It is present in Bahrain (e.g. Bahrain No. 88 Well, 1550 approx. to 1615 ft.) and
at Abu Hadriya (Abu Hadriya No. 1 Well, 4915 to 5010 ft.) but is probably
absent by erosion over most of the central and western Hasa since it is not
represented in Abqaiq. (See log of Abqaiq No. 6 well, M. Chatton)
The Mishrif Formation is the highest known unit of the Lower and Middle
Cretaceous sand-shale-limestone complex which borders the Arabian Shield. Up
to the present there are no known equivalents of the Mishrif Formation in a shale
or sand facies and it is thought that all or nearly all such equivalents have been
removed at some time or other by erosion. For further details of the sedimentary
relationship of the Mishrif to other units of the complex see the accompanying
Appendix 1.
534
W. Sugden
535
536
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
The Khatiyah Formation is also known in Bahrain (Bahrain No. 88 well, 1615 to
2155 feet) and Abu Hadriya (Abu Hadriya No. 1 well, 5010 to 5400 feet). In
Basra the equivalents of the Khatiyah are in facies similar to those of Dukhan but
in the former area the interval is divided into three units. For further information
on this point see Remarks below.
The Khatiyah Formation is one of the units of the lower and Middle Cretaceous
sand-shale-limestone complex bordering the Arabian Shield. An interpretation
of its sedimentary relationship to other units of that complex is given in appendix
1. The Khatiyah represents a transition from shale to limestone in a horizontal
sense while vertically it illustrates a landward transgression of the limestone
facies.
537
W. Sugden
538
Age
539
Remarks
It is also known in Bahrain and Abu Hadriya and in the Kuwait-Basra area. It is
not present in Abqaiq No. 6 well. For further details see Remarks below and
the accompanying definition of the Khatiyah Formation
The Mauddud Limestone represents an important transgression within a
sandstone-shale-limestone complex of Lower and Middle Cretaceous age. Its
sedimentary relationship to other units is discussed in appendix 1.
From oil wells in the Basra-Hasa-Qatar area it is known that the Mauddud
increases rapidly in thickness towards the more seaward parts of what was a
Middle Cretaceous basin. Shorewards there was quite a rapid change in the
sedimentary environment, the limestone being replaced in that direction by
shales and sands. Thus in the Basra oilfield area the Mauddud is of the order of
400 ft in thickness while in the Burgan field where the facies of the Middle
Cretaceous is consistently more arenaceous (BGD/1572 by S. Nasr, April 1954)
the Mauddud is reduced to the order of only 20 ft. in thickness. Again, to the
east of the Qatar Peninsula the Mauddud is of the order of 240 ft. in thickness.
To the west of the Peninsula (Dukhan field) the thickness is about 180 ft. and in
Bahrain (Bahrain Well No. 88, 2155 to 2305 ft.) of the order of 150 ft. In the
Abqaiq field, further to the west, the Mauddud is absent although it is thought
that the Middle Cretaceous sands of that field may include lateral equivalents of
the Mauddud. In this general picture Abu Hadriya occupies a position exactly
analogous to that of Burgan, the Mauddud in Abu Hadriya No. 1 Well being
represented only by stringers of limestone over an interval of 20 ft. (5510 to
5520) while these stringers are overlain by a sandy section equivalent to the
Wara Formation of Kuwait.
The Mauddud Formation is named from Ain Mauddud, a locality near Dukhan
on the west coast of the Qatar Peninsula
31.1.1956
W. Sugden
540
Authors and
references
Synonymy
Original author P. Rabanit, BGL/2480, 2.12.52. (Type locality Nahr Umr No. 2
well, 8688 to 9321 ft depth)
First described under the same name from Qatar by W. Sugden
(RGQ/141.672/397, 17.9.53).
Published description of type locality by Owen and Nasr (1956)
The local development is here redescribed.
Rutbah sandstone of all early reports on Dukhan stratigraphy and
nomenclature, see particularly F.R.S. Henson, CGLR/2345, 14.8.40 and
CGLL/1157, 23.10.40
The Rutbah Sandstone of Qatar, mentioned but not described by Barber
(1948).
The Second Pay on Main Pay of Bahrain (Anon, 1937) includes the upper
part of the Nahr Umr, this part of the Pay being sometimes known as the
Second Pay siltstone.
The Nahr Umr of Dukhan No. 26 Well (Lat. 252053N, Long. 504847E) is
chosen as being representative of the Formation as it occurs in the Dukhan
Locality
anticline. In that well the Nahr Umr lies between 3290 and 3839 ft. depth.
Sabsab Formation, contact conformable. The contact of the Nahr Umr with the
Sabsab is taken at the highest occurrence of Sabsab limestone. There is no
Underlying
limestone in the bottom part of the Nahr Umr Formation and apart from one or
formation
two rare instances, there is almost no sand in the Sabsab Formation.
Mauddud Formation, contact conformable. For details see the accompanying
Overlying Unit
definition of the Mauddud Formation.
From top to bottom:
1. Sandstone, grey and greenish grey, rather glauconitic, mostly rather
marly, with numerous thin beds of blue-grey shale and marl and
comparatively rare thin beds of grey limestone. Thickness 85 ft. Fauna:
Trocholina lenticularis Henson, T. Arabica Henson, T. altispira Henson
and Cyclammina whitei Henson.
2. Shale, blue-grey and brownish grey, with frequent beds of marl, blueDescription of
grey, the marl beds often containing sporbo. Occasional thin beds of
section
greenish grey, marly, glauconitic sandstone in the upper half. Thickness
190 ft. Fauna: T. lenticularis.
3. Sand and sandstone, grey, mostly rather marly and with numerous thin
beds of marl and shale of various colours. Frequent stringers and thin
beds lignite containing abundant resin fragments. The more marly parts
frequently contain light brown phosphatic concretions or sporbo.
Thickness 265 ft. Fossils: Abundant indeterminate terrestrial plant
541
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
In the type section and other sections with which it is here identified, the Nahr
Umr is consistently overlain by a thick Mauddud Limestone. In other areas (e.g.
in Burgan DT-1A, 3676 to 5025 ft. and Abu Hadriya 1, 5400 to 6520 ft.) it has
been illustrated that a sand tongue of similar age includes also lateral equivalents
of the greater part of the Mauddud and the lowermost part of the Khatiyah. In
such cases it is useful to employ a different terminology which indicates the
higher age range of the upper sands. In the Burgan field that part of the sand
body which overlies a very thin Mauddud is named the Wara Formation, the part
below the Mauddud being named the Burgan Formation. (Owen and Nasr, 1956)
At outcrop in Saudi Arabia the sands which corresponds approximately with the
Nahr Umr are known as the Wasia Formation. Near the top of these sands there
is a limestone lens containing Neolobites vibrayeanus. This fossil is of
Cenomanian age and therefore indicates that the outcropping Wasia includes
sands of an age even younger than the Wara Formation of Kuwait. (See also
Remarks in the accompanying definition of the Khatiyah Formation)
In the Abqaiq field the Wasia sand body (Abqaiq No. 6 Well, 2370 to 3275 ft)
appears to cover almost the same time range as the combined Wara-Burgan
section and to be overlain by a deeply eroded Khatiyah Formation.
The lower part of the Nahr Umr of Dukhan is without doubt a swamp deposit and
very similar swamp deposits are present in the Nahr Umr of the Basra area and
the Arabian oilfield area. In the upper part of the Nahr Umr of Qatar the
sediments seem to be brackish water deposits, the only sediments indicating true
marine facies being the occasional very thin limestones near the top of the
542
W. Sugden
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Remarks
The reasons for this were fairly obvious, it having been found that there is in fact
a variation of a little over 250 feet in the thickness of the Shuaiba. Depressions
existing in the upper surface of the Shuaiba in this manner are filled or almost
filled by the Sabsab Formation. Thus, the thickness of the Sabsab is greatest
where the thickness of the Shuaiba is least or vice versa, so that the combines
thickness of the two Formations is nearly constant. Furthermore the Sabsab
contains in places vast numbers of Orbitolinas which are invariably worn and
rounded. These were interpreted as having been derived during transgression
from the Shuaiba Formation along with the bulk of the pellet debris with which
they are associated.
544
545
W. Sugden
546
547
In Abu Hadriya No. Well the Shuaiba is rather thin (6520 to 6705) but is
otherwise similar to other Shuaiba sections.
The Shuaiba is represented at Abqaiq but is not found in outcrops in central
Saudi Arabia. It is thought that in the latter area the equivalent time interval is
missing at a Lower-Middle Cretaceous break.
The Shuaiba is also known in Matbakh No. 1 Well, 3055 to 3430 feet and Id al
Shargi No. 1 Well.
The relationship of the Sabsab and Shuaiba Formations of Qatar has been
discussed in the accompanying definition of the Sabsab Formation. In this
general connection it may be noted that Arenobulimina chattoni and
Pseudochrysalidina MC/2 are known to occur only in a zone at the top of the
thickest Shuaiba sections. In consequence the zone has been found in only a
limited number of Dukhan wells. In those sections in which it is known, the
bottom of the zone is more or less constant in position at about 340 ft. above the
bottom of the Shuaiba.
Remarks
It is believed, though the evidence cannot be said to be sound, that the time
interval occupied by the Shuaiba of Qatar is slightly greater than that occupied
by the type Shuaiba section. There remains however much uncertainty in that
few fossils in the Formation have been specifically identified and the lithology of
the underlying units in the two areas is quite different.
The Shuaiba is one of the units of a sandstone-shale-limestone complex of Lower
and Middle Cretaceous age which borders the Arabian Shield. A discussion of
the sedimentation of this complex is given in Appendix 1. The Shuaiba is
believed to represent a very strong transgression within the complex.
19.12.1956
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Type Locality
Underlying
formation
Overlying
formation
Description of
Shale, blue-grey with rare Choffatella decipiens Schlumnerger.
section
Type section (Dukhan No. 22 well) 45 ft.
The Hawar shale of Qatar is usually about 50 ft. in thickness and in some cases
Thickness
up to 60 ft.
Lower Cretaceous, thought to be Aptian.
There is insufficient fossil evidence to assign a precise age to the Hawar
Formation. By its stratigraphic position it would appear to be Aptian in age. For
Age
additional information see the accompanying descriptions of the overlying
Shuaiba and underlying Kharaib Formations.
The Hawar Formation is known from some fifty seven wells which are together
representatives of most of the area of the Qatar Peninsula. It is also known from
Bahrain (Bahrain No. 88 Well, 2995 to 3060 feet), Matbakh No. 1 Well, 3430 to
Other
3480 ft. and Id al Shargi No. 1 Well.
Localities
Remarks
549
W. Sugden
550
551
Other
Localities
The Kharaib Formation is known from some fifty seven wells which are together
representative of most of the area of the Qatar Peninsula. It is partly represented
in Bahrain, but for further details see Remarks below.
It is also known in Matbakh No. 1 Well (3480 to 3770 feet approx..) and in Id al
Shargi No. 1 Well.
The Kharaib Formation is one of the units of the Lower and Middle Cretaceous
sandstone-shale-limestone complex which is discussed in Appendix 1.
Remarks
Northwards and westwards from Qatar the Formation passes progressively into
shale and sand. It has been readily established that in Bahrain divisions 1 and 3
of the above described section are represented in much the same facies as in
Qatar while divisions 2 and 4 are already passing into shale and marl. In Abqaiq
and Abu Hadriyah the age equivalents of the Kharaib are almost entirely made
up of shale. It is believed that the Zubair sandstone of Basra is more or less
equivalent to the Kharaib Formation (O. cf. discoidea and C. decipiens are
known from both the Zubair and Kharaib Formations) but exact chronological
correlation between the very different lithological sequences in the two areas has
not so far been possible. It is also thought that the upper part of the outcropping
Biyadh Formation of Saudi Arabia is the equivalent of at least a part of the
Kharaib Formation.
The Kharaib Formation is in many respects similar in facies to the Shuaiba
Formation and if there was no intervening Hawar Shale, as for instance at Fahud,
division into more than one Formation would not be justified. However, since
the Hawar shale is present at a level believed to correspond fairly well with the
top of the type Zubair Formation, the distinction of three formations with the
highest correlated and named as Shuaiba has been found to be convenient.
The two separate zones containing D. arabicus (divisions 1 and 3 of the
above description) can be readily recognized throughout the Qatar-Bahrain area.
This particular fossil was first described from the Kharaib Formation by Henson
(1948).
The Kharaib Formation takes its name from a locality near the middle of the
Qatar Peninsula where Kharaib No. 1 Well was drilled.
19.12.1956
W. Sugden
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553
Other
Localities
upper and middle part of the Formation indicates Barremian rather than
Neocomian age. The lower part of the Formation could however be Neocomian
and the occurrence of Cardita cf. neocomiensis lends some support to this
possibility.
The Ratawi Formation is known from some fifty seven wells together
representative of most of the Qatar Peninsula. It is also known from Matbakh
No. 1 Well (3770 approx. to 4050 ft) and Id al Shargi No. 1 Well (5730 to 6080
ft).
For details of the Ratawi in other areas see Remarks below.
The above mentioned fauna of the Ratawi of Qatar was mostly first described in
a report by F.R.S. Henson, A.N. Dusenbury and A.H. Smout (CGLR/2344,
20.11.40). The type locality of Pseudochrysalidina arabica is the Ratawi
Formation of Qatar (Henson, 1947 II).
The Ratawi Formation is one of the units of the Lower and Middle cretaceous
complex of sandstone shale and limestone which borders the Arabian Shield.
Owing to change of facies and a lack of sufficient precise information from
Saudi Arabia precise lateral equivalent within the Lower Cretaceous part of the
complex cannot yet be established. However there is good reason to suppose that
the Zubair Formation of Basra is very nearly equivalent to the combined Hawar
and Kharaib Formations of Qatar, while the Ratawi at these two localities is of
similar age but commences slightly earlier at Basra.
The correlation of the outcropping Biyadh Formation with Qatar and Basra units
is at present no more than a reasonable interpretation, but it is thought that the
Biyadh is equivalent to the type Ratawi and a part of the type Zubair.
Remarks
554
W. Sugden
555
556
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
Well Name
Depth (from), in feet
Depth (To), in feet
Bahrain No. 88
3520
3845
Matbakh No. 1
3960
4485
Id al Shargi No. 1
6080
6600 approx.
Abu Hadriya No. 1
7600
8090
Abqaiq No. 6
4200 approx.
4695
Ratawi No. 1
11585
12510
Previous to the present definition the Huwaila of Qatar was divided into four
formations according to readily observed differences of limestone facies.
However, these four units, though very useful locally, cannot be recognized
elsewhere than in Qatar. It has in consequence been decided to abandon division
into four formations in favour of one formation which is regionally recognizable
and therefore of much greater utility.
This unit may be broadly defined as a series of pellet limestones overlain by a
557
W. Sugden
558
Description of
In many sections, but not in the type section, a thin bed of pseudo-oolitic or
section
oolitic limestone occurs at the bottom of the formation.
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
559
The Sulaiy of Arabian well sections often has a well developed oolitic or pseudooolitic limestone at the bottom. This interval is usually much thicker than the
corresponding pseudo-oolitic and oolitic limestones at the bottom of the Wakrah
Formation of Qatar.
The Wakrah Formation takes its name from a large village on the east coast of
the Qatar Peninsula.
19.12.1956
W. Sugden
560
Synonymy
Locality
Underlying
formation
561
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
The Riyadh Group can be distinguished over a very large area including Kuwait,
the outcrops near Riyadh, the whole of the Hasa and Qatar and a part of the
Trucial Coast. It is however far from uniform in lithology over the whole of that
area. Over most of it, as in Qatar it consists of alternations and mixtures of
anhydrite and carbonate sedimentation, but in Kuwait it is dominantly composed
of salt and anhydrite (Owen and Nasr, 1956) while eastwards along the Trucial
Coast the Group passes gradually towards an entirely carbonate facies. Within
the group there is therefore evidence of an increase in evaporates both
562
W. Sugden
563
Type
Locality
Underlying
formation
Overlying
Formation
Description
of section
Juh
No. 2
Member Limestone
Umm
No. 3
Bab
Limestone
Member
Qatar Formation
Synonymy
R.M.
Ramsden
(1952)
Hith
Formation
First
Limestone
B
second
Limestone Limestone
C
Third
Limestone Limestone
Bapco
Terminology
*
C
Limestone
Fourth Pay
Informal
Aramco
Q.P.C
Terminology
Terminology
Hith
Hith
Hith Formation
Formation
Formation
Jaleha
No. 1
A
Member Limestone
Limestone
Definition
(Qatar)
D
Limestone
E
Limestone
Fahahil
No.
4
D
Fourth
F
Formation
Limestone
Limestone Limestone
Limestone
Darb
Jubaila
Jubaila
Formation
Formation
Formation
The fourth Pay Zones A and B of Bapco terminology correspond
roughly with the Hith Formation
Dukhan No. 28 Well. Depth 6245 to 6529 feet.
Coordinates: Lat. 251712N, Long. 504846E.
In Dukhan No. 28 well the Qatar Formation was cored throughout.
Fahahil Formation, contact conformable. The contact is taken at the bottom of the
lowest substantial anhydrite bed of the Qatar Formation
Hith Formation, contact conformable. For details of the nature of the contact see
the accompanying definition of the Hith Formation
1) Limestone, light brown, fairly fine grained, in part dolomitic, in part pseudooolitic, mostly fairly compact. Thickness 15 ft.
2) Limestone, light grey, oolitic and pseudo-oolitic, porous, dolomitic in the
564
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
bottom few feet. Thickness 21 ft. Fauna: Mr. G.F. Elliot has identified
Salpingoporella annulata Carozzi and Coprolithus salevensis Parejas from
this part of the section.
3) Anhydrite, white or light grey, with frequent stringers of brown dolomite
near the top and bottom. Thickness 41 ft. Unfossiliferous
4) Limestone, brown, pseudo-oolitic and dolomitic, and dolomite, brown,
porous. Thickness 17 ft. Fauna: C. salevensis.
5) Anhydrite, grey, massive, dolomitic near the top and bottom. Thickness 51
ft. Unfossiliferous.
6) Limestone, grey-brown and brown, partly dolomitic and very much so
towards the top. Partly oolitic or pseudo-oolitic. Partly fine grained and
dense or very compact. Scattered anhydrite nodules more or less
throughout. Thickness 36 ft.
7) Limestone, grey-brown and brown, almost all pseudo-oolitic or oolitic and
with streaks almost entirely composed of autoclastic debris. Occasional thin
beds of fine grained, compact or dense limestone. Thickness 47 ft. Fauna:
The foraminifera Throcholina palastiniensis Henson, Valvulinella jurassica
Henson and Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler have been found in this part of
the section. R.G.S. Hudson and J. Robinson (IR/RGSH/160) have identified
the molluscs Cerithium ursicinum de Loriol, Helicryptus cf. pusilis
(Roemer), Retusa pellati Cossman, Ovacteonina pilleti (de Loriol) and
Isocyprina boonei Cossman. Mr. G.F. Elliot has identified C. salevensis and
the alga S. annulata.
8) Anhydrite, light brown or light grey with a four foot bed of anhydrite
dolomite near the bottom. Thickness 56 ft. Unfossiliferous.
Type section (Dukhan No. 28 Well), 284 feet.
The thickness of the Qatar Formation varies by only a few feet over the area of the
Qatar Peninsula
In all probability Kimmeridgian.
On the basis of the molluscs mentioned as occurring in division 7 of the above
description Dr. Hudson at one time suggested Sequanian (Corallian) age for that
part of the unit (IR/RGSH/160).
It is now however acknowledged that since the Jubaila Formation has been
confidently dated as lower Kimmeridgian by ammonites (Arkell, Bramkamp
and Steineke, 1952) and since the Jubaila is the correlative of the upper part of
the Darb Formation, the overlying Fahahil and Qatar Formations cannot
reasonably be much older or younger than middle and upper Kimmeridgian
The Qatar Formation is known from some fifty eight oil wells together
representative of most of the Qatar Peninsula.
It is known from the Dammam, Qatif, Abqaiq, Abu Hadriya, Fadhili, Ghawar and
Haradh structured in Saudi Arabia where it is included in the Arab Formation (see
Synonymy above).
It is also known in Bahrain, in Matbakh No. 1 Well and Id al Shargi No. 1 Well
565
23.12.1956
Dammam
Dammam, Abqaiq, Qatif, Abu Hadriya, Dukhan
Ain Dar
Saudi Arabia including Fadhili and Haradh, Dukhan
Uthmaniyah
Abqaiq, Ain Dar, Haradh, Qatif, Dammam, Dukhan
Uthmaniyah, Abqaiq, Ain Dar, Dukhan, Bahrain
566
Synonymy
Type Locality
Underlying
formation
567
Age
The Fahahil Formation varies in thickness by only a few feet over the area of the
Dukhan anticline. It is however much thinner in the Kharaib area (Kharaib No. 1
well, 124 ft.)
Upper Jurassic, Kimmeridgian.
While the above mentioned fossils clearly indicate Upper Jurassic age, the
assignment to the Kimmeridgian stage is largely dependent on the dating of the
outcropping Jubaila Formation as lower Kimmeridgian (Arkell, Bramkamp and
Steineke, 1952) and the correlation of the Jubaila with the upper part of the Darb
Formation. (For further information see the accompanying definition of the Darb
Formation)
The Fahahil Formation is known from some fifty eight oil wells together
representing most of the area of the Qatar Peninsula.
It is also known in oil wells of the Bahrain, Dammam, Qatif, Abqaiq, Abu
Hadriya, Fadhili, Ghawar and Haradh structures and in wells Matbakh No. 1 and
Id al Shargi No. 1
Other
Localities
Remarks
24.12.1956
W. Sugden
568
569
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
Well Name
Kharaib No. 1
Kharaib No. 2
Dukhan No. 40
Murban No. 1
Matbakh No. 1
Id al Shargi No. 1
Northwards and westwards from the Qatar Peninsula divisions 3 and 4 of the
Formation as described above change in facies, although containing an almost
identical fauna and the Darb Formation, which shows lithological unity and
continuity over the area of the Qatar Peninsula and south-eastwards, has in
consequence been divided in the area of the Bahrain and Central Arabia into two
units, the Jubaila Formation (upper) and Hanifa Formation (lower). (See
Remarks for further information).
As indicated above the Darb Formation is the lateral equivalent of the combined
Jubaila and Hanifa Formation. While the Jubaila is almost identical in facies
with the Darb Formation, the Hanifa as it occurs in Bahrain is a typical shallow
water, pellet, porous limestone similar in facies to the limestones of the lower
Riyadh and the Uwainat Limestone.
Remarks
Porous, petroliferous limestones of the Hanifa in Abu Hadriya No. 1 are known
as the Hadriya Zone.
There is a little local lithological variation in the Darb Formation over the area of
the Qatar Peninsula, but the lithological sequence is very similar in its essentials
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
570
W. Sugden
571
572
Thickness
Age
Other
Localities
573
The limestones of the Diyab typically contain abundant sponge spicules and in
many cases the spicules are accompanied by numerous microscopic objects
composed of clear calcite, these having a round or kidney shaped cross section.
These objects have been mentioned in the accompanying description of the Darb
Formation. They are not confined to the Diyab Formation but are particularly
abundant in and typical of that unit.
The Diyab lies between the Darb Formation, the lower part of which is correlated
with the Hanifa Formation, and the Araej Formation which is correlated with the
upper part of the Dhruma. The Diyab Formation must therefore be the
approximate lateral equivalent of the Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone of Arabia.
There is however very little available internal evidence, either lithological or
faunal by which the correlation of these two formations can be confirmed.
The Diyab Formation takes its name from a locality on the southern part of the
Dukhan anticline
16.12.1956
W. Sugden
574
575
Thickness
Age
Considering first the macrofauna which has been found in the lowermost part of
the Diyab and the uppermost part of the Araej, there are several species in this
part of the section in common with the fauna of Bramkamps Tuwaiq Mountain
Limestone. Thus Gryphaea balli, Exogyra nana, Chlamys curvivarians and
Chlamys macfadyeni have all been found both in the Tuwaiq and either
immediately above or a few feet below the Diyab-Araej contact. These species
are not however found in the upper part of the outcropping Dhruma.
On the other hand Terebratula cf. superstes which is found high in the Araej is
known only in the Upper Dhruma of Arabian outcrops. Macrofauna thus
indicates that the Diyab-Araej contact coincides more or less with the TuwaiqDhruma contact.
576
Remarks
As may be seen from the above, the Araej Formation can be identified over an
enormous area. Moreover its top can be identified at least within a few feet over
the whole of that area. The top of the Araej is therefore a regional marker of
577
It is known to be present also over a large area of the Hasa, though depths are not
available, and in Fadhili No. 1 well is known as the Fadhili Zone.
South eastwards from the Qatar Peninsula the Uwainat passes into the same
facies as the remainder of the Araej Formation and it cannot be distinguished
either in Gezira No. 1 or Fahud No. 1.
The Araej Formation takes its name from a well known hill on the Qatar
Peninsula.
16.12.1956
W. Sugden
578
Type Locality
This section is designated as the type since Kharaib No. 1 is so far the only well
on the Qatar Peninsula which has penetrated the formation
Underlying
Gulailah Formation, contact conformable. The contact is taken as being at the
top of the highest anhydrite attributable to the Gulailah Formation.
formation
Araej Formation, contact conformable. For details of the nature of the contact
Overlying
see the accompanying definition of the Araej Formation.
Formation
From top to bottom:
1) Limestone, grey, fine grained, dense to medium porous, mostly rather
silty and with scattered medium sized dolomite crystals. Thickness 100.
Fauna: Form X and rare small, simple arenaceous foraminifera.
2) Limestone, grey and dark grey, fine grained, dense, silty, with occasional
streaks of rather fine textures pseudo-oolitic limestone, the pseudo-ooliths
being partly pyrite stained. Thickness 81. Fauna: Form X, rare
Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, fragmental mollusk and echinoid debris,
Glomospira sp.
3) Limestone, grey, fine grained, dense, with streaks of shale and marl in the
Description of
upper and middle parts and being rather dolomitic in the lower part.
type section
Thickness 74. Fauna: Form X.
4) Dolomite, grey-brown, mostly saccharoidal and porous. Thickness 35.
Unfossiliferous.
5) Limestone, grey, fine grained, compact or dense, in part rather marly, in
part dolomitic and in part with rare anhydrite nodules. Thickness 55.
Unfossiliferous.
6) Dolomite, grey, fine grained, dense. Thickness 55. Unfossiliferous.
7) Limestone, grey, very fine grained, dense, in part rather marly. Thickness
22. Unfossiliferous.
Type section (Kharaib No. 1), 422 feet.
Thickness
Upper Bajocian and Lower Bathonian. So far no fossils have been found in the
Izhara Formation which enable its age to be fixed with any precision. The age
here given is therefore dependent upon the correlation of the overlying Araej and
underlying Gulailah with ammonite dated Aramco outcrops.
Age
579
Other
Localities
Remarks
Limestone (upper part of Lower Dhruma. See Arkell, Bramkamp & Steineke).
Thus the Izhara is believed to be the approximate time correlative of the interval
from the bottom of the Dhibi Limestone to the top of the Thambites Zone, and
therefore to be of approximately Upper Bajocian to Lower Bathonian age.
Well Name
Depth (from), in feet
Depth (To), in feet
Bahrain No. 52
6670
7120
Id al Shargi No. 1
8985
9480
In Bahrain 52 the Izhara Formation is almost entirely composed of dolomite thus
showing some lateral variation from the type section. It is however as readily
distinguishable from the overlying Araej and underlying Gulailah as is the case
in Kharaib 1 and the writer therefore considers that Izhara remains a valid name
for the unit in Bahrain.
The Izhara is probably distinguishable in the Abqaiq and Dammam deep tests but
no information is available on the nature of the relevant section of these wells.
Equivalents of the Izhara are present in Fahud 1 but are there in a facies not truly
distinguishable from the overlying Araej. Moreover the evaporate facies of the
Gulailah is also replaced by a facies in parts somewhat similar to that of the
Araej. The Izhara is therefore not separable.
The Izhara Formation takes its name from a locality near the type section.
16.12.1956
W. Sugden
580
Type Locality
Kharaib No. 1 is the only well on the Qatar Peninsula which has so far penetrated
the Gulailah Formation.
Suwei Formation, contact conformable. The contact between the Gulailah and
the Suwei is taken at the top of the highest brightly coloured shales or marls
typical of the Suwei. Although the Suwei is dominantly composed of red beds
Underlying
shales, the highest shales and marls of this formation are normally a bright
formation
greenish or bluish-grey, with red and purple shales first appearing some distance
below the top of the Suwei.
Izhara Formation, contact conformable. For details of the nature of the contact
Overlying
see the accompanying definition of the Izhara Formation.
Formation
From top to bottom:
1) Dolomite, grey and dark grey, fine grained, dense, calcareous, partly
argillaceous, with beds of anhydrite, grey and white. The anhydrite is
mostly thin bedded or intimately mixed with calcareous dolomite and is
only occasionally nodular in form. Both the dolomite and the anhydrite
contain authigenic quartz. Thickness 88. Unfossiliferous.
2) Dolomite, grey, fine grained, dense, partly calcareous. Thickness 84.
Unfossiliferous.
3) Anhydrite, grey, partly thin bedded, alternating with calcareous dolomite,
grey, fine grained, dense, mostly rather argillaceous, and more rarely
shale, dark grey, calcareous, partly anhydritic. A considerable amount
(up to 20%) of authigenic quartz throughout.
Thickness 38.
Description of
Unfossiliferous.
type section
4) Limestone, grey, fine grained, dense, partly dolomitic, mostly with
streaks or nodules of anhydrite. Very argillaceous in the top and bottom
few feet. The lower half is partly pseudo-oolitic. Thickness 122.
Fauna: Ammodiscus sp. and Glomospira sp. in the lowermost few feet.
5) Limestone, grey and grey-brown, fine-grained, dense, partly pseudooolitic or dolomitic and dolomite, grey, fine grained, dense, intimately
associated and interbedded with anhydrite, white and grey-brown. Some
authigenic quartz throughout. Thickness 116. Unfossiliferous.
6) Limestone, grey, fine grained, dense, intimately associated with
calcareous dolomite and a small and variable proportion of grey
anhydrite, the anhydrite in general decreasing in proportion downwards.
Thickness 95. Unfossiliferous.
Type section (Kharaib No. 1), 543 feet.
Thickness
Upper Toarcian and Lower Bajocian. The age assignation is dependent on the
Age
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
581
Other
Localities
correlation of the type section of the Gulailah Formation with the dated
outcropping Upper Marrat and the anhydritic part of the Lower Dhruma. No age
diagnostic fauna has been found in the Gulailah of the Qatar Peninsula. For
further details see Remarks below.
Well Name
Depth (from), in feet
Depth (To), in feet
Bahrain No. 52
7120
7935
Bahrain No. 88
7275
7915
Dammam No. 20
6975
8070
Abqaiq No. 2
8900
10458
Jauf No. 1
9590
10235
Burgan No. DT 1-A
12116
13190
Id al Shargi No. 1
9480
9625
In Division 1 of the above described type section the anhydrites sometimes
contain a very small proportion of pyrite, or fluorite.
Quartz, mentioned as occurring in various parts of the type section, is of very
irregular distribution. It is usually in the form of small nodules or single
anhedral crystals in the carbonate rocks and in the form of small aggregates of
slender subhedral crystals in the anhydrites. Other forms that is, as squat
anhedral crystals, chalcedony and chert, have been observed, but are rare.
A chemical analysis of three samples from the Gulailah Formation is given in the
writers RGQ/141.672/199 of 19th April 1954.
Remarks
582
W. Sugden
583
Temporary
type locality
Underlying
unit
The contact is certainly unconformable though proof of the precise time interval
involved is so far lacking. It may be said that the unconformity probably
represents a gap from about the bottom of the Lias to some part of the Upper or
Middle Permian.
Gulailah Formation, contact conformable. For details of the nature of the contact
Overlying
see the accompanying definition of the Gulailah Formation. (The nature of the
Formation
contact is virtually the same in Bahrain 88 as in Kharaib 1.)
From top to bottom:
1) Marl and marly siltstone, mostly varying from blue-grey to purplish to
rust-brown, but dominantly blue-grey near the top and bottom. Several
beds (up to 30 ft) of dolomitic anhydrite or anhydritic dolomite and rare
thin beds of limestone. Numerous thin beds and streaks of marly, silty
sandstone of various colours. Thickness 245 feet. Fauna, if any, not
known.
2) Anhydritic dolomite and dolomitic anhydrite, light grey, grey and
Description of
brownish grey with a few pellet streaks and with several intercalations of
temporary
bluish grey or greenish grey marl or shale. Thickness 230 feet.
type section
Unfossiliferous.
3) Marl and shale, bluish grey and grey with numerous thin beds or
intercalations of dolomite, anhydritic dolomite, pellet dolomite,
anhydrite, limestone and marly limestone. Thickness 205 feet. Fauna:
From the lower part of this division Dr. R.G.S. Hudson has identified a
Cardiniid cf. Anodontophora and a possible Trigondus (IR/RGSH/194,
26.4.51)
Type section (Bahrain No. 88) 680 feet.
Thickness
584
Age
Other
Localities
Remarks
It may however be noted that Dr. Hudson, on the basis of the poorly
determinable fauna mentioned above, suggests possible Rhaetic or upper Triassic
age for the lowest part of the Formation.
Well Name
Depth (from), in feet
Depth (To), in feet
Kharaib No. 1
8595
8764 (bottom not reached)
Bahrain No. 52
7935
Ca. 8600
Fahud No. 1
6405
6520
Dammam No. 20
8070
??
Abqaiq No. 2
10458
??
Jauf No. 1
10235
??
Burgan No. DT 1-A
13190
??
Id al Shargi No. 1
9625
??
Correlation with the Marrat
Reasons for correlating the top of the Suwei with the top of the Middle Marrat
have already been given. The writer has not seen the Marrat outcrops but it is
evident that the very characteristic colours of the upper division of the Suwei are
also observed in the Middle Marrat.
It is therefore possible to suggest further that the limestone and dolomite
dominated Lower Marrat is equivalent to the dolomite dominated middle division
of the Suwei, or at least to the upper part of that division. From these arguments
it may be suggested that according to the dating of the Marrat the upper division
of the Suwei is of Middle Toarcian age, the middle division is of lower Toarcian
age and the lower division is pre-Toarcian, Liassic.
Correlation with Fahud
It would seem probable that at Fahud only the upper division of the type Suwei is
represented, the transgression of the Suwei having taken place at a late date in
that area. At Haushi, in the same general area, there is independent evidence of
the Toarcian age of the Suwei.
17.12.1956
W. Sugden
585
APPENDIX 1
The sedimentation of sands, shales and limestones during the Lower and Middle
Cretaceous in the Qatar-Hasa-Basra area.
In Qatar-Hasa-Basra area the lower and Middle Cretaceous sediments now exposed or known in the
oilfield areas consist of alternations of sands, shales and limestones. The purpose of this appendix
is to give an interpretation of the manner in which this varied sedimentation took place.
From regional investigations certain facts are now well established. The most important of these
facts is that the clastics were derived from the west, that is to say at least partly from the area now
occupied by the Arabian Shield. In the clastics now remaining uneroded there is a general eastward
passage from sand into shale with an eventual passage in the same direction into limestone. It is
therefore quite clear that landward sedimentation in clastic facies has seaward equivalents in
limestone facies.
Vertically there are alternations from limestone to shale and sand and several major alternations can
be recognized regionally e.g. the Nahr Umr Formation. It is clear that these alternations involve
various landward transgressions of the limestone facies. This is not to say that the limestones
transgressed upon an eroded land surface but merely that limestone sedimentation occurred further
westwards than previously.
Up to the present it has not been possible to illustrate that the several limestone transgressions
actually involved transgression of the sea further onto the land area from which the clastics were
derived and in this respect it is perhaps desirable to note that limestone transgression does not
necessarily indicate total marine transgression.
The first and most obvious interpretation of limestone transgression is that the sea did in fact
transgress further onto the Arabian Shield area thus reducing the area from which clastics could be
derived and the volume of clastics actually sedimented and at the same time increasing the total sea
area thereby promoting limestone deposition. There is however another possible cause of general
limestone transgression. Carbonate sedimentation clearly indicates net evaporation of sea water in a
particular area while voluminous clastic deposition may indicate amongst other causes an excess of
rainfall over evaporation. Thus a change of climate from wet to dry could cause a landward
limestone transgression without change of sea level. In a similar way the seaward transgression of
clastics could indicate a change from a dry to a wet climate. Amongst other factors which must
inevitably affect the distribution of limestone and clastic sedimentation are changes in the direction
or volume of marine currents and changes in the physiography and manner of drainage of the
adjoining land.
Amongst these various influences it is not possible at present to decide the actual causes of all the
sedimentary changes which took place within the Lower and Middle Cretaceous in the area under
discussion. Indeed a part of the evidence has been lost for ever by the landward erosion of part of
the sedimentary section. It seems however that the principal cause of variations in sedimentation
was that first mentioned, the actual transgression and regression of the sea, and the present
interpretation makes this presumption.
It is now possible to give an interpretation of the history of Lower and Middle Cretaceous
sedimentation in the area. The accompanying plate Q/00.0566 represents the interpretation. It will
be seen that the right hand part of the diagram includes a copy of a part of Q/00.0564 and shows the
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
586
587
588
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AUTHOR(S)
YEAR
Anon.
1937
Anon.
1939
Anon.
Anon.
Anon.
Arkell W.J.
Bramkamp R.A.
Steineke M.
1948
1951
1953
Baker N.E.
1953
Barber C.T.
1948
Cox L.R.
1936
Elliott G.F
1955
Henson F.R.S.
1947
Henson F.R.S.
1947
Henson F.R.S.
1948
Henson F.R.S.
1949
Henson F.R.S.
1951
Kent P.E.
Slinger F.C
Thomas A.N.
1951
Kerr R.C.
1950
Kerr R.C.
1951
Kerr R.C.
1953
Kerr R.C.
Nigra J.O.
Owen R.M.S.
Nasr S. N.
Pilgrim G.E.
1952
1952
TITLE
Bahrain Island among 15 largest oil producers. Oil & Gas Journ., Vol.
36, No. 33, pp. 127-134.
Technical improvements in the petroleum industry of Saudi Arabia
accompanied by cultural advances. Pet. Eng., pp. 120-125.
Production up in Persian Gulf area. World Oil, Vol, 28, No. 6, p. 234.
Aramco has two discoveries. World Oil, Vol. 133, No. 3, p. 282
Kuwait. Sci. Petroleum, Vol. 6, Pt. 1, pp. 99-100, Oxford Univ. Press.
Jurassic ammonites from Jebel Tuwaiq, Central Arabia, with
stratigraphical introduction. Phil. Trans. Royal soc. Series B, No. 633,
Vol. 236, pp. 241-313
Iraq, Qatar, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Trucial Coast,
Muscat, Oman, Dhofar and the Hadramaut. Science of Petroleum,
Vol. 6, Pt. 1, pp. 83-87, Oxford Univ. Press.
Review of Middle East oil. Petroleum Times, June 1948.
Fossil mollusca from southern Persia and Bahrain Island.
Paleontologica Indica, N.S. Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 1-69, pls. 8.
Fossil calcareous algae from the Middle East. Micropaleontology Vol.
1, No. 2, pp. 125-131.
Foraminifera of the genus Trocholina in the Middle East. Ann. &
mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 11, Vol. 14, pp. 445-459.
New Trochamminidae and Verneuilinidae from the Middle East. Ann.
& mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 11, Vol. 14, pp. 605-630
Larger imperforate Foraminifera of South-western Asia. Monograph.
Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) pp. 127. Plates 16.
Recent publications on larger imperforate Foraminifera of the Middle
East. Ann. & mag. Nat. Hist. series 12, Vol. 2, pp. 173-177
Observations on the geology and petroleum occurrences of the Middle
East. Proc. Third world Petroleum congress, Sect. I.
Stratigraphical exploration surveys in S.W. Persia. Proc. Third World
Petroleum Congress sect. I, pp. 141-159
Petroleum developments in Middle East and adjacent countries in
1949. Bull. AAPG Vol 34, No. 7, pp. 1475-1491.
Petroleum developments in Middle East and adjacent countries in
1950. Bull. AAPG Vol. 35, No. 7, pp. 1629-1651.
The Arabian Peninsula. Sci. Petroleum Vol. 6, Pt. 1, pp. 93-98.
Oxford Univ. Press.
Petroleum developments in Middle East and adjacent countries in
1951. Bull. AAPG Vol. 36, No. 7, pp. 1427-1444.
1956
1908
The geology of the Persian Gulf and the adjoining portions of Persia
and Arabia. Mem. Geol. Surv. Ind. Vol. 34, pt. 4, pp. 1-17
589
YEAR
Ramsden R.M.
1952
Reichel M.
1941
Reichel M.
1947
Sander N.J.
1952
Smout A.H.
1954
Smout A.H.
1955
Steineke M.
1947
Steineke M.
Bramkamp R.A.
1952
Steineke M.
Yackel M.P.
1950
TITLE
Features of limestones of the Riyadh Group of the S.W. Persian Gulf
Region. Thesis Dept. of Geology & Mineralogy, Oxford University.
Sur un nouveau genre dAlvolines du Crtac Suprieur. Schweiz.
Naturf. Ges. Verh. (Soc. Helv. Nat., Actes) Basel, sess. 121, pp. 137138.
Multispirina iranensis, Foraminifre nouveau du Crtac Suprieur de
lIran. Schweiz. Pal. Ges. Abh. (soc. Pal. Suisse, Mem.) Zurich, Bd.
65, No. 6, pp. 2-13
La stratigraphie de lEocne le long du rivage occidental du Golfe
Persique. Essai biomtrique sur les variations des genres Lockhartia
et Sakesaria. Thesis UniversitdeParis.Pp.216
Lower tertiary foraminifera of the Qatar Peninsula. Brit. Mus. (Nat.
Hist.) pp. 96, plates 15.
Reclassification of the Rotaliidea and two new cretaceous forms
resembling Elphidium. Journ. Wash. Acad. Sci. Vol. 45, No. 7, pp.
201-210.
Middle East oil information. Colorado School Mines Quart. Vol. 42,
No. 3, pp. 119.
Abstract of a paper on the stratigraphy of eastern Saudi Arabia. Bill.
AAPG Vol. 36, No. 5, p. 909.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrein [Bahrain]. In World Geography of
petroleum. Pratt and Good (Editors), Princeton University Press, pp.
203-229.
590
DEPTH ~ 10'
100
E-1
200
RUS
NOTE
MIDRA
DAMMAM
MIDDLE EOCENE
LEVEL
FAUNA
ABARUK
AGE
MEMBER
GROUP
FORMATION
LOWER EOCENE
Limestone, light brown and light grey, usually very dolomitic, very
porous and usually with numerous small aggregates of quartz and
chalcedony, particularly in the upper part.
400
300
500
H A S A
U M M
E R
R A D H U M A
S E R I E S
T
R
E
T
600
700
E-2
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
C-1
1400
Limestone, blue-grey or grey, marly, normally with a few beds of
marl, blue-grey and with streaks of grey, marly dolomite. A
prominent thin bed of blue-grey marl is very often present at the
bottom.
1500
S I M S I M A
P
U
O
R
O
E
C
A
1600
1700
M A E S T R I C H I A N
C-2
1800
1900
2000
R U I L A T
C A M P A N I A N
2100
Limestone, light grey, silty, compact, sometimes with glauconite
and phosphatic nodules, sometimes with small pyrite nodules.
C E N O M A N I A N
2200
C-4
2300
2400
MISHRIF
LAFFAN
Limestone, light grey, fine grained, rather silty and rather marly.
C-5
2500
Limestone, light grey and grey, all more or less marly and silty,
with numerous beds of marl, grey and bluish-grey, hard, silty and
with occasional beds of shale, grey and brownish grey, marly.
The brownish-grey shales sometimes contain plant fragments.
2600
Limestone, light grey, earthy and grey, marly, silty. Occasional beds
of marl, blue-grey, hard, silty.
KHATIYAH
2700
C-6
Limestone, light grey and grey, rather marly, marl, blue-grey, silty
and shale blue-grey and brown, the whole deposited in
sedimentary rhythm; limestone and marl predominant at the top
and shale at the bottom of the section.
P
U
O
2900
3000
3100
C-8
C-7
E
A
T
2800
MAUDDUD
3200
Limestone, light grey or cream, earthy, usually silty, partly
recrystallised and partly rather dolomitic, sometimes rather chalky
C-9
3300
A L B I A N
3400
NAHR UMR
3500
3600
C-10
SAB
SAB
3700
3800
C-11
3900
4000
A P T I A N
SHUAIBA
4100
HAWAR
4200
C-12
4300
4400
KHARAIB
4500
4600
Marl, Blue-grey
4700
B A R R E M I A N
C-13
RATAWI
4800
C-14
4900
M
A
A
H
HUWAILA
KARANAH
5000
E
W
O
L
J-1
5100
Limestone, light grey, very pellety, porous, the pellets being light
coloured.
5200
5300
J-2
N E O C O M I A N
5400
MISFIR
5500
5600
J-3
WAKRAH
5700
5800
Limestone, grey and light grey, fine grained, mostly dense, but
sometimes with beds of soft fine grained limestone.
5900
J-4
Limestone, grey to light brown, fairly fine grained, compact or
dense, with occasional nodules of anhydrite
J-5
6000
HITH
6100
6200
6400
J-6
J-7
No. 1
LST
JALEHA
6300
J-8
J-11
6600
6700
J-13
Anhydrite, grey to brown, with occasional stringers of dolomite
Limestone, grey-brown, usually rather compact. Occasional
anhydrite nodules.
No. 4 LIMESTONE
FAHAHIL
J-12
6500
J-10
No. 3
LIMESTONE
Cylindroporella sp.
Trocholina palastiniensis Henson
Valvulinella jurassica Henson
Cerithium ursicinum de Loriol
Ceritella cf plicata Zittel
Pseudomelaniainconspicua de Loriol
Helicryptus cf. pusilus (Roemer)
Retusa pellati Cossman
Ovacteonina pilleti (de Loriol)
Isocyprina boonei Cossman
QATAR
I
R
UMM BAB
C
R
K I M M E R I D G I A N
JUH
J-9
No.2
LST
6800
J-14
6900
7000
DARB
7100
7200
7300
Limestone, grey, fine grained, dense, becoming rather argillaceous
towards the bottom. Numerous streaks, particularly towards the
top, contain scattered pyrite stained pseudo-ooliths.
SEQUANIAN
7400
7500
J-15
Limestone, grey and dark grey, fine grained, dense, rather silty
with numerous beds of grey, dense, fine grained sandstone. The
sandstone is mostly made up of calcite grains, but there is a fair
proportion of quartz and some glauconite, some fine
pseudo-oolitic debris is also included.
7600
OXFORDIAN
7700
DIYAB
J U R A S S I C
7900
J-16
8000
J-17
Valvulina sp.
Araejia sp.
CALLOVIAN
7800
UWAINAT
8100
Limestone, buff or light brown of medium porosity, consisting of a
matrix of rather fine grained calcite with a variable proportion of
pellety debris which is mostly of similar texture and colour to the
matrix. The proportion of pellety debris is greatest towards the
middle of the unit where the rock is mostly made up of pellets and
has the greatest porosity and permeability.
ARAEJ
8200
M I D D L E
J-18
8300
BATHONIAN
8400
8500
J-19
IZHARA
8600
LEGEND:
Limestone (Ls)
Oolitic Limestone
Gypsum
Chalky Limestone
Dolostone (Dol)
Pseudo-Oolitic or
Autoclastic Pellet Limestone
Anhydrite
Nodules
Sandy Limestone
Dolomitic Limestone
Marly Limestone
Shale
Calcareous Dolostone
Marl
Chalk
Glauconite
Sand or Sandstone
Lignite
Dolomite Chalk
Anhydrite
Fossil ranges
Common or Abundant
Infrequent or rare
Author :
Compiled by:
Drawn by:
Date :
21/7/2013
DWG No. :
24787
Appendix 5
599
600
601
LIAISON MEETINGS
between
DOHA
July, 1967
602
History
The purpose of the Liaison Meetings is to find a common nomenclature to be used by the main
operating companies in the Gulf; viz:ABUDHABIMARINEAREASLIMITED(A.D.M.A)
ABUDHABIPETROLEUMCOMPANYLIMITED(A.D.P.C.)
QATARPETROLEUMCOMPANYLIMITED(Q.P.C.)
SHELLCOMPANY
:SHELLOFQATARLIMITED
:PETROLEUMDEV.OMAN
Address:
Cable:
Address:
Teleg.:
Address:
Teleg.:
Address:
Address:
Teleg.:
ADMADASISLAND,ABUDHABI
ADMARINEDASABUDHABI
ADPCPOBox270,ABUDHABI
PETRUCIALABUDHABI
Q.P.C.Dukhan(Qatar)
P.O.UMMSAIDQATAR
PETROQATDOHA
P.O.Box47Doha
P.O.Box541Manama,
BAHRAIN
PETROMUSCAT
Projects for study are decided at Meetings held at managerial level, other meetings are attended by
Stratigraphers.
The final Project Report has to be approved by all the managements concerned, before another
project is chosen.
It has been agreed that each company shall be responsible for the organization of Liaison Meetings
in turn.
The first Management Meeting was held in Bahrain on the 10th of November 1965.
Other Meetings of Stratigraphers have been held as follows:
S.C.Q
A.D.P.C
A.D.M.A.
Q.P.C.
ForthcomingS.C.Q.?
15/1631966
27/2861966
6/791966
17/1811967
15/1681967
603
The first stratigraphical meeting established a provisional correlation through the areas of the four
companies (excluding Oman) with fauna and age of the different Upper Cretaceous Rock Units
SCQ Drawing No. 2357
AGE
Q.P.C.
MAASTRICHTIAN
&
U.CAMP.atbase
SIMSIMA?+
RUILAT
U.CAMP.
To
L.CAMP
L.CAMP.
To
SANT.
?TUR.
S.C.Q.
A.D.M.A.
A.D.P.C.
UPPERSIMSIMA
UPPERCHALK
Loftusiasp.
Lepidorbitoidessocialis
Pseudedomiaglobularis
Monolepidorbissp.
UPPERSHALE
Monolepidorbis
Globotruncanastuartigr.
Globotruncanafornicatagr.
UPPERLST.
MIDDLESIMSIMA
LOWERSIMSIMA
Diagnosticagegiving
foraminifera
LAFFAN
SHARGI
ARUMAMARL
HALUL
LOWERLST.
(SANTONIAN)
MIDDLECHALK
Pseudedomiacomplanata
LAFFAN
LAFFAN
MIDDLESHALE
Nodiagnosticfauna
604
SYNONYMOUSROCKUNIT
COMPANYRESPONSIBLEFORDEFINITION
SIMSIMAFORMATION
UPPERLIMESTONE
UPPERCHALK
SHELL
SHARGI
ADPC
ARUMAMARL
UPPERSHALE
LOWERLIMESTONE
MIDDLECHALK
MIDDLESHALE
ADPC
SHELL
QPC
Drawing No. 2356
605
606
607
608
JPP/vd:
Doha,
609
DrawingNo.2359
Scale1:2,000,000
POSITIONSOFTYPESECTIONWELLSFORUPPERCRETACEOUSFORMATIONS
610
Chairman
ADMA
ADPC
QPC
PD(O)
KSEPL
SCQ
- John Darley
- John Standring
- Frank Gosling
- Charlie Hopping
Ian Willis
Jacques Marie
- Mike Hughes-Clarke
- Gareth Hughes
Hughes welcomed the delegates on behalf of S.C.Q. to the meeting which had been postponed a
number of times for various reasons.
It was agreed that whilst the stratigraphy of Oman would be borne in mind when framing
definitions etc. it would not at the present discussions be definitely considered. It was hoped that at
some later stage the stratigraphy produced by these meetings would be expanded not only to Oman
but to other concession areas as well.
At previous meetings it had been agreed that logs on the 1/1000 scale should be used for correlation
diagrams. The delegates found this to be unwieldy in practice and all agreed that in future 1/2500
should be used for correlation diagrams; the 1/1000 scale would continue to be used for type section
definition etc.
ARUMA GROUP
Discussion centred on whether the use of this term would conflict with ARAMCO's Use of Aruma.
It was decided that it did not, considering the AAPG code Article 9 Remark (b) "The wedge-out of a
component formation or formations may justify the reduction of the group to formation rank,
retaining the same name". It was felt that the alternative "Upper Cretaceous" set too strict a limit
time wise.
It can be said that the sediments we are discussing were deposited on the edge of the Arabian shield
and contains major and minor hiatuses. We have selected two of the major unconformities between
which in Saudi Arabia exists the Aruma formation. As traced towards the Gulf this unit expands to
become the Aruma Group. This Group in the Kuwait area contains one "package" of formations;
here it contains another "package".
LAFFAN FORMATION
It was agreed that the term be restricted to the section which is predominantly shaly i.e. the
marl/shale intercalations which overlie the shale would not be included. The draft presented by
Standring was accepted with a few minor changes. Hopping would supply details of the
palynological evidence for dating.
611
HALUL FORMATION
No draft description was available. The description used by ADPC was circulated and no points of
dissension noted. Possible time difficulties had been cleared up by the visit of Dr. Smout in January
1967. Hopping will describe this according to the standard layout and circulate to all members in
January '68.
FIQA FORMATION
Standring's description of the Fiqa' and Arada was circulated. A long discussion followed as to the
status of these two units, the distinction between them being essentially based on the differentiation
between the neritic and pelagic facies.
It was finally agreed that the whole interval (i.e. what was previously called Fiqa' and 'Arada)
should be named the Fiqa' formation containing within it the Arada neritic facies and the Shargi
pelagic facies.
The type section will remain Murban 44 but a reference section from IS-1 will be added to illustrate
the Shargi facies.
Standring will re-write the description of the Fiqa' formation, Hopping will add the palynological
evidence. The reference section of the Shargi facies (IS-1) will be described by Hopping.
SIMSIMA FORMATION
No draft description was available.
A discussion as to whether the Tayarat as used in Iraq should be used by the law of priority, the
formations being essentially the same, However the Tayarat has previously been used with a
different meaning in the area. It was agreed that the name Simsima was widely used in the Gulf and
should remain.
The palaeontology shown on the type log of Dukhan-55 [DK-0055] is in fact from three wells, Dk-1
[DK-0001], Dk-28 [DK-0028] and Dk-55 [DK-0055]. It was agreed that Hopping would make the
formal description and separate out the palaeontology into its original wells.
The formation consists of three major units with hiatuses between. It was agreed that the upper unit
was sufficiently extensive to warrant a member status and Gosling will check on the name SALWA
MEMBER.
The upper limit of the formation is faunally quite distinct being the upper limit of Maastrichtian
fauna, overlain by Paleocene fauna. A marl break is normally present and this will form the top of
the Simsima formation, Aruma Group and the Cretaceous.
612
Addendum to minutes
18/12/1967
Reference the upper member of the Simsima formation : Gosling has advised that there is no
objection to the name SALWA MEMBER.
However reference the lower member of the Ruilat formation Gosling advises that the name JUH is
already in use for another stratigraphical unit and it cannot therefore be used. He proposes instead
the DAASAH MEMBER from the name of a village south of well Dk-55 [DK-0055], one of the
wells used for a type section.
IWGH/vd.
613
Authors
R.M.S.OwenandS.N.Nasr,1958
Steineke&Bramkamp(1952)gavethefirstpublishedreferencetotheArumaformation,whichoutcrops
inSaudiArabia,asapredominantlylimestoneunitofCampaniantoMaastrichtianage.Thisformationwas
formally described by Steineke, Bramkamp and Sander (1958), who showed that it is overlain by the
Paleocene, Umm er Radhuma formation and underlain by clastics of the Middle cretaceous, Wasia
formation.TheArumaformationistheonlyUpperCretaceoussequencetobeexposedinSaudiArabia.
ThenameArumaGroupwasappliedbyOwenandNasr(1958)tothecomplexUppercretaceoussequence
in the BasraKuwait area. This publication formalised a usage established for a considerable time by
geologistsinmanypartsofArabia.
In KuwaitBasrah, the name was applied to units originally dated Maastrichtian to Lower Senonian,
boundedbytheUmmerRadhumaformationaboveandMishrifformationbelow.Dunnington,etal.1959
suggestthe presenceof a majorunconformity separating an upper, MaastrichtiantoUpperCampanian,
unitapproximatelythesameageasthetypeArumaformationfromalower,poorlydatedSenonian,
sectionbelow.
Chatton(1962)recordsevidencethattheSaditoKhasibformationsofthelowersectionareofTuronianto
Lower Campanian age, thus indicating that the KhasibMishrif break is not of such great magnitude as
previouslythought.
In consequence the term Aruma Group is apparently now applied to units of Maastrichtian to Turonian
age,exceedingitsnormallyacceptedpositionofbeingsynonymouswithUpperCretaceous.
Use of the name Aruma Group should, strictly, be confined to the formations occurring above the pre
Hartha unconformity, of BasraKuwait i.e. confined to formations of Maastrichtian to Upper Campanian
age(FiqatoSimsimaonly).ItsusetodescribeallformationsofUpperCretaceousageissoestablishedin
geologicalworkinarabiathatitisproposedtoretainitintheQatarAbuDhabiareaforallformations
lyingbetweentheCenomanian,MishrifandPaleocene,UmmerRadhumaformations.
InQatartheArumaGroupissubdividedintothreeformationsasfollows:
Simsima
Maastrichtian
Ruilat
Ageindet.
Laffan
LowerSenonianor?Turonian
IntheQataroffshoreareatheShellCompanycurrentlyusethefollowingsubdivisionoftheArumaGroup
(Dominguez1965):
Simsima
Shargi
=
FiqaFm
Halul
Laffan
614
ArumaLowerLimestone= HalulFm.
Laffan
TheLaffanformationiscurrentlyplacedintheWasiaGroupbyA.D.M.A.becauseofitssupposedTuronian
age.
Unconformities
(sincethisdocumentwasadraft,notextwasincludedinthissection)
615
A Typelocality:
Lithology
1
2
3
10
WellDukhan55[DK-0055],11581644
OriginallyW.SugdenhadchosenwellDK28 [DK-0028]astypesection.
UnfortunatelynoGammaRayNeutronlogsareavailableforthiswell.It
has therefore been decided during the Liaison Meeting at Das Island to
choose the well closest to DK28 [DK-0028] for which these logs are
available,DK55[DK-0055].
From top to bottom we find the following 10 units (see lithol. Column,
Encl.1notincludedinouroriginal):
60
Medium grey, sl. Chalky, lime Packstone, becoming slightly argillaceous
towardsitsbase.TheparticlesconsistoflargerandsmallerForaminifera,
Ostracoda, coral and echinoid and gastropod fragments and
Dasycladaceae.
10
Greenishgrey,soft,calcareousshalewithsomepyriteandmainlysmaller
ForaminiferaandOstracoda.
80
Brownishgrey,patchilydolomitised,porouslimeWackestone.
Particles: Larger and smaller Foraminifera and broken fossils (Rudists,
Echinoids,etc)
30
Lightgrey,slightlychalky,limePackstone.
Particles: Mainly larger Foraminifera, smaller Foraminifera and broken
Rudists,etc..
20
Brownishgrey,patchilydolomitised,porouslimeWackestone.
Particles: Larger and smaller Foraminifera and broken fossils (Rudists,
Echinoids,etc)
15
Lightgrey,sl.Chalky,limePackstone.
Particles: Mainly larger Foraminifera, smaller Foraminifera and broken
Rudists,etc..
145
Brownishgrey, patchily dolomitised, porous, lime Wackestone. In the
lowerthirdafewroundedQuartzgrains.
Particles: Larger and smaller Foraminifera and broken fossils (Rudists,
Echinoids,etc)
30
Light to medium grey, in the middle part argillaceous, lime Packstone,
onlyverysl.Chalky.
Particles: Smaller and Larger Foraminifera, broken fossils (Rudists,
Echinoids,etc)
65
Medium brown, porous, dolomitised Wackestone (only the particles are
notdolomitised).
Particles:Mainlybrokenfossils(lamellibranchiataetc.).
36
Light grey, partly chalky and in the upper part slightly dolomitised lime
Packstone.
Particles:Brokenfossils,largerandsmallerForaminifera.
Totalthickness:486feet
616
Sugdens proposed subdivision in an upper, middle and lower Simsima formation for
DK28[DK-0028]canalsoberecognisedinDK55[DK-0055]
Units1&2
= upperSimsima
Units38
= middleSimsima
Units9&10
= lowerSimsima
Thissubdivisioncanalsoeasilyberecognisedonthegammaraylog(seeencl.1not
includedinouroriginal):.
Paleontology
ThedetailsofthefaunaandthedifferentrangesaregivenonEncl.1.Thisissomewhattheresultof
acombinationofoccurrencesinwellsDK1[DK-0001],DK25[DK-0025]andDK55[DK-0055].
Age
Maastrichtian
Literature
W.Sugden
Definition of formational units of the Qatar Peninsula and correlations
withNejdHasaKuwaitBasraareaunits.Dec.1956
617
Author:
A.J.Standring
Synonymy
LowerpelagicunitoftheuppershaleofAbuDhabiPetroleumCompany
Limitedinformalstratigraphicusage,slightlyrevised
ShargiformationofShellCompanylimited,Qatar(Dominguez1965,ArabPetroleum
Congress)
ArumaMarlofAbuDhabiMarineareasLimited
Typelocalityandsection:
Abu Dhabi Petroleum company Limited well Murban No. 44, lat. 231622N, long.
522035E, R.T.K.B. elevation 438ft, between drilled depths 6302 and 6571 ft.
(referencesectioninQatarisIS1)
Thickness
269feet(82m)
Lithology
1
Shaledarkgreygreen
233feet
2
Limestone,lightgrey,argillaceous,locallypyritic.
36feet
Fossils
Globotruncana gr. fornicata, G. arca arca (Cushman), G. arca (Cushman) caribica
Gandoifi, G. globigermoides Brotzen, G. cf convata (Brotzen), G. contusa (Cushman),
Rugoglobigerina beldingi Gandoifi, Planoglobulina sp. Gumbelina spp., ostracoda
including Bairdoppilata sp., Cytherella sp., Paracypris glabrans Sayyab ms.,
BrachycytherewellingsiSayyabms.
Age
CampanianprobablyLowerCampanian
Overlyingformation
Aradaformation(nowtheupperfaciesoftheFiqaFormation);contactconformable,
placed at junction of series of interbedded shales, marls and limestones with
Pseudodomiaaffmultistriataabove,withcontinuousdarkgreygreenshaleoftheFiqa
formation,below
Underlyingformation
Halulformation;contactdisconformableatjunctionofgreyargillaceouslimestoneof
thebasalFiqaformation,above,withpure,densechalkylimestone,below.
Distribution
AbuDhabiandtheotherTrucialStates,possiblyextendingintopartofSaudiArabia.As
apelagicmarlinSouthernQatar(wellDk.51 [DK-0051]).Tothenorththeformation
Remarks
TheFiqaformationrepresentsanimportant,widespread,deepwaterphasewithinthe
mainlyshallowwaterUpperCretaceousdepositionalsequence.Atitstypelocalityand
overmostofAbuDhabiandinsouthQataritissucceededconformablybytheneritic
shalelimestone, succession of the Arada formation. It is probably separated by
widespreadunconformityfromtheunderlyingHalulformation.
The fact that the Fiqa directly underlies the Simsima in the ADMA and Shell offshore
618
ARADAFORMATION
UpperCretaceous
(actuallyAradafaciesofthe
UpperCampanian
Fiqaformation)
A.J.Standring
Author:
Synonymy:
UpperneriticsectionofArumaUpperShaleofA.D.P.C.Ltd.,informalstratigraphic
usage,slightlymodifiedattop.
AbuDhabiPetroleumCo.Ltd.,wellMurbanNo.44,lat.231622N,long.572035E.,
Typelocalities
R.T.K.B.elevation438ft.,betweendrilleddepths5422and6302feet.
andSection:
Theformationtakesitsnamefromalocalitysome33km.S.S.E.ofthewell.
Thickness:
880ft
Lithology:
1
Marl; very chalky, and light grey grading to chalk, white, locally slightly
silty, rare shale partings. Interbeds of limestone, chalky, foraminiferal,
limewackestone,containingfineskeletaldebris.128ft.
2
Shale;darkgreygreen,calcareousandmarl,lightgrey,chalky,gradingto
chalk, white. Thin interbeds of limestone, buff, detrital, chalky,
3
Limestone;lightbuff, slightlyargillaceousandchalky;smallforaminifera,
shellandechinoiddebriswackestone.161ft.
4
Shale;darkgrey,slightlycalcareousandmarl,grey,chalky.60ft.
5
Limestone;palebuff,chalkytolocallyargillaceousinterbeddedwithshale
darkgreysometimescalcareous.Shalepredominantinlowest40feet.
6
Limestone; pale grey to buff, slightly chalky; shell debris foraminiferal
wackestonewithinterbedsofshale,greygreen.178ft.
7
Shale, dark greygreen grading into marl, grey with thin interbedded
limestones,lightgreybuff,finelimewackestone.100ft.
619
In1
Age:
Underlying:
Overlying:
Distribution:
Remarks:
In2
M. douvillei, R. aff trochidiformis, Aff Archaecyclus sp., Ataxophagmium
sp.
In3
M. douvillei, R. aff trochidiformis, R. sp, Aff. Archaecyclus sp. bryozoa,
echinoiddebris.
In4&5
M.douvillei,R.afftrochidiformis,R.sp.,
In6
M. douvillei, M.sanctae pelagiaeAstre,rare Globotruncana sp., carb (or
crab?)debris,echinoidspines,bryozoa,rudistfragments,fishremains.
In7
M.sanctaepelagiae,Pseudodomiaaffmultistriata(Henson)
UpperCampanian
Simsimaformation;contactdisconformable,thetwoformationsbeingseparatedbya
regionalunconformityofvariablemagnitude.Attheboundarybetweenbasicallypure
Maastrichtian lime wackestone and packstone of the Simsima with more or less
argillaceous,Monolepidorbisbearingcarbonates,orshales,oftheupperArada.
Present over much of onshore Abu Dhabi and south Qatar. Probably present in
neighbouring states. Not recognized intheA.D.M.A.orS.C.Q.concessionareasor in
northQatar.
This formation reaches a considerable thickness in west and central Abu Dhabi but
becomesextremelyattenuatedtowardsthenorthandeastasaresultofdemonstrable
cutoutofbedsbothregionally(towardstheoffshoreareas)andlocallyoverindividual
structures. Confusion can arise in Schlumberger log correlation since the lithological
characteroftheFiqaformationinoffshoreareasisverysimilartothatoftheAradaof
onshore Abu Dhabi. Only by examination of the fauna and facies as illustrated by
samplescanthetwounitsbereadilydifferentiated.
Somedifficultyofcorrelationhasariseninthepastasaresultofloggingoftherobust
MonolepidorbisdouvilleioftheupperFiqa(Arada)asOrbitiodessp.anditsinclusionin
theoverlyingUpperChalk(Simsima).
620
RUILATFORMATION
Author:
Synonymy:
Typelocality
andsection:
Thickness:
Lithology:
Fossils:
Age:
Under;ying:
Overlying:
Otherlocalities:
CRETACEOUS
UpperCretaceous
W.Sugden(1953)unpublishedreport
None
Q.P.C.WellDukhanNo.55 [DK-0055],lat25240N.,long.504546E.,
between drilled depths 501 m. (1644 ft.) and 584 m. (1916 ft.). (This
replacesSugdensoriginaltypesectioninWellDukhanNo.25[DK-0025]
between1705and2002ft.)
The formation takes its name from a locality in the middle of the Qatar
Peninsula.
83m.(272ft.)
1
Limestone, light grey compact, limemudstone to wackestone with
common fine elongate spicules and fine indeterminate calcareous silt;
chertnodulesinupperpart.Finerecrystallizationobscuringraresmall?
pelagicforaminifera(216ft.).
2
Limestone, as above, with common rounded phosphatic nodules,
glauconitegrains,10ft.
3
Limestonelightgrey,fine,compactlimemudstone,towackestonepartly
silicified,32ft.
4
Limestone,grey,argillaceouslimemudstone,14feet.
In1
Smallindetforaminifera includingprobable Gumbelina
In3
Gumbelinasp.
Cannotbecorrectlydetermined.Campanianorolder.
Simsima formation; contact conformable. At contact of fine, grey specular grey lime
mudstonebelowwithfossiliferouslimepackstoneofthebasalSimsima,above.
ThisformationisconfinedtotheQatarPeninsulawhereitisknownfrommostofthe
wellsontheDukhanstructureandfromexplorationwells.
621
Addendumto
theRuilat
ItisunfortunatethatitremainsnecessarytoretaintheRuilatformationasarockunit
peculiar to the Qatar Peninsula. It cannot be directly correlated with any rock unit
known to exist elsewhere between the Simsima and Laffan formations. Indeed
correlationevenwiththesuccessioninthesouthernmostDukhanwellisdifficult.
Inthelatter(wellDukhan51 [DK-0051])theSimsimaisunderlainbythinunitsofthe
AradaandFiqaformations.Beneaththisoccursathinlimestonecontainingspicules,
togetherwithOligostegina,Gumbelinasp.andHedbergellawhichisitselfunderlain
by typical Laffan Shale. This succession shows many similarities to that developed
morefullyinAbuDhabi.
The Simsima in Dk.51 [DK-0051] is thinner than the combined Simsima and Ruilat
formations found at structurally higher elevations to the north. It shows a similar
foraminiferal zonation to the Simsima only of these wells. Thus it appears that the
Ruilat must be considered to the equivalent of some or all of the largely Campanian
sectionbetweentheSimsimaandLaffanofDk.51[DK-0051].
Unit3(someonescribbled2overthe3intheoriginaldocumentweused.Maybe
the typist of the original document made a mistake) of the type section has all the
appearance of a zone of condensation or even of marking a break in sedimentation.
Unit 4 contains Gumbelina. It appears possible that the 42 feet of limestone which
restswithoutapparentunconformityontheLaffaninDukhan55 [DK-0055]couldbe
the equivalent of the similar limestone which overlies the formation in Dk.51 [DK0051].IfsotheunitisprobablyolderthanUpperCampanian.
Ifthiscorrelationbeaccepted,thenunits1and2oftheRuilatmustbepartlyorwholly
equivalent of the Upper Campanian neritic and pelagic units found in Dk.51 [DK0051].(i.e.oftheAradaand/orFiqaformations.
Until further research has been undertaken, the Ruilat will remain an unsatisfactory
rockunitinthatitcannotbecorrelatedwithanyothersubdivisionoftheAruma.
622
HALULFORMATION(1)
Author:
Synonymy:
TypeSection:
Reference
SectioninAbu
Dhabi
Thickness
Lithology:
Fossils:
Age:
Underlying:
Overlying:
Distribution:
Remarks
UpperCretaceous
LowerCampaniantoSantonian
W.O.GigonandP.J.C.Hoogkamer
ShellCo.ofQatarwellIdalShargiNo.1betweendrilleddepths3310and3468feet.
A.D.P.CWellMurbanNo.1lat235643N,long.534156E.,R.T.K.B.elevation53feet,
betweendrilleddepths6175and6396feet.
221feet
LowerCampanianorolder
Laffanformation,contactapparentlyconformable.Atjunctionoflowestlimestoneof
theHalulformationwiththeunderlyingbluegreytobrownshaleoftheLaffanbelow.
Well developed in central north and parts of eastern Abu Dhabi, the formation thins
rapidlytopracticallydisappeartothesouthandwest.Welldevelopedtothenorthin
offshoreAbuDhabiandQatar.
Awidespread,persistentrockunit,easilyrecognizedbyitscharacteristicforaminiferal
assemblage.Thefaciesisrepeatedattwohigherhorizonsandcaremustbetakento
ascertain the correct species of the Pseudedomia. If this is not done, it could be
possible to become confused by the similarity of the basal Simsima zone of P.
globularis or the lowest Arada zone of P. aff multistriata. Both these have similar
ecofacies,includingD.schlumbergeri,R.affskourensis,Archaecyclussp.
In south, central Abu Dhabi, including well Murban 44, a thin white chalky limestone
623
Cretaceous
HALULFORMATION(2)
(Campanian)
The Halul Formation was described, defined and named by M.W. Hughes Clarke in
Author:
S.C.Q.unpublishedreport(1963)
Synonymy
The following rock stratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
HalulFormation:
TheArumaLowerLimestoneinanA.D.M.A.unpublishedreport,(19);
TheMiddleChalkinanA.D.P.C.unpublishedreport,(19)
Typelocalityand Hughes Clarke originally chose the interval 3310 to 3468 in the S.C.Q. well Iddel
Shargi 1 as representing the type section of this formation. This interval, extended
section
downwardsto3545,hasbeenretainedasthetypesection.TheFormationtakes its
namefromtheislandofHalulofftheeastcoastofQatar.
Location:
S.C.Q. well IddelShargi 1; latitude 252332.9N, longitude 522155.93 E. The
formationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsof3310and3545feet.
235feet(drilledthickness)
Thickness:
Lithology:
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
1
90 limestone; light grey, chalky bioclastic lime packstone, particles
2
68 limestone; light grey, chalky bioclastic lime wackestone, particles
consisting of spicules, small shell fragments with some smaller
ForaminiferaandlargerForaminifera;somepyriteandscattereddolomite
rhombs.
3
27marl,greygreensoftwithsomeshale,bluegreyandsomelimestone,
lightgreylightbrown,chalky,partlyrecrystallized.
4
50 chalk, lightgrey, soft, frangible, occasionally slightly marly with
Totalthickness235ft.
Palaeontology:
The details of the faunal assembles and their distribution are shown on Fig. (none
stated). The occurrence of Pseudedomia complanata, Pseudedomia globularis and
DicyclinaschlumbergeriisindicativeofaCampanianorolderCampanianage.
Palynology:
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheHalulFormation.
Age:
Campanian,probablyearlyCampanian.
624
Overlying
Thelightgrey,chalkypackstonesoftheHalulFormationareoverlainbya+/10bedof
light brown, very calcareous shales grading upwards into the grey, blue, green,
planktonicforaminiferalmarlsoftheFiqaFormation.
Underlying The light grey chalky wackestone of the Halul Formation are underlain by the olive
greenmarlsandshalesoftheLaffanFormation.
HALULFORMATION(3)
A. TypeLocality WellIddelShargi1,33103468
B. Lithology
The Halul formation consists of light grey, chalky wackestones grading upwards into
chalkyPackstones(seeencl.2notattachedtoouroriginal).Thelowerpartcontains
frequentlychert,probablyinnodules.Somepyriteisfoundinthelowestpartandonly
scattered dolomite rhombs occur about in the middle. The particles in the
Wackestonesarespicules,smallshellfragments,smallerForaminiferaandsomelarger
Foraminifera.
Inthemiddleandupperpart(Packstones)thenumberoflargerForaminiferaincreases
considerably.TogetherwiththemoccurstillsmallerForaminifera,someOstracodaand
shellfragments.
C. Paleontology Encl.2(notattachedtoouroriginal)givesthedetailsofthefaunaandthedistribution.
D. Age
Campanian
625
LAFFANFORMATION
Author
Synonymy
Typelocalityand
section
Thickness
Lithology
Fossils
Age:
Underlying:
Overlying:
Otherlocalities:
Remarks:
CRETACEOUS
TuronianorL.Senonian
W.Sugden1953(unpublishedreport)
None
Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 55 [DK-0055], lat. 25240N., long. 504546E., between
drilleddepths584m(1916ft)and613m(2011ft).(ThisreplacesSenoniansoriginal
typesectioninwellDukhanNo.25[DK-0025]between2002and2072ft.).
TheformationtakesitsnamefromRasLaffanonthenortheastcoastofQatar.
27m(95ft)
Shale,olivegreen.
Atypicalostracodassemblagewhichhasnotbeenpublished.DescribedbyA.S.Sayyab
(1956) in an unpublished thesis. Includes: Brachycythere wellingsi Sayyab ms.,
Cytherella bilobata Sayyab ms., Eobuntonia? Curta Sayyab ms., Eobuntonia seminuda
Sayyab ms.,Cythereis?Dukhanensis Sayyabms., BrachycytherehasaensisSayyab ms.,
Mesocycthereis hensoni Sayyab ms., Xestoloberis punctata Sayyab ms., Paracypris
globrams.
LowerSenonian(orpossiblyTuronian)
Ruilat formation, at contact of shales of the Laffan below, with argillaceous lime
mudstone of the Ruilat above. There normally appears to be a sharp change from
shaletolimestoneatthecontact,butnodirectevidenceofunconformityisseen.
KnownfromonshoreandoffshoreAbuDhabioffshoreQatar,BahrainandpartsofIraq.
This marine ostracodbearing shale which marks the Middle to upper Cretaceous
boundaryisdifficulttodateaccurately,owingtotheabsenceofagediagnosticfossils.
The ostracod suite is apparently peculiar to the Laffan in Qatar and to the north but
important elements are recovered from more than one slab horizon in the Aruma of
Abu Dhabi. From its position beneath proven Campanian rocks in well Dukhan 51
[DK-0051] (see Ruilat formation) it must be as old as early Campanian, while its
positionabovetheCenomanianMishrifmakespossibleanageyoungerthanthat.
626
Palynological examination has so far failed to give a precise age, but is suggestion of
lowerSenonian.ThustheunitisprobablylowermostUpperorhighmiddleCretaceous
inage.
Thecriticalpoint,moreimportantthanpreciseage,isthequestionofassigningtheunit
toeithertheArumaorWasiaGroups.InKuwaitandS.Iraq,Chatton(1962)hasshown
that the basal formation of the sequence assigned by Owen and Nasr to the Aruma
GroupisofTuronianage.It(theKhasibformation)isabasinalargillaceousunit,resting
unconformably upon the Mishrif. Dunnington (1967) accepts the MishrifTanuma
(Khasib is scribbled over Tanuma in our original) junction as a natural boundary
betweentheAruma andWasiaGroupinS.Iraq.Thus, even shouldtheLaffan finally
provetobeTuronian,itsbaseisstillacceptableasthelowerlimitoftheArumaGroup
inQatarandneighbouringareas.
627
MINUTES
A.D.M.A.
A.D.M.A.
A.D.M.A.
A.D.P.C.
K.S.E.P.L.
P.D.(O)
Q.P.C.
S.C.Q.
(Chairman)
The business of the meeting comprised the finalisation of the study project The Stratigraphy of the
Aruma Group in South-East Arabia and the initiation of a similar study project of the Wasia
Group. A draft text entitled Upper Cretaceous Rock stratigraphy in South East Arabia was
prepared and forwarded to the delegates prior to the meeting.
The vitally important time-stratigraphic subdivision was that of the stage. It was thus essential that
the criteria used in the definition of a stage should be carefully evaluated. It was considered that the
boundary Albian-Cenomanian can be determined upon sound criteria in the area of the Middle East.
Thus it was proposed that the cretaceous deposits should be subdivided into the major units of
Lower and upper Cretaceous rather than the former, long established sub-division of Lower, Middle
and Upper. This proposal was approved by the meeting. (See important comment in the first page
of the Minutes of Meeting of the 7th Geological Liaison).
The above proposal necessitated changing the title of the report upon the Aruma Group study
project which is now entitled, The Stratigraphy of the Aruma Group in South East Arabia.
It was suggested that the former and proposed nomenclature for the rock-stratigraphic units of
the Aruma Group as mentioned in the text should be listed in full and sub-headed for each
company. It was proposed that this information should also be presented in the format of a table.
This proposal was approved and the recommendation has been implemented in the completed
report, (ref. Enclosure 2 not included in our original).
A written account of the major and minor unconformities within the Aruma Group was approved by
the meeting for incorporation within the general chapter of the Aruma Group.
The age of the Simsima Formation has been determined as Maastrichtian. It was proposed that the
Simsima Formation could range from an essentially Maastrichtian age into a Danian age, (i.e. a
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
628
AJS/pvg
Abu Dhabi,
21.5.1969
629
DRAFT
Southeast Arabia
Edited by
C.A. Hopping
May, 1968
630
Page
1
3
11
16
21
28
31
36
TheArumaGroup
TheSimsimaFormation
TheSaihalMalehFormation
TheMutiFormation
TheFiqaFormation
TheRuilatFormation
TheHalulFormation
TheLaffanFormation
Note: The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript.
Listofenclosures
1. LithologyandPalaeontologyoftheSimsimaFormationinwell
Dukhan55[Dk-0055].
2. LithologyandPalaeontologyoftheHalulFormationinwellIdd
elShargi1.
3. Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheArumaGroupinWellDukhan
51[Dk0051],updatedDec2nd1968.
Scale
Draw.No.
1:1000
3217
1:1000
3200
1:1000
3127
631
TheARUMAGroup
Authors
Remarks
QatarOnshore
QatarOffshore
Cretaceous
(ConiaciantoMaastrichtian)
OwenandNasr,(1958).
Steineke and Bramkamp, (1952) gave the first published reference to the Aruma
Formation, which outcrops northeast of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as a predominantly
limestone unit of Campanian to Maastrichtian age. This formation was formally
describedanddefinedbySteineke,BramkampandSander,(1958),whoshowedthatit
isoverlainbythePaleocene,UmmerRadhumaFormationandunderlainbytheclastics
oftheMiddleCretaceous,WasiaFormation.TheArumaFormationistheonlyUpper
Cretaceous(postCenomanian)sequencetobeexposedinSaudiArabia.
ThenameArumaGroupwasappliedbyOwenandNasr(1958)tothecomplexUpper
CretaceoussequenceintheNasraKuwaitarea.Thispublicationformalisedausage
establishedforaconsiderabletimebygeologistsinmanypartsofArabia.
In the BasraKuwait area, the name was applied to units originally dated as Lower
Senonian to Maastrichtian, bounded by the Umm er Radhuma Formation above and
the Mishrif Formation below. Dunnington et al (1959) suggested the presence of a
majorunconformityseparatinganupper,MaastrichtiantolateCampanianunit,which
was approximately the same age as the type Aruma Formation, from a lower, poorly
datedSenonianunitbelow.
Chatton (1962) records evidence that the Sadi to Khasib Formations of the above
mentionedlowerunitareofTuroniantoearlyCampanianage,thusindicatingthatthe
KhasibMishrifhiatusisnotofsuchgreatmagnitudeaspreviouslybelieved.
The use of the name Aruma Group should, strictly, be confined to the formations
occurring above the preHartha unconformity, of BasraKuwait, i.e. confined to
formations of late Campanian to Maaastrichtian age. Its use to describe all/certain
formationsofUpperCretaceousageissoestablishedingeologicalworkinArabiathat
it is proposed to retain it in the QatarAbu DhabiOman area for all formations of
?Turonian, Coniacian to Maastrichtian age lying between the Mishrif and Umm er
RadhumaFormations.
IntheQataronshoreareaQ.P.C.havesubdividedtheArumaGroupintothefollowing
rockstratigraphicalunits:
Simsima
(Fiqa)
Ruilat
Laffan
IntheQataroffshoreareaS.C.Q.havesubdividedtheArumaGroupintothefollowing
rockstratigraphicalunits
Simsima
Shargi =
TheFiqa
Halul
Laffan
632
AbuDhabi
Onshore
Oman
In the Abu Dhabi offshore area A.D.M.A. have subdivided the Aruma Group into the
followingrockstratigraphicalunits:
ArumaUpperLimestone
=
TheSimsimaFm.
ArumaMarl
=
TheFiqaFm
ArumaLowerlimestone
=
TheHalulFm
Laffan
In the Abu Dhabi onshore area A.D.P.C. have subdivided the Aruma Group into the
followingrockstratigraphicalunits:
UpperChalk =
TheSimsimaFm
UpperShale =
TheFiqaFm.
MiddleChalk =
TheHalulFm.
MiddleShale =
TheLaffanFm.
In the Oman P.D.(O) have subdivided the Aruma Group into the following rock
stratigraphicalunits:
ArumaLimestoneFm =
TheSimsimaFm
ArumaShaleFm
=
TheFiqaFm
However, in the region of the Oman Mountains a further subdivision of the Aruma
Grouphasbeenmadeasfollows:
ArumaLimestoneFm
=
TheSimsimaFm
TheSaihalMalehFm
(HawasinaSemailGroup)
TheMutiFm
ArumaShaleFm
=
TheFiqaFm
633
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered here to be synonymous with
theSimsimaFormation:
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSectionFig.???)
Sugden had originally chosen the interval in the Q.P.C. well Dukhan28 [DK0028] as
representingthetypesectionoftheSimsima.However,nogammarayorneutronlogs
areavailablefromthiswell.ThusthewellDk55[DK0055]whichhastheselogsandis
closesttoDk28[DK0028]hasnowbeenselectedasthetypesection.Theformation
takesitsnamefromthelocalityofSimsimanortheastQatar.
Q.P.C.wellDukhan(Dk)55[DK0055];lat.25240N,long.504546E.Theformation
Location
isbetweenthedrilleddepthsof1,158and1,644feet.
Thickness
486feet(drilledthickness)
TheSIMSIMAFormation
634
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom.
#
Ft
1 58 Limestone;mediumgrey,slightlychalky,limepackstone,becomingslightly
argillaceous towards the base. Particles consist of larger and smaller
Foraminifera, Ostracoda, coral, echinoid and gastropod fragments with
dasycladaceanAlgae.
2
9 Shale; greenishgrey, soft, calcareous shale with some pyrite and mainly
smallerForaminiferaandOstracoda.
3 82 Limestone;brownishgrey,patchilydolomitized,porouslimeWackestone.
ParticlesconsistoflargerandsmallerForaminiferaandbrokenfossils,e.g.
Rudists,echinoids,etc.
4 28 Limestone; light grey, slightly chalky lime Packstone. Particles consist of
mainly larger Foraminifera with smaller Foraminifera and broken rudists
etc.
5 20 Limestone;brownishgrey,patchilydolomitized,porouslimeWackestone.
ParticlesconsistoflargerandsmallerForaminiferaandbrokenfossils,e.g.
rudists,echinoids,etc.
6 15 Limestone; light grey, slightly chalky, lime Packstone. Particles consist of
mainly larger Foraminifera with smaller Foraminifera and broken rudists
etc.
7 145 Limestone;brownishgrey,patchilydolomitized,porouslimeWackestone.
A few rounded quartz grains are found in the lower part of the unit.
ParticlesconsistoflargerandsmallerForaminiferaandbrokenfossils,e.g.
rudists,etc.
8 29 Limestone; light to medium grey, partly argillaceous and very slightly
chalky, lime Packstone. Particles consist of larger and smaller
Foraminifera,brokenfossils,e.g.rudists,echinoids,etc.
9 66 Limestone; medium brown, porous, dolomitized Wackestone. Particles
which are not dolomitized consist of mainly broken fossils, e.g.
lamellibranchs,etc.
10 34 Limestone; light grey, partly chalky and in the upper part slightly
dolomitized lime Packstone. Particles consist of broken fossils and larger
andsmallerForaminifera.
486 TotalThickness
Sugdensproposedsubdivisionofanupper,middleandalowerSimsimaFormationin
Dukhan28 [DK0028] can also be recognized in the type section in Dukhan55 [DK
0055],i.e.
Units
1&2
UpperSimsimaFormation
3to8
MiddleSimsimaFormation
9&10
LowerSimsimaFormation
Thissubdivisioncanbeclearlyrecognizedalsoonthegammarayneutronlog,ref.Fig.
??. The upper unit is considered to be sufficiently distinctive and geographically
extensive to merit the status of a member, the SALWA Member. Thus the Simsima
Formationatpresentcanbesubdividedintoalowerasyetunnamedmemberandan
upperSalwaMember,q.v.
635
Palaeontology
The details of the fauna and their distribution are shown on Fig ??. A threefold
palaeontologicalsubdivisioncanbeobservedfromthedifferentrangesofthesefauna.
Theloftusiaunit,characterisedbytheoftendominantoccurrenceofthetypeLoftusia
sp(p).(L.minorL.morganiagroup).ThefaunalassemblagealsocontainsElphidiella
multicissurata, Fissoelphidium operculiferum, Omphalocyclus macroporus and
abundantspecimensofdasycladaceanAlgae.
TheLepidorbitoidesunit,characterisedbythedominantoccurrenceofLepidorbitoides
sp(p).(L.socialisgroup)withsiderolitescalcitrapoides,Omphalocyclusmacroporusand
rudists.
Theabovethreefaunalunitsarecoincidentwiththediscussedlithologicalunits,thus
these fossil occurrences would appear to be controlled to some degree by the
environmentalconditionsofdeposition,q.v.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheSimsimaFormation
Age
ThefollowingforaminiferahavebeenacceptedasidentifyingtheMaastrichtianStage;
Omphalocyclusmacroporus,SiderolitescalcitrapoideandLepidorbitoidessocialis.
Boundaries
The stratigraphical limits of the Simsima Formation in the type section have been
demarcateduponthefollowingcriteria:
It is of further interest to note that the contact of the Simsima and the Umm er
Radhuma Formations here marks the boundary between Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
andtheTertiary(Paleocene).Theabruptandalmosttotalfaunalchangewouldappear
tobeindicativeofahiatusindeposition.
Underlying The white, chalky, slightly dolomitized, lime Wackestones containing abundant larger
Foraminifera and bioclastic debris of the lowermost Simsima are underlain by white,
recrystallized, dolomitized, lime Wackestones of the Ruilat Formation. These
characteristic recrystallized Wackestones containing abundant spicules form a quite
sharplithologicalcontrastwiththeoverlyingbeds.Nevertheless,theprecisecontactis
ratherobscureandindeeditismostprobablethatthecontactisconformable
Reference
The above type section is from the Q.P.C. Dukhan field, which is geographically
Sections
considered as representative of onshore Qatar. The following reference sections are
alsoprovidedfromoffshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabi,onshoreAbuDhabiandOman.
OffshoreQatar S.C.QwellIddelShargi1;lat.252332.9N,long.522155.93E;
Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepths2,545and3,042feet
636
OffshoreAbu A.D.M.A.well;lat.N,long.E;
Dhabi Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsoffeet
Onshore
AbuDhabi
ReferenceSection
A.D.P.C. well Murban No. 44, lat. 231622N, long. 532035E; between the drilled
depths4349and5422feet
Thickness 1073feet(drilled)
Lithology Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
Remarks Unit1comprisestheLoftusiaZonewhichistheequivalentofSugdens
Upper Simsima of Qatar, now named the Salwa member. This member
wascoredinanearbywell,andexaminationofthesecoreshasassistedin
descriptionofthecuttingssamplesfromthereferencesection.
InthicksectionsoftheSimsima,suchasthatdescribedabove,theSalwa
member appears to pass down without an obvious break into the
underlyingLepidorbitoidesZone(Unit2).Thelatternormallyformsthe
greaterpartoftheformation,beingtypifiedbylimepackstonesinwhich
theparticlesarealmostwhollyLepidorbitoidessocialis.
637
TheSimsimaisoverlaininthereferencesection,asinallofAbuDhabi,by
the basal shale unit of the Umm er Radhuma formation. No angular
discordanceisseen,butthesharpfaunalchangeacrosstheboundaryis
indicativeofahiatus.
Oman
P.D.(O)wellSuneinah1;lat.???N,long.???E;Theformationisbetweenthedrilled
depthsof6,470and6,920feet.
Thefollowingdetailedlithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
20 Limestone;white,chalky,friable,limeMudstoneWackestone;
2
30 Limestone; white, hard, partly cemented by sparry calcite, skeletal,
pelletoidal,limePackstoneWackestone;
3
20 Limestone;white,chalky,friable,limeMudstoneWackestone
4
30 Limestone; white, hard, partly cemented by sparry calcite, skeletal,
pelletoidal,limePackstoneWackestone
5
133 Dolomite;cream,coarse,porous,sucrosicdolomite,becomingdarkgrey,
pyriticandargillaceousatthebase;
6
27 Limestone; white, chalky, friable, partly dolomitized, lime mudstone
Wackestone;
7
22 Dolomite;cream,coarse,porous,sucrosicdolomite;
8
88 Limestone; white, chalky, friable, partly dolomitized, lime mudstone
Wackestone;
9
40 Limestone;grey,hard,argillaceous,dolomitized;skeletal,pelletoidal,lime
WackestonePackstone;
10
20 Limestone;argillaceous,dolomitic,foraminiferal,limePackstone.
Totalthickness:450feet
These detailed lithological units can be grouped together into the following three
majorunits:
Units1to4
Units5to7
Units8to10
638
AfaunalassemblagecontainingSiderolitescalcitrapoides,Omphalocyclusmacroporus,
Orbitoides spp., Lepidorbitoides sp., with rare occurrences of Loftusia sp., would
indicateaMaastrichtianage.
TheSimsimaisoverlainbythePaleoceneUmmerRadhumaFormation.Thecontactis
taken at the junction of the white, chalky, lime MudstoneWackestone limestones of
the Simsima with the dark grey, calcareous basal shale and overlying cream, hard,
skeletal, pelletoidal, lime PackstoneGrainstone limestones of the Umm er Radhuma.
Thiscontactisunconformable.
TheabovewellsectionoftheSimsimaFormationinSuneinah1isfairlytypicalofthe
formationwhichcanbeseenandstudiedatoutcropsalongthenorthwesterndesert
edge of the Oman Mountains. Considerable thicknesses of the Simsima Formation
havebeenobserved,e.g.atJebelLahqinandDhankarea,northofIbri,itissome???
thick. The Simsima in this area unconformably overlies the Hawasina and is overlain
directlybythelimestonesoftheUmmerRadhumaFormation.Intheabsenceofthe
Shalemarkerthecontactisnotsoeasilydiscernible.
On the northeastern Batinah Coast edge of the Oman Mountains the Simsima
conformably overlies the Maastrichtian Saih al Maleh Formation, q.v., and is
unconformablyoverlainbylimestones ofEocene age.Onthesoutheastedgeofthe
Oman Mountains in the Sur area the Simsima Formation has been locally termed by
P.D.(O) the Abad and Gahwan formation. In this area the limestones of the
Simsima are unconformably underlain by the Hawasina or conformably underlain by
theSaihalMalehFormations.IntheSurareatheSimsimaisoverlainbylimestonesof
thePaleoceneandthecontactisnotdistinctive.
Distribution:
Remarks:
639
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
SaihalMalehFormation;
TheAjmaBoulderBed,Hudsonetal,(1954);TheWatayiaConglomeratesofWetzel
in a P.D.(O) unpublished report, (1949); The Qahlah Clastic Formation and The
QuryatClasticFormation,ofHorstinkinaP.D.(O)unpublishedreport,(1967).
TypelocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSectionFig.??).
ThetypesectionoftheSaihalMalehFormationwasselectedbyWesselsBoeronthe
westernflankofJebelMalehattheeponymoustypelocalityofSaihalMaleh.Thetype
sectionofWesselsBoerhasbeenretained.
Location
SurfacesectionatJebelMaleh,SaihalMalehnr.Matrah;
Lat.???N,Long.???E.
105metres(theoriginaldocumentdoesindeedmentionmetresinsteadoffeet)
Thickness
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
2 ~113 Morecoarseconglomeratesthanintheupperunitwithintercalationsof
sandstones
Palaeontology
Inthetypesectionfossilshaveonlybeenobtainedfrom marls and limestonesofthe
upperunit.SpecimensofLockhartiaspp.andKathinaspp.havebeendeterminedthus
indicatingaPaleoceneageforthisupperunit.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheSaihalMalehFormation
Age
Anagedeterminationfromthesamplescollectedfromthetypelocalityhasprovena
Tertiary, Paleocene age for the uppermost part of the Saih al Maleh Formation.
Samples collected at other localities have yielded fossils indicative of an Upper
Cretaceous,Maastrichtianage,q.v.
Boundaries
Overlying InthetypesectiontheSaihalMalehFormationisapparentlyconformablyoverlainby
limestonesofPaleoceneage.
Underlying InthetypesectionandthemajorityofotherlocalitiestheSaihalMalehFormationis
unconformablyunderlainbytheSemailOphiolitesortheHawasinaCherts.
640
TheSaihalMalehFormationcanbeseenatoutcroplocalitiesalongtheentireeastern,
coastaledgeoftheOmanMountainrangefromtheSurareainthesoutheasttothe
JebelQamarareainthenorthwest.
NorthofSur,nearQalhat,Horstink(1967)describedaunitcomprisingcoarsepolymict
conglomeratesofmainlySemailophioitesandHawasinaradiolaritesinanargillaceous,
sandy, silty matrix with alternating lithic sandstones, shales and marls which overlies
the Hawasina radiolarites or the Semail metamorphics and grades into the massive
shallow water limestones of the Simsima Formation. Horstink named this unit the
QahlahClasticFormation.Twopointsofinterestregardingthisunitarethepresence
ofa30to90feetthickbasalticlavasillwithlocallydevelopedpillowstructuresanda
Maastrichtian dating based upon the occurrence of Loftusia spp. obtained from
argillaceouslimestoneswithintheformation,underlyingthebasalticsill.
FurthernorthofQalhat,nearQuryat,Horstink(1967)alsodescribedaunitcomprising
redbrown, fine to coarse grained, poorly sorted argillaceous, calcitecemented,
ferruginouslithicsandstones;polymictconglomeratescomprisingcoarse,poorlysorted
pebblesandbouldersofMylasDolomitesandHawasinaChertsinanargillaceoussandy
matrixwithintercalationsofmarly,argillaceouslimemudstonesandsandstones,which
overlies the Hawasina radiolarites or carbonates of a Lower Cretaceous age and is
overlainbylimestonesofaPaleoceneage.HorstinknamedthisunitQuryatFormation.
ThisclasticsequencecanbecorrelatedalongthenorthernSaihHatattoBandarJissa,
southofMuscatandnorthtoSaihalMalehanduptoFangia.
TheWatayiaConglomeratesof?MaastrichtianagefromWadiAdi(Aday),southofSaih
alMalehhavebeendescribedbyWetzel,(1949).Thisunit,comprisingconglomerates
ofHawasinaandSemailandsoftsandymarlsandlimestonesunconformablyoverlying
theHawasina,canbeincludedwithintheSaihalMalehFormation.
At Wadi Humth near Wadi Hawasina, Wessels Boer, (1968) has described beds of
conglomerates comprising mainly of Hawasina pebbles with yellow marls and
intercalations of skeletal limeWackestones. These beds overlie the Hawasina and
underlie limestones of Middle Eocene age and are referable to the Saih al Maleh
Formation.
AtAlQuseirsouthofSohar,theSaihalMalehFormationisparticularlywellexposedin
a series of outcrops which unconformably overlie the Hawasina and subsequently
gradeintotheMaastrichtianlimestonesoftheSimsimaFormation.Atthebaseofthe
sequence there are conglomerate beds of coarse, poorlysorted pebbles of Hawasina
and Semail intercalated within soft, yellowgreen marls. These conglomerate beds
become more thinly developed, finergrained and carbonatecemented in the upper
part of the section until they grade into the more massive limestone beds of the
MaastrichtianSimsimaFormation.
These beds can be traced northwards to Wadi Jizza, where a Maastrichtian age
determination has also been obtained from the intercalated marls. Further north in
theareaofJebelQamar,Hudsonetal(1954)hasdescribedaboulderbed,comprising
641
The rockstratigraphical units which have been discussed above, the Qahlah Clastic
Formation, the Quryat Clastic Formation, the Watayia Conglomerates and the Ajma
BoulderBedswereoriginally described,definedandnamedbydifferentgeologistsat
differentlocalities.However,alltheseunitshavethefollowingfeaturesincommon.
TheyareunconformableupontheSemail/Hawasinaorolderformations.Theyareall
basically clastic units comprising the same lithology and depositional environment of
coastal, proximal fluviomarine conglomerates, coastal barrier sands, tidal flat or
lagoonal marls and shallow water limestones. They have a common age span of
Maastrichtian to Paleocene and are apparently conformably overlain by the more
massive,shallowwaterlimestonesofMaaastrichtianorPaleoceneage.
Thus these units are now considered to form a single regional mappable formation
whichhasbeentermedtheSaihalMalehFormation.
Remarks
642
Synonymy
ThefollowingrockstratigraphicalunitsareconsideredtobesynonymouswiththeMuti
Formation:
The Qumayra Formation and The Rais Formation of Haremboure & Horstink in a
P.D.(O) unpublished report, (1967); The Riyamah Formation of unpublished report,
(196?).
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSectionFig.??).
ThetypesectionoftheMutiFormationwasestablishedbyHaremboure&Horstinkina
surface section at the eponymous type locality of Wadi Muti, north of Izki. The
originally defined Muti Formation was included within the Hawasina Tecto
stratigraphicGroupasa(par)autochthonousunit.Theuppermostpartofthisformer
Muti Formation is now considered as a distinctive unit, the Guwayza sandstone and
only this part of the Muti Formation is now included with the overlying Hawasina
TectostratigraphicGroup,nowtermedtheHamratasDuruq.v.
Thus the Muti Formation is now redefined at the type locality as those deposits
overlyingtheWasiaGroupandunderlyingtheoverthrustedHamratadDuruGroup.
Location
Surface section at Wadi Muti, south east flank of Jebel Akhdar, 2 kms west of Muti
villageintheSemailGapnorthofIzki;lat.???N;long.???E.
Thickness
+/1,050feet
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom;
#
Ft
1
740 Indurated marls and varying calcareous shales generally with content of
finequartzsiltandmostlysomewhatsilicified,withoneortwolensesof
limestoneconglomerates
2
310 Limestone conglomerates and coarse lithoclastic packgrainstones, the
matrix generally consisting of argillaceous limemudstone with some
argillaceousmudstoneandmarlinterbedding.
TotalTickness:1,050feet
Palaeontology
TheonlyindigenousfossilsfoundinthetypesectionareundiagnosticRadiolariainthe
marlsandshales.Thelimestoneconglomeratesyieldreworkedfossilsoftwodistinct
suites:
1
Cretaceous (Albian to Cenomanian), se.g. Praealveolina spp. Orbitolina
spp. in limestones often with rudist debris and apparently derived from
thelimestonesoftheunderlyingWasiaGroup.
2
Permian,e.g.anabundantandvariedPermianfossilassemblageofcorals,
algae, brachiopods, bryozoans, fusulinid foraminifers, etc. in
recrystallized,hard,whitelimestonesofamarkedlydifferentlithological
aspectthantheabovementionedWasiapebbles.
TheMutiFormation
643
Age
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheMutiFormation
An age determination from samples collected at the type locality has not been
possible.However,anagehasbeendeterminedatotherlocalitiesq.v.
Boundaries
The stratigraphical limits of the Muti Formation in the type section have been
demarcateduponthefollowingcriteria.
Overlying InthetypesectionandinthemajorityofotherlocalitiestheMutiFormationisoverlain
by the Guwayza Formation. The exact location of the contact in surface sections is
difficultbecauseofthesoftweatheringnatureofthebasalGuwayzaandargillaceous
Muti.HoweverthecontactisbelievedtobeamajorthrustastheGuwayzaFormation
is of Jurassic age. The basalunitof theGuwayzaFormation, a quartz sandstonewas
formerlyincludedintheoriginaldefinitionoftheMutiFormation.
Underlying In the type section and in the majority of other localities the Muti Formation is
underlainbylimestonesoftheWasiaGroup.Thecontactisnotseentobeangularbut
isinfactadisconformitywithahiatuswhichcanbeseentocutdownstratigraphically
insuchawaythattheMutiFormationeventuallyrestsonPermoTriassicdolomitesin
thenorthernSaihalMaleh,southofMuscat.
Distribution
TheMutiFormationoutcropswithintheOmanMountainrangefromtheDibbaareato
theareawestofSur.ItisfoundinthesubsurfaceinHamratDuru1,Suneinah1and
probablyinAfar1andtheJuwayzawells.
Outside the type section the basic lithological characterof theMuti Formation is the
indurated marlshale type as seen in unit 1 of the type section. The limestone
conglomeratesarelaterallydiscontinuousandmayconstitutefromverylittletoalmost
alloftheintervalsassignedtotheMuti.Theconglomeratesmayoccurthroughoutthe
unitandnotnecessarilyonlyatthebaseasinthetypesection.Theseconglomerates
havebeennamedinformallyastheHamraconglomeratesinP.D.(O)internalreports.
The basic lithology may range from a pure shale analogous to that in the Fiqa
FormationtoaveryfineargillaceousquartzsiltasseeninHamratDuru1
Other surface sections also contain similar reworked fossils as found in the type
section. However, samples of the marlshale facies have yielded Upper Cretaceous
planktonic Foraminifera. Isolated forms such as Globotruncana carinata,
Globotruncana fornicata and Globotruncana elevata have proven a Santonian and
CampanianagetotheMutiFormation.ThinsectiondeterminationsofGlobotruncana
schneegansi,Globotruncanasigali,GlobotruncanarenziandGlobotruncanaimbricata
wouldfurtherindicateaConiacianage,althoughalateTuronianagecannotbeentirely
eliminated.
Thus the age of the Muti Formation has been determined as Upper Cretaceous,
Coniacian to Campanian.However,a late Turonianageat the base cannot as yetbe
excluded.Further,ifthedepositsintheJuwayza1wellareincludedwithintheMuti
Formation then the upper age limit must be extended into the Maastrichtian on the
recordedplanktonicForaminifera.
The Muti may be overlain tectonically by other units of the Hawasina Tecto
stratigraphicGroup.Further,inthewellsSuneinah1andJuwayza1theMutiappears
to be overlain directly by the Maastrichtian Simsima Formation. The Muti can also
644
Remarks
underlieformationsfromwithintheWasiaGroupdowntothePermoTriassicandthe
materialcomprisingtheconglomeratesvariesaccordingly.However,theonlycommon
materialinallsectionsisthewhiterecrystallizedPermianlimestone.
AshaleandconglomerateunitverysimilartotheMutiisfoundintheoverthrustslices
comprising the Hawasina Group. This unit rests on a basinal turbiditic unit of
Cenomanianage,theNayidFormation,butithasnotasyetyieldedproofofanUpper
Cretaceousage. It is reasonable, however, to regardthis unit as theMuti Formation
deposited in the basin in which the Hawasina sediments were laid down and
subsequentlythrustwiththem.
TheMutiFormationembracesthefinalandinpartsynorogenicdepositsoftheOman
MountainorogenicbeltwhichreacheditsculminationinthelateCretaceous.
The majority of the exposed sections, including the type show that the Muti is
essentiallyaflyschtypeoffaciesdepositedonthetectonicallyactivesideofadeep
intracontinentallateCretaceousbasinactingasaforedeeptothelineoforogenyand
uplift.Distallyfromtheaxisoftheorogeny,i.e.towardstheRubalKhali,thecontent
of the debris dumped from the rising orogenic line decreases and the Muti passes
laterallyintothebasinalFiqaFormation.
TowardsthenorthernOmanMountainstheMutibecomesmoresiliceousthaninthe
typeareaandintheJebelGhashnahithasbeennamedtheQumayrahFormation.The
evenmoresiliceousdevelopmentintheDibbaareahasbeennamedtheRiyamahChert
Formation.
The Riyamah Formation and outcrops of a Muti facies on the north east of the Jebel
Akhdarmassifareinvolvedinthelowanglethrustsheetswhichemplacethetectonic
units of the Hawasina Group. An Upper Cretaceous age is not proven but field
relationships would suggest that these deposits may represent the Muti Formation
depositedinthetroughinwhichtheHawasinabasinalsedimentswerealsodeposited
and later thrusted with the Hawasina. Some lavas may be associated and also the
chertifiedmudstonesmixedwithpillowlavasattheeasternendofWadijizzicontaina
?TuroniantoConiacianplanktonicforaminiferalassemblage,i.e.withinthetimespan
oftheMutideposition.
In the outcrop belt of the Oman Mountains, deposition of the Muti ceased with the
everthrusting ofthevariousunitsof theHawasina Tectostratigraphic Group. This
paroxysm may be dated as between the youngest Muti observed (within the
Campanian) and thedeposition oftheMaastrichtian shallowwater limestonesof the
SimsimaFormationortheshallowwaterconglomeratesandshalesoftheSaihalMaleh
Formationwhichoverlietheentirecomplex.Towardsthesouthandwestbeyondthe
limitoftheHawasinaoverthrusts,thesedimentationoftheMutiappearstohavebeen
morecontinuousthroughtotheMaastrichtianshallowing.
645
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
FiqaFormation
TheShargiFormationofHughesClarkeinaS.C.Q.unpublishedreport,(1963);The
Aruma Marl of ???? in an A.D.M.A. unpublished report (1963); The Aruma Shale
FormationofMarieinaP.D.(O)unpublishedreport,(1966).
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSectionFig.???)
Theformationtakesitsnamefromalocality???
Location
A.D.P.C.wellMurban44;lat.231622N,long.572035E;Theformationisbetween
thedrilleddepthsof5,422and6,571feet.
Thickness
1,149feet(drilledthickness).
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
128 Limestone; light grey, very chalky marl grading into a white, chalk with
locallyslightlysilty,rareshalepartings.Interbedsofchalky,foraminiferal,
limeWackestones,containingfineskeletaldebris
2
137 Shale and limestones; dark greygreen, calcareous shale and light grey,
chalky marl grading into a white chalk. Thin interbeds of buff detrital,
chalky, foraminiferal lime Wackestone containing shell debris and light
greyargillaceouslimestones.
3
161 Limestone; light buff slightly argillaceous chalky lime Wackestone,
particlesconsistingofsmallerForaminiferaandshellandechinoiddebris.
4
60 Shaleandmarl;darkgrey,slightlycalcareousshalewithgreychalkymarl.
5
116 Limestone and shale; pale buff, chalky to locally argillaceous limestone
interbeddedwithdarkgrey,sometimescalcareousshale,whichtendsto
predominateinthelowest40.
6
178 Limestone and shale; pale grey to buff, slightly chalky foraminiferal
Wackestone, particles consisting of shell debris, interbeds of greygreen
shale.
7
100 Limestone; dark greygreen shale grading into grey marl with thin
interbeddedlightgreybuff,finelimeWackestone.
8
233 Shale;darkgreygreenshale.
9
36 Limestone;lightgrey,argillaceous,locallypyriticlimestone.
Totalthickness1,149feet
Standring originally had placed the units 1 to 7 in a separate formation named the
Arada and the original Fiqa Formation consisted only of units 8 and 9. However the
lithologicalcharacteroftheseforaminiferalunitsisnotalwayssoeasilydiscernibleas
shownintheabovetypesection.InfactaconfusioninSchlumbergerlogcorrelation
canarisesincethelithologicalcharacteroftheformerFiqaFormationinoffshoreareas
isverysimilartothatoftheAradaFormationofonshoreAbuDhabi.Furtherstudyand
TheFIQAFormation
646
Thus the entire interval has now been renamed the Fiqa Formation and the
palaeontologically defined neritic facies is termed the Arada Facies and the pelagic
facieshasbeenrenamedtheShargiFacies.
Nevertheless,insomeareasaconsistentlithologicalvariationcanbeobservedwithin
theFiqaFormationinthatoftenthereispresentanUpperLimestoneMemberanda
LowerShaleMember.Q.v.
Palaeontology
Inunit1
Monolepidorbisdouvillei,Rotaliaaff.trochidiformis,Aff.Archaecyclussp.
Inunit2
M.douvillei,R.aff.trochidiformis,Aff.Archaecyclussp.,Ataxophagmium
sp.
Inunit3
M. douvillei, R. aff. Trochidiformis, Rotalia sp., Aff. Archaecyclus sp.,
Bryozoaandechinoiddebris.
In units 4 M.douvillei,R.aff.trochidiformis
&5
Inunit6
M. douvillei, M. sanctae pelagiae, rare Globotruncana sp., crab debris,
echinoidspines,Bryozoa,rudistfragments,fishremains
Inunit7
M.sanctaepelagiae,Pseudodomiaaff.Multistriata.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenontheFiqaFormationinthetypesection
of Murban44. However considerable palynological work has been done on the Fiqa
FormationinOman,whichisdiscussedunderthatarea,q.v.
Age
Campanian
Boundaries
Overlying The Fiqa Formation is overlain disconformably by the Simsima Formation, the two
formations being separated by a regional unconformity of variable magnitude. The
boundaryistakenatthecontactoftheoverlyingbasicallypurelimeWackestoneand
PackstonesoftheSimsimaandtheunderlyingargillaceouscarbonates,marlsordark,
greengreyshalesoftheFiqaFormation.
Underlying The underlying contact is also considered to be disconformable and is taken at the
junctionoftheoverlyinggrey,argillaceouslimestoneofthebasalFiqaFormationwith
thepure,dense,chalkylimestoneoftheHalulFormation.
647
OnshoreQatar
OffshoreQatar
OffshoreAbu
Dhabi
Oman
The above type section is from the A.D.P.C. Murban Field, which is geographically
consideredasrepresentativeoftheonshoreAbuDhabiarea.Thefollowingreference
sectionsarealsoprovidedfromonshoreQatar,offshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabiand
Oman.
Q.P.C.wellDukhan[DK-];lat.N;long.E;
Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsofandfeet
Remarks
Remarks
A.D.M.Awell;lat.N,long.E;
Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsofandfeet.
Remarks
P.D.(O)wellFahud(South)9;lat.N,long.E;Theformationisbetween
thedrilleddepthsofand4,424feet
Remarks
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
+260 Limestone; whitelight grey, soft, argillaceous, chalky,
pelletoidal,foraminiferallimeWackestone;
2
43 Marl;lightbrowngrey,softmarl;
3
4121 Shale; greygreen or browngrey, soft, fissile, pyritic,
calcareousshalewithmicaandcarbonaceousmaterial.
Totalthickness+4,424feet
648
Distribution
Remarks
AwidespreadformationfoundinQatar,AbuDhabi,SaudiArabiaandOman.TheArada
Neritic Facies being somewhat more restricted than the Shargi Pelagic Facies. The
AradaFaciesisfoundovermuchofonshoreAbuDhabiandsouthernQatarandreaches
aconsiderablethicknessinwestandcentralAbuDhabi.
649
Synonymy
None
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSection,Fig.??)
Sugdenhadoriginallychosentheinterval1,705to2,002feetintheQ.P.C.wellDukhan
(Dk)25[DK0025],asrepresentingthetypesectionoftheRuilatFormation.However,
nogammarayorneutronlogsareavailablefromthiswell.ThusthewellDukhan(Dk)
55[DK0055]whichhastheselogshasreplacedDukhan(Dk)25[DK0025],asthetype
section. The formation takes its name from a locality in the middle of the Qatar
Peninsula.
Location
Q.P.C.wellDukhan(Dk)55[DK0055];lat.25240N.,long.504546E;Theformation
isbetweenthedrilleddepthsof1,644and1,916feet.
Thickness
272feet(drilledthickness)
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
216 Limestone;lightgrey,compact,bioclasticlimeMudstonetoWackestone.
Particles consisting of fine elongate spicules, some inderterminate
calcareous silt with chert nodules in the upper part of the unit. Fine
recrystallizationobscuringrare,small?planktonicForaminifera.
2
10 Limestone as above; with common rounded phosphatic nodules and
glauconitegrains.
3
32 Limestone; light grey, fine, compact, partly silicified, lime Mudstone to
Wackestone.
4
14 Limestone;grey,argillaceous,limeMudstone.
Totalthickness272feet
Thelowerpartoftheformationunits3and4canberecognizedandcorrelatedovera
muchwiderareathanthemain,upperpartoftheformationunits1and2.Thislower
partoftheformationistermedtheDAASAHMember.TheDaasahMemberapparently
extendsasatonguebetweentheLaffanandHalulFormations.Themembertakesits
namefromthevillageofDaasah,southofwellDK55[DK-0055],DukhanField,Qatar.
Palaeontology
Some small indeterminate Foraminifera including questionable specimens of
Gumbelina spp. have been obtained from unit 1. Specimens of Gumbelina spp. have
beenobtainedfromunit3.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkupontheRuilatFormationhasbeenundertaken
Age
TheageoftheRuilatFormation cannotbecorrectlydeterminedbutitisassumedtobe
ofaCampanianorolderage.
TheRUILATFormation
650
Overlying The overlying contact with the Simsima Formation is apparently conformable. The
contact is taken at the junction of the fossiliferous lime Packstones of the Simsima
Formationwiththefine,grey,speculargreylimeMudstonesoftheRuilatFormation.
Underlying There is no evidence of an unconformity at the base of the Ruilat Formation. The
contact is taken at the junction of the grey, argillaceous limestones of the Daasah
MemberoftheRuilatwiththeolivegreentobrownshalesoftheLaffanFormation.
Distribution
TheRuilatFormationasawholeisconfinedtotheQatarPeninsula.Itisknownfrom
mostofthewellsontheDukhanstructureandinotherQ.P.C.explorationwells.The
lowerDaasahMembercanhoweverbecorrelatedfromonshoreQatartotheoffshore
areaofQatar.
Remarks
It is unfortunate that it remains necessary to retain the Ruilat Formation as a rock
stratigraphical unit peculiar to the Qatar Peninsula. It cannot be directly correlated
withanyotherrockunitknowntoexistelsewherebetweentheSimsimaandtheLaffan
Formations.IndeedcorrelationevenwiththesuccessioninthesouthernmostDukhan
wellisdifficult.
InthiswellDukhan(Dk)51[DK0051],theSimsimaFormationisunderlainbythinunits
of the Fiqa Formation. Beneath these layers occurs a thin limestone containing
spicules, together with Oligostegina, Gumbelina sp. and Hedbergella sp. which
limestone is in turn underlain by the typical shales of the Laffan Formation. This
successionshowsmanysimilaritiestothatdevelopedmorefullyinAbuDhabi.
TheSimsimaFormationinDK51[DK-0051]isthinnerthanthecombinedSimsimaand
Ruilat Formations found at structurally higher elevations to the north. It shows a
similarforaminiferalsubdivisiontotheSimsimaFormationpresentonlyinthesewells.
ThusitappearsthattheRuilatFormationmustbeconsideredtobetheequivalentof
some or all of the largely Campanian section between the Simsima and Laffan
FormationsofDK51[DK-0051].
Unit2ofthetypesectionhasalltheappearanceofanintervalofcondensationoreven
of marking a break in deposition. Unit 3 contains Gumbelina sp. It appears possible
thatthe46feetoflimestones(i.e.theDaasahMember)whichrestwithoutapparent
unconformityontheLaffanFormationinDukhan55[DK0055]couldbetheequivalent
ofthesimilarlimestoneswhichoverliestheLaffanFormationinDK51[DK-0051].If
this is so, the unit is most probably older that late Campanian. If this correlation is
accepted, then units 1 and 2 of the Ruilat Formation must be partly or wholly the
equivalent of the late Campanian neritic and planktonic units found in DK51 [DK0051],(i.e.theFiqaFormation).
Until further research has been undertaken, the Ruilat Formation will remain a rock
stratigraphicalunitwhichcannotbecorrelatedwithanyothersubdivisionoftheAruma
Group.
651
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
HalulFormation:
Thelowerlimestoneof????inanA.D.M.A.unpublishedreport(19??);TheMiddle
Chalkof????inanA.D.P.C.unpublishedreport(19??).
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarsectionFig.??)
Hughes Clarke originally chose interval 3,310 to 3,468 (There is a hand written
correction over the value of 3,468 with 3,545) in the S.C.Q. well IdalShargi1 as
representingthetypesectionofthisformation.Theintervalcontainedinthiswellhas
been retained as the type section. The Formation takes its name from the island of
HalulofftheEastcoastofQatar
Location
S.C.Q. well IdalShargi1; lat. 252332N, long. 522155.93E; The formation is
betweenthedrilleddepthsof3,310and3,468feet(asabove,thereisahandwritten
correctionoverthevalueof3,468with3,545).
Thickness
158feet(drilledthickness)[Theabovechangeinintervalwouldmakeit235thick]
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
90 Limestone; light grey, chalky bioclastic lime Packstone, particles,
consisting of larger Foraminifera with some smaller Foraminifera,
Ostracodsandshellfragments.
2
68 Limestone; light grey, chalky bioclastic lime Wackestones, particles
consisting of spicules, small shell fragments with some smaller
ForaminiferaandlargerForaminifera;somepyriteandscattereddolomite
rhoms.
Totalthickness158
Palaeontology
ThedetailsofthefaunalassemblagesandtheirdistributionareshownonFig.??.The
occurrence of Pseudodomia complanata, Pseudodomia globularis and Dicyclina
schlumbergiisindicativeofaCampanianorolderCampanianage.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheHalulFormation.
Age
Campanian,probablyearlyCampanian
TheHALULFormation
652
Overlying Thelightgrey,chalkyPackstonesoftheHalulFormationareoverlainbya+/10bedof
light brown, very calcareous, shale grading upwards into the grey, blue, green,
planktonicforaminiferalmarlsoftheFiqaFormation.
ReferenceSection
The above type section is from the S.C.Q. IdalShargi Field, which is geographically
consideredasoffshoreQatar.Thefollowingreferencesectionsarealsoprovidedfrom
onshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabiandonshoreAbuDhabi.
OnshreQatar Q.P.C.wellDukhan[DK-];lat.N,long.E;Theformationisbetweenthe
drilleddepthsoffeet
Remarks
OffshoreAbu A.D.M.A.well;lat.N,long.E;
Dhabi Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsoffeet
Remarks
OnshoreAbu A.D.P.C.wellMurban1;lat.235643N;long.534156E;Theformationisbetween
Dhabi thedrilleddepthsof6,175and6,396feet.
Remarks
IntheabovewelltheHalulFormationcomprisesof221ofwhitetogrey
nodular limestones, which are predominantly bioclastic, lime
Wackestones. The particles consist of larger and smaller Foraminifera
with lamellibranch, echinoid and algal fragments. These limestones
commonlyformpalerlensesornodulesseparatedbydarkergreywisps
and lenses of soft, argillaceous limestones which often approach the
constituencyofamarl.
TheoverlyingcontactwiththeFiqaFormationisapparentlyconformable
butinfactitisprobablyawidespread,shortdurationunconformity.The
contact is taken at the junction of the greygreen, planktonic
foraminiferal shales of the Fiqa Formation with the highest, pale lime
WackestonesoftheHalulFormation.
653
Distribution
Remarks
OMAN
The Halul Formation is well developed in Qatar and in offshore Abu Dhabi and in
central north and partsof eastern Abu Dhabi. The formationthinsrapidly, however,
andpracticallydisappearstothesouthandwest.ItisapparentlynotpresentinOman
whereitstimeequivalentisbelievedtobethebasinalshaleoftheFiqaFormation(the
textinredishandwritteninouroriginal)
Awidespreadandpersistentrockstratigraphicalunit,whichcanalsoberecognizedby
characteristic foraminiferal assemblage. A similar facies to that of the Halul may be
repeated at two younger horizons and care must be taken to ascertain the correct
speciesofPseudodomia.Ifthisisnotdone,itcouldbepossibletobecomeconfusedby
thesimilarityofthebasalSimsimaintervalcontainingP.globularisortheAradainterval
of P. aff. multistriata. Both these units have a similar ecofacies including D.
schlumbergeri,R.aff.skourensisandArchaecyclussp.
TheSantonianageassignedbyA.D.M.A.tocertainsectionsoftheHalulFormationisby
nomeansincompatiblewiththeagegivenhereofearlyCampanianorolder.Thereis
littledoubtofthecorrelationoftheHalulFormationwiththeArumaLowerLimestone
andMiddleChalkandtheirequivalenttopartoftheIlamFormationofIran
In south, central Abu Dhabi, including the well Murban44, a thin, white chalky
limestonewhichintervenesbetweentheFiqaandLaffanFormationshasbeenassigned
totheHalulFormation.Nogoodfaunalevidencewasavailableuntilsidewallsampling
indicated that this unit contained planktonic fauna. This could indicate a change of
faciesintheHalultothesouthbutitcouldequallymeanthatinsuchlocationsthetrue
Haluliscompletelyabsentduetoerosionornondepositionandthatthelimestonein
questionisrelatedtotheoverlyingFiqaFormation.
654
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
LaffanFormation:
TheMiddleShaleof????inanA.D.P.C.unpublishedreport,(19??)
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSection,Fig.??)
Sugdenhadoriginallychosentheinterval2,002to2,072feetintheQ.P.C.wellDukhan
(Dk)25[DK0025]asrepresentingthetypesectionoftheLaffanFormation.However,
nogammarayorneutronlogsareavailablefromthiswell.ThusthewellDk55[DK
0055]hasnowbeenselectedascontainingthetypesection.Theformationtakesits
namefromRasLaffanonthenortheastcoastofQatar.
Location
Q.P.C.wellDukhan(Dk)55[DK0055];lat25240N,long.504546E;Theformation
isbetweenthedrilleddepthsof1,916and2,011feet.
Thickness
95feet(drilledthickness)
Lithology
Shale:Olivegreenglauconiticshales.
Palaeontology
The Laffan Formation contains a typical Ostracod assemblage which has not been
published. Sayyab, (1956) in an unpublished thesis has described the following
OstracodfaunafromDk55[DK0055];Brachycytherewellinsims.,Cytherellabilobata
ms., Eobuntonia? Curta ms., Eobuntonia seminuda ms., Cythereis? Dukhanensis ms.,
Brachycythere hasaensis ms., Mesocycthereis hensoni, Xesteloberis punctata ms.,
Paracyprisglobrans.ThisOstracodfaunaisconsideredtohaveTuronianaffinitiesby
Smout.
Palynology
AfewsamplesfromtheLaffanFormationhavebeenpalynologicallyinvestigatedfrom
theS.C.Q.wellIdalShargi1andtheA.D.P.C.wellMurban44.
Age
EarlySenonian,ConiaciantoSantonian
TheLAFFANFormation
655
Overlying The olive green shales of Laffan Formation are overlain by the argillaceous lime
MudstonesoftheRuilat[RuilatisoverwrittenbyhandwrittenHalulinouroriginal
document]. This contact appears to be a sharp change from shale to shale and
limestonebutnodirectevidenceofanunconformitycanbeobserved.
Underlying AtthejunctionoftheunconformablecontactbetweentheLaffanshalesandthechalky
fossiliferouslimestonesoftheunderlyingMishrifFormation.Thecutoutofbedsofthe
MishrifFormationbeneaththeLaffancanbedemonstratedbytracingfaunalmarkers
andbysimplethinningoftheformation.
ReferenceSections
The above type section is from the Q.P.C. Dukhan Field, which is geographically
considered as representative of onshore Qatar. The following reference sections are
alsoprovidedfromoffshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabi,andonshoreAbuDhabi.
OffshoreQatar S.C.Q well IdalShargi1; lat. 252332.9N, long. 522155.93E; The formation is
betweenthedrilleddepthsof3,468[handwrittenoverby3,549]and3,664feet.
Remarks
Thelithologyconsistsofgreenshalesandmarls
OffshoreAbu A.D.M.A.well????;lat.N,long.E;Theformationis
Dhabi betweenthedrilleddepthsof????and????feet
Remarks
OnshoreAbu A.D.P.C..wellMurban44;lat.N,long.E;Theformationis
Dhabi betweenthedrilleddepthsof6,583and6,800feet
FromasuiteofsamplesinMurban44,onlyasampleat678085yielded
Remarks
a microflora containing a restricted Senonian species, i.e. Dinogymnium
heterocostatum,whichisindicativeofaConiaciantoCampanianage.
Seemoredetailsinthefollowingfewpages
656
OnshoreAbuDhabi
ReferenceSection
A.D.P.C. well Murban No. 44, lat. 231622N., long. 532035E., between drilled
depths6582and6800feet.
Thickness
218feet(drilled)
LithologyandPalaeontology
The lithology of the formation in the reference section is predominantly a grey and
olivebrown shale. Its fauna is composed of ostracoda and rare arenaceous
foraminifera.
The unit may include thin limestone streaks in its upper part in some areas of Abu
Dhabi,whereitrangesinthicknessfromafewfeettoover500feet.
Remarks
ThisshaleunitexhibitsthetypicalcharacteroftheLaffanformation.In
lithologyandcolouritcloselymatchesthetypesection,whileitsostracod
fauna,althoughsparse,issimilartothatoftheQatarLaffan.
TheupperboundaryoftheLaffan,intheareaofthereferencesectionis
at the contact of grey shales of the upper Laffan formation with an
overlyingthingreychalkylimestonewhichhasbeenassignedtotheHalul
formation. It is possible however that this thin limestone is not true
Halul,butacarbonatedevelopmentmarkingamajorunconformitywhich
cutsoutthatformation,causingtheFiqaformationtorestdirectlyupon
theLaffan.
NormallytheLaffanisoverlainconformablybytheHalulformation.
At its lower limit in the reference section the formation rests without
apparentdiscordanceupontheCenomanianLowerChalkunit.Inother
partsofAbuDhabitheLaffanmaydirectlyoverlietheMishrifformation
or the basinal Oligostegina limestone. Regionally, the relationship is an
unconformableone.
Distribution
TheLaffanisawidespreadrockstratigraphicalunit,knownfrompartsofIraq,Bahrain,
onshore and offshore Qatar, and offshore and onshore Abu Dhabi. It is not known
fromOman,whereitslateraltimeequivalentarebelievedtobethebasinalshalesof
theFiqaFormation[textinredishandwritteninouroriginaldocument]
Remarks
The Laffan is an important formation of value in regional correlation. In the Qatar
Abu Dhabi area it is almost invariably present, in spite of great facies and thickness
variationintheoverlyingformationsoftheArumaGroup.
657
Unconformities
provenCampanianrocksinwellDukhan51[DK0051](ref.RuilatFormation)itmustbe
asoldasearlyCampanian,whileitspositionabovetheMishrifmakespossibleanage
olderthanearlyCampanian.
OntheevidenceofostracodrangesrecordedbySayyad(1956),Smoutbelievesthatin
spite of the unconformable relationship of the Laffan with the underlying Mishrif
FormationthatithasMiddleCretaceousaffinitiesandisprobablyofTuronianage[text
inpurpleisstrikedthroughinouroriginaldocument]
A critical point, perhaps more important than the precise age, is the question of
assigningtheunittoeithertheArumaortheWasiaGroups.InKuwaitandSouthIraq,
Chatton(1962)hasshownthatthebasalformationofthesequenceassignedbyOwen
and Nasr to the Aruma Group is of Turonian age. This Khasib Formation is a basinal
argillaceousunitrestingunconformablyupontheMishrif.Dunnington(1967)accepts
theMishrifKhasibjunctionasanaturalboundarybetweentheArumaandtheWasia
Group,inSouthIraq.Thus,evenshouldtheLaffanfinallyprovetobeTuronian,itsbase
isacceptedasthelowerlimitoftheArumaGroupinQatarandneighboringareas.
The Aruma Group is universally bounded, above and below, by major regional
unconformities, which clearly define the group, separating it from the overlying and
underlyingmajorrockunits.
TheupperlimitoftheArumaismarkedoverthewholeareabyasharpfaunalchange.
The uppermost Simsima formation contains typical Maastrichtian large foraminifera
while, immediately above, a completely different suite of Paleocene microfossils
occurs.Typically,theuppercontactismarkedbyasharpchangefrompredominantly
carbonates of the upper Simsima to shales of the basal Umm er Radhuma. Angular
discordance is rarely apparent. Even where the Paleocene shale unit is absent, the
upper Aruma boundary is clearly marked by change of fauna whose elements are
normallysonumerousastoformmajorpartsoftherocksconsidered.Thusevenata
limestonetolimestonecontactitispossibletomapthetopoftheArumagroup.
ThetopoftheArumaGroupcoincideseverywherewiththejunctionoftheMesozoic
andTertiaryeras.
TheonlyexceptiontothiscouldtheoreticallyoccurinareaswherebasinalFiqafacies
extendsintotheMaastrichtian.Itispossiblethat,insuchareas,depositioncouldbe
continuousintothePaleocene.Noexampleofthiscanbequotedatpresent.
The base of the Aruma Group also normally marks an unconformity. In some areas
strong angular discordance can be demonstrated. In others, regional thinning of
underlyingbedsillustratestherelationship,whileinpartsofcentralAbuDhabiasharp
passagefrombasinalCenomanianlimestonetoneriticLaffanshalesisindicativeofthe
condition.
658
The most important hiatus within the Aruma group, again recognized almost
universallyinthearea,isundoubtedlythepostHalulunconformity.Itisprobablynot
present in the continuous longranging basinal Fiqa formation development in Oman
andeasternAbuDhabi,butelsewhere,inthepredominantlyshallowwaterprovinceto
the west its presence is known. The unconformity marks in this area, the contact of
shallowwater carbonates of the Halul with overlying deep water shales of the Fiqa
formation. The feature can be recognized as far north as south Iraq and probably
continuesintoSaudiArabia.
This unconformity divides the Aruma Group into two units. One, late Campanian to
Maastrichtianinage,passeslaterallyintotheoriginalArumaformationwhichoutcrops
inSaudiArabiaasafeatheredgeoftheSimsimaFiqasubgroup.
Theother,olderunit,isslightlymoreconfinedinoccurrence,sinceitdoesnotoutcrop
aroundtheArabianshield.
Twootherunconformitiesoflesserimportancecanberecognizedinsomeareas.The
SimsimaandAradaareseparatedbyabreakwhichinnorthernAbuDhabiappearsto
cutoutthegreaterpartofthelatterformation.
Lastly,anintraformationalbreakoflittlemagnitudecanbeseenoversomestructures
to appear between the Salwa member and the Lepidorbitoides zone of the Simsima
formation.
659
Present:
D. C Kennedy
P.J. Carter
C.A Hopping
M. Hughes-Clarke
I.W.G. Hughes
A. Ford
F. Gosling
A.J. Standring
BP London
A.D.M.A.
P.D.(Oman)
K.S.E.P.L.
S.C.Q.
S.C.Q.
Q.P.C. & A.D.P.C.
A.D.P.C.
This was the first meeting called to discuss the stratigraphy of the Wasia Group, although brief
consideration was given to the subject at the previous meeting at Mina al Fahal.
Minutes of the previous meeting were distributed and read. The last sentence of paragraph two was
disputed by several delegates who had no recollection of agreeing to the proposal that the
Cretaceous should be sub-divided into Upper and Lower only. Rejection of this sentence
necessitated minor modification to several plates in the report The stratigraphy of the Aruma
Group in South east Arabia which was distributed at the meeting. Other copies with the necessary
corrections would be sent direct from Muscat to principal Geologists in head offices.
It was agreed that for formal usage in time stratigraphy two sub-divisions of the Cretaceous should
be recognised in accordance with international usage. An informal subdivision of the Cretaceous
into three time-subdivisions would, however, be maintained because of local convenience and long
usage. The Middle Cretaceous would indicate the Turonian, Cenomanian and Albian stages. It was
reiterated that the most important time stratigraphic unit is the Stage.
The name Wasia Group will be retained and used in the general sense of Owen and Nasr (1958).
The possible Cenomanian age of the Upper Biyadh Formation of the Saudi Arabian outcrop,
suggested by Powers et alia (1966, p. 76) could invalidate the subsurface correlation upon which the
definition of the Wasia Group is based. Supporting evidence for this suggestion is, however, felt to
be insufficient to justify rejection of the established terminology. Should more convincing proof be
produced, the name Wasia Group will be replaced by a more suitable alternative.
All delegates except those of A.D.P.C. wish to apply the name Nahr Umr to the Albian terrigenous
clastic development which forms the basal unit of the Wasia Group, whether it occurs as a
predominantly shale sequence or include a high percentage of sand and silt. A.D.P.C.s case was
what it is desirable to differentiate a potential reservoir lithology from a potential cap-rock
lithology. The fact that the type section of the Nahr Umr contains 60% shale and 40% sand, and
that it is differentiated from the Burgan formation, which is predominantly sand, caused other
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
660
Further consideration needs to be given to the acceptance of Sila as a type section. There is no shelf limestone
equivalent of the Mauddud here. The only area where the greater part of the Mauddud to Mishrif equivalent is in
undifferentiated shelf carbonate is in Oman (e.g. Wadi Miaidin). It may be better to erect a formation in this area and
apply the name where required to other shelf-edge sequences.
661
Q.P.C.
S.C.Q.
A.D.P.C.
1
2
3
A.D.M.A.
1
2
Formalnamesanddescriptionsofdeeperwaterformations.
FurtherstudyoftheupperboundaryoftheWasiaShale
MoreprecisepositionofH.Washitensis fauna.
Reference section to incorporate revision to limits of deeper water and
shallowwatercarbonateunits.
StudyoflowerboundaryofWasiaGroup.
A.D.M.As offer to act as hosts to the next meeting in Abu Dhabi was accepted.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
662
Edited by
C.A.Hopping
P.D.(O)
and
A.J.Standring
A.D.P.C.
663
Page
1
2
5
13
16
17
21
27
29
34
38
Introduction
TheArumaGroup
TheSimsimaFormation
TheQahlahFormation
TheHawasinaSemailGroups
TheMutiFormation
TheFiqaFormation
TheRuilatFormation
TheHalulFormation
TheLaffanFormation
ReferencestoLiterature
Note: The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript.
Listofenclosures
Scale
1 SituationMap
1:2,500,000
2 TableshowingformerandproposedRockStratigraphicNomenclature
Noscale
3 AgerelationshipsoftheRockStratigraphicUnitsoftheArumaGroupinSouthEast
Noscale
Arabia
4A ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupinQ.P.C.wellDukhan55[DK0055],(Q.P.C.
1:1,000
ReferenceSection)
4B ColumnarTypesectionoftheSimsimaFormationinQ.P.C.wellDukhan55[DK0055]
1:1,000
4C ColumnarTypesectionoftheRuilatFormationinQ.P.C.wellDukhan55[DK0055]
1:1,000
4D ColumnarTypesectionoftheLaffanFormationinQ.P.C.wellDukhan55[DK0055]
1:1,000
5 ColumnarsectionoftheArumaGroupinQ.P.C.wellDukhan51[DK0051],(Q.P.C.
1:1,000
ReferenceSection)
6A ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupinS.C.Q.wellIddElShargi1,(S.C.Q.
1:1,000
ReferenceSection)
6B ColumnarTypeSectionoftheHalulFormationinS.C.Q.wellIddElShargi1
1:1,000
7 ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupinA.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4,(A.D.M.A.
1:1,000
Referencesection)
8A ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupinA.D.P.C.wellMurban44,(A.D.P.C.
1:1,000
Referencesection)
8B ColumnarTypeSectionoftheFiqaFormationinA.D.P.C.wellMurban44
1:1,000
9 ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupinP.D.(O)wellSuneinah1,(P.D.(O)Reference
1:1,000
section)
10 ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupinP.D.(O)wellFahud(south)9,(P.D.(O)
1:1,000
Referencesection)
11 ColumnarTypesectionoftheQahlahFormationfromtheQahlatSurfaceSection
1:1,000
12 ColumnarTypesectionoftheMutiFormationfromtheWadiMutiSurfaceSection
1:1,000
13 StratigraphicCorrelation(AlAramahS.S.,Dukhan55[DK0055],51[DK0051],IddEl
1:2,500V
Shargi1,UmmShaif4,Murban44,Suneinah1),
1:500,000H
664
Intercompany liaison work and discussion upon the stratigraphy of the Aruma Group was initiated at
A.D.M.A., (Das Island) in September 1966. Subsequent progress meetings upon the Aruma Group have
beenheldatQ.P.C.,(Dukhan)inJanuary1967andatS.C.Q.,(Doha)inDecember1967.Thesediscussions
upontheArumaGroupwerefinalisedatP.D.(O),(MinaalFahal)inSeptember1968.AtthismeetingC.A.
HoppingofP.D.(O)andA.J.StandringofA.D.P.C.wereaskedtocompileandeditthefollowingreportupon
theresultsofthesediscussionsonbehalfoftheparticipatingcompanies.
The finalisation of the discussions and the subsequent completion of this report upon the Aruma Group
projecthavetakenmuchlongerthanwasanticipatedinSeptember1966.Howeveritmustberealisedthat
firstly the participating geologists from different companies with their diverse backgrounds have had to
reachacommonunderstandingandappreciationofeachothersworkingmethods.Secondlythescopeof
theLiaisonGroupwasgreatlywidenedbytheparticipationofP.D.(O)andK.S.E.P.L.,whoseadditionaldata
hadtobeincorporatedintothisArumaGroupstudyproject.Finallythetransferofstaffalreadyacquainted
withtheworkoftheLiaisonGroupandthefamiliarisationoftheincomingstaffhasledtofurtherinevitable
delays.
The Liaison Group is greatly indebted to the continuity and valuable advice from F. Gosling and A.J.
Standring; whose work forms an important part of this report, and whose efforts have realised the
completionofthisinitialprojectoftheArumaGroup.
AgeneralaccountoftheArumaGroupandeachofthecontainedandassociatedrockstratigraphicunitsis
describedindetailundertheseparatechapterheadingsoftheparticularunitsconcerned.Anaccountof
the authorship, synonymy, type section and reference sections are given for each of the formations
comprising the Aruma Group. The authorship is indicated by the initials found on the last page of each
chapter.
665
TheARUMAGroup
Authors
Cretaceous
(ConiaciantoMaastrichtian)
OwenandNasr,(1958).
Steineke and Bramkamp, (1952) gave the first published reference to the Aruma
Formation, which outcrops northeast of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as a predominantly
limestone unit of Campanian to Maastrichtian age. This formation was formally
describedanddefinedbySteineke,BramkampandSander,(1958),whoshowedthatit
is overlain by the Umm er Radhuma Formation and underlain by the clastics of the
WasiaFormation.TheArumaFormationistheonlypostCenomaniansequenceofthe
UpperCretaceouswhichisexposedinSaudiArabia.
ThenameArumaGroupwasappliedbyOwenandNasr(1958)tothecomplexUpper
CretaceoussequenceintheBasraKuwaitarea.Thispublicationformalisedausage
establishedforaconsiderabletimebygeologistsinmanypartsofArabia.
In the BasraKuwait area, the name was applied to units originally dated as Lower
Senonian to Maastrichtian, bounded by the Umm er Radhuma Formation above and
the Mishrif Formation below. Dunnington et al (1959) suggested the presence of a
majorunconformityseparatinganupper,MaastrichtiantolateCampanianunit,which
was approximately the same age as the type Aruma Formation, from a lower, poorly
datedSenonianunitbelow.
Chatton (1962) records evidence that the Sadi to Khasib Formations of the above
mentionedlowerunitareofTuroniantoearlyCampanianage,thusindicatingthatthe
KhasibMishrifhiatusisnotofsuchgreatmagnitudeaspreviouslybelieved.
The use of the name Aruma Group should be confined strictly to the formations
occurring above the preHartha unconformity, of BasraKuwait, i.e. confined to
formations of late Campanian to Maastrichtian age. Its use to include certain Upper
CretaceousformationsofprelateCampanianageissoestablishedingeologicalwork
inArabiathatitisproposedtoretainthenameinSouthEastArabiaforallformations
ofConiaciantoMaastrichtianagelyingbetweenupperformationsoftheWasiaGroup
andtheUmmerRadhumaFormation,(ref.Enclosure3).
The Aruma Group is universally bounded, above and below, by major regional
unconformities, which clearly define the group, separating it from the overlying and
underlyingmajorrockunits.
TheupperlimitoftheArumaismarkedoverthewholeareabyasharpfaunalchange.
TheuppermostSimsimaFormationcontainstypicalMaastrichtianlargerForaminifera,
whileimmediatelyabove,acompletelydifferentsuiteofPaleocenemicrofossilsoccurs.
Typically the upper contact is marked by a sharp change from the predominantly
carbonates of the upper Simsima to the shales of the basal Umm er Radhuma. An
angulardiscordanceisrarelyapparent.WherethePaleoceneshaleunitisabsent,the
upper Aruma boundary is clearly marked by change of fauna whose elements are
normallysonumerousastoformamajorpartoftherock.Thusevenatalimestoneto
limestonecontact,itispossibletomapthetopoftheArumaGroup.
ThetopoftheArumaGroupcoincideseverywherewiththejunctionoftheMesozoic
andTertiaryeras.Theonly exceptiontothis could theoretically occurinareaswhere
666
QatarOnshore
QatarOffshore
basinal Fiqa facies extends into the Maastrichtian. It is possible that, in such areas,
depositioncouldbecontinuousintothePaleocene.Noexampleofthiscanbequoted
atpresent.
The most important hiatus within the Aruma Group, again recognised almost
universallyintheareas,isundoubtedlythepostHalulunconformity.Itisprobablynot
present in the continuous longranging basinal Fiqa formation development in Oman
andeasternAbuDhabi,wheretheHalulFormationisnotdeveloped,butelsewhere,in
thepredominantlyshallowwaterprovincetothewest,itspresenceisknown.Inthis
areatheunconformitymarksthecontactofshallowwatercarbonatesoftheHalulwith
overlyingdeepwatershalesoftheFiqaFormation.Thefeaturecanberecognisedasfar
northassouthIraqandprobablycontinuesintoSaudiArabia.
This unconformity divides the Aruma Group into two units. One, Campanian to
Maastrichtian in age, passes laterally into the original Aruma formation, which
outcrops in Saudi Arabia as a feather edge of the Simsima and Fiqa Formations. The
otherolder unit is slightly more geographicallyrestrictedand is notfound in outcrop
aroundtheArabianshield.
Twootherunconformitiesoflesserimportancecanberecognisedinsomeareas.The
SimsimaandFiqaFormationsareseparatedbyahiatus,whichinnorthernAbuDhabi,
appears to cutout the greater part of the Fiqa. In SouthEast Abu Dhabi there is a
markedthinningoftheSimsimaFormation,whichisabsentoveralargeareaofOman.
Thefollowingformerandproposedrockstratigraphicnamesforthedifferentunitsof
theArumaGrouparealsoshownschematicallyonEnclosure2.
IntheQataronshoreareaQ.P.C.havesubdividedtheArumaGroupintothefollowing
rockstratigraphicalunits:
SimsimaFormation
=
TheSimsimaFormation
=
(TheFiqaFm.)Dk51[DK0051]
Ruilat
=
TheRuilatFormation
Laffan
=
TheHalulFormation
=
TheLaffanFormation
IntheQataroffshoreareaS.C.Q.havesubdividedtheArumaGroupintothefollowing
rockstratigraphicalunits
Simsima
=
TheSimsimaFormation
Shargi
=
TheFiqaFormation
Halul
=
TheHalulFormation
Laffan
=
TheLaffanFormation
667
AbuDhabi
Onshore
Oman
In the Abu Dhabi offshore area A.D.M.A. have subdivided the Aruma Group into the
followingrockstratigraphicalunits:
ArumaUpperLimestone
=
TheSimsimaFormation
ArumaMarl
=
TheFiqaFormation
ArumaLowerlimestone
=
TheHalulFormation
Laffan
=
TheLaffanFormation
In the Abu Dhabi onshore area A.D.P.C. have subdivided the Aruma Group into the
followingrockstratigraphicalunits:
UpperChalk =
TheSimsimaFormation
UpperShale =
TheFiqaFormation
MiddleChalk =
TheHalulFormation
MiddleShale =
TheLaffanFormation
In the Oman P.D.(O) have subdivided the Aruma Group into the following rock
stratigraphicalunits:
ArumaLimestoneFormation =
TheSimsimaFormation
ArumaShaleFormation
=
TheFiqaFormation
However, in the region of the Oman Mountains a further subdivision of the Aruma
Grouphasbeenmadeasfollows:
ArumaLimestoneFormation
=
TheSimsimaFormation
TheSaihalMalehFormation
=
TheQahlahFormation
(HawasinaSemailGroup)
=
TheHawasinaSemailUnit
TheMutiFormation
=
TheMutiFormation
ArumaShaleFormation
=
TheFiqaFormation
668
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered here to be synonymous with
theSimsimaFormation:
TheArumaFormation,Steinekeetal.,(1952) ;
TheTayaratLimestoneFormation,Owen&Nasr,(1958);
The Upper Limestone, Cobb & Padiyath in an A.D.M.A. unpublished report,
(1963);
TheUpperChalkofFieldinanA.D.P.C.unpublishedreport,(1962);
The Aruma Limestone Formation (in part), of Marie in a P.D. (O) unpublished
report,(1966);
The Abad Formation (in part), and The Gahwan Formation of Horstink in a
P.D.(O)unpublishedreport,1967).
The Aruma Limestone (in part), Tschopp, (1968) [a hand written note in our
originalhas1968strikethroughandreplacedby19672]
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.Enclosure4A)
Sugden had originally chosen the interval in the Q.P.C. well Dukhan28 [DK0028] as
representingthetypesectionoftheSimsimaFormation.However,nogammarayor
neutronlogsareavailablefromthiswell.ThusthewellDk55[DK0055]whichisthe
nearest well to Dk28 [DK0028] with good quality gammaray neutron logs has now
beenselectedasthetypesection. Theformationtakes its namefromthelocalityof
SimsimaNorthEastQatar.
Location
Q.P.C. well Dukhan (Dk)55 [DK0055]; lat. 25240.09N, long. 504545.75E. The
formationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsof1,158and1,646.
Thickness
486feet(drilledthickness).[Note:16461158=488]
TheSIMSIMAFormation
669
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom.
#
Ft
1 58 Limestone;mediumgrey,slightlychalky,limepackstone,becomingslightly
argillaceous towards the base. Particles consist of larger and smaller
Foraminifera, Ostracoda, coral, echinoid and gastropod fragments with
dasycladaceanAlgae.
2
9 Shale; greenishgrey, soft, calcareous shale with some pyrite and mainly
smallerForaminiferaandOstracoda.
3 82 Limestone; brownishgrey, partly dolomitized, porous lime Wackestone.
ParticlesconsistoflargerandsmallerForaminiferaandbrokenfossils,e.g.
Rudists,echinoids,etc.
4 28 Limestone; light grey, slightly chalky lime Packstone. Particles consist of
mainly larger Foraminifera with smaller Foraminifera and broken rudists
etc.
5 20 Limestone;brownishgrey,patchilydolomitized,porouslimeWackestone.
ParticlesconsistoflargerandsmallerForaminiferaandbrokenfossils,e.g.
rudists,echinoids,etc.
6 15 Limestone; light grey, slightly chalky lime Packstone. Particles consist of
mainly larger Foraminifera with smaller Foraminifera and broken rudists
etc.
7 145 Limestone;brownishgrey,partlydolomitized,porouslimeWackestone.A
fewroundedquartzgrainsarefoundinthelowerpartoftheunit.Particles
consistof largerand smaller Foraminifera and broken fossils,e.g.rudists,
etc.
8 29 Limestone; light to medium grey, partly argillaceous and very slightly
chalky, lime Packstone. Particles consist of larger and smaller
Foraminifera,brokenfossils,e.g.rudists,echinoids,etc.
9 66 Limestone; medium brown, porous, dolomitized Wackestone. Particles
which are not dolomitized consist of mainly broken fossils, e.g.
lamellibranchs,etc.
10 34 Limestone; light grey, partly chalky and in the upper part slightly
dolomitized lime Packstone. Particles consist of broken fossils and larger
andsmallerForaminifera.
486 TotalThickness
Sugdensproposedsubdivisionofanupper,middleandalowerSimsimaFormationin
Dukhan28 [DK0028] can also be recognized in the type section in Dukhan55 [DK
0055],i.e.
Units
1&2
UpperSimsimaFormation
3to8
MiddleSimsimaFormation
9&10
LowerSimsimaFormation
This subdivision can be clearly recognized also on the gamma ray neutron log, (ref.
Enclosure 4A). The upper limit is considered to be sufficiently distinctive and
geographically extensive to merit the status of a member, the Salwa Member. Thus
theSimsimaFormationatpresentcanbesubdividedintoalowerJananmemberand
an upper Salwa Member. The Salwa Member takes its name from the Gulf of Salwa
670
ThedetailsofthefaunaandtheirdistributionareshownonEnclosure4A.Athreefold
Palaeontology
palaeontologicalsubdivisioncanbeobservedfromthedifferentrangesofthesefauna.
Theloftusiaunit,characterisedbytheoftendominantoccurrenceofthetypeLoftusia
sp(p).(L.minorL.morganiagroup).ThefaunalassemblagealsocontainsElphidiella
multicissurata, Fissoelphidium operculiferum, Omphalocyclus macroporus and
abundantspecimensofdasycladaceanAlgae.
TheLepidorbitoidesunit,characterisedbythedominantoccurrenceofLepidorbitoides
sp(p).(L.socialisgroup)withSiderolitescalcitrapoides,Omphalocyclusmacroporusand
rudists.
Theabovethreefaunalunitsarecoincidentwiththediscussedlithologicalunits,thus
these fossil occurrences would appear to be controlled to some degree by the
environmentalconditionsofdeposition.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheSimsimaFormation.
Age
UpperCretaceous(Maastrichtian).
ThefollowingforaminiferahavebeenacceptedasidentifyingtheMaastrichtianStage;
Omphalocyclus macroporus, Siderolites calcitrapoide, Lepidorbitoides socialis and
Loftusiasp(p).
Boundaries
The stratigraphical limits of the Simsima Formation in the type section have been
demarcateduponthefollowingcriteria:
It is of further interest to note that the contact of the Simsima and the Umm er
Radhuma Formations here marks the boundary between the Cretaceous
(Maastrichtian) and the Tertiary (Palaeocene). The abrupt and almost total faunal
changewouldappeartobeindicativeofanhiatusindeposition.
Underlying The white, chalky, slightly dolomitized, lime Wackestones containing abundant larger
Foraminifera and bioclastic debris of the lowermost Simsima are underlain by white,
recrystallized, dolomitized, lime Wackestones of the Ruilat Formation. These
characteristic recrystallized Wackestones containing abundant spicules form a quite
sharplithologicalcontrastwiththeoverlyingbeds.Nevertheless,theprecisecontactis
ratherobscureandindeeditismostprobablethatthecontactisconformable
671
The above type section is from the Q.P.C. Dukhan field, which is geographically
considered as representative of onshore Qatar. The following reference sections are
alsoprovidedfromoffshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabi,onshoreAbuDhabiandOman.
OffshoreQatar S.C.QwellIddelShargi1;lat.252332.9N,long.522155.93E;
Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepths2,545and3,042,showingathicknessof
497drilled(ref.Enclosure6A).
Dolomiteanddolomiticlimestone,finelycrystallinetosucrosicwithanumberofthin
anhydrite bands between 2,740' and 2,840' grading into soft, lime chalky, lime
WackestonesandMudstonesat2,950'.
Duetotherecrystallization,theupperpartgenerallycontainsonlyanindeterminate
fauna or is barren. In IS2 a core near to the top of the Simsima contained a large
specimenof Loftusiamorgani and rare specimens ofGlobotruncansp(p). The lower
chalkypartcontainsLepidorbitoidessocialis.
Offshore A.D.M.A. well Umm Shaif4; Lat. 251200N, Long. 531048E. The formation is
AbuDhabi betweenthedrilleddepths3,080and3,695,showingathicknessof615drilled,(Ref.
Enclosure7).
TheSimsimaFormationispoorlyknowninthisconcessionareabecauseitisnormally
drilledwithoutreturns.Thebestlithologicalandpalaeontologicalsectionisprovidedby
US.1.,wherespotcoresweretakenatapproximately100'intervals.US.1,however,has
no gamma ray neutron log, thus the adjacent well US.4 has been selected as a
referencesection.ThereisagoodelectriclogcorrelationbetweenUS.1andUS.4.
The Simsima Formation has been subdivided by A.D.M.A. into three units. These are
really electric log units which may not entirely correspond to the subdivisions of the
Simsimausedinotherareas.Themiddleunitismarkedlymorevariedintheelectriclog
readingsthantheupperandlowerunits.
Upperunit
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4,3080to3,210.
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core10,2,962to2,966.
Insomewells,thisunitcontainsabasalshalewhichiscorrelativewiththebasalshale
oftheLoftusiabeds(SalwaMember)ofotherareas.Palaeontologicalconfirmationof
thiscorrelationislacking,andconsequently,theunitisundated.
MiddleUnit
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4,3,210to3,525
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core11,3,071to3,073.
Dolomite,veryfinetocoarsegrained,buff,withanhydritenodules.
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core12,3,200'to3,206'.
672
LowerUnit
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4,3,525to3,695.
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core13,3,320to3,327.
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core14,3,442to3,465.
Both cores show limestone, buff, friable. These are bioclastic Wackestone without
derived fragments. The upper beds are dominated by Lepidorbitoides socialis. Below
3,451' no larger Foraminifera are found. There is a transition from the neritic larger
foraminiferal fauna to the pelagic Globotruncana fauna. Recorded fossils include
Lepidorbitoides socialis, Pseudosiderolites, Archaecyclus cf. midorientalis, Rotalia cf.
trochidiformis, Marssonella, Heterohelix, Globotruncana, Rugoglobigerina, Textularia,
Bigenerina, Biglobigerinella, Peneropolis, Praebulimina, Baridia, Brachycythere,
Cytherella, Lima (Promantellum), Mesophyllum, Piarothyris, echinoid fragments and
molluscanfragments.
The overlying Umm er Radhuma formation has a general similarity to the upper two
unitsoftheSimsimabutitsbasalbedisarerognisableargillaceousdolomiticlimestone
withtheEarlyPalaeocenefossilassemblageLockhartiahaimei,L.diversa,L.prehaimei,
Daviesinakhatiyahi,Taberinadaviesi,Rotaliatrochidiformis,Globigerinatriloculinoides,
Turborotaliapseudobulloides(UmmShaifwell1,core9,2,841'to2,859').
TheuppermostbedsoftheunderlyingFiqaFormationarechalkylimestonewithlittle
todifferentiatethemfromthelowerunitoftheSimsima.However,thetopoftheFiqa
istightandthissuggestsabreakinsedimentationatthislevel.Thepossibilitythatthe
upper partof the Fiqa is of the same age asthe lowest partof theSimsima ofother
areascannotbeprecluded.
Dolomite and anhydrite are not mentioned in the type description of the Simsima,
which consists of limestone with subordinate shale. A.D.M.A. believe that in Umm
Shaif,theuseofmembernames is unwise, but findit usefultodistinguishthe lower
unitofalmostpureorbitoidallimestonefromtheoverlyingdolomites.
Onshore
AbuDhabi
A.D.P.C. well Murban No. 44, lat. 231622N, long. 532035E. The formation is
between the drilled depths 4,349 and5,422, showing a thickness of 1,073 drilled,
(Ref.Enclosure8A).
Lithology Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
3 Limestone;chalky,foraminiferal,skeletaldebrisWackestone132.
673
Palaeontology The following faunal assemblages have been determined within the
aboveunits:
Remarks Unit1comprisestheLoftusiaZonewhichistheequivalentofSugdens
Upper Simsima of Qatar, now named the Salwa member. This member
wascoredinanearbywell,andexaminationofthesecoreshasassistedin
descriptionofthecuttingssamplesfromthereferencesection.
InthicksectionsoftheSimsima,suchasthatdescribedabove,theSalwa
member appears to pass down without an obvious break into the
underlyingLepidorbitoidesZone(Unit2).Thelatternormallyformsthe
greaterpartoftheformation,beingtypifiedbylimepackstonesinwhich
theparticlesarealmostwhollyLepidorbitoidessocialis.
Unit3isthehighestofthreelimestonestypifiedbyafaunacomposedof
Pseudodedomia,DicyclinaandArchaecyclus.Othersformthebaseofthe
AradaandgreaterpartoftheHalulFormation
WiththeexceptionofthecommonabsenceoftheP.globularisbasalunit,
thezonationoftheSimsimaformationisremarkablyconstantovermost
ofonshoreAbuDhabi,whetherinverythinorverythickdevelopments.
Attenuationoftheformationnormallybringsabouttheclearcutnature
oftheminornonsequencebetweentheSalwamember(Unit1)andthe
underlyingJananMember(Units2&3).
TheSimsimaisoverlaininthereferencesection,asinallofAbuDhabi,by
the basal shale unit of the Umm er Radhuma formation. No angular
discordanceisseen,butthesharpfaunalchangeacrosstheboundaryis
indicativeofanhiatus.
674
Oman
P.D.(O)wellSuneinah1;lat.234133N,long.555315E.Theformationisbetween
the drilled depths of 6,470 and 6,920, showing a thickness of 450 drilled, (Ref.
Enclosure9).
Thefollowingdetailedlithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
20 Limestone;white,chalky,friable,limeMudstoneWackestone;
2
30 Limestone; white, hard, partly cemented by sparry calcite, skeletal,
pelletoidal,limePackstoneWackestone;
3
20 Limestone;white,chalky,friable,limeMudstoneWackestone
4
30 Limestone; white, hard, partly cemented by sparry calcite, skeletal,
pelletoidal,limePackstoneWackestone
5
133 Dolomite;cream,coarse,porous,sucrosicdolomite,becomingdarkgrey,
pyriticandargillaceousatthebase;
6
27 Limestone; white, chalky, friable, partly dolomitized, lime Mudstone
Wackestone;
7
22 Dolomite;cream,coarse,porous,sucrosicdolomite;
8
88 Limestone; white, chalky, friable, partly dolomitized, lime Mudstone
Wackestone;
9
40 Limestone;grey,hard,argillaceous,dolomitized;skeletal,pelletoidal,lime
WackestonePackstone;
10
20 Limestone;argillaceous,dolomitic,foraminiferal,limePackstone.
Totalthickness:450feet
These detailed lithological units can be grouped together into the following three
majorunits:
Units1to4
?SalwaMember
Units5to7
JananMember
Units8to10
AfaunalassemblagecontainingSiderolitescalcitrapoides,Omphalocyclusmacroporus,
Orbitoides spp., Lepidorbitoides sp., with rare occurrences of Loftusia sp., would
indicateaMaastrichtianage.
TheSimsimaisoverlainbythePaleoceneUmmerRadhumaFormation.Thecontactis
takenatthejunctionofthewhite,chalky,limeMudstoneWackestoneoftheSimsima
with the dark grey, calcareous basal shale and overlying cream, hard, skeletal,
pelletoidal, lime PackstoneGrainstone of the Umm er Radhuma. This contact is
unconformable.
TheSimsimaisunderlainbytheHawasinaGroup.Thecontactistakenatthejunction
of the hard, grey argillaceous, dolomitic Packstones of the Simsima with the grey
green, dolomite cemented, glauconitic pyritic, quartzitic sandstones and cherty
limestonesoftheHawasinagroup.Thecontactisunconformable.
TheabovewellsectionoftheSimsimaFormationinSuneinah1isfairlytypicalofthe
formationwhichcanbeseenandstudiedatoutcropsalongthenorthwesternfoorhills
of the Oman Mountains. Considerable thicknesses of the Simsima Formation have
been observed, e.g. at Jebel Lahqin and Dhank area, north of Ibri, it is some 1,500
675
thick. The Simsima in this area unconformably overlies the Hawasina and is overlain
directlybythelimestonesoftheUmmerRadhumaFormation.Intheabsenceofthe
Shalemarkerthecontactisnotsoeasilydiscernible.
On the northeastern Batinah Coast edge of the Oman Mountains the Simsima
conformably overlies the Maastrichtian Qahlah Formation, and is unconformably
overlainbylimestonesofEoceneage.OnthesoutheastedgeoftheOmanMountains
intheSurareatheSimsimaFormationhasbeenlocallytermedbyP.D.(O)theAbad
and Gahwan Formations. In this area the limestones of the Simsima are
unconformably underlain by the Hawasina or conformably underlain by the Qahlah
Formations.IntheSurareatheSimsimaisoverlainbylimestonesofthePaleoceneand
thecontactisnotdistinctive.
Distribution:
Remarks:
TheoccurrenceofshaleswithintheSalwaMemberandtheircontactwith
thebasalshaleoftheUmmerRadhumaFormationcausessomedifficulty
in the precise demarcation of the formational boundary. However, in
southeastOman,thisshalebreakisnotpresentandthecontactbetween
the Simsima and the overlying Paleocene carbonates appear to be
conformable. Indeed in the Sur area the only observable difference
between the Maastrichtian and Paleocene limestones is the faunal
content.
676
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
QahlahFormation;
TheWatayiaConglomeratesofWetzelinaP.D.(O)unpublishedreport,(1949);
The Qahlah Clastic Formation and The Quryat Clastic Formation (in part) of
HorstinkinaP.D.(O)unpublishedreport,(1967).
TypelocalityandSection(Ref.Enclosure11).
ThetypesectionoftheQahlahFormationwasselectedbyHorstingNorthofSurnear
QalhatinSouthEastOman.ThetypesectionofHorstinkhasbeenretained.
Location
SurfacesectionatQalhatNorthofSur,SouthEastOman.
Lat2243N,long.5920E.
Thickness
140metres(theoriginaldocumentdoesindeedmentionmetresinsteadoffeet)
Coarse polymict conglomerates with mainly Semail ophiolite and Hawasina chert
Lithology
components in an argillaceous, sandysilty matrix alternating with lithic sandstones,
shales and marls. The red and green sandstones are fine coarse, poorly sorted with
subangular, subrounded chert and metamorphic grains, poorly cemented, probably
duetoweathering.Interbeddedwiththeseconglomeratesisa1030m.thickbasaltic
lavasillwithlocallydevelopedpillowstructures.
Palaeontology
Inthetypesectionfossilshavebeenobtainedfromthebakedargillaceouslimestones
below the sill. Specimens of Loftusia sp. and some Lamellibranchs have been
determinedindicatingMaastrichtianageforthisformation.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheQahlah Formation.
Age
UpperCretaceous(Maastrichtian)
Boundaries
Overlying In the type section the Qahlah Formation is apparently conformably overlain by
limestonesoftheSimsimaFormation.
Underlying In the type section and the majority of other localities the Qahlah Formation is
unconformablyunderlainbytheSemailOphiolitesortheHawasinaCherts.
TheQahlahFormation
677
The Qahlah Formation can be seen at outcrop localities along the entire eastern,
coastaledgeoftheOmanMountainrangefromtheSurareainthesoutheasttothe
Soharareainthenorthwest.
FurthernorthofthetypelocalityofQalhat,nearQuryat,Horstink(1967)alsodescribed
aunitcomprisingredbrown,finetocoarsegrained,poorlysortedargillaceous,calcite
cemented, ferruginous lithic sandstones; polymict conglomerates comprising coarse,
poorly sorted pebbles and boulders of Mylas Dolomites and Hawasina Cherts in an
argillaceoussandymatrixwithintercalationsofmarly,argillaceouslimemudstonesand
sandstones. This unit overlies the Hawasina radiolarites or carbonates of a Lower
CretaceousageandisoverlainbylimestonesofaPaleoceneage.Horstinknamedthis
unittheQuryatFormation.Thisundatedclasticsequencecanbecorrelatedalongthe
northernSaihHatattoBandarJissa,southofMuscatandnorthtoMinaalFahalandup
to Fangia. The Quryat Formation in part at least is synonymous to the Qahlah
Formation.
The Watayia Conglomerates of ?Maastrichtian age from Wadi Adi (Aday), south of
Mina al Fahal have been described by Wetzel, (1949). This unit, comprising
conglomerates of Hawasina and Semail and soft sandy marls and limestones
unconformablyoverlyingtheHawasina,canbeincludedwithintheQahlahFormation.
At Wadi Humth near Wadi Hawasina, Wessels Boer, (1968) has described beds of
conglomerates comprising mainly of Hawasina pebbles with yellow marls and
intercalations of skeletal limeWackestones. These beds overlie the Hawasina and
underlielimestonesofMiddleEoceneageandarereferabletotheQahlahFormation.
These beds can be traced northwards to Wadi Jizza, where a Maastrichtian age
determinationhasalsobeenobtainedfromtheintercalatedmarls.
Remarks
The rockstratigraphical units which have been discussed above, the Qahlah Clastic
Formation, the Quryat Clastic Formation, the Watayia Conglomerates were originally
described,definedandnamedbydifferentgeologistsatdifferentlocalities.However,
alltheseunitshavethefollowingfeaturesincommon.
TheyareunconformableupontheSemail/Hawasinaorolderformations.Theyareall
basically clastic units comprising the same lithology and depositional environment of
coastal, proximal fluviomarine conglomerates, coastal barrier sands, tidal flat or
lagoonal marls and shallow water limestones. They have a common stratigraphical
678
position and probable age of Maastrichtian and are overlain by the more massive,
shallowwaterlimestonesofMaastrichtianorPaleoceneage.Thustheseunitsarenow
consideredtoformasingleregionalmappableformationwhichhasbeentermedthe
QahlahFormation.
Thereislittledoubt,however,thatthisoccurrenceoftheabovetypeofconglomeratic
"boulderbed"isacommonandrepetitivephenomenathroughthelateCretaceousand
TertiarytimealongtheBatinahcoast.
679
The Hawasina Group is composed of lithoclastic limestones, turbiditic lime grainstones and radiolarian
cherts.Thesedepositsarebelievedtohavebeendepositedinageosynclinaltroughtothenortheastofthe
presentOmanMountainsduringMiddlePermiantoUpperCretaceous(Cenomanian)time.
TheSemailOphiolitesconsistofserpentinisedperidotiteswhichwereintrudedbygabbrosandhyperbyssal
igneousrocks.ThisintrusionisconsideredtohaveoccurredduringthetimeintervalofPermian(orolder)
to Upper Cretaceous (? Coniacian). The magma has penetrated those deposits and has been extruded,
formingpillowlavasontheoceanfloor.
InlateUpperCretaceous(CampaniantoearlyMaastrichtian)timetheHawasinadepositswhereemplaced,
together with the Semail Ophiolites, in a position overlying the Muti and Fiqa Formations of the Aruma
Group. Where these formations are absent due to tectonics, the HawasinaSemail then overlies the
CenomanianshallowwaterlimestonesoftheWasiaGroup.
TheHawasinaSemailGroups
680
TheMutiFormation
Author
Synonymy
ThefollowingrockstratigraphicalunitsareconsideredtobesynonymouswiththeMuti
Formation:
TheQumayraFormationandTheRaisFormationofHaremboure&Horstinkin
aP.D.(O)unpublishedreport,(1967);
TheRiyamahChertFormationofBoef&MoodyStuartinaK.S.E.P.L.unpublished
report,(1968);
TheLakshaifaBedsofHudsonetal.(1953);
TheFukhairibedsofHudsonetal.(1953).
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.Enclosure12).
ThetypesectionoftheMutiFormationwasestablishedbyHaremboure&Horstinkina
surface section at the eponymous type locality of Wadi Muti, north of Izki. The
originally defined Muti Formation was included within the Hawasina Group. The
uppermostpartofthisformerMutiFormationisnowconsideredasadistinctiveunit,
theGuwayzaSandstoneandonlythispartoftheMutiFormationisnowincludedwith
theoverlyingHawasinaGroup.
Thus the Muti Formation is now redefined at the type locality as those deposits
overlyingtheWasiaGroupandunderlyingtheHawasinaGroup.
Location
Surface section at Wadi Muti, south east flank of Jebel Akhdar, 2 kms west of Muti
villageintheSemailGapnorthofIzki;lat.23N;long.5746E.
Thickness
+/1,050
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom;
#
Ft
1
740 Indurated marls and varying calcareous shales generally with content of
finequartzsiltandmostlysomewhatsilicified,withoneortwolensesof
limestoneconglomerates
2
310 Limestone conglomerates and coarse lithoclastic packgrainstones, the
matrix generally consisting of argillaceous limemudstone with some
argillaceousmudstoneandmarlinterbedding.
TotalThickness:1,050feet
Palaeontology
TheonlyindigenousfossilsfoundinthetypesectionareundiagnosticRadiolariainthe
marlsandshales.Thelimestoneconglomeratesyieldreworkedfossilsoftwodistinct
suites:
1
Cretaceous (Albian to Cenomanian), se.g. Praealveolina spp. Orbitolina
spp. in limestones often with rudist debris and apparently derived from
thelimestonesoftheunderlyingWasiaGroup.
2
Permian,e.g.anabundantandvariedPermianfossilassemblageofcorals,
algae, brachiopods, bryozoans, fusulinid foraminifers, etc. in
recrystallized,hard,whitelimestonesofamarkedlydifferentlithological
aspectthantheabovementionedWasiapebbles.
681
Palynology
Age
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheMutiFormation
An age determination from samples collected at the type locality has not been
possible.However,anagehasbeendeterminedatotherlocalities.
Boundaries
The stratigraphical limits of the Muti Formation in the type section have been
demarcateduponthefollowingcriteria.
Overlying InthetypesectionandinthemajorityofotherlocalitiestheMutiFormationisoverlain
bytheGuwayzaFormationoftheHawasinaGroup.Theexactlocationofthecontactin
surfacesectionsisdifficultbecauseofthesoftweatheringnatureofthebasalGuwayza
and argillaceous Muti. However the contact is believed to be a major thrust as the
Guwayza Formation is of Jurassic age. The basal unit of the Guwayza Formation, a
calcareous quartz sandstone was formerly included in the original definition of the
MutiFormation.
Underlying In the type section and in the majority of other localities the Muti Formation is
underlainbylimestonesoftheWasiaGroup.Thecontactisnotseentobeangularbut
isinfactadisconformitywithanhiatuswhichcanbeseentocutdownstratigraphically
insuchawaythattheMutiFormationeventuallyrestsonPermoTriassicdolomitesin
thenorthernSaihalMaleh,southofMuscat.
TheMutiFormationoutcropswithintheOmanMountainrangefromtheDibbaareato
Distribution
theareawestofSur.ItisfoundinthesubsurfaceinHamratDuru1,Suneinah1and
probablyinAfar1andtheJuweizawells.
Outside the type section the basic lithological characterof theMuti Formation is the
indurated marlshale type as seen in unit 1 of the type section. The limestone
conglomeratesarelaterallydiscontinuousandmayconstitutefromverylittletoalmost
alloftheintervalsassignedtotheMuti.Theconglomeratesmayoccurthroughoutthe
unitandnotnecessarilyonlyatthebaseasinthetypesection.Theseconglomerates
havebeennamedinformallyastheHamraconglomeratesinP.D.(O)internalreports.
The basic lithology may range from a pure shale analogous to that in the Fiqa
FormationtoaveryfineargillaceousquartzsiltasseeninHamratDuru1
Other surface sections also contain similar reworked fossils as found in the type
section. However, samples of the marlshale facies have yielded Upper Cretaceous
planktonic Foraminifera. Isolated forms such as Globotruncana carinata,
Globotruncana fornicata and Globotruncana elevata have proven a Santonian and
CampanianagetotheMutiFormation.ThinsectiondeterminationsofGlobotruncana
schneegansi,Globotruncanasigali,GlobotruncanarenziandGlobotruncanaimbricata
wouldfurtherindicateaConiacianage,althoughalateTuronianagecannotbeentirely
eliminated.
Thus the age of the Muti Formation has been determined as Upper Cretaceous,
Coniacian to Campanian.However,a late Turonianageat the base cannot as yetbe
excluded. Further, if the deposits in the Juweiza1 well are included within the Muti
Formation then the upper age limit must be extended into the Maastrichtian on the
recordedplanktonicForaminifera.
The Muti may be overlain tectonically by other units of the Hawasina Group. The
682
Remarks
Muti can also overlie formations from within the Wasia Group down to the Permo
Triassicandthe material comprisingtheconglomeratesvaries accordingly. However,
theonlycommonmaterialinallsectionsisthewhiterecrystallizedPermianlimestone.
AshaleandconglomerateunitverysimilartotheMutiisfoundintheoverthrustslices
comprising the Hawasina Group. This unit rests on a basinal turbiditic unit of
Cenomanianage,theNayidFormation,butithasnotasyetyieldedproofofanUpper
Cretaceous age. It is reasonable, however, to regardthis unit as theMuti Formation
deposited in the basin in which the Hawasina sediments were laid down and
subsequentlythrustwiththem.
TheMutiFormationembracesthefinalandinpartsynorogenicdepositsoftheOman
MountainorogenicbeltwhichreacheditsculminationinthelateCretaceous.
Themajorityoftheexposedsections,includingthetypesection,showthattheMutiis
essentiallyafaciesdepositedonthetectonicallyactivesideofadeepintracontinental
lateCretaceousbasinactingasaforedeeptothelineoforogenyanduplift.Distally
fromthe axis ofthe orogeny,i.e.towards theRub alKhali,thecontentof the debris
dumpedfromtherisingorogeniclinedecreasesandtheMutipasseslaterallyintothe
basinalFiqaFormation.
In the northern Oman Mountains, near Jebel Ghashnah, the Qumayrah Formation is
thoughttobeamoresiliceouslateralequivalentoftheMutiFormation.IntheDibba
areatheRiyamahChertisconsideredtocontinuethistrendofincreasingcertification.
BoththeQumayrah and Riyamah Formationscontain rolled andbroken fragmentsof
Orbitolina,placingamaximum limitontheirages, butthreisnodirectproofoftheir
ageequivalencetotheMutiFormation.
IntheHagilwindowoftheRuusalJibal,Hudsonetal.(1953)describedtwoformations,
the Fukhairi Beds and the Lakshaifa Beds. The Fukhairi Beds, marls with
conglomerates,yieldedafaunaofSenonian,probablyCampanian,age.TheLakshaifa
Bedsaresimilarinfacies,butHudsonetal.(1953)consideredthattheywereAptian
AlbianinageowingtothepresenceofOrbitolina.However,itisnowthoughtthatthe
Orbitolinas are all derived in conglomerates containing Upper Cretaceous pelagics in
the matrix, and that the Fukhairi and Lakshaifa Beds are part of the same sequence.
OnthebasisoflithologicalsimilaritythenamesFukhairiandLakshaifaareabandoned
andthesequenceassignedtotheMutiFormation.
The Riyamah Formation and outcrops of a Muti facies on the north east of the Jebel
Akhdarmassifareinvolvedinthelowanglethrustsheetswhichemplacethetectonic
units of the Hawasina Group. An Upper Cretaceous age is not proven but field
relationships would suggest that these deposits may represent the Muti Formation
depositedinthetroughinwhichtheHawasinabasinalsedimentswerealsodeposited
and later thrusted with the Hawasina. Some lavas may be associated and also the
chertifiedmudstonesmixedwithpillowlavasattheeasternendofWadijizzicontaina
?TuroniantoConiacianplanktonicforaminiferalassemblage,i.e.withinthetimespan
oftheMutideposition.IgneousfragmentsarealsofoundintheMutiFormationofthe
HagilWindow.
In the outcrop belt of the Oman Mountains, deposition of the Muti ceased with the
overthrusting of the various units of the Hawasina Group. This paroxysm may be
dated as between the youngest Muti observed (within the Campanian) and the
683
684
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
FiqaFormation
TheShargiFormationofHughesClarkeinaS.C.Q.unpublishedreport,(1963)and
Dominguez,(1965);
TheArumaMarlofCobb&PadiyathinanA.D.M.A.unpublishedreport(1963);
TheUpperShaleofFieldinaA.D.P.C.unpublishedreport,(1963);
TheArumaShaleFormationofMarieinaP.D.(O)unpublishedreport,(1966).
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSectionFig.8b)
Theformationtakesitsnamefromaplacesome9kmsnorthofthetypelocality
Location
A.D.P.C. well Murban (Mb)44; lat. 231022N, long. 572035E; R.T.K.B. elevation
438est.Theformationisbetweenthedrilleddepthsof5,422and6,571.
Thickness
1,149(drilledthickness).
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
128 Marl and Limestone; light grey, very chalky marl grading into a white,
chalk with locally slightly silty, rare shale partings. Interbeds of chalky,
foraminiferal,limeWackestones,containingfineskeletaldebris.
2
137 Shale and limestones; dark greygreen, calcareous shale and light grey,
chalky marl grading into a white chalk. Thin interbeds of buff detrital,
chalky, foraminiferal lime Wackestone containing shell debris and light
greyargillaceouslimestones.
3
161 Limestone; light buff slightly argillaceous chalky lime Wackestone,
particlesconsistingofsmallerForaminiferaandshellandechinoiddebris.
4
60 Shaleandmarl;darkgrey,slightlycalcareousshalewithgreychalkymarl.
5
116 Limestone and shale; pale buff, chalky to locally argillaceous limestone
interbeddedwithdarkgrey,sometimescalcareousshale,whichtendsto
predominateinthelowest40.
6
178 Limestone and shale; pale grey to buff, slightly chalky foraminiferal
Wackestone, particles consisting of shell debris, interbeds of greygreen
shale.
7
100 Shale and Limestone; dark greygreen shale grading into grey marl with
thininterbeddedlightgreybuff,finelimeWackestone.
8
233 Shale;darkgreygreenshale.
9
36 Limestone;lightgrey,argillaceous,locallypyriticlimestone.
Totalthickness1,149feet
TheFiqaasheredefinedindicatestwodistinctmembers:
1. The arada Member (Units 1 to 7 of the type section) occurs over most of Abu
Dhabi.TheAradaMembertakesitsnamefromalocalitysome33kmsS.S.E.ofthe
wellMurban44.
TheFIQAFormation
685
Palaeontology
Inunit1
Monolepidorbisdouvillei,Rotaliaaff.trochidiformis,Aff.Archaecyclussp.
Inunit2
M.douvillei,R. aff.trochidiformis,Aff.Archaecyclussp.,Ataxophagmium
sp.
Inunit3
M. douvillei, R. aff. Trochidiformis, Rotalia sp., Aff. Archaecyclus sp.,
Bryozoaandechinoiddebris.
In units 4 M.douvillei,R.aff.trochidiformis
&5
Inunit6
M. douvillei, M. sanctae pelagiae, rare Globotruncana sp., crab debris,
echinoidspines,Bryozoa,rudistfragments,fishremains
Inunit7
M.sanctaepelagiae,Pseudodomia aff.Multistriata.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenontheFiqaFormationinthetypesection
of Murban44. However considerable palynological work has been done on the Fiqa
FormationinOman,whichisdiscussedunderthatarea.
Age
UpperCretaceous(Campanian)
In the type area the age of the Fiqa Formation appears to be restricted to the
Campanian.HoweverinthemorebasinalareassuchaspartsofOmantheformation
embracesmostoftheUpperCretaceousSenonian.
Boundaries
Overlying The Fiqa Formation is overlain disconformably by the Simsima Formation. The
boundaryistakenatthecontactoftheoverlyingbasicallypurelimeWackestoneand
PackstonesoftheSimsimaandtheunderlyingargillaceouscarbonates,marlsordark,
greengreyshalesoftheFiqaFormation.
Underlying The underlying contact is also considered to be disconformable and is taken at the
junctionoftheoverlyinggrey,argillaceouslimestoneofthebasalFiqaFormationwith
thepure,dense,chalkylimestoneoftheHalulFormation.
686
OnshoreQatar
OffshoreQatar
OffshoreAbu
Dhabi
The above type section is from the A.D.P.C. Murban Field, which is geographically
consideredasrepresentativeoftheonshoreAbuDhabiarea.Thefollowingreference
sectionsarealsoprovidedfromonshoreQatar,offshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabiand
Oman.
Q.P.C.wellDukhan51 [DK-0051];lat.245346N;long.505954E;Theformation
is probably between the drilled depths of 1,885 and +/ 2,120. There are no
Schlumbergerlogsavailablefromthiswell,(Ref.Enclosure5).
Remarks: TheFiqaFormationinthiswellcomprisesmainlypelagicmarlsandshales
of the Shargi Member, which is overlain by a thin neritic limestone
constitutingtheAradaMember.ThisFormation hasnotbeen observed
elsewhereintheQataronshorearea.
Remarks
The formation isentirelyrepresented bytheShargi Member inoffshore
Qatar.Itcomprisesbluegreytoolivegreenstickymarlsandverymarly
chalkylimemudstone.TheShargiMemberherehasyieldedanabundant
microfauna of Ostracoda and small Foraminifera, the latter including
approximately30% of planktonic facies. Themostimportantplanktonic
foraminiferaare:Globotruncanafornicata,G.aft.Concavata,G.repanda,
G.cf.ventricosa,G.elevatastuartiformis,G.renzi.
A.D.M.A well Umm Shaif 4; lat. 251200N, long. 531048E; The formation is
betweenthedrilleddepths3,695and4,069(Ref.Enclosure7).
A.D.M.A.UmmShaifwell1,descriptionofcores:
Core
Feet
Feet
15
3543
To
3561
16
3610
To
3616
17
3715
To
3732
18
3835
To
3856
Core 15 shows limestone, buff, argillaceous, chalky grading into grey marls. Lower
cores are darker and more argillaceous. Recorded fossils show a dominance of
planktonicforaminifera,withsomesmallforaminiferaandechinoidfragments.Cores
15 to 17 contain Globotruncana elevata stuartiformis, G. linneiana bulloides, G.
tricarinata, Trinitella scotti, Rugoglobigerina, Heterohelix, Marssonella, Textularia,
rotalidsetc.ThisassemblageisoflateCampanianorearlyMaastrichtianage.Core18
containsGlobotruncanaackermanni,G.bollii,G.bolliiparva,G.fornicata,G.linneiana
bulloides, Heterohelix striata, Rugoglobigerina ordinaria, Trinitella beldingi subornata,
Anomalinoides, Bolivina, Lenticulina, Nodosaria, Biglobigerinella, Gavelinella,
687
Gaudryina,Cythereis,Cytherella,etc.ThisassemblageistypicaloftheFiqaFormation
andisassessedasofCampanianage.
TheFiqaofUmmShaifismorecalcareousthanthatinsomeotherpartsoftheA.d.M.A.
concession,whereitisdarkerandmoreshaley,e.g.atHairDalmah.Theupper,more
calcareous,bedsoftheFiqaofA.D.M.A.arepossiblyequivalenttotheAradaFormation
ofonshoreAbuDhabi.
ThebasalbedsoftheSimsimaFormationareverysimilartotheupperbedsoftheFiqa
Formation,andapparentlyoverliethemconformably.However,atightzoneatthetop
oftheFiqaservesasamarkerfortheboundaryandpossiblyindicatesadisconformity
withsubaerialexposure.
The tight relatively pure neritic limestone of the Halul Formation is overlain
disconformablybythemarlsorshalesoftheFiqa.
Oman P.D.(O)wellFahud(South)9;UTMzone40:E.450.672.0N.2.462.622.3.;Theformation
isbetweenthedrilleddepthsof60and4,424(Ref.Enclosure10).
Remarks
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
+260 Limestone; whitelight grey, soft, argillaceous, chalky,
pelletoidal,foraminiferallimeWackestone;
2
43 Marl;lightbrowngrey,softmarl;
3
4121 Shale; greygreen or browngrey, soft, fissile, pyritic,
calcareousshalewithmicaandcarbonaceousmaterial.
Totalthickness+4,424
1&2 AradaMember
3
Shargimember
688
Distribution
Remarks
AwidespreadformationfoundinSouthernQatar,AbuDhabi,SaudiArabiaandOman.
The Arada Neritic Facies being somewhat more restricted than the Shargi Pelagic
Facies.TheAradaFaciesisfoundovermuchofonshoreAbuDhabiandSouthernQatar
andreachesaconsiderablethicknessinwestandcentralAbuDhabi.
TheShargiMemberoftheFiqaFormationrepresentsawidespread,deepwaterphase
withinamainlyshallowwaterUpperCretaceousdepositionalsequence.InOmanthis
membermaybeextremelythicklydevelopedinabasinal,planktonicpureshale.Itis
believed that the shallowerwater Halul and Laffan Formations are lateral time
equivalentunitsofthisshalemember.ThestronglydevelopedAradaMemberwithits
abundantbenthonic larger Foraminiferal assemblage has disappeared and only a few
Pseudodomia aff. multistriata and Monolepidorbis sp. have been found within the
ShargiMemberinassociationwithaplanktonicforaminiferalassemblage.
689
Synonymy
None
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSection,Fig.4C)
Sugden had originally chosen the interval 1,705 to 2,002 in the Q.P.C. well Dukhan
(Dk)25[DK0025],asrepresentingthetypesectionoftheRuilatFormation.However,
nogammarayorneutronlogsareavailablefromthiswell.ThusthewellDukhan(Dk)
55[DK0055]whichhastheselogshasreplacedDukhan(Dk)25[DK0025],asthetype
section. The formation takes its name from a locality in the middle of the Qatar
Peninsula. The Ruilat Formation is now redefined to include only the upper part of
SugdensoriginalRuilatFormation.
Location
Q.P.C.wellDukhan(Dk)55[DK0055]; lat.25240N.,long.504546E;Theformation
isbetweenthedrilleddepthsof1,644and1,870.
Thickness
226(drilledthickness)
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
Lithology
#
Ft
1
216 Limestone;lightgrey,compact,bioclasticlimeMudstonetoWackestone,
particles consisting of fine elongate spicules, some inderterminate
calcareous silt with chert nodules in the upper part of the unit. Fine
recrystallizationobscuringrare,small?planktonicForaminifera.
2
10 Limestone as above; with common rounded phosphatic nodules and
glauconitegrains.
Totalthickness226
Palaeontology
Some small indeterminate Foraminifera including questionable specimens of
Gumbelinaspp.havebeenobtainedfromunit1.
NopalynologicalworkupontheRuilatFormationhasbeenundertaken
Palynology
Age
TheageoftheRuilatFormation cannotbedeterminedonacontainedfaunabutitis
assumed to be of a Campanian from its stratigraphical position between dated
MaastrichtianSimsimaandtheHalulFormationofaSantoniantoearlyCampanianage.
TheRUILATFormation
690
Overlying The overlying contact with the Simsima Formation shows no apparent unconformity.
ThecontactistakenatthejunctionofthefossiliferouslimePackstonesoftheSimsima
Formationwiththefine,grey,spiculargreyMudstonesoftheRuilatFormation.
Underlying The contact is taken at the junction of the light grey specular lime Mudstones and
glauconiteWackestonesoftheDaasahMemberoftheHalulFormation.
ThiscontactisunconformableandrepresentsamajorhiatuswithintheArumaGroup.
Distribution
TheRuilatFormationasawholeisconfinedtotheQatarPeninsula.Itisknownfrom
mostofthewellsontheDukhanstructureandinotherQ.P.C.explorationwells.
TheRuilatFormationisasarockstratigraphicalunitpeculiartotheQatarPeninsula.It
Remarks
canbedirectlycorrelatedwithatleastpartoftheFiqaFormation.Ifthiscorrelationis
accepted, then units 1 and 2 of the Ruilat Formation must be partly or wholly the
equivalentofthelateCampanianneriticandplanktonicunitsinDK51[DK0051](i.e.,
theFiqaFormation).
691
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
HalulFormation:
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarsectionFig.6B)
HughesClarkeoriginallychoseinterval3,310to3,468intheS.C.Q.wellIddelShargi1
asrepresentingthetypesectionofthisformation.Thisinterval,extendingdownwards
to 3,545, has been retained as the type section. The Formation takes its name from
theislandofHalulofftheeastcoastofQatar
Location
S.C.Q. well IddelShargi1; lat. 252332.9N, long. 522155.93E; The formation is
betweenthedrilleddepthsof3,310and3,545.
235(drilledthickness)
Thickness
Lithology
Thefollowinglithologicalunitscanbedeterminedfromtoptobottom:
#
Ft
1
90 Limestone; light grey, chalky bioclastic lime Packstone, particles,
consisting of larger Foraminifera with some smaller Foraminifera,
Ostracodsandshellfragments.
2
68 Limestone; light grey, chalky bioclastic lime Wackestones, particles
consisting of spicules, small shell fragments with some smaller
ForaminiferaandlargerForaminifera;somepyriteandscattereddolomite
rhombs.
3
27 Marl; greygreen, soft with some shale, bluegrey and some limestones,
lightgreylightbrown,chalky,partlyrecrystallized.
4
50 Chalk; light grey, soft, frangible, occasionally slightly marly with
limestones, light grey and light brown, chalky, partly recrystallized, shell
fragmentsinplaces.
Totalthickness235
The Halul Formation can be subdivided into two distinct members which have an
importantcorrelativevalueinQatar.Units1and2fromtheuppermemberandunits3
and4thelowerorDaasahMember.Thelowermemberisnamedafterthevillageof
DaasahsouthofDukhan55[DK0055]inQatar.
Palaeontology
ThedetailsofthefaunalassemblagesandtheirdistributionareshownonEnclosure6B.
The occurrence of Pseudodomia complanata, Pseudodomia globularis and Dicyclina
schlumbergeriisindicativeofanearlyCampaniantolateSantonianage.
Palynology
NopalynologicalworkhasbeenundertakenupontheHalulFormation.
TheHALULFormation
692
Age
Boundaries
Overlying
UpperCretaceous(SantonianCampanian)
Thelightgrey,chalkyPackstonesoftheHalulFormationareoverlainbya+/10bedof
lightbrown,verycalcareous,shalegradingupwardsintothetypicalgrey,blue,green,
planktonicforaminiferalmarlsoftheFiqaFormation.
Underlying The light grey, chalky Wackestones of the Halul Formation are underlain by the olive
greenmarlsandshalesoftheLaffanFormation.
ReferenceSection
The above type section is from the S.C.Q. IddelShargi Field, which is geographically
consideredasoffshoreQatar.Thefollowingreferencesectionsarealsoprovidedfrom
onshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabiandonshoreAbuDhabi.
Remarks
The Halul Formation is represented in onshore Qatar by the Daasah
Member only and a typical reference section as present in DK55 [DK
0055]showsthefollowinglithologicalunits:
# Feet
1
32 Limestone;lightgrey,fine,compact,partlysilicified,lime
MudstonetoWackestone,glauconiticintheupperpart.
2
14
Limestone;greyargillaceous,limeMudstone.
OffshoreAbu A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4;lat.251200N,long.531048E;betweendrilleddepths
Dhabi 4,069to4,355(RefEnclosure7).
ThisformationispoorlyknownthroughtheA.D.M.A.concessionbecauseitisnormally
drilledwithoutreturns.Thebestlithologicalandpalaeontologicalsectionisprovidedby
U.S.1, where spot cores were taken at approximately 100' intervals. U.S.1, however,
hasnogammarayneutronlog,andsotheadjacentwellU.S.4ischosenforA.D.M.A.
type.AgoodcorrelationexistsbetweenU.S.1andU.S.4byelectriclogs.
UpperMember
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4,4,069to4,255
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core19,3,965to3,966[only1foot?]
DaasahMember
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif4,4,255to4,355
A.D.M.A.wellUmmShaif1,core20,3,965to3,966[only1foot?]
core21(part)4,206(caved)
693
Marl, calcareous, grey and white mottled, rubbly. Recorded fossils include:
Globotruncana marginata, Hedbergella, Bolivina, rotalids, echinoid and molluscan
fragments. This assemblage ranges from late Turonian to Santonian in age. The
DaasahMemberisconsideredtobeofSantonianage.
The dark grey marls and shales of the Fiqa Formation overlie the Halul limestone
disconformably. The Da'asah marls overlie the Laffan Shale apparently conformably.
Determination of the contact is sometimes disputed and it is likely that part of the
Da'asahhassometimesbeendeterminedasLaffan,givingrisetoreportsoflimestone
andmarlbreaksintheLaffan.
OnshoreAbu A.D.P.C. well Murban44 (Ref. Enclosure 8A) the Halul Formation forms a thin but
Dhabi characteristicbedofsome+10betweentheFiqaandtheLaffanFormations.However
inthewellMurba1;lat.235643N;long.534156E;theformationisbetweenthe
drilleddepthsof6,175and6,396.
Remarks
IntheabovewelltheHalulFormationcomprisesof221ofwhitetogrey
nodular limestones, which are predominantly bioclastic, lime
Wackestones. The particles consist of larger and smaller Foraminifera
with lamellibranch, echinoid and algal fragments. These limestones
commonlyformpalerlensesornodulesseparatedbydarkergreywisps
and lenses of soft, argillaceous limestones which often approach the
constituencyofamarl.TheDaasahmemberhasnotbeenrecognizedin
thewellMurban1.
TheoverlyingcontactwiththeFiqaFormationisapparentlyconformable
butinfactitisprobablyawidespread,shortdurationunconformity.The
contact is taken at the junction of the greygreen, planktonic
foraminiferal shales of the Fiqa Formation with the highest, pale lime
WackestonesoftheHalulFormation.
OMAN
694
Distribution
Remarks
TheHalulFormationisofalimiteddevelopmentinonshoreQatarbutwelldeveloped
inoffshoreQatarandincentralnorthandpartsofeasternAbuDhabi.Theformation
thins rapidly, however, and practically disappears to the south and west. It is
apparentlynotpresentinOman.
Awidespreadandpersistentrockstratigraphicalunit,whichcanalsoberecognizedby
itscharacteristicforaminiferalassemblage.AsimilarfaciestothatoftheHalulmaybe
repeated at two younger horizons and care must be taken to ascertain the correct
speciesofPseudodomia.Ifthisisnotdone,itcouldbepossibletobecomeconfusedby
the similarity of the basal Simsima interval containing P. globularis or the Arada
MemberofP.aff.multistriata.BoththeseunitshaveasimilarecofaciesincludingD.
schlumbergeri,R.aff.skourensisandArchaecyclussp.
In south, central Abu Dhabi, including the well Murban44, a thin, white chalky
limestonewhichintervenesbetweentheFiqaandLaffanFormationshasbeenassigned
totheHalulFormation.Nogoodfaunalevidencewasavailableuntilsidewallsampling
revealedthatthisunitcontainedplanktonicfaunawhichcouldperhapsbeindicativeof
theDaasahMember.
695
Synonymy
The following rockstratigraphical terms are considered to be synonymous with the
LaffanFormation:
TheMiddleShaleofFieldinanA.D.P.C.unpublishedreport,(1962)
TypeLocalityandSection(Ref.ColumnarSection,Fig.4D)
Sugdenhaschosentheinterval2,002to2,072intheQ.P.C.wellDukhan(Dk)25[DK
0025]asrepresentingthetypesectionoftheLaffanFormation.However,nogamma
rayorneutronlogsareavailablefromthiswell.ThusthewellDk55[DK0055]hasnow
beenselectedascontainingthetypesection.TheformationtakesitsnamefromRas
LaffanonthenortheastcoastofQatar.
Location
Q.P.C.wellDukhan(Dk)55[DK0055];lat25240N,long.504546E;Theformation
isbetweenthedrilleddepthsof1,916and2,011.
Thickness
95(drilledthickness)
Lithology
Shale:Olivegreenshales.
Palaeontology
The Laffan Formation contains a typical Ostracod assemblage which has not been
published. Sayyab, (1956) in an unpublished thesis deposited in the British Museum
has described the following Ostracod fauna from Dk55 [DK0055] ; Brachycythere
wellingsi ms., Cytherella bilobata ms., Eobuntonia? curta ms., Eubontonia seminuda
ms.,Cythereis?Dukhanensisms.,Brachycytherehasaensisms.,Mesocycthereishensoni,
Xesteloberispunctatams.,Paracyprisglobrans.
Palynology
No palynological work has been undertaken upon sample material from the type
section, DK55 [DK0055]. However samples from the Laffan Formation in the S.C.Q.
well IddelShargi1 (offshore Qatar) and the A.D.P.C. well Murban44 in Abu Dhabi
have been examined. The results from these investigations would indicate an early
SenonianorConiaciantoSantonianagefortheLaffanFormation.
EarlySenonian,ConiaciantoSantonian
Age
Boundaries
Overlying The olive green shales of Laffan Formation are overlain by the argillaceous lime
MudstonesoftheDaasahMemberoftheHalulFormation.Thiscontactappearstobe
a sharp change from shale to shale and limestone but no direct evidence of an
unconformitycanbeobserved.
Underlying At the unconformable contact between the Laffan shales and the chalky fossiliferous
limestones of the underlying Mishrif Formation. The cut out of beds of the Mishrif
FormationbeneaththeLaffancanbedemonstratedbytracingfaunalmarkersandby
simplethinningoftheformation.
TheLAFFANFormation
696
The above type section is from the Q.P.C. Dukhan Field, which is geographically
considered as representative of onshore Qatar. The following reference sections are
alsoprovidedfromoffshoreQatar,offshoreAbuDhabi,andonshoreAbuDhabi.
OffshoreQatar S.C.Q well IddelShargi1; lat. 252332.9N, long. 522155.93E; The formation is
betweenthedrilleddepthsof3,545and3,664(Ref.Enclosure6A).
Thelithologyconsistsofgreenshalesandmarls
Remarks
Offshore A.D.M.A. well Umm Shaif4 ; lat.251200N, long. 531048E; The formation is
AbuDhabi betweenthedrilleddepthsof4,355and4,444(Ref.Enclosure7)
Core4,4,390to4,410.Shale,browngreen.
The Laffan is of variable colour in offshore Abu Dhabi and is in part a pure white
kaolinite in some cases. Fossils recorded include Cythereis, Cytherella, Eucythere,
Platycythereis, Protobuntonia, Hemicytherideis, Osangularia, Rotalia algeriana,
Anomalinoides,Lenticulina.TheageisthesameasthetypeLaffan;probablyConiacian.
DarkgreymarlsoftheDa'asahMemberoftheHalulFormationoverlietheLaffanshale,
apparently conformably. The Laffan overlies the Wasia Group with marked angular
unconformity.InUmmShaif1,thecontactiswithaneriticlimestoneofTuronianage.
ReportsoflimestoneandmarlbandsintheLaffanmightbeduetomisinterpretationof
siltybedsortoinclusionofpartoftheDa'asahmarlsintheLaffan,butintertonguing
betweenDa'asahandLaffanissuggestedbytheG.R.N.logcharacters.TheLaffanhas
beendatedasTuronianinA.D.M.A.hithertobutitisbelievedtobethesameageasthe
Laffaninotherconcessionareasandtheconsensusofevidencefromallsourcesmakes
Coniacianageprobable.
697
Thickness:218(drilled)
LithologyandPalaeontology:Thelithologyoftheformationinthereferencesectionis
predominantlygreyandolivebrownshale.Itsfaunaiscomposedofostracodaandrare
arenaceous foraminifera. The microflora contains a restricted Senonian species
Dinogymniumcostatum,whichisindicativeofaConiaciantoCampanianage.
Theunitincludesthinsiltstoneorlimestonestreaksinitsupperpartinsomeareasof
AbuDhabi,whereitrangesinthicknessfromafewfeettoover500'.
Remarks
This shale unit exhibits the typical character of the Laffan Formation. In
lithologyandcolouritcloselymatchesthetypesection,whileitsostracod
fauna,althoughsparse,issimilartothatoftheQatarLaffan.
TheupperboundaryoftheLaffan,intheareaofthereferencesection,is
at the contact of grey shales of the upper Laffan formation, with an
overlyingthingreychalkylimestonewhichhasbeenassignedtotheHalul
Formation. It is possible, however, that this thin limestone is not true
Halul,butacarbonatedevelopmentmarkingamajorunconformitywhich
cutsoutthatformation,causingtheFiqaFormationtorestdirectlyupon
theLaffan.
NormallytheLaffanisoverlainconformablybytheHalulFormation.
At its lower limit in the reference section the formation rests without
apparentdiscordanceupontheCenomanianlimestone.Inotherpartsof
Abu Dhabi the Laffan may directly overlie the Mishrif Formation or the
basinal Oligostegina limestone. Regionally, the relationship is an
unconformableone.
Distribution
TheLaffanisawidespreadrockstratigraphicalunit,knownfrompartsof
Iraq,Bahrain,onshoreandoffshoreQatar,andoffshoreandonshoreAbu
Dhabi.ItisnotknownfromOman.
Remarks
TheLaffanisanimportantformationinregionalcorrelation.IntheQatar
AbuDhabiareaitisalmostinvariablypresent,inspiteofgreatfaciesand
thicknessvariationintheoverlyingformationsoftheArumaGroup.
698
Name
Boef(M.G.A),andMoodyStuart(M.M.)
Chatton(M.C.)
Clarke(R.F.A.),andHoogkamer(P.J.C)
Cobb(R.M.),andPadiyath()
Dominguez(J.R.)
Dunnington(H.V.),VanBellen(R.C.),Wetzel(R.)and
Morton(D.M.)
Date
1968
1962
1967
1963
1965
1959
Field,(H.A.)
Harembourg(J.)andHorstink(J.)
Horstink(J.)
Hudson(R.G.S.)
HughesClarke(M.W.)
Marie(J.P.P.)
Owen(R.M.S.)andNasr(S.N.)
1962
1967
1967
1953
1963
1966
1958
Powers(R.W.),Ramirez(L.F.),Redmond(C.D.),and
Elberg,Jr.(E.L.)
1966
Steineke(Max)andBramkamp(R.A)
1952
Steineke(Max),Bramkamp(R.A)andSander(N.J.)
1958
Sayyab(A.S.)
1956
Sugden(W)
Tschopp(R.H.)
1956
1968
WesselsBoer(H.R.)
Wetzel(R.)
1968
1949
Reference
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
OffshoreFieldsofQatar
LexiqueStratigraphique
InternationalAsieVol.III,Fasc.
10a,IRAQ.CongresGeologique
InternationalCommissionde
Stratigraphie.
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
StratigraphyoftheKuwaitBasra
AreaAm.Assoc.Petroleum
GeologistsSymposium,pp.1252
1278.
GeologyofArabianPeninsula,
SedimentaryGeologyofSaudi
ArabiaGeol.Surv.Professional
Paper560D.
MesozoicrocksofEasternSaudi
Arabia(abs.).Am.Assoc.Petroleum
GeologistsBull.V,No.5,p.909
StratigraphicRelationsofArabian
JurassicOil,Am.Assoc.Petroleum
GeologistsSymposium,pp.1294
1328.
Unpublishedthesis[Cretaceous
OstracodafromthePersianGulf
Area;UniversityofIowa]
UnpublishedCompanyReport
TheGeneralGeologyofOman
SeventhWorldPetroleumCongress
UnpublishedCompanyReport
UnpublishedCompanyReport
699
SituationMap.Scale1:2,500,000.Authors:C.A.Hopping&A.J.Standring(1969)
700
Tableshowingformer&proposedrockstratigraphicnomenclature.Authors:C.A.Hopping&A.J.Standring(1969)
701
AgerelationshipsofnamedArumaGrouprockunitsinSouthEastArabia.Authors:C.A.Hopping&A.J.Standring(1969)
702
ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupintheADMAWellUmmShaif4(ADMAReferenceSection).Scale
1:1000.AuthorsA.H.Smout,D.C.Kennedy(1969)
703
ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupintheADPCWellMurban44(ADPCReferenceSection).Scale
1:1000.Author:A.J.Standring(1969)
704
ColumnarTypeSectionoftheFiqaFormationintheADPCWellMurban44.Scale1:1000.Author:A.J.
Standring(1969)
705
ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupintheP.D.(O)WellSuneinah1(P.D.O.ReferenceSection).Scale
1:1000.Author:C.A.Hopping(1969)
706
ColumnarSectionoftheArumaGroupintheP.D.(O)WellFahud(South)9(P.D.O.ReferenceSection).
Scale1:1000.Author:C.A.Hopping(1969)
707
ColumnarTypeSectionoftheQahlahFormationatQahlat,NorthofSur,Oman.Scale1:1000.Author:C.A.
Hopping(1969)
708
ColumnarTypeSectionoftheMutiFormationatWadiMutiNorthofIzki,Oman.Scale1:1000.Author:
C.A.Hopping(1969)
709
StratigraphicCorrelation(AlAramahSS,Dukhan55,51,IDDElShargi1,UmmShaif4,Murban44,Suneinah1).Scale Vertical1:2500&Horizontal
1:500000.AuthorC.A.Hopping(1969)
710
Delegates:
A.D.M.A.
A.D.P.C. & Q.P.C.
B.P.
P.D.(O)
S.C.Q.
1
Aimsofthemeeting
ThiswasthesecondmeetingfordiscussionofWasiaGroupstratigraphy,atwhichitwastoformulate
preciseformationdefinitions,incorporatingtheresultsoffurtherresearchintoproblemsremaining
fromthefirstmeetinginMay1969.
Commencingbusiness
The minutes of the previous meeting, distributed earlier to member companies, were read and
agreed.BPrepeatedtheirattitudetomakeeveryefforttoavoidproliferationofformationnames,
this being the only omission from the minutes. Other delegates were not prepared, however, to
furtherconsideradivisionofWasiaGroupintoonlytwoformationsanupperlimestoneandalower
terrigenousclasticunit.
Prior to commencing discussions, P.D.(O) handed out their Wasia Group reference section from
FahudNorth3;andA.D.M.A.distributedtheirsecondreferencesection,fromZakum.No.37.
Generalpolicy
No delegates have received any communication from principals in European main offices
acknowledging receipt of, or commenting on, the recently compiled Aruma Group report. PD.(O)
asked that this fact be minuted, and expressed their wish to receive some comment. A suggestion
that there was no point in the subcommittee proceeding further with stratigraphical studies until
somewordwasreceivedfromthe"European"committeewasrejected.
A.D.M.A.delegateaskedA.D.P.C.torecounttheoriginsandpoliticsoftheliaisonmeetings.TheBP
delegate commented that the original intention of free exchange of stratigraphic data had never
beencarriedout.
AllcompaniesexceptA.D.P.C.arenowemployingthenewArumaGroupnomenclature,regardlessof
absenceofcommentorinstructionsfromEuropeanmainoffices.A.D.M.A.opinedthatnonewsis
goodnews,andthatiftechnicalprincipalsinEuropeanofficeshadanyobjectionstoourusageof
thenewnomenclature,thenpresumablytheywouldsayno.Noobjectionswereforthcomingfrom
localManagements.
711
S.C.Q.proposedthatthereportsofthesubcommitteeshouldbepublished,oratleastdistributedto
all other companies operating in the Gulf area, perhaps resulting in the holding of regional
stratigraphic symposia. SCQ delegate is of the opinion that the reports are of little use solely for
internalcirculationamongtheliaisonmembercompanies.
BaseofWasiaGroup
Defined at the last meeting as the boundary between predominantly terrigenous clastics including
occasional thin limestones above, and the dominantly carbonate sequence of the underlying
ThamamaGroup.Inanoffshelfarea,wherethereissometimesanintervalofapproximatelyequal
limestone and shale, the boundary seems best chosen at the top of the highest limestone for
essentiallylithologicalreasons,viz.theargillaceousintervalsbelowthehighestlimestoneare,infact,
marlsandshalylimestonesmoreakintotheThamamathantoWasiasediments.Onthisevidence,
A.D.M.A.agreedtoreviseitspresentpickfortheboundaryupwards(thepresentpickistakenpurely
onlogevidence,atthelowestapparent"shale").Furthermore,forpracticalfieldpurposes,itiseasier
to pick the "first" limestone than the last marl or shaly limestone. No palaeontological nor
limestone lithofacies evidence to define the Wasia/Thamama boundary exists. BP delegate
expresseddoubtaboutexcludingthetransitionalintervalatZakumfromtheWasia,butrecordsno
supportingevidence.
In Oman, where the basal terrigenous clastic unit becomes an interbedded limestone/terrigenous
clasticunit,thesituationwithregardtochoosingtheboundaryissimilartothatintheAbuDhabioff
shelfareas,i.e.achangefromdominantclasticstodominantlimestone,togetherwithachangein
characteroftheargillaceousinterbeds.
In onshore Qatar, the base of the terrigenous clastic unit is taken below the lowest occurrence of
sandstone.
Basalterrigenousclasticunit
Theimpasse betweenADPCandothercompaniesonwhetherornottohaveathird nameforthis
formation where it is entirely in a shale or shale/limestone facies, was not resolved. P.D.(O)'s
objection to a third name is on the basis of the published definition of the Nahr Umr formation,
which,intheiropinion,canembraceanallshaleandshale/limestonefacies.
A.D.P.C.submittedatypesectionfortheproposedBirmaformationfromMurbanNo.3.A.D.P.C.will
providecopiesinagraphiclogformofthetypesectionoftheNahrUmrinIraq.Furtherstudyofthe
unitinashaleandshale/limestonefaciesinOmanandAbuDhabiwillbecarriedoutbyA.D.P.C.in
conjunctionwithP.D.(O),andA.D.P.C.willseekadvicefromtechnicalprincipalsinLondon,beforethe
nextmeeting.
AsuggestionfromSCQtorefertotheallshaleformationastheNahrUmrShalesorNahrUmrShale
Formation,didnotmeetgeneralacceptance.
Upperboundaryofthebasalclasticunit
ThiswasdefinedasthebaseoftheoverlyingOrbitolina/TrocholinalimestonesoftheMauddudshelf
carbonatesequence,ortheirlateralequivalent.
Theexactpickissometimesdifficult,duetothepresenceofthinlimestonesinthetopoftheclastic
unit.A.D.P.C.currentlytaketheboundaryatthehighestappearanceofshale.Thishighestshale,a
persistent feature over Abu Dhabi divides a clean limestone interval correIatable with f and g
units in Oman. In Oman this shale (green in colour) is clearly identifiable with the overlying shelf
carbonate sequence, not the underlying clastic unit (containing brown shales). A.D.P.C. agreed to
712
revise their boundary downwards to the base of the clean limestone unit correlatable with g in
Oman.TheboundaryisalreadytakenatthislevelbyA.D.M.A.
AlbianCenomanianShelfDeposits
ThefullestsequenceisconsideredtobeinOman,andP.D.(O)wereaskedtoprovidedescriptionand
definition.P.D.(O)showedseveralphotomicrographstoillustratetherocktypespresent.Thename
provisionally proposed for a continuous shelf carbonate sequence between the Aruma Group and
Wasiabasalterrigenousclasticunit,istheNatihformation.
In Oman, occasional thin shales in the shelf carbonate sequence are all a distinct green in colour,
changing abruptly to brown at the top of the basal clastic unit. Even when the latter contains
interbeddedlimestones,thereshouldbenodifficultyinidentifyingtheboundary.
InQatar,threesubdivisionsoftheshelfdepositswereacceptedandagreedatthelastmeeting.A
middle limestone/shale sequence (Ahmadi formation) separates two almost entirely limestone
formations (overlying Mishrif and underlying Mauddud). S.C.Q. provided a reference section from
IddelShargi No.1. The type Mishrif and Ahmadi are in Iraq and Kuwait respectively, and the type
MauddudoccursinQatar.
a Mauddud Q.P. C. produced thin sections of the type Mauddud from Dukhan. Examination
revealedveryclosesimilaritywith'f'and'g'unitsinOman.Thelatterlimestoneunitscanbe
traced by good logcorrelation into AbuDhabi,where they consistently appear on topof the
basal clastic unit throughout the offshelf area. (However, lithological examination of the
intervalinA.D.P.CwellsrevealsthattrueMauddudfaciesisnotalwaysdeveloped).Duetolack
ofevidenceinsouthernoffshoreQatar,itisnotcertainthatthef/gequivalentintervalinAbu
DhabiisincontinuitywiththeMauddudofonshoreQatar.The"missinglink"evidencemight
be found by correlating round the Qatar arch via northern offshore Qatar. SCQ agreed to
attemptthisinconjunctionwithA.D.P.G.Q.P.C.willalsoreexaminethesectionatMusaymir.
The Mauddud was defined in 1940, but has never been published, resulting in considerable
misapplicationandconfusion.Q.P.C.undertooktoredescribethetypeMauddudsection.
Theupperlimitoftheformationisdefinedasthebaseoftheoverlyingshalesandlimestones
oftheAhmadiformation,wherethelatterispresent.
It is not yet certain whether f' and 'g' limestones of Oman alone are equivalent to the
MauddudofQatar,orwhetherfand'g'andthelowerpartofe'areequivalent.Thisproblem
will receive attention from P.D.(O), A.D.P.C. and Q.P.C. Where the top of the Mauddud is
identifiableinacontinuousshelfcarbonatesequence,theformationcanbecomeamemberof
theproposedNatihformation.
ThebaseoftheMauddudisdefinedbythetopoftheunderlyingterrigenousclastics.
713
AhmadiThetopandbottomofthisshale/limestoneformationaredefinedbythebaseofthe
overlyingMishriflimestonesandthetopoftheunderlyingMauddudlimestones.Obviouslythe
limitsareautomaticallythehighestandlowestshales.
Difficulty in identifying the limits of the Ahmadi may arise in parts of offshore Qatar, where
only tongues of the formation are present in an otherwise continuous shelf carbonate
sequence(i.e.proposedNatihformation).Thiswasfelttobealocalproblem,ineffectjusta
small inconvenience affecting only SCQ, who could decide for themselves whether or not
sufficient shale was present in any given well to warrant recognising a MishrifAhmadi
Mauddudsuccession,orjustaNatihformation.
ThereferencesectionfromDukhanNo.28[DK0028]needsredescribingandthiswillbedone
byQ.P.C.whenthewelllogsbecomeavailable.
Mishrif shelf limestones underlying the basal Aruma unconformity and overlying the shales
and limestones of the Ahmadi formation. Where the base of the Mishrif is identifiable in a
continuouscarbonatesequence,theMishrifcanbecomeamemberoftheNatihformation.
The reference section from Dukhan No. 28 [DK0028] awaits redescription when the logs
becomeavailable.
DeeperWaterDeposits
ThefullestsequenceoccursonshoreAbuDhabi.Theexistenceofthreeformationswasacceptedand
agreedatthelastmeeting.A.D.P.C.offeredsomeformalnames(settlementsnearMurban),andthe
followingwereaccepted.(SubjecttointernalapprovalbyA.D.P.C.)
Currentinformal Proposedformal
LowerChalk Huwaifat
LowerShale Yahili
OligosteginalLimestone Shilaif
Athintongueofshallowshelfcarbonates(seeparagraphonMauddudformation)existsatthebase
of the deeper water deposits. This is not always in true Mauddud facies, and there is evidence to
suggest that what is in fact present is shelfderived material. For this reason it was agreed that a
Mauddud formation proper is not recognisable over most of the offshelf area (the thickness is a
maximum of some 50 feet), and that the shelf derived interval is best considered as the basal
depositsoftheShilaifformation.
Improveddescriptionsofthethreedeeperwaterformations,andtypesections,willbeprovidedby
A.D.P.C.fromMurbanwells.
714
10
11
Preparationsfor,andaimsof,thenextmeeting
ItisplannedtoprepareadraftWasiaGroupreportbeforethenextmeeting,andagreeandissuethe
finaldraftofthereportatthemeeting.
A.J.Standring,A.D.P.C.,undertookresponsibilityforcompilingthedraft.Graphicsectionson1:1000
scale GRN logs are required from the member companies, together with 1:2500 scale reductions.
Sepiatransparenciesarepreferable.Awriteuponthevariousformationsisalsorequiredfromeach
company,basedonthelayoutasusedfortheArumareport.Sectionsarerequiredtoillustratethe
followingformationsintheareasindicated:
Q.P.C.
Mishrif
Referencesection.
Ahmadi
do
Mauddud
Typesection
NahrUmr
Referencesection
S.C.Q.
Mishrif
Typicalsection
Ahmadi
do
Mauddud
do
NahrUmr
do
Natih
do
A.D.M.A.
Natih
Typicalsection
NahrUmr
do
Yahili
do
Shilaif
do
A.D.P.C.
Natih
Typicalsection
Huwaifat
Typesection
Yahili
do
Shilaif
do
Birma
do
(orNahrUmr)Typicalsection)
P.D.(O)
Natih
Typesection
NahrUmr/Birma
Typicalsection
Locationanddateofnextmeeting
SubjecttotheirManagement'sapproval,Q.P.C.willhostthenextmeetinginDukhan.Aconvenient
dateforallmembercompanieswasagreedasearlyMay1970.
FutureMeetings
The next meeting but one (? late 1970) should commence Thamama Group studies. P.D.(O)
suggestedthismeeting isbestheldinOman, sothatoutcropsectionscouldbeexamined,andthis
wasagreedinprinciple.P.D.(O)'sproposalthatalltheLowerCretaceousandJurassicbedealtwith
together,asopposedtojusttheThamama,wasfirmlyrejectedbyA.D.M.AandA.D.P.C.
715
Closingofpresentmeeting
A.D.P.C. expressed gratitude and appreciation to A.D.M.A. for hosting the meeting, and P.D.(O)
requested that this be minuted. A.D.M.A. expressed their thanks to E. Hart for his impromptu
lectureontheCretaceousofIraq.
AbuDhabi,
18thNovember,1969
Distribution:
Q.P.C
S.C.Q.
P.D.(O)
3copieseach
A.D.P.C.
RegionalGeologist,MiddleEast,BPLondon2copies.
PetroleumGeologyResearchSection,BPSunbury2copies.
C.R.&G.M./F.M/H.R.,A.D.M.A.AbuDhabi 1copy.
Plg.Supt/A.G.A.D.M.A.AbuDhabi2copies
PJC:yv.
P.J.Carter
(Chairman)
716
Delegates:
P.D.(O)
A.D.M.A.
A.D.M.A. (BP)
A.D.P.C.
S.C.Q.
C.F.P.
Conoco
S.C.Q.
Q.P.C.
1
C.A Hopping
T.D. Adams
G.V. Wood
A.J. Standring
J.P. de Zoeten
R. Lacassagne
I.D. Maycock
A. Ford
F. Gosling (Chairman)
Aimsofthemeeting
The main aim of this meeting was to finalise the draft report on the stratigraphy of the Wasia
GroupinSouthEastArabia.
Priortothecommencementofthemeeting,PD(O)distributedareportwithplates;TheNatureand
distribution of the M. Cretaceous (AlbianTuronian) Deposits in the Sultanate of Oman. ADPC
distributedgraphiclogs(1:1000)oftypeandreferencesectionsinOnshoreAbuDhabiandcorrelation
diagrams. QPC circulated graphic logs (1:1000) of the Nahr Umr, Mauddud, Ahmadi and Mishrif
formation.
Commencingbusiness
OnbehalfofQPCtheChairmanwelcomedthedelegatestoDukhan.
NocommentsweremadeontheMinutesofthepreviousmeetinganddiscussionbeganimmediately
on thedraft report ofthe WasiaGroupprepared by A.J.Standring,dealing with each formation as
follows:
i
NahrUmr
Discussionsandcommentswerelargelyontheageassignedtothisformation.Inthetype
sectioninIraqanAlbianageisgiventothisformation,butevidencefromADMAgivesan
AlbiantoLowerCenomanianagebasedonammonitesandmolluscs.Itwasagreedthatin
thefinalreporttheagerangeoftheNahrUmrinareasoftheCompaniesconcernedshould
beshownasAlbiantoLowerCenomanian.
ItwasalsoagreedthatsomereferenceinthefinalreportshouldbemadetotheKhazdumi
formation, the lateral equivalent of the Nahr Umr in Iran particularly when discussing
lateralcorrelationintheOffshoreareas.
717
ii
iii
iv
Mauddud
The Albian age assigned to this formation in the draft report was discussed at length. It
wasarguedthatanAlbianagegiventothisformationintypesectioninDukhanWellNo.1
[DK-0001]andthesameformationinIraqwasinferredbystratigraphicpositionbutnot
proved by fauna within these sections. Furthermore, with the underlying Nahr Umr in
ADMAcontainingLowerCenomanianfaunaapostAlbianagemustapplyfortheMauddud
type limestones in some areas. In Iran, James & Wynd (AAPG, December 1965, Vol. 49)
have assigned an Upper AlbianCenomanian age to the Mauddud member of Sarvak
formation.ThegeneralconclusionwasthatthereportshouldrecordtheMauddudranging
inagefromAlbian(probablyUpper)toCenomanian.
InOnshoreQatar,partsofOffshoreQatarandeasternAbuDhabiatypicalMauddudshelf
faciesisdeveloped.However,inOmanatthebaseoftheNatih,thintonguesofMauddud
arerepresentedbythefandglimestones.InwesternandcentralAbuDhabi,partsof
Offshore Qatar, ADMA and Offshore Dubai, thin Orbitolina, Trocholina packstone
limestonesoccurimmediatelyabovetheNahrUmrandwithintheoligosteginallimestones
oftheShilaif.ThestatusorrankofthesethinMauddudtypelimestoneswasthesubjectof
muchdiscussion.ItwasfirstagreedthattheyshouldrankasaMauddudmemberwithin
the Shilaif formation. However, later in the meeting it was agreed they should be
recognizedasMauddudtongueswithintheShilaif,seeparagraph(v)below.Itwaspointed
outbySCQthatinnorthernOffshoreQatarthesethinMauddudtonguespassintotypical
Mauddudbuteastwardtheselimestonespinchout.
Ahmadi
WithintheoperatingareasoftheCompaniesconcernedthisformationisrecognisedonlyin
OnshoreQatarandpartsofOffshoreQatar.
TherewassomediscussionontheplacingofthecontactwiththeoverlyingMishrif.Butit
was recognised that some interfingering of these two formations does occur and the
pickingofthecontactisarbitraryandshouldbelefttotheCompanyconcerned.
Mishrif
The description of this formation and its distribution within the areas concerned as
presentedbyA.J.Standringwasaccepted.
Shilaif
Limestonegrey,bufforbrown,finegrained,Oligosteginal,argillaceous
Tuwayil
Shalegreytodarkgrey,withthinbedsoflimestoneOligosteginalandmarlwithpelecypod
casts.
718
vi
Ruwaydha
Limestonelightgrey,argillaceousandchalky,finetoveryfinegrained,lowerpartcontains
Oligostegina.
For the above three rock units the names Shilaif, Yahili and Huwaifat were formally
proposed at the previous meeting by ADPC but the latter two names, it has been
ascertained, have no geographical significance and have been replaced by Tuwayil and
Ruwaydharespectively.
Natih
ThedraftreportonthisformationaspresentedbyPD(O)wasacceptedwithoutsignificant
comments.ThisformationisnowrestrictedindistributiontotheOmanandpartsofsouth
westernAbuDhabi.
GeneralCommentsonWasiaStratigraphicalReport (Note:Itskipsfrompoint2to4intheoriginal)
A.J. Standring of ADPC agreed to undertake the job of editing the final report of the Wasia Group
incorporatingamendmentsandproposalsmadeatthismeeting.F.Goslingagreedtocheckthefinal
report before its circulation to participating Companies. There will be no further meetings on the
WasiaGroup.
Therearestillsomegraphicsectionsandlithologicaldescriptionsoutstandingtocompletethereport
and these should be forwardedtoA.J.Standring atADPCas soonaspossible. Details ofthese are
givenbelow:
QPC LithologicaldescriptionoftheMishrif,AhmadiandMauddudisstillrequired.
SCQ& Graphicsectionson1:1000.ScaleGR/Nlogsand1:2500scalereductionofallformations
ADMA arerequired.AlsoawriteupofeachformationsimilarinlayouttothatusedintheAruma
report.
Conoco LogsofformationsintheWasiacouldbeprovidedfromtheDPCareabyCONOCO,butthis
Companys rights and membership status still requires clarification by European Office
principals.
NextMeeting
At the suggestion of the PD(O) delegate it was agreed that the next meeting be held in the Oman
aboutthesecondweekinNovember1971.
TheaimofthenextmeetingwillbetocommencethestudiesoftheThamamaGroupstratigraphy.
Oman is particularly suitable for the next meeting as delegates will be able to visit the Thamama
outcropinWadiMiaidinandthusprovidinganexcellentreferencesectionforfuturestudiesofthis
rockgroup.
719
There were preliminary discussions on the Thamama Group at this stage of the meeting and the
significantpointsarenotedbelow:
i ItwasgenerallyagreedthatatthenextmeetingtheThamamawouldneedtoberedefinedifits
usewascontinued.
ii DelegatesgaveabriefsummaryoftheLowerCretaceous(Thamama)stratigraphyanditwas
obvious that the main rock units concerned are recognisable throughout the area and
correlationwouldpresentnogreatproblem.
iii Itwas proposedthatthetypesectionfortheThamamashouldbetheoutcropinOmanusing
localnamesfornewformationswherepossible.
iv AllCompaniesconcernedshouldprovideatthenextmeetinggraphiclogsGR/N1:1000scaleof
each Lower Cretaceous rock units in their area. Also to provide a single skeleton correlation
chart1/1000scale,usingGR/Nlogsifpossibleofallrockunits.IfpossiblelogsoftheRatawiand
ShuaibatypesectionsinsouthernIraqwouldbeobtainedthroughIPCLondon.
GeneralDiscussion
Itwasstronglyrecommendedbythemeetingthatthereportsofthesestratigraphicstudiesshouldbe
publishedandinajournalwithawidecirculation,preferablytheBulletinoftheAmericanAssociation
ofPetroleumGeologists.
ClosingoftheMeeting
AvoteofthankswasproposedtoQPCforhostingthemeetingandforthehospitalityreceivedbythe
delegateswhileinDukhan.
4thApril,1971
Dukhan
(F.Gosling)
CHAIRMAN
720
DRAFT
Edited by:
A.J. STANDRING
March 1971
721
INTERNATIONAL
USAGE
CRETACEOUS
UPPER
(LATE)
UPPER
MIDDLE
LOWER
(EARLY)
LOWER
STAGE NAMES
MAESTRICHTIAN
CAMPANIAN
SANTONIAN
CONIACIAN
TURONIAN
CENOMANIAN
ALBIAN
APTIAN
BARREMIAN
HAUTERIVIAN
VALANGINIAN
BERRIASIAN
CURRENT MAJOR
ROCK UNITS
ARUMA GROUP
WASIA GROUP
THAMAMA GROUP
It is agreed that for formal usage in time stratigraphy, two subdivisions of the Cretaceous System
should be recognised in accordance with international usage. An informal subdivision of the
Cretaceous into three time units will however, be maintained because of local convenience and long
usage. The Middle Cretaceous of such a subdivision will include the Albian, Cenomanian and
Turonian Stages
It is recognised that the fundamental time-stratigraphic unit is the Stage.
722
723
Mishrif
Ahmadi
Mauddud
NahrUmr
S.C.Q.(QatarOffshore)
Mishrif
Khatiyah
Mauddud
NahrUmr
A.D.M.A.(AbuDhabiOffshore)
Mishrif
Khatiyah
Oligostegina Limestone
Mauddud
NahrUmr
A.D.P.C.(AbuDhabiOnshore)
DeepWater
LowerChalk
Lowershale
OligosteginaLimestone
WasiaShale
P.D.(O)(Oman)
WasiaLimestone
NahrUmr
Cenomanian
Albian
Shelf
Mishrif
Mauddud
WasiaShale
(aMember
(b
(c
(d
(e
(f
(g
724
Synonymy
NahrUmrFormation,Dunningtonetal.,1959,"NahrUmr"Dominguez,1965."Wasia
Shale", Hajash, 1967. "Nahr Umr", Tschopp, 1967. "Wasia Shale and Nahr Umr",
Dunnington,1967."NahrUmr",FoxandBrown,1968.NahrUmr,AlNaqib,1967.
Typelocalityandsection
Location
B.P.C.wellNahrUmrNo.2betweendrilleddepths8688and9321feet
Lithology
Described by Owen and Nasr as "black shales interbedded with medium to fine grained
sands and sandstones with lignite, amber and pyrite. The sand shale ratio in the type
section has been estimated to be 40/60. In the Basrah oil fields a prominent limestone
memberexistsintheupperthirdoftheunit."
ThisdescriptionisrepeatedalmostverbatiminDunnington,(andothers)1959.
Thefactthatlimestoneisaninportantelementofthetypesectionisbroughtoutonlyby
ALNAQIB,1967.E.Harthasreexaminedtheoriginaldescriptionofthetypesectionand
shown that the ratio of constituent lithologies is: sand/shale/limestone = 37% / 45% /
18%.
ThelithologyissummarizedinFig.
Thickness
633feet
Palaeontology Orbitolinacf.discoideaGras.
Haplophragnoidessp.Cythereissp.,arerecordedintheoriginaldescription
Age
Albian
Underlying
Shuaiba Formation, contact conformable and gradational, at the base of the lowest
beddedshalesoftheNahrandatthetopofthelimestonewithshalestreakswhichmake
upthehighestdivisionoftheShuaibaFormation,(DUNNINGTON,1959).
Overlying
Mauddud Formation, contact conformable and gradational, placed at the base of the
limestoneoftheMauddudandatthetopofablackshalesection.(DUNNINGTON,1959.)
TheNahrUmrFormationisrecognisedfromSouthIraqinthenorthtoOmaninthesouth.
Distribution
The heterogeneous lithology of the type section makes possible the application of its
name to all grades of terrigenous clastic from predominantly sandstone to continuous
shale.Itsuseispermissibleevenwherealargeproportionoflimestoneoccurswithinthe
shale,asinOman.
NahrUmrFormation
725
Thefollowingreferencesectionsareconsideredtypicalofthevariousconcessionareas.
Onshore
Qatar
Offshore
Qatar
OffshoreAbuDhabi
ReferenceSection UmmShaifNo.1(enclosure)
Location Latitude251203.90N
Longitude531312.60E
Interval(b.r.t.) 5123to5464
Drilledthickness 341
TheNahrUmrFormationiscomposedofaseriesofvariegatedgrey,green,
and brown splintery shales, with rare sand lenses and glauconitic silts.
Occasionalthinooliticlimestonesdooccur.Bothupperandlowercontacts
areconformable,withadjacentformations.Thicknessesarevariableacross
the area and contemporary structural growth is reflected in local
sedimentation. Faunally, the following species have been recorded from
theinterval:Haploptrognoidessp.,Lituolasp.,Cytheseissp.,Cythesellasp.,
Macrocypsis sp., Protocytheis sp., Pycnodonta vesicularis , Isusus montelli,
Dukhan Well No. 26 [DK-0026], Depth 32983830 ft. (see enclosure No.
???).DescribedbySugden,1956(unpublishedreport)asfollows:
i
Upper section of sandstones, grey and greenish grey, rather
glauconitic, mostly rather marly,withnumerous thinbeds of blue
grey shale and marl. Comparatively rare thin beds of limestone
occur.
ii
Middle section of shale, bluegrey and brownish grey, with
frequent beds of marl, bluegrey, the marl beds often containing
sporbo;occasionalthinbedsofgreenishgrey,marly,glauconitic
sandstoneintheupperhalf.
iii
Lower section of sand and sandstone, grey, sometimes marly and
with numerous thin beds of marl and shale of various colours.
Frequent stringers and thin beds of lignite containing abundant
resin fragments. The more marly parts frequently contain light
brownphosphaticconcretiousorsporbo.
Overlying MauddudFormation,contactconformable.
Underlying ShuaibaFormation,contactunconformable
Age
MiddleCretaceous,thoughttobeAlbian
726
Therefore,inagetheNahrUmrspansapossibletimeintervalfromAlbian
toLowerCenomanian.
OnshoreAbuDhabi
Locality A.D.P.C. Well Murban No. 47, lat 233524N., long.
532232E.,betweendrilleddepths7930and8487ft.
Thickness 557ft.
Fauna In2,scatteredsmallOrbitolinaconcavaandHemicyclammina
sigali.
Age Albian
Overlying ShilaifFormation,contactconformable.Placedatthebaseof
thelowestwelldevelopedlimestoneoftheShilaifFormation
and the top of greybrown streaks with thin limestone
intercalations. The immediately overlying limestone can be
completed with the g" Member of the Natih Formation of
Owen.
Until now, the top of the Nahr Umr Formation has been
selected by A.D.P.C. at the top of a thin green shale which
overlies the g Member equivalent. This was found to be
the most consistent regional marker and to be most easily
recognised on Electric Logs. It also separates predominantly
shallowwaterfromdeeperwatersedimentsoveralmostthe
whole of Abu Dhabi. It is abandoned with some reluctance
forthesakeofuniformityofpractice.
Oman
727
Remarks
The top of the Nahr Umr Formation is conventionally taken at the first
appearanceofaprominentOstracodCyclamminarichshalelayer.However
thin argillaceous intercalations may already occur in the lower part of the
"g"Member.Ontheotherhand,Orbitolinawackestonebedsarefrequent
intheuppermostpartoftheNahrUmrShales.Thecharacteristicfaciesof
the Nahr Umr Shales are green to brown Ostracod rich shales with
CyclamminawhiteandoftencommonOrbitolina.
DISCUSSION
BoundariesoftheNahrUmrFormationinSoutheastArabia
BaseoftheNahrUmrFormation
Definedastheboundarybetweenpredominantlyterrigenousclastics,includingoccasionalthinlimestones,
aboveandthedominantlycarbonatesequenceoftheunderlyingThamamaGroup.InanoffshelfShuaiba
area, where there is sometimes an interval of approximately equal limestone and shale, the boundary
seems best chosen at the top of the highest limestone for essentially lithological reasons, viz. the
argillaceousintervalsbelowthehighestlimestoneare,infact,marIsandshaleylimestonesmoreakintothe
Thamama than to Wasia sediments. On this evidence A.D.M.A. agreed to revise its present pick for the
boundary upwards (the present pick is taken purely on log evidence, at the lowest apparent shale).
Furthermore,forpracticalfieldpurpose,itiseasiertopickthefirstlimestoneencounteredwhiledrilling
thatthelastmarlorshaleylimestone.Nopalaeontologicalor limestone lithofaciesevidencetodefine
theWasia/Thamamaboundaryexists.
In Oman, where the basal terrigenous clastic unit becomes an interbedded limestone/terrigenous clastic
unit,thesituationwithregardtochoosingtheboundaryissimilartothatintheAbuDhabioffshelfareas,
i.e. a change from dominant clastics to dominant limestone, together with a change in character of the
argillaceousinterbeds.
In Onshore Qatar, the base of the terrigenous clastic unit is taken below the lowest occurrence of
sandstone.
UpperBoundaryoftheNahrUmr
Defined as the base of the overlying Orbitolina/Trocholina limestones of the Mauddud shelf carbonate
sequence,ortheirlateralequivalent
Theexactpickissometimesdifficult,duetothepresenceofthinlimestonesinthetopoftheclasticunit.
The base of the g" Member of Oman is normally clearly defined and is selected as the top of the Nahr
Umr. In areas such as Onshore Qatar 'where the f" and g Members are notclearly differentiated, the
contact is clearly defined by the boundary between limestone of the Mauddud Formation and the
underlyingclastics.
IninterveningareasofOnshoreandOffshoreAbuDhabiandOffshoreQatar,thinlimestonesoccurwhich
canbecorrelatedwiththeandgMemberofOman.ThetopoftheNahrUmrisplacedatthebaseof
thelowestofthese.
728
MauddudFormation
Author
Synonymy
F.R.S.Henson,1940,unpublishedreport
MauddudFormation,OwenandNasr,1958.MauddudFormation,Dunningtonetal.
1959. Mauddud, Dominguez, 1965. Mauddud Member, James and Wynd, 1965.
MauddudFormation,Dunnington,1967.MauddudMember,Powers,1968.
TypelocalityandSection
Location Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 1 [DK-0001], Lat. 252516N, Long. 504701E, Elevation 128
ft.,Completed9.1.1940,betweendrilleddepths2,408and2,589feet.
Lithology DescribedbySUGDEN,1956(UnpublishedReport)asfollows:
Limestone, light grey, earthy, mostly of fairly high porosity except for bottom few feet
whicharerathermarly.Muchofthelimestoneappearstobesiltyduetothepresenceof
fine calcareous detritus and the upper part contains beds with much fossil and pellet
debris. In some Qatar sections the limestone is rather dolomitic, especially the middle
part.
Thickness 181ft
Age Albian age is proved by DUNNINGTON, 1959, for a comparable unit with similar fauna
whichoccursinIraq.
Underlying Nahr Umr Formation, contact at conformable boundary between limestone of the
MauddudwitharenaceoussedimentsoftheNahrUmr.
Overlying AhmadiFormation,contactconformable.ShalesandmarlsoftheAhmadioverlietypical
limestoneoftheMauddud.
ReferenceSections
The above type section is representative of onshore Qatar. Reference sections for
offshore Qatar, offshore Abu Dhabi and Oman are provided to illustrate variation in
developmentinsoutheastArabia.
OffshoreQatarS.C.Q.Well
729
MauddudMember
ReferenceSection UmmShaifNo.1(Enclosure1)
Location Latitude25120.3.90N
Longitude531312.60E
Interval(b.r.t.) 5086to5123
Drilledthickness 37
A prominent thick limestone band subcropping beneath the Shilaif
Formation occurs throughout the ADMA concession. Its basal contact is
somewhat transitional with the underlying Nahr Umr Formation, but by
definition,onlogcharacter,theboundaryistakenatthebaseofthelowest
most prominent gammaray and neutron peak. The member maintains a
remarkably uniform thickness for considerable distances; its development
was apparently not influenced by localised structural growth. No detailed
lithologicalorpalaeontologicaldataareavailablefortheunit.
Remarks The member differs considerably from the type Mauddud. A separate
nameshouldbeappliedforoffshoreAbuDhabi.
OnshoreAbuDhabi
Onlywelldevelopedinonewell,whichisselectedastheReferenceSection:
A.D.P.C.WellFaihaNo.1,Lat.232308N.Long.550219E,betweendrilleddepths7103and7297feet.
Thickness 194ft
Lithology Compactskeletaldebriswackestoneswithlocally,veryabundantTrocholina
spp. and Orbitolina sp. Also present are scattered large shell fragments,
echinoidspines,smallgastropods,molluscandebrisandtextularids.
Beds of more argillaceous, dense limestone occur near the top. An
alternationofgreygreenshaleandlimestoneoccurtowardsthebase.
Palaeontology Trocholina altispira, T. sp., Orbitolina concava occur throughout.
Cyclamminawhiteiisfoundinshalesbelow7240feet.
Age Albianfromstratigraphicposition.
Underlying NahrUmrFormation. Thecontentsisplacedatthebaseofthelowestwell
developed limestone of the Mauddud (equals the "g member of Oman)
andthehighestshaleofaseriesofalternatingshalesandlimestonesofthe
highestNahrUmr.
Overlying Shilaif Formation. Content at apparently conformable boundary between
shelflimestoneoftheMauddudanddeeperwaterlimestonesoftheShilaif.
730
OMAN
A discrete Mauddud Formation cannot be readily distinguished in Oman. Mauddudtype Trocholina
orbitolinawackestonestypifythegand"fMembers,whichoverlietheNahrUmr.Theycanbeclosely
correlatedwiththeMauddudFormationasrecognisedineasternonshoreAbuDhabi.Someintercalations
of deepwater Albian sediments can occur above this level, together with interbedded Orbitolina
packstones and rudist packstones. These form the lower part of the e" Member. Evidence exists of an
erosional surface which separates the lower from the higher part of this Member. The top of the Albian
Stageisplacedataboutthislevel,abovewhichonlyafewrareOrbitolinabearingbedsoccur.
ThereappeartobethreepossibletopswhichcouldbeselectedfortheMauddudinOman.
ThehighestoccurrenceofOrbitolina,atthetopoftheeMemberistheleastconvincingsinceitisquite
possiblefortherangeofthisfossiltoextendhigherthannormally,givensuitableenvironmentalconditions.
The top of the f Member can be correlated with a top Mauddud in Abu Dhabi. The latter is almost
certainlynotfullydevelopedinthatarea,however.Inthewest,towardsQatar,the"f"and"gMembers
appeartomergeintothelowerpartoftheMauddudasthepeninsulaisapproached.
TheevidenceofcommonoccurrenceofOrbitolinauptotheerosional surfacedescribedabove,together
withtherecordofanumberofrudistpackstonehorizonsinthelowerpartoftheeMemberleadstothe
belief that there exists some situation comparable to that in the Shuaiba Formation as described in Abu
Dhabi.Onthisbasis,thetopofthelower"e"MemberwouldbelogicalpickforthetopMauddud.
DISCUSSION
TrueMauddudfaciesiswelldevelopedtothewestandtheeast.IntheareaofonshoreandoffshoreAbu
Dhabithereexistsapredominantlydeepwatersequencebeneathwhichoccurtwothinlimestoneswhich
canbeshowntocorrelatewiththe"f"and"gMembersofOman.ThetopoftheNahrUmrFormationis
now placed at the base of the lowest of these. Sometimes these limestones exhibit a typical Mauddud
fauna. It is, however believed that this results from the washing into deeper water of shelf limestone
components. Thus it is proposed that such thin units be considered as basal members of the Shilaif
Formation,ratherthanasaseparateMauddudFormation.
ThenatureofthechangefromtypicalMauddudofonshoreQatarhasbeenstudiedinsomeS.C.Q.wells.
Theresultofthisistosuggestthatthereisanintermediatefaciesdevelopmentofshallowwatermarl,with
ostracods, which intervenes laterally between the Mauddud and its, thinner, offshelf equivalent in the
731
AhmadiFormation
Author
Synonymy
R.M.S.OwenandS.M.Nasr,1958
KhatiyahFormationofQ.P.C.(obsolete),KhatiyahFormationofS.C.Q.,nonKhatiyah
Formation A.D.M.A., Ahmadi Member, James and Wyrd, 1965, Ahmadi Member,
Powers,1968.
TypeLocalityandSection
K.O.C.WellBurganNo.62betweendrilleddepths4257and4497feet
240feet
Thickness
Lithology
Shales, green, greengrey to chocolate brown in upper part and grey in lower part. At
baseamarlylimestonecontainingabundantOstracods
Palaeontology Haplophragmoides sp., Flabellina sp., Ammobaculites sp., Gumbelina sp., Lenticulina sp.,
Franbinasp.
Inbasallimestoneunit,CythereisBahraini,ExogyracfColumba,Metoicocerassp.
Age
Cenomanian
Underlying
Wara Formation, contains at conformable junction of shales of the Wara beneath
argillaceouslimestoneofthebasalAhmadi
Overlying
RumailaFormationcontainsconformable
Remarks
In Kuwait, the Ahmadi is about wholly shale. In south Iraq, the formation is shown by
Dunnington(1959)topasslaterallyintoeithermarlorlimestoneoranypossibleratioof
thetwo.
In1961ChaltonandHartofI.P.C.demonstratedthesimilarityoftheAhmadiofSouth Iraq
to the socalled Khatiyah Formation of Qatar. To this reason the same Khatiyah was
abandonedbyQ.P.C.andreplacedbyAhmadi".
ReferenceSections
Only recognized as a formation in Onshore Qatar from which the following reference
sectionisdescribed.
OnshoreQatar ReferenceSectionQ.P.C.wellDukhanNo.28[DK0028]depth2380to3025
feet. The Dukhan type section was renamed by Standring (unpublished
report)asAhmadi,beingcomparabletothesuccessioninKuwaitandS.Iraq
althoughnotexactlysimilartothetypesectioninBurganwell62KuwaitOil
Company.SugdensdescriptionoftheAhmadiinDk.28[DK0028]from
toptobottomisasfollows:
732
Limestone,lightgrey,earthy,mostlymoreorlesssiltywithnumerous
thinbedsofmarl,greyandbluishgreyandshalebluegreyandbrown.
Thickness332feet.
ii Shale, brown and blue grey, partly marly with a few thin beds of
limestone,lightgrey,finegrained,earthysilty.Thickness48feet.
iii Shalebluegreyandbrownwithsomebluegreymarlinthelowerhalf.
A thin bed of silty limestone occurs some 15 feet from the bottom.
Thickness140feet.
iv Limestonelightgreysiltyearthy.Thickness35feet.
v Shale brown and blue grey with a very thin bed of greenish grey,
marly glauconitic sandstone some 45 feet from the bottom of the
section.
Thicknessinreferencesection(Dk.28[DK0028]seeencl.2)645feetandis
fairly constant over the area of the Qatar peninsula, but there is some
variablethinningnearthecrestoftheDukhananticline.
Cretaceous
Cenomanian:Turonian
R.M.S. Owen & S.M. Nasr, 1958 (but first described by P.M.V. Rabanit, 1952 in
Author
unpublishedreport).
Synonymy
MishrifFormation,Dominguez,1965
TypeLocalityandSection
Location B.P.C.wellZubairNo.3,Lat.302306N,Long.474329E.,elevation52ft.,
completed26.2.51,betweendrilleddepths7,204and7,720feet.
Thickness 516feet
Lithology
1 FinegrainedlimoniticfreshwaterlimestonecontainsCharophytae.Top.
2 Greywhite, dense, fractured or stylolitic algal limestone with gastropods and shell
fragments
4 Compactmarlylimestone.Base
Age
Turonian(Owen&Nasr1958)orCenomanian(Dunnington,1959)
MishrifFormation
733
RumailaFormation.Contactatconformableboundarybetweenneriticlimestone,above
andoligosteginalglobigerinallimestone,below.
Khasib Formation, disconformable, but almost certainly involves a considerable
Overlying
sedimentaryhiatus(Dunnington,1959).
Otherlocalities
The Basrah area, northeast Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia (Mishrif Member), Bahrain,
Qatar,TrucialCoast.
Referencesections
TheshallowwaterrudistidforaminiferallimestonefaciesoftheMishrifFormationcanbe
recognised in all areas operated by participants. In some cases, as in Onshore Qatar its
limits are such as to permit the use of the name Mishrif Formation. The following
referencesectionsaretypicaloftheareasinwhichtheyoccur.
OnshoreQatar Reference sectioninQatar,Dukhanwell No. 28[DK0028]. Depth21202380 feet
(see enclosure No. ). Described by Sugden 1956 (unpublished paper) as:
Limestone, light grey, soft, earthy, porous, partly silty in appearance due to
presenceoffinecalcareousdetritus.ThicknessinDk.28[DK0028]well260feet,
butintheareaoftheDukhananticlinethicknessisvariableduemainlytoerosionof
theupperpartoftheformation.
Overlyingformation LaffanFormation,contactunconformable.
Underlyingformation Ahmadi,contactconformable
Age AccordingtoSugden,MiddleCretaceousseeminglyupperCenomanianbut
mayincludelowerTuronian.
Discussion
In its type areas the Mishrif Formation is underlain by Oligosteginalglobigerinal
limestones of deeper water aspect. Nearby it is underlain by the neritic argillaceous
AhmadiFormation.
InonshoreQatarthesamerelationshipofMishrifoverlyingAhmadiisseenandthereisno
barrier to acceptance of the two formation names. Eastwards from Qatar, the Ahmadi
facies is progressively replaced by shelf carbonates. In offshore Qatar, S.C.Q. finds it
impossibletodifferentiatethetwoformations,althoughsomeinterbeddedshaleunitsstill
occur. In much of offshore and onshore Abu Dhabi the Ahmadi facies has completely
disappearedandthicksequenceofshelflimestonesofMishriftypeoverlieoligosteginal
globigerinallimestones.
ItiscurrentpracticeinA.D.P.C.toconsiderthesethickshelfcarbonatesofCenomanian,
toperhapsTuronian,ageasMishrif,havingadiachronouslowerlimit.
734
ShilaifFormation
Cretaceous
(AlbianCenomanian)
Author
A.J.Standring(1969)
Synonymy
OligosteginaLimestoneofA.D.P.C.,Oligostegina LimestoneofA.D.M.A.
TypeLocalityandsection
A.D.P.C.wellMurbanNo.47,lat.233524N.,long.532232E.,betweendrilleddepths
7305and7930feet.
Thickness
625feet
Limestone, grey, buff or brown, fine grained, small foraminiferal wackestone to lime
Lithology
mudstone. While the lithology remains virtually similar throughout, a series of major
cycles can be seen, reflected by an alternation of pure carbonate and argillaceous
carbonate,thelatteroftenquitehighlybituminous.
The uppermost 275 feet are predominantly pure carbonate with minor argillaceous
streaks,withtheexceptionoftheinterval7435to7490feetwhichisslightlyargillaceous.
With the exception of the basal 42 feet; the lowest 309 feet are predominantly
argillaceousandoftenhighlybituminous.
The lowest 42 feet of the formation are composed of two dense clean limestones
separated by a thin shale unit showing some suggestion of a slightly shallower
environment.
Palaeontology Planktonic foraminifera in all but the lowest 42 feet. One common element is
Oligosteginawhichisparticularlyabundantinthelowerargillaceoussections.
ThemoreargillaceouspartsofthesequenceyieldcommonGlobigerinaspp.,Heterohelix
sp.,SchackoinaandGlobotruncanids,manyofwhichhavenotbeenspecificallyidentified.
Rotoliporasp.,andPraeglobotruncanastephanihavebeenrecordedfromtheupperpart.
The interval of approximately 100 feet above the basal limestone has yielded a fauna
typifiedbyoccurrencesofGl.Hedbergellawashitensisinneighbouringwells.
The lower 42 feet show some affinity with the Mauddud of the shelf province, yielding
Orbotolinacf.concavaandTrochulinalenticuleris.
Age
CenomaniantoAlbian
Underlying
NahrUmrFormation;attheconformable,gradationalcontactofgreybrownshales,with
interbeddedlimestonesbelow,withlimestoneofthebasalShilaif,above.
Overlying
Tuwayil Formation; contact conformable. Dark grey shales of the Tuwayil overlie
speckledglobigerinal,oligosteginallimestoneoftheShilaif.
735
Remarks
PresentthroughoutAbuDhabi,theformationextendsintoeasternOffshoreQatar
Further work remains to be done on the microfauna and facies of this unit. With the
exceptionofafewcoresfromearlywells,almostalldescriptionwasbasedonexamination
of cuttings. However, there is a very strong similarity of lithology and succession in all
wellsdrilledthroughthe"OligosteginaLimestoneincentralAbuDhabi.
The appearance of cyclicity in the succession requires further study. This may lead to
closer correlation with subdivisions of the shelf carbonate succession, where several
horizons of coarse clastic carbonate, often with rudisted reefs, are separated by denser
finelimemudstone.
This formation is present in whole or in part in virtually all wells drilled in Abu Dhabi. It
thinsmarkedlytothewest,whereitchangesprogressivelyintoshelflimestone.
Reference
The above type section is typical of onshore Abu Dhabi. Other reference sections are
appendedtoillustratedevelopmentsoftheShilaifinneighbouringareas.
Sections
OffshoreAbuDhabi
Referencesection Zakum37(enclosure2)
Location
Latitude244748.42N
Longitude534505.24E
Interval(b.r.t.)
6423to6927
Drilledthickness
504
Synonymy
Oligosteginal(part)
736
TuwayilFormation
Author
A.J.Standring(thisreport)
Synonymy
LowerShaleofA.D.P.C.reports
TypeLocalityandsection
A.D.P.C. well Murban 47, lat. 233524N., long. 532232E., between drilled depths
7,028and7,305feet
TheformationtakesitsnamefromalocalityneartheBuHasaOilfield.
Thickness
277feet
Lithology
Shale grey to dark grey with thin beds of limestone, light grey, lime mudstone,
oligosteginal,andmarlwithpelecypodcastsinitsupperpart.
Fauna
Theshalesyield ostracods including Brachycythere wellingsi,Cytherellasp. Cythereis sp.
together with common Globigerina sp. and a restricted fauna of Heterohelix near the
base.LimestonestreakscontainOligostegina.
Age
Probably Cenomanian. This is supported by Palynological determination of correlative
horizonsinwellsSalabikh1andMushash1
Underlying
Shilaifformation.AtconformablecontactofgreyshalesoftheTuwayilwithlimestonesof
theunderlyingShilaif.
RuwaydhaFormation.GreylimestonesoftheRuwaydhaconformablyoverliegreyshales
Overlying
oftheTuwayil.
OtherLocalities
Widespread in central onshore Abu Dhabi, the Tuwayil Formation can be traced in an
attenuatedformintotheoffshorearea,notrecognizedinsurroundingareas.
Remarks
TheTuwayilFormationwasoriginallynamedtheLowerShalebyA.D.P.C.atatimewhen
it was believed to be the basal unit of the Upper Cretaceous, Aruma Group. With
recognitionoftheCenomanianageoftheunit,thenamebecameunacceptableaswellas
informal and was only retained as fieldname until a suitable formation name could be
proposed.
Although largely confined to Abu Dhabi, the Tuwayil is sufficiently widespread and
uniformlydevelopedtoconstituteavalidandvaluableformation.
The main lateral change in the formation is a westward change of the limestone which
occurintheupperparttosandsandsilts.
737
Onlyoneotherarea,offshoreAbuDhabi,recognizestheTuwayilFormation;areference
sectionisappendedbelow.
OffshoreAbuDhabi
ReferenceSection
ZakumNo.37(enclosure)
Location
Latitude244748.42N
Longitude534505.24E
Interval(b.r.t.)
6,330to6,423
Drilledthickness
93
Synonymy
Oligosteginal(part)
LowerShale(A.D.P.C.)
Generalremark
For ADMA, the Tuwayil should have no more than member
statuswithintheShilaifFormation
738
Referencesection:Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheTuwayilFormation,Murban47
739
RuwaydhaFormation
Cretaceous
UpperCenomanianorTuronian
Author
A.J.Standring(thisreport)
Synonymy
LowerChalkofA.D.P.C.reports
TypeLocalityandsection
A.D.P.C.WellMurbanNo.47,lat.233524N.,long.532232E.,betweendrilleddepths
6,860and7,028feet.
TheformationisnamedafteralocalityneartheBuHasaOilfield
Lithology
Limestonelight grey,argillaceous andchalky,fine to veryfine grained,andchalky, grey,
limemudstonetowackestone.
Fauna
The upper part contains a planktonic assemblage including Globotruncana renzi,
Praeglobotruncana stephani and Rotalipora turonica. The lower part mainly contains
Oligostegina.
Age
While theabove assemblage couldbelowermostTuronian, E.Hart prefers to compare it
with the assemblage recorded by Malapris and Rat which occurred with Upper
Cenomanianammonites.
Overlying
LaffanFormation. Contactapparently conformable but could in factbedisconformable.
ShalesoftheLaffanFormationoverliethelimestoneoftheRuwaydha.
Remarks
The informal name Lower Chalk was first applied to this unit when it was believed to
formpartofthelowestcycleoftheUpperCretaceous,ArumaGroup.NowthatitsMiddle
Cretaceousagehasbeenestablishedanewformalnameisproposed,takenfromthearea
whereitismostfullydeveloped.
The Ruwaydha formation is known to be well developed only in onshore Abu Dhabi. It
almost certainly extends into the offshore area of Abu Dhabi but has not yet been
definitely identified. In the west in Qatar, both offshore and onshore, as well as in
westernAbuDhabi,itsequivalentistobesoughtintheupperpartoftheNatihorMishrif
Formations.IntheShuweihatsectionthelateralequivalentoftheRuwaydhaFormation
canbeshowntobeunits1and2oftheNatihFormation.
It has not been definitely recognized in eastern Abu Dhabi, where it may have been
removed by postCenomanian erosion. In Oman,the aMemberof the Natih Formation
stillyieldscommonplanktonicforaminifera,whichcouldbecomparabletothoserecorded
from the type section. They have, however, been assigned a younger, Turonian to
Coniacianage.
740
NatihFormation
Cretaceous
AlbianTuronian
Author
Synonymy
C.Hopping(thisreport)
TypelocalityandSection
P.D.(O)WellFahudNorth 3
Lat.Long.
Elev.Ft.,betweendrilleddepthsandft.
Thickness
Ft.
Lithology
Palaeontology
Age
ReferenceSections
TheabovetypesectionistypicalfortheOmanarea,althoughsomeminorvariationexists,
particularlyinthedistributionofdeeperwaterintercalations.ThenameNatihFormation
is appliedtoshelfcarbonatesuccessionswhichcannotbeaccurately subdivided.This is
the case in Offshore and Onshore Abu Dhabi. Reference sections for these areas are
describedbelow.
OffshoreQatar LocationS.C.Q.WellIdalShargiNo.1
OffshoreAbuDhabi
ReferenceSection UmmShaifNo.1(enclosure1)
Location
Latitude251203.90N
Longitude531312.60E.
Interval(b.r.t.)
4235to4812
Drilledthickness
577
Synonymy
Mishrifformation
KhatiyahFormation
MiddleCretaceousLimestone(part)
TheNatifFormationinUmmShaifNo.1is madeupofamassiveseriesofwellwashed,
shallowwater,shelflimestones.ItisoverlainunconformablybytheshalesoftheLaffan
Formation, but at its base, the Natih Formation conformably overlies beds of the Shilaif
Formation. The following lithological descriptions are based on cuttings from the
referencesection.
The upper part of the Natih Formation from 4235 to 4578 (b.r.t.) is composed of a
remarkably uniform series of cream and white rudistid limestones, which are chalky in
741
parts. Small clusters of pyrites occur throughout. Below 4598, rudist fragments are
noticeablyabsent;andfrom4650toformationbase,at4812,thewhitechalkylimestones
become grey white in colour, and are considerably less shelly. Bituminous residues are
occasionally noted in the darker bands of this interval. The formation becomes
increasinglymoremarlytowardsitsbase.
DetailedpaleontologyofNatihfaunashasnotbeencarriedout.However,Dr.Smouthas
designatedtheupperNatihinUmmShaif1asbeingofTuronianage.Thisisbasedonthe
relativeabundantoccurrenceofLaeverinearequieni,togetherwithThalmanninella(?)cf.
reicheliandTerabratulinalata.Below4598(b.r.t.)aCenomanianagehasbeenassigned,
butnofaunallistisavailabletosupportthisdesignation.
TheNatihFormationisvariablydevelopedacrosstheA.D.M.A.concession.Contemporary
structuralgrowthonindividualstructurescontrolledlocalsedimentation;whilstregionally
the unit rapidly thickens towards Qatar in the west, but disappears eastwards in Zakum
andMosaddej.ItreappearsoncemoreinUmmAddalkhandFatehingoodreefalfacies.
Generalremark
ItisstronglyrecommendedthatthenameMishrifberetainedforthisunit
inA.D.M.A.,asthefullneriticlimestonesofthetypicalNatih area arenot
developed.
OnshoreAbuDhabi
ReferenceSection A.D.P.C.WellShuweihatNo.1
Coordinates
522628E,240336N.,
Betweendrilled
5260and6640feet
depths
Thickness
1380feet
742
Lithology
Top
Limestone white, chalky, pellet, shellfragment,
foraminiferal, algal grainstone to packstone,
sometimesoolitic,cementedgradingdowninto:
2 Limestonewhite, fine grained,chalky wackestone
tomudstonewiththininterbedsofveryfineshell
fragment,packstone.
3 Limestone grey, argillaceous, lime mudstone,
becomingshaleinthebasalfewfeet.
4 Limestone, white, fine, shellfragment, algal,
foraminiferal wackestone, grading to packstone
andgrainstone.
5 Limestone,fine,denselimemudstone.
6 Limestone white, fine grained, packstone
wackestone,chalky.
7 Limestone, white fine grained, chalky lime
mudstone.
8 Limestone,finetocoarsepackstonegrainstoneto
wackestone,particlesofshellfragments,including
Rudists,foraminifera,algae.
9 Dolomite,secondaryafterfinepackstone,dense
10 Limestone white, chalky, fine fossil fragment,
packstone.
Base
240
98
23
129
86
189
55
398
Fossils
Age
Overlying
Underlying
Discussion
22
140
SeeenclosureNo.
WhollyorlargelyCenomanian.Couldextendintothe
Turonian in its uppermost part there is no definite
proofofthis.
743
NatihisatahorizonequivalenttotheTuwayilofthebasinalfacies.
ThemainvalueofthetermNatihFormationisintheOmanarea,wherea
succession of shelf carbonates, basically similar to those described from
areas to the west, cannot be accurately subdivided into the established
formations.
744
Delegates
A.D.M.A.
A.D.M.A.
A.D.P.C.
C.F.P.
D.P.C.
P.D.O.
P.D.O.
Q.P.C
S.C.Q.
S.I.P.M.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Paris
Dubai
Muscat
Muscat
Dukhan
Doha
The Hague
T.D. Adams
P.R. Ashton
B.N. Twombley
R.M. Lacassagne
I.D. Maycock
C.A. Hopping (Chairman)
J.R. Freake
F. Gosling
A.B. Sent
R.J. Murris
INTRODUCTION
The main aims of this meeting were:
To receive and adopt the final report on "The Stratigraphy of the "Wasia Group" In
South-East Arabia" by A.J. Standring, which report had been approved in draft at the
previous Liaison Meeting held at Dukhan, Qatar; to commence the study on the
stratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous deposits of South-East Arabia.
The meeting assembled for business at 08.00 hours on 28th November in the board room of the
P.D.O. main office, Mina al Fahal. Mr. J.S. Jennings (Exploration Manager) of P.D.O. welcomed
the delegates to Oman on behalf of P.D.O. and gave an account of the companys activities,
particularly in the field of exploration.
The chairman announced that S.C.Q. (Doha) had been unable to send a delegate to this meeting in
view of leave schedules and minuted S.C.Q.s letter of regret.
The A.D.P.C. and Q.P.C. delegates informed the meeting that the approved draft report on The
stratigraphy of the Wasia Group in South-East Arabia had not yet been finalised in view of A.J.
Standrings departure to the United Kingdom, where he is currently completing this work. It was
hoped that this report would be received at an early date.
745
DISCUSSION
Onshore Qatar (Q.P.C)
Mr. Gosling intimated that the rock-stratigraphical units used in the onshore Qatar area had
been defined mainly by Sugden in 1956 and are contained in the forthcoming publication of
the Stratigraphical Lexicon of Qatar by A.J. Standring.
Shuaiba Formation
Mr. Gosling submitted the logs and descriptions of the type section from Zubair-3 in
southern Iraq. The Shuaiba Formation as defined in onshore Qatar (reference section,
Dukhan-11 [DK-0011]) was shown to be in accordance with the descriptions of Owen
& Nasr (1958) as amended by Dunnington (1959). Two pertinent points arose in
discussion, the lower boundary of the Shuaiba Formation taken at the base of the
limestone as defined in the Type Section and the term Sabsab assigned to the
distinctive lithological development of grainstones/packstones with abundant
abraided Orbitolinas.
Hawar Formation
A well-defined, distinctive but thinly developed unit, which is restricted to the
onshore and offshore area of the Qatar peninsula. Mr. Gosling further remarked that
the Hawar Formation was, for many years, considered to be the upper member of a
heterogenous formation which also included the Kharaib and Ratawi Formations.
The other delegates doubted the validity of this strata unit as a formation, particularly
outside onshore Qatar.
Kharaib Formation
A predominantly clean limestone unit of uniform and widespread development over
a vast area of South-East Arabia
Ratawi Formation
Mr. Gosling submitted the logs and description of the Type section from Ratawi-1 in
southern Iraq. The Ratawi Formation as defined in Qatar (reference section, Kharaib1) is only the approximate equivalent of the Ratawi Formation of the type section.
Indeed the unit in Qatar is more comparable with the development in the lower Gulf
area and described under the name Lekhwair Formation in Oman.
746
747
748
749
FIELD TRIP
Mr. Hopping led a field trip of the delegates to the Wadi MiAidin section of the Lower
Cretaceous rock outcrops of the Oman Mountains on 30th November 1971. Particular attention
was paid to the development of the Shuaiba Formation, the boundary of the Kharaib/Shuaiba
Formations, the development of the lower limestone units of the Lekhwair Formation, the
boundary of the Yamama/Lekhwair Formations and the overall development of the Rayda, Salil
and Sulaiy Formations.
DECISION AND ACTION
At the closing discussions on 1st December 1971 the following Lower Cretaceous rockstratigraphical units were defined and named for use in South-East Arabia. The responsibility for
the description of each rock-stratigraphical unit was also minuted.
Shuaiba Formation
The section from the base of the lowermost limestone (Bacinella Boundstone unit, Unit I, Unit A)
to the top of the continuous limestone, limestone and shale or X-Shale of A.D.M.A., underlying
the shales of the Nahr Umr Formation. A description of the formation with its different
developments and distinctive members Sabsab, Bab and Bu Hasa to be undertaken by Q.P.C.
Kharaib Formation
The section from the base of the lower limestone member (Unit III or Unit C) to the top of the
shales (Hawar Member) underlying the Shuaiba Formation. A description of this formation is to
be undertaken by Q.P.C.
Lekhwair Formation
The section from the disconformable base of the pre-Buwaib unconformity (Unit VI or Units F,
G and H) overlying the grainstones of the upper Habshan Formation to the shales underlying the
lower limestone member of the Kharaib Formation. A description of the formation with its
members (e.g. Zakum Member) and important stratigraphical breaks to be undertaken by P.D.O.
Habshan Formation
In view of the unsatisfactory definitions of the Yamama and Sulaiy Formations at their type section
in Saudi Arabia, the inaccessibility of the type section areas and the difficulties in the
determination of these units in regional correlation it was decided to redefine the rock unit(S)
underlying the Lekhawair Formation and overlying the Hith or Salil Formations and re-name these
rock units the Habshan Formation. A description of the formation will be undertaken by A.D.P.C.
with palaeontological assistance from P.D.O.
750
751
THAMAMA GROUP
STRATIGRAPHY
OF THE
QATAR PENINSULA
Dukhan
November 1971
752
CONTENTS
Page
PART - I: THE THAMAMA GROUP, QATAR
INTRODUCTION
THAMAMA GROUP
SHUAIBA FORMATION
HAWAR FORMATION
RATAWI FORMATION
YAMAMA FORMATION
12
SULAIY FORMATION
14
16
SHUAIBA FORMATION
17
RATAWI FORMATION
18
20
PLATES:
QPG. 3037
QPG. 3038
QPG. 3039
QPG. 3040
QPG. 3041
QPG. 3048
Note 1: QPG 3038, 3039, 3040, 3041 and 3048 were not included in our original
Note 2: The pagination above refers to the original document and not to this transcript.
753
The Thamama Group of Qatar contains lithologic units comparable to those described from the
subsurface of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Exact correlation being impossible on the
basis of available evidence, different formation names have been applied to parts of the succession.
Even where names from Saudi Arabia have been applied, it is possible that formation boundaries
are slightly different from those in the type area.
In 1956, the Thamama Group of Qatar was subdivided into the following formations
Shuaiba Formation
Hawar Shale Formation
Kharaib Formation
Ratawi Formation
Yamama Formation
Sulaiy Formation
The Shuaiba Formation is a widespread, transgressive carbonate unit of Aptian age which can be
recognised over much of Arabia, but does not reach the outcrop area of Saudi Arabia. Its inclusion
in the Thamama Group is based upon its apparent conformable relationship and close age affinity
with the underlying units, together with its common erosional contact with the overlying clastics of
the Nahr Umr Formation.
In 1961, it was shown that the Ratawi Formation of south Iraq has a diachronous, laterally
gradational contact with the Zubair Formation. A situation obtains in some areas where shales of
the Ratawi Formation have wholly replaced the Zubair, and include an appreciable proportion of
limestone. The Ratawi in such developments closely resembles the combined Hawar, Kharaib and
Ratawi Formations as originally defined in Qatar. For this reason, the Hawar and Kharaib were
754
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr, 1958 (amend. H.V. Dunnington, 1959)
Synonymy
Shuaiba Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Shuaiba Formation, Powers, 1968. Shuaiba
Formation, Harris et al., 1968.
The type section
Is in B.P.C. Well Zubair No. 3, South Iraq, see part II of this report
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 11 [DK-0011], lat. 252717 N, Long. 504802 E, Elevation 41.5 m
(136 ft), completed 1.8.1949, between drilled depths 1006 and 1135 m (3291 and 3724 ft).
Thickness 132 m (432 ft)
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey or white, chalky and white chalk. 26 m (85 ft). 2.
Lithology
Limestone, white to light grey, chalky, containing fine, calcareous, organic debris.
Partly to strongly recrystallised. Occasionally dolomitic. Grey and argillaceous in
bottom few feet. 106 m (348 ft).
In 1. Arenobulimina sp., Pseudochrysalidina sp., and Orbitolina cf. discoidea Gras.
Fossils
In 2. O. cf. discoidea, Cardita cf. upwarensis.
Graphic log of this formation is given in QPG.3040 a gamma-ray/neutron log run
recently in Dukhan No. 80 [Dk-0080]
Age
Aptian
Underlying Hawar Formation; contact conformable. Placed where limestones of the basal
Shuaiba overlie blue-grey shales of the Hawar.
Overlying Nahr Umr Formation; contact probably disconformable; at contact of grey limestone
of the Shuaiba, below, with the shales of Nahr Umr Formation.
755
Author
W. Sugden, 1953 (unpublished report).
Synonymy
None
Type locality
QPC Well Kharaib No. 1, Lat. 252709 N, Long. 511156 E, elevation 41 m (136 ft), completed
29.6.1953, between drilled depths 1109 and 1125 m (3637 and 3689 ft).
16 m (52 ft)
Thickness
Shale and marl, blue-grey.
Lithology
Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger
Fossils
Lower Aptian or Barremian
Age
Underlying
Kharaib Formation; contact conformable, placed at boundary between limestone,
below, and shales or marls, above.
Shuaiba Formation; contact conformable; limestones of the Shuaiba rest upon
Overlying
shales of the Hawar Formation
Other localities
Occurs throughout onshore Qatar and can be traced eastwards through offshore Qatar where it
changes progressively into a characteristic limestone unit composed of foraminiferal, pellet
packstones and wackestones and argillaceous lime mudstones, often highly glauconitic and dense.
This limestone can be traced eastwards through Abu Dhabi and probably extends into Oman.
Everywhere it intervenes between the Shuaiba and Kharaib Formations. The shale is present in
756
Author
W. Sugden, 1953 (unpublished report)
Synonymy
None
Type locality
QPC Well Kharaib No. 1, Lat 252709 N, Long. 511156 E, elevation 41 m (136 ft), completed
29.6.1953, between drilled depths 1125 and 1208 m (3689 and 3962 ft).
83 m (273 ft).
Thickness
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey, fine grained, porous, partly crystallised. 24 m (79
Lithology
ft). 2. Limestone, grey to cream, porous to compact, detrital, in parts with large
pellets, interbedded with argillaceous limestone. 41 m (136 ft). 3. Limestone, light
grey, porous, fine grained. 18 m (58 ft).
In 1. Orbitolina discoidea Gras, var. delicata Henson, Dictyoconus arabicus
Fossils
Henson. In 2. O. discoidea var. delicata, Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger. In
3. O. discoidea var. delicata, D. arabicus.
A graphic log is given on the enclosed plate QPG. 3038 and graphic S.P./Sonic log
of the formation in the nearby well Busayir is given on the enclosed plate
QPG.3041.
Probably Barremian
Age
Ratawi Formation; contact apparently conformable but, regionally, considerable
Underlying
cut-out and condensation of beds beneath the Kharaib Formation can be
demonstrated over the Qatar arch. Boundary placed at the contact of limestones of
the basal Kharaib Formation, above, with marls or shales of the Ratawi Formation,
below.
Hawar Formation; contact conformable. At contact of marl and shale of the
Overlying
Hawar, above, with limestones of the upper Kharaib Formation, below.
Other localities
Throughout onshore and offshore Qatar and the Trucial States. Probably extends some distance to
the west of Qatar where its equivalent is to be found within the Biyadh Formation.
Remarks
This, predominantly limestone, unit can be traced over a vast area of S.E. Arabia, as a continuous
carbonate development typified by the occurrence of Orbitolina discoidea, associated at two levels
with Dictyoconus arabicus. In Abu Dhabi the Kharaib Formation includes the Zone B plus Zone C
Reservoirs of the Thamama Group limestones, which contains important oil accumulations (Hajash,
1967).
To the east of Qatar, the marls and shales of the Ratawi Formation, which underlies the Kharaib,
pass into a predominantly limestone facies. In offshore Qatar the name Kharaib has been applied to
the complete sequence which underlies the Hawar Shale Formation and overlies the Yamama
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
757
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr, 1958
Synonymy
Ratawi Formation, H.V. Dunnington, 1959, 1967; Ratawi Formation, K.M. Al Naqib, 1967.
The type section
Is BPC Well Ratawi No. 1, in south Iraq, see Part II of this report
Reference section in Qatar
QPC Well Kharaib No. 1, Lat 292709 N, Long. 511156 E, elevation 41 m (136 ft), completed
29.6.1953, between drilled depths 1208 and 1352 m (3962 and 4434 ft).
Thickness 144 m (472 ft)
Top. 1. Limestone, grey, fine grained, compact, argillaceous, detrital. Pellety in
Lithology
lower part. 26 m (86 ft). 2. Marl, grey interbedded with limestone, grey,
argillaceous, pellety. 16 m (52 ft). 3. Marl, grey, with thin interbeds of limestone,
grey, argillaceous, detrital, often pellety. 36.5 m (120 ft). 4. Limestone, buff, pellety.
7 m (23 ft). 5. Marl, blue-grey. 7.5 m (25 ft). 6. Limestone, buff, porous. 4 m (14
ft). 7. Marl, blue-grey. 3 m (10 ft). 8. Limestone, buff, porous. 3.3 m (11 ft). 9.
Limestone, grey, argillaceous, in parts pellety, detrital. 22 m (72 ft). 10. Limestone,
grey, fine grained, compact argillaceous, pellety, 18 m (59 ft). Base.
In 1. Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger, Lituola sp. (Orbitolina discoidea is
Fossils
recorded but probably derived from the overlying Kharaib Formation). In 2 and 3.
C. decipiens, Lituola sp., Cyclammina greigi. In 4. Pseudochrysalidina arabica
Henson, Pseudocyclammina lituus (Yokoyama), Lituola sp., Trocholina sp. In 5.
Pseudocyclammina kelleri Henson, P. lituus, Cardita cf. neocomiensis dOrbigny. In
6. P. arabica, P. lituus. In 8. P. arabica, P. lituus. In 9 and 10. P. kelleri, P.
lituus, P. lituus var. nov.
Hauterivian by regional comparison of microfaunas.
Age
Overlying Kharaib Formation; contact apparently conformable but regional evidence suggests
the presence of a considerable sedimentary break between the Ratawi and Kharaib
Formations over Qatar. The boundary is a sharp one between pure, porous limestone
of the basal Kharaib Formation and argillaceous limestone and marls of the
underlying Ratawi Formation.
Underlying Yamama Formation; contact apparently conformable; placed where grey,
argillaceous, pellety limestone of the basal Ratawi overlies pure, fine grained
carbonates of the upper Yamama. Regionally, there is evidence of possible cut-out of
beds at this boundary which could, therefore, be unconformable.
Other localities
Recognised throughout Qatar. An equivalent is known from Bahrain, whence it may be traced
through eastern Saudi Arabia to the type locality in south Iraq. Eastwards from Qatar, the
argillaceous Ratawi Formation is rapidly replaced by shallow-water limestones
758
759
Cretaceous
(Valanginian)
Authors
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958 amend. R.W. Powers et al., 1966
Synonymy
None
Type locality
A number of short exposures on the Al Qusaija upland of Saudi Arabia.
Reference section in Qatar
QPC Well Dukhan No. 26 [DK-0026], Lat. 252658 N, Long. 504847 E, elevation 24.4 m (80
ft), completed 14.1.1952, between drilled depths 1553 and 1674 m (5095 and 5490 ft).
Thickness 120 m (395 ft).
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey to buff, fine grained, porous to compact, pellety in
Lithology
lower part. 29 m (95 ft). 2. Limestone, grey, hard, fine grained, compact, pellety
with occasional oolitic horizons; often includes coarse to fine detrital carbonate
grains. 66 m (217 ft). 3. Limestone, light grey, chalky to very chalky in upper part,
containing variable proportions of pellet debris. 25 m (83 ft).
In 1. Pseudocyclammina aff. lituus (Yokoyama), Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler,
Fossils
Trocholina sp., Spirocyclina sp., Stromatopora aff. costai Osimo, Polyphylloseris cf.
prae-turoniae (Zuffardi-Commerci). In 2. Pseudocyclammina sp., N. oolithica,
Trocholina sp. In 3. P. aff. lituus (this form is compared by Redmond with his P.
sulaiyana).
Probably Valanginian by comparison with the type Yamama Formation of Saudi
Age
Arabia.
Overlying Ratawi Formation; contact appears conformable in Qatar but regional evidence
suggests that a considerable sedimentary hiatus could exist at this level. Boundary
placed where clean, porous limestones of the Yamama are overlain by argillaceous
limestones of the basal Ratawi.
Underlying Sulaiy Formation; contact placed at conformable boundary between pellety, porous
limestones of the basal Yamama and fine grained, denser limestones of the Sulaiy
Formation.
Other localities
The Yamama Formation exhibits a similar lithologic development in the subsurface throughout
Qatar. To the east in Abu Dhabi it is predominantly lime mudstone and often difficult to
distinguish from the Sulaiy Formation. The Yamama Formation can be traced north westwards
through Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and South Iraq.
Remarks
The fossil Pseudocyclammina aff. lituus recovered from the lowest unit of the Yamama of Qatar is
the form compared with P. sulaiyana by Redmond. Powers (1968), states that the top of the Sulaiy
has been revised upwards in Saudi Arabia, to include the Yamama Detrital facies, which contains
P. sulaiyana. It is possible that the Sulaiy-Yamama boundary should be revised upwards in Qatar
to accommodate this change.
760
Cretaceous ?Jurassic
Authors
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958
Synonymy
Sulaiy Formation, Powers et al., 1966. Sulaiy Formation , Powers, 1968.
The type section
Is in the cliff above Dahl Hit in Saudi Arabia.
Reference section in Qatar
QPC Well Dukhan No. 27 [DK-0027], Lat. 251754 N, Long. 504630 E. elevation 16 m (52
ft), completed 23.2.1952; between drilled depths 1615 and 1753 m (5298 and 5700 ft). A graphic
gamma-ray/neutron log of this formation from Well Dk.80 [DK-0080] is given on plate QPG.3040
Thickness 138 m (453 ft).
Limestone, light grey to grey, fine grained varying from slightly porous at the top to
Lithology
dense at the bottom. The upper and middle parts are slightly dolomitic. In many
sections, but not in the reference section, a thin bed of pellety or oolitic limestone
occurs at the bottom.
None identified.
Fossils
Not definitely established in Qatar. Conventionally treated as earliest Cretaceous but,
Age
as in Saudi Arabia, its lowest part could be late Jurassic.
Underlying Hith Formation; contact conformable; placed at the top of limestone containing
anhydrite nodules, assigned to the Hith.
Overlying Yamama Formation; contact conformable, placed where porous, chalky, pellety
limestones of the basal Yamama overlie fine mudstones of the underlying Sulaiy.
Other localities
Recognised in all deep wells drilled in Qatar. To the south-east, in Abu Dhabi, a dense lime
mudstone sequence at the base of the Thamama can be compared with the Sulaiy Formation but an
exact distinction between Sulaiy and Yamama Formations cannot be made.
Remarks
The Sulaiy Formation is generally unfossiliferous in Qatar, but its consistent lithology permits
correlation over a wide area.
Recent revision of the upper limit of the Sulaiy Formation in the subsurface of Saudi Arabia
(Powers, 1966) possibly invalidates the current pick for the formations top in Qatar. The presentday boundary between predominantly dense lime mudstones, below, and porous detrital limestone,
above, still appears the most natural formation contact in Qatar.
The age of the Sulaiy in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia is deduced from long range correlation of the
top of the Hith Formation with the top of the Gotnia Formation of Iraq. The latter is overlain by
limestone containing Tithonian to Berriasian ammonites. This deduction assumes that the end of
anhydrite formations over a wide area is approximately synchronous.
In spite of the above, the base of the Sulaiy Formation is conventionally taken to mark the Jurassic
Cretaceous boundary in Qatar.
The name Wakrah Formation, assigned to this rock unit before the name Sulaiy was adopted, is now
obsolete.
761
PART II
THE SHUAIBA AND RATAWI FORMATIONS IN
SOUTHERN IRAQ
INTRODUCTION
The Shuaiba and Ratawi Formations have their type sections in Southern Iraq and descriptions of
these are given below.
SHUAIBA FORMATION
Type Locality
Zubair Well No. 3, BPC., Lat. 302301., Long. 474329e., located between drilled depths 9870
feet to 10132 ft.
First published details of the type locality were given by Owen and Nasr 1958, with further details
given in Lexique Stratigraphique International, Vol. III, Asie, Iraq, 1959
More recently in 1970 E. HART investigated the original descriptions of the type section by P.M.V.
RABANIT and concluded that the description of the Shuaiba by OWEN and NASR 1958, are more
applicable to sections of Ratawi and Nahr Umr rather than the type section at Zubair Well No.3. E.
HART quoting from RABANITIS original reports gives a description of the type section of the
Shuaiba from top to bottom as follows:
9870 9962
9962 10125
10125 10132
The fauna of this limestone formation in on the whole rather poor with the exception of a rich zone
Orbitolina discoidea at the base
There are no gamma-ray/neutron logs available from Zubair well No. 3 but a graphic summary is
given on the enclosed electric log QPG.3037. [see figure at the end of this report]
762
There are no gamma-ray/neutron logs available from Ratawi Well No. 1 but a graphic
summary is given on the enclosed electric log QPG.3039
763
PART III
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AmericanCommissiononStratigraphicNomenclature,1961
CodeofstratigraphicNomenclature.AmericanAssociationofpetroleumGeologists.Bull.Amer.Assoc.
Pet.Geol.Vol.45,No.5May1961,pp.645665(Amended1970).
Banner,F.E.&wood,G.(1964).
LowerCretaceousupperJurassicstratigraphyoftheUmmShaifField,AbuDhabiMarineAreas.Bull.
Amer.Assoc.Pet.Geol.Vol.48,No.2,pp.191206
Dominguez,J.K.(1965)
OffshoreFieldsofQatar,5thArabPet.Cong.57(B1)
Dunnington,H.V.,Wetzel,R.&Morton,D.M.,(1959)
Iraq,MesozoicandPalaeozoic.LexiqueStratigraphiqueInternationale.Vol.III,Fasc.10a
Dunnington,H.V(1967)
StratigraphicDistributionofOilfieldsintheIraqIranArabianBasin.Journ.Inst.Pet.,Vol.53,No.520,pp.
129161.
Elder,S.(1963)
UmmShaifOilfield,HistoryofExplorationandDevelopment.Journ.Inst.Pet.,Vol.49,No.478,pp.308
315.
Hajash,G.M.(1967).
TheAbuDhabiSheikhdomTheOnshoreOilfields,HistoryofExplorationandDevelopment.Proc.7th
WorldPet.Cong.Vol.2,p.130
Harris,T.J.,Hay,J.T.C.&Twombley,B.N.(1968)
ContrastingLimestoneReservoirsintheMurbanField,AbuDhabi.SecondReg.Tech.Symp.Soc.OfPet.
Eng.OfAIME.SaudiArabiansection,Dhahran.
James,G.A&Wynd,J.C.(1965).
StratigraphicNomenclatureofiranianOilConsortiumagreementArea.Bull.Amer.Assoc.Pet.Geol.,1965,
49,pp.21822245
Naqib,K.M.Al,(1967)
GeologyoftheArabianPeninsulaSouthwesternIraq.U.S.Geol.Surv.Prof.Paper.560G.
Powers,R.W.(1968)
LexiqueStratigraphiqueInternationale.Vol.III,Fasc.10b1,SaudiArabia
Powers,R.W.,Ramirez,L.F,Redmond,C.D.,&Elberg,E.L.jr.(1966)
GeologyoftheArabianPeninsulaSedimentarygeologyofSaudiArabia.U.S.Geol.Surv.Prof.Paper 560
D
Steineke,Max&Bramkamp,R.A.(1952a)
MesozoicRocksofEasternSaudiArabia(abstr.)Bull.Amer.Assoc.Pet.Geol.No.5,p.909.
764
SHUAIBAFORMATION
TYPESECTION
WELLZUBAIRNO.3(Iraq)
(AFTERPMVRABANITANDE.HART)
Q.P.C.Pet.Eng.Dept.
QPG.303711171
765
AimsofMeeting
1 Approvethefinalreporton"TheStratigraphyoftheWasiaGroupinSoutheastArabia"byA.J.
Standring"
2 Approveand/orreviewthesummaryofThamamaformationsmadebyP.D.(O).
3 Discussanyobjectionstotheminutesofthepreviousmeetingonthe"ThamamaGroup".
4 ReviewUpperJurassicstratigraphyandsuggestappropriatenomenclature.
Introduction
Mr. H. C. Sager welcomed the delegates to Dubai, and the meeting commenced at approximately 0900
hourson23rdOctober.
Thefollowingcontributionsweredistributed:
1 "TheStratigraphyoftheWasiaGroup(AlbianTuronian)inSoutheastArabia"byA.J.Standring.
(seebelow)
2 "UpperJurassicFormationsoftheQatarPeninsula"byQ.P.C. (seebelow)
3 "TheUpperJurassicstratigraphyofAbuDhabi"byA.D.P.C.(seebelow)
4 "UpperJurassicReferenceSectionsinOffshoreAbuDhabi"byA.D.M.A.
5 "UpperJurassicintheFatehA1,OffshoreDubai,byD.P.C. (seebelow)
6 "UpperJurassicReferenceSectionsofOman"byW.G.Witt,PD(O).(seebelow)
W.Witt,P.D.(O),apologizedforthefactthatP.D.(O)hadbeenunable,duetopressureofwork,tofinalize
eithertheThamama stratigraphicsummaryortoprovideanUpperJurassicpresentationfordistribution.
Upper Jurassic Reference Sections of Oman was presented later in December 1972 (see below). The
ThamamadocumentwasmadereadyinJune1973(seebelow)
J.deZoetensimilarlyapologizedforS.C.Q.sayingthat,duetotheirverysmallstaff,theywereunableto
provideaformalreport.
766
1 WasiaReport
TheabovementionedreportofStandringwasbrieflyreviewedandapprovedbythedelegates.
2 ThamamaGroup
The delegates working in concessions within the Gulf area all agreed that, in view of the
accepteduseoftheterm"ThamamaGroup",itwouldbeinadvisabletochangethenameofthe
group at this time. Therefore, they agreed that the name "Thamama Group" would be
maintained. Mr. Witt indicated that P.D.(O) used a different terminology although the
correlationremainedthesame.
3 ThamamaSubdivision
Severaldelegatesmentionedthattheydisagreedinpartwiththedetailsoftheminutesofthe
previous meeting, particularly in regard to certain aspects of Thamama terminology. Mr.
Goslingpointedoutthattheterm"SabSab"hadbeenusedforalithologicunitatthetopofthe
Shuaiba,butthatthistermhadnowbeendiscontinued.
The debate on the use of the term "Hawar" was revived. Arguments similar to those of the
previousmeetingwereheard.Again,theregionalimportanceofthewidespreadnatureofthe
base of the Shuaiba was stressed, and the delegates agreed to maintain the term "Hawar
Member"fortheuppermostsectionoftheKharaibformation.
Mr.Hassansuggestedthat,inviewofthewidespreaddevelopmentandeconomicimportance
of Zone II, it should be accorded member status and named appropriately. There was no
generalagreementthatthiswould,infact,beworthwhile;andthedelegatesvotedagainstthis
suggestion.
Discussion of the Salil and Rayda formations followed. These formations are recognized in
OmanandSouthernonshoreAbuDhabi;but,elsewhere,theirlimitsaredifficulttodetermine.
Theexactagerelationsoftheseformationsarestillinquestion.Mr.Murrispointedoutthatthe
Rayda may, in fact, be a partial time equivalent of the Hith anhydrite. Several delegates
mentioned that recent palynological dating suggested that the Hith might, in fact, be Lower
Cretaceousinage.Mr.Wittintimatedthatdifficultiesindatingthecalpeonellidfaunaofthese
formationscloudedtheproblemoftheiraccuratecorrelation.
In view of the problems of (a) the Rayda and the Salil, and (b) the oolitic and intraclastic
grainstones in the base of the Thamama or within the uppermost Jurassic in Abu Dhabi and
Dubai, it was agreed that further discussion of the nature of the Upper Jurassic/Cretaceous
boundaryshouldbedeferreduntillaterinthemeeting.
4 UpperJurassic
ThecontributingdelegatescalledtheattentionofthemeetingtotheirwrittenreportsonUpper
Jurassicstratigraphyoftheirindividualareas.Eachbrieflyoutlinedthestratigraphywithinhis
region.Delegatesarereferredtothedistributedmaterialformorecompletesummariesofthe
varioussections.
767
A Qatar Mr. Gosling reviewed the recommended breakdown of the Upper Jurassic as
indicated in the Q.P.C. contribution, Report No. QP 259. He pointed out that the
nomenclature as indicated is shortly to be published in the Qatar Lexicon. The Fahahil
formation proposed by Q.P.C. equates with the Arab IV or Arab D of neighboring Saudi
Arabia.
Mr.deZoetenbrieflydiscussedtheUpperJurassicofoffshoreQatar,mentioningthatthe
upper part of the Fahahil tended to be more dolomitic than onshore where grainstones
withalgalmaterialaremorecommon.HealsopointedoutthattheDiyabwasfrequently
ooliticandpelletedwithinnorthernoffshoreQatar.Thiscontrastswiththesectiontothe
south where finergrained bituminous carbonates with rare clastics and occasional
anhydriticnodulesoccur.
B OnshoreAbuDhabiMr.Twombleyoutlinedthestratigraphicsuccessionwithinonshore
Abu Dhabi, intimating that the Darb and the Diyab were not subdivided and outlining
generalfacieschangesacrossthearea.Hedescribedtheproblemsexperiencedintheeast
whereanUpperJurassicorLowerCretaceousooliticsequenceisdevelopedandwherethe
Hithanhydriteislost.
C Offshore Abu Dhabi Mr. Hassan showed that similar problems to those experienced
onshore were encountered from west to east across offshore Abu Dhabi at the contact
between the Thamama Group and the Upper Jurassic. The top of the Hith anhydrite is
easilyrecognizableinthewestwhereastotheeastooliticandpelletygrainstonesdevelop
possiblywithinboththeuppermostJurassicandthelowestThamama.Hepointedoutthat
withintheZakumareadeterminationofthisboundarywasparticularlydifficultduetothe
developmentofanhydriticdolomitesandthinanhydrites.Hemaintainedthatpreviouslya
featureless dolomite overlain by 20 to 30 feet of intraclastic grainstones within the
MandousNo.1wellhadbeenequatedwiththeHith.
D OffshoreDubaiMr.MaycockbrieflyreviewedthesectionseenintheFatehA1welland
pointedoutthedifficultiesexperiencedincorrelatingthiswellwithonshoreandoffshore
Abu Dhabi. Hesaidthatadequate subdivision was difficult and that nomenclatureof the
sectionshouldawaittheoutcomeofthemeeting.
E Oman Mr. Witt outlined the distribution and nature of the Jurassic rocks within the
P.D.(O) concession area. He demonstrated that adequate correlation had been obtained
between the Aramco well St. 18 and P.D.(O) Butabul No. 1 where the best and most
completeUpperJurassicsectioninonshoreOmanhadbeenseen.Representativesofthe
Jubaila, Hanifa, and Tuwaiq Mountain formations occur in these wells. Each of these
formationsshowgreaterdevelopmentofgrainsupportedrockstowardthetop,whilethe
Jubaila is dolomitic in the Upper part and the Hanifa dolomitic in the lower. Mr. Witt
pointed out that in eastern Oman the Lower Cretaceous directly overlies the Middle
Jurassic. In view of the excellent correlation with the Aramco wells and the location of
muchoftheOmanJurassicontherelativeperipheryofthedepositionalbasin,P.D.(O)had
decidedtomaintaintheAramconomenclature.
768
RegionalCorrelationsMr.Murris,withtheaidofwelllogsfrombothinsideandoutside
theregionsoftheoperatingcompaniespresent,demonstratedlogcorrelationswithinboth
UpperandMiddleJurassicsectionsoveraverylargearea.
Thisdemonstrationwasofgreatinterestandusefulness.Afterconsiderablediscussionof
possiblecorrelationswithintheregion,itwasdecidedtorecommendcertaintypesections
andformationsforfurtherconsideration
RecommendedNomenclature
1 GroupNomenclature
The term "Sila Group" was recommended to cover the interval from the top of the Hith
formationtothetopoftheAraejformation.Theappropriatereferencesectionoccursfromthe
SilaNo.1weIlbetween9,156and11,100feet.
A HithFormation
Reference section DK80 [DK0080] from 5,750 to 6,210 feet. Log characteristics and
lithologysummarizedinQ.P.C.reportNo.QP259,pages24.
B QatarFormation
TypesectionDK80[DK0080]from6,210to6,258feet(Notethatthebelowimagewhich
displays the correlation between Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai areas states a depth from
6,210 to 6,508 feet; which makes more sense since the top of the underlying Dukhan
Formationisat6,508feet).LogcharacteristicsandlithologysummarizedinQ.P.C.report
No.QP259,pages58.
C DukhanFormation
TypesectionDK80[DK0080]from6,508to7,677feet.Logcharacteristicsandlithology
aresimilartothoseformationsdescribedinQ.P.C.reportNo.QP259,pages917asFahahil
member,Darbformation,andDiyabformation.
IncludedintheDukhanisthe:
FahahilMember
TypesectionDK80[DK0080]from6,508to6,747feet.Lithologyandlogcharacteristics
of this member inthe type localityarevery similartothose described from DK66 [DK0066] inQ.P.C.reportNo.QP259,pages911.
2 DubaiEasternAbuDhabiarea
TheSilagroupinthisareaisdividedintotwoformations;viz.,theAsabandFateh.
A AsabFormation
Type section: A.D.P.C. Asab No. 1, from 10,389 to 10,750. An oolitic grainstone of
approximately 130 feet overlies dolomitized lime mudstone with scattered anhydrite
nodules.Theargillaceouscontentofthelatterintervalresultsinaconspicuousgammaray
response.
B FatehFormation
Type section: D.P. C. Fateh A1, from 10,415 to 11,310 feet. Variable dolomitic and
limestone sequence with both mud and grain supported rocks, frequently pelleted with
occasionalanhydritenoduleswhichoverliestheupperAraejgrainstonesandpackstones.
769
Oman
In view of the similarities of the Oman Jurassic sequence to the type Saudi Arabian section,
P.D.(O) affirmed that they would maintain the terms "Jubaila", "Hanifa", and "Tuwaiq
Mountain".InOmantheupperboundaryisvariableduetoanoverlyingunconformity,butthe
baseoftheTuwaiqMountainoccursatthetopoftheAraejasseenintheSouthernGulf.The
accompanyingsketchfigureillustratestherelationshipsoftheformationsinthevariousregions.
Due to the matter of the facies changes across Abu Dhabi, use of the recommended
nomenclaturewillnotbeeasyincentralAbuDhabi.
GeneralDiscussion
There was considerable discussion of the relationship of the Rayada formation and the Sila group in
northeastOman.Thepossibilitythatthetwomaybelaterallyequivalentwasconsidered.Itwasdecided
thatthecontactbetweentheRayadaandtheSalilshouldbefurtherevaluatedandshouldanymodification
ofthepreviouslyagreeddecisionsbenecessarytheyshouldbeincorporatedintheforthcominglithologic
descriptionsofthevariousThamamaformations.
After some debate as to the recommended base of the Thamama and/or top Hith, there was general
agreement that the top of the Hith anhydrite rather than that of the commonly associated oolithic
grainstones(e.g.,inQatar)shouldbeconsideredasthetruetopHith.
12thGeologicalLiaisonmeeting
ItwasagreedthatpriortothenextmeetingthatA.D.P.C.wouldprovideadetaileddescriptionofthetype
ASAPwhileD.P.C.wouldlikewisesupplyonefortheFatehFormation.Itwasrecommendedthatthenext
meeting should be held in March 1973; at which time the remainder of the known section; i.e., Middle
Jurassic through Permian or older, should be discussed. The venue of the March meeting was to be
subsequentlydecided.S.C.Q.orA.D.P.C.appearedtobethemostlikelyhostcandidates.
I.D.Maycock
GeologicalCoordinator
InterpretationGroup
EHPDExploration
tjc
770
771
By
F. Gosling
The next Geological Liaison Meeting will be held in Dubai late October 1972, and the main topic
for discussion will be Upper Jurassic Stratigraphy of South East Arabia.
A Upper Jurassic formation nomenclature, compiled by Sugden modified by Standring, which has
been in use in Q.P.C. for some years, is presented in the attached report QP.259. This nomenclature
is sound and workable in Qatar, but the correlation of some formations with neighbouring areas is
not established and the boundaries of others are questionable. These points are discussed below.
1. DIYAB/DARB FORMATIONS
These two formations are essentially a sequence of dense lime-mudstones interbedded with pellet
limestones. The Darb is poorly fossiliferous and generally of finer particles but there is general
gradation upwards into the Darb. The whole sequence suggests a gradual progression from deeper
the shallower water sedimentation. In fact this progressive increase towards shallow water
sediments continues into the overlying Fahahil Formation. In the Diyab chert, dolomite and cherty
silt are not uncommon but these minerals are found also in the basal Darb and gradually disappear
upwards in this formation. Therefore, there is little lithological criteria to select a precise boundary
between these two formations, and retention of the Darb and Diyab as separate formations may be
questioned. If two formations are retained it is suggested that the boundary in the type section in
well Dk.51 [DK-0051] is revised downwards to 7,877 feet. Below this depth an anhydritic bed is
present and can be correlated with a similar horizon in Kharaib No. 1, Musaymir No. 1, and other
wells. Also below this anhydritic bed, chert rather than cherty silt is more common. However
again anhydrite is largely a replacement mineral and it may not prove to be a consistent marker.
Correlation of the Diyab/Darb as individual units outside Qatar with rocks equivalent age has not
been established. There seems to be a good case for correlating the upper part of the Darb with part
of the Jubaila of Saudi Arabia. Below the upper part of the Darb comparisons are difficult and in
Abu Dhabi the sequence between the Arab No. 4 and top of Araej is usually undifferentiated and
called Darb/Diyab equivalent. The lower Neocomian ? sequence of pellet, pyritic, micrites with
small miliolids and textularids described by Banner and Wood, from Umm Shaif are, ignoring the
age assigned to these beds, similar lithologically and in fauna to the Darb and Diyab. The
Neocomian ? interclastic sparites underlying the pellet micrites of Umm Shaif have not been
recognized in Qatar. Therefore, if the Diyab/Darb are the exact equivalent of the pellety micrites of
Banner and Wood, the age gap between the Middle and Upper Jurassic in Qatar is much greater
than at Umm Shaif. Another possibility is that the interclastic sparites of Umm Shaif are the age
equivalent of the lower Diyab, and just another example of lateral changes in facies that are present
in the Upper Jurassic sediments of S.E. Arabia, below the Qatar/Hith or equivalent formation.
772
2. FAHAHIL FORMATION
This formation or No. 4 Limestone consists of lime-mudstones and dolomites at the base which
grade upwards into coarser pellet wackestones and packestones to dominantly skeletal packestones
and grainstones. The upper part of the Fahahil consists of dense lime-mudstones and dolomites,
thin anhydrite and anhydritic sucrose dolomite.
The Fahahil Darb boundary is placed at the base of thin sequence of porous dolomites interbedded
with lime mudstones. In Dukhan this boundary can usually be identified with little difficulty
although there are exceptions where thin porous dolomites and limestones persist into the upper
Darb, e.g. the No. 4 Limestone extension. In Fuwairat and Musaymir wells the Fahahil Darb
boundary is not readily identified, and the Fahahil appears to have thickened at the expense of the
Darb. Therefore, it would appear there is a gradational change both vertical and laterally between
the Fahahil and Darb formations.
The top of the Fahahil in type section is placed at the contact of the thick anhydrite bed with a
anhydritic dolomite. This contact is very consistent in all wells in Qatar and marks the top of Zone
IV of the No. 4 Limestone, see page 3-22 of the current Q.P.C. Data Book. The beds comprising
this zone, including the thin anhydrite are remarkably consistent in type and thickness across Qatar.
This same zone can also be traced in off-shore areas off eastern Qatar. Likewise the contact
between Zone III and IV can be identified in Qatar and adjacent off-shore areas. In fact S.C.Q. take
the boundary between Zones III and IV of the No. 4 Limestone as the top of their Arab 4 reservoir.
In Saudi Arabia the top of the Arab D (Fahahil or No. 4 Limestone equivalent) is less clear. Powers
A.A.P.G. Memoir No. 1, 1962, page 178 discussing this boundary states:
The transition from carbonate (mostly calcarenite and calcarenitic limestone, rarely
dolomite or aphanitic limestone) to anhydrite is generally abrupt. In some instances
a thinly interbedded anhydrite carbonate complex occurs immediately below the
main anhydrite. It is interesting to note that clastic carbonate rather than dolomite
underlies the main anhydrite
The thinly interbedded anhydrite carbonate complex beneath the main anhydrite of Saudi Arabia
would appear to be the lateral equivalent of Zone IV in the No. 4 Limestone. Also like S.C.Q.,
ARAMCO where it occurs include this unit within the overlying evaporitic sediments, and the top
of their Arab D reservoir placed at the top of the calcarenite or calcarenitic limestones, which
almost certainly correlates with the grainstones found at the top of Zone III of the No. 4 Limestone.
Therefore to be consistent with adjacent areas a downward revision of the top of the Fahahil is
indicated. Both the top of Zone III and IV are excellent markers in Qatar but the anhydritic
carbonate beds of Zone IV have greater infinities with the overlying Qatar Formation than the
Fahahil below. There is every possibility that the thin anhydrites, dolomites and limestones of Zone
IV west of Qatar pass laterally into the overlying thick anhydrite. Also in Zone III of Q.P.C. the
grainstones rich in algae, stromotoporoids and some corals suggest a depositional environment
773
3. QATAR/HITH FORMATIONS
The Qatar formation has its type section in Dukhan well DK. 28 [DK-0028]. The Hith takes its
name from an outcrop locality in Saudi Arabia. In Qatar these two rock units are easily recognized
and demarcated. By contrast with the underlying Upper Jurassic formations these cyclic anhydrite
and limestone beds of the Qatar/Hith are remarkably consistent in thickness and lithology over large
areas. However, the only difference between these two formations is that limestone members are
thicker in the Qatar than in the Hith. Eastwards from Qatar towards offshore and on-shore Abu
Dhabi separation of these two formations becomes increasingly difficult as anhydrite is replaced by
limestones. In these circumstances the combined name Hith/Arab or Hith/Qatar is applied. It could
be argued that the Qatar/Hith in Qatar and adjacent areas is a single cyclic, anhydrite-carbonate unit
and now that more is known of the regional variations of this rock unit a grouping into one
formation perhaps would be more practicable.
774
UPPER JURASSIC
FORMATIONS
OF THE
QATAR PENINSULA
Dukhan
July 1972
775
INTRODUCTION
HITHANHYDRITEFORMATION
QATARFORMATION
FAHAHILFORMATION
DARBFORMATION
DIYABFORMATION
Remark : The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
QPG.3063
QPG.3064
QPG.3065
QPG.3066
QPG.3079
PAGE
1
2
5
9
12
1517
PLATES
DARBANDDIYABFORMATIONSTYPESECTIONWELLDK.51[DK0051]
FAHAHILFORMATIONTYPESECTIONWELLDK.66[DK0066]
QATARFORMATIONTYPESECTIONWELLDK.28[DK0028]
UPPERJURASSICFORMATIONSWELLDK.80[DK0080]
UPPERJURASSICFORMATIONSWELLMUSAYMIR1.
INTRODUCTION
The Upper Jurassic rock unit nomenclature contained in this report was originally described by W.
Sugden in 1956. In recent years there have been some revisions to Sugden work by A.J. Standring
whose latest interpretation of the Upper Jurassic formations for on-shore Qatar is given below.
776
Author
Synonymy
Type
Locality
Lithology
Fossils
Age
Underlying
Overlying
Other
localities
Remarks
Jurassic
UpperJurassic
M.Steineke,R.A.BramkampandN.J.Sander,1958;amendedbyR.W.Powersetal,1966
None
InSaudiArabia.AtypicalsectionofthisformationisshownonthegraphiclogofWell
DK.80[DK0080]seeplateQPG.3066
Top 1. Limestone, brown and greybrown, dense, dolomitic, with abundant nodules of
anhydrite. 12m. (40ft.) 2. Limestone, brown oolitic, dolomitised. 4m. (13ft.) 3. White,
nodular anhydrite with abundant streaks and stringers of dense or compact brown
dolomite. 35m. (117ft.) 4. Anhydrite, white, massive, rarely with stringers of dolomite.
30m. (98ft.) 5. White nodular anhydrite with numerous stringers of brown dolomite.
Severalthinbedsofporous,ooliticorpellety,brown,dolomitisedlimestone.20m.(66ft.)6.
Anhydrite, white to light brown, massive, partly with stringers of brown dolomite. 29m.
(94ft.) 7. Anhydrite, white, nodular, with numerous stringers of dark brown dolomite
changingdownwardstodolomite,greybrown,withabundantnodulesofanhydrite.Asix
footbedofdolomitisedooliticlimestonenearthebase.10m.(34ft.)Base.
Undeterminablevestiges
Notknownpreciselyowingtothelackoffossilevidence.Accordingtotheageattributed
totheunderlyingQatarFormationitissupposedthattheHithisUpperJurassic,possibly
Tithonian.ThisagreeswiththelatestageproposedfortheHithFormationinSaudiArabia
(POWERSet.al.1966.)
Qatar Formation, contact conformable. The contact is taken at the top of the purely
carbonate upper member of the Qatar Formation. Beds showing gradational change to
massiveanhydriteareincludedintheHith,contrarytopractiseinSaudiArabia(STEINEKE
et. al., loc. cit.) ARAMCO practise has publication priority but the alternative, long
establishedinQatarrecords,isretainedasamatterofconvenience.
Throughout the oilfield areas of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar. The formation can be
traced eastwards into Abu Dhabi but disappears in the eastern part of that state as the
resultoferosionorfacieschange.ItisabsentfromOman.
The top of the Hith Anhydrite is commonly accepted as a convenient time boundary
between the Jurassic and Cretaceous Systems in many parts of Arabia. This position is
maintainedinSaudiArabiainspiteofsuggestionsbasedonpalynologicalstudiesthatthe
HithandupperArabFormationcouldbeofLowerCretaceousage.(HEMER,1965).
EvidenceforaLowerCretaceousageassigned toasimilaranhydriteunitoccurringinUmm
Shaif,AbuDhabi(BANNERandWOOD,1964.)wasrefutedbyDUNNINGTON(1967).
AJurassic(probablyTithonian)ageisappliedtotheHithFormationinQatarinconformity
withmajoritypractise.
777
Themodeoforiginofthiswidespread(IraqtoAbuDhabiandsouthRubalKhali)anhydrite
unitisopentoconjecture.Originallysupposedtoresultfromevaporationinasilledbasin,
the Hith Anhydrite could have formed in a shallow, hypersaline sea (SUGDEN, 1963).
Some, at least, of the sequence may result from diagenesis in supratidal sediments
resultingfromprocessessimilartothoserecordedfrompresentdaycoastalsabkhasinAbu
Dhabi.
TheHithAnhydritemarksthefinalshallowingandinfillingofthelongestablishedJurassic
seainwhichvastthicknessesoflimestoneweredepositedovermuchofArabia.
An equivalent of the Hith Anhydrite can be traced northwards into Iraq, as the Gotnia
Formation.ItcanalsoberecognisedinsouthwestIran.Thehalitedepositsrecordedfrom
thesouthwestRubalKhali extend southwardstoformtheSabatayn Formation which is
foundinthesaltdomesoftheShabwaareaofwesternHadhramaut.
Jurassic
QATARFORMATION
Kimmeridgian?Tithonian
Author
FirstnamedbyW.SUGDEN,1953inanunpublishedreport
Synonymy
Type
locality
Thickness
Lithology
Fossils
Age
None. (The A, B, C and upper, anhydrite, unit of the D Member of the Arab Formation,
R.W.POWERSet.al.1966.)
Q.P.C.WellDukhanNo.28 [DK-0028],lat.2517'12"N.,long.5048'46"E.,elevation32m.
(106ft.),completed1.5.1952,betweendrilleddepths1903and1990m.(6245and6529ft.)
see plate QPG.3065. The formation takes its name from the Qatar Peninsula, since it
containsthefirstcommercialoilreservoirdiscoveredinthatcountry.
87m.(284ft)
Top.1.Limestone,lightbrown,varyingfromfinegrained,partlydolomiticandcompactto
adolomitisedandporouspelletylimestone.11m.(36ft.)2.Anhydrite,whiteorlightgrey,
with frequent stringers of brown dolomite near the top and bottom. 12m. (41ft.) 3.
Limestone, brown, pellety and dolomitic, and dolomite, brown, porous. 5m. (17ft.) 4.
Anhydrite,grey,massive,dolomiticnearthetopandbottom.15m.(51ft.)5.Limestone,
greybrownandbrown.20ft.ofdolomitic,anhydriticlimestoneisunderlainbysome40ft.
of pellet grainstone and packstone interbedded with lime mudstones. These pass down
intoa basal oolitic grainstone.25m. (83ft.) 6. Anhydrite, light brown or light grey,witha
4ft.bedofanhydriticdolomitenearthebottom.17m.(56ft.)Bottom.
778
Underlying
Overlying
Other
localities
Remarks
Fahahil Formation; contact conformable, taken at the base of the lowest substantial
anhydritebedoftheQatarFormation.
Throughout onshore and offshore Qatar. The clear subdivision into alternating anhydrite
and carbonate members tends to disappear east of Qatar as a result of increasing
anhydritedevelopment.InsomeareasdistinctionbetweentheHithandQatarFormations
cannotbemadewithanyconfidence.Theformationthinstotheeast.
TheequivalentoftheQatarFormationoccursinlargeareasofSaudiArabia,whereitforms
themajor,upper,partoftheArabFormation.
ThethreelimestonemembersoftheQatarFormationcanbecorrelatedwiththeA,B,and
C Reservoirs of the Arab Formation of Saudi Arabia (POWERS, 1968). In Qatar these
membersareinformallynamedtheNumber 1,Number2andNumber 3Limestonefrom
toptobottom.Nonamehasbeenappliedtotheanhydritememberswhichseparatethe
limestones.
The equivalent of the Qatar Formation can be traced in the subsurface of large areas of
SaudiArabia,whereitincludesimportantoilreservoirs.Thelowestmember,theNumber3
Limestone,wasthefirstcommercialoilproducingreservoirtobediscoveredinQatar.
The combined Qatar and Fahahil Formations of Qatar are the lateral equivalents of the
Arab Formation of Saudi Arabia. The Fahahil Formation (No.4 Limestone) has also been
includedwiththeoverlyingcyclicalcarbonateanhydritedevelopmentintheoffshoreQatar
area. The name Qatar Formation has here been erroneously applied instead of the
synonymous,earlierpublishednameArabFormation.
The practice ofincluding all four Arab Zone limestoneswithinone formationhas many
factstorecommendit.ItisnotcustomaryinonshoreQatarforhistoricalreasonsandalso
because it was believed that the contact of the Fahahil and Qatar Formations marks a
fundamentalchangefromcontinuouscarbonatedepositiontothelater,cyclical,anhydrite
limestoneregime.ThisfactbecomesmoreobvioustotheeastofQatar,whereitisoften
impossible to distinguish the contact of the Fahahil Formation with the underlying Darb
Formation. The base of the Qatar Formation can still be recognised in such cases, as the
baseofthelowestsignificantanhydritedevelopment.
The Number 1, Number 2 and Number 3 Limestones were assigned the names Juleha
Member,JuhMemberandUmmBabMemberrespectively.Thesenameshaveneverbeen
publishednorhavetheybeenappliedlocally.Theyareconsideredtoberedundant.
779
FAHAHILFORMATION
Author
Synonymy
Type
locality
Thickness
Lithology
Fossils
Age
Underlying
Overlying
Other
localities
Remarks
Jurassic
LowerKimmeridgian
W.SUGDEN(unpublishedcompanyreport).
Lower, carbonate, part of the Arab D Member, POWERS, 1968. No. 4 Limestone of
Qatar
Q.P.C.WellDukhanNo.66[DK0066],lat.252425.8"N,long.5046'54.9"E,elevation23m.
(76ft.) completed 18.5.1960, between drilled depths 1772 and 1823m (5800 and 5989ft.)
seeplateQPG.3064.TheformationtakesitsnamefromalocalityontheDukhananticline
nearthetypesection.
58m(189ft)
(After F. GOSLING, unpublished report.) Top. 1. Dolomitic lime mudstone with streaks of
dolomite and anhydrite, dolomitic packstone; two foot anhydrite bed near top. 6.4m.
(21ft.) 2. Interbedded grainstone, wackestone and packstone of skeletal grains in lime
mudstone matrix. Upper 9m predominantly grainstone. 42m. (141ft.) 3. Alternating
dolomiticlimemudstoneanddolomite.8.2m.(27ft.)Base.
AnUpperJurassic,probablyLowerKimmeridgian,ageis inferredbytheabovefaunaand
flora,and,also,bythestratigraphicpositionoftheunitabovetheDarbFormation,whichis
itselfpartlyequivalenttotheLowerKimmeridgian,JubailaFormationofSaudiArabia.
DarbFormation;contactconformable.AtthejunctionofporousdolomitesoftheFahahil
Formation,above,withdenselimemudstonesoftheDarbFormation,below.
Extends throughout the oilfield area of Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but is unknown
fromKuwaitnorthwards.ItsequivalentcanberecognisedinAbuDhabi.
This unit is easily defined in western Qatar and much of Saudi Arabia. In eastern Qatar,
increasing dolomitisation of the Upper Darb Formation makes it virtually impossible to
distinguish a stratigraphic equivalent of the base of the formation as defined in Dukhan.
Muchincreaseddolomitisationofthisnature,farthertotheeast,probablyisreflectedin
the conditions met in the Umm Shaif Oilfield, where the name ArabDarb has been
introduced.
Thelowerunit(3)ofthereferencesectioncouldberelatedtotheunderlyingDarbaseasily
astotheFahahilFormation.Ithasbeendemonstrated(F.GOSLINGunpublishedreport)
780
UpperJurassic
DARBFORMATION
LowerKimmeridgian
Author
W.SUGDEN(unpublishedreport)
Synonymy None
Type
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 51 [DK0051], (formerly Juh. No.1) lat. 2453'48N., long. 5059'
locality
55E., elevation 76.5m. (252ft.), completed 25.10.1952, [or is it 14.10.1952?...see Diyab
Formation] between drilled depths 2166 and 2377m. (7107 and 7800ft. ) see plate QPG.
3063.
The formation takes its name from the Taas al Darb, a solitary sand dune near the type
locality,whichmarkstheancienttracktomecca.
Thickness 211m(693ft)
Lithology Top.1.Limestone,greyandlightgrey,limemudstone,compacttodense.Dolomitestreaks
andbandsofpyritestainedpelletpackstone.50m.(163ft.)2.Limestone,darkgreylime
mudstone,densewithrarestreaksatpyriticpelletpackstone.53m.(174ft.)3.Limestone,
grey, lime mudstone, dense, becoming argillaceous downwards: numerous thin beds
contain scattered, large, pyritestained pellets 40m. (131 ft.) 4. Limestone, dark grey,
dense, lime mudstone, becoming increasingly argillaceous towards the bottom. 68m.
(225ft.)Base.
Fossils
In1.KurnubiajurassicaHenson,Kurnubiacf.wellingsiHenson,Pseudocyclamminajaccardi
(Schrodt). In 2 and 3. K. jurassica, K. cf. wellingsi, P. jaccardi, Nautiloculina oolithica
Mohlet, Pseudocyclammina cf. virguliania Koechlin. In 4. P. jaccardi, P. cf. virguliania, N.
oolithica,K.jurassica.InthelowesttwofeetExogyranana(J.Sowerby).
Age
UpperJurassic.ThepresenceofPseudocyclamminajaccardithroughoutthesequenceand
its absence from the underlying Diyab Formation suggests that the Darb could be the
lateralequivalentoftheJubailaandHanifaFormationsofSaudiArabia.Thedetermination
of the Kurnubia species is based on work prior to publication (1964) of Redmond's new
species. As suggested by POWERS et. al. 1966, (page 56) the form determined as K. cf.
wellingsi in this formation, could well be random sections of K. morrisi Redmond, which
rangethroughalloftheJubailaandtheupperpartatleastoftheHanifaFormation.Thus,
alargelyKimmeridgianageisacceptedfortheDarbFormation,althoughsomeOxfordian
couldberepresented.
Underlying Diyab Formation; contact conformable, placed at the position where dense, argillaceous
lime mudstone of the basal Darb Formation rest upon fine, calcarenitic limestone with
interbedded,veryargillaceouslimemudstoneoftheuppermostDiyabFormation.
Overlying FahahilFormation(ArabNo.4Limestone);contactconformable.Intypesectionplacedat
boundarybetweenfinelimemudstoneoftheUpperDarbFormationandporousdolomite
781
Other
Well established as a separate formation only in the Qatar area, where it has been
localities
encounteredinmanydeepwells.
Remarks
The typical Darb facies can be traced into the Trucial States, where it has not however,
proved possible to separate with confidence a Darb and a Diyab Formation within the
intervalboundedbytheFahahilFormationandtheAraejFormation.Itisnormallypossible
to distinguish an argillaceous lower unit which could be compared in general with the
Diyab Formation. This facies, is, however, variably developed and sometimes almost
absent.
The Darb Formation must be the lateral equivalent of' most, or all, of the Jubaila and
Hanifa Formations of Saudi Arabia. The latter names have not been adopted in Qatar
becauseithasnotprovedpossibletotracetheirexactlithologicalequivalentsintoQatar.
UpperJurassic
DIYABFORMATION
Callovian?Oxfordian
Author
W.SUGDEN(unpublishedreport)
Synonymy None
Type
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No.51, [DK0051] (formerly Juh. No.1), lat. 2453'48"N., long. 5059'
Locality
55"E., elevation 76.5m. (252ft.) completed 14.10.1952, [or is it 25.10.1952?, see Darb
Formation] between drilled depths 2377 and 2476m. (7800 and 8125ft.) see plate
QPG.3063.
TheformationtakesitsnamefromalocalityonthesouthpartoftheDukhananticline
Thickness 99m(325ft)
Lithology Top. 1. Limestone, dark grey, fine grained lime mudstone, dense, thin bedded, very
argillaceous, with thin interbeds of dark grey marl and of grey, dense, fine, calcarenite
containingsomequartzgrains.23m.(77ft.).2.Anhydrite,white.0.6m.(2ft.).3.Limestone,
dark grey, fine grained, argillaceous lime mudstone, thin bedded, with streaks of grey,
dense,finecalcarenite,asinunit1butwithlessquartz.Veryrarethinbedsofchert.23m.
(72ft.). 4.Anhydrite,white. 1.8m. (6ft.). 5. Limestone, grey,fine grained limemudstone,
dense. 9.4m. (31ft.). 6. Limestone, dark grey to black, very argillaceous, silty, slightly
dolomitic, in part finely fissile, carbonaceous, particularly in lower part; occasional thin
streaksoffinegrainedcalcarenite.40m.(132ft.)Base.
Fossils
In 1. Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, Glomospira. sp. In 3. N. oolithica., Glomospira sp.,
Exogyra nana (J. Sowerby), Perisphinctes sp., In 6. Pholadomya cf. inornata (J. de C.
Sowerby),Gryphaeaballi(Stefanini),LiostreaarabicaStefanini,ChlamysmacfadyeniCox,E.
nana,Modiolusimbricatus(J.Sowerby),Dichotomocerascf.D.anomalusSpath.
782
Underlying
Overlying
Other
localities
Remarks
Upper Jurassic. The contained fauna gives no precise indication of age, which must,
therefore be sought by correlation with the better dated sections described from Saudi
Arabia. Originally considered to equate with the Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone, the Diyab
Formation is now thought to be possibly correlatable with the black, argillaceous,
ammonitebearing unit described from the basal Hanifa Formation of Fadhili. If this is
correct, a Kimmeridgian age must be ascribed to the Diyab. Insufficient is known of the
lateralvariationsoftheHanifaandTuwaiqMountainLimestonetopermittheunqualified
acceptance of one or other correlation. An age from Callovian to Kimmeridgian could
thereforebepossible.
Araej Formation. At sharp contact of dark grey to black argillaceous limestone and fine
calcarenites of the Diyab with grey pellet grainstones of the Upper Araej Formation. The
contact is apparently conformable, but could represent a considerable break in
sedimentation.
DarbFormation;contactconformable.Placedwheredense,argillaceouslimemudstonesof
the basal Darb overlie very argillaceous lime mudstones with interbedded fine sandy
calcarenitesoftheDiyabFormation.
RecognisedasaseparateformationonlyinQatar,whereithasbeenencounteredinmany
deepwells.DarkgreyargillaceouslimestonesoccurabovetheAraejFormationtotheeast
inAbuDhabi,butadistinctDiyabFormationbasnotbeendistinguished.
POWERS,1968,statesthatthebasal,argillaceousunitoftheHanifaFormationisseparated
byanhiatusfromthelower,CuneolinabearingbedsoftheTuwaiqMountainLimestonein
thecentralcoastalareaofSaudiArabia,closetoQatar.TheDiyabFormationmaybethe
equivalent of the basal Hanifa. The Cuneolinabearing beds have not been recognised in
Qatar, although their equivalent may ocour to the east, in Umm Shaif, where additional
section containing Meyendorffina sp. occurs between typical Araej and Diyab lithologies.
The upper unit of the Araej in Qatar is equated with the Hisyan Member of the Dhruma
Formation. Thus, the DiyabAraej contact could represent a considerable break in
sedimentation, spanning the Oxfordian and possibly part of the Callovian eras, resulting
fromupliftovertheQatararch.ShouldtheDiyabcontainequivalentsofpartoftheTuwaiq,
there probably still remains a break between it and the Araej, represented by the
Cuneolinabearing beds and their equivalents (the Meyendorffinabearing bed) which are
presentoneithersideoftheQataraxis.
783
Prepared by M. Gatrall
For 11th stratigraphic Liaison meeting
DUBAI, October 1972
784
Period/Epoch
LowerCretaceous
UpperJurassic
InformalStratigraphicTerminology
FormationName
Habshan
HithAnhydrite
Arab
Darb/Diyab
Araej
Age
Tithonian
Tithonian/Kimmeridgian
Kimmeridgian/Oxfordian
Figures in Appendix:
Unknowndrawing#:
AD4885
AD4884
Unknowndrawing#:
Schematicregionalcorrelationof"UpperJurassic"rockunit
RevisedCorrelationoftheHith/ArabofAbuDhabi
LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheHithanhydriteandArabformationsSila1
LithologyoftheDarbDiyabFormation,Shah1(in2pages)
785
Author
H.Steineke,R.A.BramkampandN.J.Sander1958;amendedbyR.W.Powersetal1966.
Synonymy None
Type
InSaudiArabia
Locality
AbuDhabi ADPCwellSila1;Plate
Reference Lat.235453Long.515009
Drilledbetween91639648feet.Thickness485feet
Section
Lithology
Top
1
Anhydrite, white, crystalline, with occasional thin beds of dolomite,
lightbrown, finegrained, crystalline, sucrose,slightlycalcareous;and 199feet
limemudstone,brownaphanitic.
2
Anhydrite,white,crystalline,interbeddedwithnumerousthinbedsof
dolomite,browntoblack,finetomediumgrained,crystalline,sucrose, 286feet
withrarelimemudstonebands,browntoblack,dense.
Bottom
Fossils
None
Age
Theabsenceoffossilevidencemakes precisedatingimpossible.However,theunderlying
QatarformationisdatedbyfossilevidenceasKimmeridgianwhiletheoverlyingHabshan
FormationisoflowerThamamaage.TheHithisthusthoughttobeofTithonianage.
Underlying The Arab Formation, contact conformable, and marked by a change in lithology to
dolomiticlimemudstones.
Overlying TheHabshanFormation,contactunconformable?ThetopoftheHithistakenatthetopof
themassiveanhydrite,andatthebaseofthelimemudstonesoftheHabshan.
Remarks
The Hith is somewhat variable over Abu Dhabi, being thickest in western Abu Dhabi and
thinning eastwards. At Bida Hamama1 and Asab1 this formation is missing due to
erosional cutout east of a line from Zakum, passing between Shah and Asab in a SSE
direction.ErosionwaspossiblyintraTithonian.
786
Author
M.Steineke,R.A.Bramkamp,andN.J.Sander1958;amendedbyR.W.Powersetal1966.
Synonymy QatarandFahahilformations,SugdenandStandring(1972).
Type
InSaudiArabia
Locality
AbuDhabi ADPCwellSila1;Plate
Reference Lat.235453Long.515009
Drilledbetween964810074feet.Thickness426feet
Section
Lithology
Top
1
Alternating lime mudstone, brown to dark brown, dense, aphanitic,
slightly dolomitic, with dolomite, brown to black, finely sucrose, 29feet
crystalline,andoccasionalpellets.
10
11
37feet
30feet
33feet
60feet
57feet
44feet
Dolomite,browntoblack,finelycrystalline,dense,scatteredspicules
interbedded with lime mudstone, grey to greybrown, aphanitic,
dolomitised,withthinstringersofpeletalgrainstones.
17feet
20feet
10feet
Limemudstone,greytobuff,aphanitic,dense,slightlydolomitic,with
scatteredcrystalsofanhydrite.
787
57feet
12
Fossils
13
Age
Underlying
Overlying
Remarks
19feet
Limemudstone,browntogreybrown,finegrained,dense.
13feet
Bottom
TheonlyfossilsidentifiedfromSila1areasfollows:
In8,Prethocoprolithus.In9,Prethocoprolithus,Kurnubiasp.Valvulinellasp.textularids,
miliolidsandrotalids.In11,miliolids,textularids.
ByanalogywithQataraKimmeridgian TithonianageisassignedtotheArab.InQatarthe
No. 4 Limestone contains a Kimmeridgian fauna, while the No. 3 Limestone has faunal ?
similaritieswiththelowermember.
DarbDiyabFormation;contactconformable,andbaseoftheArabFormationtakenatthe
topofthedense,dirtylimemudstones.
HithAnhydriteFormation;contactconformable,thetopArabbeingpickedatthetopofthe
morecontinuouscarbonatesequence.
CorrelationwithintheArabisdifficultduetoanhydrite/dolomitefacieschanges.Difficulty
is frequently encountered in central and eastern Abu Dhabi in carrying the base No. 4
Limestone/topDarb/Diyabmarker.
In eastern Abu Dhabi, the Arab Formation is progressively cutout eastwards by ? intra
Tithonianerosion.
788
DARBDIYABFORMATION
Author
Synonymy
Type
Locality
AbuDhabi
Reference
Section
Lithology
W.Sugden(unpublishedreport)
DarbandDiyabFormationsofQatarW.Sugden(unpublishedreport).
IsinQPCwellDukhan51[DK0051]
ADPCWellShah1
Lat.225612Long.535057
Drilledbetween925711001feet
Thickness1744feet
1
Lime mudstone light brown, fine grained, porcellaneous, dense,
occasionallydolomiticwithlimestonelightbrown,veryfinegrained,
vague pellet outlines, recrystallised and partly dolomitized,
argillaceous.
Fossils
Age
UpperJurassic
Kimmeridgian&Oxfordian
Top
143feet
247feet
651feet
406feet
34feet
63feet
Bottom
Aremarkablefeatureofthisformationisthealmosttotallackoffauna.Apartfromafew
rarespiculestheDarbDiyabisunfossiliferousoverthewholeofAbuDhabi.
By analogy with the Darb and Diyab formations of Qatar it is considered to be Upper
Jurassic. From fossil evidence in Qatar these formations are identified as being
KimmeridgianandOxfordian.
789
Overlying
Remarks
AraejFormation;contactapparentlyunconformableduetoaperiodoferosionduringthe
Callovian.ThetopoftheAraejispickedatthefirstoccurrenceofTrocholinagrainstone.
ArabFormation;contactconformable,thetopoftheDarbDiyabistakenatthestartofthe
argillaceousdenselimemudstones.
InAbuDhabinodivisionispossiblebetweentheDarbandDiyabFormationsasinQatar.
Therefore,atpresentthewholelimemudstoneintervalbetweentheArabandtheAraejis
termedtheDarbDiyab.Thisisanunsuitablestratigraphicterminologyandtheformation
requires a new name. It is thickest in Shah 1 and thins gradually to the northwest and
northeast.
MG/vds
Abu Dhabi,
18.10.1972
790
SchematicregionalcorrelationofUpperJurassicrockunit
791
RevisedcorrelationoftheHith/ArabofAbuDhabi
792
LithologyandPalaeontologyoftheHithAnhydriteandArabFormationsSila1
793
LithologyoftheDarbDiyabFormation,Shah1(continueonnextpage)
794
LithologyoftheDarbDiyabFormation,Shah1(continuefrompreviouspage)
795
SECTIONS OF OMAN
By
W. G. WITT
DECEMBER, 1972
796
U
M
Tithonian
Valanginian
KL
Berriasian
Portlandian
Kimmeridgian
JU
Oxfordian
JM
RaydaFormation
JubailaLimestone
HanifaFormation
TuwaiqMountainLimestone
DhrumaFormation
Figures in Appendix:
Enclosure1
Drawing9210,P.D.(O)
Enclosure2
Drawing9209,P.D.(O)
UpperpartButabulGroup,GRNLogcorrelation,
ButabulW1,Butabul1
StratigraphicalSection,Butabul1,Jurassic
797
Author
Ref.Powers1968,p.90
Synonymy
Ref.Powers1968,p.90
Typesection Ref.Powers1968,p.91
SaudiArabian
reference
Ref.Powers1968,p.91
section
TheP.D.(O)wellButabul1(Encl.1);U.T.Mcoordinates,lat.2322393,77N,long.344
Oman
reference
972,30E,elevation348ft.;completed11.8.1966.Theformationliesbetweenthedrilled
section
depths5588ft.and5983ft.(bdf).
Description
Thickness 395ft
Lithology The lower part (260 ft) consists of buff lime mudstone and skeletal foraminiferal lime
wackestone,partiallychalkyordolomiticwith,atthebase,thinbeds(lessthan10ft)of
argillaceous limestone to calcareous shale. The middle part (ca. 95 ft) is partially
argillaceous lime mudstone, lime wackestone and calcareous dolomite with repeated
calcareous shale intercalations. The upper part (ca. 40 ft) is probably composed of
partiallyargillaceouslimespackstone.
Microfossils NautiloculinaoolithicaMohler,KurnubiagrpalastiniensisHenson(sensuMayne1966),
Alveosepta jaccardi (Schrodt) (sensu Mayne 1960); Salpingoporella sp., Cylindroporella
ArabicaElliott;Ostracoda.
Macrofossils Gastropoda,Pelecypodafragments,Echinodeaspines.
Age LowerKimmeridgian
Limits lower
TheconformablecontactwiththetopoftheHanifaFormationtakenatthe
change from interbedded calcareous shale and mud supported limestone
abovetoparticlesupportedcleanlimestonebelow.
upper
The unconformable contact with the interbedded lime wackestones and
argillaceouslimestonesoftheLekhwairFormation
Remarks The Jubaila is up to now only known from the Butabul area. Due to airdrilling the
cutting samples of the Upper Jurassic in Butabul1 and Butabul W1 are rather
unreliable and in part completely missing. Moreover only 10 sidewall samples are
availablefromthis1104ft.intervalinButabul1.InadditiontheGRreadingsofButabul
1between5630ftand5750ft.areincorrectduetoadetectorfailure(Encl.2,Drawing
9209)
798
Author
Ref.Powers1968,p.76
Synonymy
Ref.Powers1968,p.76
Typesection Ref.Powers1968,p.76
SaudiArabian
reference
Ref.Powers1968,p.76
section
Oman
TheP.D.(O)wellButabul1(Encl.1,Drawing9210);U.T.M.coordinatesandelevation
reference
seeabove.Theformationliesbetweenthedrilleddepths5983ft.and6191ft.(bdf)
section
Description
Thickness 208ft
Lithology Atthebasethereareafewfeetofgreyargillaceouslimestonetolightgreencalcareous
pyritic shales which are overlain by slightly argillaceous grey to white skeletal
wackestoneandlightbrownpartiallysucrosicoranhydriticdolomite.Thesestrataare
overlain by buff ooidal superficialooidal pelletoidal onkoidal lime grainstone to
packstone.
Microfossils NautiloculinaoolithicaMohler,Kurnubiagr.palastiniensisHenson(sensuMayne1966),
Alveoseptajaccardi(Schrodt)(sensuMayne1966)
Age LowerKimmeridgian
Limits
The conformable contact with the top of the Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone
Lower takenatthechangefromargillaceouslimestonetocalcareousshaleaboveto
cleanlimemudstonebelow.
Upper Seeabove
Remarks Towardstheeasttheparticlesupportedlimestonesoftheupperpartoftheformation
arereplaced bygreytobuff skeletalpelletoidalpartiallydolomiticlimewackestoneto
packstone,lightbrowndolomiteandgreytobuffchalkyordolomiticlimemudstone.
799
Oxfordian
Author
Ref.Powers1968,p.142
Synonymy
Ref.Powers1968,p.142
Typesection
Ref.Powers1968,p.142
SaudiArabian
reference
section
Ref.Powers1968,p.142
Oman
reference
section
The P.D.(O) well Butabul1 (Encl. 1, Drawing 9210); U.T.M. coordinates and elevation
seeabove.Theformationliesbetweenthedrilleddepthsof6191ft.and6692ft.(bdf)
Description
Thickness 501ft
Lithology Mainlybufftogreypartiallyslightlydolomitic,occasionallyargillaceouslimemudstone,
andskeletalorpelletoidallimewackestonewithintercalationsofbufftogreypelletoidal
superficialooidalskeletallimepackstonetograinstone.
Microfossils NautiloculinaoolithicaMohler,Kurnubiagr.palastiniensisHenson(sensuMayne1966),
possibly Alveosepta jaccardi (Schrodt) (sensu Mayne 1966); Ostracoda. At the base
TrocholinapalastiniensisHenson
Age Oxfordian
Limits
Remarks
Upper Seeabove
800
Hottinger,L.(1967
Foraminifres imperfors du Msozoique marocain. Not. Mm. Serv.
Gol.Maroc.,No.209
Mayng,W.(1960)
Biocaractres et analyse morphomtrique des espces Jurassique du
genre Pseudocyclammina (foraminifre). II. Pseudocyclammina
jaccardi(Schrodt).RevuedeMicropalontologie,3.No.2
Mayng,W.(1966)
Microbiostratigraphy of the Jurassic of Israel. Geol. Surv. Israel, Bull.
No.40
Powers,R.W.(1968)
Saudi Arabia (excluding Arabian shield). Lexique stratigraphique
Internationale,3,Fasc.10b1.
801
UpperpartButabulGroup,GRNLogCorrelation,ButabulW1,Butabul1
802
StratigraphicalSection,Butabul1,Jurassic
803
804
805
DubaiFatehA1
806
MIDDLE JURASSIC
FORMATIONS
OF THE
QATAR PENINSULA
Dukhan
July 1972
807
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ARAEJFORMATION
IZHARAFORMATION
HAMLAHFORMATION
Remark : The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
QPG.3062
QPG.3078
PAGE
1
25
67
810
PLATES
ARAEJANDIZHARAFORMATIONTYPESECTIONWELLKHARAIBNO.1(notincluded)
MIDDLEJURASSICFORMATIONSDUKHANWELLDK.80[DK0080]seebelow.Note:No
referencetothisplateismadeinthetext
808
Jurassic
(BathonianCallovian)
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Upper and Middle Dhruma Formation Powers et al., 1966. Araej Formation, Dominguez,
1965. Araej Formation, Dunnington, 1967. Araej Formation, Fox and Brown, 1968.
Type Locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat 252709N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41.5 m (136 ft),
completed 29.6.1953, between drilled depths 2137 and 2316 m (7010 and 7600 ft), see plate QPG.
3062
The formation takes its name from the Jebel Araej in Southern Qatar
180 m (590 ft)
Thickness
Top 1. Limestone, grey, foraminiferal, pellet-grainstone and packstone with some
Lithology
interbedded wackestone and lime mudstone. Pellets often black and pyritic. Some
horizons argillaceous. 31 m (102 ft). 2. Limestone; buff, medium to coarse grained,
bioclastic pellet-lump grainstone to packstone, porous; particles of buff colour
without pyrite staining. 59 m (193 ft). 3. Limestone, light to dark grey, compact to
dense, comprising interbedded pyrite-stained pellet grainstone and packstone,
wackestone and lime mudstone. Occasional beds of calcite-cemented oolite 61 m
(201 ft). 4. Limestone, grey wackestone to lime mudstone, with some interbedded
pellet packstone and occasional grainstone; pellets rarely pyrite stained; some
horizons silty. 28.6 m (94 ft). Base
In 1. Chlamys curvivarians Dietrich, Terebratula cf. superstes Douville, Trocholina
Fossils
palastiniensis Henson, Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, Kurnubia sp. In 2.
Cladocoropsis cf. zuffardiae Wells, Stromatoporina cf. somaliense ZuffardiComerci, Camptonectes sp., N. oolithica, T. palastiniensis, Pfenderina neocomiensis
Pfender, P. trochoidea Smout and Sugden. In 3. N. oolithica, T. palastiniensis,
Pfenderina sp. In 4. N. oolithica, Pfenderina sp. In addition to the above, there
occur throughout the formation, but particularly in unit 2, a number of simple
arenaceous fossils which have not been named and, also, fossils referred to Paleotrix
Farasin. (The fossil recorded above as P. neocomiensis is now believed to more
closely relate to P. salernitana Sartoni and Crescenti).
Callovian to Bathonian based on correlation of the Araej Formation with the
Age
Upper and Middle Dhruma Formation of Saudi Arabia (see Remarks below).
Recently published results of work on ammonites by Imlay (1970) suggest that the
Upper Araej and Uwainat Member should be assigned to the Callovian Stage and the
Lower Araej to the Bathonian.
Underlying Izhara Formation. Contact conformable. At junction of impure, silty, pellety, grey
limestones of the basal Araej, above, with buff, pure, wackestone and packstone of
the upper Izhara, below.
Diyab Formation, contact probably disconformable. At sharp junction of highest,
Overlying
coarse, pyritic, trocholina-bearing grainstone of the Araej Formation with
argillaceous lime mudstones and fine pellet limestones of the basal Diyab.
Other localities
This formation is widespread in S.E. Arabia being known throughout Qatar, in the subsurface, in
Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, underlying much or all of the Trucial States and passing in attenuated
form into Oman.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
809
810
Jurassic
Bajocian - ? Bathonian
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Lower Dhruma Formation, Powers, 1968. Izhara formation, Dominguez, 1965.
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat 252709 N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41.5 m (136 ft),
completed 29.6.1953, between drilled depths 2317 and 2454 m (7630 and 8052 ft) [Note: The 1975
Lexicon states a depth of 7600 ft instead of 7630 ft. Converting 2317 metres into feet gives 7601 ft
and not 7630 ft]. see plate QPG. 3062. The formation takes its name from a locality near the type
section.
137 m (452 ft).
Thickness
Lithology
Top. 1. Limestone, grey, porous, with scattered dolomite crystals. 24.4 m (80 ft). 2.
Limestone, grey to dark grey, fine grained, dense, with streaks containing pellets,
often pyrite-stained, sometimes argillaceous, silty. Lowest part variably dolomitic
and including beds of dark grey marl and shale. 56 m (185 ft). 3. Limestone, grey,
fine-grained, dense in part, very dolomitic. 6 m (20 ft). 4. Dolomite, grey to greybrown, calcareous, dense at top, becoming porous, saccharoidal. 10.6 m (35 ft). 5.
Limestone and dolomite, grey, fine-grained, dense, with argillaceous beds in upper
and lower parts. 40 m (132 ft). Base.
In 1. Rare Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, Glomospira sp., Paleotrix sp. In 2.
Fossils
Haurania sp.
Middle Jurassic, Bajocian possibly to Lower Bathonian. Based on its conformable
Age
position beneath the Callovian to Bathonian limestone of the Araej Formation. Can
be correlated with a fair degree of confidence with the Lower Dhruma Formation of
Saudi Arabia, recently assigned a wholly Bajocian age by IMLAY, 1970.
Underlying Gulailah Formation (at type locality), contact unconformable. Placed at the top of
the highest anhydrite bed of the underlying Gulailah Formation. In Well Dukhan
No. 65 [DK-0065], the Izhara is underlain conformably by the Hamlah Formation
(see Hamlah Formation).
Araej Formation; contact conformable. At junction of pure, buff-grey, porous,
Overlying
limestone of the Upper Izhara, below, with impure, silty, pellety, grey limestones of
the basal Araej Formation, above.
Other localities
Present in deep wells throughout Qatar. The Izhara Formation has also been recognised in Abu
Dhabi.
Remarks
The type description is a modification of the original account written after the formation had been
penetrated for the first time. It emphasises the presence of a 24 m (80 ft) upper member composed
of porous, pure carbonate, predominantly pellet and lump packstones and grainstones with
interbedded lime mudstones, which contrast strongly with the impure, variably developed limestone
of the overlying Araej Formation and the underlying Lower Izhara. This unit contains a
characteristic microfauna including Haurania spp. and forms related to Cockinolinopsis and
Orbitopsella. It is the equivalent of the Dhibi Limestone Member (formerly Haurania Limestone)
of the Lower Dhruma of Saudi Arabia, and can be traced over a large area of Arabia.
The lower part of the Izhara Formation is composed of interbedded pellet grainstones, argillaceous
packstones and lime mudstones, dolomite and shale. These contain increasing quantities of quartz
sand towards the base. Thin, discrete sandstone bodies have been recorded in the lower part.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
811
812
GeologicalLiaisonMeetings
A.D.M.A.,A.D.P.C.,D.P.C.,P.D.(O),Q.P.C.,andS.C.Q.
TheStratigraphyoftheWasiaGroup(AlbiantoTuronian)
InSouthEastArabia
Editedby:
A.J.STANDRING
September1972
813
CONTENTS
TEXT
Page
1
2
4
5
7
10
15
27
34
40
52
57
67
68
FacingP.10
FacingP.14
Introduction
SummaryofRecommendations
SubdivisionoftheCretaceousSystem
TheWasiaGroup
SedimentationintheWasiaGroup
DevelopmentofStratigraphicNomenclation
NahrUmrFormation
MauddudFormation
AhmadiFormation
MishrifFormation
NatihFormation
SalabikhFormation
HawasinaFormation
PublishedReferences
TextFigures
1
DevelopmentofFormationterminology
2
TableshowingdevelopmentofterminologyinOman
Theabovepaginationisfromtheoriginaldocumentandnotfromthistranscript.
814
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
LISTOFENCLOSURES
LocationMap
SchematisedRegionalCorrelationofRockUnitsWasiaGroup
RockUnitCorrelationintheWasiaGroup,DK26[DK0026],St1,Bu47,Fh1&Fahud(N)3.;
1:2,500
RockUnitCorrelationintheWasiaGroup,DK26[DK0026],IS1,US1,Zk37,SWFateh1and
Fahud(N)3;1:2,500
Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheWasiaGroupinWellDukhanNo.26
Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheWasiaGroupIddelShargi No.1
A.D.M.A.ReferenceSectionNo.1
WasiaGroupWellUmmShaifNo.1
A.D.M.A.ReferenceSectionNo.2
WasiaGroupWellZakumNo.37
D.P.C.ReferenceSectionNo.1
WasiaGroup,WellSouthwestFatehNo.1
D.P.C.ReferenceSectionNo.2
WasiaGroup,WellFatehA1
D.P.C.ReferenceSectionNo.3
WasiaGroup,WellFatehB1
LithologyandPalaeontologyoftheWasiaGroup,WellShuweihatNo.1
A.D.P.C.ReferenceSectionNo.2
WasiaGroup,WellBuHasaNo.47
Stratigraphicaldatasheet.TheWasiaGroupinP.D.(O)WellFahud(N)No.3
TheWasiaGroupinsurfacesection.WadiMiaidin,Oman.
TypeSectionoftheNahrUmrFormationinB.P.C.,WellNahrUmrNo.2
Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheNahrUmrFormationinWellDukhanNo.26[DK0026]
ColumnarStandardSectionoftheNahrUmrFormationinP.D.)O)WellMaqhoulNo.1
Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheMauddudFormationinWellDukhanNo.1[DK0001]
ReferenceSectionoftheMAuddudFormationinA.D.P.C.WellFaihaNo.1
Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheMishrifandAhmadiFormationsinWellDukhanNo.28[DK0028]
Lithology&PalaeontologyoftheSalabikhFormation,WellBuHasaNo.47
815
AbuDhabiMarineAreasLtd.
A.D.M.A.2
AbuDhabiPetroleumCompanyLtd.
A.D.P.C.
DubaiPetroleumCompanyLtd.
D.P.C.
PetroleumDevelopment(Oman)Ltd.
P.D.(O)
QatarpetroleumCompanyLtd.
Q.P.C.
ShellCompanyofQatarLtd.
S.C.Q.
BritishPetroleumCompanyLtd.
B.P.
CompagnieFrancaisedePetrole
C.F.P.
KoninklijkeShellExploratieenProductieLaboratorium
K.S.E.P.L.
Initial discussion of the Wasia Group was held at P.D.(O). headquarters, Mina al Fahal, following
examination of an exposed section in the Wadi Mi'Aiddin. Three more meetings were necessary before
finalagreementwasreachedonasystemofrockunitnomenclatureapplicabletothewholearea.Twoof
thesemeetingswereheldinAbuDhabiattheheadofficesofA.D.P.C.andA.D.M.A.Thefinalmeetingwas
heldintheDukhan,Qatar,officesofQ.P.C.
SUMMARYOFRECOMMENDATIONS
1. AninformaltripartitesubdivisionoftheCretaceousSystemwillbemaintainedinS.E.Arabiainspite
ofinternationalstratigraphicpractise.
2. ThenameWasiaGroupappliedinthesenseofOWENandNASR(1958),shouldberetainedinspite
of possible difficulties resulting from recently published conjecture on the age of the Riyadh
Formation.
3. ThesimilarityofrockunitsinSouthIraqandonshoreQatarisacknowledgedbytheretentionofthe
Mishrif,Ahmadi,MauddudandNahrUmrFormationsinthelatterarea.
4. The base of the Wasia Group is at the base of the Nahr Umr Formation which is defined by the
unconformable boundary between shales of the Nahr Umr and limestones of the Shuaiba
formation or by the top of the highest limestones of the Shuaiba Formation where more
continuoussedimentationisapparent.
5. ThetopoftheWasiaGroupismarkedthroughouttheareabytheunconformityatthebaseofthe
ArumaGroup.
List of Delegates: T.D. Adams (A.D.M.A.), P.J. Carter (A.D.M.A.), A. Ford (K.S.E.P.L.), K. Glennie (K.S.E.P.L.), F.
Gosling, (Q.P.C. & A.D.P.C.), E. Hart (A.D.P.C.), C. Hopping (P.D.(O).), G. Hughes (S.C.Q.), M. Hughes-Clarke
(K.S.E.P.L.), D.C. Kennedy (B.P.), R. Lacassange (C.F.P.), I. Maycock (D.P.C.), A.H. Smout (B.P.), A.J. Standring
(A.D.P.C.), G.W. Verspyck (P.D.(O).), J. de Zoeten (S.C.Q.).
2
Abbreviations used in the text
816
7. TheMauddudFormationisrecognisedasadiscreterockunitinonshoreandpartsoffshoreQatar
andalsoineasternAbuDhabi.InotherareasitoccursasathintongueinthebaseoftheSalabikh
FormationexceptinOman,wherelimestonesofMauddudtypeformthelowerpartoftheNatih
Formation.
8. TheAhmadiFormationisrecognisedonlyinonshoreQatarand,possibly,partsofoffshoreQatar.
ElsewhereAhmaditonguesmayberecognisedwithintheMishrifFormation.
9. ThenameMishrifFormationwillbeappliedtoclasticneriticlimestonesofCenomaniantoTuronian
agewhichcommonlyhavediachronousboundarieswiththeAhmadiandtheSalabikhFormations.
AnyequivalentoftheMauddudFormationisexcluded.
10. The name Natih Formation will be applied to sequences of predomintly shallowwater clastic
limestonesofAlbiantoTuronianageincludingequivalentsoftheMauddudFormationbutwhich
cannotbesubdividedaccuratelyintoMishrifandMauddudFormations.Theformationiscurrently
confinedtoOmanbutmayextendintoeasternAbuDhabi.
12. Itisstronglyrecommendedthattheproposalscontainedhereinbepublished,inashortenedform,
inageologicaljournalwithwidecirculation,sothattheiravailabilitytootherorganisationsworking
intheareamayleadeventuallytomoreuniformstratigraphicpractise.
817
CRETACEOUS
SubdivisionoftheCretaceousSystem:
In much of Arabia the Cretaceous succession can be divided into three major rock stratigraphic units,
whose limits are defined, at least in shelf provinces, by widespread regional unconformities of varying
magnitude.Asaresultofthenaturaltripartitesubdivisionandbecausethestratigraphicbreaksinvolved
areapproximatelysynchronousovertheregion,ithasbecomecustomarytodividetheCretaceoussystem
into three time units, Upper, Middle and Lower Cretaceous. The approximate time boundaries so
recognisedareasfollows:
MIDDLEEAST
INTERNATIONAL
STAGENAMES
CURRENTMAJORROCKUNITS
USAGE
USAGE
MAESTRICHTIAN
CAMPANIAN
UPPER
ARUMAGROUP
SANTONIAN
(LATE)
UPPER
CONIACIAN
MIDDLE
TURONIAN
CENOMANIAN
ALBIAN
WASIAGROUP
LOWER
(EARLY)
APTIAN
BARREMIAN
HAUTERIVIAN
VALANGINIAN
BERRIASIAN
THAMAMAGROUP
LOWER
Itisagreedthatforformalusageintimestratigraphy,twosubdivisionsoftheCretaceousSystemshouldbe
recognisedinaccordancewithinternationalpractise.AninformalsubdivisionoftheCretaceousintothree
timeunits,will,however,bemaintainedbecauseoflocalconvenienceandestablishedcustom.TheMiddle
CretaceousofsuchasubdivisionwillincludetheAlbian,CenomanianandTuronianStages
818
ThenameWasiawasfirstappliedtoanarenaceous,clasticformationwhichoutcropsinSaudiArabia.The
name is taken from Khashm Wasi'a, a waterwell area near the type locality. First described, briefly, by
STEINEKE and BRAMKAMP, (1952) the formation was formally defined in a publication by STEINEKE,
BRAMKAMPandSANDERin1958.
ThebaseoftheoutcroppingWasiaFormationrestsunconformablyupontheBiyadhSandstoneFormation
which was believed, until recently, to be of Aptian to Barremian age. The Wasia Formation is assigned a
Cenomanian age based on the occurrence of the ammonite Neolobites vibrayeanus in a local lens of
limestone.Thusaconsiderablebreakinsedimentation,spanningatleasttheAlbianStage,wasbelievedto
separatetheWasiaandBiyadhFormationsatoutcrop.
ThenameWasiaGroupwasappliedbyOwenandNASR(1958)toathicksedimentarysequenceofAlbianto
Turonian age encountered in deep oil wells in Kuwait and South Iraq. The Wasia Group, so defined,
compriseslimestones,shales,andsandstones,subdividedintoanumberofformations,whichtheauthors
believed to be the "obviously equivalent unit" to the Wasia Formation of Saudi Arabia. It is overlain
unconformablybytheKhasibFormationandunderlainbytheShuaibaFormation.Thelowercontactisalso
unconformable.
DUNNINGTON (1959) notes that recognition of the Wasia Group by OWEN and NASR was influenced by
practicesintroducedbyARAMCOgeologistsincoastalprovincesofSaudiArabia.Hestatesthattheunitisa
"somewhat, unnatural grouping as far as South Iraq is concerned because of the existence of a
disconformabletounconformablecontactbetweentheWaraandMauddudFormationsandthefactthat
thissedimentarybreakcanbetracednorthwestwardstotheoutcropoftheRutbahSandstoneandsouth
westwardstotheWasiaoutcrop.
In1966,POWERSet.al.publishedinformationwhichtheybelievedcouldsuggestthattheupperpartofthe
Biyadh formation at outcrop may be as young as Albian or, even, oldest Cenomanian. This could have
importantstratigraphicalconsequencessincethetopoftheBiyadhFormationatoutcropis,bydefinition,
the top of the Thamama Group. The upper part of the Thamama Group at outcrop would be the lateral
equivalent of part or all of the Nahr Umr and Mauddud Formations, which are placed within the Wasia
GroupbyOWENandNASR.
TheWasiaFormationisCenomanianatoutcropandboundedaboveandbelowbyunconformities.Inthe
KuwaitBasrah area, a number of formations of proven Cenomanian age are, according to DUNNINGTON
(1967)separatedbyawidespreadunconformityfromunderlyingAlbiansediments.Thelogicallowerlimit
ofagroupwhichincludestheWasiaFormationis,hemaintains,the"profoundunconformityatthebase
oftheCenomaniantransgression.
POWERS (1968) suggests that the unconformity at the base of the Wasia, which cannot be identified in
subsurface sections, decreases in magnitude and probably disappears towards the east. He agrees with
Dunnington that its equivalent falls at or near the level of the Mauddud. In spite of this, he describes a
subsurfaceWasiaFormationincludingtheexactequivalentoftheformationswhichcompriseOWENand
NASR'sWasiaGroupandwhichisoverlainbytheArumaFormationandunderlainbytheAptianlimestones
oftheShuaibaFormation.
819
SEDIMENTATIONINTHEWASIAGROUP
A 1400 km. long sandstone outcrop in central Saudi Arabia represents the featheredge of a major
sedimentary body, the Wasia Group, that is found in almost the whole of east and northeast Arabia,
usuallyinthesubsurface.TwomajorsedimentaryprovincescanbediscernedwithintheWasia.Inthewest,
closetotheShieldfromwhichtheywerederived,terrigenousclasticsweredepositedundercontinental,
lacustrineorshallowmarineconditions.Totheeastandnortheast,inareasmoredistantfromtheShield,
thegroupcomprisesmarinesedimentssubdividedintoabasalpelitic,clasticunit,theNahrUmrFormation
andlaterformedlimestonesofbothshallowanddeepwaterorigin.Thetwoprovincesareseparatedbya
zoneoftransition,inwhichshalespredominate,whichcanbetracedalongtheGulfcoastfromsouthIraq
toQatar,and,thence,southintotheRubalKhali.
The area under discussion falls almost wholly within the marine province, the only significant exception
being Qatar where intermediate conditions are recognised. Within the marine province, further
differentiation into shallow shelf and deeperwater environments took place in the late Albian or early
Cenomanian.
TwomajorsedimentarycyclesareapparentintheWasiasuccessionlaiddowninshelfareasbutarenotso
obviousinthedeeperwatersequence.
Theearliercyclecommencedwiththesuddenburialoftheshallowplatformandshelfcarbonateprovince
oftheShuaibaFormationbyaninfluxofterrigenousclasticmaterialwhichformstheNahrUmrFormation.
Sandstones occur in Qatar where they were deposited together with shales in a series of lacustrine and
deltaicdeposits.SandswerealsolaiddowninsoutheastOmanclosetoaminorsource,theHaushiHuqf
swell.Intheremainderofthearea,variegatedmarineshalescomposedoffineterrigenousmaterialforma
more distal facies variant of the Nahr Umr. In Dubai and part of north Oman reduced supply of clastic
materialpermittedtheformationofneriticlimestoneswhichareinterbeddedwiththeshales.
BeyondthebordersofArabia,theNahrUmrclasticsprobablychangelaterallyintoneriticlimestoneswhich
passinturnintodeeperwatersedimentsfoundwithintheKazdhumiFormationofIran.
AttheendofNahrUmrdeposition,shallowshelflimestonestransgressedrapidlyshoreward,coveringthe
sholeliaisonareaandadjoiningpartsofSaudiArabia.Subsidencesoonpermitteddeeperwatertoinvade
easternoffshoreQatar,AbuDhabiandDubai,leadingtothelayingdownofoligosteginalandglobigerinal
limestones of the basal Salabikh Formation contemporaneously with the neritic Mauddud Formation in
QatarandsimilarlowerNatihFormationlimestonesinOman.
At this time, in the late Albian or early Cenomanian, the deeperwater province attained its most
widespread development, permitting basal Salabikh limestones to extend from near Qatar to Oman. Its
subsequent history is one of diminution caused by the progressive encroachment of shallowwater
limestonesduringthesecondcycleofWasiasedimentation.
The Nahr Umr Mauddud cycle was brought to a sudden close in shelf areas by a further uplift which
causederosioninsomeparts,followedbyasecond,morelimitedinvasionbyclasticsedimentsfromthe
Shield. Argillaceous sediments of the Ahmadi Formation invaded Qatar at the beginning of the second
820
GradualinvasionofthedeeperwaterprovincebytheMishrifcontinuedthroughouttheCenomanianand,
possibly,duringtheearlyTuronian,causingtheareaofdepositionoftheSalabikhFormationtoshrinkuntil
itfinallyoccupiedonlycentralonshoreandoffshoreAbuDhabi.Asaresult,theMishrifSalabikhcontactis
stronglydiachronousinwesternareas,becomingyoungertotheeast.
The Mishrif transgressed rapidly shorewards late in the Cenomanian, forming the widespread, uniform
limestonedevelopmentwhichoverliestheAhmadiinQatarandareastothenorthwest.
Similar events took place in the east. The Natih Formation of Oman shows many similarities to the shelf
development of Qatar and nearby areas. Mauddudtype limestones are succeeded by shallowwater
carbonates showing faunal and lithological similarity to the Mishrif. The succession in Oman can be
subdivided into a number of cycles, which often commence with a shale. These cycles are probably
contemporaneous with those discernible in the deeperwater Salabikh Formation, as alternations of
globigerinal and calcisphaeral limestone. Evidence of this minor cyclicity is less clear in the west but it
seemsprobablethatperiodicdownwarpingaffectedthewholeregion.
AhmaditypeshalesoccurwithintheNatihFormationintheAfarregionofOman.Thegeneralsimilarityof
the shelf succession on both sides of the deeperwater province together with regional considerations
suggestthatthetwomaybepartofoneshelfprovinceextendingfromQatartoOmanbeneaththeRubal
Khali.
TherelationshipbetweentheNatihandSalabikhFormationsisnotsoevidentasthatbetweentheMishrif
andtheSalabikhbecauseoftheeffectoflateCenomaniantoTuronianupliftand erosionineasternAbu
Dhabi."Basinwardencroachmentofneriticcarbonatescanbedemonstratedinsomesections,suggesting
similaritywiththewest.TheoccurrenceoffarreachingtonguesofSalabikhtypesedimentswithinthelate
Natih succession has no known parallel in the west. Continuity of these intercalations with the main
Salabikh Formation cannot be proved, but appears most probable. They suggest possible eastward
transgressionoftheSalabikhataboutthesametimeasthemajor,laterCenomanian,Mishriftransgression,
inthewest.
821
Fig1:DevelopmentofFormationTerminology,QatarandTrucialCoast
822
A major unconformity was later discovered within the original Khatiyah Formation and shales occurring
aboveitwereremovedtobecometheLaffanShale,excludedfromtheWasiaGroup.Asignificantneritic
limestonewasfoundtooccurbeneaththeunconformityindownflankpositionsontheDukhananticline.
The Mauddud Formation was recognised in wells drilled in south Iraq. It is overlain by a Cenomanian
sequence which appeared similar to that then constituting the Khatiyah Formation of Qatar. This Iraqi
succession was subdivided into three rock units named, from top to bottom, Mishrif, Rumaila and Asara
Formations.
InQatarthenameMishrifwasappliedtothelimestonefoundbeneaththepostCenomanianunconformity.
CorrelationwiththetypeMishrifissufficientlygoodforthisnametohavesurvivedinQatar.
ThemoreargillaceoussequenceunderlyingtheMishrifinQatarwassubdividedintoanupper,limestone
bearing,RumailaFormationandalower,predominantlyargillaceous,AsaraFormation.ThenameKhatiyah
wastemporarilyabandoned.
The name Rutbah Sandstone was replaced by Nahr Umr Formation at the same time. The former was
believed to belong to a younger Cenomanian cycle in its type area, while there was no doubt of the
correlationoftheQatarclasticswiththeNahrUmrofsouthIraq.
The Rumaila and Asara Formations soon disappeared from Qatar terminology. No trace of the deeper
water facies of the Rumaila of Iraq could be discovered in Qatar. The Asara was replaced in Iraq by the
AhmadiandWaraFormations,definedinKuwait.
The name Khatiyah was reinstated in Qatar to describe the argillaceous succession between the Mishrif
andMauddudFormations.
In 1961 the name Ahmadi Formation was redefined in Iraq to describe the complete argillaceous unit
overlying the Mauddud, even where it includes appreciable limestone developments. Its diachronous
contact with adjacent formations was recognised. Similarity to the Khatiyah formation led to the final
rejectionofthatnameanditsreplacementbyAhmadiFormationbyQ.P.C.
S.C.Q.commencedexplorationdrillingineasternoffshoreQatarin1955.Thiscompanyadoptedthethen
current Qatar terminology of Mishrif, Khatiyah, Mauddud and Nahr Umr Formations. This nomenclature
was retained by S.C.Q. until the present in spite of some difficulties caused by lateral facies changes.
Eastward lateralchange from Ahmadi shale to Mishrif limestone ledto problemswhere intertonguingof
thetwolithologiesoccurs.EastwarddisappearanceofthetypicalMauddudlimestoneandtheincomingof
thindeeperwaterlimestonetonguesabovetheNahrUmrcouldnotbeadequatelyrepresented.Adoption
byS.C.Q.oftheproposalscontainedinthisreportshouldimprovethissituation.
A.D.M.A.begandrilling,ontheUmmShaifstructure,in1958.Consultationledtotheearly,butinformal,
local adoption of Q.P.C. formation names in offshore Abu Dhabi. There were many difficulties in their
823
Qatar names were applied in onshore Trucial Coast wells in an informal, often inconsistent manner
between 1952 and about 1960. Accelerated exploration drilling in Abu Dhabi after the latter date led to
recognition by A.D.P.C., of two major facies developments. The name Mishrif was applied to neritic
limestonesofCenomanianagewhichformthegreaterpartoftheWasiainwesternAbuDhabiandarealso
present in the east. "Oligosteginal" limestones found in central Abu Dhabi and named the "Wasia
Limestone"werethoughttobethedeeperwaterequivalentoftheMishrifFormation.Abasal shaleunit
wasnamedtheWasiaShaletodifferentiateitfromthesandyNahrUmrFormationofwhichitisthelateral
equivalent.TheMishrif andWasiaShaleFormation wereseparatedeverywhereinAbuDhabibyvariable
developmentsoftheWasiaLimestone.
Two formations originally believed to form the earliest cycle of the, younger, Aruma Group were later
proved to be lateral equivalents of the upper part of the Mishrif Formation and hence, to belong to the
Wasia.Thus,theLowerChalkandLowerShalebecamethetwohighestformationsintheWasiaGroupof
onshoreAbuDhabi.
AmbiguousapplicationsofthenameWasiaLimestoneledtoitsreplacementby"OligosteginaLimestone"
to designate the deeperwater limestone which occupies the interval between the Wasia Shale and the
LowerShale.
TheMauddudFormationwasfirstfoundinAbuDhabiinwellFaihaNo.1,drilledin1967.
D.P.C. have followed A.D.M.A. in the application of the names Mishrif, Oligostegina Limestone and Nahr
Umr. Moderatelywelldeveloped OrbitolinaTrocholina limestones were named Mauddud Formation and
thereremainssomeuncertaintywhetherthisisavalidusageinFateh.
TheMiddleCretaceous"depositsdonotappeartohavebeenformallyorinformallynamedintheinitial
studiesbyI.P.CgeologistsworkingintheOman.Morton(1959)inaresumeofthesestudiesonlydirectly
refers to the outcrop areas of Jebel Akhdar in the Oman Mountains and the "HuqfHaushi swell in the
southernOmanDesert.IntheJebelAkhdarareaMortoncitesacompletesequenceofsome304metresof
"MiddleCretaceous"depositscomprisingfromtoptobottom:
a) massivelimestonewithrudistsandPraealveolinacretacea72metres.
b) pelletylimestonewithOrbitolinacfConcava109metres
c) marly,siltylimestonewithOrbitolinacfconcava122metres
MortonfurthernotesthatintheHaushiHuqfarea,theLower/MiddleCretaceouscontactismarkedbya
151metresofmarlsandsandsoverlainbya156metresofmarlylimestones.
Van Deventer (1961) referred to the fossiliferous "Middle Cretaceous" comprising shales and marls with
intercalationsofthinlimestonesoftheNahrUmrFormationoverlainbylimestonesandmarlylimestonesof
the MauddudandKhatiyahFormations. However, inone enclosurevan Deventerhas assignedthe name
"Wasia"asarockunittermtothe1,800ft.thick"MiddleCretaceous"depositsintheHaushiHuqfWestern
Oman region. The term "Wasia" is not qualified but it is most probably used in a 'group' connotation
comprisingtheNahrUmr,MauddudandKhatiyahFormations,ref.Dunnington(1959).Wilson,Periamand,
Magnee(1962)inasummaryreportonMesozoicoilprospectsinOmanhave firstusedthetermWasia
Formation"asaninformalrocktimeunitforthecomplete"MiddleCretaceous"sequenceofdeposits.
824
Wells and Wilson (1964) completing a research project on Middle East carbonate studies, followed the
practicesoftheArabianGulfareaandusedthetermWasiaGroupforthe"MiddleCretaceous"depositsin
the Oman. They subdivided the Wasia Group into two major units; a rather uniform, ubiquitous "Lower
Wasia Group" comprising the Nahr Umr and Mauddud Formations and a variable "Upper Wasia Group"
comprising a number of rock types including the Khatiyah Formation and the informal "Praealveolina
Limestone"unitintheOman.
Marie (1966) first used the informal rock unit terminology of the "Wasia Limestone Formation" and the
"NahrUmrShaleFormation".ThisterminologywasadoptedbyGigon(1966)andvonderWeid(1966)with
the proviso that the nomenclature should be revised at a forthcoming Geological Liaison Meeting.
However,theseinvalidtermsthe"WasiaLimestoneFormation"andthe"NahrUmrShaleFormation"were
subsequentlypublishedbyTschopp(1967).
Purser (19667) in a research study retained the term "Wasia Formation" in the sense of Wilson, Periam
andMagnee,i.e.comprisingthecompletesequenceof"MiddleCretaceous"deposits.Hesubdividedthis
"WasiaFormation"intoaseriesoffivedepositionalcyclesfromtoptobottom;Alpha,Beta,Gamma,Delta
andEpsilon.
Gigon (1966) in a regional stratigraphical study of the Wasia Group rejected the depositional cycle
subdivision of Purser as impractical and confirmed the correlative value of Jungs detailed lettered
subdivisionofcarbonateunits.TodifferentiatebetweenJungsmembers(AG)andtheproductionzones
(AG),GigonlistedJungsmembersinminuscleletters(ag).Gigon(1967)stressedthattheuseoftheterm
"Wasia Group" with its two formations; the Wasia Limestone Formation and the "Nahr Umr Shale
Formation" was informal and temporary in view of the probable introduction of formal and valid "Gulf
wide"termsataforthcomingGeologicalLiaisonMeeting.
Scherer(1968)inadetailedmicrofaciesstudyoftheWasiaGroupandwiththeuseoffossilassemblages
wasabletodatetheWasiaGroupaccurately,provideadditionalcorrelativehorizonsandamoreaccurate
classificationofthecarbonaterocks.
ThedevelopmentofrockterminologyintheOmanissummarisedintextfigureNo.2.
825
Fig2:TableshowingdevelopmentofrockstratigraphicalterminologyfortheMiddleCretaceousinOman
826
Synonymy
Nahr Umr Formation, Dunnington et al., 1959, "Nahr Umr" Dominguez, 1965.
Kazhdumi Formation, (part) James and Wynd, 1965. "Wasia Shale", Hajash, 1967.
"Nahr Umr Formation", Tschopp, 1967. "Wasia Shale and Nahr Umr", Dunnington,
1967."NahrUmr",AlNaqib,1967."NahrUmr",FoxandBrown,1968.
Location B.P.C.wellNahrUmrNo.2betweendrilleddepths8688and9321feet
Thickness 633feet
Lithology Described by Owen and Nasr as "black shales interbedded with medium to fine grained
sands and sandstones with lignite, amber and pyrite. The sand/shale ratio in the type
section has been estimated to be 40/60. In the Basrah oilfields a prominent limestone
memberexistsintheupperthirdoftheunit."
ThisdescriptionisrepeatedalmostverbatiminDunningtonetal.(1959).
Thefactthatlimestone(theDairMember)isanimportantelementofthetypesectionis
broughtoutonlybyALNAQIB(1967).E.Harthasreexaminedtheoriginaldescriptionof
the type section and shown that the percentage of constituent lithologies is:
sand/shale/limestone=37%/45%/18%.
ThelithologyissummarizedinEnclosure16.
Fossils Orbitolina cf. discoidea Gras., Haplophragnoides sp. Cythereis sp., are recorded in the
originaldescription
In addition, the following fossils are recorded from the Dair Member by AL NAQIB:
Orbitolinacf.O.discoideaGras.O.cf.o.concava(Lamarck),algae,andmolluscs,including
Plicatula cf. P. auressensis (Coquand), Orbiculoides sp., Neithea dutrugei (Coquand),
Exogyracf.E.dieneri(Blanckenhorn).
Age Albian
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying Shuaiba Formation, contact conformable and gradational, at the base of the lowest
beddedshalesoftheNahrandatthetopofthelimestonewithshalestreakswhichmake
upthehighestdivisionoftheShuaiba(DUNNINGTON,1959).
Overlying Mauddud Formation; contact conformable and gradational, taken at the base of the
limestoneoftheMauddudandatthetopofablackshalesection.(DUNNINGTON,1959.)
Distribution The Nahr Umr Formation forms a belt of terrigenous clastics which extends southeast
fromIraqtoOman.ThenameNahrUmrisappliedtoitinIraq,Qatar,AbuDhabi,Dubai
andOman.TheBurganFormationofKuwaitisitsexactstratigraphicequivalentasisthat
partoftheWasiaFormationofeasternSaudiArabiawhichcomprisestheSafaniyah and
NahrUmrFormation
827
TheformationhasnotbeenrecognisedatoutcropinSaudiArabiaalthoughithasrecently
beensuggestedthatitsequivalentmayoccurintheupperpartoftheoutcroppingBiyadh
Sandstone.TheonlyundoubtedNahrUmroutcropsoccurinOman.
TheKazhdumiFormationofIranshowssomeaffinitywiththeNahrUmr.
The clastics of the Nahr Umr become progressively finer with increasing distance from
theirsourceontheArabianShield.SandsarecommoninIraqandonshoreQatarbutare
virtually absent from much of offshore Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman. In parts of
DubaiandOmanlimestonesbecomeanimportantpartofthesuccession.
The heterogenous nature of the type section justifies the application of the name Nahr
Umr to sequences which vary from predominantly sandstone to continuous shale. The
nameisalsovalidwhenaconsiderableproportionoflimestoneispresent.
Lateralvariationoflithologywithintheformationisillustratedbythefollowingreference
sectionswhicharetakenfromthevariousconcessionareas.
REFERENCESECTIONS
OnshoreQatar(seeEnclosure17)
Location Q.P.C.WellDukhanNo.26[DK0026],Lat.252053.21N.,long.504846.79E.,completed
14.1.1952.Thissectionoccursbetweendrilleddepth32783828feet.
Thickness 550feet
Lithology Fromtoptobottom
1
Sandstones, grey and greenish grey, often glauconitic, commonly
marly, with numerous thin beds of bluegrey shale and marl. Thin
bedsoflimestoneoccurrarely.105ft.
2
Shale,bluegreyandbrownishgrey,withfrequentbedsofmarl,blue
grey,whichoftencontainsporbo.Thinbedsofgreenishgrey,marly,
glauconiticsandstoneoccurintheupperhalf.233ft.
3
Sand and sandstone,grey,sometimes marlyandwithnumerousthin
bedsofmarlandshaleofvariouscolours.Frequentstringersandthin
beds of lignite contain abundant resin fragments. The more marly
partsoftencontainlightbrownphosphaticconcretionsorsporbo.212
ft.
Fossils The following fossils have been recorded. From unit 1. Trocholina lenticularis Henson, T.
arabicaHenson.T.altispiraHenson,CyclamminawhiteiHenson.Fromunit2.T.lenticularis.
TheprovenanceoftheTrocholinas maybeopentodoubt,astheyaremoretypicallyfound
intheoverlyingMauddudFormationandcouldhave"caved"fromthatformation.
Age An Albian age is usually assigned, based on the formation's stratigraphic position and in
828
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying ShuaibaFormation,unconformablecontactplacedwhereshalesrestuponlimestones
Overlying Mauddud Formation, conformable contact placed where limestones of the Mauddud
overliesandstonesoftheNahrUmr.
OffshoreQatar(seeEnclosure6)
Location S.C.Q.WellIddelShargiNo.1,coordinates637250E.,280.930N. U.T.M.,betweendrilled
depths4787and5047feet.
Thickness c.260feet
Lithology Top. 1. Clay, green, brown and grey, soft, marl and shale, green, brown and grey, fissile.
Thinbedsoflightgreylimestone,cream,chalkyoccurinthetop38feet.150feet.
2.Shaleandclay,asabove,withsand,brown,fine,wellsorted,friable.110feet.
Fossils OrbitolinaconcavaHensoninunit1.
Age AnAlbianageisascribedtotheNahrUmrFormationinthisarea,basedonitsstratigraphic
positionandonregionalcorrelation.
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying Shuaiba Formation; contact placed at an erosional disconformity where terrigenous
clasticsoftheNahrUmrrestuponfossiliferouswackestonesoftheShuaibaFormation.
Overlying SalabikhFormation;contactappearsconformable.Claysandshales,interbeddedwiththin
limestones, of the upper Nahr Umr pass up into chalky limestone of the basal unit
(Mauddud tongue) of the Salabikh. The latter is overlain by typical greybrown, deeper
water,limestoneoftheSalabikh.
OffshoreAbuDhabi(SeeEnclosure7)
Location A.D.M.A.WellUmmShaifNo.1,lat.2512'03.90"N.,long.5313'12.60"E.,betweendrilled
depths5123and5464feet.
Thickness 341feet
Lithology Composedofaseriesofvariegatedgrey,greenandbrownsplinteryshales,withraresand
lensesandglauconiticsilts.Occasionalthinooliticlimestonesoccur.
Fossils Thefollowingfossilshavebeenrecordedfromtheinterval:
Haploptrognoides sp., Lituola sp., Cytheseis sp., Cytherella sp., Macrocypsis sp.,
Protocytheris sp., Pycnodonta vesicularis , Isurus mantelli, Cardita forgemoli, Orbitolina
concava,Orbitolinadiscoidea,Spathiceras,Nuculasoriannoi,Modiolusreversus.
Age AnAlbiantoLowerCenomanianageisassignedtotheformationonthebasisoftheabove
faunalrecord.
829
OnshoreAbuDhabi(Seeenclosure13)
Location A.D.P.C. Well Murban No.47, lat. 233524N., Long. 5322'32"E., between drilled depths
7930and8487feet.
Thickness 557feet
Lithology 1.Shale,greytogreybrown,interbeddedwiththinbedsoflimestone.28ft.
2.Shale,redbrowntogreentogreybrownvariegated.Afewthinlimestonebeds,equalto
theMarkerLimestoneofOman,occursome72feetabovethebase.Lowestshalestendto
bemoreuniformlygreygreen.529feet.
Fossils In2.ScatteredsmallOrbitolinaconcavaandHemicyclamminasigali.
Age AlbianageisnormallyassignedtotheformationbyA.D.P.Cbecauseofitspositionabove
Aptian limestones of the Shuaiba Formation and beneath Albian to Lower Cenomanian
limestonescontainingHedbergellawashitensis.
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying Shuaiba Formation; contact an erosional unconformity between shale, above, and buff,
chalkylimestone,withpyriteandphosphaticnodules,below.
Overlying SalabikhFormation;contactconformable.Placedatthebaseof thelowestwelldeveloped
limestoneoftheSalabikhFormationandthetopofgreybrownNahrUmrshalescontaining
thinlimestoneintercalations.
Remarks ThereislittleevidenceofthicknessvariationduetolocalstructuralgrowthinonshoreAbu
Dhabi.
RegionalthicknessvariationwithintheNahrUmrappearstobepartlyrelatedtothenature
ofthepostShuaibatopographyuponwhichtheformationwasdeposited.Inareaswhere
underlying shallowwater Shuaiba limestones show evidence of emergence and erosion,
the Nahr Umr is of relatively uniform thickness. Where deeperwater limestones of the
Shuaiba pass up into the Nahr Umr shales without evidence of any breaks, a thicker
sequenceoccurs.
830
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying ShuaibaFormation;contactbelievedto beunconformable
Overlying SalabikhFormation;Natureofcontactunknown
Oman(Seeenclosure18)
Location P.D.(O)WellMaqhoul(North)1,coordinates,N.2,488424,E.396286,UTM.Elevation450
feet. Completed 29.10.1968. The formation lies between drilled depths 5214 and 5730
feet.
Thickness 516feet
Lithology theuppermember,(427 feet)comprisesbrowngreytogreenandolivegreenfissile,soft,
siltyshaleswithintercalationsofthinbeddedOrbitolinalimewackestones.Theuppermost
part of the lower member (89 feet) is demarcated by a characteristic and ubiquitous
limestone bed termed the Marker Limestone, which is an argillaceous, Orbitolina lime
wackestone.ThisMarkerLimestoneisunderlainbybluegreenfissile,softshales.
Fossils the Nahr Umr Formation contains an abundant microfaunal assemblage comprising
Cyclammina whitei, Orbitolina concava and many specimens and species of Ostracods.
RecentsystematicandstratigraphicalworkwiththesespecimensofOstracodshasrevealed
athreefoldsubdivisionoftheNahrUmrFormationintheOman.
Age Albian
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying ThebaseoftheNahrUmrFormationisunconformablyunderlainbythelimestonesofthe
ShuaibaFormation.
Overlying ThetopoftheNahrUmrFormationisconformablyoverlainbyTrocholinaOrbitolinalime
wackestonesoftheNatihFormation.
Remarks The Nahr Umr crops out in the Jebel Akhdar area of the Oman Mountains (Reference
Section,WadiMi'Aidin)andintheHaushiHuqfareaofthesouthernOmanDesert.
The Formation becomes much more marly and contains many more limestones towards
theeastinwellHamratDuru1andtheWadiMiAidin.TowardsthesouthernOmanDesert
areatheformationbecomesmuchmoremarlyandsandy,asseeninGhaba1,CoreHoles
15and16andatoutcropintheHaushiHuqfarea.
831
DISCUSSION
BoundariesoftheNahrUmrFormation
BaseoftheNahrUmrFormation
Definedastheboundarybetweenpredominantlyterrigenousclastics,includingoccasionalthinlimestones,
above,andthedominantlycarbonatesequenceoftheunderlyingThamamaGroup.InareasofAbuDhabi
inwhichtheNahrUmroverliesShuaibaFormationwhichexhibitsrelativelydeepwaterfacies,thereisan
appearance of downward gradation from more or less continuous shale into alternations of calcareous
shale and argillaceous limestone. Here, the formation boundary seems best chosen at the top of the
highest limestone, for essentially lithological reasons, viz. the argillaceous intervals below the highest
limestone are, in fact, marls and shaley limestones more akin to the Thamama than to the Wasia
sediments.
In Oman, where the basal terrigenous clastic unit becomes an interbedded limestone/terrigenous clastic
unit,thesituationwithregardtochoosingtheboundaryissimilartothatintheAbuDhabioffshelfareas,
i.e. a change from dominant clastics to dominant limestone, together with a change in character of the
argillaceousinterbeds.
In Onshore Qatar, the base of the formation is normally taken where a dark grey shale rests on clean
Shuaibalimestone.
UpperBoundaryoftheNahrUmrFormation
Defined as the base of the overlying Orbitolina/Trocholina limestones of the Mauddud shelfcarbonate
sequence, or their lateral equivalent. Selection of the boundary is sometimes difficult owing to the
presenceofthinlimestonesinthetopoftheNahrUmrformation.
InOman,thebaseoftheg"MemberoftheNatihFormationisnormallydefinedandisselectedasthetop
of the Nahr Umr. In areas such as Onshore Qatar where the f" and g Members are not clearly
differentiated,thecontactisdefinedbytheboundarybetweenlimestoneoftheMauddudFormationand
theunderlyingclastics.
IninterveningareasofOnshoreandOffshoreAbuDhabiandOffshoreQatar,thinMauddudtongues occur
which are correlated with the f and g Members of the Natih Formation. The top of the Nahr Umr is
placedatthebaseofthelowestoftheselimestonemembers.
ThetopoftheNahrUmrFormationwasoriginallyplacedbyA.D.P.C.atthetopofathingreenshalewhich
overliestheg"Memberequivalent.Thiswasfoundtobethemostconsistentregionalmarkerandtobe
mosteasilyrecognisedonpetrophysicallogs.
TheKazhdumiFormation
TheKazhdumiFormationofsouthwestIranoccupiesasimilarstratigraphicpositiontotheNahrUmr.Atits
type locality its lithology and fauna are quite different from those of the Nahr Umr, being composed of
bituminous shale and argillaceous limestone containing predominantly planktonic fossils, ranging in age
fromAptiantoearlyCenomanian.AShallowwaterfaciesexhibitedbytheKazhdumiinsoutheasternFars
ProvinceshowsstrongerlithologicaffinitywiththeNahrUmr.
TherecordofHedbergellawashitensisandassociatedplanktonicsfromtheupperpartofitstypesection
togetherwiththepresenceofabundantammonites,includingSpathicerassp.,fromthelowerpart,hasled
832
TheAgeoftheNahrUmrFormation
TheNahrUmreverywhereoverliestheShuaibaFormation,whoseestablishedageisAptian.Theformation
is always overlain by Mauddud limestones whether with formation rank or as tongues at the base of a
deeperwater sequence (the Salabikh Formation). The age of the Mauddud Formation cannot be
established with precision in S.E. Arabia from the evidence of its contained fauna and, hence, other
informationmustbeexaminedinordertoarriveatanage.
DUNNINGTONhasdemonstratedthattheNahrUmrofIraqpasseslaterallyintotheJawanFormationwhich
yieldsAlbian fossils near itsbase.Hencethe age of the lowerNahr Umr is AlbianinIraq. Thiswouldbe
expectedfromtheformationsstratigraphicpositionabovetheShuaiba.
Dunnington argues persuasively for an Albian age for the Mauddud Formation of Iraq. The age of the
Mauddud in other areas is less easily established. The Albian age assigned originally to molluscbearing
beds overlying the type Mauddud in Qatar can no longer be supported, although an Albian to Lower
Cenomanianassignmentisalmostcertain.Hence,theshorttimespanrepresentedbytheMauddudcould
beaccommodatedwiththelowerCenomanianortheAlbian.
Mauddud tongues in Abu Dhabi are overlain by limestone containing a Lower CenonamianAlbian
planktonic fauna, including H. washitensis. The same fauna is recorded from the top of the Nahr Umr of
UmmShaif,whileSpathicerassp.,issaidtooccurinitslowestpart.Thesearetheonlyplanktonicfossilsto
be recorded from the Nahr Umr in S.E. Arabia and have been taken as indicating a transition to the
KazhdumiFormationofIran.AwhollyCenomanianagewasoriginally assignedtotheNahrUmrofUmm
Shaifonthebasisofthesefossils,butitisnowagreedthatanAlbiantoLowerCenomanianageattribution
ismoreconsistentwithregionalevidence.Inviewoftheimportanceoftheseageindicesandthefactthat
the planktonicforaminiferal assemblageoftheupperNahrUmrresemblesthat ofthe overlying Salabikh
FormationinUmmShaif,furtherinvestigationoftheirprovenanceappearsdesirable.
Over large areas of Abu Dhabi the contact between the Shuaiba and Nahr Umr Formations appears
gradational and conformable. In these areas, Aptian ammonites date the upper Shuaiba and, hence, it is
mostprobablethat,asinIraq,thelowestNahrUmrisatleastasoldasAlbian.
TheaboveevidencesuggeststhatanAlbiantoLowerCenomanianageshouldbeassignedtotheNahrUmr
Formation.
833
MauddudFormation
Cretaceous
(AlbianorLowerCenomanian)
Author
Synonymy
F.R.S.Henson,1940,unpublishedreport
Mauddud Limestone, Smout 1956. Mauddud Formation, Owen and Nasr, 1958.
Mauddud Formation, Dunnington et al. 1959. Mauddud, Dominguez, 1965.
MauddudMember,JamesandWynd,1965.MauddudFormation,Dunnington,1967.
MauddudMember,Powers,1968.
TypelocalityandSection(SeeEnclosure19)
Location Q.P.C.WellDukhanNo.1[DK0001],Lat.252516N,Long.504701E,Elevation128ft.,
Completed9.1.1940.Theformationliesbetweendrilleddepthsof2,408and2,589feet.
TheformationnamecomesfromAinMauddud,alocalitynearDukhan,Qatar.
Thickness 181feet
Lithology
1. Whitebuff,OrbitolinaTrocholinapackstonesandwackestones,withthinbedsof
grainstones,containingechinoid,lamellibranch,gastropodandsomecoraldebris,
tracesofpyrites.130feet.
Fossils Orbitolinaconcava(Lamarck)var.qataricaHenson,TrocholinaArabicaHenson,Trocholina
lenticularisHenson,TrocholinaaltispiraHenson,CyclamminawhiteiHenson.
Age ProbablyAlbian.AnAlbianagewasoriginallyassignedinQatarbecauseoftheoccurrence
ofasupposedlyAlbianmacrofaunainthelowerpartoftheoverlyingAhmadiFormation.
The value of this fauna as an indicator of Albian age is now doubtful owing to the co
occurrence of species recorded from both Albian and Cenomanian rocks elsewhere. The
ageofthebasalAhmadiisprobablyLowerCenomanian.Thusthereisnodirectevidence
thatthetypeMauddudFormationisAlbian.
StrongevidencethattheMauddudFormationofIraqisAlbianisgivenbyDUNNINGTON
(1959), who also quotes faunal evidence that the formation is of the same age in the
KuwaitBasraharea.
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying Nahr Umr Formation, contact at conformable boundary between limestones of the
MauddudwitharenaceoussedimentsoftheNahrUmr.
Overlying Ahmadi Formation, contact conformable but abrupt. Shales and marls of the basal
AhmadioverlietypicallimestonesoftheMauddud.
Distribution The Mauddud Formation is a shallowwater limestone of widespread distribution in the
subsurface in Arabia. Originally definedin Qatar, it has subsequently been recognised in
834
InpartsofoffshoreQatar,AbuDhabiandDubaithintonguesofMauddudlikelimestones
areincludedinthebaseofthe,predominantlydeeperwater,SalabikhFormation.
The very uniform lithology exhibited by the formation is illustrated by the following
referencesections.
Offshore
Noreferencesectionisavailable.AMauddudtongueispresentatthebaseoftheSalabikh
Qatar
Formation in Well IddelShargi1 and it is known that the Mauddud Formation is well
developedfurtherwest,closetotheQatarpeninsula.
Location A.D.P.C. well Faiha No. 1, latitude 232308N., longitude 550219E., between drilled
depths7103and7297feet.
Thickness 194feet
Lithology Compact skeletal debris wackestones with, locally, very abundant Trocholina spp., and
Orbitolina sp. Also present are scattered large shell fragments, echinoid spines, small
gastropods,molluscandebrisandtextularids.
Beds of more argillaceous, dense limestone occur near the top. An alternation of grey
greenshaleandlimestoneisevidenttowardsthebase.
Fossils Trocholinaaltispira,Trocholinasp.,andOrbitolinaconcava occurthroughout.Cyclammina
whiteiisfoundinshalesbelow7240feet.
Age AlbianfromStratigraphicposition
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying NahrUmrFormation.Thecontactisplacedwherethebaseofthelowestwelldeveloped
limestone of the Mauddud (equal to the "g" Member of Oman) rests conformably upon
thehighestshaleofaseriesofalternatingshalesandlimestonesformingtheupperpartof
theNahrUmr.
Overlying Salabikh Formation. Contact at apparently conformable boundary between shelf
limestonesoftheMauddudanddeeperwaterlimestonesoftheSalabikh.
Remarks ThisistheonlywelldevelopedMauddudsectionsofarrecognisedinonshoreAbuDhabi.
Itequatesapproximatelywiththe"g"and"fMembersoftheNatihFormationofOman.
Thin equivalents of this unit which are found at the boundary of the Salabikh and Nahr
835
MauddudlikelimestonesoccuratthebaseoftheSalabikhFormation inoffshoreDubai.
More thickly developed than in Abu Dhabi, these limestones have, in the past, been
assigned formation rank but are considered a major Mauddud tongue in the basal
Salabikh.
DISCUSSION
TheAgeoftheMauddudFormation
EvidencefortheageoftheMauddudinIraqandQatarissummarisedinthedescriptionofthetypesection.
AlbianageappearsprobableinQatarbutaLowerCenomanianageisnotimpossible.
Albian age isassigned to theMauddud or its equivalent in SaudiArabia,Bahrain and Oman andthis age
wouldnodoubtbeacceptedbutforevidencefoundinUmmShaif,whereCenomanianfossilsarerecorded
from the Nahr Umr Formation. Spathiceras sp., and Ficheuria sp. have been recorded from low in this
sectionwhileaplanktonicassemblageincludingHedbergellawashitensisisrecordedfromitsupperpart.It
is not possible to assign precise age to ammonites with only generic determinations. Planktonic
foraminiferaarenotrecordedfromanyotherNahrUmrsectionsinArabia,butthefaunaoccurringinUmm
Shaif has an Albian to Lower Cenomanian aspect. Thus the Nahr Umr of Umm Shaif could be Albian or
Cenomanian.IfapossibilityexiststhattheNahrUmrcouldbepartlyCenomanian,atleastinpart,thenitis
equallyfeasiblethattheMauddudisofthatage.
836
Cretaceous
Cenomanian
AhmadiFormation
Author
Synonymy
R.M.S.OwenandS.M.Nasr,1958
TypeLocalityandSection
Locality K.O.C.WellBurganNo.62betweendrilleddepths4257and4497feet
Thickness 240feet
Lithology Shales, green, greengrey to chocolate brown in upper part and grey in lower part. At
baseamarlylimestonecontainingabundantOstracods
Age Cenomanian
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying Wara Formation, contact at conformable boundary between sands of the Wara and
argillaceouslimestoneofthebasalAhmadi
Overlying Magwa Formation; contact conformable; limestones of the Magwa overlie varicoloured
shalesoftheAhmadi.
A shale, with subordinate limestone member, in Kuwait, the Ahmadi Formation "passes
laterally into either marl or limestone or any possible ratio of the two in Iraq.
(DUNNINGTON,1959).
ReferenceSections
SouthernIraq
ThereferencesectiondesignatedforIraqisinB.P.C.WellZubairNo.3.OWENandNASR,
(1958)andDUNNINGTON,(1959),describea348feetsectionfromthiswell,separatedby
anequivalentoftheWaraFormationfromtheunderlyingMauddudFormation.ALNAQIB
(1967) follows CHATTON and HART (unpublished report) in including shales laterally
equivalent to sands of the Wara Formation within a 447 feet sequence ascribed to the
Ahmadi Formation. This unit occupies the complete interval between the Rumaila and
Mauddud Formation in south Iraq. The change in the limits of the Ahmadi Formation in
ZubairisinrecognitionofthelaterallydiachronoustransitionfromsandsoftheWarato
AhmaditypeshalesawayfromtheShieldarea.ItisthisrevisedAhmadisectionofZubair
whichiscomparedwiththeQatarsequence.
AcomparablelithologicalchangeisseeninSaudiArabia.Here,apredominantlyshaleunit,
837
(SeeEnclosure21)
Onshore
Qatar
Location Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 28 [DK0028], latitude 251711.9N., longitude 504846E.,
completed30.4.1952.Theformationoccursbetweendrilleddepths2384to3035feet.
Thickness 651feet
Lithology Fromtoptobottom
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying MauddudFormation;contactasharp butapparentlyconformableupwardschangefrom
limestoneoftheMauddudtoshalesofthebasalAhmadi.
Overlying Mishrif Formation; boundary placed where the top of the highest shale/marl bed of the
AhmadiisoverlainbylimestonesoftheMishrifFormation.
Discussion The Ahmadi Formation as here described is a predominantly neritic shalemarl unit
containing varying proportions of limestone. Continental and marine sands which fringe
the Arabian Shield pass laterally into the argillaceous Ahmadi facies, with zones of
interdigitation. With increased distances from the Shield the argillaceous Ahmadi
sediments change laterally into shelf limestones, which are here ascribed to the Mishrif
Formation.QatarliesattheeasternlimitoftrueAhmaditypesedimentation.Totheeast,
intheoffshoreQatararea,limestonespredominateovershales,whicharerepresentedat
838
onlyafewlevels.ThisstateofaffairscausesdifficultyintheS.C.Q.concessionarea,where
problemswerefoundinapplyingformationnamesusedintheonshorearea.Basicallythe
faciesisofMishriftypebutcontainingtonguesofAhmadi.Furthercomplicationisadded
byerosionoftheupperpartoftheMiddleCretaceoussequenceinsomeoffshoreQatar
areas.
In western areas of offshore and onshore Abu Dhabi all trace of Ahmadi influence has
completely disappeared and limestones occupy the whole interval between the base of
theArumaGroupandthetopoftheNahrUmrFormation.
839
Cretaceous
CenomanianTuronian
Author
R.M.S. Owen & S.M. Nasr, 1958 (but first described by P.M.V. Rabanit, 1952 in
unpublishedreport).AmendedbyK.AlNaqib,1967
Synonymy
"Mishrif Limestone", SMOUT, 1956. Mishrif Formation", DUNNINGTON, 1959. Mishrif
Formation", DOMINGUEZ, 1965. "Mishrif Member", JAMES & WYND, 1965. Mishrif
Formation, DUNNINGTON, 1967. "Mishrif Formation, AL NAQIB, 1967. "Mishrif
Member,POWERS,1968.Mishrif",FOX&BROWN,19698.
TypeLocalityandSection
Location B.P.C. well Zubair No. 3, Latitude 302306N, Long. 474329E., elevation 52 ft.,
completed26.2.1951,betweendrilleddepths7,204and7,605feet.
Thickness 401feet
Lithology Theoriginaltypedescription(OWEN&NASR,1958)wasasfollows"(toptobase)afine
grained limonitic, fresh water limestone containing Charophytae. This is followed by
greywhite, dense, fractured or stylolitic, algal limestone with gastropods and shell
fragments.Andthis,inturn,isfollowedbybrown,detrital,porous,partlyveryshellyand
foraminiferallimestonewithbanksofrudists;thislimestonegradesdownintoacompact
marlylimestone".
K.alNaqib(1967)givesthefollowingmoredetaileddescription:
8. Limestone, fine grained, limonitic, fresh water, containing Charophytae, and marl;
interbeddedwithblackshalehavingsomelightbuffstreaks50feet.
7.Limestone,whitebuff,finegrained,fracturedorstylolitic,marly,partlypseudooolitic
andmicrobrecciouswithstreaksofgreenishblackshaleandpalebuffmarltowardsbase
26feet.
6.Marl,whitishbuff,algalandgreenishblackshale12feet.
5. Limestone , brown and white, dense, detrital, containing gastropods, rotalids, and
sponge spicules; partly pseudooolitic and contains rare chalk streaks and thin green
shaleintercalations68feet.
4. Limestone. Cream to white or brownishbuff, porous, partly very shelly and
foraminiferal; contains bands of rudists, Cisalveolina sp, Begia sp., Dicyclina sp.
Dictyconoussp.,miliolidsandothers136feet.
3.Marl,whitetobuff,chalky,oilstainedinplaces16feet.
2.Limestone,porous,oilstained,browntolightbuff;leachedoutfossils;containscalcite
veins and floods of miliolids, Begia sp., Cisalveolina sp., Dicyclina sp., Taberina sp.,
Praealveolinasp.,andothers.58feet.
1. limestone, buff to brown, algal, contains miliolids or Cisalveolina sp., very dense at
base30feet.
Fossils (afterDunnington,1959)
AttopCharasp.
Inupper,algallimestonePermocalculussp.,nov.,Cisalveolinasp.,Begiaspp.
In very shelly and foraminiferal limestone Multispirina iranensis Reichel, Cisalveolina
fallax Reichel, Praealveolina cretacea (dArchiac) and P. cretacea var. tenuis Reichel,
MishrifFormation
840
Referencesections
Theshallowwaterrudistid,ForaminiferallimestonefaciesoftheMishrifFormationcanberecognisedinall
areas operated in by participants. The following reference sections are typical of the areas in a Mishrif
Formationisdefined.
Onshore
(SeeEnclosure21)
Qatar
Location Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 28 [DK0028], latitude 251712N., longitude 504836E.,
elevation 100feet; completed 1.5.1952. The formation occurs between drilled depths
21182384feet.
Thickness 266feet
Lithology Greywhite detrital packstone/wackestone and thin grainstone; fossil debris includes
foraminifera,algae,molluscs,andrarecorals.Somethinbedsofgreyshale.
Fossils Dicyclina qatarensis Henson, Zekritia langhami Henson, Qataria dukhani Henson,
Praealveolina cretacea (d'Archiac), Pseudochrysalidina conica Henson; Dictyoconella
minima Henson, Dohaia planata Henson, Cuneolina pavonia d'Orbigny, Meandropsina
vidaliSchlumberger.
Age An Upper Cenomanian age is assigned in Qatar but it is recognised that some Turonian
couldberepresentedinthehighestpart.
841
Other TheMishrifFormationisrecognisedinthesubsurfaceofallpartsoftheQatarpeninsula,
Localities whereitisarelativelyuniformdevelopmentofclean,porousshelflimestonewhosebase
isplacedatanalmostconstantstratigraphichorizon.Itsupperlimitvariesmostmarkedly
overtheDukhananticline,wheretheunitisvirtuallyeliminatedbyerosioninthecrestal
area.
Offshore
(SeeEnclosure6)
Qatar
Location S.C.Q. Well Idd-el-Shargi No.1, co-ordinates 637.250 E., 280.930 N. UTM. Between
drilled depths 3664 and 4590 feet.
Lithology Top.
1. Marly chalk, light grey, soft. 46 feet.
2. Limestone, light grey, chalky, granular, rarely pseudo-oolitic 108 feet.
3. Chalk, light grey, locally marly, and limestone, white to light grey, granular, locally
pellety and pseudo-oolitic, occasionally slightly marly. 159 feet.
4. Limestone, cream, compact, very finely crystalline, locally foraminiferal and shelly. 112
feet.
5. Shale, dark grey to brown or blue, soft, plastic, and clay, marly, green. 56 feet.
6. Limestone, cream, soft to medium hard, finely crystalline, and limestone grey-brown,
hard. 73 feet.
7. Limestone, cream and blue, medium-hard, chalky. 111 feet.
8. Limestone, dolomitic, chalky, foraminiferal, medium hard, in places sucrose. 85 feet.
9. Chalk and chalky limestone, white, soft, shelly, 126 feet.
10. Chalk, marly, some limestone, grey-brown or grey, chalky, crystalline. 50 feet.
Age A Cenomanian age is assigned to this sequence, based on its stratigraphic position & fauna.
Remarks The Mishrif Formation of Idd-el-Shargi is the lateral equivalent of the combined Mishrif
and Ahmadi Formations of onshore Qatar. It shows only minor traces of Ahmadi influences
in the presence of some shale and marl between 4090 and 4220 feet.
To the west of Idd-el-Shargi, tongues of Ahmadi shale become more important components
of the Mishrif.
842
(see Enclosure 7)
Location Location - A.D.M.A. Well Umm Shaif No. l, latitude 251203.90" N., longitude
531312.60" E., between drilled depths 4235 and 4812 feet.
Lithology A massive series of well-washed, shallow-water, shelf limestones. The upper 343 feet
comprise cream to white rudistid limestone, which is chalky in parts. Small clusters of
pyrite occur throughout. Below 4598 feet (drilled) in the reference section rudist fragments
are noticeably absent and, from 4650' to the base of the formation, the limestones become
grey-white in colour, and are considerably less shelly. Bituminous residues are occasionally
noted in the darker bands of the lowest interval. The formation becomes increasingly marly
towards its base.
Fossilsand Detailed palaeontology of Mishrif faunas has not been investigated. However, Smout has
Age designated the upper Mishrif in Umm Shaif-1 as being of Turonian age. This is based on
the relatively abundant occurrence of Laeverinea requieni, together with Thalmanninella
(?) cf. reicheli and Terabratulina lata. Below 4598 feet (b.r.t.) a Cenomanian age has been
assigned, but no faunal list is available to support this designation.
Remarks The Mishrif Formation is variably developed across the A.D.M.A. concession.
Contemporary structural growth on individual structures controlled local sedimentation,
whilst regionally the unit thickens towards Qatar in the west, but disappears eastwards in
Zakum and Mosaddej. It reappears once more in Umm Addalkh (and Fateh) in good reefal
facies.
Location A.D.P.C. Well Shuweihat No.1, latitude 241336N., longitude 5226'28"E., completed
10.11.1957 between drilled depths 5260 and 6640 feet.
Lithology Top.
1. Limestone; white, chalky, pellet, shell-fragment, foraminiferal, algal grainstone to
packstone, sometimes oolitic, cemented (240 feet) grading down into:2. Limestone; white, fine grained, chalky wackestone to mudstone with thin interbeds of
very fine shell-fragment, packstone. 98 feet.
3. Limestone; grey, argillaceous, lime mudstone, becoming shale in the basal few feet. 23
feet.
4. Limestone; white, fine, shell-fragment, algal, foraminiferal wackestone, grading to
packstone and grainstone. 129 feet.
5. Limestone; fine, dense lime mudstone. 86 feet.
6. Limestone; white, fine-grained, packstone/wackestone, chalky. 189 feet.
7. Limestone; white, fine-grained, chalky lime mudstone. 55 feet.
8. Limestone; fine to coarse packstone-grainstone to wackestone, particles of shell
fragments, including rudists, foraminifera, algae. 398 feet.
9. Dolomite; secondary after fine packstone, dense. 22 feet.
10. Limestone; white, chalky, fine fossil-fragment packstone. 140 feet.
Base.
843
Age Wholly or largely Cenomanian. Could extend into the Turonian in its uppermost part but
there is no faunal proof of this.
Remarks The most complete development to be found in onshore Abu Dhabi occurs in the far west,
where it occupies almost the whole interval between the Laffan Shale and the Nahr Umr. A
thin tongue of deeper-water Salabikh limestone, which separates the Mishrif and Nahr Umr
in this area, replaces the former laterally eastwards, from the bottom up. This process is
gradual as far as Shuweihat but becomes more rapid between that area and Ruwais, where
the final vestiges of Mishrif are found.
The Mishrif is absent from most of the remaining areas of Abu Dhabi, its place being taken
by the deeper-water Salabikh Formation.
Mishrif re-appears in eastern Abu Dhabi, where it is relatively thin as a result of late or post
Cenomanian uplift and erosion, both local and regional.
Offshore
Dubai
(See Enclosure 9)
Locality D.P.C. Well Southwest Fateh No.1, latitude 2530' 01.56N., longitude 541828.37"E.,
between drilled depths 7876 and 8163 feet. (approx).
Lithology Limestone, predominantly packstone, occasional grainstone, and minor wackestone. Rudist
debris forms the predominant skeletal constituent. Detrital particle size decreases
downwards towards the contact with the Salabikh. Very occasional large forams. , e.g.
Praealveolina sp., occur. Oligosteginids occur in minor amounts in the finer grained
material towards the base. Interparticle, vuggy, and moldic porosities are dominant. Minor
amounts of finely crystalline, secondary dolomite occur near the Mishrif/Salabikh
boundary.
Age Cenomanian
844
The name Mishrif is applied to clean, neritic, clastic limestones of Cenomanian to Turonian
age which can be clearly distinguished from the older shelf limestones of the Mauddud
Formation.
The above definition presents no problem in Qatar, where the Mishrif and Mauddud
Formations are separated by the well-developed, argillaceous sediments of the Ahmadi
Formation.
Eastward lateral facies change has caused the replacement of most of the Ahmadi by
Mishrif-type 1imestones in offshore Qatar. The presence of shales within a predominantly
Mishrif development has caused some nomenclatural difficulties, but these shales are now
assigned the status of Ahmadi tongues within the Mishrif Formation. This formation can
occupy the whole of the Wasia Group above the Mauddud Formation. Although the Mishrif
can rest directly upon the Mauddud in this area, selection of the boundary between them
has presented no problem.
In easternmost offshore Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai the upper and lower limits of the
Mishrif Formation are clearly defined by its contacts with the Laffan Shale and Salabikh
Formation respectively. Definition of the formation poses no problem in these areas.
Limestones of Mishrif-type, containing similar faunal assemblages, occur in the upper part
of the Wasia Group in Oman. They are underlain by limestones comparable to the
Mauddud Formation but it has proved impossible to define an incontrovertible Mishrif Mauddud boundary. The complete post-Nahr Umr succession has, consequently, been
defined as one formation - the Natih Formation - which is defined below.
845
NatihFormation
Cretaceous
AlbianTuronian
Author
Synonymy
W.O.Gigon(196667)unpublishedreport
Wasia Formation, WILSON, PERIAM and MAGNEE, 1962. Wasia Limestone, JUNG,
1964.WasiaLimestoneFormation,MARIE,1966,andTSCHOPP,1967.
Location P.D.(O) Well Fahud (North)3, central Oman; coordinates, UTM: N, 2466148E, 449254,
elevation741.5feet,completed4.8.1964.Theformationliesbetweenthedrilleddepths
of1662and3103feet.
TheeponymouslocalityistheNatihfield
Thickness 1,441feet
Lithology Seven carbonate units lettered as "members were established by Jung (1964) and
developedbyGigon(1967)andScherer(1968).Theyare,fromtoptobottom:
1 aMember, (197 feet) consists of an upper sequence of shallow marine deposits
containing mollusc, echinoid, rudist wackestones; pelletoidal, miliolid wackestones
with larger Foraminifera and the characteristicDictyoconella minima Praealveolina
cretacea facies. This is underlain by a lower deeper marine facies with planktonic
foraminiferaandscatteredmollusc,echinoidandgastropodfragments.
2 bMember, (247 feet)j consists of upper, light brown, slightly bituminous to non
bituminouswackestonescontainingechinoid,molluscandbrachiopodfragmentswith
fewplanktonicforaminifera.Thisfacies,althoughmoreprominentintheupperpart
of the bMember, alternates with dark brown, bituminous wackestones/packstones
containing abundant planktonic foraminifera (Heterohelix sp.). These facies are
underlain by a dense mudstone to wackestone containing few planktonic
foraminifera,skeletalfragmentsandsmall,rarePraealveolinaspp.Thebaseoftheb
Member consists of Ostracod shales with intercalations of a Trocholina wackestone
containing extremely large specimens of Praealveolina referable to Praealveolina
cretacea brevis. These limestone intercalations have a similar facies to those of the
underlyingcMember.
3 cMember (159 feet). An upper rudistid packstone is underlain by an algal
(Permocalculus), Trocholina,Praealveolina wackestone, whichis the dominantfacies
of the cMember. These rocks become slightly argillaceous, with fewer and smaller
particles and rare planktonic foraminifera, in the lower part of the member. The
membercontainsabasalgreytobrownshale.
4 dMember, (135 feet), is a rather similar unit to the cMember, with an uppermost
rudistlimestoneandaloweralgal,Trocholina,Praealveolinawackestone.However,a
moreshallowwaterdepositionalenvironmentthanthatofthecMemberisindicated
by the presence of large miliolids and specimens of Pseudochrysalidina conica. The
lowerpartofthedMembercontainsmanyshaleintercalationsyieldingCyclammina,
Pseudocyclamminaandabundantostracods.
846
847
(North) 3 and Umm as Samim1 the uppermost part of the aMember of the Natih
Formation comprises a greybrown limestone, which is additional to the usual
developmentoftheNatihFormationandisheretermeda1.Thisuppermosta1Member
contains an abundant planktonic foraminifera fauna including, Hedbergella delricensis,
Praeglobotruncana cf. paradubiagigantea, Heterohelix globulosa?, Globotruncana
schneegansi and Globotruncana sp. The age of the Natih a1 member is uncertain. The
fauna is suggestive of a TuronianConiacian age but the existence of a distinct member
youngerthantheacceptedNatihaforthetimebeingremainsquestionable.
Insomeareas,intheeasternOmanDesert,thedeepermarinedepositionalenvironment
prevails throughout the entire aMember in the form of a dominant, abundant
calcispheral, planktonic foraminiferal wackestone and a coarser lamellibranch, echinoid,
gastropodwackestoneunit.
Further east and southeast, in the Afar area, the c and dMembers tend to become
rathermareshaleyandsimilartotheAhmadiFormationoftheQatararea.
The lower part of the eMember can show quite a variation in thickness and lithology,
sometimes comprising dolomitised limestones and, elsewhere, marls and marly
limestones.
848
SalabikhFormation
Cretaceous
(AlbianCenomanianorTuronian)
Author
Synonymy
A.J.Standring
Combined Lower Chalk, Lower Shale and Oligosteginal Limestone of A.D.P.C.
(HAJASH, 1967); Oligostegina Limestone of A.D.M.A. (Fox & Brown, 1968); Khatiyah
FormationofD.U.M.A.
TypeLocalityandsection(SeeEnclosure22)
Location A.D.P.C.WellMurbanNo.47,latitude233524N.,longitude532232E.,betweendrilled
depths6860and7930feet.
The formation takes its name from a locality 50 km. to the W.N.W. of the type locality,
whereanexploratorywellpenetratedacomparablesequence.
Thickness 1070feet
Lithology Fromtoptobase
1 (RuwayadhaMember)Limestone,lightgrey,argillaceousandchalky;finetoveryfine
grained,andchalky,grey,limemudstonetowackestone.168feet.
2 (Tuwayil Member) Shale, grey to dark grey, with thin beds of limestone, light grey,
lime mudstone, oligosteginal and marl with pelecypod casts in the upper part. 277
feet.
The uppermost 275 feet are predominantly pure limestone with minor argillaceous
streaks,excepttheinterval7435to7490feet,whichisslightlyargillaceous.
Thelowest350feetarepredominantlyargillaceousandoftenhighlybituminouswiththe
exceptionofthebasal41feet.
The latter unit is composed of two dense, pure limestones, separated by a thin shale,
whichappearstohaveformedinaslightlyshallowerenvironmentthantheremainderof
theformation.
Fossils Unit1(RuwaydhaMember)
Unit2(TuwayilMember)
TheshalesyieldostracodaincludingBrachycytherewellingsi,Cytherellasp.,togetherwith
commonGlobigerinasp.,andarestrictedfaunaofHeterohelixnearthebase.Limestone
streakscontainOligostegina.
849
Unit3(ShilaifMember)
Planktonic foraminifera occur in all but the lowest 42 feet. One common element is
"Oligostegina" which is particularly abundant in the less argillaceous sections. The more
argillaceous parts of the sequence yield common Globigerina sp., Heterohelix Sp.,
Schackoina sp., and Globotruncana spp., many of which have not been specifically
identified.Rotalipora sp.,andPraeglobotruncanastephanihave beenrecordedfromthe
upperpart.
The interval of approximately 100 feet above the basal limestone has yielded a fauna
typifiedbyoccurrencesofGl.(Hedbergella)washitensisinneighbouringwells.Thelowest
42 feet show some affinity with the Mauddud Formation of the shelf province, yielding
Orbitolinacf.concavaandTrocholinalenticularis.
Age Albian to Lower Cenomanian in the lower part, indicated by the G. washitensis
assemblage;theremainderisplacedintheCenomanian.
TheTuwayilMemberhasyieldedfewagediagnosticfossils.AprobableCenomanianageis
supported by study of the palynology of correlative horizons in wells Salabikh1 and
Mushash1.
Thefaunalassemblagecontainedinthehighest(Ruwaydha)membercouldbelowermost
Turonian. E. Hart prefers to compare it with a fauna, which cooccurs with Upper
Cenomanianammonites,recordedbyMalapriesandRat.
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontact
Underlying NahrUmrFormation;boundaryplacedattheconformable,gradationalcontactbetween
greybrownshales,withinterbeddedlimestones,below,andlimestoneofthebasalShilaif,
above.
Overlying Laffan Formation; contact appears conformable but could in fact be disconformable.
ShalesoftheLaffanFormationoverliethelimestoneoftheRuwaydhaMember.
Distribution The Salabikh Formation is fully developed only in central, onshore Abu Dhabi. To the
north,inpartsofoffshoreAbuDhabi,theSalabikhoccupiestheintervalbetweentheNahr
UmrFormationandbaseoftheArumaGroupbutitsupperpartiseitherabsentthrough
erosionorpoorlydevelopedasaresultofattenuation,bothreflectingupliftatthecloseof
theMiddleCretaceous.
TheSalabikhextendswestwardsalmosttotheQatarPeninsula.Itsupperpartisreplaced
laterallyandprogressively,fromthetopdown,byshallowwaterlimestonesoftheMishrif
Formation.Asaresulttheformationbecomesthinnerandofalessertimedurationwith
increasingdistancetothewestandiswhollyreplacedbytheMishrifclosetoQatar.
The Salabikh is present in eastern areas of onshore and offshore Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Herealso,passageintoshallowwaterMishriflimestonesisevidentsothatinOman,the
SalabikhisrepresentedonlybythintonguesofdeeperwaterlimestonewithintheNatih
Formation.
850
TheRuwaydhaMemberiswelldevelopedonlyinonshoreAbuDhabi.Italmostcertainly
extendsintotheoffshoreareaofAbuDhabibuthasnotyetbeendefinitelyidentified.To
the west, in both offshore and onshore Qatar, as well as in western Abu Dhabi, its
equivalentistobesoughtintheupperpartoftheMishrifFormation.IntheShuweihat
sectionthelateralequivalentoftheRuwaydhaFormationcanbeshowntobeunits1and
2oftheMishrifFormation.(SeeMishrifFormation,p.48)
The member has not been recognised in eastern Abu Dhabi, where it may have been
removedby postCenomanianerosion.InOman,thea1MemberoftheNatihFormation
commonly yields planktonic foraminifera, which could be comparable to those recorded
from the Ruwaydha Member of the Salabikh. They have, however, been assigned a
younger,TuroniantoConiacianage.
The main lithological variation in the Tuwayil Member is a westward change of the
limestoneswhichoccurinitsupperparttosandsandsilts.
TheShilaifMemberispresentinalmostallwellsdrilledinAbuDhabi.Itthinsmarkedlyto
thewest,byprogressivelateralchangeintoshelflimestoneoftheMishrifFormation.
Further work remains to be done on the microfauna and facies of the Shilaif Member.
With the exception of a few cores from early wells, almost all description is based on
examinationofcuttingssamples.However,thereisverystrongsimilarityoflithologyand
successioninallwellsdrilledthroughthe"OligosteginaLimestone"incentralAbuDhabi.
The appearance of cyclicity in the succession requires further study, which may lead to
closercorrelationwithsubdivisionsoftheshelfcarbonatesuccession.
DUNNINGTON(1967)statesthattheunitheredefinedastheShiIaifMemberisofAlbian
age and the time equivalent of the Mauddud Formation. As shown above, the greater
part of the Salabikh Formation can be proved to change laterally into shallowwater
Mishrif limestone. Only the lowest part of the Shilaif Member, containing a Hedbergella
washitensis fauna, could equate with the Mauddud. Indeed, this fossil assemblage is
foundwithinMauddudlikelimestonesinthebasalpartoftheNatihFormationofOman.
ReferenceSections
TheabovedescribedsectiontypifiestheSalabikhFormationofonshoreAbuDhabi.Thefollowingreference
sectionsillustratedevelopmentsoftheformationinneighbouringareas.
OffshoreAbu (SeeEnclosure8)
Dhabi
Locality A.D.M.A. well Zakum No.37, lat. 2447'48.42"N., long. 5345'05.24"E., between drilled
depths6330and6927feet.
Thickness 597feet
Lithology TheTuwayilMemberisarestrictedunitcomposedofcalcareoussiltstones,pyriticshales,
calcareousmudstonesandargillaceousmudstones.Thickness.93feet.
TheShilaifMemberiscomposedof"pelagic"calcareouspackstoneandwackestones,and
851
852
Fossils HedbergellawashitensisoftenoccursinthebasalpartsoftheShilaifMember.Orbitolina
sp., and Trocholina sp., ostracods, pelecypods and possibly gastropods occur in the
limestonesoftheMauddudtongue.
Age AlbianLowerCenomanian
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying NahrUmrFormation;contactconformable.Placedatthetopofcontinuousredbrownto
greenshalesoftheNahrUmrFormationandthebaseofthelowestlimestoneofaseries
ofalternatinglimestoneandgreenshaleswhichconstitutethebasalMauddudtongueof
theSalabikhFormation.
Overlying Mishrif Formation; contact conformable and gradational. Placed where deep water
limestone of the Salabikh Formation passes up into shallowwater wackestones and
mudstonesofthebasalMishrif.
Remarks The status of the Mauddud in offshore Dubai (and western offshore and onshore Abu
Dhabi) isproblematical. The development is intermediatebetween thatfound in central
Abu Dhabi where thin tongues occur at the Salabikh Nahr Umr contact and the
development of Mauddud of formational rank such as in A.D.P.C. Well Faiha1. Earlier
practicebyD.P.C.wastotreattheunitasaseparateformationdistinctlithologicallyfrom
theoverlying,"oligosteginal",Salabikhlimestone.
Offshore
(SeeEnclosure6)
Qatar
Locality S.C.Q. Well IddelShargi No.1 coordinates 637.250E, 280.930N, UTM. between drilled
depths4580and4787feet.
Thickness 197feet
Lithology Top.1.Limestone,grey,softtohard,marlyinplaces,sandyandshelly.46ft.
2. Limestone, greybrown, hard, finely crystalline, shelly and shale, dark brown to black,
carbonaceous.54ft.
3.Limestone,brownorgrey,hard,finetomediumgrained,shelly.Limestone,buff,soft,
chalkyandshale,darkbrowntobluegreen.72ft.
4.Limestone,chalky,cream,soft.25ft.Base.
Age Albian to Lower Cenomanian age is assigned to this section because of its stratigraphic
position and because of the presence of a planktonic fauna including Hedbergella
washitensisatthislevelinmanysectionsinneighbouringareas.
AdjacentFormationsanddetailsofcontacts
Underlying Nahr Umr Formations; contact placed where soft chalky limestones of the basal
(Mauddud)tongueoftheSalabikhFormationrestconformablyuponshales,andclaysof
theNahrUmr.
Overlying Mishrif Formation. Contact conformable, but regionally diachronous, placed where
shallowwaterlimestonesoftheMishrifrestupondeeperwaterlimestoneoftheSalabikh.
Remarks TheSalabikhFormationisrepresentedinIddelShargibyonlypartoftheShilaifMember.
Thisunitthinswestwards,beinggraduallyreplacedbytheshallowshelfcarbonates.The
SalabikhsectionofIddelShargiisabsentfromwellstothewest;itsplacebeingtakenby
shelflimestoneoftheMauddudFormation.
853
HawasinaandRelatedsedimentsContemporaneouswiththeWasia
TheWasiasedimentsweredepositedonthecontinentalshelfsurroundingtheArabiancratonduringthe
Albian,Cenomanianand,onlyrarely,theTuronian.TherelationshipofthesedimentsoftheHawasinaand
Sumeini Groups to the accepted Wasia sediments is a highly controversial topic. Interpretations vary
widelyandnoexplanationyetfindsuniversalacceptance.
Thetwomostwidelyheldinterpretationsarebrieflysummarisedasfollows:
Wilson(1969)followingMorton(1959)concludedthattheHawasinawasdepositedinitspresentlocation
during the late Cretaceous. The Hawasina facies, gives evidence in the form of basal boulder beds,
turbidites,andmassiveterminalgravityslidesofsharpcontemporaneoustectonism.LowerHawasinadeep
water turbidites have yielded an inverted faunal sequence of shallow water fossils such that the whole
sequencecannotbeolderthanthereworkedyoungestmiddleCretaceousfaunapresentinthebasalbeds.
Wilson postulated that the source of the turbiditic sediments was a submerged seamount north of the
OmanMountainsthatwasbeingerodedduringthelateCretaceous.
A contrary view has recently been put forward by Glennie et al, (Bull. Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geols., in
preparation)whobelievethatthesedimentsoftheHawasinaandSumeiniGroupsweredepositedinthe
ocean basin lying to the north and east of the present Oman Mountains in the period end Permian to
Cenomanianbutlater(inthelateCampanianorearlyMaestrichtian)tectonicallyemplacedtooverliethe
ArabianShelfsediments.ThoseHawasinaandSumeinisedimentsthatwereoriginallydepositedproximal
to the Arabian Continental Shelf are to a large extent made up of debris from the continental shelf
emplacedasturbidites.Thedebrisconsistsbothoflithoclastsfromearliershelfunits,outcroppingonthe
shelf edge and slope, and contemporaneous unconsolidated shelf sediment. Both lithoclastic and fresh
sedimentarymaterialfromtheshelfWasiasedimentsareseeninanumberoftherockunitsmakingupthe
HawasinaandtheSumeiniGroups.Thoseunitsare:
TheDheraFormation
TheDibbaFormation
Hawasina
TheNayidFormation
TheWahrahFormation
TheMayhahFormation
SumeiniGroup
Intheturbiditesintheseunitsoccurlithoclastsandfreeskeletaldebrisdirectlycomparablewiththefacies
andfossilsseenintheNatihFormation.Theonlysmalladditionistheinfrequentoccurrenceofooidalclasts
andgrainswhichtodate,arenotrecordedfromtheNatihFormation.ThiswouldindicatethattheNatih
FormationtotheNorthandEastofpresentoutcropsinOman(i.e.nearertheformercontinentalmargin)
couldbelocallydevelopedasanoolite.
The perennial pelagic sediments interbedded with these turbidites are generally silicified, frequently
radiolarian but occasionally contain pelagic foraminifera, mostly Hedbergellatypes and rarely Rotalipora
types.
854
PublishedReferences
ADAMS,T.D.,KHALILI,M.&SAID,A.K.,1967
"OffshoreFieldsofQatar"5thArabPetrolCong.57(B1).
DUNNINGTON,H.V.,1967.
"Stratigraphical distribution of oilfields in the IraqIranArabian Basin" Journ. lnst. Pet., vol. 53,
No.520,pp.129161.
DUNNINGTON,H.V.,WETZEL,R.&NORTON,D.M.,1959.
"Iraq,MesozoicandPalaeozoic",LexiqueStratigraphiqueInternationale",vol.III(Asia),Fasc.10a.Ed.
L.Dubertret.
ELDER,S.1963
"UmmShaifOilfield,Historyofexplorationanddevelopment",Journ.Ist.Pet.,vol.,49,No.478pp.308
315.
ELDER,S.&GRIEVES,K.F.C.,1965.
"AbuDhabiMarineAreasGeology",LePtroleetlaMer,Symposium,section1,No.127,Monaco.
FOX,A.F.,&BROWN,R.C.C.,1968
TheGeologyandReservoirCharacteristicsoftheZakumOilfield,AbuDhabi";2ndReg.Tech.Symp.,
Soc.ofPet.Eng.ofA.I.M.E.,SaudiArabianSection.Dhahran.
HAJASH,G.M.,1967
"The Abu Dhabi Sheikhdom The onshore oilfields history of Exploration and Development", Proc.
7thWorldPet.Cong.,vol.2,pp.130139.
JAMES,G.A.&WYND,J.F.,1965
"Stratigraphic nomenclature of Iranian Oil Consortium Agreement Area", Bull. Amer. Assoc. Pet.
Geol.,vol.49,No.12,pp.21822245.
MALAPRIS,M.&RAT,P.1961
DonnessurlesRosalinesduCnomanienetduTuroniendeCoted'Or."Rev.Micropalvol.4,No.2,
pp.8598.
MORTON,D.M.,1959
"TheGeologyofOman,"Proc.5thWorldPet.Cong.,sect.1,pp.277294,NewYork.
NAQIB,K.M.AI,1967
"GeologyoftheArabianPeninsulasouthwestIraq",U.S.Geol.Surv.Prof.Paper560G.
OWEN,R.M.S.&NASR,S.M.,1958
"StratigraphyoftheKuwaitBasrahArea,inHabitatofOil,asymposium.Amer.Assoc.Pet.Geol.,pp.
12521278.
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"ArabieSoudite",LexiqueStratigraphigueInternationa1e,vol.III(Asie),fasc.10B1Ed.L.Dubertret.
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"Geology of the Arabian Peninsula. Sedimentary Geology of Saudi Arabia, U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof.
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SMOUT,A.H.,1956
"ThreenewCretaceousgeneraofforaminifera relatedtotheCeratobuliminidae",Micropaleontology
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855
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"ThegeneralgeologyofOman",Proc.7thWorldPet.Cong.vol.2,pp.231241.
WILSONH.H.,1969
856
LocationMap.Scale1:4,000,000.Author:A.J.Standring
857
ADMAReferenceSectionNo.1:WasiaGroup,WellUmmShaifNo.1.Author:P.J.Carter(1968)
858
ADMAReferenceSectionNo.2:WasiaGroup,WellZakumNo.37.Author:P.J.Carter(1969)
859
D.P.C. Reference Section No. 1: Wasia Group, Well Southwest Fateh1. Scale 1:1000. Date & Author
unknown
860
SchematisedRegionalCorrelationofRockUnits:WasiaGroup.Author:A.J.Standring.(19710325)
861
RockUnitCorrelationintheWasiaGroup.DK0026,St.1,Bu.47,Fh.1&Fahud(N)3.Scale1:2500.Author:B.N.Twombley.Dateunknown
862
RockUnitCorrelationintheWasiaGroup.DK0026,Is1,US1,Zk37,S.W.Fateh1&Fahud(N)3.Scale1:2500.Author:A.J.Standring.Dateunknown
863
D.P.C.ReferenceSectionNo.2.WasiaGroup.wellFatehA1.Scale1:1000.Author&Dateunknown
864
D.P.C.ReferenceSectionNo.3.WasiaGroup.WellFatehB1.Scale1:1000.Author&Dateunknown
865
Lithology & Palaeontology of the Wasia Group Shuweihat No. 1. Scale 1:1000. Author: A.J. Standring.
(19690518)
866
ADPCReference Section No. 2.Wasia Group.Well Bu Hasa No. 47. Scale1:1000. Author:A.J.Standring.
(19690518)
867
Stratigraphical Data Sheet of the "Wasia Group" in Exploration well Fahud North3, after Scherer (1968).
Vertscale1:1000.Author:C.a.Hopping(196911)
868
TheWasiaGroupinsurfacesectionWadiMi'Aidin.Lithofaciesunits(depositionalenvironments)bedding
properties, characteristic microfacies, diagenesis and fossil distribution. Vert Scale 1:1000. Author: F.C.
Scherer(196805)
869
TypeSectionoftheNahrUmrFormationB.P.C.WellNahrUmrNo.2.Scale1:500.Author:A.J.Standring
(19710324)
870
ColumnarStandardSectionoftheNahrUmrFormationintheP.D.(O)wellMaqhoul1.Scale1:1000.Authorunknown.(197103)
871
ReferenceSectionoftheMauddudFormationinADPCWellFaiha1.Scale1:1000.Author:A.J.Standring(19710325)
872
Lithology & Palaeontology of the Salabikh Formation in Bu Hasa47. Scale 1:1000. Author: A.J. Standring
(19690518)
873
Edited by
W.G. WITT
JUNE 1973
874
PAGE
Introduction
SummaryofRecommendations
TheThamamaGroup
TheKahmahGroup
DepositionalHistoryoftheThamamaandtheKahmahGroup
DevelopmentofStratigraphicNomenclature
ShuaibaFormation
KharaibFormation
LekhwairFormation
HabshanFormation
SalilFormation
RaydaFormation
PublishedReferences
Enclosures
Original
Document
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43
55
65
67
71
This
Document
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4
5
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48
ENCLOSURES
1
2
Locationmap
ThamamaandKahmahGroup.Generalizedregionaldevelopmentand
nomenclature
QatarOman.SchematizedcorrelationofrockunitsThamamaand
KahmahGroup
ShuaibaFormationtypesectionwellZubairno.3
Wellno.Dukhan80[DK0080],ThamamaGroup.Missingfromouroriginal
LithologicalcolumnofIddelShargi1.Missingfromouroriginal
LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheThamamaGroup.ShuaibaFormation
referencesectionBuHasa34
LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheThamamaGroup.TopShuaibatotop
HabshanreferencesectionBab2
ReferencesectionoftheThamamaGroupofUmmShaif3andZakum1
ThamamaGroup.A.D.M.A.referencesectionZakum1
FatehA1,ThamamaGroup,GammaRay Neutron Laterolog.Missing
fromouroriginal
FatehA1,ThamamaGroup,Lithology,GammaRayNeutronlaterolog
Lekhwair7.StratigraphicaldatasheetShuaibaandtopKharaib
Formations
Kharaibwellno.1graphicwelllogKharaibLekhwairFormations.
Missingfromouroriginal
Busayirwellno.1graphicwelllogKharaibLekhwairFormations
StratigraphicaldatasheetKahmahGroupLekhwair6
LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheHabshanFormationBab2
StratigraphicaldatasheetRaydaFormationLekhwair3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
1:2,500,000
Draw#,
P.D.(O)
9206
1:2,500,000
9243
1:2,500,000
9212
1:1,000
1:1,000
1:1,000
9296
9295
9365
1:1,000
9202
1:1,000
9204
1:1,000
1:1,000
9208
9207
1:1,000
9406
1:1,000
9439
1:200
9146
1:1,000
9297
1:1,000
1:1,000
1:1,000
1:1,000
9298
4343
9249
9211
Scale
875
R.M.Lacassagne
R.J.Murris
AbuDhabimarineareasLtd.
A.D.M.A.
AbuDhabipetroleumCompanyLtd.
A.D.P.C
DubaiPetroleumCompanyLtd.
D.P.C.
PetroleumDevelopment(Oman)Ltd.
P.D.(O)
QatarPetroleumCompanyLtd.
ShellCompanyofQatarLtd.
CompagnieFranaisedesPtroles
ShellInternationalPetroleumMaatschappijN.V.
Q.P.C
S.C.Q.
C.F.P.
S.I.P.M.
The meeting was held at Mina al Fahal, Oman, and agreement was reached on the rock unit
nomenclature applicable to the entire area (Encl. 1)
Definitions and discussions of the proposed formations (Encl. 2, 3) comprise the greater part of this
report. Many of the formation names have already been adopted by operating companies.
876
The name Thamama Group applied in the sense of Powers (1968) should be retained. The
formationsoftheThamamaGroup(HabshanShuaiba)aremainlyLowerCretaceous(Berriasian
Aptian)inage.Theoldestformation,theHabshan,appearstobepartlyUpperJurassicinage.
In the Oman Mountains and subsurface the Rayda to Shuaiba Formations are included in the
KahmahGroup(GLENNIEetal.1973)ofKimmeridgianTithoniantoAptianage.
The Shuaiba Formation described from southern Iraq and the Kharaib Formation described from
QatararemappableinSoutheastArabia.
The Lekhwair Formation is accepted as the carbonate age equivalent of the clastic Ratawi
FormationofIraq.
TheYamamaandSulaiyFormationsaresupersededbytheHabshanFormation.Incertainareasof
OmantheYamamaandSulaiyrockunitswillberetainedasmembers
ThedeepermarineageequivalentoftheshallowmarineHabshanFormationistheSalilFormation.
TheRaydaFormationistheageequivalentofthedeepermarinesequencesofthelowerHabshan
andtheupperpartoftheUpperJurassicSilaGroup
877
ThamamaGroup
BuwaibFormation
Unconformity
YamamaFormation
SaulaiyFormation
The base of the group is taken at the top of the Hith evaporites and the top in outcrop is taken at the
unconformity supposedly separating the Biyadh and the Wasia Formations.
In the subsurface of coastal Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, parts of the Rub al Khali and
possibly northernmost parts of Dhofar, the Thamama Group is defined by common subsurface
usage to comprise the sequence between the Hith evaporites below and the diastem1 at the base of
the Nahr Umr Formation above. The latter diastem, showing no apparent break in the Arabian Gulf
area, develops into an unconformity towards the basin edges in the west, south and east.
The correlation of the top of the Thamama Group, from the subsurface areas where the Shuaiba
Formation is present below the Nahr Umr Formation, to the Saudi Arabian outcrop area, has led to
considerable controversy in the past and is at present still open to doubt. According to POWERS et
al (1966) and POWERS (1968), the Biyadh Sandstone in its type area includes the sandy
equivalents of the Nahr Umr, Mauddud and possibly even younger formations of the Wasia Group.
In this interpretation, the boundary between the Wasia and Thamama Groups would differ
drastically between outcrop and subsurface. Until detailed correlations corroborated by faunal
and/or floral data are made publically available, this will remain a point of controversy.
Another subject for divergence of opinion is the base of the Thamama Group outside the area of
typical Hith development, i.e. in the eastern part of the United Arab Emirates including parts of
Abu Dhabi and Oman. Detailed subsurface correlations suggest that the Hith and the underlying
Qatar/Arab Formation are replaced eastwards by ooidal lime grainstones and argillaceous
dolomites, which appear to separate the shallow evaporitic basin to the west from an area of deeper
marine sedimentation to the east. In the latter, deeper marine limestones with at the base siliceous
lime mudstone (porcellanites) of the Rayda were deposited.
1
Diastem is defined as a minor interruption in the deposition of sedimentary material, or, a minor interruption in
sedimentation with little or no erosion before deposition is resumed
878
879
Westernarea(Qatar,AbuDhabi,Dubaiincludingoffshoreareas
ShuaibaFormation
KharaibFormation
ThamamaGroup
LekhwairFormation
HabshanFormation
Easternarea(Oman)
ShuaibaFormation
KharaibFormation
LekhwairFormation
KahmahGroup
HabshanFormation
SalilFormation
RaydaFormation
As adopted by the 11th Meeting, the Thamama Group comprises the strata between the top of the
Hith Formation and the top of the Shuaiba Formation. Its age is therefore Berriasian to Aptian,
although the precise age boundaries are yet to be confirmed. The age of the Hith is still
controversial and the Shuaiba/Nahr Umr boundary may be slightly diachronous, the Nahr Umr
being locally as old as Upper Aptian. The Thamama Group coincides greatly with the Lower
Cretaceous of the much used tripartite division of the Cretaceous in the Middle East.
880
881
882
883
In 1961 it was shown that the Ratawi Formation of south Iraq has a diachronous, laterally
gradational contact with the overlying Zubair Formation. In some areas shales of the Ratawi
Formation have entirely replaced the Zubair Fm and include an appreciable proportion of
limestones. The Ratawi in such developments resembles the combined Hawar, Kharaib and Ratawi
Formations as originally defined in Qatar. For this reason, the Hawar and Kharaib Formations were
reduced by Q.P.C. to member status within the Ratawi Formation.
Since 1961 the Thamama Group has become economically important and consequently has been
closely studied. As a result of such study, in 1971 it was proposed to reinstate the Hawar and
Kharaib as formations and to use the Ratawi Formation in its original sense.
2) S.C.Q.
Since 1963 (DOMINGUEZ 1965) the Thamama Group of offshore Qatar is subdivided into the
following formations:
ShuaibaFormation
HawarFormation
KharaibFormation
YamamaFormation
SulaiyFormation
3) A.D.P.C.
The stratigraphical subdivision of the Thamama Group as published by Hajash (1967) consisted of
numbering the porous limestone units from A to H. The uppermost part of the Thamama Group
including Zone A in shallow limestone facies was named the Shuaiba Formation. Its deeper
marine equivalent was called Dense Shuaiba Limestone. HARRIS, HAY & TWOMBLEY
(1968) retained this subdivision and only changed the term Dense Shuaiba Limestone to Dense
Shuaiba Equivalent. In 1971 A.D.P.C. proposed the following subdivision:
884
4) A.D.M.A.
In 1971 A.D.M.A. used no formal rock-stratigraphical nomenclature for the Thamama Group.
Instead six major porous zones were recognized, which are effectively individual reservoirs. A
correlation with the A.D.P.C. nomenclature was proposed as follows:
A.D.P.C.
ShuaibaFormation
HawarEquivalent
KharaibFormation
RatawiEquivalent
Yamama/SulaiyFormation
A.D.M.A.
TopZoneItobaseSubzoneIA
BaseSubzoneIAtotopZoneII
TopZoneIIto ?baseSubzoneIIIA
?baseSubzoneIIIAtobaseZoneIV
ZonesVandVI
5) D.P.C.
In 1971 the Thamama Group of offshore Dubai was subdivided into six major porous zones which
have not been correlated with defined rock-stratigraphical units.
6) P.D.(O)
The Thamama Group, overlain by the Nahr Umr Formation and underlain by shallow carbonates of
the Jurassic, has been identified since 1963. Attempts were made to subdivide the Thamama into
Upper, Middle and Lower Thamama. The Upper Thamama was further subdivided in units A, B,
and C, unit A corresponding with the Shuaiba Formation. In 1964 WELLS & WILSON
(unpublished report) recognized the Shuaiba Formation at the top of the Thamama Group. In 1968
CLARKE (unpublished report) reinstated the Musandam Limestone in the sense of LEES (1928)
and HUDSON & CHATTON (1959), whereas MORTON (1959), TSCHOPP (1967) and WILSON
(1969) included the Wasia Group in the Musandam Limestone.
Since 1969 (SCHERER, HOPPING, unpublished reports) the following rock-stratigraphical units
have been used:
ShuaibaFormation(includingHawarEquivalent)
KharaibFormation
LekhwairFormation(includinguppermarl)
YamamaFormation
SulaiyFormation
SalilFormation(=lowermarl)
The term Thamama was abolished. Later in 1971 HOPPING created the term Zumul Group (now
obsolete), which included the above mentioned formations and in addition the porcellanite and its
overlying strata beneath the Salil Formation (now the Rayda Formation).
885
Cretaceous
(Aptian)
Author
RABANIT 1951. Unpublished report. Published by OWEN and NASR 1958 (amended by H.V.
DUNNINGTON et al. 1959)
Synonymy
Uppermost part (unit p and o, with exception of lowermost part of o) of the Musandam
Limestone, HUDSON & CHATTON 1959; Shuaiba Formation, DOMINGUEZ 1965; Shuaiba
Formation, DUNNINGTON 1967; Shuaiba Formation, Dense Shuaiba Limestone, HAJASH
1967; Shuaiba Formation, POWERS 1968; Shuaiba Formation, dense Shuaiba Equivalent,
HARRIS, HAY & TWOMBLEY 1968; Shuaiba Equivalent in former A.D.P.C. usage;
A.D.M.A.s Zone I down to base Subzone I A; Thamama A of the Upper Thamama in former
P.D.(O) usage.
Type Locality and section (enclosure 4)
B.P.C. well Zubair No. 3; lat 302301N, long. 474329E; elevation 51.9 ft.;
Location
completed 21.2.1951; between drilled depths 9870 and 10132 ft. The formation
name is taken from Shuaiba locality just east of Basra and close to Zubair Field
(southern Iraq).
262 ft
Thickness
More recently in 1970 HART investigated the original descriptions of the type
Lithology
section by RABANIT and concluded that the description of the Shuaiba by OWEN
and NASR (1958) is more applicable to sections at Ratawi and Nahr Umr locations
rather than the type section at well Zubair No. 3. HART quoting from RABANITs
original reports gives a description of the type section of the Shuaiba from top to
bottom as follows:
9870 9962
9962 10125
10125 10132
The fauna of this limestone formation is on the whole rather poor with the exception
of a rich Orbitolina discoidea zone at the base. RABANITs description checks
rather well with the one of DUNNINGTON et al. (1959).
Planktonic Foraminifera in the upper part, Orbitolina cf. Discoidea Gras (rare),
Fossils
Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger (rare) at base only.
Aptian
Age
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Zubair Formation; contact conformable and gradational, taken at the top of the first
shale bed below the Orbitolina cf. discoidea limestone.
Overlying Nahr Umr Formation; contact conformable, taken at the base of the first
considerable shale bed above the limestones of the upper part of the Shuaiba.
Distribution Widespread in the western Arabian Gulf: Subsurface Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar, U.A.E., both onshore and offshore, and Oman; outcropping in the Oman
Mountains. The Dariyan Formation of the Iranian Oil Consortium Agreement Area
is considered to be an extension of the Shuaiba Formation (JAMES & WYND
1965).
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
886
OWEN & NASR (1958) describe the Shuaiba as made up of dolomitic limestones
which are coarsely crystalline, porous, and cavernous, with recrystallized Rudistae
and with rare Orbitolina discoidea and Choffatella decipiens.
The type section described by DUNNINGTON et al. (1959), is quite unlike this,
being composed of mainly fine-grained, chalky and argillaceous limestones, some of
which contain planktonic Foraminifera, interbedded with shale in their upper part.
The Shuaiba has recently become an important oil producing reservoir in Abu Dhabi
and Oman and has, in consequence, been subject of detailed studies.
The Shuaiba of the Bu Hasa Field is comparable to the coarse rudistid limestones
recorded from Kuwait and Oman.
The type section in South Iraq appears to show more affinity to the deeper water
sequence of the Bab Dome (HARRIS, HAY & TWOMBLEY 1968), onshore Abu
Dhabi, Zakum, offshore Abu Dhabi, and Lekhwair, Oman.
The Shuaiba of onshore Qatar is probably more closely related to the shallow
platform facies of Bu Hasa, Kuwait and southern and eastern Central Oman
The name Sabsab Formation (SUGDEN 1953, unpublished report) was at one time
assigned to a distinctive lithologic unit of Qatars subsurface, composed of lime
grainstones and packstones with abundant abraded Orbitolina. This is now included
in the Shuaiba Formation and the term is now obsolete.
Reference Sections
Onshore Qatar (enclosure 5) Shuaiba Reference Section
Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 11 [DK-0011]; lat. 252717N, long. 504802E;
Location
elevation 136 ft. (41.5 m); completed 1.8.1949; between drilled depths 3291 and
3724 ft. (1003 and 1135 m).
433 ft. (132 m).
Thickness
Lithology
From top to bottom
ft.
85
1 Light grey or white, chalky limestone and white chalk, 85 ft (26 m).
2 White to light grey, chalky limestone, containing fine skeletal debris.
Partly to strongly recrystallized. Occasionally dolomitic. Grey and 348
argillaceous in bottom few feet. 348 ft (106 m)
In 1: Arenobulimina sp., Pseudochrysalidina sp., Orbitolina cf. discoidea Gras.
Fossils
In 2: O. cf. discoidea; ? Cyclocardia cf. upwarensis Woods.
Aptian
Age
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Hawar Member of the Kharaib Formation; contact conformable between limestone
above and blue-green shale below.
Overlying Nahr Umr Formation; contact probably disconformable, at contact of grey limestone
below and shale above.
No adequate logs are available from well Dukhan No. 11 [DK-0011], enclosure
Remarks
shows a graphic log with a GRN log run recently in well Dukhan No. 80 [DK-0080].
887
888
Remarks
At Bu Hasa and in areas where the Nahr Umr Formation rests upon shallow water
limestones of the Shuaiba, the contact is sharply defined. In areas where the
Shuaiba is in deeper open marine facies, as in the Bab reference section, the contact
tends to be less well defined as no erosional break is present and the contact shows
passage by alternation between denser argillaceous limestone and grey shale.
The Shuaiba of the Bu Hasa reference section exhibits marked facies and thickness
change northwards towards the Bab Dome (see Bab reference section p. 25).
The shallow water algal and rudistid sediments of units 1 and 2 wedge out rapidly
northwards and are replaced by a thinner sequence of deeper water argillaceous
limestone and shale (= Bab Member). The basal units, 3 and 4, persist regionally as
clean generally porous limestones of the Zone A of A.D.P.C.
Microfacies photographs of rocks of the various units are published in HARRIS,
HAY & TWOMBLEY 1968.
889
890
891
892
893
894
KHARAIB FORMATION
Cretaceous
Barremian Lower Aptian
Author
SUGDEN, 1953. Unpublished report
Synonymy
Upper part (lowermost part of unit o, unit n with exception of its lowermost part) of the Musandam
Limestone, HUDSON & CHATTON 1959; upper part of Kharaib Formation of DOMINGUEZ
1965; A.D.M.A.s base of Subzone IA to base of Subzone IIIA; Thamama B and C of the Upper
Thamama in former P.D.(O) usage.
Type Locality and Section (enclosure 14)
Q.P.C. well Kharaib No. 1; lat. 252709N, long. 511156E; elevation 136 ft. (41
Location
m); completed 29.6.1953; between drilled depths 3637 and 3962 ft. (1109 and 1208
m). The formation takes its name from a locality near the middle of the Qatar
Peninsula where the well Kharaib No. 1 was drilled.
325 ft (99 m)
Thickness
From top to bottom
Lithology
ft.
Hawar Member. Blue-grey shale and marl. 52 ft (16 m).
52
1
Light grey, porous, fine grained, partly recrystallized limestone. 79 ft.
2
79
(24 m).
Grey to cream, porous to compact, detrital limestone, in parts with
3
136
large pellets, interbedded with argillaceous limestone. 136 ft. (41 m).
Light grey, porous, fine grained limestone. 58 ft. (18 m).
58
4
Fossils
In 1 Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger.
In 2 Orbitolina cf. discoidea Gras, O. discoidea delicata Henson, Dictyoconus
arabicus Henson.
In 3 O. discoidea delicata, Choffatella decipiens
In 4 O. discoidea delicata, D. arabicus
Barremian Lower Aptian
Age
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Lekhwair Formation; contact apparently conformable but, regionally, considerable
cut-out and condensation of beds beneath the Kharaib can be demonstrated over the
Qatar arch, the boundary being disconformable. Boundary placed at the contact of
limestone above with marl or shale below.
Overlying Shuaiba Formation; contact conformable, between limestone above and shale and
marl below.
Distribution Subsurface onshore and offshore Qatar and the U.A.E., subsurface Oman,
outcropping in the Oman Mountains. Some distance west of Qatar its equivalent is
to be found in the Biyadh Formation of Saudi Arabia.
In onshore Abu Dhabi the Kharaib contains the Zone B plus Zone C Reservoir of the
Remarks
Thamama Group, which contain important oil accumulations (HAJASH 1967).
In offshore Qatar the name Kharaib has been applied to the complete sequence
which underlies the Hawar Member and overlies the Yamama (DOMINGUEZ
1965). This application of the name is contrary to the practice accepted by the
majority of operators.
The upper and lower porous, clean limestone units of the formation are probably
better developed equivalents of the First and Second Orbitolina Limestones
895
Reference Sections
Offshore Qatar (enclosure 6) Kharaib Reference Section
S.C.Q. well Idd el Shargi-1; lat. 252332.9N, long 522155.93E; completed
Location
17.12.1956; between drilled depths 5354 and 5636 ft (B.R.T.)
282 ft
Thickness
From top to bottom
Lithology
ft.
18
1 Hawar Member; Compact blue-grey marl and calcareous shale.
2 Grey-white to cream, generally chalky lime wackestone and near the top
123
rarely lime packstone with pellets and rare superficial ooids.
102
3 Chalky, marly lime mudstone and marl.
39
4 Grey-white to cream, generally chalky lime wackestone.
Orbitolina cf. discoidea Gras
Fossils
Barremian Lower Aptian
Age
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Lekhwair Formation; contact conformable between chalky lime wackestone above
and argillaceous limestone below.
Overlying Shuaiba Formation; contact conformable between chalky limestone above and marl
to calcareous shale below.
896
897
898
899
900
901
LEKHWAIR FORMATION
Cretaceous
Hauterivian Lower Barremian
Author
SCHERER, 1969. Unpublished report
Synonymy
Upper part (lowermost part of unit n, unit m, l and uppermost part of unit k) of the Musandam
Limestone, HUDSON & CHATTON 1959; lower part of the Kharaib Formation,
DOMINGUEZ 1965; Ratawi Formation (OWEN & NASR 1958) of Qatar; Ratawi Equivalent
(includes Zones D H) of Abu Dhabi; A.D.M.A.s base of Subzone III A to base of Zone IV;
Middle Thamama in former P.D.(O) usage.
Not synonym with Ratawi Formation of OWEN & NASR 1958, of the upper Gulf (Iraq, Kuwait).
Type Locality and Section (enclosure 16)
Location
P.D.(O) well Lekhwair-6; U.T.M. coordinates lat. 2 528 064 N, long. 333 094 E;
elevation 362 ft.; completed 11.1.1969; between drilled depths 4482 and 5616 ft.
The formation name is taken from Lekhwair, an area named after Tawi al Khuwayr
(= Lekhwair), a water well in the Wadi al-Ayn.
1134 ft.
Thickness
The sequence consists of a multiple repetition of thin rock units (average of 100 ft.),
Lithology
each unit comprises a sedimentary cycle with the following three fundamental
lithologies. From top to bottom?:
Buff, chalky, pelletoidal lime packstone/grainstone, often pelleted, rudist
1
lime packstone/grainstone and Bacinella Lithocodium lime
wackestone/boundstone.
Buff, algal and echinoidal lime wackestone, sometimes pelleted and chalky.
2
Dark grey, argillaceous, pyritic lime wackestone/packstone with Choffatella
3
decipiens Schlumberger, echinoid and mollusc fragments and detrital quartz.
The total thickness of the buff limestone units 1 and 2 hardly exceeds 50 ft.
Towards the base of the entire sequence the dark grey argillaceous, pyritic rocks
(unit 3) predominate over the other lithological units (1 2) becoming more
argillaceous and locally turn into marls (the Upper Marl in former P.D.(O) usage).
Miliolidae and Textulariidae (rare), Pseudochrysalidina sp. (rare), Trocholina sp.,
Fossils
Pseudocyclammina sp., Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger (abundant), Lenticulina
sp.,; Bacinella irregularis Radoicic, Lithocodium sp., indeterminate calcareous
algae; sponge spicules, rudist fragments (monopleurids), abundant Echinoidea
fragments. Towards the base of the formation Everticyclammina sp. and
Everticyclammina greigi (Henson) (= E. contorta Redmond).
Hauterivian Lower Barremian
Age
Orbitolina, which ranges from Upper Barremian to the uppermost Cenomanian
following Hofker jr. (1963) or arises during the Barremian according WAGNER
(1964, unpublished report), is only recorded from the overlying strata.
Choffatella decipiens occurs probably already in pre-Barremian times following
HENSON (1948) and SIGAL (1965).
Everticyclammina greigi is recorded from the Buwaib Formation of Saudi Arabia,
which has most probably a Hauterivian age (POWERS 1968). Consequently, an age
of Barremian (most probably the lower part) to Hauterivian for the lower part of the
unit is to be accepted for the formation at the type locality.
902
Reference Sections
Onshore Qatar (enclosure 14) Lekhwair Reference Section
Q.P.C well Kharaib No. 1; lat. 292709N, long. 511156E; elevation 1236 ft (41
Location
m); completed 29.6.1953; between drilled depths 3962 and 4434 ft. (1208 and 1352
m)
472 ft. (144 m)
Thickness
From top to bottom
Lithology
ft.
1 Grey, fine grained, compact, argillaceous, detrital limestone. Pellety in
86
lower part. (26 m)
52
2 Grey marl, interbedded with grey, argillaceous, pellet limestone. (16 m)
3 Grey marl with thin interbeds of grey, argillaceous, detrital, often pellet
120
limestone. (36.5 m).
4. to 10. Zakum Member
23
4 Buff, pellet limestone. (7 m)
25
5 Blue grey marl. (7.5 m)
14
6 Buff, porous limestone. (4 m)
10
7 Blue grey marl. (3 m)
11
8 Buff, porous limestone (3.5 m)
72
9 Grey, argillaceous, in parts pellet, detrital limestone. (22 m)
59
10 Grey, fine grained, compact, argillaceous, pellet limestone. (18 m).
Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger, Lituola sp., (Orbitolina is
Fossils
In 1
recorded but probably derived from the overlying Kharaib Formation).
In 2 & 3 C. decipiens, Lituola sp., Everticyclammina greigi (Henson).
Pseudoschrysalidina arabica (Henson), Pseudocyclammina lituus
In 4
(Yokoyama), Lituola sp., Trocholina sp.
Everticyclammina kelleri (Henson), P. lituus, ?Ludbrookia cf.
In 5
neocomiensis dOrbigny.
P. arabica, P. lituus.
In 6
P. arabica, P. lituus.
In 8
In 9 & 10 E. kelleri, P. lituus, P. lituus var. nov.
Hauterivian Lower Barremian
Age
903
904
905
906
907
908
HABSHAN FORMATION
Author
Tenth Geological Liaison Meeting 1971
Synonymy
Upper part (lower part of unit k, unit j and possibly unit i) of the Musandam Limestone,
HUDSON & CHATTON 1959; Yamama and Sulaiy Formations, STEINEKE, BRAMKAMP &
SANDER 1958; DOMINGUEZ 1965; POWERS et al. 1966; POWERS 1968; SUGDEN &
STANDRING (in press) of Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman; A.D.M.A.s top of Zone V to base of
Zone VI; Lower Thamama in part in former P.D.(O) usage.
Type Locality and Section (enclosure 17)
A.D.P.C. well Bab 2; lat. 235256, long. 554411; elevation 155 ft. (47 m);
Location
completed 19.4.1960; between drilled depths 9525 and 10555 ft. (2905 and 3219 m).
The formation name is taken from Habshan, the A.D.P.C. central pumping station
on Bab Dome, 13.5 kms SW of the type section of Bab 2.
1030 ft. (314 m).
Thickness
From top to bottom Lithology
ft.
1 Buff, passing down to light to dark brown, fine grained, porcellaneous,
argillaceous, dense lime mudstone with scattered fine grained shell
107
debris. Locally light brown, fine sucrose dolomite. Strongly pyritic at
top. (33 m).
2 Light to dark brown, fine grained, crystalline lime packstone with
abundant fine to medium grained shell fragments and lime mud
46
lithoclasts interbedded with thin bands of brown, porcellaneous lime
mudstone. (14 m).
3 Light to dark brown, fine sucrose, calcareous dolomite with occasional
anhydrite nodules interbedded with dark brown, dolomitic, porcellaneous 120
lime mudstone. (37 m).
4 Light grey to light brown, dolomitic, porcellaneous lime mudstone with
locally fine pelecypod debris. Thin bands of dark brown to black, fine
127
grained, dense calcareous dolomite, with scattered nodules of anhydrite
and chert. (39 m).
5 Light to dark brown, fine sucrose, calcareous dolomite with rare
pelletoids and locally scattered anhydrite crystals interbedded with light
to dark brown, dense, crystalline argillaceous, locally dolomitic lime 232
mudstone and locally pelletoidal lime wackestone/packstone with fine to
medium, shell fragments. Scattered anhydrite nodules. (71 m)
6 Light to dark brown or grey, dense, crystalline, argillaceous, pyritic,
locally dolomitic lime mudstone, with scattered anhydrite nodules. Thin 247
bands of dark brown-grey, fine grained, calcareous dolomite. (75 m).
7 Light grey-brown or buff, fine to medium grained, pelletoidal lime
grainstone/packstone, locally oolitic lime grainstone with locally
151
abundant skeletal debris and occasional anhydrite nodules interbedded
with grey-buff, pelletoidal lime wackestone with shell debris. (46 m).
909
910
Reference Sections
Onshore Qatar (enclosure 5) Habshan Reference Section
Location
1 Upper part of formation (Yamama): Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 26 [DK-0026];
lat. 252658N, long. 504847E; elevation 80 ft. (24.4 m); completed
14.1.1952; between drilled depths 5095 and 5490 ft. (1553 and 1674 m).
2 Lower part of formation (Sulaiy): Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 27 [DK-0027]; lat.
251754N, long. 504630E; elevation 52 ft. (16 m); completed 23.2.1952;
between drilled depths 5298 and 5700 ft. (1615 and 1737 m).
797 ft.
Thickness
ft.
Upper part (Yamama) (120 m)
395
Lower part (Sulaiy) (122 m)
402
From top to bottom
Lithology
ft.
Light grey to buff, porous to compact, fine grained limestone, pellet
1
95
in lower part. (29 m).
Grey, hard, compact, fine grained limestone, pellet with occasional
2
oolitic horizons; often included coarse to fine detrital carbonate 217
grains. (66 m).
Light grey limestone, chalky to very chalky in upper part, containing
3
83
variable proportions of pellets. (25 m).
Light grey to grey, fine grained limestone, varying from slightly
4
porous at the top to dense at the bottom. The upper and middle parts 402
are slightly dolomitic. (122.5 m)
Fossils
In 1 Pseudocyclammina aff. Lituus (Yokoyama), Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler,
Trocholina sp.; ?Stromatopora aff. costai Osima, Polyphylloseris cf.
praeturoniae (Zuffardi Commerci).
In 2 Pseudocyclammina sp., N. oolithica, Trocholina sp.
In 3 P. aff. Lituus.
In 4 No fossils identified
Possibly late Upper Jurassic Valanginian.
Age
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Hith Formation; contact conformable, placed at the top of limestone containing
anhydrite nodules.
Overlying Lekhwair Formation; contact appears conformable in Qatar, but regional evidence
suggests that a considerable sedimentary hiatus could exist at this level. Boundary
placed where clean porous limestones of the Habshan are overlain by argillaceous
limestone of the basal Lekhwair.
Schlumberger logs not available from wells Dukhan No. 26 and 27 [DK-0026 &
Remarks
DK-0027], a graphic GRN log of this formation is given from well Dukhan No. 80
[DK-0080].
911
912
913
914
915
SALIL FORMATION
Lower Cretaceous
Lower Valanginian
Author
SKERER, 1969. Unpublished report.
Synonymy
Lower Thamama (in part) and Lower Marl in former P.D.(O) usage
Type Locality and Section (enclosure 16)
P.D.(O) well Lekhwair-6; U.T.M. coordinates, lat. 2 528 064 N, long. 333 094 E;
Location
elevation 362 ft.; completed 11.1.1969; between drilled depths 6240 and 7037 ft.
The formation name comes from Wadi as Salil, a Wadi in the Lekhwair area.
797 ft.
Thickness
From top to bottom Lithology
ft.
Grey-green, argillaceous, occasionally pyritic lime mudstones and
1
marls, towards the lower part of the unit increasing amounts of
694
argillaceous, speculate lime wackestone and occasionally echinoidal,
micropelletoidal, intraclast lime packstones.
Buff to grey, slightly argillaceous lime mudstone to calpionellid lime
2
103
wackestone/mudstone.
Fossils
In 1 Rare benthonic Foraminifera; Echinoidea fragments, abundant sponge
spicules.
In 2 Radiolaria; Calpionellites darderi (Colon), Tintinnopsella carpathica
(Murgeanu & Filipescu)
Lower Valanginian.
Age
A Valanginian age for the lower part of the formation is indicated by the above
mentioned calpionellid assemblage following ALLEMANN et al. 1971. Since the
Salil Formation is overlain by rocks containing a Lower Valanginian calpionellid
assemblage, its age is Lower Valanginian.
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Rayda Formation; the conformable contact taken between probably turbiditic lime
grainstone below and slightly argillaceous lime mudstone and calpionellid lime
wackestone/mudstone above.
Overlying Habshan Formation; the conformable contact taken between speculate lime
wackestone above and argillaceous lime mudstone and marl below.
Distribution Widespread over northern and central Oman. South of the latitude of Musallim the
deeper marine Salil Formation is represented by the shallow marine carbonates of
the Habshan Formation.
The Musandam limestone section of Jebel Hagab (HUDSON & CHATTON 1959)
Remarks
does not appear to contain rocks comparable with the Salil Fm neither from the
subsurface nor from outcrop in the Jebel Akhdar (Wadi MiAidin).
916
RAYDA FORMATION
Author
Hopping 1971 (unpublished table, Oman Stratigraphy)
Synonymy
Upper part (units h and g) of the Musandam Limestone, HUDSON & CHATTON 1959; Lower
Thamama (in part) in former P.D.(O) usage; Porcellanite Series (in part) in former P.D.(O)
usage; Maseira Formation, P.D.(O) handout 10th Geological Liaison meeting 1971.
Type Locality and Section (enclosure 16)
P.D.(O) well Lekhwair-6; U.T.M. coordinates, lat. 2 528 064 N, long. 333 094 E;
Location
elevation 362 ft.; completed 11.1.1969; between drilled depths 7037 and 7366 ft.
The formation name is taken from Irq Raydah a sand and gravel area in the
Lekhwair region.
329 ft.
Thickness
From top to bottom Lithology
ft.
Grey, ooidal lime grainstone/packstone and ooidal lime wackestone
1
53
probably of turbiditic origin.
Grey, speculate lime wackestone/mudstone at the base with rare silt.
102
2
Buff, chalky, calpionellid lime wackestone with scattered anhydrite
3
48
crystals.
Hard lime mudstone with chert (porcellanite).
120
4
Crinoidal lime wackestone/packstone.
6
5
Calpionella alpina Lorenz, Calpionella elliptica Cadisch, Tintinnopsella carpathica
Fossils
(Murgeanu & Filipescu); Cenosphaera sp.; Radiolaria, sponge spicules.
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone; contact conformable or possibly disconformable,
skeletal, lime wackestone/packstone and pelletoidal, skeletal, ooidal lime
grainstone/packstone below and crinoidal lime wackestone/packstone above.
Overlying Salil Formation; contact conformable, between probably turbiditic lime grainstone
below and slightly argillaceous lime mudstone and calpionellid lime
wackestone/mudstone above.
Distribution Widespread over northern and western Central Oman.
Unit g of the Musandam Limestone appears to contain slumped shallow shelf
Remarks
material derived from the swell in the west.
917
Reference Section
Oman (enclosure 18) Rayda Reference Section
P.D.(O) well Lekhwair-3; U.T.M. coordinates lat. 2 507 349 N, long. 345 774 E;
Location
elevation 317 ft.; completed 21.6.1966; between drilled depths 7019 and 7202 ft.
283 ft.
Thickness
From top to bottom
Lithology
ft.
181
1 Radiolaria, microbioclastic hash lime mudstone/wackestone.
10
2 Interbeds of lime mudstone and calcareous shale.
92
3 Hard lime mudstone (porcellanite).
Calpionellidae; Radiolaria; Nannoconus spp.
Fossils
Kimmeridgian ?lowermost Valanginian.
Age
Adjacent formations and details of contacts Underlying Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone; contact conformable or possibly disconformable,
between completely dolomitized particle supported limestone below and hard lime
mudstone with chert above
Overlying Salil Formation; contact conformable, between lime mudstone/wackestone below
and argillaceous limestone to marl above.
Discussion
The age of the Rayda Formation
Regional evidence suggests a sudden deepening of the basin in Lower to Middle Kimmeridgian
times. In the subsurface at Lekhwair-6 undated porcellanite overlying shallow marine carbonates
of Oxfordian age is considered to be the lower part of a deeper marine condensed sequence which is
equivalent in age to the Upper Jurassic shallow marine carbonates and evaporites in the west and
south. The calpionellid assemblage reported from the strata overlying the porcellanite in
Lekhwair-6 is uppermost Upper Tithonian to Lower Berriasian in age following ALLEMANN et al.
(1971). Based on the Nannoconus flora, the Rayda might be as young as lowermost Valanginian.
These Nannoconus bearing strata are overlain by rocks of the Salil Formation which contain a
Lower Valanginian calpionellid assemblage.
Alternatively a diastem may exist between the Oxfordian shallow marine carbonates and the
overlying deeper marine sequence of the Rayda Formation. Onset of the sedimentation of the
Rayda Formation would in this case be probably Tithonian (= Middle Kimmeridgian Portlandian
acc. BARTHEL 1969), with certainty pre-Upper Thithonian i.e. before the first occurrence of
calpionellids (ALLEMANN et al. 1971).
918
PUBLISHED REFERENCES
Allemann, F., Catalano, R., Fares, F. & Remane, J., 1971
Standard calpionellid zonation (Upper Tithonian Valanginian) of the western Mediterranean
province. Proc. 2nd plankt. Conf. Rome 1970, pp. 1337 - 1340
Arkell, W.J., Furnish, W.M., Kummel, B., Miller, A.K., Moore, R.C., Schindewolf, O.H.,
Sylvester-Bradley, P.C. & Wright, C.W., 1957
Part L. Mollusca 4. Cephalopoda. Ammonoidea. In: Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, XXII
& 490 pp.
Banner, F.T., 1970.
A synopsis of the Spirocyclinidae. Rev. Espaola Micropaleont. 2. No. 3, pp. 243 - 290
Barthel, K.W., 1969.
Die obertithonische, regressive Flachwasser-Phase der Neuburger Folge in Bayern. Abh. Bayer.
Akad. Wissensch., Math.-naturw. Kl., N.F., 142, 174 pp.
Colloque sur le Crtac Infrieur, 1963
Mm. Bur. Rech. Gol. Min., 34, Paris 1965. XXI & 840 pp.
Dominguez, J.R., 1965.
Offshore fields of Qatar. 5th Arab Petrol. Congr., Cairo, II & 37 pp.
Dunnington, H.V., 1967.
Stratigraphical distribution of oil fields in the Iran Iraq Arabia Basin. J. Inst. Petrol., 53, No.
520, pp. 129 - 161
Dunnington, H.V., Wetzel, R. & Morton, D.M., 1959
Iraq. Mesozoic and Paleozoic. Lexique Stratigraphique Intern., 3 (Asie), Fasc. 10a, 333 pp.
Elliott, G.F. 1968
Permian to Palaeocene calcareous algae (Dasycladaceae) of the Middle East. Bull. Brit. Mus.
Nat. Hist. (Geol.) Suppl. 4, 111 pp.
Glennie, K.W., Boeuf, M.G.A., Hughes Clarke, M.W., Moody-Stuart, M., Pilaar, W.F.H. &
Reinhardt, B.M., 1973
Late Cretaceous nappes2 in the Oman Mountains and their geologic evolution. Bull. Am. Assoc.
Petrol. Geol., 57, No. 1.
Hajash, G.M., 1967.
The Abu Sheikhdom. The onshore oilfields, history of exploration and development. Proc. 7th
World petrol. Congr., Mexico City, Vol. 2, pp. 129 - 139
Harris, T.J., Hay, J.T.C. & Twombley, B.N., 1968
Contrasting limestone reservoirs in the Murban Field, Abu Dhabi. 2nd Reg. Tech. Symp., Soc.
Petrol. Eng. A.I.M.E., Dhahran, pp. 149 - 182
Henson (F.R.S.), 1948
Larger Imperforate Foraminifera of southwestern Asia. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist., London, XI & 127
pp.
Hofker, J. jr., 1963
Studies on the genus Orbitolina (Foraminiferida). Leidse Geol. Mededelingen, 29, pp. 181253.
Hottinger, L., 1967
Foraminifres imperfors du Msozoique marocain. Notes Mm. Serv. Gol. Maroc, Rabat,
209, 168 pp.
2
a large mass of rock thrust a considerable distance along a nearly horizontal fault plane or in an overturned anticlinal
fold.
919
920
Enclosure1:Locationmap
scale1:2,500,000
Drawing#:9206
921
Enclosure2:ThamamaandKahmahGroup.Generalizedregionaldevelopmentandnomenclature.Scale:1:2,500,000,Drawing#:9243
922
Enclosure3:QatarOman.SchematizedcorrelationofrockunitsThamamaandKahmahGroup.Scale1:2,500,000,Drawing#:9212
923
SHUAIBAFORMATION
TYPESECTION
WELLZUBAIRNO.3(Iraq)
(AFTERPMVRABANITANDE.HART)
Q.P.C.Pet.Eng.Dept.
QPG.303711171
Enclosure 4
924
Enclosure7:LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheThamamaGroup.ShuaibaFormationreferencesectionBu
Hasa34.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:9202
925
Enclosure8:LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheThamamaGroup.TopShuaibatotopHabshanreference
sectionBab2.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:9204
926
Enclosure9:ReferencesectionoftheThamamaGroupofUmmShaif3andZakum1.Scale:1:1,000.
Drawing#:9208
927
Enclosure10:ThamamaGroup.A.D.M.A.referencesectionZakum1.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:9207
928
929
Enclosure13:Lekhwair7.StratigraphicaldatasheetShuaibaandtopKharaibFormations.Scale:1:200.
Drawing#:9146
930
Enclosure15:Busayirwellno.1graphicwelllogKharaib LekhwairFormations.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:
9298
931
Enclosure16:StratigraphicaldatasheetKahmahGroupLekhwair6.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:4343
932
Enclosure17:LithologyandpalaeontologyoftheHabshanFormationBab2.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:
9249
933
Enclosure18:StratigraphicaldatasheetRaydaFormationLekhwair3.Scale:1:1,000.Drawing#:9211
934
Appendix 6
935
APPENDIX 6
UNION INTERNATIONALE DES SCIENCES GOLOGIQUES
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
SOUS-COMMISSION
DU LEXIQUE STRATIGRAPHIQUE
SUB-COMMISSION TO THE
STRATIGRAPHIC LEXICON
COMMISSION DE STRATIGRAPHIE
COMMISSION ON STRATIGRAPHY
Prsident/President: D.J. McLaren
Vice Prsident/Vice-President: H. Hedberg
Secrtaire Gnral/General Secretary: W.W. Nassichuk
ASIE/ASIA
(Sous la direction de / Under the direction of Louis DUBERTRET)
VOLUME III
Fascicule / Fascicle 10 b 3
QATAR PENINSULA
Par/By W. SUGDEN et/and A.J. STANDRING
TERTIAIRE EN AFFLEUREMENT
TERTIARY IN OUTCROPS
Par/By Cl. CAVELIER
1975
_______________________________________________________________
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
13, quai Anatole-France, 75700 PARIS
936
a.
b.
c.
d.
In this document, you will find both French and English texts. I feel fairly confident of the
accuracy of the translation, however, since I am not a professional translator the French text
should always be the main source to refer back to in case of doubt.
5) This Stratigraphic Lexicon of Qatar can also be found at the following website:
http://paleopolis.rediris.es/LEXICON/QATAR/index.html
937
PRSENTATION
Par L. Dubertret
Le 12 juin 1959, W. Sugden, Gologue de lIraq Petroleum Company, dposait la SousCommission du Lexique stratigraphique le texte du fascicule Qatar. Celui-ci tait prsent dans la
mme forme que le fascicule Iraq, rdig par H.V. Dunnington, un fascicule particulirement russi,
qui se trouvait sous presses. Limpression du fascicule Qatar fut cependant diffre, le secrtaire de
la Sous-Commission se proposant de runir dans un mme fascicule les divers Lexiques de la partie
mridionale de la Pninsule Arabique (projet auquel il fallut renoncer par la suite).
La connaissance stratigraphique du Qatar tait, en 1959, en pleine volution, et ds le 6 octobre
1959, F.R.S. Henson, collgue de W. Sugden, crivait au sujet du Lexique de Qatar: Unfortunately
very new events in Qatar suggest that one or more important unconformities may have been
overlooked in the deepest part of the Qatar section, .. Avec le report de limpression du
fascicule, une rvision devenait de jour en jour plus ncessaire.
J. Standring accepta, dbut 1963, de lentreprendre. Il se rendit vite compte de la ncessit dun
remaniement profond, mais il sappliqua respecter autant que possible la version originale de
Sugden. Le 21 fvrier 1971 il crivait :
You will find that the revised Lexicon is still far from perfect and has old-fashioned lithological
descriptions and unchanged faunal lists. I sometimes think that it would have been easier to start
again and write a completely new text, but one endeavours to keep as much of Sugdens original as
possible
Le Lexique Stratigraphique de Qatar de W. Sugden, rvis et complt par J. Standring, fut prsent
la Sous-commission le 30 aot 1971.
Il comporte des particularits :
Comme la plupart des Lexiques du Moyen-Orient, il dfinit les termes en usage courant parmi les
gologues ptroliers.
Ils nont pas toujours t antrieurement formellement dcrits ; nombreux sont ceux qui sont
simplement mentionns dans des descriptions ou rapports de compagnies ou figurant sur des
tableaux de corrlation stratigraphique.
La srie stratigraphique analyse stend depuis le sommet du Palozique (Wajid Formation)
jusquau Quaternaire. Mais puisque seul le Tertiaire affleure Qatar, le matriel dtude consistait
en carottes de forages ; les localits types sont pour la plupart des forages et les coupes types sont
inaccessibles.
*
**
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
938
Homonymies
La nomenclature stratigraphique propose par C. Cavelier, 1970, comportait deux homonymie avec
celle des gologues ptroliers ; elles sont corriges dans le prsent document :
Le Fhaihil Velates limestones member , ocene moyen, homonyme de la Fahahil formation,
jurassique suprieur, dfinie par Sugden, 1959, est rebaptise Rudjm Ad Velates limestone
member , du nom dune localit voisine de Fhaihil.
939
940
INTRODUCTION
By L. Dubertret
(Translated from French)
On June 12th 1959, W. Sugden, Geologist at Iraq Petroleum Company, handed over to the SubCommission of the stratigraphic Lexicon the text of the Qatar fascicle. This text was presented in
the same format as the Iraq fascicle, written by H.V. Dunnington, a fascicle quite well written,
which was then in press. The printing of the Qatar fascicle however had to be postponed because
the secretary of the Sub-Commission was planning to gather into one fascicle the various Lexicons
of the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula (project that was later cancelled).
The stratigraphic knowledge of Qatar was, in 1959, in constant evolution, and as early as October
6th 1959, F.R.S. Henson, colleague of W. Sugden, was writing the following about the Qatar
Lexicon: Unfortunately very new events in Qatar suggest that one or more important
unconformities may have been overlooked in the deepest part of the Qatar section, .. With the
postponment of the printing of the fascicle, a revision was becoming more and more necessary.
J. Standring accepted in early 1963 to undertake it. He became quickly aware of the necessity to
perform a deep reshuffling but he endeavoured to respect as much as possible the original version
from Sugden. On February 21st 1971 he wrote:
You will find that the revised Lexicon is still far from perfect and has old-fashioned lithological
descriptions and unchanged faunal lists. I sometimes think that it would have been easier to start
again and write a completely new text, but one endeavours to keep as much of Sugdens original as
possible
W. Sugdens Stratigraphic Lexicon of Qatar, revised and completed by J. Standring, was presented
to the Sub-Commission on August 30th 1971.
It has the following particularities :
Similarly to most Lexicons of the Middle East, it defines the terms currently in use among
petroleum geologists.
These have not always been previously formally described; many of them have only been
mentioned in the descriptions or reports of companies or contained in stratigraphic correlation
tables.
The analyzed stratigraphic serie spreads from the top of the Paleozoic (Wajid Formation) up to the
Quaternary. But since only the Tertiary outcrops in Qatar, the studied material consisted in cores
taken from wells; the type localities are mostly from drilled wells and the type sections are
inaccessible.
*
**
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
941
Homonyms
The stratigraphic nomenclature proposed by C. Cavelier, 1970, had two homonymous terms with
that of the Petroleum Geologists; they are corrected in the present document:
The Middle Eocene Fhaihil Velates limestones member , homonym of the Fahahil Formation,
Upper Jurassic, defined by Sugden, 1959, is renamed Rudjm Ad Velates limestone member ,
from the name of a locality near Fhaihil.
942
943
STRATIGRAPHIC LEXICON
QATAR PENINSULA
by
JUNE 1972
944
CONTENTS
Introduction
History of Exploration
Geology
Lexicon
Chronological List of Current Rock Units
Chronological List of Obsolete or Informal Rock Units
Bibliography
9
13
15
21
80
82
83
Remark : The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
Figures
10
20
Remark : The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
945
INTRODUCTION
The Qatar Peninsula (Fig. 1) has an area of some 12,000 sq. km and projects 170 km northwards
into the Gulf from the shore of Arabia. To the north-west lies the island of Bahrain; to the west, the
Hasa Province of Saudi Arabia, and to the southeast, the Sheikhdom of Abu Dhabi, one of the
United Arab Emirates.
The peninsula is formed by a large, broad anticline which exposes a carapace of Eocene limestones,
rising in the interior to a maximum elevation of 60 m. Its surface is largely stony desert, having
little topographical relief. On the west coast, the elongate Jebel Dukhan anticline is marked by the
presence of a series of low jebels. In the south occur small hills composed of Miocene sediments.
Wind-blown sand forms dunes in the south and south-east.
The system of rock unit terminology described herein has been evolved over a period of some 38
years by geologists of the Qatar Petroleum Company (Q.P.C.). The Company held the petroleum
exploration concession for the whole of onshore Qatar and its territorial waters from 1935 to 1961.
Since the latter date Q.P.C. has progressively relinquished parts of the territory, currently retaining
rights to an area of some 2141 sq. km (825 sq. m.), on the west side of the peninsula which includes
the Dukhan oilfield. This oilfield was discovered in 1939, and remains the only producing field in
onshore Qatar.
Exploration rights in offshore Qatar waters were once held fully by Shell Company of Qatar
(S.C.Q.) which, in the period since 1954, has discovered two commercial oilfields, at Id-al-Shargi
and Maydan Mahzam. This company adopted the stratigraphic terminology used by Q.P.C., but
found it necessary to define some additional formations not recognised in the onshore area and also
modified the sense in which certain formation names are applied.
In recent years, S.C.Q. has relinquished a considerable part of its original concession area.
The areas relinquished by Q.P.C. and S.C.Q. have subsequently been explored by other oil
companies, which have, however, made no known contribution to the understanding of the
stratigraphy of Qatar.
Active exploration for oil by Q.P.C. took place at a time when similar activities were being
undertaken in Saudi Arabia, by the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO); in Kuwait, by the
Kuwait Oil Company (K.O.C.) and in Iraq, by the Iraq Petroleum Company (I.P.C.) and its
affiliates, the Basrah Petroleum Company (B.P.C.) and the Mosul Petroleum Company (M.P.C.).
On the opposite side of the Gulf, in Iran, geological exploration was originally undertaken by the
Anglo-Iranian oil Company (A.I.O.C.) and, later, by the Iranian Oil Exploration and Producing
Company.
The outcrop areas of the Trucial Coast, Oman, Dhofar and South Yemen have a long history of
geological exploration. This work was intensified during the last quarter century by oil company
geologists, many of them employees of the I.P.C. and its associates.
946
Figure 1 Position of the type localities of the formations which are here formally described. They
are all subsurface sections in bore-holes. The position of reference sections for formations whose
type locality is outside Qatar is also indicated.
Type Localities
Reference Sections
1 Simsima Formation
A Lower Fars Formation
2 Ruilat Formation
B Dammam Formation
3 Laffan Formation
C Rus Formation
4 Mauddud Formation
D Umm er Radhuma Formation
5 Hawar Formation
E Mishrif Formation
6 Kharaib Formation
F Ahmadi Formation
7 Qatar Formation
G Nahr Umr Formation
8 Fahahil Formation
H Shuaiba Formation
9 Darb Formation
I Ratawi Formation
10 Diyab Formation
J Yamama Formation
11 Araej Formation
K Sulaiy Formation
12 Izhara Formation
L Hith Anhydrite Formation
13 Hamlah Formation
M Khuff Formation
14 Gulailah Formation
N Wajid Sandstone Formation
15 Suwei Formation
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
947
948
949
HISTORY OF EXPLORATION
The geology of Qatar is mentioned by G.E. Pilgrim (1908), Thomas (1932), and Philby (1933), all
of whom paid brief visits. Their work resulted in the knowledge that the surface of the peninsula is
largely made up of Eocene limestone. Miocene sediments were recorded from the south, near
Salwa.
Oil was discovered in Bahrain in 1932. The first serious geological investigation of Qatar was
undertaken in 1933, by E.W. Shaw and P.T. Cox. They recognized that Qatar is formed by a large,
broad, anticline, which causes Middle Eocene limestones to outcrop over much of the peninsula. A
long, narrow anticline on the west coast, forming the Jebel Dukhan, was believed to have the best
oil prospects.
Detailed mapping of the Dukhan anticline and several traverses across the peninsula were
undertaken in 1934 by D.C. Ion and W.E. Browne.
Field work by T.F. Williamson and R. Pomeyrol in 1937-38 resulted in the production of a
geological map of Qatar, which, with minor modification, has remained the standard map used by
Q.P.C.
Exploratory drilling for oil commenced in 1938, on the Dukhan anticline, and, in 1939, the first well
encountered oil in the Number 3 Limestone of the Qatar Formation. When operations were
suspended in 1942, because of the Second World War, three wells had been drilled at Dukhan to
appraise the potential of the No. 3 Limestone.
Drilling on the structure recommenced in 1947 and a total of 80 wells have now been completed in
the Dukhan Field.
In 1949, oil was discovered in the Number 4 Limestone of Dukhan. This proved to be a better
reservoir than the No. 3 Limestone and has given the greatest oil production. A minor oil
accumulation was found in the Middle Jurassic Uwainat Member, in 1954.
Final, detailed mapping of the Dukhan anticline was completed in 1948-49.
Oil production commenced in 1949, Dukhan being linked by pipeline to a terminal at Umm Said,
on the east coast.
The surface of Qatar was surveyed by aerial photography in 1947. Gravity and magnetic surveys
commenced in the same year. Results of early seismic surveys were poor and attempts were made
to further elucidate the structure of the peninsula by drilling a series of shallow wells down to the
top Cretaceous.
Two deep wells were drilled near Kharaib in 1953, in order to investigate the oil-potential of the
crest of the main Qatar anticline as seen at and near the surface. Disappointing results from these
wells led to deeper structure drilling to the north of Kharaib, four wells being sunk to encounter the
Mauddud Formation. North plunge at this level was confirmed.
950
951
GEOLOGY
General
The Qatar Peninsula lies on the broadest part of the Interior Platform of the Arabian Shelf which
fringes the exposed basement rocks of the Arabian Shield (R.W. Powers et al., 1966). This
platform extended, through much of geological time, from south Iraq, through eastern Saudi Arabia
and Qatar into parts of the Trucial Coast. It is typified by a flat-lying, relatively thin sequence of
sediments laid down upon gradually subsiding basement.
Qatar is supposed, by R.W. Powers (1966), to lie on an extension of the Central Arabian Arch, a
basement ridge which extends in an E.N.E. direction through the Summan area. A continuation of
this feature is thought to be responsible for the probable extension of the Interior platform into parts
of Iran, north of Qatar.
This simple pattern is slightly complicated by the presence of a number of deep-seated N-S
epeirogenic, anticlinal features which rise above the general level of the Platform. These plains
type structures are typified by very gentle surface dips which increase progressively with depth.
Their growth history can be traced back to the early Mesozoic or late Paleozoic and is probably
related to deep-seated movement of basement blocks. Qatar owes its existence to its position on
one of these structures.
952
953
Structure
Three main structural elements can be recognised in Qatar. The major part of the peninsula is
formed by a broad, north-south trending anticline. This is separated by a syncline from the more
pronounced, narrow, elongate Dukhan anticline which runs parallel to the west coast. All three
features are visible on the surface and have been mapped, using the Alveolina Bed of the
Dammam Formation as a marker horizon.
The surface expression of the main Qatar anticline is a broad, shallow dome having a culmination in
the centre of the peninsula near Kharaib well No. 1. Dips on the flanks and north plunge are of the
order of one half to two metres per kilometre. The south plunge is less clearly defined.
The Qatar anticline retains its domal form in the sub-surface but north plunge disappears at about
the level of the Nahr Umr Formation. At greater depths units rise northwards along the axis of the
fold to reach a maximum elevation in the vicinity of Fuwairat.
Evidence from deep wells suggests the possibility that the Qatar axis of uplift may have originated
to the east of the present-day crest, which was initiated during the late Mesozoic.
The Dukhan anticline extends southwards from Ras Dukhan for some 40 km before swinging S.S.E.
and continuing towards the border with Saudi Arabia. The culmination of this structure is in the
north, near Dukhan. Appreciable flank dips of the order of one to two degrees can be discerned on
the surface. These increase with depth as a result of downflank thickening of the sedimentary
sequence. This flank thickening can be recognized in most formations, a fact which suggests that
the structure has been developing at least since the early Mesozoic.
The geometry and mode of formation of these plains type folds has been discussed by Sugden
(1962). Formation by differential compaction over buried basement highs is rejected.
R.W. Powers et al. (1966) suggest sedimentation over continually developing basement horsts as
the most probable explanation of the broad, N-S- epeirogenic folds found in Qatar and nearby areas.
The Dukhan anticline with its narrow elongate form and relatively steep dips contrasts with most of
the neighbouring folds. This fact has led to the suggestion that its formation may be related to
deepseated salt intrusion (Dominguez, 1965).
954
INTERNATIONAL
SUBDIVISION
MIDDLE
EAST
SUBDIVISION
UPPER
UPPER
MIDDLE
CRETACEOUS
LOWER
LOWER
STAGE
MAESTRICHTIAN
CAMPANIAN
SANTONIAN
CONIACIAN
TURONIAN
CENOMANIAN
ALBIAN
APTIAN
BARREMIAN
HAUTERIVIAN
VALANGINIAN
BERRIASIAN
GROUP
ARUMA
WASIA
THAMAMA
955
[Fig. 2]
956
LEXICON
Obsolete terms are marked with asterisks
A
ABARUK BEDS
Eocene
? Middle Eocene
Informal name applied to a sequence of white, hard, leached limestone, underlain by softer chalky
limestones and basal marls, which forms a distinctive topography to the north of Jebel Dukhan ; the
highest member of the Dammam Formation in Qatar.
Most fossils have been leached out and no formal dating is possible. One specimen of
Dictyoconoides sp. was recorded from the highest part of the unit in 1938, but no further discovery
of identifiable foraminifera has been made.
A Middle Eocene age is assigned on the evidence of apparent conformity of the Abaruk Beds with
underlying, datable Lutetian carbonates, together with their similarity to the Alat Member of the
Dammam Formation in the Trucial States could be a correlative unit.
First named and described by E.W. Shaw and P.T. Cox in 1933, during a geological reconnaissance
of Qatar.
AHMADI FORMATION
Cretaceous
Cenomanian
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.N. Nasr, 1958
Synonymy
Khatiyah Formation, Sugden, 1953. (unpublished) Ahmadi Formation, Dunnington et al. 1959.
Ahmadi Member , James and Wynd, 1965. Khatian Formation , Dominguez, 1965.
Ahmadi Member , Powers et al. 1966. Ahmadi Formation , Dunnington, 1967.
Type Section
K.O.C. Well Burgan No. 62, in Kuwait
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 28, lat 251712 N, long. 504846 E, elevation 32m (106 ft), completed
1.5.1952, between drilled depths 727 and 925m (2384 and 3035 ft).
198 m (651 ft)
Thickness
Top. 1. Limestone ; light grey, fine grained, porous, wackestones and packstones
Lithology
with numerous thin beds of marl and shale, blue-grey to brown. 99 m (326 ft). 2.
Shale, blue-grey and marly towards base. 54 m (176 ft). 3. Limestone ; light grey,
porous wackestones and packstones. 16 m (53 ft). 4. Shale, brown, and blue-grey,
with thin beds of argillaceous sandstone in middle. 29 m (96 ft). Base
In 1. Praealveolina cretacea (dArchiac), Cisalveolina fallax Reichel,
Fossils
Meandropsina vidali Schlumberger, Flabellammina sp. In 2. P. cretacea, M.
vidali, Flabellamina sp., Orbitolinella depressa Henson, Serpula filiformis
Sowerby, Trigonia crenulata Fraas, Corbula truncata Sowerby, Pecten orbicularis
(Sowerby), Mitra cancellata Sowerby, Protocardium hillanum Sowerby,
Cerithium albensis dOrbigny, Turritella difficilis dOrbigny, Aspidiscus cristatus
Knig, Exogyra conica (Sowerby), E. luynesi Lartet, E. larteti Conquand, Fusus
957
Age
Underlying
Overlying
Other localities
Deep wells throughout the Qatar peninsula and some offshore areas. South Iraq and Kuwait, and
parts of Saudi Arabia. Also recorded as the Ahmadi Member of the Sarvak Formation of S.W. Iran.
Remarks
At its type locality, in Kuwait, the Ahmadi Formation is a relatively thin (76 m) shale unit (the Cap
Rock Shale) with a thin limestone unit near its base. In the Basrah area the name Ahmadi is applied
to a sequence of shales and limestones of Cenomanian age. The succession in Dukhan is so similar
to that in South Iraq that the older name Khatiyah was replaced by Ahmadi Formation in 1961.
The Ahmadi Formation of Qatar overlies the Mauddud Formation and underlies the Mishrif,
occupying the position of the Ahmadi and Wara Formations of South Iraq. The top of the Mauddud
Formation is believed by Dunnington (1959, 1967) to coincide with a widespread regional
unconformity which marks the close of the Albian Stage. The Ahmadi is, therefore, believed to be
wholly Cenomanian in age in Qatar.
Qatar lies close to the eastern limit of the typical, argillaceous facies of the Ahmadi. Progressive
eastwards replacement of shales by limestones occurs until, in Abu Dhabi, the Ahmadi has been
wholly replaced by thick shelf limestone assigned to the Mishrif Formation.
* AIDAH FORMATION
Eocene - Paleocene
Obsolete name originally used in the Basrah area of Iraq, to describe the Lower Eocene to
paleocene carbonates which underlie the Rus Formation. Applied to a comparable unit in Qatar for
a short time. Superseded by the name Umm er Radhuma Formation
ALVEOLINA BED
Middle Eocene
(Lutetian)
Informal name first applied by T.R. Williamson and R. Pomeyrol, 1938, to a thin (maximum 5 m)
unit commonly made up of two limestones, white to yellow, containing an abundant fauna of
Alveolina elliptica var. flosculina, separated by a thin argillaceous bed. Overlies the Midra Shale
Member of the Dammam Formation. Correlates with the Alveolina Limestone Member of the
Dammam Formation in Saudi Arabia and also occurs in Bahrain.
Used as a mappable marker horizon in the geological survey of Qatar
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
958
Cretaceous
(Campanian)
Neritic, shelf-carbonate member of the Fiqa Formation. In Qatar, only found in Dukhan Well No.
51 (Juh-1).
See Fiqa Formation.
ARAEJ Formation
Jurassic
(BathonianCallovian)
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Upper and Middle Dhruma Formation Powers et al., 1966. Araej Formation, Dominguez,
1965. Araej Formation, Dunnington, 1967. Araej Formation, Fox and Brown, 1968.
Type Locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat 252709N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41.5 m (136 ft),
completed 29.6.1953, between drilled depths 2137 and 2316 m (7010 and 7600 ft).
The formation takes its name from the Jebel Araej in Southern Qatar
180 m (590 ft)
Thickness
Top 1. Limestone, grey, foraminiferal, pellet-grainstone and packstone with some
Lithology
interbedded wackestone and lime mudstone. Pellets often black and pyritic. Some
horizons argillaceous. 31 m (102 ft). 2. Limestone; buff, medium to coarse
grained, bioclastic pellet-lump grainstone to packstone, porous; particles of buff
colour without pyrite staining. 59 m (193 ft). 3. Limestone, light to dark grey,
compact to dense, comprising interbedded pyrite-stained pellet grainstone and
packstone, wackestone and lime mudstone. Occasional beds of calcite-cemented
oolite 61 m (201 ft). 4. Limestone, grey wackestone to lime mudstone, with some
interbedded pellet packstone and occasional grainstone; pellets rarely pyrite
stained; some horizons silty. 28.6 m (94 ft). Base
In 1. Chlamys curvivarians Dietrich, Terebratula cf. superstes Douville,
Fossils
Trocholina palastiniensis Henson, Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, Kurnubia sp.
In 2. Cladocoropsis cf. zuffardiae Wells, Stromatoporina cf. somaliense ZuffardiComerci, Camptonectes sp., N. oolithica, T. palastiniensis, Pfenderina
neocomiensis Pfender, P. trochoidea Smout and Sugden. In 3. N. oolithica, T.
palastiniensis, Pfenderina sp. In 4. N. oolithica, Pfenderina sp. In addition to the
above, there occur throughout the formation, but particularly in unit 2, a number of
simple arenaceous fossils which have not been named and, also fossils referred to
Paleotrix Farasin. (The fossil recorded above as P. neocomiensis is now believed
to more closely relate to P. salernitana Sartoni and Crescenti).
Callovian to Bathonian based on correlation of the Araej Formation with the
Age
Upper and Middle Dhruma Formation of Saudi Arabia (see Remarks below).
Recently published results of work on ammonites by Imlay (1970) suggest that the
Upper Araej and Uwainat Member should be assigned to the Callovian Stage and
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
959
Overlying
Other localities
This formation is widespread in S.E. Arabia being known throughout Qatar, in the subsurface, in
Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, underlying much or all of the Trucial States and passing in attenuated
form into Oman.
Remarks
Correlation of the Araej Formation with the Upper and Middle Dhruma Formation of Saudi Arabia
has been accepted for some time. The equivalence of the Fadhili Zone (now the Lower Fadhili
Reservoir) to the Uwainat Member of the Araej (unit 2, above) was the key to this correlation. The
publication of detailed descriptions by R.W. Powers et al., 1966, makes accurate correlation with
the Saudi Arabian outcrop section possible.
The Atash Member of the Upper Dhruma is undoubtedly the equivalent of the Uwainat Member of
the Araej Formation. Both are typified by the Pfenderina trochoidea assemblage which appears to
be restricted to this unit in Arabia.
The Upper Araej (Unit 1), typified in Qatar by pellet grainstone and packstones with abundant
Trocholina palastiniensis, must be related to the Hisyan Member, which contains numerous
limestones bearing the same foraminifera in a similar facies. The Upper Araej is itself widely
recognised in S.E. Arabia. In Qatar the upper limit of the Araej Formation is sharply defined, with
marked lithologic and faunal difference from the overlying Diyab Formation. To the east, away
from the Qatar axis, the unit thickens and passes gradationally into the Diyab by gradual reduction
of coarse pellet debris and increase of fine lime mudstone and fine pellet calcarenite. In such
situations it is not always possible to select a precise formation boundary. The thin Upper Araej
development and its sharp contact with the Diyab, in the Qatar area, is suggestive of a sedimentary
break between the two formations.
The contact of the Uwainat Member with the Upper Araej is abrupt but conformable, with no
evidence of erosion or non-deposition.
The Uwainat Member passes down gradationally into the Lower Araej. The latter is correlated with
the Middle Dhruma because of its conformable position beneath the equivalent of the Upper
Dhruma and above the Izhara Formation, whose upper member is believed to coincide in position
and age with the Dhibi Limestone Member.
ARUMA GROUP
Cretaceous
(Coniacian-Maestrichtian)
Author
R.M. Owen and S.N. Nasr, 1958
Four formations are currently assigned to the Aruma Group in Qatar. These are the Simsima
Formation (Maestrichtian), Ruilat Formation (Campanian), Halul Formation (CampanianSantonian), and Laffan Formation (Santonian-Coniacian). The Group is separated by sedimentary
breaks from the overlying Umm-er Radhuma Formation and the underlying Mishrif Formation. Its
age-range and stratigraphic relationship are similar to those of the Aruma Group of Kuwait and
South Iraq whence it was first formally described.
960
Obsolete formation name, originally used in Iraq, which was applied for a short time to the lower,
mainly shale, section of the Ahmadi Formation of Qatar. Adopted when the recognition of the
Mishrif Formation in Qatar necessitated a second revision of status of the Khatiyah Formation. The
name Khatiyah was temporarily abandoned, the section between the Mishrif and Mauddud
Formations being subdivided into an upper limestone-marl unit (named the Rumaila Formation) and
a lower argillaceous unit (the Asara Formation). A 12 m limestone bed within the latter was named
the Tuba Member after a comparable unit in south Iraq.
The names Rumaila and Asara were abandoned in Qatar in 1956, the units to which they were
applied being recombined into an amended Khatiyah Formation. This subsequently became known
as the Ahmadi Formation.
A Turonian age was erroneously ascribed to the Asara Formation when it was first described in
Qatar.
961
B
*BAHRAIN FORMATION
Eocene-Paleocene
G.E. Pilgrim, 1908, applied the name Bahrain Series to the succession of Middle and Lower Eocene
rocks which outcrop on Bahrain Islands. The name was adopted in Qatar and redefined, in 1940, to
describe the total Middle Eocene to base Paleocene succession encountered on the surface and in
wells. Later confined to the surface-outcropping Eocene formations, comparable to the original
section in Bahrain. Became obsolete in 1954 when the name Hasa Group was adopted to describe
the combined Dammam, Rus, and Umm er Radhuma Formations.
Lower
*BUSAIYIR FORMATION
Eocene-Paleocene
Obsolete formation name applied, in 1953, to the predominantly limestone and dolomite sequence
of Lower Eocene and paleocene age which underlies the Rus Formation.
The local name Busaiyir formation was superseded by Umm er Radhuma Formation, described by
N.J. Sander (1952), from Saudi Arabia.
See Umm er Radhuma Formation
D
Cretaceous
?Santonian
The basal member of the Halul Formation of offshore Qatar can be correlated with a thin limestone
section which overlies the Laffan Formation in the Dukhan Field. The contact of the latter with the
overlying Ruilat Formation has the appearance of a sedimentary break. The name Daasah
Member, derived from a location close to the reference section, has been assigned to this
widespread lower section of the Halul Formation
DAASAH MEMBER
Eocene
?Lower & Middle Eocene
Author
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958 (first formal definition).
Synonymy
Dammam Formation, Owen and Nasr, 1958. Dammam Formation, van Bellen, 1959.
Formation de Dammam, Sander, 1962. Dammam Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Dammam
Formation, Elder and Grieves, 1965. Dammam Formation, Powers et al., 1966. Dammam
Formation, Hajash, 1967. Dammam Formation, Tschopp, 1967. Dammam Formation, Fox
and Brown, 1968.
Type section
The type section is in the rim rock of the Dammam Dome, Saudi Arabia.
Reference section in Qatar
A complete section between Dukhan (lat. 2526 N, long. 5047 E) and the head of Zekrit bay (lat.
2528 N, long. 5049 E).
52 m (ca. 170 ft)
Thickness
Top 1. Limestone light grey, rubbly. 1.8 m (ca. 6 ft). 2. Dolomite, chalk, white,
Lithology
with disseminated silica. 10.6 m (35 ft). 3. Limestone, light grey, interbedded
with white dolomitic chalk. Chert nodules of frequent but irregular occurrence.
33.5 m (110 ft). 4. Shale, light grey, with foliate cleavage, varying to light grey
marl, irregular orange to yellow iron staining. 5.5 m (18 ft). Bottom.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
962
Age
Underlying
Overlying
Other localities
Forms the surface of a large part of Qatar; also outcrops extensively in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Known from bore-holes in the Basrah area and Kuwait, to the north, and in Abu Dhabi and Oman,
to the south-east.
Remarks
The name Dammam Formation was first used in Qatar in 1953, following the restricted distribution
of Sanders Thesis in 1952. Earlier subdivision of outcropping Eocene into Abaruk Beds, Upper
Limestone and Lower Limestone ceased at that time.
The Abaruk Beds comprise units 1 and 2 of the reference section. No age-diagnostic fossil is
known from them, with the exception of one specimen of Dictyoconoides which was reported in
1938. Failure to find further specimens has caused doubt to be cast upon the Middle Eocene age
assigned on the basis of this record but the similarity of the Abaruk Beds to the Alat Member of
Saudi Arabia and to the White Limestone and Orange Marl of Bahrain supports such an age
determination. In sections other than the reference section, the basal part of the Abaruk Beds is a
thin (1,5 m) marl.
Unit 3 of the reference section is the Upper Limestone of early reports. It forms the main, datable,
Middle Eocene limestone sequence of the Dammam Formation. Its base is defined by a thin, but
persistent, limestone, containing abundant Alveolina elliptica var. flosculina, known as the
Alveolina Bed, which has been used as a marker horizon for mapping purposes. Unit 3 correlates
with the Khobar Member and Alveolina Limestone Member of the Dammam Formation of Saudi
Arabia.
The basal shale member of the Dammam Formation in Qatar is typically yellow-green. It contains
common fish remains and pelecypod casts but no age-diagnostic fossil has been reliably recorded
from it. A Middle Eocene age is conventionally assigned to this shale because no local proof of any
other age is available in Qatar. The name Midra Shale is applied to it.
The above subdivision can be closely compared with that of the type Dammam Formation described
by Steineke et al. (1958). Subsequent addition of the Saila Shale Member, separated from the
Midra Shale Member by a thin limestone, adds complication. Impersistant limestones occur within
the basal shale member in Qatar but no mappable subdivision can be made. It is assumed that the
equivalent of both Midra and Saila Members are to be sought in the basal Shale Member of the
Dammam in Qatar. The name Midra Shale is retained, being established by usage and having
priority.
963
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report)
Synonymy
None
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 51 (formerly Juh. No. 1), Lat 245348 N long. 505955 E, elevation
76.5 m (252 ft), completed 25.10.1952, between drilled depths 2166 and 2377 m (7107 and 7800
ft).
The formation takes its name from the Taas al Darb, a solitary sand dune near the type locality,
which marks the ancient track to Mecca.
211 m (693 ft)
Thickness
Top 1. Limestone, grey and light grey, lime mudstone, compact to dense.
Lithology
Dolomite streaks and bands of pyrite-stained pellet packstone. 50 m (163 ft). 2.
Limestone, dark grey lime mudstone, dense with rare streaks of pyritic pellet
packstone. 53 m (174 ft). 3. Limestone, grey lime mudstone, dense, becoming
argillaceous downwards: numerous thin beds contain scattered, large, pyritestained pellets. 40 m (131 ft). 4. Limestone, dark grey, dense, lime mudstone,
becoming increasingly argillaceous towards the bottom. 68 m (225 ft). Base.
In 1.
Kurnubia jurassica (Henson), Kurnubia cf. wellingsi (Henson),
Fossils
Pseudocyclammina jaccardi (Schrodt). In 2 and 3. K. jurassica, K. cf. wellingsi,
P. jaccardi, Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, Pseudocyclammina cf. virguliania
Koechlin. In 4. P. jaccardi, P. cf. virguliania, N. oolithica, K. jurassica. In the
lowest two feet Exogyra nana (J. Sowerby).
Upper Jurassic. The presence of Pseudocyclammina jaccardi throughout the
Age
sequence and its absence from the underlying Diyab Formation suggests that the
Darb could be the lateral equivalent of the Jubaila and Hanifa Formations of Saudi
Arabia. The determination of the Kurnubia species is based on work prior to
publication (1964) of Redmonds new species. As suggested by R.W. Powers et al.
1966 (page 56), the form determined as K. cf. wellingsi in this formation, could
well be random sections of K. morrisi Redmond, which range through all of the
Jubaila and the upper part at least of the Hanifa Formation. Thus, a largely
Kimmeridgian age is accepted for the Darb Formation, although some Oxfordian
could be represented.
Diyab Formation; contact conformable, placed at the position where dense,
Underlying
argillaceous lime mudstone of the basal Darb Formation rests upon fine,
calcarenitic limestone with interbedded, very argillaceous lime mudstone of the
uppermost Diyab Formation.
Fahahil Formation (Arab No. 4 Limestone); contact conformable. In type section
Overlying
placed at boundary between fine lime mudstone of the Upper Darb Formation and
porous dolomite of the basal Fahahil Formation. At other localities in Dukhan and,
more markedly, to the east, the uppermost Darb Formation becomes increasingly
dolomitised. As a result, an additional porous section is added to the base of the
Fahahil Formation, at the expense of the Darb Formation.
964
965
Other localities
Recognised as a separate formation only in Qatar, where it has been encountered in many deep
wells. Dark grey argillaceous limestones occur above the Araej Formation to the east in Abu
Dhabi, but a distinct Diyab Formation has not been distinguished.
Remarks
Powers, 1968, states that the basal, argillaceous unit of the Hanifa Formation is separated by an
hiatus from the lower, Cuneolina-bearing beds of the Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone in the central
coastal area of Saudi Arabia, close to Qatar. The Diyab Formation may be the equivalent of the
basal Hanifa. The Cuneolina-bearing beds have not been recognized in Qatar, although their
equivalent may occur to the east, in Umm Shaif, where additional section containing Meyendorffina
sp. occurs between typical Araej and Diyab lithologies. The upper unit of the Araej in Qatar is
equated with the Hisyan Member of the Dhruma Formation. Thus, the Diyab-Araej contact could
represent a considerable break in sedimentation, spanning the Oxfordian and possibly part of the
Callovian eras, resulting from uplift over the Qatar arch. Should the Diyab contain equivalents of
part of the Tuwaiq, there probably still remains a break between it and the Araej, represented by the
Cuneolina-bearing beds and their equivalents (the Meyendorffina-bearing bed) which are present on
either side of the Qatar axis.
*DOHA FORMATION
Upper Jurassic
Obsolete, unpublished formation name proposed by W. Sugden, 1953, to distinguish a unit
composed of limestone containing abundant anhydrite nodules from the underlying massive
anhydrite of the Hith Formation. Now considered to be the upper member of the Hith Formation
F
FAHAHIL FORMATION
Jurassic
Lower Kimmeridgian
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished company report)
Synonymy
Lower, carbonate part of the Arab D Member, Powers, 1968. No. 4 Limestone of Qatar.
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 66 [DK-0066], lat 252053 N, long. 504847 E, elevation 23 m (76 ft),
completed 18.5.1960, between drilled depths 1964 and 2021 m (6444 and 6631 ft). The formation
takes its name from a locality on the Dukhan anticline near the type section. [Note: In the original Sugdens
reports of 1953/56, he assigns DK-0026 as type locality (spudded in 1952). Also, the above coordinates are not for DK-0066 but rather for DK-0026.
It is possible that Standring, who took over the Lexicon from Sugden after 1959, wanted to change the type locality from DK-0026 to DK-0066 but
forgot to change the coordinates.]
Thickness
Lithology
57 m (187 ft).
Fossils
(After F. Gosling, unpublished report). Top. 1. Dolomitic lime mudstone with streaks of
dolomite and anhydrite, dolomitic packstone; two foot anhydrite bed near top. 6.4 m (21
ft). 2. Interbedded grainstone, wackestone and packstone of skeletal grains in lime
mudstone matrix. Upper 9m predominantly grainstone. 42 m (139 ft). 3. Alternating
dolomitic lime mudstone and dolomite. 8.2 m (27 ft). Base
966
Underlying
Overlying
jurassica.
An Upper Jurassic, probably Lower Kimmeridgian, age is inferred by the above
fauna and flora, and, also, by the stratigraphic position of the unit above the Darb
Formation, which is itself partly equivalent to the Lower Kimmeridgian, Jubaila
Formation of Saudi Arabia
Darb Formation; contact conformable. At the junction of porous dolomites of the
Fahahil Formation, above, with dense lime mudstones of the Darb Formation,
below.
Qatar Formation; contact conformable. At the junction of dolomite, anhydritic
lime mudstone of the Upper Fahahil Formation, below, with massive anhydrites of
the basal unit of the Qatar formation, above.
Other localities
Extends throughout the oilfield area of Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but is unknown from
Kuwait northwards. Its equivalent can be recognised in Abu Dhabi.
Remarks
This unit is easily defined in western Qatar and much of Saudi Arabia. In eastern Qatar, increasing
dolomitisation of the Upper Darb Formation makes it virtually impossible to distinguish a
stratigraphic equivalent of the base of the formation as defined in Dukhan. Much increased
dolomitisation of this nature, farther to the east, probably is reflected in the conditions met in the
Umm Shaif oilfield, where the name Arab Darb has been introduced.
The lower unit (3) of the reference section could be related to the underlying Darb as easily as to the
Fahahil Formation. It has been demonstrated (F. Gosling, unpublished report) that the Fahahil
marks a transition from deeper to shallower water conditions. It is this transitional nature, together
with the units great commercial value as an oil reservoir, which prompted W. Sugden to segregate
it as a distinct formation, instead of incorporating it either in an Arab Formation (as in Saudi
Arabia) or in the Darb Formation.
FIQA FORMATION
Cretaceous
Campanian-(Coniacian)
Author
A.J. Standring and E. Hart (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Shargi Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Upper Shale, Hajash, 1967. Aruma marl, Fox and
Brown, 1968.
Type locality
A.D.P.C. well Murban No. 44, lat. 231022 N. long. 532035 E, elevation 133.5 m (438 ft),
completed 20.9.1965, between drilled depths 1653 and 2003 m (5422 and 6571 ft).
Thickness 350 m (1149 ft)
Top. 1. Light grey, very chalky marl grading into a white chalk with, locally, rare,
Lithology
slightly silty shale partings. Interbeds of chalky, foraminiferal, lime wackestones,
containing fine skeletal debris. 39 m (128 ft). 2. Dark grey-green, calcareous shale
and light grey, chalky marl grading into a white chalk. Thin interbeds of buff detrital,
chalky, foraminiferal lime wackestone containing shell debris and light grey
argillaceous limestone, 42 m (137 ft). 3. Limestone, light buff, slightly argillaceous,
chalky lime wackestone, particles consisting of smaller foraminifera and shell and
echinoid debris. 49 m (161 ft). 4. Shale, dark grey, slightly calcareous, with chalky
marl. 18 m (60 ft). 5. Pale buff, chalky to locally argillaceous limestone interbedded
with dark grey, sometimes calcareous, shale, which tends to predominate in the
lowest 40 ft. 35 m (116 ft). 6. Pale grey to buff, slightly chalky foraminiferal
wackestone with particles consisting of shell debris; interbeds of grey-green shale. 54
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
967
968
G
GULAILAH FORMATION
Triassic
? Middle Triassic
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Dolomite-Anhydrite series of early unpublished reports on Arabia. Jilh Formation, Steineke
and Bramkamp, 1952
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat. 252709 N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41.5 m (136 ft),
completed 29.6.1953, between drilled depths 2454 and 2615 m (8052 and 8578 ft). The formation
takes its name from a locality near the type section.
160 m (526 ft).
Thickness
Top. 1. Dolomite, grey and dark grey, fine grained, dense, calcareous, anhydrite,
Lithology
partly argillaceous, with interbedded anhydrite, grey and white. Authigenic quartz
common. 27 m (88 ft). 2. Dolomite, grey, fine grained, dense, partly calcareous.
25 m (84 ft). 3. Anhydrite, grey, alternating with calcareous dolomite, grey, fine
grained, dense, argillaceous. Occasional thin beds of shale, dark grey, calcareous.
Authigenic quartz. 11 m (38 ft). 4. Limestone, grey, fine grained, dense, partly
dolomitic, with streaks and nodules of anhydrite. Very argillaceous in upper and
lower few feet. Lower half pellety in parts. 37 m (122 ft). 5. Limestone, grey and
grey-brown, fine grained, dense, pellety in part, dolomitic, grading to dolomite,
grey, fine grained, dense, anhydritic with interbeds of white to grey-brown
anhydrite. Authigenic quartz throughout. 35 m (116 ft). 6. Limestone, grey, fine
grained, dense, grading to dolomite, calcareous, containing a little grey anhydrite.
23.8 m (78 ft). Base.
In unit 4. Rare Ammodiscus sp. and Glomospira sp.
Fossils
A Triassic age is assumed on the basis of the formations stratigraphic position
Age
above the Suwei (Sudair) Formation and its lateral equivalence to the Jilh
Formation. The presence of Lingula tenuissima Alberti in the Gulailah Formation
of Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 65, adds a little support of this age assignment.
Underlying
Overlying
The synonymous Jilh Formation of Saudi Arabia, has been assigned a Middle to
Lower Triassic age, confirmed by palynological studies.
Suwei Formation, contact probably conformable; placed where brown to grey
shales and marls of the upper Suwei underlie limestones and dolomites of the basal
Gulailah Formation.
Izhara Formation; contact unconformable, placed at the top of the highest anhydrite
of the Gulailah.
A similar relationship is seen in Q.P.C. Well Musaiymir No. 1, but in Well Dukhan
No. 65, an additional unit, the Hamlah Formation, intervenes between the Gulailah
and the Izhara See Hamlah Formation.
Other localities
Deep wells on the Dukhan structure and at Musaiymir in eastern Qatar. Probably penetrated by
deep wells in offshore Qatar (Khail Formation Dominguez, 1965). Is the lateral equivalent of the
Jilh Formation as developed in subsurface areas of Saudi Arabia.
969
H
HALUL FORMATION
Cretaceous
Santonian-Campanian
Author
M.W. Hughes-Clarke, 1963 (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Halul Formation, Dominguez, 1965 (first published reference). Ilam Formation, James and
Wynd, 1965. Middle Chalk, Hajash, 1967. Aruma Lower Limestone, Fox and Brown, 1968.
Type locality
S.C.Q. Well Id-al-Shargi No. 1, lat. 252332.9 N, long. 522155.93 E, between drilled depths
1009 and 1081 m (3310 and 3545 ft.). The formation takes its name from the island of Halul, off
the east coast of Qatar.
The following description is adapted from one by W.O. Gigon, P.J.C. Hoogkamer and I.W.G.
Hughes of S.C.Q.
72 m (235 ft).
Thickness
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey, chalky bioclastic lime packstone, particles
Lithology
consisting of larger foraminifera with some smaller foraminifera, ostracods and
shell fragments. 27 m (90 ft). 2. Limestone, light grey, chalky bioclastic lime
wackestones, particles consisting of spicules, small shell fragments with some
smaller foraminifera and larger foraminifera, some pyrite and scattered dolomite
rhombs. 21 m (68 ft). 3. Marl, grey-green, soft with some shale, blue-grey and
some limestones, light grey-light brown, chalky, partly recrystallised. 8.6 m (27 ft).
4. Chalk, light grey, soft, frangible, occasionally slightly marly, with limestones,
light grey and light brown, chalky, partly recrystallised, shell fragments in places.
15 m (50 ft). Base
In 1.
Pseudedomia sp.(p), (P. aff. complanata-globularis), Rotalia aff.
Fossils
trochidiformis Lamarck, Dicyclina cf. schlumbergeri Munier Chalmas, Kathina sp.
nov., Dictyokathina sp. nov., Rotalia sp. nov., ostracods, spicules, echinoid
fragments, ?Oligostegina. In 2. Pseudedomia aff. complanata-globularis, Rotalia
aff. trochidiformis Lamarck, Kathina sp. nov., Rotalia spp. Nov., spicules,
?Oligostegina.
Upper Cretaceous, Santonian-Campanian.
Age
970
Olive-green shales and marls of the Laffan Formation conformably underlie the
light grey, chalky wackestones of the Halul Formation.
Fiqa Formation; the basal brown calcareous shales of the Fiqa overlie light grey,
chalky lime-packstones of the Halul Formation. Contact believed to be
unconformable.
Other localities
Of limited development in onshore Qatar where only the lower, Daasah Member is recognised.
Well developed in offshore Qatar and in central, north and parts of eastern Abu Dhabi, whence it
thins rapidly to the south and east. Apparently not present in Oman.
The Halul Formation probably equates with a unit containing a faunule composed chiefly of
Kathina sp. and Cosinella sp. which occurs in the subsurface of eastern Saudi Arabia, (R.W.
Powers, 1968). The Sadi Formation of south Iraq and the Ilam Formation of south-west Iran are
equivalents of the Halul Formation.
Remarks
A widespread and persistent rock stratigraphic unit, which can be recognised by its characteristic
foraminiferal assemblage.
The lower part (units 3 and 4) of the type section represent the only part of the Halul Formation to
be recognised in onshore Qatar. This unit has been named the Daasah Member after a locality
south of Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 55, the site of the reference section, described below.
Reference section in onshore Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 55, lat. 25240 N. long. 504346 E, elevation 7 m (23 ft),
completed 17.8.1956, between drilled depths 570 and 584 m (1870 and 1906 ft).
Thickness 14 m (46 ft).
Top. 1. Limestone; light grey, fine, compact, partly silicified lime mudstones to
Lithology
wackestones. 10 m (32 ft). 2. Limestone, grey, argillaceous lime mudstone. 4
m (14 ft).
In 1., small indeterminable foraminifera, probably including Heterohelix sp..
Fossils
Probably Santonian, from stratigraphic position
Age
Underlying Laffan Formation, contact conformable. At sharp change from lime mudstone
above, to shales of the Laffan Formation below.
Overlying Ruilat Formation, contact disconformable. At junction of grey lime wackestone
of the Daasah Member of the Halul Formation with glauconitic limestones of
the basal Ruilat Formation. This contact represents a major hiatus within the
Aruma Group, equivalent to the pre-Hartha unconformity of south Iraq.
The Daasah Member of onshore Qatar was originally the basal part of the Ruilat
Formation. Recent comparison with offshore sections illustrated its similarity to
a basal member of the Halul Formation to which formation it is now assigned.
HAMLAH FORMATION
Lower Jurassic
Author
A.J. Standring (unpublished report)
Synonymy
None
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 65, lat. 252738 N, long. 504713 E. elevation 42.6 m (140 ft),
completed 21.10.1960, between drilled depths 2367 and 2436.5 m (7764 and 7992 ft).
971
972
Cretaceous
Lower Aptian or
Barremian
Author
W. Sugden, 1953 (unpublished report).
Synonymy
None
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat. 252709 N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41 m (136 ft),
completed 29.6.1953, between drilled depths 1109 and 1125 m (3637 and 3689 ft).
16 m (52 ft)
Thickness
Shale and marl, blue-grey.
Lithology
Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger
Fossils
Lower Aptian or Barremian
Age
Kharaib Formation; contact conformable, placed at boundary between limestone,
Underlying
below, and shales or marls, above.
Shuaiba Formation; contact conformable; limestones of the Shuaiba rest upon
Overlying
shales of the Hawar Formation
Other localities
Occurs throughout onshore Qatar and can be traced eastwards through offshore Qatar where it
changes progressively into a characteristic limestone unit composed of foraminiferal, pellet
packstones and wackestones and argillaceous lime mudstones, often highly glauconitic and dense.
This limestone can be traced eastwards through Abu Dhabi and probably extends into Oman.
Everywhere it intervenes between the Shuaiba and Kharaib Formations. The shale is present in
Bahrain and forms the highest unit of the Biyadh Formation in eastern areas of Saudi Arabia.
Remarks
Justification for assigning formation rank to this relatively thin unit is its value over a wide area as a
distinctive rock unit which intervenes between the well-defined Shuaiba and Kharaib Formations.
The Hawar Formation was, for many years, considered to be the upper member of a heterogeneous
formation which also included the Kharaib and Ratawi Formations as defined in this Lexicon. The
name Ratawi was assigned to the complete sequence which was considered to be a distant
equivalent of the Zubair / Ratawi clastics complex of south Iraq.
HITH ANHYDRITE FORMATION
Jurassic
Upper Jurassic
Author
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958; amended by R.W. Powers et al, 1966
Synonymy
None
Type locality
In Saudi Arabia
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 25, lat. 252252 N, long. 504550 E, elevation 23 ft., completed
30.12.1951, between drilled depths 1178 [in fact, 1787m] and 1928 m (5862 and 6324 ft).
141 m (462 ft)
Thickness
Top. 1. Limestone, brown and grey-brown, dense, dolomitic, with abundant
Lithology
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
973
974
Cretaceous, Lower
Valanginian-Hauterivian
Obsolete formation name proposed, in 1956, to describe the sequence which currently includes the
basal part of the Ratawi Formation and the Yamama Formation in Qatar. The sequence assigned to
the Huwaila Formation had previously been subdivided into four formations, named the Rakan,
Karanah, Qartas and Misfir. These distinctive lithologic units became members of the new
formation.
The Huwaila Formation was subsequently thought to be synonymous with the Yamama Formation
of Saudi Arabia and the latter name was applied to it. The definition of the Yamama Formation was
later revised in Qatar, excluding the upper member, which is now included within the Ratawi
Formation.
I
IZHARA FORMATION
Jurassic
Bajocian - ? Bathonian
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Lower Dhruma Formation, Powers, 1968. Izhara formation, Dominguez, 1965.
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat 252709 N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41.5 m (136 ft),
completed 29.6.1953, between drilled depths 2317 and 2454 m (7600 and 8052 ft).
The formation takes its name from a locality near the type section.
137 m (452 ft).
Thickness
Top. 1. Limestone, grey, porous, with scattered dolomite crystals. 24.4 m (80 ft). 2.
Lithology
Limestone, grey to dark grey, fine grained, dense, with streaks containing pellets,
often pyrite-stained, sometimes argillaceous, silty. Lowest part variably dolomitic
and including beds of dark grey marl and shale. 56 m (185 ft). 3. Limestone, grey,
fine-grained, dense in part, very dolomitic. 6 m (20 ft). 4. Dolomite, grey to greybrown, calcareous, dense at top, becoming porous, saccharoidal. 10.6 m (35 ft). 5.
Limestone and dolomite, grey, fine-grained, dense, with argillaceous beds in upper
and lower parts. 40 m (132 ft). Base.
In 1. Rare Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler, Glomospira sp., Paleotrix sp. In 2.
Fossils
Haurania sp.
Middle Jurassic, Bajocian possibly to Lower Bathonian. Based on its conformable
Age
position beneath the Callovian to Bathonian limestone of the Araej Formation. Can
be correlated with a fair degree of confidence with the Lower Dhruma Formation of
Saudi Arabia, recently assigned a wholly Bajocian age by Imlay, 1970.
Underlying Gulailah Formation (at type locality), contact unconformable. Placed at the top of
the highest anhydrite bed of the underlying Gulailah Formation. In Well Dukhan
No. 65, the Izhara is underlain conformably by the Hamlah Formation (see Hamlah
Formation).
Araej Formation; contact conformable. At junction of pure, buff-grey, porous,
Overlying
limestone of the Upper Izhara, below, with impure, silty, pellety, grey limestones of
the basal Araej Formation, above.
Other localities
Present in deep wells throughout Qatar. The Izhara Formation has also been recognised in Abu
Dhabi.
975
J
*JALEHA MEMBER
Upper Jurassic
Name proposed, in 1956, to designate, more formally, the Number 1 Limestone of the Qatar
Formation. The name has never been published and has become redundant through long disuse.
JANAAN MEMBER
Cretaceous
Maestrichtian
Lower, major member of the Simsima Formation. Includes the Lepidorbitoides socialis and the
Orbitoides media faunizones in Qatar.
*JUH MEMBER
Upper Jurassic
Name proposed, in 1956, as a more formal designation of the Number 2 Limestone of the Qatar
Formation. The name has not been published and is considered redundant because of long disuse.
The name Juh Formation was applied by R.M. Ramsden (Thesis, 1952) to the Fahahil Formation
(No. 4 Limestone) of Qatar.
K
*KARANAH FORMATION
Cretaceous, Lower
Valanginian
Obsolete name for the upper, porous pellet, coral, stromatoporoid packstone-wackestone unit of the
Yamama Formation of Qatar. Abandoned when correlation with Saudi Arabia became possible.
KHARAIB FORMATION
Cretaceous, Lower
(probably Barremian)
Author
W. Sugden, 1953 (unpublished report)
Synonymy
None
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat 252709 N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41 m (136 ft), completed
29.6.1953, between drilled depths 1125 and 1208 m (3689 and 3962 ft).
83 m (273 ft).
Thickness
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey, fine grained, porous, partly crystallised. 24 m (79
Lithology
ft). 2. Limestone, grey to cream, porous to compact, detrital, in parts with large
pellets, interbedded with argillaceous limestone. 41 m (136 ft). 3. Limestone, light
grey, porous, fine grained. 18 m (58 ft). Base
In 1. Orbitolina discoidea Gras, var. delicata Henson, Dictyoconus arabicus
Fossils
Henson. In 2. O. discoidea var. delicata, Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger. In
3. O. discoidea var. delicata, D. arabicus
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
976
Overlying
Probably Barremian
Ratawi Formation; contact apparently conformable but, regionally, considerable
cut-out and condensation of beds beneath the Kharaib Formation can be
demonstrated over the Qatar arch. Boundary placed at the contact of limestones of
the basal Kharaib Formation, above, with marls or shales of the Ratawi Formation,
below.
Hawar Formation; contact conformable. At contact of marl and shale of the
Hawar, above, with limestones of the upper Kharaib Formation, below.
Other localities
Throughout onshore and offshore Qatar and the Trucial States. Probably extends some distance to
the west of Qatar where its equivalent is to be found within the Biyadh Formation.
Remarks
This, predominantly limestone, unit can be traced over a vast area of S.E. Arabia, as a continuous
carbonate development typified by the occurrence of Orbitolina discoidea, associated at two levels
with Dictyoconus arabicus. In Abu Dhabi the Kharaib Formation includes the Zone B plus Zone C
Reservoirs of the Thamama Group limestones, which contains important oil accumulations (G.M.
Hajash, 1967).
To the east of Qatar, the marls and shales of the Ratawi Formation, which underlies the Kharaib,
pass into a predominantly limestone facies. In offshore Qatar the name Kharaib has been applied to
the complete sequence which underlies the Hawar Shale Formation and overlies the Yamama
Formation (J.K. Dominguez, 1965). This application of the name is contrary to majority practise in
the area.
The upper and lower members of the formation are probably better developed equivalents of the
First and Second Orbitolina Limestones recorded from the Biyadh Formation of eastern Saudi
Arabia (Powers, 1968).
*KHATIYAH FORMATION
Middle Cretaceous
Cenomanian
Obsolete formation name whose last and best known application was to describe the Cenomanian
shale, marl and limestone sequence, now named the Ahmadi Formation, which occurs between the
Mishrif and the Mauddud Formations in Qatar.
The name originally applied to the succession, composed predominantly of argillaceous sediments,
encountered in the first Dukhan well, which is now subdivided into the Laffan, Mishrif and Ahmadi
Formations. The Laffan Shale was the first unit to be separated from the Khatiyah, following
recognition of an important unconformity at its base.
The redefined Khatiyah Formation showed strong similarity to sections of the same age in South
Iraq. In consequence, it was subdivided into Mishrif, Rumaila and Asara Formations, the name
Khatiyah falling into disuse. The Mishrif Formation has retained its validity in Qatar but the
remaining, predominantly argillaceous sequence which occurs between it and the Mauddud
Formation was renamed the Khatiyah Formation in 1956, the names Rumaila and Asara being
discarded.
In 1961, the name Ahmadi Formation was applied in Iraq to a shale-limestone succession
comparable to the Khatiyah Formation in Qatar. As a result the name Khatiyah was again
abandoned in Qatar to be replaced by Ahmadi Formation
977
978
L
LAFFAN SHALE FORMATION
Cretaceous, Upper
Coniacian-Santonian
Author
W. Sugden, 1953 (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Laffan Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Middle Shale, Hajash, 1967. Laffan Shale, Fox and
Brown, 1968.
Type locality
Originally described from the interval 610 to 631 m (2002 and 2072 ft) in Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No.
25. The type section is here selected as Well Dukhan No. 55 lat. 25240 N, long. 504546 E.
elevation 7 m (23 ft), completed 17.8.1956, between drilled depths 584 and 613 m (1916 and 2011
ft). The formation takes its name from Ras Laffan, on the north-east coast of Qatar.
29 m (95 ft).
Thickness
Shale, olive-green
Lithology
The Laffan of the type section has yielded few fossils. The typical ostracod fauna
Fossils
of the Laffan Shale of Dukhan has been described in an unpublished thesis by
Sayyab, 1956. All species are new.
Coniacian to Santonian from its stratigraphic position. Palynological investigation
Age
of core samples from the nearby well Dukhan No. 1, indicates an early Senonian
age.
Mishrif Formation, contact unconformable. Shales of the Laffan overlie chalky,
Underlying
fossiliferous limestones of the Mishrif. On the Dukhan structure, crestal cut-out of
beds of the Mishrif beneath the contact can be demonstrated.
Overlying
The Daasah Member of the Halul Formation overlies the Laffan with apparent
conformity. The contact, of shales with argillaceous lime mudstones, is sharp.
Other localities
Found in deep wells throughout onshore and offshore Qatar and much of Abu Dhabi. Also known
from Bahrain and parts of Iraq.
Remarks
The Laffan Formation is typically a marine, ostracod-bearing shale which comprises the basal unit
of the Aruma Group over a wide area. Its age and affinities were in dispute until recent
palynological investigation indicated a Coniacian to Santonian age placing it firmly in the Aruma
Group. This position is also indicated by its unconformable relationship to underlying components
of the Wasia Group.
When first encountered in Qatar the Laffan Shale was included with an older shale-limestone
sequence in the so-called Khatiyah Formation. By 1949 it was apparent that a major unconformity
occurred at the base of the Laffan in Dukhan. The unit was then removed from the Khatiyah
Formation.
LOWER FARS FORMATION
Miocene
(?) Lower, Middle Miocene
Author
H.G. Busk and N.T. Mayo, 1918 (first published reference). The Lower Fars Formation is a
subdivision of the Fars Series, first defined by G.E. Pilgrim, 1908 in the Fars Province of Iran.
Synonymy
?Hadrukh Formation and Dam Formation, Steineke, Bramkamp and Sander, 1958. Fars,
Dominguez, 1965.
979
Obsolete name proposed by Williamson and Pomeyrol (1938) to describe the sequence of Eocene
rocks which outcrops beneath the Alveolina Bed in Qatar. Includes the Midra Shale and the Rus
Formation. The former is now assigned to the Dammam Formation. Name abandoned in 1953.
980
M
MAUDDUD FORMATION
Cretaceous, Albian
Author
F.R.S. Henson, 1940 (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Second Pay Limestone of Bahrain, Anon., 1937. Mauddud Limestone, Smout, 1956.
Mauddud Formation, Owen and Nasr, 1958. Mauddud Formation, Dunnington, 1959.
Mauddud Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Mauddud Member, James and Wynd, 1965.
Mauddud Member, Powers et al., 1966. Mauddud Formation, Dunnington, 1967.
Type locality
Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 1, lat. 252516 N, long. 504701 E, elevation 39 m (128 ft), completed
9.1.1940, between drilled depths 734 and 789 m (2408 and 2589 ft).
The formation takes its name from Ain Mauddud, a locality near Dukhan, Qatar.
55 m (181 ft)
Thickness
Grey, foraminiferal limestone, varying from predominantly compact lime
Lithology
mudstone at the base through wackestones to pellety, skeletal packstones and
wackestones at the top. At many levels the rock is composed predominantly of
tests of Orbitolina and Trocholina.
Orbitolina concava (Lamarck) var. qatarica Henson, Trocholina arabica Henson,
Fossils
Trocholina lenticularis Henson, Trocholina altispira Henson, Cyclammina whitei
Henson.
Originally believed to be of Cenomanian age (Henson, 1948) on account of the
Age
apparent association of Orbitolina concava with Praealveolina cretacea. Records
of the latter fossil from the type section have subsequently proved to be due to
contamination of well samples by cavings from overlying beds.
Underlying
Overlying
Similar rocks, containing the same microfauna have more recently been shown by
H.V. Dunnington (1959) to be Albian in Iraq. This age is now applied to the
Mauddud Formation in its type locality.
Nahr Umr Formation, contact conformable. Defined by change from arenaceous
sediments of the Naht Umr, below, to limestone of the Mauddud, above.
Ahmadi Formation; contact appears conformable. At abrupt change from typical
Orbitolina-Trocholina packstones of the Mauddud to the overlying shales and
marls of the basal Ahmadi Formation.
Other localities
Encountered in all deep wells drilled in onshore Qatar. Known also in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,
Bahrain, parts of Abu Dhabi and Oman. Recorded from southwest Iran.
Remarks
No formal description of the type section of the Mauddud Formation has previously been published.
The name has, however, been applied for many years to the widespread Orbitolina concava
Limestone found in many parts of the Middle East. The lithofacies of the Mauddud is so
distinctive that there is little doubt that the formation has been correctly identified in the majority of
cases.
The Mauddud Formation represents a quiet phase of widespread shallow shelf carbonate deposition,
marking the close of an Albian cycle of sedimentation which commenced with deposition of the
terrigenous clastic of the Nahr Umr Formation.
981
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.N. Nasr, 1958
Synonymy
Mishrif Formation, Smout, 1956. Mishrif Formation, Dunnington et al, 1959. Mishrif
Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Mishrif Member, Powers et al., 1966. Mishrif Formation,
Dunnington, 1967.
The type section
Is in B.P.C. Well Zubair No. 3, in South Iraq.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. well Dukhan No. 28, lat 251712 N, long. 504836 E, elevation 32 m (106 ft), completed
1.5.1952, between drilled depth 646 and 727m (2118 and 2384 ft).
81 m (266 ft)
Thickness
Limestone; light grey, soft, porous, shell-fragment, foraminiferal wackestone to
Lithology
packstone. Occasional thin shales towards base.
Dicyclina qatarensis Henson, Zekritia langhami Henson, Qataria dukhani Henson,
Fossils
Praealveolina Cretacea (dArchiac), Pseudochrysalidina conica Henson,
Dictyoconella minima Henson, Dohaia planata Henson, Cuneolina pavonia
dOrbigny, Meandropsina vidali Schlumberger.
A Cenomanian age is assigned in Qatar, as in Iraq, but a Turonian age is possible for
Age
the highest part.
Underlying Ahmadi Formation, contact conformable. Placed at the top of the highest well
developed shale horizon of the Ahmadi. In Qatar is selected at contact of more or
less continuous pure limestone, above, with interbedded shales and limestones of the
underlying Ahmadi. Regionally, the formation boundary is diachronous (see
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
982
The Mishrif Formation thickens eastwards from Dukhan as a result of progressive replacement of
shales of the Ahmadi Formation by shelf limestones. In onshore Abu Dhabi no vestige of the
Ahmadi remains and the name Mishrif is applied to a very thick shallow-water limestone unit of
Cenomanian age.
Faunal evidence suggests that the Mishrif Formation is of Cenomanian age in Qatar. It has been
assigned to the Turonian in some neighbouring areas and it is not impossible that rocks of that age
could occur in the upper part of the formation in Qatar, in areas where the least erosion has taken
place.
*MSAD GROUP
Cretaceous
Name adopted from Iraq, in 1940, to describe that part of the Qatar succession which occurs
between the Nahr Umr Formation (originally Rutbah Sandstone) and the Halul Formation (then the
basal Tayarat Limestone). The Msad Group included the Mauddud Formation together with the
original Khatiyah Formation which is now subdivided into Ahmadi, Mishrif and Laffan Formations.
The name Msad Group was abandoned in Qatar at an early date.
*MUSANDAM FORMATION
Cretaceous
Name applied, after the drilling of Dukhan well No. 1, to the Cretaceous succession now named the
Thamama Group. The Musandam Limestone of the Ruus al Jibal was the only similar unit known
in S.E. Arabia at that time (1940).
N
NAHR UMR FORMATION
Cretaceous, Albian
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.N. Nasr, 1958
Synonymy
Nahr Umr Formation, Dunnington et al., 1959. Nahr Umr, Dominguez, 1965. Wasia Shale,
Hajash, 1967. Nahr Umr Shale Formation, Tschopp, 1967. Wasia Shale and Nahr Umr,
Dunnington, 1967. Nahr Umr, Fox and Brown, 1968. Nahr Umr, Al Naqib, 1967.
The type section
Is in B.P.C. Well Nahr Umr No. 2, in South Iraq.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 26, lat 252054 N, long. 504847 E, elevation 24.4 m (80 ft),
completed 14.1.1952, between drilled depths 999m and 1167 m (3278 and 3828 ft).
Thickness 168 m (550 ft)
Top. 1. Sandstone, grey and greenish grey, glauconitic, rather marly, with numerous
Lithology
thin beds of blue-grey shale and marl and a few thin beds of grey limestone. 32 m
(105 ft). 2. Shale, blue-grey and brownish grey, with frequent beds of blue-grey
983
Q
*QARTAS FORMATION
Cretaceous (Lower)
Valanginian
Disused formation name applied to the major, middle part of the Yamama Formation before
correlation with Saudi Arabia was possible. See Yamama Formation.
QATAR FORMATION
Jurassic
Kimmeridgian-?Tithonian
Author
First named by W. Sugden, 1953 in an unpublished report.
Synonymy
None. (The A, B, C and upper, anhydrite, unit of the D Member of the Arab Formation, R.W.
Powers et al., 1966).
Type locality
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 28, lat. 251712 N, long. 504846 E, elevation 32 m (106 ft),
completed 1.5.1952, between drilled depths 1903 and 1990 m (6245 and 6529 ft).
The formation takes its name from the Qatar Peninsula, since it contains the first commercial oil
reservoir discovered in that country.
Thickness 87 m (284 ft)
Top. 1. Limestone, light brown, varying from fine-grained, partly dolomitic and
Lithology
compact to a dolomitised and porous pellety limestone. 11 m (36 ft). 2. Anhydrite,
white or light grey, with frequent stringers of brown dolomite near the top and
984
985
R
*RAKAN FORMATION
Cretaceous (Lower)
? Hauterivian
Obsolete name originally applied to the argillaceous, pellet limestone which forms the lowest unit
of the Ratawi Formation of Qatar. See Ratawi Formation.
Cretaceous (Lower)
RATAWI FORMATION
?Barremian-Valanginian
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr, 1958
Synonymy
Ratawi Formation, H.V. Dunnington, 1959, 1967; Ratawi Formation, K.M. Al Naqib, 1967.
The type section
Is B.P.C. Well Ratawi No. 1, in south Iraq.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, lat 292709 N, long. 511156 E, elevation 41 m (136 ft), completed
29.6.1953, between drilled depths 1208 and 1352 m (3962 and 4434 ft).
Thickness 144 m (472 ft)
Top. 1. Limestone, grey, fine grained, compact, argillaceous, detrital. Pellety in
Lithology
lower part. 26 m (81 ft [85.3 ft]). 2. Marl, grey interbedded with limestone, grey,
argillaceous, pellety. 16 m (52 ft). 3. Marl, grey, with thin interbeds of limestone,
grey, argillaceous, detrital, often pellety. 36.5 m (120 ft). 4. Limestone, buff, pellety.
7 m (23 ft). 5. Marl, blue-grey. 7.5 m (25 ft). 6. Limestone, buff, porous. 4 m (14
ft). 7. Marl, blue-grey. 3 m (10 ft). 8. Limestone, buff, porous. 3.3 m (11 ft). 9.
Limestone, grey, argillaceous, in parts pellety, detrital. 22 m (72 ft). 10. Limestone,
grey, fine grained, compact argillaceous, pellety, 18 m (59 ft). Base.
In 1. Choffatella decipiens Schlumberger, Lituola sp. (Orbitolina discoidea is
Fossils
recorded but probably derived from the overlying Kharaib Formation). In 2 and 3.
C. decipiens, Lituola sp., Cyclammina greigi. In 4. Pseudochrysalidina arabica
Henson, Pseudocyclammina lituus (Yokoyama), Lituola sp., Trocholina sp. In 5.
Pseudocyclammina kelleri Henson, P. lituus, Cardita cf. neocomiensis dOrbigny. In
6. P. arabica, P. lituus. In 8. P. arabica, P. lituus. In 9 and 10. P. kelleri, P.
lituus, P. lituus var. nov.
Hauterivian by regional comparison of microfaunas.
Age
Overlying Kharaib Formation; contact apparently conformable but regional evidence suggests
the presence of a considerable sedimentary break between the Ratawi and Kharaib
Formations over Qatar. The boundary is a sharp one between pure, porous limestone
of the basal Kharaib Formation and argillaceous limestone and marls of the
underlying Ratawi Formation.
Underlying Yamama Formation; contact apparently conformable; placed where grey,
argillaceous, pellety limestone of the basal Ratawi overlies pure, fine grained
carbonates of the upper Yamama. Regionally, there is evidence of possible cut-out of
beds at this boundary which could, therefore, be unconformable.
986
987
Cretaceous
?Campanian
Author
W. Sugden, 1953 (unpublished report).
Synonymy
None
Type locality
Originally described from Q.P.C Well Dukhan No. 25. Another section is now designated the type
section. This is Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 55, lat. 25240 N, long. 504346 E, elevation 7 m (23
ft), completed 17.8.1956, between drilled depths 501 and 570 m (1644 and 1870 ft).
Thickness
69 m (226 ft)
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey, compact, lime mudstone to wackestone, particles
Lithology
consisting of fine elongate spicules; some indeterminate calcareous silt. Chert
nodules occur in the upper part of the unit. Fine recrystallisation obscures rare,
small foraminifera. 66 m (216 ft). 2. Limestone as above, with common rounded
phosphatic nodules and glauconite grains. 3 m (10 ft). Base
Small unidentified foraminifera.
Fossils
The age of the Ruilat Formation cannot be determined from its contained fauna but
Age
is assumed to be Campanian from its stratigraphical position between proven
Maestrichtian limestone and the Halul Formation which has a Santonian to early
Campanian age.
Halul Formation, contact unconformable. At the junction of light grey lime
Underlying
mudstones, below, with glauconitic limestone of the basal Ruilat, above.
Simsima Formation; conformable contact at boundary between fossiliferous lime
Overlying
packstones of the Simsima Formation, above, with fine grey, spicular lime
mudstone of the Ruilat Formation.
Other localities
Confined to the Qatar peninsula where it has been recorded from all but one well on the Dukhan
anticline and from Q.P.C. exploration wells.
Remarks
The Ruilat Formation is known only in onshore Qatar. Correlation with the section in Q.P.C. Well
Dukhan No. 51, shows that the Ruilat is the lateral equivalent of all or part of the Fiqa Formation
and therefore of Campanian age. See Fiqa Formation.
*RUMAILA FORMATION
Cretaceous
(Cenomanian)
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr, 1958
Type Section
South Iraq.
The name Rumaila Formation was applied for a short time to the sequence of interbedded marls
and limestones which form the upper part of the Ahmadi Formation of present-day Qatar
terminology.
This unit is lithologically and faunally different from the typical Rumaila of Iraq
988
Eocene
Lower Eocene
Author
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958 (First formal description)
Synonymy
Rus Formation, Owen and Nasr, 1958. Rus Formation, van Bellen, 1959. Formation de Rus,
Sander, 1962. Rus, Dominguez, 1965. Rus Formation, Elder and Grieves, 1965. Rus
Formation, Hajash, 1967. Rus Formation, Tschopp, 1967. Rus Formation, Fox and Brown,
1968.
The type section
Is in and below Umm er Rus on the S.E. flank of the Dammam Dome, Saudi Arabia (lat.
261904 N., long 501751 E)
Reference section in Qatar
An almost complete section is exposed in cliffs of Jebel Dukhan (lat. 2526 N, long. 5047 E), and
west of that point to the coast
Thickness Ca. 36 m (120 ft)
Dolomite chalk with occasional harder, more calcareous beds which sometimes
Lithology
contain pellety or oolitic debris. Chert nodules or small aggregates of quartz or
chalcedony common.
Rare, unidentifiable fragments
Fossils
Assumed to be Lower Eocene because of its stratigraphic position.
Age
Underlying Not exposed in reference section. Conventionally the base is selected in Qatar at the
contact of soft, chalky limestone of the basal Rus with underlying harder, dolomitic
limestone of the Umm er Radhuma Formation. Contact conformable.
Overlying Dammam Formation; contact conformable. At the junction of the basal shale
member of the Dammam Formation with the underlying pure, chalky limestone of the
Rus Formation.
Other localities
In Qatar the Rus Formation outcrops along the Jebel Dukhan and in central and north-east areas. It
occurs beneath the surface of all other parts of the peninsula and has been penetrated by many
wells. It outcrops in eastern Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Deep wells have proved the existence of
the formation beneath the surface in large areas of Arabia, including Abu Dhabi and Oman to the
south-east and Kuwait and South Iraq to the north.
Remarks
The reference section in Qatar, like the type section, is a wholly carbonate sequence. Most
subsurface sections in Qatar include some bedded or massive gypsum. A thin, soft, pale-coloured
limestone invariably occurs between the gypsum of the Rus and the base of the Dammam
Formation. The contact of the Dammam and Rus Formations is almost always one of shale or
argillaceous limestone, above, and pure, pale-coloured limestone, below.
The gypsum member of the Rus thickens south-eastwards from Qatar, becoming anhydrite when
deeply buried, and reaching a thickness of over 200m in parts of Abu Dhabi. The Rus Formation is
normally thought of as a unit made up predominantly of gypsum or anhydrite. This is the case in
well sections over a large area of Arabia. The fact that most surface outcrops lack this lithology is
due, at least in part, to leaching. In Qatar, evidence of this is seen in sink-holes formed where the
gypsum of the Rus Formation occurs near the surface.
In deep well sections, the base of the Rus is often difficult to select. In the absence of gypsum, the
base is selected at the position where brown, highly dolomitic limestones of the Umm er Radhuma
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
989
Author
H.V. Dunnington, 1959
A sandstone formation, now recognised only in outcrops in the Rutbah and Wadi Hauran area of
Iraq.
The name was originally applied to Middle Cretaceous sands of Albian or Cenomanian age in
Iraq. It was used, in 1940, to describe the Albian terrigenous clastics encountered beneath the
Mauddud Formation in Dukhan Well No. 1. In 1950, following the definition of a more precise
equivalent unit in south Iraq, the name Rutbah Formation was replaced by Nahr Umr formation in
Qatar
S
*SABSAB FORMATION
Cretaceous (Lower)
Albian
Obsolete formation name originally applied to a lithologic unit which was believed to infill a
channel eroded in the crest of the Dukhan anticline at the close of the Aptian. The Sabsab
Formation was described as an oolitic, pellety limestone containing abundant abraded Orbitolinae
underlain by blue-grey to brown shale. Its relationship to the underlying Shuaiba Formation and
the overlying Nahr Umr Formation was obscure.
The characteristic Sabsab limestone is still recognised in many well sections in Dukhan, where it is
treated as one of many lithofacies units developed within the Shuaiba Formation. Similar rocks
have been recognised in the Shuaiba Formation in parts of Abu Dhabi.
The shale which was recorded from the lower part of the Sabsab in Dukhan has been shown, by
recently acquired Gamma Ray-Neutron logs, to be absent from many sections. This is the case in
the proposed type section in Dukhan Well No. 27. The original records probably result from
contamination of cutting samples by material from the overlying Nahr Umr Formation.
Shale is present in the Shuaiba Formation in some Qatar wells but its distribution is quite different
from that originally accorded to the Sabsab.
Cretaceous
SALWA MEMBER
Maestrichtian
Upper member of the Simsima Formation. Can be distinguished throughout Qatar and also in Saudi
Arabia (Lina Member), Abu Dhabi and Oman.
A minor unconformity is believed to occur beneath the Salwa Member over certain structures, but
this has not been demonstrated in Qatar.
Informally known as the Loftusia Zone. See Simsima Formation.
*SHAMMAR GROUP
Paleocene
Lower Eocene
Obsolete name adopted in Qatar for the combined Rus and Aidah (Umm er Radhuma) Formations
in subsurface sections. The name originated in South Iraq, where its use has long been
discontinued.
990
Deep-water member of the Fiqa Formation. In its type area, the Shargi Member is of Campanian
age but to the east, in parts of the Trucial Coast and Oman, the member replaces the Halul and
Laffan Formations, spanning the time interval from Coniacian to late Campanian or even
Maestrichtian.
Known in onshore Qatar only from Dukhan Well No. 51 (Juh-1), where it overlies the Halul
Formation and yields a typical Campanian planktonic microfauna. See Fiqa Formation.
SHUAIBA FORMATION
Cretaceous
(Aptian)
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr, 1958 (amend. H.V. Dunnington, 1959)
Synonymy
Shuaiba Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Shuaiba Formation, Powers, 1968. Shuaiba
Formation, Harris et al., 1968.
The type section
Is in B.P.C. Well Zubair No. 3, South Iraq.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 11, lat. 252717 N, long. 504802 E, elevation 41.5 m (136 ft),
completed 1.8.1949, between drilled depths 1006 and 1135 m (3291 and 3724 ft).
Thickness 132 m (432 ft)
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey or white, chalky and white chalk. 26 m (85 ft). 2.
Lithology
Limestone, white to light grey, chalky, containing fine, calcareous, organic debris.
Partly strongly recrystallised. Occasionally dolomitic. Grey and argillaceous in
bottom few feet. 106 m (348 ft). Base
In 1. Arenobulimina sp., Pseudochrysalidina sp., and Orbitolina cf. discoidea Gras.
Fossils
In 2. O. cf. discoidea, Cardita cf. upwarensis.
Aptian
Age
Underlying Hawar Formation; contact conformable. Placed where limestones of the basal
Shuaiba overlie blue-grey shales of the Hawar.
Overlying Nahr Umr Formation; contact probably disconformable; at contact of grey limestone
of the Shuaiba, below, with the shales of Nahr Umr Formation.
Remarks
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr (1958) describe the Shuaiba Formation as made up of dolomitic
limestones which are coarsely crystalline, porous and cavernous, with recrystallised Rudistae and
with rare Orbitolina discoidea and Choffetella decipiens.
The type section, described by H.V. Dunnington (1959), is quite unlike this, being composed of
fine-grained, chalky and argillaceous limestones, some of which contain globigerinids, interbedded
with shales in their upper and lower parts.
The Shuaiba Formation has recently become an important oil-producing reservoir in the
neighbouring state of Abu Dhabi and has, in consequence, been the subject of detailed study. The
Shuaiba Formation of the Bu Hasa Field is comparable to the coarse rudistid limestones recorded
from Kuwait. The type section in S. Iraq, appears to show more affinity to the equivalent deeperwater sequence which occurs at the top of the Thamama Group in the Bab Dome (T.J. Harris, J.T.C.
991
Author
W. Sugden (unpublished report, 1956).
Synonymy
Tayarat Formation, Owen and Nasr, 1958. Simsima Formation, Dominguez, 1965. Simsima
Formation, Dunnington, 1967. Upper Chalk, Hajash, 1967. Aruma Upper Limestone, Fox
and Brown, 1968.
Type locality
The Simsima Formation was originally described by Sugden from Dukhan Well No. 28, but the
type section here designated is Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 55, lat. 25240 N, long. 504546 E,
elevation 7 m (23 ft), completed 17.8.1956, between drilled depths 353 and 502 m (1158 and 1646
ft).
Thickness 148 m (486 ft)
(After W.O. Gigon and P.J.C. Hoogkamer, 1969, unpublished report).
Lithology
Top. 1. Limestone, medium grey, slightly chalky, lime packstone, becoming slightly
argillaceous towards the base. Particles consist of larger and smaller foraminifera,
ostracoda, coral, echinoid and gastropod fragments with dasycladacean algae. 18 m
(58 ft). 2. Shale, greenish-grey, soft, calcareous shale with some pyrite and mainly
smaller foraminifera and ostracoda. 2.75 m (9 ft). 3. Limestone. Alternations of
brown-grey, partly dolomitised, porous lime wackestones and light grey, often chalky
lime packstone. Lower 9m slightly argillaceous. Particles consist of large and small
foraminifera and broken fossils including rudists and echinoids. 98 m (319 ft). 4.
Limestone, medium brown, porous, dolomitised wackestone. Particles which are not
dolomitised consist of mainly broken fossils, e.g. lamellibranchs, etc. 20 m (66 ft). 5.
Limestone, light grey, partly chalky and in the upper part slightly dolomitised lime
packstone. Particles consist of broken fossils and larger and smaller foraminifera. 10
m (34 ft).
In 1. Loftusia gr. minor-morgani, Elphidiella multiscissurata Smout, Fissoelphidium
Fossils
operculiferum Smout, Omphalocyclus macroporus (Lamarck), dasycladacean algae.
In 3. Lepidorbitoides socialis Leymerie, Siderolites calcitrapoides Lamarck, O.
macroporus (Lamarck). In 4 and 5. Orbitoides media (dArchiac), O. macroporus.
Maestrichtian
Age
Underlying Ruilat Formation; contact conformable. Placed where white, chalky foraminiferal
wackestone of the basal Simsima overlies white recrystallised, dolomitised, spicular
lime mudstone of the Ruilat Formation.
Overlying Umm er Radhuma Formation; contact probably disconformable. At boundary of
white, chalky, algal lime packstone of the upper Simsima with dark brown dolomite
992
993
? Jurassic Cretaceous
Authors
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958
Synonymy
Sulaiy Formation, Powers et al., 1966. Sulaiy Formation , Powers, 1968.
The type section
Is in the cliff above Dahl Hit in Saudi Arabia.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 27, lat. 251754 N, long. 504630 E. elevation 16 m (52 ft), completed
23.2.1952; between drilled depths 1615 and 1753 m (5298 and 5700 ft).
Thickness 138 m (453 ft).
Limestone, light grey to grey, fine grained varying from slightly porous at the top to
Lithology
dense at the bottom. The upper and middle parts are slightly dolomitic. In many
sections, but not in the reference section, a thin bed of pellety or oolitic limestone
occurs at the bottom.
None identified.
Fossils
Not definitely established in Qatar. Conventionally treated as earliest Cretaceous but,
Age
as in Saudi Arabia, its lowest part could be late Jurassic.
Underlying Hith Formation; contact conformable; placed at the top of limestone containing
anhydrite nodules, assigned to the Hith.
Overlying Yamama Formation; contact conformable, placed where porous, chalky, pellety
limestones of the basal Yamama overlie fine mudstones of the underlying Sulaiy.
Other localities
Recognised in all deep wells drilled in Qatar. To the south-east, in Abu Dhabi, a dense lime
mudstone sequence at the base of the Thamama can be compared with the Sulaiy Formation but an
exact distinction between Sulaiy and Yamama Formations cannot be made.
Remarks
The Sulaiy Formation is generally unfossiliferous in Qatar, but its consistent lithology permits
correlation over a wide area.
Recent revision of the upper limit of the Sulaiy Formation in the subsurface of Saudi Arabia (R.W.
Powers, 1966) possibly invalidates the current pick for the formations top in Qatar. The presentday boundary between predominantly dense lime mudstones, below, and porous detrital limestone,
above, still appears the most natural formation contact in Qatar.
The age of the Sulaiy in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia is deduced from long range correlation of the
top of the Hith Formation with the top of the Gotnia Formation of Iraq. The latter is overlain by
limestone containing Tithonian to Berriasian ammonites. This deduction assumes that the end of
anhydrite formations over a wide area is approximately synchronous.
In spite of the above, the base of the Sulaiy Formation is conventionally taken to mark the Jurassic
Cretaceous boundary in Qatar.
The name Wakrah Formation, assigned to this rock unit before the name Sulaiy was adopted, is now
obsolete.
994
Lower Triassic
Upper Permian
Author
W. Sugden, 1956 (unpublished report)
Synonymy
Approximate equivalent of the Sudair Shale, Steineke et al, 1958. Sudair Formation,
Dominguez, 1965.
Type locality
Originally named from a partial section in Q.P.C. Well Kharaib No. 1, the formation was later fully
penetrated in Well Dukhan No. 65. The section in the latter well is designated the type section.
Location
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 65; lat. 252738 N, long. 504712 E, elevation 42.6 m
(140 ft), completed 21.1.1960, between drilled depths 2695 and 2894 m (8842 and
9494 ft).
The formation takes its name from a locality to the north of Kharaib in central Qatar.
Thickness 199 m (652 ft)
Top. 1. Marl, khaki and brown, passing down into shale, grey-green with thin beds
Lithology
of dolomite, grey and compact. 4.2 m (14 ft). 2. Siltstones, red, green, purple and
brown, micaceous with interbedded thin quartz sandstones, grey, fine grained,
glauconitic, and shale, green and grey. Occasional thin beds of dolomite, grey to
brown, anhydritic, with occasional relict pellety structures. Minor anhydrite
intercalations. 58.5 m (192 ft). 3. Alternating marl, grey and dolomite, grey-brown,
dense. 12,8 m (42 ft). 4. Dolomite, grey to dark grey, fine grained, dense, anhydritic,
with streaks and nodules and some well-developed beds of anhydrite. Occasional
shales and marls, green to grey. 66.7 m (219 ft). 5. Shale, brown, grey, micaceous,
with occasional thin beds of dolomite, grey, dense or, sometimes, saccharoidal.
Dolomite becomes an important part of the sequence in the lowest 13m of this unit.
52.7 m (173 ft). Base.
In 1. Lingula tenuissima Alberti and Estheria minuta Goldfuss. In 2. L. tenuissima,
Fossils
E. minuta and cf. Crenilepis.
Lower Triassic to Upper Permian. The macrofauna recorded above is compatible
Age
with a Triassic age. A Lower Triassic to Upper Permian dating of the Sudair
Formation based on palynological study (Hemer, 1965) is now applied to the Suwei
of Qatar.
Underlying Khuff Formation; contact probably conformable, placed at the position where greygreen shales of the basal Suwei rest upon continuous dolomites of the uppermost
Khuff Formation.
Contact selected where
Overlying Gulailah Formation; contact believed conformable.
dolomites of the basal Gulailah Formation are underlain by brown marls and green
shales of the Suwei Formation. The latter pass down rapidly into red, green and
purple siltstones which typify the upper part of the Suwei Formation
Other localities
Q.P.C. Well Musaiymir No. 1, and deep wells in offshore Qatar (J.K. Dominguez, 1965). Deep test
wells in Bahrain. In many parts of Saudi Arabia both as outcrop and subsurface. Kuwait Oil
Companys Well Burgan 113 (R.M.S. Owen and S.N. Nasr, 1958).
Remarks
The Suwei Formation was originally defined when first encountered in Qatar in Well Kharaib No.
1. The absence of any age-diagnostic fauna from units beneath the upper Izhara Formation
obscured passage from Jurassic to Triassic rocks in a continuous carbonate sequence. The Guilailah
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
995
T
*TAYARAT FORMATION
Cretaceous
(Maestrichtian)
Author
R.M.S. Owen and S.M. Nasr, 1958.
Name of a shallow-shelf carbonate unit of Maestrichtian age whose type locality is in Iraq.
Approximately synonymous with the Simsima Formation of Qatar.
The name Tayarat was originally adopted in Qatar in 1940, being applied to the limestone unit
which, together with the Laffan Shale, makes up the Aruma Group. It was adopted because the
upper, fossiliferous part of this sequence (now the Simsima Formation) contains a similar
Maestrichtian microfauna to that found in the Tayarat Formation in Iraq.
In 1953 the Tayarat Formation of Qatar was subdivided into two formations. The name Tayarat
was retained for the higher one while the lower, undatable, apparently unfossiliferous unit was
named the Ruilat Formation.
Difficulty was experienced in establishing the exact correlation of the Tayarat of Qatar with the
Upper Cretaceous section in Iraq. In consequence, the name Tayarat was abandoned, in 1956, and
replaced by the local name Simsima Formation.
THAMAMA GROUP
Cretaceous
Berriasian (or
Tithonian) to Aptian
The name Thamama Group is applied in Qatar to a clearly defined sequence of rock units which
overlie the Hith Anhydrite Formation and underlie the terrigenous clastics of the Nahr Umr
Formation. This usage conforms to normal practise in much of Arabia, and is retained in spite of
recently published evidence which could invalidate the customary application of the name (R.W.
Powers et al., 1966). The name continues to be used for comparable subsurface sections in Saudi
Arabia (R.W. Powers, 1968).
The Thamama Group of Qatar contains lithologic units comparable to those described from the
subsurface of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Exact correlation being impossible on the basis
of available evidence, different formation names have been applied to parts of the succession. Even
where names from Saudi Arabia have been applied, it is possible that formation boundaries are
slightly different from those in the type area.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
996
A limestone member of the Ahmadi Formation in south Iraq. The name is occasionally used
informally, in Qatar, to describe a 12m thick limestone which occurs within the lower part of the
Ahmadi Formation
997
U
*UBELA SERIES
Cretaceous-Eocene
Obsolete name applied, from 1940, to the complete sedimentary sequence of Albian to Eocene age
encountered in Dukhan No.1 and subsequent wells. Included all post-Shuaiba formations.
Abandoned in early post-war years. The origin of this name is obscure.
*UMM BAB MEMBER
Upper Jurassic
Name proposed, in 1956, to more formally designate the Number 3 Limestone of the Qatar
Formation. Has not been adopted or used in any report or publication and is considered to be
redundant.
UMM ER RADHUMA FORMATION
Lower Eocene Paleocene
Author
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958
Synonymy
Radhuma Formation, Owen and Nasr, 1958. Umm er Radhuma Formation, van Bellen, 1959.
Formation de lUmm er Radhuma, Sander, 1962. Umm er Radhuma, Elder and Grieves, 1965.
Umm er Radhuma, Dominguez, 1965. Umm er Radhuma Formation, Hajash, 1967. Umm er
Radhuma Formation, Tschopp, 1967. Umm er Radhuma Formation, Fox and Brown, 1968.
Type locality
Near Umm Radmah wells (lat 2841 N, long. 4441 E) in Saudi Arabia.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 22, lat 252238 N, long. 504834 E, elevation 41 m (146 ft),
completed 12.6.1951, between drilled depths 61 and 389 m (201 and 1278 ft).
Thickness 328 m (1077 ft).
Top. 1. Limestone, light brown or light grey, mostly very dolomitic, very porous
Lithology
and with many small aggregates of quartz and chalcedony. 50 m (164 ft). 2.
Dolomite, brown, grey brown and dark grey, saccharoidal, very porous, partly
calcareous. 79 m (260 ft). 3. Limestone, light grey to grey-brown, variable
dolomitic, with streaks of bluish-grey argillaceous limestone towards the bottom. 131
m (430 ft). 4. Argillaceous limestone, bluish-grey, with beds of blue marl. 53 m
(175 ft). 5. Marl, blue-grey, mostly rather pyritic. 12 m (40 ft). Base
Fossils
In 1. Lockhartia tipperi (Davies), L. hunti Ovey, L. hunti var. pustulosa Smout,
Sakesaria cotteri Davies, Rotalia trochidiformis Lamarck, Nummulites globulus
Leymerie. In 3. R. trochidiformis, Miscellanea meandrina (Carter), Sakesaria
dukhani Smout, S. dukhani var. cordata Smout, Miscellanea miscella (dArchiac and
Haime), M. miscella var. dukhani Smout, Operculina sp., Daviesina langhami Smout,
D. khatiyahi Smout, Kathina major Smout, K. selveri Smout, K. delseota Smout,
Lockhartia diversa Smout, L. haimei (Davies), L. conditi (Nuttall), L. conica Smout,
L. altispira Smout, Dictyokathina simplex Smout, Dictyoconus indicus Davies,
Delheidia haydeni Douville. In 4. L. haimei, L. diversa, L. altispira, L. conditi, D.
khatiyahi, Asterigerina dukhani Smout, Rotalia hensoni Smout, R. dukhani Smout,
Lockhartia prehaimei Smout. In 5. L. prehaimei, L. conditi.
Paleocene to Lower Eocene. In the reference section the fauna of unit 1 is typically
Age
Lower Eocene while that of underlying units is Paleocene (Smout, 1954).
Both A.H. Smout, 1954 and N.J. Sander, 1952 are of the opinion that the whole of the
Paleocene is represented in the Umm er Radhuma. No evidence of Danian age has
yet been found in either the Simsima or Umm er Radhuma Formations.
998
Middle member (Unit 2) of the Araej Formation. Synonymous with the Lower Fadhili Reservoir
and Atash Member of the Dhruma Formation of Saudi Arabia (Powers et al., 1966).
A pure, carbonate, grainstone to packstone with interbedded lime mudstones, which typically yields
a foraminiferal assemblage including Pfenderina trochoidea Smout and Sugden. Can be traced
over a large part of eastern Arabia, where it forms an important oil reservoir. Is the lowest oilproducing reservoir in the Dukhan Field.
See Araej Formation.
W
WAJID SANDSTONE FORMATION
Palaeozoic
Devonian Early Permian
Author
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958
Synonymy
Bahrain Unit B, Milne, 1959. Pre-Khuff Clastic, Dominguez, 1965.
The type section
Is in Jabal al Wajid, south-west Saudi Arabia, where some 950m of sandstone are exposed beneath
the Khuff Formation
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 65, lat. 252738, long. 504763 E, elevation 42.6 m (140 ft),
completed 21.1.1960, between drilled depths 3393 and 4042 m (11132 and 13261 ft).
Thickness 649 m (2129 ft), bottom not penetrated.
Top. 1. Quartzose sandstone, compact, dark grey, composed of medium sized
Lithology
angular to sub angular quartz grains, with grey-brown, micaceous shale at top and
999
1000
Y
YAMAMA FORMATION
Cretaceous, Lower
(Valanginian)
Authors
M. Steineke, R.A. Bramkamp and N.J. Sander, 1958 amend. R.W. Powers et al., 1966
Synonymy
None
Type locality
A number of short exposures on the Al Qusaija upland of Saudi Arabia.
Reference section in Qatar
Q.P.C. Well Dukhan No. 26, lat. 252658 N, long. 504847 E, elevation 24.4 m (80 ft),
completed 14.1.1952, between drilled depths 1553 and 1674 m (5095 and 5490 ft).
Thickness 120 m (395 ft).
Top. 1. Limestone, light grey to buff, fine grained, porous to compact, pellety in
Lithology
lower part. 29 m (95 ft). 2. Limestone, grey, hard, fine grained, compact, pellety
with occasional oolitic horizons; often includes coarse to fine detrital carbonate
grains. 66 m (217 ft). 3. Limestone, light grey, chalky to very chalky in upper part,
containing variable proportions of pellet debris. 25 m (83 ft). Base.
In 1. Pseudocyclammina aff. lituus (Yokoyama), Nautiloculina oolithica Mohler,
Fossils
Trocholina sp., Spirocyclina sp., Stromatopora aff. costai Osimo, Polyphylloseris cf.
prae-turoniae (Zuffardi-Commerci). In 2. Pseudocyclammina sp., N. oolithica,
Trocholina sp. In 3. P. aff. lituus (this form is compared by Redmond with his P.
sulaiyana).
Probably Valanginian by comparison with the type Yamama Formation of Saudi
Age
Arabia.
Overlying Ratawi Formation; contact appears conformable in Qatar but regional evidence
suggests that a considerable sedimentary hiatus could exist at this level. Boundary
placed where clean, porous limestones of the Yamama are overlain by argillaceous
1001
Z
*ZEKRIT FORMATION
Jurassic (Upper)
The units now named the Hith, Qatar and Fahahil Formations were originally treated as one, the
Zekrit Formation. Name abandoned in 1950.
1002
1003
Middle Eocene
? Middle Lower Eocene
Lower Middle Eocene
Paleocene Middle Eocene
Lower Eocene - Paleocene
Lower Eocene - Paleocene
Lower Eocene - Paleocene
Paleocene
Maestrichtian (Campanian)
Cenomanian (Coniacian)
Cenomanian
Cenomanian
Cenomanian
Albian
Albian Coniacian
Albian Middle Eocene
Aptian
Valanginian Hauterivian
? Upper Jurassic L. cretaceous
? Hauterivian
Valanginian
Valanginian
Valanginian
? Berriasian Tithonian
Kimmeridgian Tithonian
Kimmeridgian - ? Tithonian
? Tithonian
Kimmeridgian - ? Tithonian
Kimmeridgian - ? Tithonian
Kimmeridgian
Kimmeridgian
1004
BIBLIOGRAPHY
American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature, 1961.
Code of Stratigraphic Nomenclature. Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Bull., vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 645-665
(amended 1970).
Arabian American oil Company staff, 1959.
Ghawar Oil Field, Saudi Arabia, Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Bull., vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 434-454, 8 figs
Arkell (W.J.), 1952
Jurassic Ammonites from Jebel Tuwaiq, Central Arabia, with stratigraphic Introduction, by R.A.
Bramkamp and M. Steineke. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London), ser. B, vol. 236, pp. 241-313.
Arkell (W.J.), 1956
Jurassic Geology of the World. Oxford Iniv. Press.
Baker (N.E.) & Henson (F.R.S.), 1952.
Geological Condition of Oil Occurrence in Middle East Fields. Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Bull., vol.
36, No. 10, pp. 1885-1901
Banner (F.E.) & Wood (G.), 1964
Lower Cretaceous Upper Jurassic stratigraphy of the Umm Shaif Field, Abu Dhabi Marine
Areas. Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Bull., vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 191-206
Barber (C.T.), 1948
Review of Middle East Oil. Petroleum Times, June 1948
Bellen (R.C. van), 1959
Iraq, Tertiary. Lexique Stratigraphique International, vol. III, Asie, fasc. 10a
Bramkamp (R.A.) & Ramirez (L.F.), 1961
Geological Map of the Central Persian Gulf Quadrangle, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. U.S. Geol.
Surv., Misc. Geol. Invest., Map 1-209A.
Bramkamp (R.A) & Powers (R.W.), 1958
Classification of Arabian Carbonate Rocks. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., vol. 69, pp. 1305-1318.
Busk (H.G.) & Mayo (H.T.), 1918
Some Notes on the Geology of the Persian Oilfields. J. Inst. Pet. Techn., vol. V, No. 17, pp. 3-36
Chatton (Max), 1962
News report: Middle East, Micropaleontology, vol. 8, No. 4, Oct. 1962, p. 534.
Cox (L.R.), 1936
Fossil Molluscs from Southern Persia and Bahrain Island. Paleont. Indica. N.S., vol. XXII, No. 2,
pp, 1-69, pl. I-VIII
Cuvillier (J.) & Sacal (V.), 1951.
Correlation stratigraphique par Microfacies en Aquitaine Occidentale. E.J. Brill, Leiden, pp. 1-23,
pl. I-XC
Daniel (E.J.), 1954
Fractured Reservoirs of Middle East. Amer. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Bull., vol. 38, No. 5, pp. 774-815.
Dominguez (J.K.), 1965
Offshore Fields of Qatar, 5th Arab Petr. Congr., 57 (B-1).
Dubertret (L.), 1959
Carte Gologique Internationale de lAfrique au 1/5,000,000, feuille 3. A.S.G.A., Paris.
Dunnington (H.V.), Wetzel (R.) & Morton (D.M.), 1959.
Iraq, Mesozoic and Palaeozoic. Lexique Stratigraphique International, vol. III, fasc. 10a
Dunnington (H.V.), 1967
Stratigraphic Distribution of Oil-fields in the Iraq-Iran-Arabian Basin. Journ. Inst. Petr., vol. 53,
No. 520, pp. 129-161
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
LE TERTIAIRE DU QATAR
EN AFFLEUREMENT
PAR
C. CAVELIER 1
1974
1
Ingnieur gologue au Bureau de Recherches Gologiques et Minires (B.R.G.M.), B.P. 6009 45018 Orleans-Cedex,
France.
1010
Introduction
Lexique
Index chronologique des termes stratigraphiques dun usage
courant
Index chronologique de termes stratigraphiques prims
Rfrences des ouvrages publis cits dans le texte
91
95
117
118
119
Remarque : La pagination ci-dessus est celle du document original et non celle de la prsente transcription
TABLEAUX
98
101
Remarque : La pagination ci-dessus est celle du document original et non celle de la prsente transcription
1011
INTRODUCTION
En 1969, le Gouvernement du Qatar a dcid de doter le territoire relevant de sa souverainet dune
carte gologique rgulire. Le lever et limpression des cartes ont t confis au Bureau de
Recherches Gologiques et Minires. Le travail de terrain, excut davril 1969 avril 1970, a
abouti ldition de 3 coupures 1/100,000, compltes par une carte de synthse 1/200,000
(Cavelier C., Salatt A., Heuze Y., 1970). Chaque carte a fait lobjet dun tirage 1,000
exemplaires, dont le Gouvernement du Qatar (Department of Petroleum Affairs) assure la diffusion.
Paralllement a t assure la publication, 2,000 exemplaires, dune courte monographie
consacre la description gologique du Qatar, mais limite aux formations affleurant (Cavelier C.,
1970). Les subdivisions, essentiellement lithostratigraphiques, retenues sur les cartes et dfinies de
manire dtaille dans la monographie, lont t en tenant compte non seulement des travaux
publis avant 1970, pour la quasi-totalit consacrs des territoires voisins du Qatar ; Arabie
Saoudite (Powers R.W., 1968) ; Bahrain (Willis R.P., 1967) ; domaine offshore dAbu Dhabi (Elder
Y. and Grieves K.F.L., 1965), mais aussi des documents indits consacrs la gologie du Qatar,
dont nous avions pu avoir connaissance sur place, parfois trs tardivement. Ces documents
consistent essentiellement en rapports et cartes vocation ptrolire (QPC, Shell, Conoco) ou
hydrogologique (Legrand-Adsco, Parsons Engineering).
Nos travaux de terrain ayant dbut la frontire du Qatar et de lArabie Saoudite, il nous a t ais
de retrouver les divisions lithostratigraphiques dfinies dans ce pays, den apprcier le bien-fond et
dadopter la terminologie formationnelle propose (Powers R.W., 1968).
Seuls les dpts tertiaires et quaternaires affleurent dans la presqule du Qatar2 ; les plus anciens
appartiennent la moiti suprieure de la Formation de Rus, dge cuisien trs probable. Ils sont
surmonts des dpts de la Formation de Dammam dge luttien, qui occupent environ 80 pour
cent du territoire du Qatar. Cette formation a t subdivise en 2 sous-formations et en 5 membres ;
la terminologie retenue la t en tenant compte de rapports indits antrieurs, vocation ptrolire
ou hydrogologique. Les dfinitions ont parfois du tre prcises ; un seul membre nouveau a t
introduit : le Calcaire Velates de Rujm Ad, lextrme base de la Formation de Dammam.
Aucun dpt dge ocne suprieur et oligocne na t rencontr, la presqule du Qatar ayant
merg vraisemblablement la fin de lEocne moyen. La transgression miocne est tardive au
Qatar, ou les dpts de la Formation dHadrukh, dfinie en Arabie Saoudite, sont inconnus. Les
premiers dpts nognes au Qatar relvent de la Formation de Dam, divise en deux sousformations. La srie Tertiaire sachve avec les dpts essentiellement conglomratiques
dobdience continentales de la Formation dHofuf, attribus au Miocne suprieur (ou MioPliocne).
Peu de dterminations palontologiques avaient pu tre mises en uvre prcdemment pour
dterminer lge relatif des dpts tertiaires du Qatar (Cox L.R. in Lamare, 1936, p. 37 ; Henson
F.R.S., 1948 ; Smout A.H., 1954 ; Cavelier C., 1970) ; les tudes concernant nos rcoltent
palontologiques ne sont pas encore termines ; elles ont t confies differents spcialistes
auxquels sont dues les dterminations mentionnes.
2
Les les dHalul et de Shra Auh montrent au contraire des dpts beaucoup plus anciens, appartenant la Formation
dHormuz (cambrien infrieur), remonts par diapyrisme.
1012
Dores et dj la mise en uvre du matriel palontologique rcolt dans lEocne aboutit rectifier
lge ocne infrieur sommital admis antrieurement (Powers R.W., 1968 ; Cavelier C., 1970)
pour la Dammam infrieure : Grands Foraminifres, Poissons et Mollusques concordent en effet
pour situer les dpts de cette sous-formation la base de lEocne moyen.
Au contraire des rsultats acquis dans lEocne, ceux obtenus dans le Miocne restent encore
insuffisants pour prciser les correlations avec les tages dfinis en Europe.
1013
Quaternaire
Pliocne
Suprieur
Membres
Marin,
peu
profond
Marin,
littoral
Lagunaire et
Continental
vaporitique
Moyen
(Helvtien)
(Burdigalien)
Infrieur
Dam
Miocne
(Pontien)
(Tortonien)
Formations
Hofuf
Ages
Suprieure
Infrieure
(Aquitanien)
(Luttien)
(Cuisien)
(Thantien)
Moyen
(Montien)
Infrieur
(Damien)
Umm er Radhuma
Palocne
Suprieur
Abarug
Umm Bab
Dukhan
Infrieure
Suprieure
Infrieur
(Ilerdien)
Suprieure
Rus
Eocne
Moyen
Dammam
Oligocne
Suprieur
(inclues zones
5 et 6 de
Smout)
Infrieure
(zones 1 a 4
de Smout)
1014
LEXIQUE
Les termes stratigraphiques sont cits sous leur forme anglaise courante. Ceux dont lusage est
abandonn sont prcds dun astrisque. Remarque : La pagination contenue dans tout le texte cidessous est celle du document original et non celle de la prsente transcription.
A
ABARUG Dolomitic Limestone
Eocne moyen
ABARUG Dolomitic Limestone and Marl Member
ABARUG Dolomite Marl
Voir : Dammam Formation, Upper Dammam Sub-formation, p. 106
*ABARUK Bed
*ABARUK Beds
Eocne moyen
*ABARUK Chalk
Voir: Dammam Formation, Abarug dolomitic Limestone and Marl Member, p. 106
*Alveolina Beds
Eocne moyen
Voir: Dammam Formation, Dukhan Alveolina Limestone and Marl Member, p. 103
B
*BAHREIN [Bahrain] Formation
*BAHREIN [Bahrain] Group
Voir: Hasa Series, p. 109
*BUSAIYIR Formation
Voir: Hasa Series, P. 109
Palogne
Palogne
C
Eocne infrieur
*Chalk(y) Zone
Voir: Rus Formation, p. 111
D
Dam Formation, Lower, Upper (Formation de Dam)
Miocne infrieur
- Lower DAM Subformation
moyen ( ?)
- Upper DAM Subformation
Auteurs
Steineke M. et Kock T.W., 1935, rapport indit, Arabie Saoudite
Synonymie
Voir Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Strat. Intern., Arabie Saoudite; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr. Qatar
Dfinition
Voir Powers R.W., 1968, Arabie Saoudite ; Cavelier C., 1970, Qatar
Description
Au Qatar, ou la transgression nogne est tardive (absence de la Formation dHadrukh dfinie en
Arabie Saoudite), les premiers dpts marins miocnes reposent en lgre discordance sur lEocne
moyen (Membre dAbarug et surtout de Umm Bab). Ils sont conservs essentiellement en position
synclinale ou la faveur de collapse structures , dans le quart SW de la pninsule.
1015
1016
1017
1018
Le terme Lower Fars, cr en Iran et tendu lIraq pour dsigner essentiellement les vaporites de la base du Miocne, a t
abandonn, vu limprcision de sa dfinition.
Le Fars Group nouvellement cr (Lexique stratigraphique international, fasc. Iran, 1972, p. 319) comprend, de bas en haut :
Gachsaran Formation, anciennement Lower Fars
Mishan Formation, anciennement Middle Fars
Agha Jari Formation, anciennement Upper Fars
Le Miocne du domaine offshore du Qatar se rapproche donc de la Gachsaran Formation.
1019
Sommet
(Alat Limestone)
Alat Member
(Alat Marl)
Khobar Member
Alveolina Limestone
Member
Saila Shale Member
Midra Shale
Member
White Limestone
Orange Marl
Brown crystalline
Limestone
(Alveolina zone)
Shark Tooths
[teeth] Shale
(Abarug dolomitic
Limestone)
Abarug Member
(Abarug dolomitic Marl)
Umm Bab Member
Dukhan Member
Midra (and Saila)
Member
Rujm Ad Member
Base
Une coupe de rfrence a t leve au Qatar dans le Djebel Dukhan, 1km lE des installations de
la Q.P.C, Fhaihil (Cavelier C., 1970) :
Rujm Ad Velates limestone Member.
Ce membre a t dfini par Cavelier C. (1970) sous le nom de Fhaihil Velates limestone
Member . Mais ce terme, homonyme avec une formation jurassique suprieure des gologues
ptroliers, a du tre abandonn et celui Rujm Ad Velates limestone Member lui est substitu ici
pour la premire fois.
Ce membre est constitu, dans la coupe de rfrence, dun calcaire blanchtre, cristallin, compact et
dur, fossilifre, pais de 1.20m. Il repose sur le Khor Limestone Bed du sommet de la Formation de
Rus (voir p. 111) et est surmont des Shales de Midra (et Saila).
Par sa faune marine et son type lithologique, le Calcaire Velates de Rujm Ad tranche
parfaitement sur le Calcaire de Khor sous-jacent ; il est au contraire trs comparable au Calcaire
dUmm Bab de la Sous-formation de Dammam suprieure. Il a t reconnu dans tout le Qatar,
excepte au NE. En Arabie Saoudite, ou il na pas t distingu formellement, Sander N.J. (1962) et
Powers R.W. (1968), lont signal la base du Midra Shale Member.
La faune est caractrise par labondance plus ou moins grande des Mollusques et en particulier de
Velates schmiedeli (Chemnitz) de petite taille. On y rencontre galement des moules internes de
Gisortia gigantea (Munster), Terebellum, Pleurotomaria et des empreintes de Pelecypodes, dont
Glycimeris cf. jacquoti (Tournouer) var. nobilis Gumbel in Dreger, Cardium et des fragments de
Pectinidae et dOstreidae.
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
F
Fhaihil Velates Limestone Member
Voir : Rujm Ad Velates, Limestone Member, p. 101
Eocne moyen
Ce terme, cr par Cavelier C. (1970), pour dsigner un banc de la base de la Dammam Formation,
ocne moyenne, tombe en homonymie avec celui formellement dfini par Sugden W., en 1959,
pour une formation du Jurassique suprieur. Aussi est-il remplac, dans ce Lexique, par Rujm Ad
Velates Limestone Member, du nom dune localit voisine de Fhaihil, situe entre Dukhan et Umm
Bab.
H
HASA SERIES (Hasa Group, Srie de Hasa)
Palocne-Eocne
Auteur
Sander N.J. (1951 ; rapport indit Arabie Saoudite)
Synonymies
voir Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Stratigr. Intern., Arabie Saoudite ; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr.
Qatar.
Les termes Bahrain Group ou Bahrain Formation (Henson, 1940), anciennement utiliss au Qatar,
mais rests indits, sont actuellement abandonns.
Dfinition
(Sander N.J., 1962) : Les couches dge ocne (Palocne inclus) dans la rgion occidentale du
Golfe Persique, sont dsigns sous le terme de Srie de Hasa, du nom de la province dEl Hasa, ou
elles affleurent .
Subdivisions
En Arabie Saoudite orientale, au Qatar, Bahrain et Abu Dhabi, la srie de Hasa est divise en
trois formations, de la plus ancienne la plus rcente : la Formation dUmm er Radhuma, la
Formation de Rus, la Formation de Dammam
Miocne
HOFUF FORMATION (Formation dHofuf)
suprieur ?
Pliocne ?
Auteurs
Steinecke M. et Koch T.W. (1935, rapport indit, Arabie Saoudite)
Synonymie
Voir Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Strati. Intern., Arabie Saoudite; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr.
Qatar.
Dfinition
voir Powers R.W., 1968 ; Cavelier C., 1970.
Description
Dfinie en Arabie Saoudite, la Formation dHofuf est reprsente dans le SW du Qatar, ou elle
couronne certaines buttes-tmoins constitues par les dpts de la Dam.
Ce terme a t introduit dans la littrature gologique consacre au Qatar par des hydrogologues,
dont les rapports sont rests indits, et a t repris par C. Cavelier (1970). Aucune coupe complte
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
1026
K
Eocne Infrieur
L
*Lower Fars Formation (offshore Qatar)
Voir: Dam Formation, p. 96 et 99.
*Lower Limestone Group
Voir : Rus Formation, p. 111
M
*Middle Eocene Alveolina Limestone
Voir : Dammam Formation, Dukhan Alveolina Limestone Member, p. 103.
MIDRA Shales Member (s.s.), Arabie Saoudite
Voir: Dammam Formation, Midra (and Saila) Shales Member, p. 102.
MIDRA (and Saila) Shales Member
Voir: Dammam Formation, Lower Dammam Subformation, p. 102.
Eocne moyen
1027
Eocne moyen
Eocne moyen
R
*Red Bed
Eocne moyen
Voir: Dammam Formation, Umm Bab Dolomite and Limestone Member, p. 104.
Eocne infrieur
RUS FORMATION (Formation de Rus)
(Cuisien)
Auteur
Bramkamp R.A. (1946, rapport indit, Arabie Saoudite)
Synonymie
Voir Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Strati. Intern., Arabie Saoudite; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr.
Qatar.
Le terme Chalk Zone (ou Chalky Zone) utilis anciennement en Arabie Saoudite et celui de Lower
Limestone Group, qui incluait au sommet les Midra Shales (s.l.), utilis au Qatar (Williamson J.F.
et Pomeyrol R., 1938 ; Brown R.V., 1949), sont rests indits ; le second est abandonn depuis
1956 (Sugden W.)
Dfinition
Voir Powers R.W., 1968 (Arabie Saoudite) ; Willis R.P., 1967 (Bahrain) ; Cavelier C., 1970
(Qatar).
Description
Au Qatar, seule la partie suprieure des dpts de la Formation de Rus affleure, dans le Djebel
Dukhan (cte ouest), prs de Sauda Nathil (extrme sud) et dans le nord-est de la pninsula (Khor,
Simsima, NW de Doha).
La partie sommitale est constitue dun banc de calcaire gristre, granuleux, de duret moyenne,
parfois dolomitis secondairement, souvent fossilifre (empreintes et moules de Corbula et
Cerithidae), reprsent irrgulirement dans toutes les zones du Qatar ou la Rus affleure ; son
paisseur semble assez uniforme (0.80 1 m). Ce niveau repre a t dsign comme Khor
Limestone Bed (Cavelier C., 1970).
Une coupe de rfrence des dpts visibles de la Rus (30 m environ) a t tudie en dtail et
mesure dans le Djebel Dukhan, 1 km lE des installations de la Q.P.C., Fhaihil (Cavelier C.,
1970). Les dpts de la Rus, Fhaihil, sont essentiellement constitus de calcaires plus ou moins
dolomitiss, tendres, gnralement blanchtres, avec fines intercalations dargile et marne
dolomitique verte brune. Quelques bancs plus durs de calcaire gristre, gnralement
dolomitique, sintercalent et constituent les seuls niveaux fossilifres. Vers la base de la coupe, on
observe des accidents siliceux du type sucre candi et des miches qui voquent lexistence
danciens niveaux ou lentilles de gypse. A lW de Dukhan, vers la base visible de la Rus, se situe
un niveau de calcaire tendre, blanchtre, nombreuses godes de quartz. Des nodules de clestite
on t rencontrs dans la region de Khor, ainsi que de lasphalte prs de Simsima, vers le sommet
de la formation.
Ltude de quelques argiles ou marnes de la Rus, Fhaihil, a montr labondance irrgulire de la
dolomite, associe du quartz et de lhalite ; la fraction argileuse est domine par les minraux
micacs (illite) et contient accessoirement des smectites. Un chantillon a montr la prsence
dattapulgite. La kaolinite na pas t dcele.
Dans certains sondages situs en retombe synclinale, la Rus prsente dimportantes intercalations
de gypse ou danhydrite dans sa partie mdiane, analogues celles connues en Arabie Saoudite
1028
S
SAILA Shale Member, Arabie Saoudite
Eocne moyen
Voir : Dammam Formation, Midra (and Saila) Shale Member, p. 102
*SIMSIMA Chalk Member
Eocne moyen
Voir: Dammam Formation, Umm Bab dolomite and Limestone Member, p. 104
*SIMSIMA Dolomite and Limestone Member
Eocne moyen
Voir: Dammam Formation, Upper Dammam Subformation
Ce terme, adopt par Cavelier C., 1970, selon Stevenson, 1959, pour dsigner la partie infrieure de
la Sous-Formation de Dammam suprieure, ocne moyenne, tombe en homonymie avec un nom
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
1029
U
Palocne
Eocne
infrieur
Auteurs
Henry S.B. et Brown A.B., 1935 (rapport indit, Arabie Saoudite)
Synonymie
Voir R.W. Powers, 1968, Lex. Strati. Intern., Arabie Saoudite; C. Cavelier, 1970, Geol. Descr.
Qatar.
Les termes Lower part of the Bahrain Formation (Henson, 1940) et Busaiyir Formation
(Sugden W., 1953), anciennement utiliss au Qatar, sont rests indits et abandonns depuis 1956
(Sugden W.)
Dfinition
Voir Powers R.W., 1968 (Arabie Saoudite)
Description
Au Qatar, les dpts de la Formation de lUmm er Radhuma naffleurent pas, mais ils ont t
traverss par de nombreux forages aussi bien dans le Djebel Dukhan que dans le centre et le nord du
Qatar.
Ils sont galement connus dans le domaine offshore. Leur puissance dpasse gnralement 300
mtres. Ils sont essentiellement constitus de dolomies et calcaires de duret varie, souvent
fracturs, avec lits de silex, et intercalations de marnes et argiles.
Faune et ge
Au Qatar, seule la microfaune de lUmm er Radhuma Formation a t dcrite systmatiquement,
par A.H. Smout (1954), qui distingue deux ensembles, lun, suprieur, attribu lEocne infrieur,
le second infrieur, divis en 6 zones de valeur rgionale , qui correspond au Palocne.
Daprs R.W. Powers (1968), seules 3 grandes subdivisions peuvent tre reconnues dans lUmm er
Radhuma dArabie Saoudite et du Qatar, dont les 2 infrieures correspondent au Palocne, la
suprieure tant dge Eocne infrieur.
La subdivision infrieure du Palocne ( = zones 1 4 de Smout) contient au Qatar : Kathina
delseota Smout, Daviesina Khativahi Smout, Lockhartia altispira Smout, L. conica Smout, L.
prehaimei Smout, Asterigerina dukhani Smout, Rotalia hensoni Smout, R. dukhani Smout.
La subdivision suprieure du Palocne ( = zones 5 et 6 de Smout) contient : Miscellanea miscella
(dArchiac et Haime) var. dukhani Smout, M. meandrina (Carter) et Operculina sp. Le genre
Miscellanea est considr par Powers comme limit cette subdivision.
1030
1031
1032
Hasa Group
Eocne infrieur
Rus Formation
Khor Limestone Bed
Eocne moyen
Dammam Formation
Lower Dammam Subformation
Rujm Ad Velates Limestone Member
Midra (and Saila) Shale Member
Dukhan Alveolina Limestone Member
Upper Dammam Subformation
Umm Bab Dolomite and limestone Member
Abarug Dolomitic Limestone and Marl Member
Midra shales Member, Saudi Arabia
Saila Shales Member, Saudi Arabia
Abarug Dolomitic Marl and Limestone Member
Miocne
? Miocne infrieur
? Miocne moyen
Dam Formation
Lower Dam Subformation
Upper Dam Subformation
Miocne suprieur
Hofuf Formation
1033
Eocne infrieur
(Rus Formation)
Eocne moyen
(Dammam Formation)
(Rujm Ad Member)
(Dukhan Member)
(Midra Shale Member)
(Umm Bab Member)
(Abarug Member)
Miocne
(Gachsaran, Iran)
1034
1974
5
Geological engineer of Bureau de Recherches Gologiques et Minires (B.R.G.M.) , B.P. 6009 45018 OrleansCedex, France.
1035
CONTENT
Introduction
Lexicon
Chronological index of commonly used stratigraphic terms
Chronological index of obsolete stratigraphic terms
Reference of published works cited in the text
91
95
117
118
119
Remark : The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
TABLES
98
101
Remark : The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
1036
INTRODUCTION
In 1969 the Government of Qatar decided to endow its territory of a standard geological map. The
survey and the printing of the maps were assigned to Bureau de Recherches Gologiques et
Minires. The field work, performed from April 1969 to April 1970, culminated in the publication
of 3 maps at scale 1/100000, completed by a detailed map at scale 1/200000 (Cavelier C., Salatt A.,
Heuze Y., 1970). One thousand copies of each map were made and the Government of Qatar
(Department of Petroleum Affairs) is in charge of the distribution.
At the same time, a short monograph dedicated to the geological description of Qatar, but limited to
the outcropping formations (Cavelier C., 1970) was published at 2,000 copies. The sub-divisions,
essentially lithostratigraphic, written on the maps and defined in great details in the monograph,
were so defined by taking into account not only the published works before 1970 for almost the
entire works dedicated to the territories neighbouring Qatar; Saudi Arabia (Powers R.W., 1968) ;
Bahrain (Willis R.P., 1967) ; offshore of Abu Dhabi (Elder Y. and Grieves K.F.L., 1965), but also
the unpublished material devoted to the geology of Qatar that we were able to view while in the
country, even though very late. These documents consist essentially in petroleum (QPC, Shell,
Conoco) or hydrogeological (Legrand-Adsco, Parsons Engineering) reports and maps.
Our field work having started at the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, it was easy to find the
lithostratigraphic divisions defined in this country, to evaluate its merits and to adopt the proposed
formational terminology (Powers R.W., 1968).
Only the Tertiary and Quaternary deposits outcrop on the Qatar6 Peninsula; the oldest belongs to the
upper half of the Rus Formation, probably of cuisien age (the upper half of the ypresian). They
are overlain by the deposits of the Dammam Formation of Lutetian age, which occupy about 80%
of the Qatar territory. This formation has been subdivided in 2 sub-formations and in 5 members;
the terminology was preserved from the earlier unpublished petroleum and hydrogeological reports.
At times, the definitions had to be detailed; only one new member was introduced: the Velates
Limestone of Rujm Ad, at the extreme base of the Dammam Formation. No Late Eocene or
Oligocene deposits were encountered. The Miocene transgression is late in Qatar, where the
deposits of the Hadrukh Formation, defined in Saudi Arabia, are unknown. The first Neogene
deposits in Qatar are from the Dam Formation, divided in two sub-formations. The Tertiary serie
ends with the essentially conglomeratic deposits of continental origins of the Hofuf formation,
attributed to the Upper Miocene (or Mio-Pliocene)
Few paleontological determinations had been carried out previously to determine the relative age of
the Tertiary deposits of Qatar (Cox L.R. in Lamare, 1936, p. 37 ; Henson F.R.S., 1948 ; Smout
A.H., 1954 ; Cavelier C., 1970) ; the studies involving our paleontological collection are not yet
complete; they were assigned to different specialists who must now give the results of their
research.
-
6
The islands of Halul and Shra Auh show instead some much older deposits belonging to the Hormuz Formation
(Lower Cambrian) which surfaced due to diapirism.
1037
Buge E. (Museum, Paris) : Bryozoaires . The first investigation is complete; the few
species collected are mostly new and their description will be eventually published.
Casier E. (Bruxelles) : Ichthyofaune des Midra Shales , in Casier E., 1971 (see
reference).
Cavelier C. (services gologiques national, B.R.G.M., Orleans) : Mollusques . The
descriptions, showing little progress, will be part of a monograph.
Lorenz C. (CNRS, Paris) : Grand Foraminifre miocne . Only one species for which the
study is proceeding well.
Poignant A. (Facult des Sciences, Paris) : Algues . The completed study resulted in the
identification of only one species.
Roman Y. (Museum, Paris) : Echinodermes . Most of the species have already been
determined. After completion the whole study will be published.
Already the implementation of the paleontological material collected from the Eocene resulted in
the correction of the Lower Eocene age maximale previously admitted (Powers R.W., 1968 ;
Cavelier C., 1970) for the lower Dammam: Indeed, the Large Foraminifera, fishes and Molluscs
agree to place the deposits of this sub-formation at the base of the Middle Eocene.
Unlike the results obtained for the Eocene, those obtained for the Miocene remain still insufficient
to clarify the correlations with the stages defined in Europe.
1038
Quaternary
Pliocene
Upper
Members
Environments of sedimentation
Marine, Marine Lagoonal and
Continental
evaporitic
shallow littoral
Middle
(Helvetian)
(Burdigalian)
Lower
Dam
Miocene
(Pontian)
(Tortonian)
Formations
Hofuf
Age
Upper
Lower
(Aquitanian)
(Lutetian)
(Cuisian)
(Thanetian)
Middle
(Montian)
Lower
(Damian)
Umm er Radhuma
Paleocene
Upper
Abarug
Umm Bab
Dukhan
Lower
Upper
Lower
(Ilerdian)
Upper
Rus
Eocene
Middle
Dammam
Oligocene
Upper
(includes zones
5 and 6 of
Smout)
Lower
(zones 1 to 4 of
Smout)
1039
LEXICON
The stratigraphic terms are listed according to their common English form. Those for which the use
is obsolete are preceded by an asterisk. Remark : The pagination in the text below is from the original
document and not from this transcript.
A
ABARUG Dolomitic Limestone
Middle Eocene
ABARUG Dolomitic Limestone and Marl Member
ABARUG Dolomite Marl
See : Dammam Formation, Upper Dammam Sub-formation, p. 106
*ABARUK Bed
*ABARUK Beds
Middle Eocene
*ABARUK Chalk
See: Dammam Formation, Abarug dolomitic Limestone and Marl Member, p. 106
*Alveolina Beds
Middle Eocene
See: Dammam Formation, Dukhan Alveolina Limestone and Marl Member, p. 103
B
*BAHREIN [Bahrain] Formation
*BAHREIN [Bahrain] Group
See: Hasa Series, p. 109
*BUSAIYIR Formation
See: Hasa Series, P. 109
Paleogene
Paleogene
C
Lower Eocene
*Chalk(y) Zone
See: Rus Formation, p. 111
D
Dam Formation, Lower, Upper
Lower to Middle
- Lower DAM Subformation
Miocene ( ?)
- Upper DAM Subformation
Authors
Steineke M. and Kock T.W., 1935, unpublished report, Saudi Arabia
Synonymy
See Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Strat. Intern., Saudi Arabia; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr. Qatar
Definition
See Powers R.W., 1968, Saudi Arabia; Cavelier C., 1970, Qatar
Description
In Qatar, where the neogene transgression is late (absence of the Hadrukh Formation defined in
Saudi Arabia), the first marine Miocene deposits lie unconformably on the Middle Eocene (Abarug
Member but most of all Umm Bab). They are essentially preserved in either synclinal position or in
collapse structures in the SW of the peninsula.
1040
1041
1042
The term Lower Fars, created in Iran and used in Iraq to designate essentially the evaporites at the base of the Miocene, has been
abandoned, due to the vagueness of its definition.
The Fars Group newly created (Lexique stratigraphique international, fasc. Iran, 1972, p. 319) includes, from bottom to top :
Gachsaran Formation, previously Lower Fars
Mishan Formation, previously Middle Fars
Agha Jari Formation, previously Upper Fars
The Miocene of offshore Qatar is therefore similar to the Gachsaran Formation.
1043
1044
Table 2
The Dammam Formation
subdivisions in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Qatar
(Powers, R.W. 1968)
Top
(Alat Limestone)
Alat Member
(Alat Marl)
Khobar Member
Alveolina Limestone
Member
Saila Shale Member
Midra Shale
Member
White Limestone
Orange Marl
Brown crystalline
Limestone
(Alveolina zone)
Shark Tooths
[teeth] Shale
(Abarug dolomitic
Limestone)
Abarug Member
(Abarug dolomitic Marl)
Umm Bab Member
Dukhan Member
Midra (and Saila)
Member
Rujm Ad Member
Base
A reference section has been measured in Qatar in Jebel Dukhan, 1km east of the installations of
Q.P.C., in Fhaihil (Cavelier C., 1970) :
Rujm Ad Velates limestone Member.
This member was defined by Cavelier C. (1970) under the name of Fhaihil Velates limestone
Member . But this term, homonymous with an Upper Jurassic Formation of the petroleum
geologists, was abandoned and replaced here for the first time with Rujm Ad Velates limestone
Member .
In the reference section this member is made of a crystallines, compact, hard fossiliferous whitish
limestone of 1.2m thick. It lies on the Khor Limestone Bed of the top of the Rus Formation (see p.
111) and is overlain by the Midra (et Saila) Shales
With its marine fauna and its lithological type, the Rujm Ad Velates limestone cut perfectly on the
Khor Limestone underneath; it is however very comparable to the Umm Bab Limestone of the
Upper Dammam SubFormation. It has been recognized all over Qatar, with the exception of the
Northeast. In Saudi Arabia, where it has not been formally recognized, Sander N.J. (1962) and
Powers R.W. (1968), have pointed it at the base of the Midra Shale Member
The fauna is characterised by the more or less great abundance of Molluscs and in particular by the
small size Velates schmiedeli (Chemnitz). We found as well internal casts of Gisortia gigantea
(Munster), Terebellum, Pleurotomaria and impressions of Pelecypods, including Glycimeris cf.
jacquoti (Tournouer) var. nobilis Gumbel in Dreger, Cardium and fragments of Pectinidae and
Ostreidae.
The Foraminifera discovered include Dictyoconoides cf. koaticus (Davies), Lockhartia conditi
(Davies), Rotalia cf. trochidiformis (Lmk) and an old form of Nummulites discorbinus
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
F
Fhaihil Velates Limestone Member
See : Rujm Ad Velates, Limestone Member, p. 101
Middle Eocene
This term, created by Cavelier C. (1970), to designate a bed at the base of the Dammam Formation,
Middle Eocene, is homonymous with the one formally defined by Sugden W., in 1959, for an
Upper Jurassic formation. So it is replaced, in this Lexicon, by Rujm Ad Velates Limestone
Member, from the name of a locality near Fhaihil, located between Dukhan and Umm Bab.
H
HASA SERIES (Hasa Group)
Paleocene-Eocene
Author
Sander N.J. (1951 ; unpublished report, Saudi Arabia)
Synonymy
See Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Stratigr. Intern., Saudi Arabia; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr. Qatar.
The terms Bahrain Group or Bahrain Formation (Henson, 1940), previously used in Qatar, but
which remained unpublished, are currently abandoned.
Definition
(Sander N.J., 1962) : The units of Eocene age (Paleocene included) in the western areas of the
Persian Gulf, are designated under the term Hasa Series, from the name of the Hasa Province,
where they outcrop .
Subdivisions
In eastern Saudi Arabia, in Qatar, in Bahrain and in Abu Dhabi, the Hasa Series is divided in three
formations, from the oldest to the youngest: Umm er Radhuma Formation, Rus Formation,
Dammam Formation
Upper Miocene ?
HOFUF FORMATION
to Pliocene ?
Authors
Steinecke M. and Koch T.W. (1935, unpublished report, Saudi Arabia)
Synonymy
see Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Strati. Intern., Saudi Arabia; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr. Qatar.
Definition
see Powers R.W., 1968 ; Cavelier C., 1970.
Description
Defined in Saudi Arabia, the Hofuf Formation is represented in the SW of Qatar, where it caps
some outliers made up of deposits from the Dam.
This term has been introduced in the geological literature dedicated to Qatar by the hydrogeologists,
from whom the reports remain unpublished, and has been used again by C. Cavelier (1970). No
complete section has been surveyed in the deposits of the Hofuf Formation in Qatar. From partial
sections, the base appears often made of red and green clay, more or less sandy, or of bulky sands
and sandstones.
The main body is composed of sand, gravels and pebbles (quartz, jasper, crystalline rocks,
limestones,,,), from a probable Saudi Arabian origin. The thickness of the deposits, generally nonfossiliferous, does not seem to exceed 10 metres in Qatar.
In the NE of Khararah, the Gurain Al Balbul is capped by conglomerates with locally, at the base, a
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
1051
K
Lower Eocene
L
*Lower Fars Formation (offshore Qatar)
Middle (?)
Miocene
Lower Eocene
Paleocene Lower
Eocene
M
*Middle Eocene Alveolina Limestone
See : Dammam Formation, Dukhan Alveolina Limestone Member, p. 103.
MIDRA Shales Member (s.s.), Saudi Arabia
See: Dammam Formation, Midra (and Saila) Shales Member, p. 102.
MIDRA (and Saila) Shales Member
See: Dammam Formation, Lower Dammam Subformation, p. 102.
Middle Eocene
1052
Middle Eocene
Middle Eocene
R
*Red Bed
Middle Eocene
See: Dammam Formation, Umm Bab Dolomite and Limestone Member, p. 104.
Lower Eocene
RUS FORMATION
(Cuisian)
Author
Bramkamp R.A. (1946, unpublished report, Saudi Arabia)
Synonymy
See Powers R.W., 1968, Lex. Strati. Intern., Saudi Arabia; Cavelier C., 1970, Geol. Descr. Qatar.
The Chalk Zone (or Chalky Zone) term used previously in Saudi Arabia and the one of Lower
Limestone Group, which included at the top the Midra Shales (s.l.), used in Qatar (Williamson J.F.
and Pomeyrol R., 1938 ; Brown R.V., 1949), have remained unpublished ; the latter is abandoned
since 1956 (Sugden W.)
Definition
See Powers R.W., 1968 (Saudi Arabia) ; Willis R.P., 1967 (Bahrain) ; Cavelier C., 1970 (Qatar).
Description
In Qatar, only the upper part of the Rus Formation deposits outcrops, in the Jebel Dukhan (west
coast), near Sauda Nathil (extreme south) and in the Northeast of the peninsula (Khor, Simsima,
NW of Doha).
The top part is made of a bed of a greyish, granular limestone, with medium hardness, sometimes
with secondary dolomitisation, often fossiliferous (impressions and molds of Corbula and
Cerithidae), represented unevenly in all the zones of Qatar where the Rus outcrops; its thickness
seems fairly uniform (0.80 to 1 m). This level has been assigned as the marker for the Khor
Limestone Bed (Cavelier C., 1970).
A reference section of the visible deposits of the Rus (about 30 m) has been studied in detail and
measured in Jebel Dukhan, 1 km East of the Q.P.C installations, in Fhaihil (Cavelier C., 1970). The
Rus deposits, in Fhaihil, are essentially composed of limestones more or less dolomitized, soft,
generally whitish, with minute argillaceous intercalations and green to brown dolomitic marl. Some
harder greyish limestone beds, generally dolomitic, intercalate and are the only fossiliferous levels.
Towards the base of the section can be observed some rare silica occurrence of the type sugar
candy and loaves that evoke the existence of former levels or gypsum lenses. West of Dukhan,
towards the visible base of the Rus, is seen a soft, whitish level of Limestone, with numerous quartz
geodes. Celestite nodules have been encountered in the Khor area, as well as asphalt near Simsima,
towards the top of the formation.
The study of some clays or marls from the Rus, in Fhaihil, has shown the irregular abundance of the
dolomite, associated with quartz and halite; the clay fraction is dominated by micaceous minerals
(illite) and contains some secondary smectites. A sample has shown the presence of attapulgite.
Kaolinite has not been detected.
In some wells located in synclinal position, the Rus has significant intercalations of gypsum or
anhydrite in its central part, similar to those known in Saudi Arabia (Powers R.W., 1968).
The absence or strong reduction of the evaporite levels has been noted in the north of Qatar: it can
be attributed firstly to the anticlinal position of the area (restricted sedimentation rate), secondly to
1053
1054
S
SAILA Shale Member, Saudi Arabia
Middle Eocene
See : Dammam Formation, Midra (and Saila) Shale Member, p. 102
*SIMSIMA Chalk Member
Middle Eocene
See: Dammam Formation, Umm Bab dolomite and Limestone Member, p. 104
*SIMSIMA Dolomite and Limestone Member
Middle Eocene
See: Dammam Formation, Upper Dammam Subformation
This term, adopted by Cavelier C., 1970, according to Stevenson, 1959, to designate the lower part
of the Upper Dammam Subformation, Middle Eocene, is homonymous with a formation name used
by the petroleum geologists, and mentioned by Dunnington H.V. in Lexique Stratigr. Intern., fasc.
Iraq (1959, p. 239) and in J. Inst. Petr., 1967, 53 (520), pl. I, as well as by Dominguez J.R., 1965, in
5th Arab Petr. Congr., Le Caire, for a Maestrichtian formation. Therefore, Cavelier C. offers to
replace it here with the term Umm Bab dolomite and Limestone Member. See. p. 104.
*Surface Dolomite Member
Middle Eocene
See: Dammam Formation, Umm Bab Dolomite and Limestone Member, p. 104.
U
Paleocene
Lower
Eocene
Authors
Henry S.B. and Brown A.B., 1935 (unpublished report, Saudi Arabia)
Synonymy
See R.W. Powers, 1968, Lex. Strati. Intern., Saudi Arabia; C. Cavelier, 1970, Geol. Descr. Qatar.
The terms Lower part of the Bahrain Formation (Henson, 1940) and Busaiyir Formation
(Sugden W., 1953), previously used in Qatar, have remained unpublished and abandoned since
1956 (Sugden W.)
Definition
See Powers R.W., 1968 (Saudi Arabia)
Description
In Qatar, the deposits of the Umm er Radhuma do not outcrop, but have been penetrated by many
wells whether in Jebel Dukhan or in northern or central Qatar.
They are also known offshore. Their thickness is generally greater than 300 metres. They are
essentially made of dolomites and limestones with different hardness, often fractured, with chert
beds, and intercalations of marls and clays.
Fauna and age
In Qatar, only the Umm er Radhuma Formation microfauna has been systematically described, by
A.H. Smout (1954), who recognizes two assemblages, one, upper, assigned to the Lower Eocene,
the second Lower, divided in 6 regional zones, corresponding to the Paleocene.
According to R.W. Powers (1968), only 3 large subdivisions can be recognized in the Umm er
Radhuma of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, of which the lowest 2 correspond to the Paleocene, the upper
falling under the Lower Eocene age.
1055
1056
1057
Hasa Group
Lower Eocene
Rus Formation
Khor Limestone Bed
Middle Eocene
Dammam Formation
Lower Dammam Subformation
Rujm Ad Velates Limestone Member
Midra (and Saila) Shale Member
Dukhan Alveolina Limestone Member
Upper Dammam Subformation
Umm Bab Dolomite and limestone Member
Abarug Dolomitic Limestone and Marl Member
Midra shales Member, Saudi Arabia
Saila Shales Member, Saudi Arabia
Abarug Dolomitic Marl and Limestone Member
Miocene
? Lower Miocene
? Middle Miocene
Dam Formation
Lower Dam Subformation
Upper Dam Subformation
Upper Miocene
Hofuf Formation
1058
Lower Eocene
(Rus Formation)
Middle Eocene
(Dammam Formation)
(Rujm Ad Member)
(Dukhan Member)
(Midra Shale Member)
(Umm Bab Member)
(Abarug Member)
Miocene
(Gachsaran, Iran)
1059
1060
1061
IMPRIMERIE LOUIS-JEAN
Publications Scientifiques et Litraires
TYPO-OFFSET
05002 GAP Tlphone 51-35-23
Dpt lgal 235-1975
1062
Appendix 7
1063
Pers.
Questions/Commentaires
L
M
L
M
L
C
L
C
L
C
OuiBonjour.M.ClaudeCavelierS.V.P.
Oui,jevaisvouslappeler
Mercibien
Ilarrive
Daccordmerci
Allo
M.Cavelier
Oui
CestJacquesLeBlancquivousappelleduQatar
Oui,bienbonjourMonsieur
Bonjour, a me fait plaisir de vous parler finalement. Ca fait depuis 2008 que je vous
cherche
Depuis.
2008
Ahbienditesdont.Javaisdisparucommea?
Jaifaitbeaucoupderecherches surlinternetetpuisjaitrouv beaucoupderfrences
surdespublicationsquevousavezcrites,etquelquesinformationspersonnelles mais
aucun numro de tlphone ou adresse email, alors jai mme contact quelques
gologuesfranaisquejeconnaissais,ainsiquelaBRGM,maisilsnontpaspumaider.
Jenaipasdinternet;pasdadresseemail;jenaipasdetlphoneportable,jenaipas
dordinateur.Jeviscommeonvivaitilya20ansou25ans
Daccord,jecomprends.Maisenfaitjaittrschanceuxparcequilya3semainesou
ilyaunmoisjaifaituneautrerecherchesurvousetparchancejaitrouvlesitedeLa
SainteBarbe[http://www.amicalebrgm.fr/v3/spip.php?article329]quelaBRGMamis
[cr]pour2009etvousytiezuninvit.
Oui,oui,
Del,jaipucontacter MmeLabrot.
Oui,oui,jesuisaucourant
Daccordalorsjai prpar une longue listede questions. Je pense que la meilleure
faondeprocderseraitquejelenvoieMmeLabrotparemail
Oui,oui,biensr.etellemelatransmettra
etvousenprendraicompte
etmoijerpondraicommejepeux
Exactement,etonsedonneraunrendezvoustlphoniqueencoreetsianevousgne
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pas,etsicestpossible,jaimeraisbienvousrappeler.
oui
Etsivouslepermettezjepourraisenregistrerlaconversation
Biensur
Parfait
Vous,voustesbienorganissijecomprendsbien
Ahoui.Depuis2010quejetravaillesurcettepublicationquejeveuxfinaliserpourlafin
de2014.Cestsur lhistoiredelastratigraphieau Qatar,etmoi,enfaitjaitrouvque
lhistoiredelastratigraphieauQatarcommenceenlanne1784
OuibiencenestpaslecasduQatar
Oui,leQataresteneffetplusjeunequea,mais lesfaitshistoriquesquiont eu lieu
propos de la stratigraphie commencent aux Indes, mais, en fait, de ca ou pourra en
reparlerpendantnotreprochaineentrevue.
adoitcommenceravecPhilby,lesfirmesbritanniques
Bien cela sest en 1908 [Note: javais compris Pilgrim (1908) au lieu de Philby
(1930)].Maisilyaaussiunrelev[pluttunedescription],unrelevpartiel,delileHalul
quiestde1850,ou1859[sefutenfaiten1859]?
AH,AH,cestpossibleparcequeffectivementlesilesduGolfePersiqueenfaitmoijene
mensuispasbeaucoupoccupparceque;bonjesuis all a HaluletShraouh,mais,
bon,sestvraimentunegologiebouleversesurcesdmesdiapiriques
Oui,exactement,exactement.CestduCambrienetenfaitunegologiebiendiffrente.
Oui,oui,oui,sestdustyleiranien,oudustyleduGolfe
Exactement,exactement.Alorscequejevaisfaire,surledocumentquejevaisenvoyer
MmeLabrot,ilyaunpetitsommairesurmoi,quimeprsentevous
Oui
et vous en prendrai compte; et il y a la liste de toutes les questions. Je veux vous
poserdesquestionssurlerelevgologiquede196970
Oui
etaussidesquestionspersonnelles,maispastroppersonnellesetaussisurleLexique
Stratigraphiquesurlequelvousavezcontribude1975
Ahoui,ouisestmadernire uvresurleQatar
Oui,cestcequejemesuisrenducompteenvousrecherchant.
Aprs jai fait..je nai jamais retravaill au Qatar, mais bon, jai travaill en Arabie
Saoudite,enOman,auDhofar
Ahoui,parfait,parfait.Cestintressantsavoir.
Donc jai pu prciser certaines attributions stratigraphiques autant quon puisse les
transporter du Dhofar au Qatar, mais en fait, bon, la gologie est trs semblable [sur
toute]lapninsulearabiquesauflesmontagnes..jaiaussitravaillsurlesmontagnes
dOman,maislsestdiffrent..
Oui bien sr. Moi jen arrive en fait. Je suis all aux Emirats sur la pninsule de
Musandam
Ahoui
asesttrsbeau.Lepermienestlenpleinevue
Oui,sestextraordinairecettechainedOman,duMusandametaupourtourdelachaine
dailleurs, sest vraiment assez extraordinaire.. Ca t malheureux au Qatar pour la
temprature parce quon avait dbut le terrain fin avril; donc on a fait le relev en
pleintetenautomnel,aveclestempraturesmaximales.
50C
Stait souslatente.
Ouch
1065
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Ahbienoui,onnavait aucunconfortcommeondit.
Oui,oui,jecomprends
BienilfautdirequeleQatartaitbiendiffrentdecequecestdevenudaprscequeje
peuxvoirlatlvisionparexemple;staitvraimentunpaysoilnyavaitpersonne
oui,desbdouins
Alpoqueilyavait5,000Qataris,bonetpuis,jenesaispas,lestrangersilyenavait
50,000,peuttre60,000danslepays
Oui,plusdIndiensquedautres[nationalits]
Stait encoretrstraditionnel
Jecomprendstrsbien.aachangnormment
Jenemendoutepas
Cestunemtropolemaintenant[Doha]
Oui.ApparemmentvousavezrencontrM.AbdallahSalatt
Oui,enfaitjelairencontrpourlapremirefoisen2009
Oui.
.Disonsquontaitdansungroupealorssilmevoitaujourdhuiilnemereconnaitrait
pas,maisjeluiaiparlpartlphoneetjevaislerencontrerLundi
Ehbien,transmettezluitoutesmesamitis
Daccord,etjesuiscertainquilvavousappeler.HiersoirMmeLabrotmaenvoyvos
dtails
Oui,oui,
alorsjeluiaiaussienvoyvosdtails.Jesuiscertainquilvavousappeler
Questcequilfaisait.Commentatsacarrire ?
Bien, ce que je sais de lui cest quaprs le relev de 1970, il est rentr dans le
DepartmentofPetroleumAffairsintheMinistryofFinanceandPetroleum;cequi
prcdaitQatarPetroleum.
oui
Etaudbut1980iltaitdirecteur,etaprscailtaitrentrcommetanthautplac
danslacompagniedeQatarPetroleum.ettoutrcemment,trsrcemment,ilyadeux
outroisans,ilyaeuunbranlement,unchangementdegardeenfait.Ildoitavoirenfait
71ansjepense,plusoumoins.
Oui,etbien
Cestcela.Ilestbien.Onvaserencontreretjeprendraidesphotosquejevousenverrai
parlentremisedeMmeLabrot.[Malheureusement,aucunephotonefutprisedurant
monentrevueavecM.Salatt]
Daccord. Vous avez recu.je ne saispas..vous recherchiez,unephotode moi sur la
SainteBarbe2009.Ellevousaenvoylarfrence?
Oui.Enfaitoui,jaibiencettephotoenmapossession.Maisdanslequestionnaireque
jevaisvousenvoyer,jevousdemandesivousavezdesphotos.peuttrepasdurelev
gologiqueparcequellemaditquevousnenaviezpas.
JavaisprisunepelliculeetlorsquejesuisentrenFrancejelaienvoydvelopperet
elletaittouteblanche
Cestdommage
.doncilnyarieneu.Jenai aucunephotodeterrainduQatar.
Daccord.
Jenenavaispasprisbeaucoup;staitpeuttreunede36[unrouleaude36].maisen
faitjenairien
Daccord
Jensuisdsoldailleurs
Cenestpasgrave
1066
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Enfin,jenepeuxpasfairemieux
Pas deproblme. Auriezvousparcontreunephotodevous entrelesannes1968et
1975quesesoitenOmanouenArabieSaoudite
Oui,acestpossible.Javaistoujoursdescollguesquiprenaientbeaucoupdephotos
etparfoisilsmendonnaientune;jevaisregarder.Jenesuispasdutoutphotographe
amateurdonc
Daccord
Oui,ouijevaisregarder.
Cameplairaitbiendavoirunedevosphotospourlapublication
Ah, mais jen ai une de, ou je dois en avoir une de Doha heinqui avait t prise la
Shell.
Ahbien
.unesoiredelaShell.Jesaisquemafemmelavaitressorti,quimasurpris
Ahbiendaccord,amintresserait
.maisanedonnepasleterrain
Cenestpasgrave
Je suis avec deux anglais, en fait un anglais et une anglaise, avec qui javais
sympathiss.lesraresfoisquejtaisDoha.
Daccord.voustieztoujoursauchantier
Moijtaisdansledsert.Jerevenais48heurestousles15jours
Ahok
.pourrefairelesprovisions,leau,etc.
Daccord
.jtaisdehors,sauftout faitlesdernierstempsquandjerdigeaismonrapport
exactement
.maisautrementasestfaitenextrieur
Daccord.maisstaitletravail.Cestpouraquelacompagnievousenvoyaitenfait.
Jenavaispaslechoix.Detoutefaon ilfallaitquejavance
Seulementquepensertredansuncampementaumoisdejuillet,aoutetseptembre
.voila;vousdevriezenfairelexprience
Justelefairepourunenuitsestsuffisant
Maisnon.onavaitunthermomtre enregistreur.Latempraturentaitpasdescendu
audessousde34Clanuitheinoui,pourjuin,juilletetaout.Enfaitstaitdureparce
quenplusstaitextrmementhumide;ontaittrssouventdanslebrouillard
Absolumentoui,
QuandvoustessurlebordduGolfedeSalwaoudansleDjebelDukhansestunpetit
djebelmais..
Ouienfaitlenomde Dukhan veutdire collinedebrouillard
Oui,oui..cestunplaisirhein[enriant]
Ahbiensur
.en plus croyezmoi vous ne pouvez rien faire quand vous ne voyez rien, vous ne
pouvezmmepascirculer;vousnesavezpasouvousmettrenicommentvousmettre.
CommevousnavezpasdeaupourvouslaverdetoutefaonetquallezdansleGolfede
Salwa pour prendre un bain, sest totalement dconseill; il ny a pas deau douce
proximit
Beaucouptropsalebiensur
Ahbienoui,sesttropsale,oui.Ouiacentaitpasfacile
Oui
Commeconditionclimatique,dansmacarrirejenaijamaisrencontrpire
Oui,staitlepire
1067
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Oui,staitlepire
Ilnyavaitpaseulemoyendelefairedumoisdeseptembreaumoisdemai,ouestce
queleprojetvoulaitquevouscommenciezdslasignatureducontrat.
Bienlasignatureducontrat;jenesaisplus,jtaisarriv,jenesaisplus,enfvrierje
crois.Non,non,jtaisarrivenavril
Exactement
et le temps de. Bon normalement je devais avoir des Land Rover, des tentes,
etctoutdevaittreprtmonarrivemaisamaprisdeuxmoispourrunirtoutle
matriel
OK
Cequifaitquonadbut enjuinsurleterrainquoi..
Daccord,ok.Djl,voyezvous,vousrpondezdjquelquesunesdemesquestions
stait trs compliqu.en plus il y avait des britanniques qui ntait pas du tout
contentdevoirarriverdesfranais.
Jimagine,oui
Alpoque..etquandjedispascontent,jedisbienpascontent
ok
Ilsmettaientpluttlesbtonsdanslesrouestouslesniveauxpossibles
Detoutefaon,vouslavezfaitetvouslavezbienfait
Ahbienoui,bienAbdallahpourraitvousraconterjesuppose.parcequilmabienaid.
Iltaitjeunegologueetilnavaitpasencoremislespiedssurleterrain,maisparcontre
il avait lavantage dtre Qatari; et a, avoir un Qatari avec soit, sest
fondamental.enfinstaitfondamental
Oui,etmmeaujourdhui.avousouvredesportes;cargledesproblmes
je dois dire on dpendait du Ptrole et du Affairs Department.stait Ali
Djeddahquitaitlepatronlpoque.Bontrsrapidement,jaitsoutenutousles
niveaux par les Qatari, et de toute faon il a accd lIndpendance; il voulait se
dbarrasser,sivousvoulez,ducarcanbritannique,maisleurpouvoirtaitplusfaibleque
ceuxdesbritanniques.
Ok,Ok,
Lesbritanniquestenaientlapolice,larme,lesfinancesenfintoutuntasdechoses.
Daccord
..ilsnetenaientpasleptrole
Le Qatar par chance a aussi eu son Indpendance une ou deux annes par la suite je
pense.
Oui,bonmaintenantilssontbienindpendants
Oui,pasdeproblmepoura
IlsinvestissentbeaucoupenFrance
Oui,etvoussavez,mmeauCanada,enAngleterre,etunpeupartout
Oui,bienvidemment.Ilsnousontachet unclubdefootball
Oui,ajenesavaispas
Oui, le Paris StGermain est le tout premier du championnat avec tout largent quils
disposent
Ilestqatarien
Bienilestfranais
Ouibiensr,cequejevoulaisdirecest quilestfranais avecdesfondsqatariens
MaisleprsidentduSG(?)estunqatarien
Daccord
Voilbon.voustes canadien,non
Oui,oui,jesuiscanadien,jesuisnauQubec
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Jessayaisdetrouver votreaccent,bonetjemesuisdit,ilnestpassuisse,il,nestpas
belge;doncilestcanadien
Voilexactement,jesuiscanadien.Jesuisn auQubec en1958;etjetravailledansle
ptrole depuis 1986 et je travaille en dehors du Canada depuis 1993 et je nai pas
travaillauCanadadepuis1993;etmaintenantavecQatarPetroleum;etledocument
quejevaisvousenvoyervousdonneraunsommaireplusdtaill
Jelieraiaavecintrt
Alors,jenverraiaMmeLabrot
OK
Savezvoussielletravailletouslesjoursdelasemaine
Non,non,pastouslesjoursdelasemaine.Elleestlaretraitecommemoidailleurs
Daccord
MaisnousavonsuneAmicaleBRGMetelleestsecrtairedelAmicale.
Ahparfait,ok
DoncelletientdepermanencejecroislesLundiaprsmidietJeudiaprsmidi;maiselle
yvatrssouvent;elleytaithier..EllenytaitpasJeudiparcequeJeudijtaispour
allerlavoiravantdeprendrecontactavecvousmaisapparemmentilnyavaitpersonne
lAmicale.Doncjavaislaissunmessageetellemarappelhier.
Daccord
Voil, elle ny est pas tous les jours mais elle vient souvent; au moins deux fois par
semaineengnrale
Trs bien, alors je lui envoie a, et si elle me renvoie un email le lundi..moi je suis
disponiblenimportequellejourneaprs4PMduQatarcequiveutdireaprs2PMde
chezvous.
Oui,sestdirelaprsmidiquoi.pourmoilaprsmidi.
Sestca
Voil
En fait, si vous le permettez on pourrait dj prendre un rendezvous tlphonique,
disonstemporairesivousvoulez
Oui
Etjevousrappelleraicettedateetheureenesprantquevousaurezprisconnaissance
dudocumentdicil.
Oui
Peuttremercredioumardipeuttre
Delasemaineprochaine
Non.Decettesemaine
Oui,moijaitoujourslecalendrierdusensgrgorienduterme
oui
Jeneterminepaslasemainelevendredi maisbienledimanche
Daccord
PourmoilasemaineprochaineacommenceLundi
Oui,etpourmoilafindesemainesesthieretmaintenant
Bienouijesais.Doncdetoutefaon,enrgle gnrale jesuisdisponiblequelesaprs
midi
Ok,sestbonalors.
Le matin il marrive daller faire des courses et des trucs comme a, mais laprsmidi
non.
Ok
Bonlaprsmidiaumaximumjefaisdujardin,maisvuletempsquilfaitencemoment
jenenfaispasbeaucoup
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Sestfroidunpeu.
Doncjesuispluttentraindelire
Daccord
voil
Peutonfairealors2 heures delaFrancelemardile17[dcembre]?
Oui,lemardi172heures,oui,sivousvoulezoui
Etsivousnavezpaseuconnaissancedudocumentdicil,bienvousmelediteseton
reprendraunautrerendezvous
OK,daccord
Parfait.ExcellentM.Cavelier.Jevousremercieinfiniment
Maisjevousenpris
Alorsonsereparlelemardi
Daccord..Salammalekum
AmalekumSalam
Voil
Aurevoir
1070
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
QuestionsLerelevgologiquede196970duQatar
1071
H) Vous rappelez-vous de faon spcifique dun ou plusieurs endroits o vous avez install vos
campements (quel en tait le(s) nom(s)) ?. Combien de temps passiez-vous chacun deux ;
quelques jours, ou semaines ?
I) Avez-vous utilis des photos ariennes. [ Dans le questionnaire original javais crit par
erreur images satellites au lieu de photos ariennes .les images satellites
nexistaient pas cette epoque] Y-a-t-il des endroits o vous ne vous tes pas rendu
physiquement mais pour lesquels vous avez utilis que des photos ariennes afin den
extrapoler la gologie.
J) Les rsultats de ce relev sont dcrits dans deux publications:
- GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE QATAR PENINSULA (60 pages)
- GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND MINERAL SUBSTANCES EXPLORATION IN
QATAR (109 pages)
Dans ces deux publications il y a en annexe les Sections de Reference (Reference Sections)
de 1 5, toutefois la section de Reference 2 qui dcrit le Miocne sur la colline de QARN
ABU WAIL, qui dlimite maintenant le Qatar avec l'Arabie Saoudite, est manquante dans
toutes les six copies appartenant Qatar Petroleum ainsi qu' toutes celles appartenant la
BRGM.
La question est la suivante: Est-ce que cette section de rfrence #2 sur la colline du Qarn
Abu Wail a vraiment t faites ou est-ce que se fut un oubli durant limpression des copies
du document de lincorporer. En avez-vous une copie ? Pourrais-je en avoir une copie
digitale ?
K) Vous rappelez-vous des les que vous avez visite ? Halul, Shraouh, Ishat, Hawar ? Vous y
tes-vous rendu en bateau ou en hlicoptre.
L) Les fossiles : partir des publications de dautres auteurs qui ont suivi le relev, je sais que
vous avez collectionn des fossiles durant votre travail.
i.
Les dents de requins de locne ont t dcrit par Dr. Casier en 1971 ;
ii.
Les foraminifres par Dr. Blondeau et Cavelier en 1972
iii.
Les chinides (oursins de mer) par Dr. Roman en 1976
A ma connaissance se sont les trois seules publications en relation au Qatar et ses fossiles,
qui ont suivis la publication des rsultats du relev. En connaissez-vous dautres ? Avezvous gard vous-mme des chantillons de fossiles pour votre collection personnelle. Avezvous ramass des restes de vertbrs tels que des ctes ou des vertbres de mammifres ou
reptiles ? Si oui, vous rappelez-vous des endroits et des priodes gologiques ?
1072
QuestionsLeLexiqueStratigraphiqueduQatar
Entre 1973 et 1975 le Lexique Stratigraphique du Qatar a t publi. Les auteurs furent Sugden,
Standring et vous-mme, pour la stratigraphie de surface.
i. Avez-vous dj rencontr M. Sugden et Standring (avez-vous des Photos ?)
ii. Le Directeur de ce projet tait M. Louis Dubertret. Est-ce bien lui qui vous a approch pour
participer ce Lexique. (avez-vous des Photos de lui?)
iii. Y-a-t-il dautres faits en relation ce lexique qui seraient intressant pour ma recherche.
Tout fait serait le bien venu
Dernire question
Au Qatar il y a un groupe qui sappelle The Qatar Geological Society . Seriez-vous intress
revenir au Qatar si cette Socit vous le demandait afin de participer lune de leur runions ou
prsentations.
1073
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Oui,bonjour
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Bonjour,commentallezvous?
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Bienetvousmme
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Trsbien.avezvousbienreulequestionnaire
C
Oui,jelaireuhier
L
Daccord,etvousavezeu letempsdevousfamiliariserunpeu
C
Oui,jailu
L
Daccord;alorsvoustesprt
C
Oui,oui,allezy
L
Daccord,mepermettezvoustoujoursdenregistrerlaconversation?
C
Oui,oui,jevousenpris
Daccord. En passant je vais aussi prendre des notes sur mon ordinateur tout en
parlant,alorssivousentendezmonclaviervoussaurezpourquoi.aussi,enpassantjai
L
fait une erreur sur le questionnaire que je vous ai envoy.jai mentionn images
satellitesaulieudephotosariennes
C
Ahoui.alpoquestaitphotosariennes
Oui exactement; alors estce quil y a des questions que vous prfreriez que je ne
L
demandepas?
Non; allezy dans lordre hein; bon ma date de naissanceje ne suis pas n en 1932
maisen1935[unerechercheinternetpralablemavaitindiqueparerreurquiltait
C
nen1932(http://www.idref.fr/02677318X)].
L
Ah,parfait,sestbon
C
Jesuisnle14juin1935Colombe,danslesHautsdeSeine,enFrance
L
danslesHautsdeSeine,enFrancele14juin
C
Le14juin,oui.
L
Jenesaispasdomevientmoninformationde32,maisenfin
Moinonplus.Vousvoulezmevieillir;jenesuispastrsjeune,maisanevautpasla
C
peinedemevieillirde3ans
Daccord.Avantdecontinuerjaimeraisdireseulementquepourlenregistrementque
noussommeslemardi17dcembre2013.MoimmejemenommeJacquesLeBlanc
etjemetrouveauQatartandisquemoninterlocuteursenommeM.ClaudeCavelier
0:02:00
L
qui se trouveOrlans enFrance. Seulement quepour lenregistrement, voilsest
fait.
C
Trsbien
Maintenantladeuximequestion.VousavezreuvotreDoctoraten1971?[uneautre
L
recherche internet ((http://www.galaxidion.com/personne/claudecavelier/57005/ et
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Donc, jusquau dbut 56 ou jai fait mon service militaire, je suis revenu et jai repris
mes tudes luniversitenfin jai dbut mes tudes luniversit. LUniversit
CatholiquedeParis,oujaipassmescertificatsdeLicense,lpoqueilenfallaittrois,
pour tre licenci plein, comme on disait.pas du tout comme les tudes de
maintenant.doncjaipassgologie,gominralogieetgologieapplique.
Vousvoustesbienlanc
Oui,bienmoijefaisaisdelagologiedepuislgede11ou12ans,hein.
Daccord,encollectionnantdesfossilesoudesroches?
Bienvoil,sesta.Biensr.Maisjtais passionn parlagologie,sestpoura que
jtaisrentrtoutdesuiteauBRGGMilscherchaientcemomentldestechniciens
gologuesetjemesuisprsent.Jeconnaissaisdjdesgologuesquiytravaillaient
etjaitpristoutdesuitevoil.Doncjaidbutjeunedanslemtier;encoreplus
jeunesurleterrainmaisjeunedanslemtier
Sesttoujourscommeaquoncommenceengologie;avecunintrttrs,trsjeune.
Voil,doncaprsmestudesjaiobtenumondiplmedegologueen1962,jecroisdu
moinsen61ou62.62jecrois.EnfaitjevousenverraiunCV,commeavousaurez
Ahmercibeaucoup.
.vous aurez tous les dtailsle CV doit faire une quarantaine de pages; il faut que
jaillevoirauBRGM
amintressebeaucoup
Bien ouijai bourlingu pas mal. Jai eu une longue carrire. Donc jai t class
ingnieur aprs mon diplme de gologuealors Ingnieur du BRGMle BRGGM a
disparuen59
Daccord
par fusion avec dautres organismes franais, le Bureau Minier de la France
doutremer, le Bureau de Recherche Minires Algriennes, Le Bureau. Enfin bon, et
lesServicesGologiquesAfricains.toutastaitlapriodedeladcolonisation.Donc
laFrancearegrouptoussesorganismesdansleBRGM;doncnen59maisquiavait
quandmmedesantcdents.Doncensuitevousmeposezdoncjaipassmathse,
leDoctoratquitaitunDoctoratdEtat..ilfallaitunevingtainedannescettepoque
lpourprsenterundoctoratdEtat;staituntrsgrosdiplme,maisenfinmoiame
plaisait. Je lai fait en parallle avec mes activits au BRGM et donc je lai pass en
Janvier1976.
EtdoncvotretitretaitDocteurenGologiedEtat
Non. Docteur s Sciences dEtat. Oui, la Gologie tait lune des Sciences mais le
DoctorattaitsSciences
Jevaisavoirtouscesdtails survotreCV,nestcepas
Oui,enfaitjenevousdonneraipastouslesdtailsdecequejaifait,maislessentiel
quandmme.
Daccord,commejevouslaidit,amintressebeaucoup.
..doncjesuismari.Jemesuismarien1955.jaitoujourslammefemme
Cestbonetsestrare
Elleesttoujoursvivante.a faitbientt,jenesaisplus,58ansdemariage
Sestellequimarpondulautrejourjepense?
Ah oui, sest normalementelle quiest appele autlphone alorssest normalement
ellequidcroche
Daccord
enfinl,jevousattendais,alorscenestpaspareil.
Cesta.sonnomsia nevousdrange pas
Maryse.MaryseBourrat,desonnomdejeunefille
Commentvouslpeler
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BOURRAT.sestunejurassienne.Pourlapetitehistoire,jelaiconnuenlevantla
carte gologique de lAnse au Saunier [pas certain comment cela spelle]..jai
commencfairedelacartegologiquetrsjeune,hein..
Voilasertquelquechoselagologiealors.
Staitlunedesdeuxfillesdelhtel oujesjournais
Ahbonjenendemanderaipasplus
Voussaveztout
Daccord
.lesenfants,jenaideux.deuxfilles,Myriamquiestne en1956etFabiennequiest
neen1957..doncvousvoyezellessontplusgequevous
Unanoudeux,sesta exactementdesgrandsenfants ?
onditpetitsenfantscheznous
Cestvrai;jesuistellementhabitudeparleranglaisalorsamaaffect
Oui,oui,jecomprendsmaisamamuse..doncjaiunepetitefillequisappelleClaire
etquiestneen1988;etjenenauraicertainementpasdautres
ClaireestlafilledeFabienneoudeMyriam
DeMyriam.FabiennenapasdenfantetMyriamnenaeuquun
.leslangues.Combienenparlezvous?
BienjeparleleFranais.JaiapprisleLatin,leGrecque.lancienbiensr;maisjene
lesparlepas.Quandlanglais,bon,bienjenesuispasbonenanglaismaisjeparle
langlaisquoi
Daccord
Jelaiappris.bonpourlapetitehistoirejaifaitdelanglaisauLyce,commejefaisais
destudesclassiques,Latin,Grecque,puisensuiteaveclesMath,doncjavaistrspeu
dheure danglais; javais une heure danglais par semaineavec a on est [pas] trs
fort. Quand je suis arriv au Qatar jtais pratiquement incapable de parler un mot
anglais
Ahouisestvrai
Oui,enfinjebredouillaisunpeuquoi.Doncjaifaitdesprogrsenanglaisparcequon
taitsurleterrainsouslatenteavecmonprofesseurquisappelaitAbdallahSalatt
Ahvoil
.parcequeluineparlaitpasunmotdefranaisbienvidemment
Daccord
et donc javais achet des bouquins. Je ncris pas trop mal langlais, mais entre
lcrireetleparlersesttrsdiffrent
Ouibiensur
EtdoncjavaisachetdesbouquinsetonfaisaitdesrptitionsavecYvesHeuzquilui
parlaitbienlanglais.doncjaisurtoutapprisavecAbdallahSalatt.
Daccord.EnpassantjelairencontrM.Salatthier.Jeluiaifaituneentrevueaussiet
jevaistoutorganiseradansmarecherche.Ilvousfaitdirebonjour;jeluiaiditque
jallaisvousparleraujourdhui.
Jelaimaisbien,staitvraimentunhommecharmant
Je me suis bien rendu compte de cela hier. Il va vous appeler; je sais quil va vous
appeler
Oui,bienilvamappeler.enanglais
Ouiexactement,ah,ah
Etcommejaidesproblmes doreilleenplusenvieillissanta vatreterrible
Bonnechance
[en lisant sur le questionnaire] voyagezvous de temps en temps en dehors de la
France?Non.Cafaitdepuislafindesannes90.ljtaisencorePrsident,onen
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parlera plus tard, dun programme international.donc je suis all dans un certain
nombre de pays, et puis pour la gologie je suis all aussi dans le Caucase, etcmais
commejaiarrtcompltementlagologie.jaiditmerde,jesuislaretraite,jai
dautrechosefaire.alorsjecontinuefaireunpeudegologiepourmoimaisje
nenfaisplusofficiellement;doncjenevoyageplus ltranger.LaFrancesestpas
mal du tout; mme si jai beaucoup voyag quand mme en France il y a plein
dendroitsquejeneconnaispas
Jimagine.LaFranceestdelammegrandeurquelaColombie,enAmriqueduSud,et
ilyabeaucoupdechosesyvoir.
Aoui,ilyabeaucoupdechosesvoiretjenauraijamaistoutvu.
Enpassant,jeparledelaColombieenAmrique duSudparcequemonpouse vientde
l.
Bien;lamienneestjurassienne,vousvoyez.DanslAnseauSaunierdansleJuras ;jai
pousunejurassienne
[encontinuantaveclesquestions] Estce quilyaunebiographie.
[enlisantsurlequestionnaire]unebiographieouautobiographiecritesurmoi,qui
soitcourteoulongue.jenepensepas.Ilyapeuttreeutdesdiscoursquandjaieu
desmdaillesoudestrucscommea,maisbondestrucsquienavaitpasbeaucoup.Je
nenaipas.Jenenconnaispasdemoi.IlenexistesurementpeuttrelaSocit
GologiquedeFranceen1980peuttre.jaieuunemdaillepourmathse.
Lautrequestion.enfaitvouslavezdjrpondue..
[enlisantsurlequestionnaire] estcequeleBRGMfut votreuniqueemployeur jai
dbutdansleprBRGMetjaiterminen95auBRGM
Cafaitquoi.afait40ans ?
Oui,oui.
Wowce nest pas beaucoup les gens qui disent quils ont travaill 40 ans dans une
compagnie.
Bienoui,voussavezleBRGMstaitunmonstre.
ilyavaitbeaucoupdechosesfaire
ilyavaitbeaucoupdechoses faire ;etdailleursjai faitbeaucoupdechoses.Jai
commenccommetechnicienettermincommeDirecteur
Ahoui,ajenelesavaispas
maispascommeDirecteurGeneral,maispluttcommeDirecteurauBRGM;quinest
paslammechose.
Dundpartement,ok.
[en lisant sur le questionnaire] avezvous une liste complte des articles,
publicationsdespublicationsjedoisenavoirquelquescentaines;doncjevousferai
laliste
Merci
.surleQatar,vousconnaissezlacartegologique,thegeologicaldescription,les
nummulites, et vous savez que la description gologique du Qatar a t traduite en
Arabe.
Ahoui,nonaucuneide.Jenesavaispas.Vousmapprenezquelquechose.
Ah,Ah,parluniversitdeDoha. UnedemandedelUniversitdeDohaquimavait
critpourmedemandersijautorisaislatraductionen arabe. Jairponduouietjai
reuunexemplaire.jepensequecestaparcequetoutestenarabe
etilyalescartesettout
Ah, je ne sais pas. Je nai pas ouvert. Vous savez quand sest en arabe. Javais la
versionanglaise,alorsamesuffit.Jedoisdirequejenemtaisjamaisreplongdans
le Qatar.quand javais des quipes qui travaillaient en Oman et en particulier au
Dhofaron a tamen.puisquelagologieduDhofarjusqulEocneMoyenest
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histoireincertaine.
Daccord
[enlisantsurlequestionnaire]alorsEtesvousnouveauauBRGMNon.Etcombien
desemainesjevousairpondu
Oui.trscourt.
Donc, la Direction Minire lEtranger a demand la Direction Scientifique sils
avaientquelquunquisintressaitlagologieduTertiaire,quisoitcartographeetqui
soitcapabledtudierlessubstancesminralesutilesparcequonnesattendaitpas
trouverdesminerais.
Pasgrandchoseenfait
Comme dans ma carrire jtais moimme cartographe et javais appartenu pendant
10 ans un service appliqu aux travaux publiques et la recherche des substances
utiles,jtaisleseulavoirleprofilpourallerlbasquoi.
Ahbon,daccord
Bienjaiditetsesto?
Regardonslacartedumonde
Donc jai regard la carte du monde, jai vu le Qatar. Trs peu dinformation.
Apparemmentilyfaisaittrschaud.Onnedisaitpasquestaittrshumidedansla
journelt.Etlanuitsurtoutdailleurs
Trshumidelanuit,Daccord.
Onapuruisselerdesueurcommeondit..bonvoil,touteaffairecessante,en8jours
jepartaisauQatar
Intressant. En fait a sest pass trs viteune autre question. Aviezvous fait un
relevsimilaireailleursauparavant,quesesoitenFranceouailleurs?
Oui,jaicommenclacartographieen55;jtaismoimme.parcequeleservicede
carte de France tait indpendant jusquen 69 ou il a fusionn avec le BRGM mais
jtais collaborateur extrieur du service de la carte gologique de France et donc
javais le grade de collaborateur adjoint, il y avait 3 grades, comme cartographe
chevronn quoi. Collaborateur adjoint stait les chevronns. Javais dj fait avant
dallerauQatar,septouhuitcartes,toujoursenFrance
Oui bien sr.. Avant darriver au Qatar vous avez d faire de la collection de
documentsjimagine
Oui,trsrapidement.LeBRGMlpoque,etencoremaintenantjelespre,avaitune
superbe bibliothque consacre non seulement la France videmment mais
pratiquement tous les pays du monde et donc jai rcupr quelques information
maisjedoisdirequelessentieltaitsurtoutlesinformationsdArabieSaoudite
etlespublicationsptrolires peuttre,oudesrapportscommea
DetypePowersetal
oui
Doncjai faitatrsrapidementetjaidemandauBRGMdecontinuerpendantque
jtais au Qatar, puis du Qatar je leur demandais sil marrivait une rfrence, de
menvoyerunecopie.DonccequifaitquequandjtaisauQatarjavaisunecollection
assez importante, surtout sur les pays avoisinant tels que rares donnes
publies.donc, Philby, Cox, et tout a, mais Cox tait Bahren. Pour le Qatar en lui
mmeilnyavaitpasgrandchosequitrainait
Oui, pour les publications.vous avez vu les 3 cartes que je vous ai envoy [Browne
1952,Steineke1958,Bramkamp1961][Fig. APDX 14-01, 14-02 & 14-03]
Oui,jenelesconnaissaispas
Non.Bondaccord.Cestnouveau[pourvous]
Non, mais sest formidable. Je ne sais pas si je vous lai dit mais les compagnies
ptroliresduQatar,leMinistreavaitdemandquellesfournissentdesdocumentset
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quesilsenavaientquelles melescommuniquent.Jedoisdirequejaieucellesdela
QPC(etsesontlesseulsquejaieupratiquement)lejourojerentraisenFranceen
montantdanslavion.
Ohwow.
Javais dj crit mon rapport, mais a ma servi surtout pour le Lexique
Stratigraphique.amapermisdecomplteravecdesdonnesindites.AuQatarjai
euaussiquelquesrapportsHydrooudestrucscommeamaislesptroliersnavaient
rien,rien,rien,donns
Daccord.etlegouvernementduQatarnavaitpasdebibliothquelpoque
Non,non,ilsnavaientrienetilsnesavaientmme pascequestaitquelagologie
Exactement.M.Salatttaitlepremiergologue qatarienenfait.
Oui, bon, je vous ai rpondu pour accumuler la documentation ncessaire je faisais
venirdeFrancedesdocuments,maisstaitsurtoutdes documents sur lestudes de
substrat,deaudemer,etcCestcequimintressaitleplusauQatar;parcequele
plusintressantstaitcertainementdupointdevueminral
Daccord. Et la prochaine question. comment avezvous choisi de commencer la
cartographie.Etesvousalldusudaunord,nordausud,estouest?
Donc,sestsimple,jesuisall mecoller lafrontire delArabieSaoudite; cot de
Salwa.Dunepartparcequilyavaituneroutedirecte;staitlaseulebonneroutequi
existaitlpoqueauQatarentreDohaetlafrontire;laroutesarrtaitlafrontire.
OuicestlaroutedeSalwaSalwaroad.
Castaituneraison ;etcommejevouslaiditjevaismebaser,sanssavoirlagologie
quejevaisrencontrer,entantproximitdelafrontiredelArabieSaoudite.Ily
avaiteuaussilamentionduQarnAbuWailquiavaittexaminparPhilby[en1933]
Cestvraioui
etdoncjemesuisdit,voil onvacommencerparl ;ilfautbiencommencerquelque
partetenessayantdemebaserjaidbutparleNogne
OuileMiocneetlePliocne
leMiocnedelaDamFormation;boncommejtaisprsdelafrontiredelArabie
SaouditeladescriptiongologiquedelaDamFormation,jelairetrouvtoutdesuite
sur le terrain.Voil, donc de l, on est remont vers le nord. Jai donc mis un
deuximecamp;moncamptaitdoncproximitdeSalwamaisducotqatarieton
estremontverslenordpourmettrelecampdansleDjebelDukhanversFahahil.au
milieudestorchres;jenesaispassilyenaencoresansdoute
Lestorchresptroliresvousvoulezdire..lespuitsdeptrole
Oui,lilsbrulaientdugaz
Ah,oui,oui,dfinitivement ilyenaencore.
.lanuitontaitclair
aaidait[voirpendantlanuit]
deldonconarelevtoutelapartieoccidentaleduQatarjusquaunord.Javaistrois
LandRover,donconpartaitaveclesLandRoveretprogressivementonmontaitversle
nord.EnsuiteonamisuncampcarrmentausudSaudaNatheel
SaudaNatheel,biensr,sestunpostefrontalier.
Stait la frontire avec Abu Dhabi, bon, lpoque avec Abu Dhabi et lArabie
Saoudite;ilyavaitunpostefrontireetilyavaitunepistequiarrtaitdejoindreSauda
NatheelDoha.Parcequepourmoileproblmestaittoujoursleravitaillementen
eau.lescatastrophesaarrivent
Biensr,biensr.
Jenaieuquelquesunesparcequequandlesvhiculestombentenpanne,vousnavez
plusrien,plusdeau.Vousvoulezbienquelederniervhiculevousramnedeleau
Oui,jepeuxsympathiser
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Donc,delonafaittoutelaborduresudetl staitcompliquparcequilnyavaitpas
detopo,pasdecarte
Oui,staitunterritoireunpeuinconnu causedelafrontire
.donc il a fallu faire la carte topographique pour pouvoir mettre la gologie dessus
quoil,amaprisunpeuplusdetemps,enplusonsestperduunefoisdansleRub'
alKhali[ilvoulaitdireKhoralOdaid,puisqueleRub'alKhaliestenArabieSaoudite
etauxEmiratsArabesunis]
danslesdunes..
..la frontire ntait pas matrialise, je voulais rejoindre la cte, et l on a pris
lgrementenoblique
etvoustesarriv enArabieSaoudite
vousmeposezplustardlaquestionsionavaitnonpasdesimagessatellitesmaisdes
photosariennes.Ouionenavait.CestunjeuquiavaittprisparlaHuntingmais
elles avaient t prises par temps de brume; alors stait extrmement difficile
utiliser;staitdugris,dugrisple.Doncenplussanscarte;onavaitbienmontdes
boussolesetunsextantsurnosvhiculespouressayerdeprendrelesbonnesdirections
mais on a lgrement dvi et on sest retrouv dans les champs de dunes du cot
certainementsaoudienoujenesaispasexactementdequelpayscaappartenait.Enfin,
bonstaitunpeudifficile.
EtleKhorAlOdaid,vousytes all finalementpourfairelagologie
Comment
LaMerIntrieurvousytesall
Oui,oui,jysuisallbiensr.Ahsestformidable.Ilyavaitdesflamandsrosesstait
superbe.
..etilssonttoujoursicionenatoujours.
Staitunedcouverte ;staituneeauavecunedensit assezforte;mme leaudu
GolfedeSalwataitbeaucouppluslgre
Oui,onnousditquecest ledeuxime pointleplussal [aumonde]aprslaMerMorte
Oui, oui, cest pour a que jtais trs intress par ces eaux; je le pense toujours
dailleursparcequeleQatarvoulaitdvelopperuneindustrie.Ilvoulaitunesidrurgie
quandonfaitvenirdufer,etcJavaisproposdemonteruneindustriedumagnsium,
dubrome,etc
M.Salattmadithierquevouslavezsurvol enhlicoptre leKhorAlOdaid
Oui,oui,onyestall aterre etonafaitlerelev duchamp dedunequiestausudde
DohajusqulafrontiredAbuDhabi[maintenantArabieSaoudite],doncavecleKhor
alOdaidon afaittoutaenhlicoptre;enfin,onlasurvolenhlicoptre.Cequi
nous intressait surtout stait de faire des arrts l o il y avait les trs rares
affleurementsquipouvaientyavoirdanslinterdunaire
Oui,sestvrai;ilnyenaquedeuxoutroisdailleurs.Ilnyenapasbeaucoup[autres
ceuxduQuaternaire]
En plus staient des dpts probablement extrmement rcent, enfin probablement
duQuaternaire.Staittrsdifficilededterminerlgedesesdpts.avousdonne
une ide de comment nous avons fait le sud, donc le sudest avec lhlicoptre et le
nordestatfaitpartirdeDoha;onnapasfaitdecamp.boncentaitpastrs
varinonplusquandvousroulezsurlereg
ilnyarien.Sesttoujourslammechose
Centaitpasdelagologie trs intressante maisilfallaitlafairequandmme ;donc
onlafaitpartirdeDoha.Doncenfaitjaieutroiscamps
La question F. Aviezvous un bon guide qatarien qui connaissait bien le terrain et
vousrappelezvousdesonnom?
L je peux vous assurer dune chose. Les qataris que nous avions comme chauffeur
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navaientjamaismislespiedsendehorsdeDoha.Lesseulespersonnesquenousavons
rencontr en dehors des rares points de fixation comme Doha, Umm Bab, Khor ou la
cte, staient des bdouins; des bdouins qui eux navaient aucune nationalit
spciale; ils ntaient pas plus qatari, saoudien ou Emirats Arabe Unis, Omanais se
sont des gens qui bourlinguaient comme on dit. Moi jai d rencontr deux ou trois
campstoutetpourtout;descampsdechameaux.Bonsestvidentquonsarrtait
leur camp pour voir sils avaient de besoin de quelque chose, besoin deau pour
barlotter,ducaf,laitdechamelleensuiteonlesinvitaitpourunmchoui.Staitla
grande fte pour les chauffeurs en essayant de rcuprer une petite chvre.
Voilnon,personneneconnaissaitleQatarilnyavaitrien.commerouteilyavaitla
routedeSalwaouilsallaientessayer leurgrossesvoitures.Ilsfaisaientdesalleset
retour sans arrter au maximum de vitesse qui tait trs dangereux, parce que bien
videmment il y avait des nes, des femmes, des enfants, des dromadaires.tout a
pouvait ventuellement crer des accidents. Et il y en avait. Entre la pleursie et les
accidentsdevoiturestaitlescauseslesplusimportantesdemortchezlesqatarisun
peuvolu
Etanapaschangbeaucoup.Surlesroutes,plusieursvoituresroulenttoujours200
kms
Moi,verslafin,quandjerdigeaismonrapport,jtaistoujoursDohaetlEmirstait
mu toujours me voir conduire avec une vieille Land Rover mme si elle tait aux
couleurs du Qatar, et javais t invit aller choisir une voiture dans son parc
automobileetjavaisune???[jenepeuxpascomprendrelenomsurlenregistrement],
oujenesaispasquoiunvhiculeamricainquonluiavaitoffertsansdouteetquine
servait rien. Stait une bagnole qui montait a plus de 200 ou 240 lheure
lpoque, mais pour circuler dans les rues de Doha stait trs biena faisait plus
srieux.Donc,questionguidezro.Zroparcequepersonnenepouvaitmemmener
quelquepart.Cestmoiquidirigeais.Jedirigeaisetstaittrs,trsdangereux.Trs
dangereux, surtout dans la moiti ouest de la pninsule cause de toutes les
dpressions,touslestrousdedissolutiondugypse,etcQuelquesunstaientindiqu
surlefonddecartequejavais,etquelquesunsquonarrivaitrepreraveclesphotos
ariennes qui ntaient pas trop mauvaises, mais pour celles quon ne reprait pas il
fallait rouler lentement. Parce que vous savez, vous pouvez avoir des pics dune
quinzainedemtre
etsanslesavoirlavance
Oui,sanslesavoir.Enfinjauraisbienaimavoireudesguidesmaisjenenavaispas.
Enpassant,enparlantdupersonnel ;savezvouscequienestdeM.YvesHeuz ?
Alorsjevousenverraiunephoto
Ahexcellent
Je vous enverrai une photo parce que ma femme a retrouv trois photos prisent au
mmeendroitetmmemoment.Jepensaisquejenavaisquune,enfaitilyenavait
deuxautresetlesdeuxautressontpriseslachaineetilyaHeuzquiestsurlaphoto
avecmoi.
Daccordexcellent
Cequilestdevenu?AuretourduQatarilestpartiquasiimmdiatementenAlaska
Alorsilestpartide+50C 50C
Oui,ouiIlnestpasrestunesemaineOrlansquiltaitdjenAlaska.Parceque
luiilappartenaitlaDirectiondesAffairesMinirelEtrangeretmoijavaisrintgr
maDirectionScientifiquelpoque.IlestdoncrevenudelAlaska.Ilestrestunpeu
eninstancedaffectationpuisiladisparu.Disparupourquittersafemme,safamilleet
toutessesmaitresses.Ilavaitunevieasseztumultueuse.Etjelairevuunefoisilya
unevingtainedannes.Iltaitremariavecuneautredame.Onadiscutunpeuet
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depuisjenesaispascequilestdevenu.Maisilnestpasrest danslagologie
Ah,ilachangdeprofession.
Oui,maisjenesaispascequilafait.Voussavezquandonfaitunedisparitionausens
vritableduterme;i.e.onaplusdtatcivil,onaplusrienJenaipasvoululuiposer
desquestions.Depuisjenesaispascequilestdevenumaispuisquilestremariildoit
avoirunevienormale
Bon, passons la prochaine [question]. Dans les annes 1990 le Qatar a tabli une
grille de rfrence pour tous les relevs de godsie ; cette grille se nomme Qatar
NationalGrid.En196970cettegrillenexistaitpasetilnyavaitpasnonplusdeGPS.
Comment avezvous calcul les lvations et les coordonnes exactes pour la carte
gologique..quellerfrenceavezvouschoisi?
Bon la rponse est, nous navons pas fait de topo, sauf comme je vous ai dit dans la
rgiondeSaudaNatheelpuisquilnyavaitpasdecarte;doncilfallaitbienquonmette
la gologie sur quelque chose, donc on a fait la topo, mais on a pas fait de godsie
proprementdite,onsestoccupdesaltitudes,maisilnyapresquepasdaltitude,on
est presque toujours de plein pied. A part les buttes de Miocne dans la rgion de
Salwa, le long du Golfe de Salwa, il ny a rien qui sorte de lordinaire.sauf les trous.
Les trous en ngatifs. Sur la carte, comme il ny avait pas de topo indique, des fois
sest trs difficile de comprendre pourquoi. L, il y a du Miocne, et l il y a au
contrairedelaRusetquiapparaitautraversdelaDammam.Donc,ontaitpasdutout
quippourfairedelagodsie;ilauraitfalludesgomtresetjenesaispasquoi.La
rponseonarienfaitdespcial.
Daccord,parfait.Enfaitlaltitudemaximumdupaysestde103mtre
Oui,cestaetpasloindelaroutedeSalwa
LaquestionHvouslavezdjrpondu
Alors.Vousrappelezvousdefaonspcifiquedunouplusieursendroitsovousavez
installvoscampements(quelentaitle(s)nom(s))?.
VousavezditSalwa,AbuSamra[jevoulaisdireSaudaNatheel] etDukhan
Voil,jevousairponduenavance.JevousaiditproximitdeSalwa,Fahahildansle
DjebelDukhan,etSaudaNatheel
Ouiexactement
[en lisant sur le questionnaire] Combien de temps passiezvous chacun deux ;
quelquesjours,ousemaines?Staitpluttdessemaines
Oui,plusieurssemainesenfait.Vousavezeucombiendecampements
trois
Etlerestetaitpass Dohapouralleraunord
oui
Avezvousaaussivouslavezdjrpondu.proposdephotosariennes
Oui
Yatildesendroitsovousnevoustespasrenduphysiquementmaispourlesquels
vousavezutilisquedesphotosariennes[afindenextrapolerlagologie]
Bon,enprincipeilnyenapas,maisenfaitilyenatoujours.Jedoisdirequejenaipas
escaladtouteslesdunesentreDohaetlafrontiredesEmirats.Ljevouslaiditon
lafaitenhlicoptre.Lhlicoptreavaitlavantagenorme.Staitlhlicoptrequi
faisaitlasurveillancedesfrontires.Jemtaisfaitunamiquitaitingnieurmcano
dans la compagnie dhlicoptre justement qui assurait la surveillance des frontires.
Donc,sestparluiquejavaisobtenudepouvoirfairequelquesvols,onarussifaire
quelquesvolsdanscesrgionsl,etilstaientsympa.Onseposaitauxraresendroits
oonvoyaitdelaffleurementquoi.
Staitvraimentdelareconnaissanceenfait
Maislstaitvraimentquedusable,dusable,dusableetcommeenpluslesableest
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La question est la suivante: Estce que cette section de rfrence #2 sur la colline du
QarnAbuWailavraimenttfaitesouestcequesefutunoublidurantlimpression
descopiesdudocumentdelincorporer.Enavezvousunecopie?Pourraisjeenavoir
unecopiedigitale?]
Jairegard.Lessectionsderfrencede15.DonclacoupeduQarnAbuWail,na
past.Cestenerreurquesestindiququelacoupeestenannexe.Ellenapast
miseenannexe.ParcequeleQatarAliDjeddaquitaitleDirecteurAdjoint,celuiqui
dirigeaitleptroleenAffairs,aditahleQarnAbuWailsestunpointdisput,sest
notrefrontireetpuisquecestunpointdisputaveclArabieSaouditecamennuierait
beaucouppourinviter.Bononlaremplacparunecoupeplusaunordetprsdu
QarnAbuWail.Maisonalevcettecoupemaisjenenaipluslerelev.
Cestdommage
Peuttre quon pourrait la retrouvervous savez jai quitt la BRGM en 95. Javais
laiss mes dossiers; sest normal se sont des dossiers qui appartenaient au BRGM et
non moi. Pendant longtemps jai pu rutiliser mon bureau et ce qui tait toujours
dedansmaisafaitdjquelquesannesquilsontdmnagmonbureau;i.e.ilya
quelquundautre.Mesdocuments,mesbouquinsquejavaislbasontttransfr
jenesaisou.Jesprequilsnesontpasallalabinordurecestpossible.Donc,les
documents sur le Qatar. Je nai que les documents sur la France chez moi. Jai
rapatrilaFranceetjailaisslerestedumondeentierauBRGM.Donc,lacoupeelle
existemaisjenelaipas.Jenelaipasdanslimmdiat.JevaismerenseignerauBRGM
Ahmerci.Seseraitbiengentil.Jenprendsnotevousvousrenseignez
1
Une surface dun dsert forme principalement par dflation, comprenant du gravier rsistant et bien compact qui
prvient presque plus de dflation
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Bien la question est la suivante.oui elle a bien t faite. Ce nest pas un oubli. En
avezvous une copie? pas encore. Puisje en avoir une copie digitale? Bien si je la
retrouve.Ceseraunecopielittralemaisjevousenverraicequejaisionlaretrouve
Oui, sest bien clair. Tout ce que vous pouvez retrouver sera utile. Jattendrai donc
votrerponseparlentremisedeMmeLabrot
Bon.vousrappelezvousdesiles[quevousavezvisit?Halul,Shraouh,Ishat,Hawar
?Vousytesvousrenduenbateauouenhlicoptre.].Oui,Halul,oui.Jaitinvit
parlaShellquiavaitsabaseHalul.Shraouh,bon AbdallahSalattavaitrcuprun
bateaudelapolicemaritimedonconestallShraouh,onacampShraouh,jyai
mangdesufsdoiseaux.OuielletaitinhabiteShraouh
Staientdesufscuitsoupascuits
Non, ils les avaient fait cuire au campement avec les poissons quon avait pch
pendantlajourne
Ahtrsrustique.
Oui
BonetbienIshat?
Ishat?,moijeconnaisLashatadoittrelammechoseducotedAbuDhabi
Exactement. Dans votre rapport sest bien marqu Lashat mais on ma dit que le
nomofficielestIshat
Bon,okalorscestlammechose.ouijysuisallunbonquaternairejesuppose.Ce
nestpascommeHalulouShraouhanarienvoir.
Cestplus[similaire]commeleMiocneetleDamFormationpeuttre.
Cest plus rcent que la Damsest type formation dAbu Dhabidisons plutt
quaternaire. Jai pas trouv de fossile sest trs riche en fossile mais rien de
distinctifsest vraiment du dpt trs littoral, trs peu profond, rien de trs
caractristique;doncmonavissestpluttduquaternaire
Ilfaudraitquejyailleunjour.
Allezyenbateauetpasenhlicoptreonnepeutpasyatterrir
bon
Hawarjenysuispasall.Hawarstaitextrmement controversentreBahren etle
Qatar. Donc on mavait demand de ne pas y aller. Et dailleurs lEmir tait trs en
colreparcequejenytaispasall.Bon,maismoijeneluiaipasdit,maismoijai
reumesordresduMinistre
luimme
Hawar,deFranceonafaitunephotogologie depuislesphotosariennes,maisjeny
aijamaismislespieds
Daccord
.alorslesfossiles.[partirdespublicationsdedautresauteursquiontsuivilerelev,
jesaisquevousavezcollectionndesfossilesdurantvotretravail.
i.
LesdentsderequinsdelocneonttdcritparDr.Casieren1971;
ii.
LesforaminifresparDr.BlondeauetCavelieren1972
iii.
Leschinides(oursinsdemer)parDr.Romanen1976
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Absolument,ondiscutefrquemment etmoipersonnellementjcrissurlagologie du
Qatar,lagologiedesurface,lapalontologiemintressebeaucoup.Sivouslevoulez
unjour,demandez madameLabrotquellevoustlchargedemonsiteinternet.La
meilleure [publication] est celle de 2009 sur la formation de Dam et cest l que je
dcris.ilyabeaucoupdephotosen faitavec lecimetirededugongetles fossiles;
enfinjevouslaisselibredelaregarderoupas.
Je demanderai lune de mes filles.parce que moi je ne mintresse pas
linformatique,mmejesuiscontre,maisjaimesdeuxfillesquisontinformaticiennes
Ah,bon,bonalaide.
Doncsestfantastique.Sestbienpouraqueamintressera,etaumoinsonparle
dedautreschose.Moijepensequelavieamritedtrevcuedonc,jaiappris
lire, je regarde la tl, je ne suis pas contre. Mais il faut que je moccupe de ma
journe,lextrieure,ilfautquejailleprendrelair.
Cestvrai
Donc,jemoccupedemonjardin, jevaisfumermapipedehors..
Ahdaccordok.
Voil
Avantdeterminer;estcequevousavezdesphotosdeM.Dubertret?
Ahnon.
Daccord
M. Dubertret lpoque tait un trs vieux monsieur que je ne connaissais pas
directement.Onstaitcrit;onstaituniquecorrespondu.Staitungologuequi
avait normment travaill presque toute sa carrire au Moyen/Proche Orient, en
Syrie,enTurquie.Jenelaipasconnudirectement.Sestparcourrierquona.ilma
tlphonunefois.Jecroisquilestmorttrspeudetempsaprs.
Apres1975
Oui,oui.
EnrevenantsurleQatarGeologicalSociety,vousmavezditaudbutdelentrevue
quevousnesortezplusdelaFrance,maissilaSocitvousinvitaitpourvenirauQatar
estcequeavousintresserait
Jaurais envie de vous rpondre oui, pour voir comment a la chang, et entre autre
pouvoir discuter de la gologie du Qatar avec quelquun, mais non. Ma rponse est
nonjenaiplusenvievoussavezendehorsdetouslespaysdontonaparl,etcjai
t galement membre, puis VicePrsident, puis Prsident de la SousCommission
Internationale de Stratigraphie du Palogne de lUnion Internationale des Sciences
Gologiques et donc travers de ces fonctions je me suis balad travers le monde
pourallervoirduPalogne,danstouslescoinsdumonde,etjedoisdirejenaiassez
desvoyages.
..etjecomprends
jesuishonntehein.Jtaisjamaislamaison,enfinetcmafemmeelle,nat
jalousequeduneseuleonnepeutpasdireduneseulefemme,ellenatjalouse
quedelagologie.Etalorsmaintenantelleestcontenteparcequedepuisquejaipris
maretraitejtaisencorePrsidentduntrucetmmedeplusieurstrucs,jesuisall
auCaucase,jesuisallenPatagonie,jesuisallbonmaintenantjaiditasuffit.Jai
termin mes prgrinations en entrant en France de Syrie; stait un sjour, mon
3iemeou4iemesjourenSyrie;unpaysquitaitagrablecommetoutlpoque.
Oui,etprsentement iladesproblmes.
..Etmaintenantjenaiplusenviede,bonjedisbienjeveuxbienallerfaireuntour
avec ma femme; on va bien faire un tour en Bourgogne, quelques jours sur la cte
Atlantique,maisarestedanslepays,envoiture,onrentrequandonveut;
Pasdavion
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Merci pour cette proposition. Il y a dix ans je vous aurais peuttre rpondu avec
plaisirmaismaintenantsurementpas.
Daccord.Nevousenfait pasjecomprends trs bien.
Bon.
Bienvoil,moijaitermin.Jevousremercieinfinimentpourletempsquevousavez
mismadisposition
Moi, donc, je vais essayer de vous faire parvenir un CV, mes titres et travaux
scientifiques, je ne pense pas que vous ayez de besoin de mes rapports indits du
BRGM par contre oui, je vous enverrai la liste des publications; il y en a quelques
centaines
Excellent,excellent,sestbon,sestbon
Etsesttrsclectique.IlyenabienquelquesunessurleMoyenOrient,surlArabie
Saoudite,ousurOman,endehorsduQatar,lerestevoil.Etlesphotos
JevaisenvoyerunemailMmeLabrot.
Vousmavezenvoyunetrsbellephoto[cidessous]oujefigureaumilieu;maisilny
apasHeuz[lapossibilitdavoirHeuzdanslaphotoavaittsouleveparMr.Salatt
quandjelavaisinterview2joursauparavant].Sesontdeuxcollgues,lunquitait
chefsondeur[droite]etquirecevaitunedcorationcejourl.IlrecevaitleMarteau
dor;i.e.questaitluileplusgdelaSainteBarbelejourdelaSainteBarbe.Et
donc stait un chef sondeur que javais bien connu, et lautre [ gauche] sest un
gologue minier dont je serais incapable de vous dire le nom. Je le connais de vue
mais.. Il est plus jeune; lui je ne le connais pas. Donc a vous va comme photo
rcente;avoussuffit?
http://www.amicalebrgm.fr/v3/spip.php?article329(2009)
Oui,commephotorcenteamesuffit.CelledeDohadesannes6970mintresse
beaucoup
Oui,oui,adaccord,pasdeproblme.Ellesonttmisesdecot
Excellent
JessaieraidepasserJeudiaprsmidi pourvoirsiDanielleestauBRGM,jirailavoiret
jen profiterai pour passer la bibliothque et voir si par hasard je retrouve des
informationsdesdocumentssurleQatar.Jiraifaireuntourdanslescollectionsen
faitquandvousdemandezunpaleontologist[palontologue],staitbiencommea
alpoque,debientudierunefaune,vousluiadresseztoutlematrieletvousnele
revoyez jamais. Par exemple, les chinides/echinoides du Qatar ils sont surement au
MuseumdHistoireNaturelle Paris.Lesdentsde squalestudiesparCasiersont
Bruxelles.
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Ilssontprservsquelquepartilsdisparaissentcommevousdites
Une fois quesestdans un muse a,sest bien dailleurs, sestprservquasi pour
lternit,moinsquunebombetombedessus.Doncpourlereste,lematrieljene
leconservaispas. Je neconservaisquelesmollusques. Sily avait dans les Dam des
huitresoutrucscommeaquitrainent.Toutleresteestenmouleinterne;ilnyapas
de coquilles. Pour la palontologie mme, ce nest pas trs intressant. Bon vous
arrivezdterminerunmouleinterneunmouleinterneesttrstypiqueCygorcia??
ou Corbulidae mais encore vous ne savez pas lequel il est mais a napporte pas
grandchosequoi.Lpoqueestpasseouonfaitdesmonographiesavecdesmoules
etdesempreintes.Onestplusau19iemesicleetonestmmeplusau20ieme.
Maintenanttoutsefaitaulaseretimprimantesentroisdimensions
Oui, sest formidable maintenant. Ce qui tait intressant stait essentiellement les
nummulites dune part et les echinoides; donc essentiellement la Dammam ou de la
Damventuellement
RegardezMonsieurCavelier,jevousremercieinfinimentpourletempsquevousavez
mispourrpondretoutescesquestions.Mepermettezvousdevousrappelerjene
saispassijevaisavoirdautresquestions,maisestcequevousmepermettezdevous
rappeler[sijamaisdautresmeviennententte]
Oui,oui.Evidemmentvouspouvez.Nevousinquitezpas.
MercibeaucoupAimeriezvousavoirunecopiedelenregistrement?
Ahnon.Cenestpaslapeine.Jevousremercie.Jenauraisrienpourlcouter
Daccord.Mercibeaucoupetauplaisir
Allez.Auplaisiretboncourage.
Mercibien
Etbonnegologie
Ahaoui.Merci
1096
Pers.
Questions/Commentaires
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Allo
Oui,Dr.Cavelier
Oui
JacquesLeBlancduQatar,commentallezvous ?
Ah,trsbienmercietvousaussi
Trsbienmerci.estcequejevousprendsdansunbontemps?Estcequevouspouvez
parler?
Ah,jepeuxparlerunpetitmoment
Daccord,vousmeditesquandvousvoulezpartiretonarrte.
Oui, sest parce que jai ma petite fille qui est la maison. Elle ne vient pas tous les
jours.
Je comprends, je comprends. Seulement que quelques minutes pour vous demander
quelquesquestionssicelavousva.
Jevousenpris
Jeprends5minutesdevotretemps.Quandjevousaipassenentrevue,jaioublide
vousdemanderlenomdevotrepreetdevotremre.
AhmonpresappelaitLucienCavelier,
Okay
EtmamresappelaitLucienneVaslin.plusCavelier
VaslinspelleVACELIN
Non,VASLINdoncVaslin
Vaslin L I N, Ok parfait. Maintenant je vais vous demander quelque chose qui fera
appelleunpetitvotremmoire..dansvotrerapportvousditesquedanslesecteurde
Simsima,unvillageducotnordestduQatar,vousaveztrouvdesgodes[dequartz]
quicontenaientdelhuile/ptrole.Jairetrouvlendroitetjaibientrouvdesgodes
et tout a, mais estce que stait bien du ptrole dans les godes? Je sais que du
ptroleonentrouvedanslesgodesauBahrain,maisiciauQatar,saufpourcequiest
mentionndansvotrerapport,jeneconnaispersonnequiaittrouvdesgodesavecdu
ptrole.
Ah, je ne dis pas quil y en avait beaucoup, hein. Comme on a cass beaucoup de
godespouressayerdetrouverlesplusbelles,etc.autantquejemensouvienne,ily
enavaitaumoinsune,peuttredeux,quicontenaientduptroleplusoumoinsbitume
ouvisqueux.
Visqueux,bon,sesttrsbiensavoir.Alorsdaccordmerci.Alorsuneautrequestion,
trs rapidement. Combien de vhicules aviezvous pour faire votre survey. Vous
mentionnez que vous aviez des Land Rover tandis que M. Salatt en a mentionn
dautres.EstcequevousaviezquedesLandRover?
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Non, on avait que des Land Rover, mais on avait aussi un camionun camion qui
transportaitaussilaciterne.
Laciterne,daccord.
Laciternedeau,heinpasdessence.
Okayetquitaittrspratiquedavoirenfait.
Quandlaciternetaitvide,staitlacatastrophe
Jepeuxlimaginer,oui.
Il y a une fois, la citerne stait vide pendant la nuit; elle avait t mal referme et
donclematinilnyavaitplusdeau.DoncjaienvoylecamionentoutevitesseDoha.
Auboutde24heuresilntaitpasrevenu.JaienvoyuneLandRoverpourvoircequi
sepassait.Auboutde48heuresonavaitrien.
Ohwow.Etelleestrevenueaprscombiendetemps.
LaLandRoverestrevenueledeuximesoirbonpas48heuresmaisplutt36heures,
justeavantlecoucherdusoleiletavecquelquesbidonsdeau;endisantquelecamion
tait en rade (panne) le long de la route et quon avait un camion de dpannage qui
devaitpasser.bonfinalementasestbienterminmaisonestrestquandmmeun
bon24heuressanseau.
Ohwow,voustiezplaindre.
Cenestpaspratique;cestlemoinsquonpuissedire
Une autrequestion, encoreducotvhicule. Vousavezdit, qupart les Land Rover,
lEmirvousavaitpassunevoiture.
.Alafin,quandjtaisenville,oui.
Danslenregistrementquejaifaitdelentrevue,cenestpastrsclairequellesortede
voiturequestait.Estcequevouspouvezlerpter?
Stait, autant que je men souviennes, une Thunderbird [prononc avec un accent
franaistrsfort]
UneThunderbird,ah,ah
Staitunetrsbellevoiture.
Jimagine.Unevoituretrssportive.
Oui,enfinpourcirculerlintrieur deDoha,oui.
Daccord
Surtout,qualpoque,Doha;lapluspartdesruestaientencoreensable,encailloux,
la rue principales tait goudronne mais elle ntait pas trs large; il ny avait pas de
grandesavenues.Staitencoreunepetitevilleprovinciale.
Oui,exactement,oui.
Lesautrespoints;jattendstoujoursquelquesinformationdevouspropos
Oui,oui.JenesuispasallauBRGM
Daccord.
DoncjiraiauBRGMmaisjenenaipaseuloccasion
Daccord
EstcequevousavezprparlalistedevospublicationsetvotreCV?
Oui,oui,sestprt.Bon,jairajoutlamaintoutuntasdechoses,hein.
Daccord
Sivousavezdesdifficultsdelecturelatransmission,vousmeposerezdesquestions.
Daccord.Moijaimebienvousappeler
Ah,maissestgentila.
Justepourvousenrappeler,etjesuiscertainquevousvousenrappelez,ilyalalistede
vospublications,votreCV,lesphotosdevousavecHeuz,et
etsijeretrouvelacoupe,maiscommejevousdis,jenesuispasallauBRGMdoncje
nesaispassielleexisteoupas.
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Aussi,seulementquepourvousdonnerdesnouvellesdemapublication,jaidonnmon
premierdraft,premierbrouillon,moncollgueqatarideQatarPetroleum.Ilesten
traindelerviser,delerevoir;bienquilnestpasfaitdecommentaireencore,jespre
toujoursdelemettreenligne,sijailapermission,verslafinde2014.
Oui
Alorsjevouslaisse.Jesaisquevoustesoccup.
Ah, bien je suis occup ? Je vous dis que jai ma petite fille. Elle est avec ma femme
actuellement.Ilfaittrsbeausestjoursci,alorsellessontdehorsdevantlamaisonsur
laterrasse;doncellenestpastouteseule.Nevousinquitezpas.
Okay,Excellent.Aimeriezvousquejevousrappelledansunmoisoudeuxsemaines ?
Oui,rappelezmoiaumoisdejuin.
Etsivousvoulezmenvoyerquelquechoseparemail,commevousdites
Voilsesta,parcequejevaisessayerdallerauBRGMilfautquejyaillesoitlelundi,
soit le jeudi, et que je tlphone dabord savoir si Danielle est l; enfin si on peut
transmettrequelque chose. Parceque parfoiselle ny vapas. Donc, ilny a personne.
Donc, je ne peux pas vous dire si je vais y aller jeudi prochain ou lundi de la semaine
prochaine;ilfautdabordquejetlphone.
Non, je comprends trs bien. De toute faon, je vous rappelle le 19 juin, ou quelque
chosecommea;dansunmoisavousva.
Voil,trsbien,jauraiunandeplus.
Ahoui,sestvrai!!!
Ouimonanniversairesestle14
Oui,oui,biensr.
Jaurai79
Bonnefteenavanceetjevousleresouhaiterez
Mercibeaucoup
Merci,aurevoir,etunbeaubonjourvotrefemmeetvotrepetitefille.
Daccord,merci
Aurevoir
Aurevoir
1099
Pers.
Questions/Comments
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Goodmorning.Mr.ClaudeCavelierplease
Iwillcallhimforyou
Thankyouverymuch
Heiscoming
Allright,thankyou
Hello
Mr.Cavelier
Yes
ItsJacquesLeBlanc,callingfromQatar
Yes,averygoodmorningSir
Goodmorning,itisapleasuretofinallybeabletotalktoyou.Ihavebeenlookingfor
yousince2008
Sincewhen.
2008
Wow,amazing.Ihaddisappeared,justlikethat?
I made several internet searches on you; however I was only able to find several
referencesondocumentsyouwroteandverylittlepersonalinformation.Iwasnotable
to find any reference to phone numbers or email addresses; I even contacted some
Frenchgeologists,whoIknow,aswellastheBRGM,butnoluckatall.
Idonothaveinternet,noremailaddress;Idonothaveamobilenoracomputer.Ilive
likeweusedto20or25yearsago.
Allright,Iunderstand.Infact,Iwasveryluckybecauseabout3weeksoronemonthago
IconductedanotherinternetsearchonyouandjustbyluckIfoundthesiteofLaSainte
Barbe[http://www.amicalebrgm.fr/v3/spip.php?article329]thattheBRGMcreatedin
2009andforwhichyouwereoneoftheguests.
Yes,yes
Fromthere,IwasabletocontactMrs.Labrot.
Yes,yes,Iamaware.
All rightI have prepared a long list of questions. I think the best way to proceed
wouldbeformetosendittoMrs.Labrotbyemail.
Yes,yes,excellent.Andshewillforwardittome.
andyoucouldfamiliarizeyourselfwiththelistbeforeourinterview
andIwillanswerthebestican.
Exactly. We could set up a phone appointment once again if it is ok with you. Is it
possibleformetocallyouback?
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yes
IfyouallowitIcouldrecordtheconversation.
Ofcourse.
Perfect
Youareverywellorganized,thewayiseeit
Ahyes.
Since2010IworkonthispublicationwhichIwanttofinalizein2014.Itisonthestoryof
stratigraphyinQatar;andinfactwhileproceedingthroughthisresearchIfoundoutthat
thestoryofstratigraphyinQataractuallystartsinyear1784.
Yeswell,itisnotthecaseforQataritself.
Yes I know, Qatar is indeed much younger but the historical facts which took place
regarding the stratigraphy start in India. We could talk about that during our next
interview.
ItprobablystartedwithPhilby,theBritishcompanies
Wellwhatyouaretalkingabouttookplacein1908[Note:IhadunderstoodPilgrim
(1908) instead of Philby (1930)]. But there was also a survey [more a short
description],apartialsurveyonHalulislandthattookplacein1850or1859[itisactually
in1859]
AH, AH, it is possible because indeed the Gulf islands me, I did not really do a lot
because.;well,IdidgotoHalulandShraouh,butthesediapirdomesreallyrepresenta
verydifferentgeology
Yes,exactly,exactly.ItismainlyCambrianandindeedaverydifferentgeology.
Yes,yes,yes,styleIranorstyleGulf.
Exactly, exactly. Therefore what I will do, with the document that I will send to Mrs.
Labrotforyou,thereisashortsummaryaboutme;thatwillintroducemetoyou
ok
Therewillbeallthelistofquestionforyoutogetfamiliarizedwith.Iwanttoaskyou
questionsregardingthegeologicalsurveyof196970
Yes
and also some personal questions, but not too personal.. and also some questions
regardingtheStratigraphicLexiconof1975forwhichyoucontributed.
Ahyes,yesthisismylastworkonQatar.
Yesindeed.ThisiswhatIrealizedduringallthistimeIspentlookingforyou.
AfterIworked..IneverworkedinQataragain,butIworkedinSaudiArabia,inOman,
Dhofar..
Ahyes,perfect,perfect.Thatisveryinteresting.
I was able to pinpoint certain Stratigraphic attributions for as much as they can be
transposed from Dhofar to Qatar; the geology is very similar [on all] the Arabic
peninsula.exceptthemountains.IalsoworkedinthemountainsofOman,butthereit
isdifferent..
Yes, of course. I just came back from there in fact. I went in the Emirates on the
MusandamPeninsula
Ahyes
Thatisverynice.ThePermianisthererightinfrontofyoureyes.
Yes, this Mountain Chain from Oman/Musandam is extraordinary, together with its
surroundings, it is really extraordinary It was horrible in Qatar for the temperature
because we started working in the field in April; thus we did the survey right in the
middleofsummerandfallwithmaximumtemperatures.
50C
andunderatent
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Ouch
Ahyes,wehadabsolutelynocomfort.
Yes,Iunderstand
ImustsaythatQatarwasmuchdifferentthanwhatithasbecomefromwhatIseeon
television;itwasreallyacountrywherenobodylived
yes,onlyfortheBedouins
Atthattimetherewereonly5,000Qataris,andabout50,000or60,000foreigners inthe
country
Yes,andIimaginemorefromIndia[thanothercountries]
Itwasstillverytraditional
Iunderstand.Ithaschangedverymuch
Ihavenodoubt
Itisametropolisnow[Doha]
Yes
Apparently,youhavemetMr.AbdallahSalatt
Yes,indeed,Imethimforthefirsttimein2009
Yes
.Letsjustsaythatiwasinagroup,thusifhemeetsmetodayhewillnotrecognizeme,
but I talked to him over the phone these past few days and i will meet with him on
Monday.
Verygood,pleasesayhellofromme
Allright.Iknowhewillbecallingyou.
LastnightMrs.Labrotsentmeyourdetails
Yes,yes
thereforeIhavealsoforwardedhimyourdetails.Iamsurehewillcallyou.
Whatdidhedo?Howwashiscareer?
Well, what i know of him is that after the 1970 survey he was assigned in the
DepartmentofPetroleumAffairsintheMinistryofFinanceandPetroleumandthenlater
inQatarPetroleum
Yes
And at the beginning of the 1980s he was Director, and then later he was assigned a
higherpositionwithinQatarPetroleum;andveryrecently,maybe2or3yearsago,some
changesoccurandheretired.Hemustbenowabout71yearsold.
Verygood
He is well. I will meet with him and will take some pictures which I will send to you
through Mrs. Labrot. [unfortunately, no pictures were taken during my scheduled
interviewwithMr.Salatt]
Allright.YouwerelookingforoneofmypicturesonthewebsiteoftheSainteBarbe
2009.Didshesendyouthereference?
Yes,Iamnowinpossessionofthispicture.InthequestionnairethatIwillsendyouIam
askingaswellifyouhavesomepictures;notofthegeologicalsurveybecauseshetold
methatyoudidnothaveany.
I had brought with me only one roll and when I went back to France I sent it to be
developedbutitcameoutallblank[exposedtolight]
Itistoobad
.thereforethereisnothing.IhavenopicturefromthefieldinQatar.
Allright.
Ididnottakethatmany;maybearollof36Ihavenothing.
Allright
Iamsorryinfact
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Itisnothing
Buticannotdoanything
No problem. Would you have on the other hand a picture of yourself between years
1968and1975,whetheritisinOmanorSaudiArabia.
Yes,thatispossible.Ialwayshadsomecolleagueswhowerealwaystakingpicturesand
sometimeIreceivedfewfromthem;Iwilllook.Iamnotatallaphotograph.
Allright
Yes,Iwilllook
Iwouldlovetohaveoneofyourpicturesfromthattimeformypublication].
Ah,butIhaveone,ormusthaveonetakeninDoha;itwastakenattheShell.
Ahverygood
.atoneoftheeveningofthe Shell. Iknowthatmywifetookitout;soIwassurprised.
Allright;Iaminterested
.butyouwillnothave/seethefield
Thatisok
IamwithtwoBritish,infactoneBritishmanandoneBritishladywithwhoIhadmade
friends,thefewtimesiwasinDoha.
Ok.Youwerealwaysinthefield
Iwasinthedesert.Iwascomingbackfor48hoursevery15days.
Ahok
.todosomegroceryshopping,andtorefillourwatertank,etc.
Allright
.Iwasoutside,exceptforthefinalperiodwhenIwaswritingmyreport
exactly
.otherwiseIwasalwaysoutside
Allright.itwasyourwork.Itwasforthat,thatthecompanysentyoutoQatar.
Ididnothaveanychoice;Ihadtogoforward
For me, only to think about being in a camp during the months of July, August and
September
.exactly;youhavetoexperienceityourselftounderstand
Onlyforonenightformeisenough.
We had a thermometer. The temperature did not go below 34C at night for July,
AugustandSeptember.Infactitwasverydifficultbecauseinadditiontobeinghot,it
wasalsoveryhumid;wewereveryoftenexperiencingfogs
Ok
WhenyouareontheshoreoftheGulfofSalwaoronDjebelDukhan..itisasmallDjebel
but..
Yes,infact,thenameofDukhanmeanstheplacewithfog
Yes,yes..itisapleasure[laughing]
Ofcourse
.in addition, believe me, you cannot do anything when you do not see anything, you
cannotevendrive;youdonotknowwheretogoorwhattodo.Sinceyoudonothave
watertowashyourselfandthatgoinginthewateroftheGulfofSalwatotakeabathis
totallynotrecommended;thereisnotalotofpotablewaternearby.
Itistoosaltyofcourse
Ahyesverysalty.Itwasnoteasy.
Yes
Forclimateconditions,inmycareerIhaveneverseenworst
Yes,itwastheworst.
Yesindeed
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WouldithavebeenpossibletodoitfromSeptembertoMay,orwasittheprojectthat
wantedtostartassoonasthecontractwassigned.
The signature of the contract; I do not remember, I arrived in February I think; no, I
arrivedinApril.
Exactly
NormallyiwouldhavehadtheLandRover,thetents,etceverythingwassupposedto
bereadyatmyarrivalbutittookme2monthstogatherallthematerial.
OK
BecauseofthatwestartedthefieldworkinJune
Allright,ok.Alreadyyouareansweringsomeofmyquestions.
it was very complicated.in addition there were some British who were not at all
happytoseesomeFrencharriving.
Icanimagine
andwhenIsaynothappy,Ireallymeannothappy
ok
Theydideverythingtoslowusdownasmuchastheycould ateverypossiblelevels
Attheend,youdidit,andyoudiditwell.
Ah of course, and Abdallah could tell you i suppose because he helped me
tremendously.Hewasayounggeologistandhadneverbeeninthefieldbefore,buthe
had the advantage of being a Qatari; to have a Qatari with you, it is fundamental at
leastitwasamustthen.
Yes,andstilltoday.It opensdoors;itsolves problems muchquicker;etc.
I must say, we were dependent of the Petroleum and Affairs Departments. It was
Ali Djeddah who was the boss at the time. The Qatari helped me at all levels.
Anyway, Qatarwantedtohave its independence;the countrywantedtoget ridof the
BritishweightbuttheirpowerwastooweakcomparedtotheoneheldbytheBritish.
Ok,Ok,
TheBritishownedthepolice,thearmy,thefinancesinfactalotofthings.
Allright
..theydidnotownthepetrol.
QatardidinfactobtainhisIndependenceoneortwoyearslater.
Yes,nowtheyareindependent.
Yes,noproblemwiththat
TheyinvestalotinFrance
Yes,indeed.EveninCanada,England,andabiteverywhere.
Yes,ofcourse.Theyboughtafootballteamfromus.
Yes,Ididnotknow
Yes, the Paris StGermain is the first one in the championshipwith all the money
thatithasathand.
ItisQatari
No,itisFrench
Yesofcourse,ImeantthatitisFrenchwithQatarifunding
ThePresidentofSG(?)isQatari.
Allright.
Verygood.YouareCanadian,isntit
Yes,yes,iamCanadian.IwasborninQuebec.
I was trying to locate your origin by your accent. I told myself He is not from
Switzerland,notfromBelgium;thenhemustbeCanadian
IndeedIamCanadian.IwasborninQuebecin1958;IworkinOil&Gassince1986and
havebeenworkingoutsideCanadasince1993.IhavebeenwithQatarPetroleumsince
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January 2007. The document I will be sending you is going to give you more details
aboutme.
Iwillreaditwithinterest
ThenIwillsendittoMrs.Labrot
OK
Doyouknowifsheworkseverydayoftheweek
No,no,noteverydayoftheweek.Sheisretiredlikeme
Allright
WehaveanAmicaleBRGMandsheisthesecretaryoftheAmicale.[Amicale=A
typeofsocietyorganizedwithinacompany,whichisnormallyusedbytheretireeofthis
companytogettogether]
Perfect
She normally visits the office on Monday and Thursday afternoon; but she also goes
morethanthat;shewasthereyesterday..ShewasnotthereThursdaybecauseIwas
supposed to go see her before making contact with you, but apparently there was
nobodyattheAmicale.Ileftamessageandshecalledmebackyesterday.
Allright
Then,sheisnotthereeverydaybutshegoesoften;atleasttwiceaweekgenerally.
Very good. Then I will be sending that to her, and if she sends me back an email on
Monday.me,Iamavailableanydayafter4PM(ofQatar)whichmeansafter2PMin
France.
Yes,meaningintheafternoonforme.
Thatsit
Correct
Infact,ifyouallowitwecouldalreadymakeatentativephoneappointment.
Yes
I could call you at that date and time, hoping that you would have had received the
documentbythen.
Yes
IsWednesdayorTuesdayokaywithyou?
Ofnextweek
No.Ofthisweek
Yes,me,IamstillusingtheGregoriancalendar
Yes
IdonotendtheweekonFridaybutonSunday
Correct
Forme,nextweekstartsonMonday.
Yes,formetheweekendstartedyesterday
Yes,Iknow.Asageneralrule,iamavailableonlytheafternoon.
Perfect,itwillworkout
During the morning I may go out to do some errands and few other things but the
afternoon,no.
Ok
DuringtheafternoonIwoulddosomegardening,butbecauseofthebadweatherthat
wehavenowidonotdomuchgardening.
Iimagineitisabittoocold.
Therefore,Iammoreintoreadingthesedays
Perfect
Correct
Canwethereforesetameetingfor2PM(Francetime)onTuesdayDecember17th?
1105
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Yes,Tuesday17that2PMisfine
IfbythetimeIcallbackyoustillhavenotreceivedthedocument,youwillletmeknow
andwewillmakesomeotherarrangements.
OK,perfect
ExcellentMr.Cavelier.Ithankyouverymuch
Itisnothingatall.
ThenwewillbetalkingonTuesday
Perfect..Salammalekum
AmalekumSalam
correct
Goodbye
1106
O) The contract between the BRGM and the Government of Qatar was signed on February 19th
1969 and the field work was initiated in April of the same year. Do you know how long the
negotiations of the contract took?
P) How did you get involved in this project? Were you new at BRGM and how many
weeks/months of notice did you get from BRGM to tell you that you would be in charge of
this project?
Q) Had you done a similar survey before, whether in France or outside?
R) There must have been a period to gather all the necessary documents (technical publications,
etc..) from your side and/or the Qatari personnel before you arrived in the country. Had
everything been done before your arrival or did you take some time to gather the material
once on site?
S) How did you choose to start mapping? Did you do it from North to South? South to North?
East to West? Etc and why did you do it this way? After completing the survey, did you
think you should have done it differently? What would you have changed?
1107
V) Do you remember specifically of one or several places where you installed your camps
(what were the names?). How long did you spend at each one of these camps; few days?
Few weeks?
W) Did you use any aerial photos? [ In the original questionnaire I had written satellite
images instead of aerial photos .Satellite images did not exist then] Are there any
places where you did not go physically but for which you have used only the aerial photos in
order to extrapolate the geology.
X) The results of this survey are described in two publications:
- GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE QATAR PENINSULA (60 pages)
- GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND MINERAL SUBSTANCES EXPLORATION IN
QATAR (109 pages)
In these two publications there is in appendix the Reference Sections from 1 to 5, however,
Reference Section #2, which describes the Miocene on QARN ABU WAIL - which is now
an official border point between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, is missing in all six copies owned
by Qatar Petroleum and all copies belonging to BRGM.
The question is the following: Was this Reference Section #2 on Qarn Abu Wail really done
or was it an error not to include it during the printing of the document. Would you have a
copy of it? Can I get a digital copy?
Y) Do you remember the islands that you visited? Halul, Shraouh, Ishat, Hawar? Did you get
there by boat or helicopter?
Z) The fossils: from the publications of other authors that have followed the survey, I know that
you collected some fossils.
iv.
The Eocene shark teeth were described by Dr. Casier in 1971 ;
v.
The foraminifera by Dr. Blondeau and Cavelier in 1972
vi.
The echinoids (sea urchins) by Dr. Roman in 1976
To my knowledge, these are the only three publications in relation to Qatar and its fossils
which resulted from the survey. Do you know any others? Have you kept yourself some
fossil specimens for your own personal collection? Did you collect any remains of
vertebrates such as ribs or vertebrae of mammals or reptiles? If so, do you remember the
places and geological periods?
AA)
You mentioned to Mrs. Labrot that the negatives of the pictures you took during the
survey were exposed to light and thus, no pictures of field work are available. Do you know
if any other people have taken some (by the way, I will meet with Mr. Salatt on Monday and
I will ask him the same question). Would you have a picture of yourself between the years
1968 to 1975? (As discussed, please send me a digital version of your picture from Doha
and any other pictures which you think could be of use to me).
1108
QuestionsTheStratigraphicLexiconofQatar
Between 1973 and 1975 the stratigraphic lexicon of Qatar was published. The authors were
Sugden, Standring and yourself, for the surface stratigraphy.
iv. Have you ever met Mr. Sugden and Standring (do you have any pictures?)
v. The Director of this project was Mr. Louis Dubertret. Was it really him who contacted you
to collaborate in this Lexicon? (Do you have any pictures of him?)
vi. Are there any other facts in relation to this lexicon that would be interesting for my
research? Everything would be welcome.
Last question
In Qatar, there is a group called The Qatar Geological Society . Would you be interested to come
back to Qatar if this Society was to invite you to participate in one of their meetings or
presentations?
1109
Pers.
Questions/Comments
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Mr.Cavelier
Yes,goodmorning
Goodmorning,howareyou?
Goodandyourself
Verygood.haveyoureceivedthequestionnaire?
Yes,Ireceivedityesterday
Excellent,andyouhadenoughtimetostudyit?
Yes,Ireadit
Verygood;thenyouareready
Yes,yes,letsgo
Doyoustillallowmetotapetheconversation?
Yes,yes,byallmeans
Allright.BythewayIwillalsotakesomenotesonmycomputerwhiletalking,soifyou
hear my keyboard you will know why.also, by the way, I made a mistake on the
questionnaire that i sent you I mentioned satellite images instead of aerial
photos.
Ahyes.atthattimeitwasaerialphotos
Yes,exactly;then,arethereanyquestionsthatyouwouldpreferthatidonotask?
No; just lets go in order; my date of birthI was not born in 1932 but in 1935 [an
internet search done earlier had revealed wrongly that he was born in 1932
(http://www.idref.fr/02677318X)].
Ah,perfect,verygood
IwasbornonJune14th1935atColombe,inlesHautsdeSeineinFrance
inlesHautsdeSeineinFranceonJune14
June14,yes
Idonotknowwheremyinformationof1932comesfrombutanycase
Meneither.Youwanttogetmeolder;Iamnotveryyoungbutthereisnoneedtoadd
3yearstomyage.
Allright.BeforewecontinueIwouldliketomentionforthepurposeofthisrecording
that we are Tuesday December 17, 2013. My name is Jacques LeBlanc and I am in
Qatar while the person i am talking with is Mr. Claude Cavelier who is located in
OrlansinFrance.Onlyforthepurposeoftherecording,thatisit.itisdone.
Verygood
Now the second question. You have received your PHD in 1971? [Another internet
search done earlier had also revealed wrongly that he had received his PHD in 1971
(http://www.galaxidion.com/personne/claudecavelier/57005/
and
http://www.librairiericher.com/personne/claudecavelier/57005/)].
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No,no.
Allright
IdonotknowwhatIreceivedin1971,afterreturningfromQatar.No.Ireceivedmy
doctorateDoctoratdEtatin1976
Allright
InJanuary76
Perfect
ItwastitledLalimiteEoceneOligoceneenEuropeOccidentale[thisthesiswaslater
reproduced under Cavelier C. (1979). La limite eoceneoligocene en Europe
occidentale.Sci.Geol.Mem.,ULPStrasbourg54:240pp]
Allright.Anditwasatwhichuniversity
AtUniversitPierreetMarieCurieParis6[http://www.upmc.fr/]
Ah yes, it is a famous one. Now from the family side your parents, which
professions
Yes,letscontinue.Mymotherwasathomeandmyfatherwasaschoolteacher.
Verygood.inanelementaryschool?
Yes,yes.Hewasprofessoratthebeginningofhiscareer;aprofessorinAlbania
Ah,verywell
Yes, he was at Lyce Franais de Kora in Albania. He belonged to the national
education; I do not know how it was called at that time in France; He did 5 years in
Albania,thenhecamebacktoFranceattherequestofmymotherwhoneededtolook
after her mother who had lost her sight; therefore, in order to have a position
immediatelyuponhisreturnhebecameaschoolteacherinColombe.
Perfect
Then,meIwasborninColombe
Verygood.Andyoucomefromalargefamily?Manybrothersandsisters?
No,no,Ihavenobrotherandnosister
Ahgood.anonlyson
Iamanonlyson
Atelementaryschool,wheredidyougoyourself?
Kindergarten,Ididnotdo.Infact,duringthewarmyfatherlookedaftersomerefugee
children from the cities and we were in La Creusethe Dpartement de La
Creuse which is in the Massif Central, therefore I went to elementary school in
LaCreuseandattheendofthewarwecamebacktoColombe;Ididoneyearof
elementaryschoolinColombeandthenItooktheexamtoenterattheLyce,wedid
notsaycollgeatthattime,wewentdirectlytotheLycein6thgrade;andIwent
totheLycePasteuratNeuillysurSeine.
Verywell
.whereididmysecondaryeducation;thenstoppedmysecondaryeducationaftermy
BScandstartedworkingatBRGGM.
Ah,youwerethenfairlyyoung
Iwas19,yes
AtBRGMat19yearsold.itisoneofmynextquestions,soIaminterested.
FromthatIdid.Itwasin55;inJanuary1955IenteredattheBRGGMitwascalled
BRGGMinthosedays,notBRGM.
Ahyes
ItbecameBRGMlater
Allright
Therefore,untilthebeginningof56,whenididmymilitaryservice,IcamebackandI
startedagainmystudiesattheuniversityatUniversitCatholiquedeParis,where
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IpassedmyLicensecertificates,atthattimethreewereneededtobefullylicensed
notatallliketodaysstudiesthereforeIpassedgeology,geomineralogyandapplied
geology.
Itwasnotasmallthing
Yes,me,Iwasdoinggeologysincetheageof11or12,hein.
Bycollectingfossilsandrocks?
Exactly. Of course. Geology was my passion. That is why I entered at BRGM
immediately. They were looking for geologiststechnicians at that time and I
presentedmyself.IknewalreadysomegeologistswhoworkedthereandIwaschosen
immediately. Therefore I started very young in this profession; even younger in the
fieldbutstillyounginthisprofession.
Itisalwayslikethat,thatitstartsingeology;withaninterestvery,veryyoung.
Thatisright.AftermystudiesIobtainmydiplomaasgeologistin1962.InfactIwill
sendyoumyCV,soyouwillknoweverything
Ahthankyouverymuch
.youwillhaveallthedetailstheCVisabout40pages;IneedtogoseeatBRGM
Thisisofgreatinterest
Itravelledquiteabit.Ihadalongcareer.Therefore,aftermydiplomamytitlewas
engineer.engineerattheBRGMtheBRGGMhaddisappearedin59.
Verywell
by merging with other french organisations, Bureau Minier de la France
doutremer, Bureau de Recherche Minires Algriennes, Services Gologiques
Africains, Le Bureau. all that was during the period of the decolonization.
FrancethenregroupedalltheseorganizationsunderBRGM;thereforebornin59but
withalreadyagoodbackground.NowyouareaskingmeIsuccessfullypresentedmy
thesis.Itwasadoctorate(DoctoratdEtat)..twentyyearswereneededinthosedaysto
presentadoctoratdEtat;itwasabigdiploma,butitwasinterestingtome.Ididit
inparallelwithmyactivitiesatBRGMandIpresenteditinJanuary1976.
Thenyourtitlewas DocteurenGologiedEtat
Non. Docteur s Sciences dEtat. Yes, Geology was one of the Sciences but the
doctoratewassSciences
IwillhaveallthesedetailsinyourCV,isntit
Yes,infactIwillnotgiveyouallthedetailsofwhatididbutthemostimportant.
Verygood.AsItoldyou,itisofinteresttome.
..so,Iammarried.Imarriedin1955.Iamstillwiththesamewife
Itisgood.andrare
Sheisstillalive.itismorethan58yearsnow.
Itisherwhoansweredthephonetheotherday,Ithink?
Yes,itsnormallyherwhoiscalledonthephone,soitisnormallyherwhoanswers.
Verygood
Now,Iwaswaitingforyou,soitisnotthesame.
andhernameifitisnottoomuchasking
Maryse.MaryseBourrat,ashermaidenname
Howdoyouspellit
BOURRAT.sheisfromtheJuras.andjustforthestory,Imetherwhiledoingthe
geological map of lAnse au Saunier [not 100% sure it is the right spelling]..I
startedgeologicalmappingveryyoung..
So,itcomesveryhandysometimetoknowgeologicalmapping
ShewasoneoftheyounggirlsatthehotelwhereIstayed.
Iwillnotaskmorequestiononthat
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Youknowitall..
Verywell
.children, I have twotwo daughters, Myriam who was born in 1956 and Fabienne
whowasbornin1957..so,asyoucanseetheyareolderthanyou.
Oneortwoyearsolderindeedandgrandsenfants Grandchildren?
wesaypetitsenfantshere.
And you are absolutely right; I am so used to talking in English, it has affected my
French.
Yes,yes,Iunderstandbutitmademelaugh..so,Ihaveonegranddaughterwiththe
nameClairewhowasbornin1988;andIwillcertainlynothaveanymore.
ClaireisthedaughterofFabienneorMyriam
Myriam.FabiennedoesnothaveanychildandMyriamonlyhadone.
.languages.Howmany doyouspeak?
I speak French. I learnt the Latin and the Old Greek but I do not speak it. As for
English,well,IamnotgoodinEnglish,butIspeakit.
Verywell.
I learnt it.just for the story, I learnt English at the Lyce. Since I was doing some
Classical Studies, Latin, Greek, and then Math, I had very few hours of English; I had
only one hour of English per week with that, one does not become very fluent.
WhenIfirstarrivedinQatarIwaspracticallynotabletospeakEnglishatall.
Ahyes,isthattrue.
Yes, I was just able to mumble few words. I made some progress during that year
becausewewereinthefieldunderthetentwithmyprofessornamedAbdallahSalatt
Ahexcellent
.becauseobviously,him,didnottalkawordofFrench.
Ofcourse.
so,Ihadboughtsomebooks.IdonotwritesobadEnglish,butbetweenwritingand
speaking,thereisabigdifference.
Yes,ofcourse
So,IhadboughtsomebooksandwepracticedwithYvesHeuzwhospokeverywell
English.so,IlearntmainlywithAbdallahSalatt.
Verygood.Bytheway,ImetwithMr.Salattyesterday.Ihadalsoaninterviewwith
him;Iwillputhisandyourstoriesinmyresearch.Hesendshisregards;Itoldhimthat
Iwillbetalkingtoyoutoday.
Ireallylikedhim;hewasreallyagoodman.
Irealizedthatyesterday.Hewillcallyou;Iknowthathewillcallyou.
Yes,wellhewillbecallingme..inEnglish
Yes,exactly.ah,ah
.andsinceIhavehearingproblemsasIgrowolder,itisgoingtobeterrible.
Goodluck
[while reading questionnaire] Do you travel from time to time outside of France?
No.Sincetheyears1990s.IwasstillPresident(wewilltalkaboutthatlater)ofan
internationalprogram.Iwenttoseveralcountries;andforthegeologyIwenttothe
Caucasus, etcbut since I stopped completely doing geology I said enough, I am
retired,Ihaveotherthingstodo.Istillcontinuetodosomegeologyformyselfbut
officiallyno;thusInolongertraveloverseas.Franceisverygood.EvenifItravelleda
lottherearestillplentyofplacesinFrancethatIdonotknow.
I am sure. France is more or less the same size as Colombia in South America, and
therearealsoalottosee.
Yesindeed,therearemanythingstoseeandIwillneverseeitall.
1113
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Bytheway,ImentionColombiainSouthAmericabecausemywifecomesfromthere.
MineisaJurassian,fromlAnseauSaunierintheJuras.ImarriedaJurassian
[Continuingwiththequestions] Isthereabiography.
[reading the questionnaire] a biography or autobiography, either of short or
long..Idontthinkso.MaybethereweresometalkswhenIreceivedsomemedals
orfew thingslikethat, butthesethinksthere are alot. Idonot haveany.Idonot
knowany.ThereareprobablysomeMaybeatlaSocitGologiquedeFrancein
1980maybe.Ihadamedalformythesis.
Theotherquestion.Infactyouhavealreadyansweredit..
[readingthequestionnaire]WasBRGMyourfirstemployerIstartedwiththepre
BRGMandendedin95atBRGM.
Whatdoesitadduptoitis40years?
Yes,yes
Wowthere are not that many people who can say that they have worked 40 years
withthesamecompany.
Yesindeed,butyouknowBRGMwasamonster.
Therewerealotofthingstodo
Therewerealotofthingstodo;andindeedIdidalot.Istartedasatechnicianand
endedasaDirector
Yes,thatIdidnotknow
butnotasGeneralDirector,butmorelikeDirectoratBRGM;whichisnotthesame
thing.
ofadepartment,ok.
[reading the questionnaire] Do you have a complete list of articles, publications
publications,Imusthavefewhundreds;Iwillgiveyouthelist
Thankyou
.on Qatar, you know the geological map, the geological description, the
nummulites,andyouknowthatthegeologicaldescriptionofQatarhasbeentranslated
inArabic.
Ahyes,no,Ihadnoidea.Ididnotknow.Youaretellingmesomethingnew.
Ah, Ah, by the University of Doha [he meant Qatar]. Upon a request from the
University of Doha who wrote to ask me the permission if i would authorize the
translation of the document into Arabic. I answered yes and received a copy of the
finalproduct;itmustbeitbecauseeverythingisinArabic
andthemapsandallarethere?
Ah,Idonotknow.Ididnotopenit.YouknowwhenitisinArabic.IhadtheEnglish
version; it is enough. I must say that I had never involved myself again with Qatar
.whenIhadsometeamsworkinginOman,andmorespecificallyinDhofarwewere
calledto.sincethegeologyofDhofaruptotheMiddleEoceneisessentiallythesame
asQatarandSaudiArabiathenwestudiedQataragaintoreviewtheagesofUmmEr
Radhuma,Dammam,etc
To come back on the Arabic translation, I researched a lot the English version and
neverstumbleduponanArabicversionhavingaphotocopyofyourdocumentwould
beveryusefulIknowIamaskingyoualot
Justwait.notheArabicversionwaspublishedlatein1993or1992Ithink.
Icanprobablygototheuniversityandaskediftheyhaveacopy
Yes
Itwouldprobablybemoresimple
UniversityofDoha.Inmytimetherewasnouniversityasyoumaysuspect;
Yes,itwasonlyasmallvillage
Yes,Dohaitwaseveninteresting
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Correct
[hecanbeheardshufflingsomepapers]Idonotlookbackveryoftenonthepast,
soIhadtodustoffsomepaperstoanswersomeofyourquestions,andapparentlyI
havemixedupeverythingbutIwillgiveyouatleasttheyearherewego1993.
In93,perfect
publicationoftheUniversityofQatar
Ok, I will research this and will keep you informed either by phone or through Mrs.
Labrot
OK.Imustevenhavetheletternotthelettertoaskmethepermission,butrather
theletterwhentheysentmethecopy.
Ok
Therefore it is also a publication on Qatar but I do not think you will find anything
originaltoit;unlesstheymadesomemistakesinthetranslation.
Yes but it can be useful because the topic of my research is historical and for this
countrywhichisArab,atleastforthelocals,itcanbeofinterest.
Yes,Iamtellingyouthisjustaspartofthewholestory.
Yes,ifyouwantwecontinuewiththesurvey.
[Reading the questionnaire] The contract between BRGM and the government of
Qatar was signed on February 19th 1969 and field work was initiated in April of the
sameyear..Youknowalotofthingsunlessitismewhowroteitsomewhere
Inyourreportindeed..
[Readingthequestionnaire] Doyouknowhowlongtookthenegotiations.Tomy
knowledgetherewasnonegotiation.
No.nothing?
Iwillexplainmyselfitcorrespondstosomequestionsyouarealsoaskinglater
Ok.
[Readingthequestionnaire]Howdidyougetinvolvedinthisproject?Wereyounew
atBRGM..no,Iwasnotnew..Andhowmanyweeks/monthsofnoticepriorto
leavingdidtheBRGMgiveyoutotellyouthatyouwillbethepersoninchargeofthis
project?Therewasnonoticeatall.Hereiswhathappened
Perfect
Atthattime,ItoldyouthatIwascomingfromtheBRGGM.TheBRGGMwasincharge
onlyofFrance;metropolitanFrance,whiletheDepartmentswerepartofOverseas.
In practice, the BRGM became la Direction Scientifique du BRGM. We were still
responsible only of France and of the Departments and Overseas Territories, which
explain why, except for a long stay in the Antilles in 64, I had never worked out of
FrancewhenIwenttoQatar.
Ok,thiswasallnewtoyou
Becauseasageologistitwasnotofmyjurisdiction.Therewereothergeologists,and
godknows therewere a lot,thenthe otherDirection,made up essentiallyof people
comingfromtheothercolonies,whowerefromAlgeria,Morocco,Tunisia,Africaanda
biteverywhere,madeupanotherDirectioncalledDirectiondesRecherchesMinires
lEtranger.ItisthisDirectionwhichworkedoverseas;asthenameindicates.Allof
them had some roots/origins outside France; while we, from a professional point of
view, had roots/origins in France and metropolitans. With regards to Qatar .it is a
contract,andIdonotknowexactlyhowitwenton.IknowthatitisourDirectorin
Djeddah,DirectorofBRGMinDjeddah(wealreadyhadanofficeinSaudiArabia)who
was in the process of changing assignment(he was just about to be replaced by
anotherDirector),whodecidedtogothroughDoha.Himself,hadwonCanada;hewas
leavingSaudiArabiatogotoCanada.
Verygood.Quiteachange
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Ah yes. It was like that. In this Direction we travelled the world. As mentioned he
wentthroughDoha;IdonotknowwhyhewenttoDoha,henevertoldme.Helefta
proposal to the Petroleum Affairs Department. To perform a geological mapping
surveyandmineralprospectionoftheTerritoryofQatar.Idonotknowexactlywhen
hewentthroughQatar;Ithinkattheendof68oraroundthattime.Idonotknow.I
was not in that Direction and knew nothing about Qatar. Qatar woke up at the
beginningof69;without anymorediscussion, theyacceptedtheproposal and asked
thatwesendimmediatelyageologistandhisassistanttodothework.
Wow,itwasquick
Thereasonswhyitwentsoquickly.Iamnotsure;thesearethingsthatIwastoldin
Doha later because at the BRGM everybody was asking what is this proposal and
whereisQataratthattimeitwasnotwellknownandwhatisthatandwholefta
proposalWedidnotevenknow,andthenwerealizedthatitwasRagou[unsurehow
to spell the name] who said I went to Qatar and left a proposal. In fact, the
proposalwasprobablyonly20lines.Itwasnotreally,notinformal,but
..almost
.Therefore,whenIwasinDoha,Iaskedthequestionbutreceivednoanswer.DJevan
[unsureofthename]didnotknow;AbdallahSalattIdonotknowifheknew.Andone
day, through my Indian secretary, who was in Doha while I was in the desert(I had
someofficesattheMinistry,attheGovernmentPalacelikeitusedtobecalled,ahuge
60m2officeinwhichitwasfreezingcoldwiththeairconditioningitwashorribleand
couldnotbeadjusted;asweaterneededtobewornatalltime.
Itlooksliketheofficeswehavestilltoday
.then, my secretary used to say that since Qatar had just entered the Arab League
andthatthelatterhadaskeditsMemberstoacknowledgeFrancefollowingDeGaulles
decisiontostopthesaleofMiragestoIsrael
Iunderstand
.itisworthwhatitis,Iamnotsure.Itispartofthestory.
Perfect
[readingthequestionnaire]WereyounewtoBRGMNo.AndHowmanyweeksI
haveansweredthat
Yesveryshort
Therefore,theDirectionMinirelEtrangeraskedDirectionScientifiqueifthey
hadsomeonewhowasinterestedinthegeologyoftheTertiary,knewhowtomapand
abletostudytheusefulmineralsubstances,becausetherewasnoexpectationtofind
minerals.
Nothingmuchindeed
Since in my career I was a cartographer and I had worked 10 years in a service
dedicatedtopublicworksaswellassearchingforusefulsubstances,Iwastheonlyone
withtheperfectprofiletogothere.
Verygood
Andthenisaidandwhereisthat?
letslookattheworldmap
I looked at the world map and i saw Qatar. Very little information was available.
Apparentlyitwasveryhot.Nothingwassaidaboutbeingveryhumidduringsummer
daysandduringthenightaswell.
Veryhumidduringthenight;understood
Wesweatlikeyouwouldnotbelieve..verygood,infactwithin8daysIwas leaving
forQatar.
Interesting.Infacteverythingwentveryfastanotherquestion.Hadyoueverdone
asimilarsurveypriortothisone,whetherinFranceorelsewhere?
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Yes,Istartedmappingin55;TheServicedecartedeFrancewasindependentuntil
69whenitmergedwithBRGM,butIwasanexternalcollaboratoroftheServicedela
cartegologiquedeFrancethusIhadthelevelofDeputyemployee.Therewere
3levelsasexperiencedcartographer.Deputyemployeesweretheexperiencedones.I
hadalreadydonesevenoreightmapsbeforegoingtoQatar,alwaysinFrance.
AndbeforearrivinginQataryoumusthavegatheredalotofdocumentsIimagine
Yes,veryquickly.TheBRGMatthetime,andstilltodayIhope,hadawonderfullibrary
dedicatednotonlytoFranceobviouslybutpracticallyonallthecountriesintheworld;
thereforeIgatheredsomeinformationbutImustsaythatmostoftheinformationwas
aboutSaudiArabia
PublicationsrelatedtotheOil&Gas,orsimilarreports?
OftypePowersetal
Yes
I gathered these very quickly and asked BRGM to continue doing so while I was in
Qatar;andfromQatarIaskedthem,ifareferencecametome,toforwardmeacopy.
So, towards the end I had a fairly important collection in Qatar, especially on the
neighboring countries such as some of the rare published data from Philby, Cox, but
CoxwasmainlyforBahrain.OnQatartherewasnotalotofinformation.
Yes, did you know the 3 maps I sent you [Browne 1952, Steineke 1958, Bramkamp
1961][Fig. APDX 14-01, 14-02 & 14-03]
Ididnotknowthem
No.Ok.Itisnew[toyou]
It is fantastic. I do not know if I told you but the Ministry has asked the petroleum
companies in Qatar to provide me with all useful documents. The only documents I
receivedwerefromQPCbutonlywhenIwasgoinguptheplanetogobacktoFrance.
Ohwow.
I had already written my report but they were useful mainly when I worked on the
StratigraphicLexicon.Itwasusefultocompletewithsomeunpublisheddata.InQatar
I also received some documents related to Hydrology, but from the petroleum
companies,theydidnotgivemeanything,andImeananything.
Correct.andtheGovernment ofQatardidnothaveaLibraryinthosedaysIimagine.
No,no,theyhadnothinganddidnotevenknowwhatgeologywas.
Infact,Mr.SalattwasthefirstQatargeologist.
Yes. I answered with regards to how documents were gathered I had them
forwardedtomefromFrance,buttheyweremainlydocumentsrelatedtosubstrata
studies,seawater,etcThisiswhatinterestedmemostforQatar;becausethemost
interestingwascertainlyfromthemineralpointofview.
Excellent.Andthenextquestion.Howdidyoudecidetostartthemappingsurvey?
DidyougofromSouthtoNorth,NorthtoSouth,Easttowest,etc?
Itissimple,IwentstraighttotheborderwithSaudiArabia;justnexttoSalwa.Tostart
with,becausetherewasalreadyaroadleadingstraighttoSalwa;itwastheonlygood
roadthatexistedatthetimeinQatarbetweenDohaandtheborder;infact,itstopped
attheborder.
Yes,itiscalledSalwaRoad
So,thiswasareason;andasItoldyou,Iwasgoingtherewithoutknowingthegeology
Iwastoencounter,beingveryclosetotheborderwithSaudiArabia.Ihadalsoheard
thenameofQarnAbuWailwhichhadbeenexaminedbyPhilby[in1933]
Yes,thatistrue
thereforeItoldmyself,wearegoingtostartthere;ifwehavetostartsomewhere,
mayaswellstarttheretherefore,IstartedwiththeNeogene
Yes,theMioceneandPliocene.
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The Miocene of the Dam Formation; since I was close to the border with Saudi
Arabia I found fairly quicklythe geologicaldescriptionoftheDamFormation .From
therewewentuptotheNorth.Isetupasecondcamp;thefirstcampwasnearSalwa
ontheQatarisideandwewentupnorthtosetupthesecondcampinDjebelDukhan
byFahahil.inthemiddleofalltheflares;Iimaginetherearestillflarestoday
Theflaresfromtheoilplants
Yes,wheretheyburnedgas
Ah,yes,yes,theycanstillbeseen
.duringthenightwehadlight
Ithelpedalot[toseeinthedark]
fromthere,wesurveyedallthewesternpartofQataruptothenorthernpart.Ihad
three Land Rover; we left with the Land Rover and progressively we went up north.
After,wesetupthethirdcampattheextremesouthinSaudaNatheel.
SaudaNatheel,ofcourse,itisaborderpost.
ItwastheborderwithAbuDhabiatthattimeAbuDhabiandSaudiArabia;therewas
a border post and a trail that stopped at Sauda Natheel from Doha. For me the
problemsweremainlyrelatedtothesupplyofwater.disastersdohappen
Ofcourse
Ihadfewdisasters;whenthevehiclesfail,thereisnothingleft,nomorewater. You
wantthelastvehicletobringbackwaterforyou.
Yes,icanunderstand
From there we did the entire southern border and it was very complicated because
therewasnotopographicalmap,nomap.
Yes,itwasanunknownterritorybecauseofthe[sensitivity]withtheborder.
.we had to do the topographical map in order to overlay the geology it took a
while and in addition, we got lost once in the Rub' al Khali [he really meant to say
KhoralOdaid,sincetheRub'alKhaliislocatedinSaudiArabiaandtheUnitedArab
Emirates]
inthedunes..
..Theborderwasnotreallyobviousandiwantedtoreachthecoast;unfortunatelywe
deviatedslightly
andyouarrivedinSaudiArabia
youaskmelaterifwehadsomeaerialphotos.Yes,wehadsome.Itisasetthathad
been taken by Hunting, but unfortunately taken during a time of fog; therefore they
wereextremelydifficulttouse;itwasallgrey,palegrey.So,wehadnomaps;wehad
setupacompassandsextantonourvehiclestohelpuswiththedirectionsbutwestill
deviated slightly and found ourselves in the dune fields, which were certainly on the
Saudiside,orwhatevercountrythisareausedtobelongto.So,itwasabitdifficult.
AndKhorAlOdaid,youwenttherefinallytodothegeology.
What?
TheInlandSea,youdidgofinally
Yes,yes,Ididgoofcourse.Anditisbeautiful.Therewerepinkflamingostheywere
superb.
..Andtheyarestillhere.westillhavethem.
Itwasquiteadiscovery;andthewaterhadsuch ahigh[salt]density;eventhewaterof
theGulfofSalwawasmuchlighter.
Yes, indeed. We are told that it is the second saltiest point [in the world] after the
DeadSea.
Yes, yes, that is why that I was very interested with this water; I still think the same
way today because Qatar wanted to develop an industry. It wanted a steel industry,
etcIproposedtosetupamagnesiumandbromineindustry,etc..
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Mr.SalatttoldmeyesterdaythatyouflewoverKhorAlOdaidinhelicopter.
Yes, yes, we went by land to do the survey of the field dune south of Doha to the
borderwithAbuDhabi[nowSaudiArabia]andKhoralOdaidwediditbyhelicopter.
What was of interest to us was to stop where we could see the rare outcrops in
betweenthedunes.
Yes, it is true; there are only two or three; not a lot [other than the Quaternary
deposits]
Theywereprobablyrecentdeposits,morethanlikelyQuaternary.Itwasverydifficult
toassigntheageofthedeposits.AllthisgivesyouanideahowwedidtheSouth;the
SouthEast with the helicopter and the NorthEast was done from Doha; i.e.: we did
notsetupacamp.Imustsayalsothatthenorthisverymonotonous.Whenyoudrive
onthereg
thereisnothing.Itisalwaysthesamething.
Itisnotaveryinterestinggeologybutitneededtobedone;sowediditfromDoha.So
intotalIhadthreecamps.
Question F. Did you have a good Qatari guide who knew the field, and do you
rememberhisname?
Icanassureyouofonething.TheQataristhatwehadasdrivershadneversetfoot
outside of Doha. The only people that we met outside of the main centers such as
Doha,UmmBab,Khororonthecoast,weretheBedouins;theseBedouinsdidnothave
any specific nationality; They were no more Qatari, Saudi, Emiratis or Omanis they
were nomads as we say. I probably encountered two or three of these camps. Of
course we stopped at their camp to see if they needed something, such as water,
coffee, camel milk.and we invited them for a mchoui. It was a big party for the
drivers who tried to find a small goat. Thats itno, nobody knew the interior of
Qatartherewasnothing.forroad,therewasSalwaroadwheretheywenttotryto
big cars. They went back and forth without stopping at maximum speed which was
very dangerous, because obviously there were donkeys, women, children, camels ....
All that could possibly cause accidents.and there were some. After pleurisy, car
accidentswerethemostimportantcausesofdeathamongQatari.
Nothinghaschangedtoday.Manystill driveat200kmsontheroads.
Towardstheendofthesurvey,whenIwaswritingmyreport,IwasalwaysinDohaand
the Emir took pity to see me driving an old Land Rover even if it had the colors of
Qatar.IhadbeeninvitedtoselectavehiclefromhisautomobileparkandIchosea???
[cannotmakeoutthenameontherecording],orIdonotknowwhatanAmerican
carthatwascertainlyofferedtohimandthatwasnotbeingused.Itwentupto200or
240kms per hour at that time but to go around Doha it was excellent it was more
serious.So,regardingtheguide,zeroZerobecausenobodycouldtakemeanywhere.
Itismewholead.Ileadanditwasvery,verydangerous.Verydangerous,mainlyin
the western half of the peninsula because of all the ground depressions, all these
gypsum dissolution cavities, etc Some were shown on the map that I had and few
weredetectedusingtheaerialphotoswhichwerenottoobad,butforthosethatwere
not detected, driving slow was a must. Because as you know, there can be some
depressionsassteepas15meters.
andwithoutknowingaheadoftime.
Yes,withoutknowing.Iwouldhavelikedtohavesomeguides,butIdidnothaveany.
Bytheway,sinceweareonthetopicofstaff,doyouknowwhathasbecomeofMr.
YvesHeuz?
Iwillsendyouapicture
Ahexcellent
I will send you a picture because my wife found three pictures taken at the same
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locationandtime.IthoughtIhadonlyonebutinfactthereweretwomore;thetwo
othersaretakenoneaftertheotherandHeuzisonthepicturewithme.
Excellent
Whathasbecomeofhim?AfterreturningfromQatar,heleftalmostimmediatelyfor
Alaska.
Thenheleftfrom+50Ctogoto50C
Yes,yes,HehadnotstayedoneweekinOrlansthathewasalreadyinAlaska,because
he belonged to the Direction des Affaires Minire lEtranger. As for myself, I
settledbackinmyDirectionScientifique.HethenreturnedfromAlaska;waitedabit
foranewpostandthendisappeared.Disappearedtoleavehiswife,hisfamilyandall
hismistresses.Hehadarathertumultuouslife.Isawhimagainonceabout20years
ago.Hehadmarriedagainwithanotherlady.WetalkedabitandsincethenIhave
notheardanythingfromorabouthim.Ijustknowthathestoppedpracticinggeology.
Ah,hechangedprofession!!
Yes,butIdonotknowwhathedidafter.Youknow,whenonedisappearscompletely
intherealsenseoftheword;i.e.nomorecivilstatus,etc.wehavenothingIdidnot
wanttoaskhimquestions.Since,Idonotknowwhathasbecomeofhimbutsincehe
marriedagainhemusthaveanormallife.
Very good, lets go to the next [question]. In the years 1990, Qatar established a
referencegridforallitsmappingsurveys;thisgridiscalledQatarNationalGrid.In
196970 this grid did not exist and neither did the GPS. How did you calculate the
exactelevationsandcoordinatesforthegeologicalmap..?Whichreferencedidyou
use?
The answer is we did not do any topography, except as I mentioned earlier, in the
area of Sauda Natheel since there was no map; we had to overlay the geology on
something,sowedidthetopographybutwedidnotdoanyextensivemappingsurvey;
we looked after the altitudes but there is almost no elevation change in Qatar, it is
almost all flat. Except for the Miocene hills in the area of Salwa, along the Gulf of
Salwa,thereisnothingworthmentioning.exceptthedepressions.Onthemap,since
there was no drawn topography, sometimes it is difficult to understand why. Some
places you see Miocene, other places you the Rus which appears through the
Dammam.So,wewerenotatallequippedtoperformsuchelevationmappingsurvey.
Wewouldhaveneeded speciallytrainedsurveyors,etcSotheanswerwe didnot
doanyofthis.
Perfect.InfactthemaximumelevationinQatarisonly103meters
Yes,thatsit,notfarfromSalwaRoad
QuestionHyouhavealreadyansweredit
. Do you remember specifically one or more places where you setup your camps
(whatwas/werethename(s)?
YousaidSalwa,AbuSamra[ImeanttosaySaudaNatheel]andDukhan
Exactly,Iansweredaheadoftime.IsaidSalwa,FahahilinDjebelDukhan,andSauda
Natheel
Yes,exactly
[reading the questionnaire] How long were you staying at each one of them; few
days,fewweeks?Itwasmorelikeweeks
Yes,howmanycampsdidyouhave
Three
Andfortherest,youstayedinDohawhileexploringthenorth
Yes
Doyouhavethatoneyouhaveansweredalreadyabouttheaerialphotos.
Yes
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Arethereanyplaceswhereyoudidnotgophysicallybutforwhichyouusedonlyaerial
photos[inordertoextrapolatethegeology]
Inprinciplethereisnotany,butinfacttherearealwayssome.ImustsaythatIdidnot
climballthedunesbetweenDohaandtheborderwiththeEmirates.That,Ihavetold
you, we did it in helicopter. The helicopter had an enormous advantage. It was the
helicopterthatwasdoingthebordersurveillance.Ihadafriendwhowasamechanic
engineer in the company in charge of the helicopters doing the border surveillance.
So,withhishelpIreceivedthepermissiontoflyoverinthatarea;thestaffwasvery
friendly.Wewerelandingonlytolookattherareoutcrops.
Itwasreallyreconnaissancework
There,itwasreallyonlysand,sand,sandandsincethatsandistoorichinlimestone
andtosucceedinmakingglassevenwhenyouarefarfromthenorthernarea,with
the main wind, the shamal, that wind which print its trace everywhere, including on
thedunes,thereg2,therocks,andonthecrust,etcitisfantasticbecauseyouhavea
compassatyourfeet.Exceptwhenthedunesstarttogatherwitheachother,because
whenyouenterinKhoralOdaiditisdifficulttofindyourbearing.
Yes, I went to Rub al Khali just last October in the United Arab Emirates; there the
dunesaretwiceorthreetimestheheightofthoseinQatar.
Yes, it is amazing. Except for this area which we did not do with the Land Rover
flying,wewentalmosteverywhere.Icannotsaythatwedideverythingbyfootitis
not true. The accuracy was good. We could have done maps at scale of 25,000 or
50,000ifwehadhadagoodtopographicalmap.
Ok,verygoodthankyou..Theresultsofthissurveyaredescribedintwopublications:
1)GEOLOGICALDESCRIPTIONOFTHEQATARPENINSULA(60pages)
2) GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND MINERAL SUBSTANCES EXPLORATION IN QATAR (109
pages)
Yes,thatismyreport
I transcribed your report [as WORD/PDF document]; if you want a digital copy I can
sendittoyou.
Ohno,Idonotneedit.Ihaveonecopy
So the question. [In these two publications there is in appendix the Reference
Sectionsfrom1to5,however,ReferenceSection#2,whichdescribestheMioceneon
QARN ABY WAIL which is now an official border point between Qatar and Saudi
Arabia,ismissinginallsixcopiesownedbyQatarPetroleumandallcopiesbelonging
toBRGM.
Thequestionisthefollowing:WasthisReferenceSection#2onQarnAbuWailreally
doneorwasitanerrornottoincludeitduringtheprintingofthedocument.Would
youhaveacopyofit?CanIgetadigitalcopy?]
Ilookedforthat.TheReferenceSectionsfrom1to5ThesectionofQarnAbuWail,
was not. It was an error to indicate that the section was in appendix. It was not
insertedinannex.BecauseQatarAliDjeddawhowastheAssistantDirector,theone
whomanagedthePetroleumAffairs,saidahQarnAbuWailisinadisputedzone,itis
ourborderandsinceitisadisputedpointwithSaudiArabiaitwouldbothermealotto
invite.So,wereplaceditwithasectionmoretothenorthbutstillclosetoQarn
AbuWail.WedidmakethissectionbutInolongerhaveit.
Toobad
Maybe we could find it. You know I left BRGM in 1995. I left behind my files; its
2
A desert pavement formed mostly by deflation, comprising closely packed resistant pebbles that almost prevent
further deflation.
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normaltheywerefilesthatbelongedtotheBRGMandnottome.ForalongperiodI
was able to use my office and everything that was in it but it has been already few
yearsthattheymovedeverythingoutmyoffice;now,thereissomeoneelseinit.My
documents,mybooksthatIhadthereweretransferredIdonotknowwhere.Ihope
theydidnotgotothetrash;butitispossible.So,thedocumentsonQatar...Ihavethe
documentsonFranceonlyathome.ItookonlyFrancedocumentswithmeandleftall
therestoftheworldatBRGM.So,thesectionexistsbutIdonothaveit;atleastnot
now.IwillaskaroundatBRGM.
Ahthankyou.Itwouldbeverynice.Itakenote.youwillask
Good, the question is the following.Yes it was done. It is not an oversight. Do you
haveacopy?Notyet.Canihaveadigitalcopyofit?IfIfindit.Itwillbeanormal
copybutwillsendyouwhatIhaveifitisfound.
Yes, it is clear. Everything you can find will be useful. I will wait for your answer
throughMrs.Labrot.
Ok.doyouremember theislands[thatyouvisited?Halul,Shraouh,Ishat,Hawar?
Didyougettherebyboatorhelicopter.].Yes,Halul,yes.IwasinvitedbyShellwho
had its base on Halul. For Shraouh, Abdallah Salatt found a boat belonging to the
maritimepolice[coastguard?]sowewenttoShraouh,wecampedonShraouh;Iate
birdeggs.Shraouhwasinhabited.
Weretheycookedorraweggs
No,theyhadthemcookedatthecampwiththefishescaughtduringtheday
Verygood
Yes
OkandIshat?
Ishat?,IknowLashatitmustbethesamethinginthedirectionofAbuDhabi
Exactly.InyourreportyoudowriteitasLashathoweverIwastoldthattheofficial
nameisIshat
OK,thenitisthesamethingyesiwentthereitisQuaternaryifIremember.Itisnot
likeHalulorShraouhnothingtodo.
Itismore[similar]liketheMioceneandtheDamFormationmaybe.
ItismorerecentthantheDamtypeofformationlikethoseinAbuDhabiletssay
Quaternary. I did not find any fossils it is very rich in fossils but nothing very
characteristicit is really some littoral deposits, shallow, nothing very characteristic;
thereforeinmyopinionmustbeQuaternary
Imustgooneday
Gobyboatandnotbyhelicopter.Itisimpossibletoland
good
IdidnotgotoHawar.HawarwashighlycontroversialbetweenBahrainandQatar.
ThereforeIwastoldnottogo.TheEmirwasfuriousbecauseIdidnotgo;Ididnottell
himbutIhadreceivedmyordersfromtheMinister
himself
ForHawar,fromFranceweputtogethersomephotogeologyusingtheaerialphotos,
butIneversetfootstheremyself.
Ok
.Letsdiscussthefossils.[fromthepublicationsofotherauthorsthathavefollowed
thesurvey,Iknowthatyoucollectedsomefossils.
i.
TheEocenesharkteethweredescribedbyDr.Casierin1971;
ii.
TheforaminiferabyDr.BlondeauandCavelierin1972
iii.
Theechinoids(seaurchins)byDr.Romanin1976
To my knowledge, these are the only three publications in relation to Qatar and its
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fossils which resulted from the survey. Do you know any others? Have you kept
yourselfsomefossilspecimensforyourownpersonalcollection?Didyoucollectany
remainsofvertebratessuchasribsorvertebraeofmammalsorreptiles?Ifso,doyou
remembertheplacesandgeologicalperiods?]
Yes,thefossils;letstalkaboutit
Therehavenotbeenanyotherpublicationsexceptthose youmention.Finally,forthe
mollusks, for what I was able to determined, it was always internal molds or
impressions.ItisshownintheReferenceSectionorintheStratigraphicLexicon.For
me the most interesting were the nummulites which we studied with Blondeau,
togetherwiththeechinoidswithRoman.Fortheechinoids,Romanhadgivenmehis
interpretationsbeforetheLexicon;heproducedabeautifulpublication.
Yes,ilike ittoo.Itisveryaccurate.Good,andwhataboutthesharkteeth,theyare
verycommon;whataboutothervertebrates,didyoufindribs.?
No,no,nospecialdiscoveriesotherthanthesharkteethfromtheMidraShalewhich
were extremely common especially when concentrated at the surface. I did not see
anythingelse.
YoucouldbeinterestedtoknowthatinJuly2007Ifoundthefirstdugongribfromthe
EoceneonthewholeArabianPeninsula.
Ahthatisverygood
It has been studied by a paleontologist from the United States and confirmed by
another one; I have also found more [ribs & vertebrae] since. They come from the
MidraShale.
Iamnotsurprised
AndlaterIfoundwhaticalladugonggraveyardfromtheMiocenenearSalwa..Only
tokeepyouinformed.
Verygood
The next question M. You mentioned to Mrs. Labrot that the negatives of the
picturesyoutookduringthesurveywereexposedtothelightandthus,nopicturesof
fieldworkareavailable.Wediddiscussthissubjectandyousaidthatyoudonothave
anybutthatyouwillsendmeapictureofyourselfinDoha.
Yes,takeninside.ApicturetakenduringaneveningorganizedbyShellandforwhich
wehadbeeninvitedwhichwasquitearareoccurrence.
.itwillbeuseful
..AndinadditionItoldyouthatmywifefoundactually3pictures.Theothertwoare
withHeuz;thusyouwillalsohaveapictureofHeuz.
Perfect,excellent
thenwhatdididoaftermyassignmentinQatar?IcamebacktoFrance.Iprepared
a second contract at the request of the Qataris. This contract, however, was never
honored,becausewhenAliDjeddahcametoFrancetosignit,hewasturnedbackat
Orly.Wedidnotsucceedtomakehimcomedowntheplanebecausehedidnothave
anyvisa.
Ahno
At this time, Qatar did not have any diplomatic relation with France since it was the
Britishwhohadthemonopoly.HewastoldtogothrougheitherKuwaitorBeirut.He
wentthroughBeirutandinBeiruthewastoldahno,thereisabsolutelynoproblem
sinceyoustoponlyfor24hoursandforthatyoudonotneedavisa.Hearriveda
Sunday, on his way to an OPEC Congress in Algeria. I went to pick him up; in those
yearsit wasinOrly. We onlyhadone airportinParis.Andwenever succeededto
[convincetheauthority]tolethimcomedown.Therewerenopolicemen,therewas
nobody.Therewasonepolicemanbuthimthereforeweneversucceededinsigning
thiscontract.
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Ahitistoobad.Andthiscontractwouldhavebeentodowhat?
Tostudytheseawaterofthesabkhasandthesabkhadeposits,etc,Trytodevelop
themineralresources.
Ahok,itistoobad
ItwastoobadformebecauseIwasreadytoleave.So,IstayedinFrance.Ibecame
the Head of the Geological Mapping and Geology Department at the BRGM in the
years. End of years I went to Syria on few missions as well. When it dealt with
geological maps or mineral substances provided with no concession it was the
Direction which was called the Service which became in 68, after merging with
Service de la Carte Gologique the Geological Survey [he forgot the name] it
will come back to me. The name had changed especially the assignments, we now
could work outside of France but only in our expertise; our scientific expertise,
Geological mapping, as long as it was not accompanied by mining research, for
instance in Qatar or Syria to study asaltic limestones (not sure about the term) or
thingslikethat.Geologicalmappingwasforus.So,in74IwenttoSyriaforthefirst
time for the asaltic limestones, and I succeeded in having a contract signed with the
Syrian government to train the Syrian geologists to do detail geological mapping at
scale50,000.So,IdidthistrainingforseveralmonthswithteamsofFrenchgeologists.
ThemapsneededtocomeoutwiththestampoftheSyriangeologists;8or10mapsat
scale50,000foranareaintheSyriandesert.Itwasverynice.Wehadacampat60kms
fromPalmyra;butitwasnotacamplikeIhadinQatarbecausebeforeushadcome
theRussiansandtheyhadbuiltliterallysomehousesinthedesert.
Yes,morecivilized
Thereforeweusedthiscamp;ifyoucancallitthatwehadbedsandeverythingelse.
Alsosincewewereat6kmsfromPalmyrawecould,onaFriday,gohaveadrinkand
eataroastedchicken.Itwasreallygreat.AfterSyria,Ihadsomegeologistsmappingin
SaudiArabiasoIneededtogoseethemfromtimetotime;Iworkedindifferentparts
ofSaudiArabia;alsocamebacktoDharan;toseetheTertiaryintheareaofDharan;it
wasfantastic.Findingagainthesamelayers[thanthoseinQatar];andtheredidIsee
alotofmammals,fossilmammalswow
Yes,itisverywellknown
AtthebaseoftheDambarrierbeaches,theremyfrienditwasquiteamazingtosee
alltheseteethandbones.
IwillbegoingthroughDharannextweekbecauseIamgoing(onholiday]toBahrain.I
willbedrivingnextweekandwillbestoppinginDharan,butIdonotthinkIwillhave
thetimetodoanyfieldoutings.
Yes,becauseitisnotinDharanitself;oneneedstogotothefield.
Andoneneedstogowithsomeonewhoknowsthearea.
..From 1980 I went to Saudi Arabia very frequently and also established ourselves
verywellinOman.InOmanwedidtheinventory,Ihadsometeams,atthistimeI
was the Geological Director but I needed always to go to the field. The Oman
Mountainsandthen.IwenttoDhofartwodaysafterthey[therebels]surrendered.
WebroughtaKalashnikovwithusifyougotothefield;therearesomewhomaynot
know that the war/hostility ended. I never had any problem. In Dhofar I had the
surprisetofindasuccessionsimilarastheonefoundinQatarandSaudiArabiaatleast
withregardstotheEocene.
Yes,evenontheislandofSocotrabetweenAfricaand...[Yemen]
IneverwenttoSocotra
Yes,butthegeologyisthesame.TheRusandDammamFormations;allthatisreally
spreadout.
YesandmorethanlikelyitwouldbethesamethinginYemenandSomalia,withsome
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differences. No, what is very different is the geology at the periphery of the Oman
Mountains.There,theTertiaryisdifferent,abitdeeper,andmorecontinuousandalso
some Danian overlapping some Maestrichtian, or things like that; what you do not
haveinQatar,SaudiArabiaandDhofar.Itisreallyageologythatisverydifferent
whenonelooksatthedistancesitisreallyincredible.
Yes,asmuchtheverticalandhorizontaldistance.
Forthe1980sand90sit wasSaudiArabiaandOman.Iwasgoingasthebossbuta
bossinthefield.
Exactly
Yes,Ineededthattoclearmymind
Yes,itisgoodtogetoutoftheofficesometime
LetsdiscussnowtheStratigraphicLexiconof1975.Isitin73or75thatitcameout?
Theprintingdateis75
75, very good. The authors were Sugden, Standring et yourself for the surface
stratigraphy.HaveyouevermetMr.SugdenandMr.Standring?
No.Neitheronenortheother.InanycaseitwasDubertretwhowastheresponsible
oftheLexiconintheMiddleEast;Near&MiddleEast.IthinkitwasStandringwhohad
made some observations on the names that were given to certain members of the
Dammam. Standring to Dubertret be careful, it is not possible, here some call it
Simsima but for us Simsima is a term used since long time ago in the subsurface
etc. So Dubertret told me. (I never talked to Standring); they do not want to
collaboratewithyoubuttheyacceptthatyoudoaseparatetext.
Ahverygood
Yes,itwaslikethat
Yes, it was good because your survey of the surface geology was much better than
their understanding of the surface geology; they had never done such survey
themselves.
andformeihadonlydonesurfacesurveys.Iwasneverinvitedtoseethedrillingofa
well. Not even from Qatar Petroleum which could have made an effort. It is
understandablefromShell,andinadditionShellwasdrillingintheGulf.
Thereisnotalottosee[atsurfaceintheGulf]
It was not as interesting. What I would have been interested in was to see, either
cuttingsorlogsfromQatar...,Ireceivedsomedocumentsbuttherewerenologsat
all, there was nothing in what they gave me. There were some notes, notes from
Glenn.?? Or i do not know whothey were not very forthcoming with
information.
ok
Itwaslikethat,eventhoughIworkedforthe PetroleumDepartment.
Ifyouhadhadmoreinformationyouwouldhavedoneanevenbetterwork.
I did not have any choice anyway. I was interested in doing geology. It has always
beenmypassion;notanymorebecauseIamold.Oldnottoomuch.Iamstillnot
100yearsold.
I understand very well. Me too I have this passion; I must go out almost every
weekendstogotothefield.
Yes, and if I understood well, you have a Geological Society in Qatar it means that
therearegeologistswhogettogethertodiscussgeology.
Absolutely, we discuss frequently and myself, personally I write on the geology of
Qatar,surfacegeology,paleontologyisofgreatinteresttome.Ifyouwantoneday,
askMrs.Labrottodownloadforyousomeofthepublications.Thebestoneistheone
from 2009 discussing the Dam Formation. There are a lot of pictures in fact on the
dugonggraveyardandthefossils;youarefreetolookatit.
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Iwillaskoneofmydaughters,becausecomputersandIdonotgetalong,Iameven
againstit,butmytwodaughtersarecomputerscientist.
Ah,good,good,ithelps
Fantastic.Itwillbeofinterest,andatleastIwilltalkaboutsomethingelse.Ithinklife
deserves to be lived I read, watch TV (I am not against it). But need to get busy
duringmyday,outside,Ineedtogooutside.
True
So,Ilookaftermygarden,Ismokemypipeoutside..
Verygood.
Yes
Beforeending,doyouhaveanypicturesofMr.Dubertret?
Ahno.
Ok
Mr.Dubertretatthattimewas alreadyanoldmanwhoididnotknowdirectly.We
wrotetoeachothers;weonlycorrespondedinwriting.Hewasageologistwhohad
workedgreatlyduringmostofhiscareerintheNear/MiddleEast,inSyria,inTurkey.I
didnotknowhimpersonally.Wewrotetoeachother.Hephonedmeonce.Ibelieve
hediedsometimeafter.
After1975
Yes,Yes
Comingbacktothe QatarGeologicalSociety ,youtoldmeearlierthatyounolonger
gooutofFrancehoweveriftheSocietywouldinviteyoutocometoQatarwouldthat
beofinteresttoyou.
Iamtemptedtoansweryes,toseehoweverythingchangedandofcoursetobeable
todiscussthegeologyofQatarwithsomeone,butno.MyanswerisnoIdonotfeel
likeitanymoreYouknow,inadditiontoallthecountrieswetalkedabout,Iwasalso
a member, then VicePresident, then President of the International Paleogene
StratigraphicSubCommissionoftheInternationalUnionoftheGeologicalSciences,
sothroughthesefunctionsIwanderedaroundtheworldtoseesomePaleogeneandI
mustsaythatIhaveenoughtotravel.
..andiunderstand
Iamhonest.IwasneverathomemywifehasbeenjealousonlyIcannotsayof
onlyonewoman,butwasjealousonlyofthegeology.Sonow,sheishappybecause
sinceIretiredIwasstillPresidentoffewthings;IwenttoCaucasus,Patagonia,etc
and now I said enough is enough. I finished my travels when I entered France from
Syria.ItwasmyfourthtimeinSyria;acountrythatwasverypleasantatthetime.
Yes,andnowtheyhaveproblems
..AndnowIdonotfeellikeIcangoforaridewithmywife;wegotoBourgogne,few
daysontheAtlanticCoast,butattheenditisstillinthecountry,bycar;wecomeback
whenwefeellikeit;
Noplane
Thank you for the offer. Ten years ago I would probably have answered with
pleasurebutnownotatall.
OK,Dontworry,Iunderstandverywell.
Good
Herewego,Iamdone.Ithankyouverymuchformakingallthistimeavailabletome.
IwilltrytosendyoumyCV,thetitlesofmyarticlesandscientificworks;Idonotthink
youneedmyunpublishedreportsfromtheBRGMbutwillforsuresendyouthelistof
publications;Therearefewhundreds.
Excellent,excellent,verygood
Anditisveryeclectic.TherearefewontheMiddleEastSaudiArabia,Oman,without
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mentioningQatar.andthepictures.
IwillsendanemailtoMrs.Labrot
You sent me a very nice picture [see below] where I am standing in the middle; but
Heuz is not there [the possibility of Heuz being in that picture was raised by Mr.
Salattduringmyinterviewwithhimtwodaysearlier].Thesearetwocolleagues;one
was a driller [right] who was receiving a decoration that day. He was receiving the
Marteaudor;i.e.itwashimtheeldestduringtheeveningoftheSainteBarbeHe
was a chief driller who I had known very well; and the other one [left] is a mining
geologist who I cannot remember the name. I do not know him personally... He is
younger.So,isthatpictureenoughforyou;fortherecentpictures?
http://www.amicalebrgm.fr/v3/spip.php?article329(2009)
Yes,forrecentpictureitwillbeenough.TheonefromDohaintheyears6970isalso
ofgreatinterest.
Yes,noproblem.Ihavealreadyputitaside.
Excellent
IwilltrytogoonThursdayafternoontoseeifDanielleisattheBRGM;Iwillseeher
andtakeadvantageaswelltogotothelibrarytoseeifIcanfindsomeinformationor
documents on Qatar. I will investigate the collections in fact, when you ask a
paleontologist to study a fauna, you make sure to send him all the material but you
never see it again. For example, the Qatar echinoids are certainly in the Musee
dHistoireNaturelleParis.ThesharkteethstudiedbyCasierareinBrussels.
Theyarepreservedsomewheretheydisappearasyousay.
Once it is in a museum it is good anyway, it is preserved almost for the eternity
unlessabombfallsonit.Fortherest,Ididnotkeepit.Ididnotkeepthemollusks.
TherewerealotofoystersintheDamandothersimilarthings,butmostofthemwere
internal molds; no shells per say. For paleontology, it is not very interesting. If you
happen to be able to put a name on an internal mold an internal mold is very
commonCygorcia??orCorbulidaebutyoustilldonotknowwhichoneitisitdoes
not bring much. The time is gone when monographs were done using molds or
impressions.Wearenolongerinthe19thcenturynorareweinthe20thcentury.
Noweverythingisdonewithlaserand3Dprinters.
Yes,itiswonderfulnow.Whatwasveryinterestingwerethenummulitesononeside
andtheechinoidsontheother;so,essentiallytheDammamandtheDam.
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Mr. Cavelier, I thank you very much for your time. Would you allow me. I do not
knowifiwillhavemorequestions,butwouldyouallowmetocallyouback[ifmore
questionscometomind]
Yes,yes,ofcourse,dontworry.
ThankyouverymuchWouldyoulikeacopyoftherecording?
Ahno.Thankyou.Icouldnotevenlistentoit
Ok.Thankyouverymuchanduntilnexttime
Untilnexttime
Thankyou
Goodgeology
Ahthat,forsure
1128
Pers.
Questions/Commentaires
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Hello
Yes,Dr.Cavelier
Yes
JacquesLeBlancfromQatar,howareyou ?
Ah,verygood,thankyou,andyourself
Verygood,thankyou.Isitagoodtimetotalk?
Ah,Icantalkabit
Excellent,tellmeonlywhenyouhavetogoandwestop.
Yes,becausemygranddaughterishere;youknow,shedoesnotcomeeveryday.
Iunderstand,Iunderstand.Onlyfewminutestoaskyoufewquestionsifitisokay.
Verywell
Iwilltakeonly5minutesofyourtimeDuringourlastinterviewIforgottoaskyouthe
namesofyourfatherandmother.
AhmyfathersnamewasLucienCavelier.
Okay
AndmymothersnamewasLucienneVaslin.inadditiontoCavelier
VaslinitisspelledVACELIN
No,VASLINthenVaslin
VaslinLIN,Okexcellent.
Now,IwillaskyousomethingthatwillrequiretorecallquicklysomefactsaboutQatar
..in your report you mention that in the area of Simsima, a small village in the
northeast of Qatar, you found some [quartz] geodes which contained oil. I found the
area,andalsofoundthegeodes,butisitreallyoilinthem?Iknowthatoilcanbefound
ingeodesinBahrain,buthereinQatar,otherthanwhatismentionedinyourreport,Ido
notknowanybodywhohasfoundgeodeswithoil.
Ah,Iamnotsayingtherewerealot.Sincewebrokeopenalotofthesegeodestotryto
findthemostbeautiful.AsfarasIcanremember,therewasatleastone,maybetwo,
whichcontainedoil,moreorlessviscousoil.
Viscous,good,verygoodtoknow.Thankyou.Onemorequestion,veryquickly. How
many vehicles did you have to do the survey. You mention that you had some Land
RoverwhileMr.Salattmentionedothermakes.DidyouonlyhaveLandRover?
No, we had only Land Rover, but we had also a truck a truck that carried the water
tank.
Thewatertanktruck,ok.
Thewatertanknotforfuel
OkaywhichwasveryusefulIimagine.
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Whenthewatertankwasempty,itwasacatastrophe
Icanimagine,indeed.
Onetime,thewatertank gotemptyovernight ;it hadbeenclosedimproperly,sointhe
morningitwasfoundempty.Thus,IsentthetruckurgentlytoDoha.After24hoursit
wasstillnotback.IthensentaLandRovertoseewhathadhappened.After48hours,
stillnothing.
Ohwow.Howlongdidittaketocomeback.
The Land Rover came back the second night. Ok not really 48 hours but rather 36
hours,justbeforesunsetandwithfewlitresofwater;theyinformedusthatthetruck
brokedownalongtheroadandwaswaitingforatowtruck..attheendallwasokay
butwedidstaywithoutwateragood24hours.
Ohwow,notasituationIwanttobein.
Itisnotverypleasant.
Anotherquestion;stillaboutvehicles.YousaidthatasidefromtheLandRover,theEmir
hadlentyouavehicle
.Attheveryend,yes,whenIwasinthecity,yes.
Intherecordingoftheinterview,itisnotveryclearwhattypeofvehicleitwas.Would
youmindrepeatingthename?
It was, as far as I can remember, a Thunderbird [pronounced with a very strong
Frenchaccent]
AThunderbird,ah,ah
Itwasabeautifulvehicle.
Iimagine.Averysportycar.
Yes,especiallytodriveonlyaroundDoha.
Okay
Especiallythatatthetime,inDohathestreetswereonlymadeofsandandgravel;the
mainstreetswerewithasphaltbutitwasnotverylarge;therewerenowideavenues.It
wasstillasmalltown.
Yes,exactly.
Theotherpoints.Iamstillwaitingforsomeinformationfromyou
Yes,yes.IhavenotgonetoBRGMyet
Okay.
IwillgotoBRGMbutsofarhavenothadanytimeforit.
Okay
HaveyoupreparedthelistofyourpublicationsandyourCV?
Yes,yes,itisready.Ididaddbyhandalotofthings.
Okay
Ifyouhaveanyproblemsafteryoureceivethem,youcanalwaysaskmemorequestions.
Okay.Ilikecallingyou
Ah,veryniceofyoutosaythat
Just to summarize, there is the list of your publications, your CV, the pictures with
Heuz,and
andificanfindthesection,butasItoldyou,IhavenotgoneyettoBRGMsoIdonot
knowifitstillexists.
Also,onlytogiveyousomenewsaboutmypublication,Igavemyfirstdrafttoaqatari
colleagueatQatarPetroleum.Heisreviewingitnow;howevereventhoughhestillhas
notmadeanycommentsonit,Istillhopetobeabletoputitonline,assumingIgetthe
permission,towardstheendof2014.
Yes
Verywell,Iwillletyougo;Iknowyouarebusy.
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Ah,Iambusy?Itoldyouthatmygranddaughterishere.Sheiswithmywifenow.The
weatherhasbeenverynicethesepastfewdays,sotheyareoutsideontheterrasse;she
isnotalone,dontworry.
Okay,Excellent.Wouldyoulikemetocallyoubackinonemonthortwoweeks ?
Yes,callmebackinJune.
Andifyouwanttosendmeanythingbyemail,asyousaid..
Exactlythatisright,becauseIwilltrytogotoBRGMImustgoeitheronaMondayor
Thursday.ImustphonebeforegoingtoknowifDanielleisthere;justtoknowifIcan
emailsomething.Becausesometimesshedoesnotgo,sonobodyisthere.Icannottell
youifIwillgothisThursdayorMondayofnextweek;Imustfirstphone.
No,Iunderstandverywell.Inanycase,IwillbecallingyouonJune19th,orsomething
likethat;inonemonthisthatok.
Verygood,Iwillevenbeoneyearolderthen.
Ahyes,thatistrue!!!
Yes,mybirthdayisonthe14th
Yes,yes,ofcourse
Iwillbe79.
HappyBirthdayaheadoftimeandIwillwishittoyouagain
Thankyouverymuch
Thankyou,goodbye,andsendmyregardstoyourwifeandgranddaughter.
Okay,Thankyou
Goodbye
Goodbye
1131
Appendix 8
1132
Questions - Personal
What I know about you is from the QGS newsletter of June 2009. My questions will be to expand
and clarify some of the points in that newsletter but also to ask you new questions
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
1133
Questions The Department of Petroleum Affairs and your participation in the 1984-85
attempt by QGPC to update the stratigraphic column of Qatar (see the two 1984-85 attached
documents)
1) Because I am not completely aware of the structure of the Qatar government in those days,
can you please clarify for me the relation between the Department of Petroleum Affairs in
the Ministry of Finance and Petroleum and Qatar Petroleum? To my knowledge the
Department of Petroleum Affairs no longer exist. What was its duty/purpose?
2) As the Director of the Department of Petroleum Affairs you chaired at least one meeting in
1984 to help unifying the stratigraphy of Qatar. My understanding of the purpose behind
the stratigraphic meetings that took place in 1984 (Cobb & Hamam), was to prepare for
1134
Questions - Anything else related to Stratigraphic works that I am not aware of and that you
would be willing to share
Questions - General
1) What do you think the Miocene on the south side of Khor al Odaid will look like the new
bit that has just been added.
2) Are you aware that between years 2000-2005 a crocodile skull and few large turtle shells
were collected from the Miocene in Qatar?
This is it !
Would you like a copy of the recording?
Would you allow me to call you again if any questions come to mind?
Thank you very much for your time
Jacques LeBlanc
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Questions / Comments
Just for the record, it is December 16th 2013 and I am with Mr. Abdallah Salatt
in his office on the C-Ring [Doha, Qatar]. First of all, we are going to be talking
about some personal questions
Sure
Place and Date of birth?
Place of birth is Doha ; the date is debatable, because at that time people did not
record. most people, did not record the birth of their children. It was not
important ; people did not think it was important. But when I graduated from
high school, the teacher who was writing my application for my University
introduction [application] said Abdallah I think I want to make you 2 years
older because when you go to the United States you will want to have a driver
license . Lets make it 20 years. Although in education I saved a couple of
years.. I was in first grade, when education just started in Qatar, because of the
oil [revenue] ; and the teachers came to the first grader and said there are
smart people and we are going to move them to second grade . That was one
year saved ; in what we called preparatory school or Junior High in the education
system ; and in the second year again the management of the school said look
there are few smart people who are above the average in the class, so lets give
them a chance for a summer education and at the end of the summer we will give
them an exam and these will pass the second year of Junior High , so I did my
12 years education in 10 years. So, my birth now I would estimate was in 1944,
not as we officially stated as being in 1942. That makes me 69 years old.
Excellent. What was your fathers profession?
He was a pearl merchant. Of course until that time the Gulf people had been
dependent on the pearl activities in the Gulf. The pearl diving resulted in big
riches in the past period but at the start of the 20th century, the pearl business
became sluggish, especially when the Japanese cultured pearl were introduced;
so that the value of the natural pearls dipped down; and at the same time you had
the two World Wars and with all their effects on the economy of the world; so
the pearl diving activities had almost died out by the end of the 1940s. But the
pearl merchants used to go out into the sea, go to the pearl divers boats and buy
the pearl at the sea; so these pearl merchants would go on their own boat and
they would go for short periods; like one week, 10 days, 2 weeks. They would
have some money, at that time it was the Indian rupee; it was all in coins; there
was no bank notes at that time. The rupees were kept in jute bags
It must had been heavy
Very. The pearl divers were in the Gulf, on the water, all summer long ; that was
about 4 months that the divers were at sea. The merchants went out to buy and
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and the last time I visited Texas A&M about 10 years ago there were 50,000. So
he said come to me to Baytown, we have a small college, we are about 2,800
and you can get more attention from the teachers . He was right. I went for a
couple of years and graduated from that college. I tried to go back to Texas
A&M for one semester and was advised I would not fit there, so went back to
College. At Lee College, is where i had Mr. Reed as a geology teacher ; I liked
the way he was teaching so fell in love with geology. It was all about nature ;
we live by the sea here, we love the sea and we love the desert ; so it was all
nature, unlike engineering which was all about calculus. So this was a way of
life I thought I would like. So that is why I chose geology and graduated from
Lamar State College in 1968. So, 1962 at Texas A&M and graduated in 68 from
Lamar State College of technology as it was called at that time; the name was
changed later to Lamar State University
These were two of my questions; so you just answered them
Great
Do you have any children?
I have nine. Four boys and 5 girls. Also many grand-children
How many?
Many
Good. How many languages do you speak ?
Arabic and English. I babble few words here in there I like languages
Do you speak French ?
No. Not really. At that time I had a terrible Texas accent you know. It was for
me impossible to learn French. Every time Claude was trying to teach me how
to speak Francaisbut I failedI had a very terrible Texas accent
It is like chewing tobacco
Yes.
Lets do now the period of the geological survey of 1969-70. As you can see I
have many questions
I said I graduated in 1968 and almost immediately the French came. I was not
involved in the negotiation; I was very junior. I was told to go work with them.
They were very nice; we became like big brothers; Claude, Yves and I. We lived
as friends and they loved Qatar. They enjoyed the desert as much as I did, and
they enjoyed the work quite a lot. Claude was working in Saudi Arabia before
that, so he had great knowledge of the geology of the area.
I did not know that. It was not his first Arabic experience?
No.
Do you know how long it took to negotiate the contract?
No
How did you you just told. How did you get involved in the project?
Before the French team arrived in Doha, did you conduct a search of all possible
background documents needed for this survey (old publications, old maps, etc)
or did everything take place once everybody was in Doha
No [ we did not conduct any document search ]
In those days, Qatar was under the protection of Britain, and the foreigners
among the geological team were all French. Was there good collaboration
between the French and the British, or did the British try to slow down any
progress on this project?
I think there was [ good collaboration ]. We got a lot of help from the civil
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OK
In some areas they [ the aerial photos ] were not very accurate, I remember that.
You have already mentioned the camps.in the camps, how many days or
weeks did you stay there, for each one of them?
We were working weekly periods. We worked 4 days a week in the camp, sorry,
5 days a week in the camp. We would come back on Wednesday to work in the
office on Thursday and of course Fridays was the weekend and Saturday back
again
in a new camp
No, in the same camp; we were there for some time. The first camp took 3-4
months. From the camps we moved with the Land Rover. From the Abu
Samrah camp we moved all the way to Khor Al Odaid
Covering long distances
Again from Khararah we went to Khor Al Odaid; from Khararah south. My first
visit to Khor Al Odaid was with Claude and Yves and we went on a helicopter
Beautiful
Not too many people had seen Khor Al Odaid before us. When I went there I
felt like out-of-this-world. The sea was so beautiful, so magnificent. The only
thing I regret is to not having taken photographs. I am sure they took
photographs but I did not and regret it. It was one of your questions. I took
photographs during the survey and I am sure I have some in the house
somewhere, but moving from one house to anotherby the way this location
[the office where the interview was conducted] was my house also for a long
time. I moved to different places; they are in there somewhere.
You mentioned that you used aerial photos. Is there a place where the team did
not go to physically but did the work only on aerial photos
Yes. That is confidential [laughing]. At that time Hawar islands
which is part of Bahrain now
where disputed between Qatar and Bahrain. We visited all the places in Qatar
except Hawar islands. The other islands that you mentioned we went there. I
went with the team and in my earlier life I also went with my father as a pearl
merchant. In the survey, all the islands were surveyed. For Hawar island, we
asked for a government boat to take us because at that time there was no
presence of military either from Qatar or from Bahrain. Hawar were never
important; so we were denied by our government. So we worked on the map;
when we produced the map, the first draft, we took it to Sheikh KhalifaWhat
is this? Why is Hawar islands completely black? because we were not
permitted to go there; he saidwell color it, whatever color it is [laughing]
That is the way it got its color on the map
So the only place we did not visit is Hawar
But with the geology you followed the lines [strata] ?
Yes, yes. It is not difficult
The next questions need a little bit of background story: The results of this
survey are described in two publications:
1) GEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE QATAR PENINSULA (60
pages)
2) GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY
AND
MINERAL
SUBSTANCES
EXPLORATION IN QATAR (109 pages)
In these two publications, are found in appendices the Reference sections from 1
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to 5 (see bottom of the page), however, the reference section #2, which describes
the Miocene of Qarn Abu Wail (Djebel now used as a border point between
Qatar and KSA), is missing in all six copies owned by Qatar Petroleum and the
few copies owned by BRGM.
No, we worked on Qarn Abu Wail. We worked on it. I do not recall why it is
missing but we worked on Qarn Abu Wail and in fact we worked beyond Qarn
Abu Wail; slightly and we turned back
A little bit in Saudi.
I think Claude and Yves were in Saudi for one night at least.
Were they?
I think they were taken by the Saudi guards. They were their guests for one
night in Salwa.
Do you have a copy of these reports yourself
Honestly, I have a library, I have books that are in boxes
If you ever find them
I have them but again
If you find yours [your copy] and find reference #2call me [laughing]
Ok..
.this one you have answered already. Ok, fossils. Did you collect any
fossils either for the survey or for your own collection ?
We collected for the survey; I did not keep personally any fossils or rock
samples. We gave, I think we gave all of them to the Qatar Museum and some
of the rocks were on display for some time. However, the whole of the Qatar
Museum was demolished to make place to a new one. I do not know what
happened to the collection
I can always ask them
Mr. Darwish Alfar was in charge of the Qatar Museum; I think he is still alive.
He would be the best person to ask
I will ask
His son is working for the Laboratories Measures & Standard Laboratories in
Abu Hamour. I know his son is there.
Ok
This is for all the fossils and rock samples. We had kept some, also in the
Department of Petroleum Affairs such as Gypsum samples from Halul island
which had nice colors. When this department was dis-established, all the
documents, files moved to Qatar Petroleum, and Qatar Petroleum lost them;
lost the records on logs, files
They had not been properly archived
Yes. The archives had to do with border disputes. We had those also in the
Department of Petroleum Affairs. I am glad that my staff and I decided that
those should not be kept in the Department of Petroleum Affairs because our
business had to do with petroleum. These were all the documents for the border
disputes and settlements with Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi
with Barhain ?
Bahrain at that time, the settlement was not agreed. Everything was within our
files; so we decided to write to the Emiri Diwa and suggested that they take over.
We sent them over; we numbered the pages, all of them, and we made records of
all the files and we sent them to Emiri Diwa, after informing them we would do
that. So they should be there somewhere
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recommendations in the minutes of these two documents [Cobb & Hamam] were
not included in this third document [OAPEC]?
What was the recommendation
They were several. For instance, to include one of the formation, which names
escape me [Hamlah] now in the Triassic instead of the Jurassic.
No, I would not have had anything to do with the technical side at that time. My
role was to facilitate from the Managements perspective
Fair enough. Next question. Because i am not familiar with the structure of the
government in those days, can you please clarify for me the relation between the
Department of Petroleum Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Petroleum, and
Qatar Petroleum. To my knowledge the Department of Petroleum Affairs no
longer exists
Yes, true. Once I came back from the university, I was attached immediately to
the Department of Petroleum Affairs, however what should have happened is
that I should have been sent to one of the oil companies to get trained, to get
more knowledge and established myself as a geologist, but that did not happen.
So, the government at that time was composed of mostly departments. At that
time we had a Crown Prince and he was also the Prime Minister. There were
some Ministries but some other organizations were called Departments. Sheikh
Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani was the Crown Prince, Heir Apparent, and the
Prime Minister. We had a Minister of Education but Sheikh Khalifa.that was
only Ministries, apart from the Prime Minister, and all the Ministries were in the
Departments underneath him. One of the Departments was the Department of
Petroleum Affairs. The duties of the Department were to overlook the activities
of the two concessions we had at that time. When I came there, it was QPC
(Qatar Petroleum Company) and Shell of Qatar.
Offshore
Yes, one onshore and the other one offshore. So the Department was to
overseein general because the Departments were not allowed to really
intervene a lot in the affairs of those companies. So, this was the general
management of that time. So, the Ministry itself was called the Ministry of
Finance & Petroleumand the Minister was Sheikh Khalifa [Mr. Salatts
phone is ringing and he talks briefly in Arabic]. So the Ministry was the
Ministry of Finance & Petroleum and was overseeing the finance aspects of the
old permits / concessions, like at that time Royal Shell [I think that is what he is
saying] and generally the technical side such as operations, exported crude oil.
During my time, we got.. Of course the concessioners [owners of the
concessions] did operate in that exact sense; they had authority to do whatever
they wanted at that time and the government had the Royalties and taxes; which
was ??? [cannot understand the word]. OPEC decided.and we became a
member of OPEC almost immediately after I joined the Department Qatar
became a member of OPEC Qatar was the first country to become a member
of OPEC after it was established.
..As an addition
The first one to join OPEC after it was founded. During 1969, this is when the
negotiations70.during 1970 when the negotiations between OPEC and the
oil operators started for participation of ownerships of the State into the
companies.
OK
and after several years. First of all, we raised the royalties from 2.5% to
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20%..
Big difference
Exactly. And we raised the taxes from 55% to 80%
OK
sorry, the taxes were from 20% to 55%. After that, the ball started rolling and
went into the participation negotiation. The government, as a result, acquired a
percentage of participation. Some governments opted for complete take over.
Qatar was one of the countries to start with a small step but almost immediately
opted for take over. Kuwait was one. Qatar was one country. So we negotiated
again in the early 70s from 73, 74 and 75, we negotiated with the oil
companies to take over. We bought them out. Some people said it was
Nationalization but it was in fact Negotiated Settlements. We negotiated
compensations and continued the relationships. So, Qatar General Petroleum
Corporation (QGPC), as it was called, was established in 1974 to be the owner
[Mr. Salatts phone rings] to be the owner of the assets that were to be taken
over by the government. QGPC was owned 100% by the government. So, 74
was the establishment of QGPC. Now, ideally the Department of Petroleum
Affairs would have been the political arm of the government; that is why we still
have a Ministry of Energy and Industry the oil & gas part of the energy.as a
political arm; but that ministry is only there in name. QP has become of course
the company that is really involved and does the business of the government on
behalf of the government, which is not the ideal situation to me. So, the
Department of Petroleum Affairs until [since] its establishment was doing that;
the political arm, the supervising arm of all the oil activities. QP replaced the
international companies but still QP is a company that has the supervisor roles
and regulations of a government. And the Department of Petroleum Affairs was
the government
powerful
No, not powerful. To me they were the regulator. The Ministries are the
regulators; companies operate within a national owned, foreign owned. They
operate as companies, as commercial entities; maximize profits, cut down costs;
and the government has to be there to make sure that they are doing their duties;
not only collecting money but also they have duties. I will give you an
example. I was on the board, the first board of QP by the way. I was Head of
the Department of Petroleum Affairs and member of the Board of QP
from which year to which year ?
From the establishment in 1974
And for how long
For a long time [laughing]. I went out and came back. I went out because from
1989 to 1996 I was out of the oil industry and went to the Ministry of
Communication and Transportation; I was Under-Secretary.
I saw that in the newsletter.completely different.
Seven years I was out of the oil business and came back as a member of the
Board until February 2011 when I resigned.
Very good. Thank you
You are welcome.
Now, I have some general questions. Just two. I saw a map where the area
south of Khor Al Odaid is now part of Qatar
South of Khor Al-Odaid?
[showing a map]. Actually it is not even colored on this map. Just south of the
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channel
At that time, we did all this area. You should go back to the present political
boundary
The hills south of Khor Al Odaid, whether they are in Qatar or Saudi Arabia
now, do you think they are. They look very much like Miocene; do you think
it is the case
Yes, probably but the other side is part of Saudi Arabia now. The southern part
of Khor Al Odaid is in Saudi. At that time [1969-70] it was Abu Dhabi by the
way
Yes, I knew that, because people used to drive directly to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia decided, through some arrangements that this area
would be taken by Saudi
I only have one question left. About fossils : Are you aware that between year
2000 and 2005 a crocodile skull and few large turtle shells [carapaces] were
collected from the Miocene somewhere in Qatar?
No I am not aware of that; but that is good. I saw a documentary by the way
which showed that the Gulf was a much smaller water body; apparently it was a
lake and some areas were on land, lush and green; the monsoon came up all the
way to the Qatar Peninsula Now, just to mention something. Prophet
Mohammed in one of his saying said the end of the world will not come until
the Arabian Peninsula will become lush again
Oh, OK
That was 1,400 years ago. He did not know much about stratigraphy and
geology then; or fossils [laughing]. He said the end of the world will not come
until the Arabian Peninsula will become lush again
It is the again that is important here
again. Now, knowing that ice sheets, 11,000 years ago, covered Europe all the
way down to the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula; so one would expect
that the rest of the Arabian Peninsula was lush then like Europe now
Yes, exactly.
Or warmer or lush and different.
And there were crocodiles
Very possible yes. Crocodiles and other animals
Excellent. Thank you very much
You are welcome. And by the way; when we were doing the surveyuntil we
were doing the survey, our winters were much colder. Our rains were much
more.
So you have noticed the change in 44 years
The change has been there. Now, I believe in
..climate change?
Yes, but I do believe that it is cyclical
And I believe the same too.
I am a geologist. How much has human activities affected that, I dont think a
great deal. What we are doing is bad but I think it is a cycle..11,000 years ago
the ice sheet was covering the land; we are a minuscule part
But some governments want to tax you, I am not talking about Qatar, but other
countries want to tax you because of this
But I think the cycle is turning back now ; we see very cold weather that has not
been witnessed they say in the last 100 years. In Syria, Jordan, Palestine and
1145
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Appendix 9
1147
APPENDIX 9
GOVERNMENT OF QATAR
By
Claude CAVELIER
Engineer geologist
August, 1970
1148
a.
b.
c.
d.
2) In this version of the transcription (V1), two original figures were incorporated (Pages 6 & 39)
due to our lack of access to a draughting service that could reproduce them. In the event that
such service is found in the future, we will update the document to Version 2.
3) All Tables from Caveliers original document were reproduced; including the three main ones on
(Qarn Abu Wail) was not included in any of the originals for reasons stated in the transcript of a
conversation the transcriptionist had with Dr. Cavelier in December 2013.
5) The cross-sections of the Dammam Formation were not reproduced; the originals were included.
6) Two publications were written by Mr. Claude Cavelier in relation to the Qatar Geological Map.
The first one is the present document and the second one is Geological Survey and Mineral
substances exploration in Qatar (1970), 105 pages. When the text of the original document
used for the present transcript was either unclear or missing, the text from the second document
was used to fill in the blanks, and then typed in red.
7) In the present document Cavelier uses often the term Nijian while in Geological Survey and
Mineral substances exploration in Qatar (1970), 105 pages he uses equally often the term
Niqian to describe the same large dune area located between Umm Said and Khor al Odeid. A
search on which spelling of the term best applies to this area leads us to believe that Nijian is
the one that should be used. Cavelier also uses the term Nijian on his Qatar geological map.
8) All the fossil names have been outlined in blue so that they stand out of the text.
9) The footnote numbers in this transcript are different than those in the original document.
10) Cavelier also wrote, in part, the 1975 Stratigraphic Lexicon of Qatar. In this document, he
modifies the names of some members of the surface formations. The reader is therefore warned
to refer to this lexicon (or any subsequent lexicon that may post-date it) in order to get the correct
member/formation naming convention formally agreed for Qatar.
1149
CONTENTS
Pages
Introduction
3
3
3
4
4
4
6
6
6
9
10
10
11
12
15
15
15
16
16
16
17
18
18
18
19
20
21
23
23
23
23
24
24
24
25
25
25
26
1150
27
30
35
35
36
36
References
38
Remark: The pagination above is from the original document and not from this transcript
1151
INTRODUCTION
Through an agreement made on February 19th 1969 by and between the Government of Qatar,
represented by M. Ali JAIDAH, Deputy Director of the Department of Petroleum Affairs, and the
Bureau de Recherches Gologiques et Minires (B.R.G.M.), represented by M. Jacques RANOUX,
resident Manager in Jeddah, the First Party entrusts the Second Party "to carry out on behalf of the
Government of Qatar, mineral exploration and investigation all over the territory, both the
Peninsula and the islands under Qatar sovereignty".
The general purpose was defined as follows: "The aim of this reconnaissance is to draw up a
programme of detailed investigation and exploration for minerals in the peninsula and the islands
of Qatar in order to assess the possible mineral deposits of the country, with a view towards
exploiting such findings economically. For that purpose, all available geological information
should be gathered and implemented by field work in order to get a good basic, geological map at
a scale ranging from 1/100,000 to 1/200,000 according to the existing topographic or
photographic materials".
The purpose of our mission in Qatar has not only been entirely fulfilled but, without any
exaggeration, surpassed. Initially foreseen to be of 7 to 8 months duration, our sojourn in Qatar
has exceeded 11 months1 of which more than 10 months have been spent on field work; by the end
of the mission, more than 80,000 kms were covered by our both land rovers.
The systematic geological mapping, drawn on a 1/100,000 scale and matching the more detailed
topographical maps actually available in Qatar2, reflect our systematic research into mineral
resources.
We have not, however, overlooked the importance and value of these maps in the planning of
agriculture, public works and the search for water. Particular attention has been paid to surface
formations, such as depression Silts and Muds which are especially suitable for agriculture and
indicate the possibility of underground local water reserves, or deposits of sabkha and eolian sands
that can cause inconvenience in public works.
We would not try to persuade anyone that these maps contain every possible detail. We hope,
though, that our successors will have at their disposal more realistic cartographic support, bearing
in mind, of course, the many difficulties we had to overcome in producing a map covering the
whole of the Qatar peninsula in 10 months and with a really small team3.
In compiling the geological map we had occasion to establish or to revise the stratigraphy of the
Tertiary and Quaternary deposits of Qatar. In most cases the earlier works of Q.P.C. and ADSCOLE-GRAND geologists in subdivisions of Qatar has been proved valid. This is especially true of
the work of the ARAMCO personnel in eastern Saudi Arabia. Working on a more extensive plane
and on a more suitable map scale, we have managed to draw finer subdivisions. Our important
collections of fossils have only had cursory evaluation due to the limitations of the local setup. We
hope, though, that we will be able to study them more intensively in France. This study will allow
us to complete in particular, the chronostratigraphy of Tertiary beds.
1152
1153
II
4
The oral tradition which reports that Qatar was formerly an island separated from the Saudi province of Al Hasa is practically
confirmed by geology, in particular by the discovery of extensive deposits of calcareous sands with a molluscan fauna
comparable to the present in the sebakh located South of Sauda Nathil.
1154
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This map gives a good idea of the general structure of Qatar and localizes the main
groups of outcrops except for the South of Qatar which is not represented. By
comparison with our surveys, presented at a different scale, and taking also into account
the different subdivisions adopted on each map, particularly for the Eocene, the map is
on the whole accurate, though may err [?lack?] in detail: more especially the extension
assigned to the outcrops of the Rus Formation (including the Midra Shales) is often too
exaggerated, particularly in the north-eastern part of Qatar. The divergences in the limits
of the Eocene-Miocene contact in the south-western region of Qatar result probably,
partly, from a difference in interpretation of the poorly fossiliferous nodular calcareous
deposits, lying between the Eocene and Miocene. The Q.P.C. geologists attributed these
beds to the Miocene, while we classify them as Eocene, and parallel them to the Abarug
Member, typical in the region of Dukhan and the Alat Member of Saudi Arabia.
2
1158
Geologic map of the Western Persian Gulf quadrangle (USGS Misc. Geol. Invest.
map 1 208 A) by STEINEKE et al. (1958).
Geologic map of the Central Persian Gulf quadrangle (USGS Misc. Geol. Invest.
map 1 209 A) by BRAMKAMP and RAMIREZ (1961).
These maps, accompanied by a detailed key, are particularly valuable for their
comprehensive view; northern Qatar was very succinctly studied from undefined
published material, southern Qatar, was realized in much greater detail from field
surveys carried out by HARRIS, BARGER, HOLM et al. supplemented by photointerpretation.
The stratigraphical terminology used is that used in Saudi Arabia, widespread in Qatar; a
particular effort was directed to the subdivision of the Quaternary deposits, at least in the
key.
1159
NAME
THICKNESS
RECENT
Blown Sand
Sabkha
Depression muds and silts
0-50 ? feet
0-10 feet
PLEISTOCENE
Middle
Dammam
EOCENE
Lower
Rus
Umm er Rhadhuma
(concealed)
Miliolite
0-60 feet
Abaruk Bed
Abaruk Chalk
Surface Dolomite
Simsima Chalk
including Red bed
Alveolina Beds
Midra Shale
Rus Chalks (base not seen)
ca 6 feet
ca 35 feet
ca 80 feet
(0-60 feet)
ca 30 feet
0-10 feet
180 feet
(40 feet)
60 feet
(55 feet)
4 feet
(0-15 feet)
(110 feet)
Nota: The formational arrangements used for mapping are pointed out by brackets, and the thickness shown in the map
legend added between brackets.
Introduction
Knowledge of the stratigraphic setting of a study is essential and is followed by geological
mapping. This produces the comprehensive or peculiar geological information required
(definition of structural features, geological history of the country or palaeogeography,
relative location of mineralizations and beds, etc.).
Generally speaking, a geologist publishes the results of his scientific work, which serve as
basis to his successors. However, in the case of Qatar, taking into account the confidential
character of oil investigation the geological results obtained by our predecessors in the
stratigraphical fields remained unpublished.
A number of reports or map keys give the stratigraphical terminology which, after
considerable variations, appears to be stabilized, with few exceptions. It is obvious also that
most of the terms used originate from eastern Saudi Arabia, with some local exceptions
(Abarug Member and Simsima Member of the Dammam Formation).
As our research objectives were by far broader than the previous ones, the stratigraphical
tool we needed and our geological maps had to be more accurate. A systematic study of
1160
Stratigraphical Terminology
The previous geological work revealed that all deposits outcropping in the Qatar peninsula
are of the Tertiary or Quaternary age; the present investigations only confirmed this point
of view. - excluding the offshore Halul and Shra Auh islands -, and therefore the following
discussion in stratigraphical terminology will be limited to the Tertiary) formations, the
base of which, quite thick, is known only from bore-holes. The Quaternary surface deposits
will be studied separately.
Abundant fossils found were subjected only to cursory determination, which will have to be
resumed; the chrono-stratigraphical assignments quoted will have to be considered as
provisional, especially for Miocene formations.
A
Paleogene
Hasa Series or Hasa Group
This term, introduced by SANDER in 1951 in an unpublished ARAMCO report, was
first quoted in a bibliography in 1958 by OWEN and NASR.
SANDER (1962) describes: "Eocene beds (including Palaeocene) in the western
region of the Persian Gulf, are referred to as Series of Hasa, from the name of the Al
Hasa province, where they are outcropping".
The terms Bahrain Group or Bahrain Formation, formerly used by the Q.P.C.
geologists are synonymous (HENSON, 1940). They are no longer used in BAHRAIN
(WILLIS, 1967).
In SAUDI ARABIA, in QATAR and in BAHRAIN the Hasa Series is divided into
three formations, which are as follows, from the early one to the later one: the Umm
er Rhaduma, the Rus and the Dammam Formation.
(Eu)
1161
10
1162
1163
1164
Khobar Member
Alat Limestone
Alat marl
Khobar dolomite
Khobar marl
1165
1166
Dammam Formation
The Sharks tooth Shale Member ranges from 9.10 to 15.20 m in thickness;
the upper part is sometimes referred to as the Alveolina zone. This member is
believed to correspond to the Midra Shale of Saudi Arabia (in the broad sense
of the old definition which included the Saila Shale Member and the
Alveolina Limestone Member).
The Brown Crystalline Limestone averages 33.50 m in thickness; it is
correlated with the Khobar Member of Saudi Arabia.
The Orange Marl Member is equivalent of the Alat Marl of Saudi Arabia;
the thickness ranges from 6.10 m up to 19.80 m; the average being
approximately 12.20 m.
The White Limestone Member ranges from 6.10 m to 62.50 m in thickness:
it is correlated with the Alat Limestone of Saudi Arabia. It includes fossils at
Jebal Hisai (near Farsiya) (PILGRIM, 1908, L.R. COX, 1936), with
Echinolampas sp., Terebellum carcassense LEYMERIE, Mytilus cleopatrae
OPPENHEIM, Spondylus radula LAMARCK, Lucina (Loripinus) pharaonis
BELLARDI, Chama calcarata LAMARCK, Corbula (Bicorbula) subexarata
d'ARCHIAC and HAIME. These species indicate a Middle Eocene age.
In QATAR, taking into account the previous unpublished terminology, and in
view of our own requirements, we subdivided the Dammam Formation as
follows, in descending order:
1167
Dammam
Formation
Upper Dammam
Subformation
(Middle Eocene)
Lower Dammam
Subformation
(Lower Eocene)
This arrangement, Upper Dammam and Lower Dammam Formation, will, in fact, be actually defined only when the age
of the Dukhan Alveolina Limestone Member and adjacent beds is definitively stated.
1168
16
This iron was extracted long ago and molten on the spot in the southern region of Dukhan, close to the sea, where small
dross deposits exist.
1169
1170
1171
The best translation of the Arab word seems to be "Abarug" and not "Abaruk".
Unpublished Q.P.C. report.
19
Synonymous with Abaruk Chalk.
20
Synonymous with Abaruk Bed (s.s.).
18
1172
Neogene
No specific term seems to have been assigned to the Series of the Neogene deposits of
eastern Arabia; as the succession is incomplete in QATAR, the term may only be
sought in SAUDI ARABIA.
The usual terminology in the Qatar peninsula is copied on that of eastern Saudi
Arabia. In this country, the ARAMCO geologists subdivided the Neogene of the
Arabian Gulf shoreline into three formations, named from the older one: Hadrukh,
Dam and Hofuf Formations; the last two only are represented in Qatar, but we
thought it was useful to divide the Dam Formation into Lower and Upper Dam
Subformations.
In the offshore Qatari area, where the depositional facies appear different, the
terminology used by the geologists of the SHELL-Qatar seems to be that defined in
IRAN, where has been recognized for long the Fars Series of Miocene age,
composed of the Lower Fars21, Middle Fars and Upper Fars. The correspondence
between such terms and those used in the Arabian peninsula will be studied.
Mh
Md
21
A reference cross-section of the "Lower Fars" in Qatar was formerly studied by SHAW and COX, along the flanks of the
Djebel Nagsh (in SUGDEN 1956, unpublished Q.P.C. report).
1173
22
1174
Very rare Echinocyamus may locally occur in the upper subdivision, especially in the "Echinoderm Limestone", where they
are subordinated to a still undetermined species.
1175
24
25
Note from the transcriptionist: See our note regarding cross-section II on page 2 of this transcript
A grey clay from the reference section I (layer 75) was subjected to a palynological examination, with negative results.
1176
Conglomerate
Sandstone
Limestone
Conglomerate
The fauna encountered is quite poor, with occasional non diagnostic fresh
water fossils including Lymnaea sp., Planorbis sp. and Chara sp. The age is
not specifically established, it may be either late Miocene or Pliocene.
In QATAR, the term of Hofuf Formation is used in some reports or maps,
generally associated with the Dam Formation. However, it is differentiated
in the American 1/500,000 maps of Saudi Arabia including Qatar.
No satisfactory cross-section liable to be used as reference was encountered
in Qatar where this formation - the last one which may be assigned to the
Tertiary with certainty - is much thinner than in the type-region, and where
the loose deposits are reworked on the surface. According to partial crosssections, the base appears to consist of sandy red or greenish clay, even of
coarse sands and sandstones, the main overlying part being composed of
pebbles of various rocks (quartz, limestones, jaspers, etc.) in a sandy matrix.
These deposits, which do not seem to exceed 10 m in thickness, appear as the
lower part of Unit 1 defined in the reference section in Saudi Arabia.
The Gurain Al Balbul, NE of Khararah, is topped by a conglomerate with
calcareous, locally fossiliferous cement, correlated with uncertainty to the
Hofuf Formation. This deposit is the only fossiliferous one encountered in
Qatar.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
1177
Miocene
Age
Pliocene
Upper
Formation
Subformation
Equivalence
Hofuf
Middle
Upper
Dam
Lower
Lower
Upper
Middle
Eocene
Member
Dammam
Abarug dolomitic
Limestone and Marl
Alat
(S.A.)
Simsima Dolomite
and Limestone
Khobar
(S.A)
Alveolina
Limestone
(S.A.)
Saila Shale
(S.A.)
Midra Shale
(S.A.)
Dukhan Alveolina
Limestone
Lower
Lower
White Limestone
(Bahrain)
Orange marl (Bahrain)
Brown crystalline
Limestone (Bahrain)
Sharks tooth
Shale (Bahrain)
Rus
Palaeocene
Upper
Middle
Umm er
Rhaduma
Lower
Possible
disconformity
Upper Cretaceous
Aruma
1178
Marine deposits
Q1
26
Or pseudo-oolithic.
1179
1180
Continental deposits
Qg
Gravels
Reworked gravel deposits occur in [varying extents] around the Miocene hillocks.
The composition of the pebbles shows a derivation from the Hofuf Formation;
they overlie basal Miocene or occasionally Eocene deposits. Generally then they
extend widely and often mask wholly or partly Miocene deposits (E of the Kraij, Al
Khararah hillocks); only in this latter case were they mapped. They were emplaced
by Plio-Quaternary run-off.
The matrix generally consists of eolian sand compared with recent blown sands,
and secondary gypsum is less frequent than in the Hofuf Formation.
Qsm
1181
Sabkha deposits
Sabkha (h) (plural: sebakh) is an Arabic term for coastal and inland saline flats or
playas. It is commonly used in international terminology28.
The QATAR peninsula is bordered by coastal sebakh, the extension of which may
be considerable (Nijian, South of Umm Sad), and contains several inland sebakh
(East of Djebel Dukhan, Sauda Nathil). The southern border between Qatar and
Saudi Arabia on the one hand, Abu Dhabi on the other hand, is practically
delimited by or on the edge of important sebakh.
Almost all these areas, including the sebakh of the southern border, were until
recently covered by the sea: some are still inundated by spring-tides; the single
possible exception may be constituted by the sabkha located east of the Djebel
Dukhan, which probably formed an isolated lagoon.
Except for this latter case, the original deposits consisted essentially of generally
fossiliferous marine calcareous sand, sometimes quite fine and clayed. The partly
or untransformed deposits may still be identified locally on the periphery as well as
in isolated islets within the sebakh.
27
It is thus quite possible that the "desert" features displayed by the Fhaihil Velates Limestone in outcrop may be of
comparatively late origin (Plio-Quaternary).
28
The Arabic plural "sebakh", on the contrary is not always used, and the term "sabkhas" is frequently encountered.
1182
Eolian sands
Numerous sand deposits, of eolian origin, of various shapes and positions, occur in
QATAR mainly in the southern half, and secondarily along the north-eastern
coastline. These sands overlie all former deposits including the most recent ones
and, are still not stationary. As a general rule, the prevailing wind, the shamal,
blows from N.NW or NW through the peninsula, and the sandy deposits on the
whole, overlie, on both ends of the peninsula, two belts of unequal size, trending
NW-SE.
The SW belt is practically limited to the NE to an Al Wukair - Dohat Faishakh axis.
Sand deposits are unevenly developed; the main ones are localized along the
western coastline from Dukhan to Abu Samra, SE of Abu Samra, in the
neighbouring region on both sides of Sauda Nathil, and along the eastern coastline
South of Umm Sad (Nijian Qatar). Within the area, the deposits are more
localized.
Four main deposit types may be discerned:
-
Surface sands in uneven and quite thin sheets; each stone, each bush gives rise
to a small accumulation. This type of deposit has never been mapped.
Sand clusters, of no definite shape, located in depressions; the importance of
these deposits varies as the natural barriers. The main ones may be observed in
very marked depressions, or in those with tree vegetation.
Dunes of barkane type, with the apex of the crescent pointing at slightly
different angles from N.NW to W, which is the shamal direction. From the apex
two, frequently unequal, arms lie parallel to the wind trend.
1183
In the north-east belt, which extends along the shoreline from Fuwairat to Khor,
mainly developed in the Ras Laffan protuberance, the sands show no well
discernible specific shapes.
With the exception of the NE deposits which are essentially calcareous and similar
in constitution to the marine calcareous sands of the shoreline and marine
pseudoolitic limestones to which they are related, the eolian sands of Qatar are of
silico-calcareous type. The grains are worn, rounded and dull, with rather constant
granulometry. The origin of the material is without doubt, from the variation in
constitution of the deposits, from the western coast towards Qatar inland; the eolian
sands derive from the coastal marine sands which are periodically reworked when
the shamal blows. The dry material is removed and rapidly reworked by repeated
impact on the outcrops which undergo themselves deflation (erosion, NW-SE
trending striae). Small calcareous or siliceous splinters from these outcrops are
also swept away and reworked. Apart from the rather infrequent sand storms, sand
grains advance in successive leaps, following essentially favourable trends which
lead them to pre-existing accumulations, where they temporarily take the place of
preceding ones, as this accumulation is swept along towards another.
Under natural conditions, there are standing sands which exchange part of their
material: and others which are not fixed; the first are essentially formed by surface
sand deposits gathered in marked depressions, or around vegetation (according to
the perenniality of the latter), and by dune fields. The second type consists
essentially of isolated dunes which move the quicker, the smaller they are29.
Indeed, on the scale of a human life, the movement of the small dunes may
sometimes be observed but, generally, it is limited by the disappearance of these
small dunes which move to coalesce with the wider ones of the dune fields. An
important natural barrier will fix permanently sands of the first type.
Owing to the trend of prevailing wind, a large part of the eolian sands which cross
the Qatar peninsula converges on Nijian Qatar, hence on the Arabian Gulf, this
explains the high quartz content of the marine coastal sands of the region south of
Umm Sad; this is also true for the sands of the NE belt, which end on the Arabian
Gulf; those originating in the southern part of the Salwah Gulf finally join the
Rub'al Khali.
V
29
There is permanent moisture within the dunes, at quite a shallow depth; such moisture ensures, in fact, the cohesiveness of
grains within the dune, and the movements may take place only on the dune surface.
1184
Tectonic style
The tectonic style of the Qatar peninsula is essentially gentle and quite soft; in particular,
the maximum dips recorded do not exceed 4 along the eastern side of the Djebel Dukhan
anticline (Dome of Fhaihil).
No fault, with the least throw, could be observed on the surface. However, it is quite
possible that the Djebel Dukhan anticline may be locally faulted at depth, as believed by
HENSON (1951, p. 133), who points out a fault with a 70 foot throw there; which is also
disputed by LEES (in HENSON 1951, p. 130).
As will be seen in the following section, the Qatari Arch appeared during the Tertiary but it
is perhaps only a new start of an old tectonic accident.
During Tertiary, the first slight uplift took place at the boundary Lower Eocene - Middle
Eocene, then again at the end of Middle Eocene. During the Upper Eocene-Oligocene
period, without further precision, the Qatari Arch became sharply individualized. The
upward motion, interrupted during Lower Miocene, resumed at first slightly, then increased
towards a maximum during Upper Miocene - Pliocene, a period during which the Djebel
Dukhan anticline became sharply individualized. Quaternary neo-tectonics, of low
amplitude, is also likely.
Despite often inaccurate dating, of the uplift stages, it appears clear that they are essentially
Pyrenean and principally Alpine ones which resulted in the formation of the Qatari Arch.
1185
1186
Collapse structures
The above section concerns the main structures, the tectonic origin of which was
demonstrated especially through oil investigation drill-holes and geophysics. On a local
scale, in the field, the superimposition of a second phenomenon can be seen, which results
in the formation of numerous structures, a priori anomalous, of varied importance, ranging
from one hundred metres to about ten kilometres, with unexpected shapes from linear to
circular.
The dips may be high locally reaching 30 or so, but generally ranging from about 5 to 10.
Strikes are quite varied, and related to the shape of the "structures" which display negative
("synclinal") amplitudes. This characteristic allows them to be considered as collapse
structures resulting from solution of salt or evaporites at depth.
They affect the pre-Miocene "surface", of which most of the depressions and escarpments
(Umm Taqah, Al Ussainiyah, etc.), result from such phenomenon. The Miocene also is
strongly affected, particularly on the margins of the main massifs, and also within several,
such as the Djebel An Nafkhah, SW of Karanah. In central and southern Qatar, a number of
Miocene deposits have been preserved thanks to this phenomenon which also facilitated
Plio-Quaternary erosion.
The collapse structures are quite certainly past-Miocene, and therefore, are of PlioQuaternary age. No depressions affecting the "ancient" surface of the Eocene deposits,
"infilled" with Miocene deposits were seen: on the contrary, in general, Miocene deposits
(including upper gravels), of normal thickness, are preserved in the depressions (for
instance, in Dahl a1 Mudhlam, where the phenomenon is especially obvious).
STOCKLIN (1968, fig. 5) expresses the hypothesis that the basis of Miocene included
evaporites in Qatar but, in fact, with a few exceptions of limited thickness (2-3 m max.),
evaporites were not observed on these horizons and the eventual dissolution of such
evaporites does not explain why Middle Eocene must be concerned: on the contrary, the
partial and localized dissolution of Lower Eocene gypsum and anhydrites is likely to have
caused the superficial collapse structures30.
30
The local non-recognition of such phenomenon results in a number of errors shown on previous maps. Collapse depressions
are of utmost importance for hydrogeological investigation in Middle Eocene.
1187
1188
1189
Miocene
During Lower Miocene, the sea returned to the Arabian Gulf, the western shore of which
underwent some variations.
The first Miocene deposits, essentially detrital (Hadrukh Formation) known from SAUDI
ARABIA, do not seem to occur in QATAR which therefore was higher than the adjacent
areas.
As the Miocene marine transgression was developing, a coastal belt of eastern Arabia, up to
100 km wide, was invaded by the sea.
The whole or part of QATAR was flooded. The quite fossiliferous Lower Dam Formation
shows a normal marine environment, with quite shallow warm water.
Sedimentation appears fairly rhythmical with repeated sequences of calcareous clays,
clayed limestone, and shelly limestones, in subsiding areas which correspond to synclinal
areas; on the contrary it is essentially calcareous and of more restricted thickness along the
sides of the Qatari arch, where the marine environment was much shallower at least less
than in the Salwah syncline, for example.
The end of this period (Upper Dam Formation) shows clearly regressive features and
indicates a temporary confinement of Qatar: the still quite thick deposits were laid down in
the synclinal areas where sandy intercalations occur; they are extremely narrow along the
sides of the Qatari Arch. At the same time, the marine fauna of the previous deposits gives
way to assemblages typical of anomalous saltness; however, several beds with normal
epicontinental marine fauna, essentially localized in the subsiding synclinal areas, show
that normal marine conditions reoccurred, occasionally.
32
1190
33
1191
Formation
Principal events
Time
Quaternary
2.5 my
Surficial deposits
10 my
Hofuf
Upper
Miocene
Middle
Brackish
Evaporitic
Isolation of Qatar
Pliocene
Upper
Domain
Marine
Very
shallow
shallow
Dam
Lower
Lower
26 my
(Hadrukh)
Oligocene
37 my
Upper
Complete emergence
Upper
Middle
Eocene
Dammam
Lower
Shoal in NE
Rus
Basin isolation
Lower
Umm er Radhuma
Paleocene
65 my
Possible disconformity
Maestrichtian
Cretaceous
Aruma
1192
Continental
Halul
Shra Auh
Las Hat islets [the real name is Ishat islands]
Lacking topographical documents34 , it was not possible to map these islands geologically. Apart
from some Quaternary deposits, only one geological formation was observed in each island.
However, the rocks are quite varied, and a number of the systematic samples collected, were studied
or analysed.
The origins of these islands are different. The Las Hat [Ishat] islets, with their horizontal Miocene
sedimentary deposits, are probably only emerged hills; the northward extension of the Djebel a1
Odeid. The islands of Halul and Shra Auh may be interpreted as piercing domes of deep salt diapir
origin, of the Hormuz plug type.
The age of the Hormuz Formation deposits [gave use to] much discussion but, at present, it has
been shown, in Iran as well as in southern Arabia, that they are pre-Middle Cambrian, i.e. either
Lower Cambrian, or infra-Cambrian in age (STOCKLIN, 1968).
No further element resulting from the study of Halul and Shra Auh sediments enables us to criticize
such [dating] therefore we shall accept it as an unverifiable pre-established datum.
1
Halul Island
The Halul island located about 90 km east of Khor, covers 1.48 km2. Its relief is comparatively
marked and reaches its highest point at 52.8 m (light-house hill). The Shell Qatar plants occupy
the south-east part of the island, which has been inhabited permanently since 1965.
PILGRIM (1908, p. 140 - 141) published a geological description of the island35.
As a matter of fact, the interest of this description is both historical, and general, allowing the
major units to be located.
The Quaternary deposits of the island, though comparatively restricted in extension, consist
essentially of the marine calcareous sands of the beaches (SE and W of the island), more or less
spread out by the wind towards the SW where the sandy surface is uneven due to numerous
hillocks.
Sometimes, raised marine limestones may be observed in the south-east of the Government
Reserve, where elements of reef origin are quite abundant, and to the west where they are
observed as thin and discontinuous layers up to more than 10 m above present sea-level and
essentially belong to the pseudoolitic limestones type.
34
35
1193
Shra Auh
The island of Shra Auh, some 63 kms east of the Ras a1 Alaj (N of Umm Said) extends over
about 1 km2, with an elongated shape; on the whole low-lying it shows a few rock outcrops, the
highest of which reaches some 12 m above sea-level. It is not inhabited but harbours numerous
birds.
No former geological description is known. The main part of the island is overlain by
Quaternary marine calcareous sands, reworked by the wind and forming locally small dunes.
At both ends, and in its central part, the island displays some relief due to the outcrops of the
Hormuz Formation, essentially made up here by dipping beds of carbonate rocks, less
fractured than in Halul. The breccia deposits, joint infill and evaporites are of minor
importance as are the rhyolite-type volcanics. In the north-east, a fair iron mineralization
(hematite) was discovered in carbonate rocks at sea-level, probably related to the rhyolitic
intrusions.
1194
L 11
L 12
L 13
L 14
L 15
L 16
L 17
L 18
0.35 m
About
0.50 m
From
0.15 to
0.20 m
0.10 m
Not
mentioned
1.10 m
From
0.25 to
0.30 m
0.05 m
0.05 m
Max.
0.15 m
From 0
Dolomitic (?) limestone, lenses, comparable to L 9; Pelecypods casts,
to
including Cardium on upper face; slight reaction with HCl (15%)
0.02 m
Whitish clayed limestone, granular, compact, of uneven hardness resulting in
a jagged aspect when weathered, fossiliferous: Molluscs casts, essentially
2.30 m
Pelecypods with Cardium; four samples a, b, c, d, from top to bottom; strong
reaction with HCl (15 %)
Hard whitish limestone, with fine mass: rare casts of Cardium; moderate
0.15 m
reaction with HCl (15 %)
Limestone pinkish-white, edged with yellow in the cracks, as slabs, quite
hard, with conchoidal fractures, splintery breakage, algae casts in the upper 0.07 m
part ; strong reaction with HCl (15 %)
Yellowish grey calcareous (?) dolomite (L 15a), quite hard with several
Pelecypod casts including Cardium ; very slight reaction with HCl (15%) ;
0.15 m
grading laterally into soft whitish clayey limestone (L 15b) ; strong reaction
with HCl (15%)
Yellowish limestone, crystalline, granular, strongly perforated to vesicular,
1.05 m
compact, hard; moderate reaction with HCl (15 %)
Yellowish limestone, rather soft, numerous casts of Pelecypods including
0.70 m
Cardium; strong reaction with HCl (15%)
White clayed limestone, rather soft, compact, fossiliferous (Pelecypods),
Not
mentioned
forming the last accessible layer; strong reaction with HCl (15 %)
The accurate dating of the series encountered in Las Hat [Ishat] is not directly possible, as no
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
1195
1196
REFERENCES
(Only published papers are mentioned below)
ANONYMOUS (1950)
Development of the Dukhan field, Qatar. Petrol. Engineer USA, 22, n 5 pp. B37 - B 42
ANONYMOUS (1968)
Qatar 1968. Qatar Government Publication. V + 96pp.
BRUDERER W (1960)
Le Bassin ptrolier du Golfe Persique. 4me Congrs Nat. Ptrole, Deauville, juin 1960 pp. 7-28
CLEGG E.L.G. (1933)
Echinoidea from the Persian Gulf. Paleont. Indica Calcutta (n . s.), XXII, mem. n 1, 35 pp.
COX L. R. (1936)
Fossil Molluscas from southern Persia (Iran) and Bahrein Islands. Paleont. Indica (n.s.) XXII mem. n2,
69 pp.
DE GROOT K. (1969)
The chemistry of submarine cement formation at Dohat Hussain in the Persian Gulf. Sedimentology 12
(1/2) pp. 63-68.
ELDER S. and GRIEVES K.F.C. (1965)
Abu Dhabi marine areas geology. 1er Congrs Intern. "Le Ptrole et la mer". Section 1, n 127. La
Revue Ptrolire n 1073 (juin 1965), 8 pp.
EL KHAYAL and ABD EL MALIK (1968)
Planktonic and larger Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Paleocene to Early Middle Eocene of Saudi
Arabia (abstract). Geol. Soc. Am. Program annual meetings in Mexico City. Mexico, p. 89
EVANS G. (1965)
The recent sedimentary facies of the Persian Gulf region. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 259, n 1099, pp. 291-298
HENSON F. R.S. (1948)
Larger imperforate Foraminifera of South West Asia, families Lituolidae, Orbitolinidae and
Meandropsinidae. British Museum (Nat . Hist.) London XI, 127 pp.
HENSON F. R.S. (1951)
Observations on the geology and petroleum occurrences of the Middle East (with discussion). Third
World Petroleum Congr. The Hague, Proceed. section 1, pp. 118-140
HOUBOLT J.J.H.C. (1957)
Surface sediments of the Persian Gulf near the Qatar Peninsula. Thesis Leiden Monton and Co. Den Haag
Editor, 113 pp.
JOHNSTONE T.M. and WILKINSON J.C. (1960)
Some geographical aspects of Qatar. The Geogr. Jnl. 126, pp. 442-450
LAMARE P. (1936)
Structure gologique de l'Arabie. Paris et Lige Librairie Polytechnique Ch. Beranger, 64 pp.
LEES G.M. (1951)
Discussion (see, HENSON F.R.S. 1951).
MEIGS P. (1966)
Geography of Coastal deserts. Arid zone res. XXVIII, UNESCO pp. 47-48
MELAMID A. (1953)
Political geography of Trucial Oman and Qatar. Geogr. Rev. vol. 43, pp. 194-206
PILGRIM G.E. (1908)
The geology of the Persian Gulf and the adjoining portions of Persia and Arabia. Mem. geol. Surv. India
XXXIV part 4 IV+IV+ 177 pp.
POWERS R.W. (1968)
Lexique stratigraphique international Asie vol. III fasc. 10 1 - Saudi Arabia (CNRS Paris) 177 pp.
Compiled by Jacques Leblanc
1197
1198
1199
Reference section III: southern flank of the massif 1.5 km NNE of the Qarn Abu Wail
(see legend under: Reference section I and Ibis )
1200
1201
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1202
On 0.40 to 1 m
1.20 m
2m
2.50 m
3.30 m
2.60 m
On 1.50 m
1203
1204
1205
Appendix 10
1206
AhistoricalaccountofthestratigraphyofQatar,MiddleEast(1816to2015).
Bahrain
(190854)
(Since1954)
M'sad
(194050)
(Tayarat,
194056)
Hasa
Aruma
(since1953)
(since1953)
WASIA
Musandam
(194056)
(since1953)
ArabZone
Riyadh
Thamama
CRETACEOUS
Khatiyah
Khatiyah
Khatiyah
NahrUmr
Sabsab
NahrUmr
Sabsab
Ratawi
Ratawi
Ratawi
1953
1955
1956
1958
LowerFars
LowerFars
LowerFars
LowerFars
Dammam
Dammam
Dammam
Dammam
Zekrit
Zekrit
Dammam
Rus
Rus
Rus
Rus
Rus
Busaiyir
UmmerRadhuma
UmmerRadhuma
UmmerRadhuma
Tayarat
Simsima
Simsima
Simsima
Simsima
Ruilat
Ruilat
Ruilat
Ruilat
Ruilat
Laffan
Mishrif
Laffan
Mishrif
Laffan
Mishrif
Laffan
Mishrif
Rumaila
Asara(inclTubaMbr)
Khatiyah
Khatiyah
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Sabsab
Shuaiba
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Sabsab
Shuaiba
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
Rakan,Karanah,Qartas, Rakan,Karanah,Qartas,
Misfir
Misfir
Zekrit
ThetimelineofFormationnamesTerminology
QatarOnshore
(Thicknessnottoscale.Onlymostimportantmembersarementioned)
Formations
1961
1963
1967
1970
1972
Hofuf
Hofuf
LowerFars
LowerFars
LowerFars
Dam
Dam
Busaiyir
Dammam
Dammam
Dammam
Rus
Rus
Rus
Dammam
1975
Hofuf
Dam
1979
Hofuf
Dam
198485
Hofuf
Dam
Dammam
Dammam
Dammam
Rus
Rus
Rus
Rus
UmmerRadhuma
UmmerRadhuma
UmmerRadhuma
UmmerRadhuma
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Simsima
Ruilat/Fiqa
Halul
Laffan
Mishrif
Khatiyah
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Ahmadi
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Sabsab
Shuaiba
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Mauddud
NahrUmr
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Shuaiba
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
HawarMbr
KharaibMbr
HawarMbr
KharaibMbr
HawarMbr
KharaibMbr
HawarMbr
KharaibMbr
HawarMbr
KharaibMbr
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
Hawar
Kharaib
Ratawi
Hawar
Kharaib
Lekhwair
Huwaila
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Yamama
Wakrah
Wakrah
Wakrah
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Sulaiy
Doha
Hith
Doha
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
Hith
ZekritNo1Lmst
ZekritNo1Lmst
ZekritNo1Lmst
QatarJalehaMbr
QatarJalehaMbr
QatarJalehaMbr
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarNo1Lmst
QatarArabA
ZekritNo2Lmst
ZekritNo2Lmst
ZekritNo2Lmst
QatarJuhMbr
QatarJuhMbr
QatarJuhMbr
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarNo2lmst
QatarArabB
ZekritNo3Lmst
ZekritNo3Lmst
ZekritNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarNo3Lmst
QatarArabC
ZekritNo4Lmst
ZekritNo4Lmst
ZekritNo4Lmst
DukhanFahahilMbr
Dukhan
Dukhan
AraejUpper
AraejUwainatMbr
AraejLower
Izhara
Hamlah
FahahilNo4Lmst FahahilNo4Lmst
Darb
Darb
Diyab
Diyab
AraejUpper
AraejUpper
AraejUwainatMbr AraejUwainatMbr
AraejLower
AraejLower
Izhara
Izhara
Hamlah
Hamlah
Gulailah
Gulailah
Suwei
Suwei
Khuff
Khuff
FahahilNo4Lmst
TRIASSIC
JURASSIC
1952
LowerFars
LowerFars
LowerFars
UpperLimestone UpperLimestone UpperLimestone
Group
Group
Group
LowerLimestone LowerLimestone LowerLimestone
Group
Group
Group
Shammar
<1956
LwpartBahrain
Aidah
Aidah
RutbahSst
(since1953)
TERTIARY
ThistabledisplaystheformationnamesinonshoreQataruptothelast
QPofficialandrecognizedworkonthissubjectbyCobbs&Hamam
(198485).
Groups
Obsolete
Valid
1940
1950
PERMIAN
Gulailah
Suwei
DEVONIAN
Gulailah
Suwei
BahrainUnitA
Hamlah
Gulailah
Sudair
Khuff
Gulailah
Suwei
Khuff
Gulailah
Suwei
Khuff
Gulailah
Suwei
Khuff
Gulailah
Suwei
Khuff
Gulailah
Suwei
Khuff
BahrainUnitA
Khuff
Khuff
Khuff
Khuff
Khuff
Khuff
Khuff
Khuff
BahrainUnitB
BahrainUnitB
PreKhuffClastic
PreKhuffClastic
Wajid
Wajid
Wajid
Wajid
Wajid
Wajid
Wajid
Wajid
Haushi
Tawil
PreKhuffClastic PreKhuffClastic
PreKhuffClastic PreKhuffClastic
Sharawra
SILURIAN
ORDOV.
CAMBRIAN
JubailaArabD
Jubaila
Hanifa
AraejUpper
AraejUwainatMbr
AraejLower
Izhara
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
CompiledbyJacquesLeBlancPage1207
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Hormuz
Tabuk
Hormuz
Appendix 11
1208
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Appendix 12
1212
Langhian
Burdigalian
OLIGOCENE
CENOZOIC
Aquitanian
Chattian
Rupelian
Priabonian
Sh
Dibdibba
Jeribe
Anau
Dam
Dam
33
34
35
Asmari
Asmari
Shurau
EOCENE
PALAEOCENE
Pabdeh
Sediment
Truncation
55
Umm Rijam
Aaliji
(Condensed)
Rus
Umm Er Radhuma
Aaliji
LATE
Coniacian
Turonian
Cenomanian
Albian
Majzir
Umm Er Radhuma
K180
Shiranish
EARLY
Valanginian
Ryazanian Berriasian
Kimmeridgian
Oxfordian
78
Soukhne
Sharwayn
Pg20
8N
Hamzah
Wadi Umm
Gudran
K160
90
92
93
K140
95
K130
Sadi/Kometan?
Sadi
Shuayb
Laffan
Mishrif
Mishrif
Fuheis Shale
Ruwaydha
Tuwayil
Shilaif
Mahliban
Ahmadi
Judea
A
B C
D
Natih
Upper Burgan
Hayyan
Nahr Umr
(undivided)
Fartaq
K90
Cherrife
AP8
Middle Burgan
Nahr Umr
Kazhdumi
Khafji
Lower Rutbah
Bab Member
Shu'aiba
Shu'aiba
Zubair
Upper Zubair
Hawar
Middle
Middle Zubair
Kharaib
Nasr
Lower
Lower Zubair
K20
95
K130
K90
K80
123 K60
125
126 K50
Kharaib
Lekhwair
Furt
129 K40
130
Zakum
late Valanginian Unconformity
Ratawi Limestone
Ratawi Shale
138
K140
120 K70
Upper
K40
K30
90
92
93
Qishn
K50
135
136
K150
115
116
Aptian Limestone
K60
129
130
88
AP8
Shu'aiba
Shu'aiba
Blanche
K160
105
106 K100
Rays
Nahr Umr
85
110
111
Kurnub
Kurnub
K170
Harshiyat
Safaniya
Upper Rutbah
K70
K180
98 K120
100
101 K110
Sufla
Mauddud
Albian
Limestone
Lusb
Mishrif
Wara
Aljun/Ajlun
Subeihi
Mishrif
Rumaila
Fahad
M'sad
Aljun/Ajlun
Kifl
Judea
K80
65
Tawilah
Mukalla
Sadi
Derro
Hummar
K100
125
126
Yamama
Minagish
Yamama
Habshan
3
2
140
Habshan
135
136 K30
Salil
138 K20
Naifa
140
Rayda
K10
Sulaiy
147
149
J110
Makhul
Sulaiy
Hith
J80
J60
Thick Najmah
(shoal)
Muaddi
Gotnia
Arab
1
2
Najmah
J50
Hanifa
Muaddi/Mughanniyya
4
S
Arda/
Azab Hamam
Group
AP7
J30
Haramoun/
Qamchuqa
Muhaiwir
Naokelekan
Tuwaiq
Mountain
Hanifa
Tuwaiq
Mountain
Diyab
Hanifa
Hadriya
Hanifa
Tuwaiq
Mountain
Upper Araej
Jubaila
Hanifa
Upper Araej
Sargelu
Dhruma
Uwainat
Lower Araej
Sandstone
147 J110
149
Shale
154
155
156
Shuqra
Upper Dhruma
Madbi
J90
J80
J70
Dolomite
J60
Anhydrite
J50
Salt
V V
Sargelu
Kohlan
J40
AP7
J30
J20
Dhruma
Izhara
175
Aalenian
180
Upper
Mafraq
182
Alan
185
J10
Marrat
Uba'id
Nimr
B AC
Marrat/
Hamlah
Marrat
J20
180
182
Hamlah?
185
Mus
J10
Zarqa Group
Adaiyah
190
190
Pliensbachian
Lower
Mafraq
?
195
200
200
205
?
Hussainiyat
Mulussa F
Rhaetian
Mulussa E
Adaya
Hussainiyat
LATE
Alaunian
MIDDLE
LATE
EARLY
TRIASSIC
PERMIAN
PALAEOZOIC
Abu
Ruweis
Tr80
AP6
222
EARLY
Ramtha
Group
Illyrian
235
Olenekian
Induan
238
Aegean
240
Tatarian
Kungurian
Hisban Shale
Ain Musa
245
246
247
Tr30
Tr20
Tr10
249.5
250.5
255
257
Jilh
AP6
Jilh
222 Tr70
Gulailah
Jilh
225
226 Tr60
230
Mulussa B
233 Tr50
235
Upper Sudair?
238 Tr40
Suwayma
Ma'in
P40
P30
P20
AP5
Dar Dur
Huwayra
Hudayb Group
Amanous Sandstone
Dolaa
Sudair
Sudair
Sudair
Chia Zairi
Beduh
Mirga Mir
Amanous Shale/
Mulussa A
220
Gulailah
240
252.5
UfimianKazanian
Tr40
Spathian
Smithian
Dienerian
Griesbachian
Mulussa
Hisban
Bithynian
Lower Minjur
Tr50
Pelsonian
Anisian
Baluti
Halite
Mulussa B
Salit
210
Minjur
Minjur
Tr60
230
233
Mulussa C/
Kurrachine
Anhydrite
Um-Tina
Upper Minjur
215 Tr80
Abu Ruweis
Zerqa Gypsum
Butmah
Butma
Abu
Ruweis
Tr70
225
226
Mulussa D
Mulussa clastics
Carnian
Fassanian
Butmah
Mafraq?
210
400
205
200
Km
Hettangian
215
CHRONO-SEQUENCE
STRATIGRAPHY
OF THE ARABIAN PLATE
195
Sediment
Onlap
Sinemurian
Longobardian
Volcanics
165
168
Dhruma
Silal
Ladinian
160
162
Upper Araej
Izhara
Dhahab
175
Julian
170
Bajocian
220
Limestone
J100
Sabatayn
Ramla
Jubaila
Diyab
145
150.75
151.25
151.75
152.25
Asab
Jubaila
Hanifa
Hadriya
Najmah
J40
Arab
Jubaila
Hanifa
Naokelekan
162
Sulaiy
Late Jurassic Unconformity
Gotnia
LEGEND
143 K10
v v v v v v v v v v
J100
J90
J70
154
155
156
Lacinian
70
Fiqa/Muti
Halul
Tanuma
Khasib
K110
123
150.75
151.25
151.75
152.25
60
80
170
Tuvalian
50
Pg10
78
Semail
Ophiolite
Hartha
Safawi
Mushorah
M'sad
K120
105
106
Dabut
Wadi
As Sir
K150
168
Norian
40
10
75
Fiqa
Rajil
88
Bathonian
Sevatian
30
C
a
R rlsb
id e
ge rg
55
68
R'mah
Erek
85
165
Toarcian
45
70
Hartha
K170
160
Callovian
Aruma
Shales
Qurna
145
TithoVolgian
nian
INDIAN
OCEAN
60
v
Simsima Hassad
Fayah
Hartha
143
Portlandian
Oil field
Gas field
AP9
Ammam
Hazim
120
Hauterivian
40
58
Aruma
110
111
Barremian
AFRICAN
PLATE
AP10
20
Simsima
Lower Burgan
Aptian
20
y
rra e
Mu idg
R
Tayarat
Tayarat
Muwaqqar
Al-Hisa
68
115
116
INDIAPAKISTAN
PLATE
63
98
100
101
LATE
Jiza
Abat
Jafnayn
30
Makran
25 E
63
80
Santonian
Pg30
49
50
Rus
65
Campanian
33
34
35
Hi
FARAH
BLOCK
AFGHAN
BLOCK
10
Rusayl
Umm Er Radhuma
Pg40
LUT
BLOCK
NE
Group
60
AP9
MIDDLE
Volcanic
pre-Cenozoic Unconformity
Danian
Yemen
Taqiye Marl
Pg10
75
EARLY
Habshiyah
Dammam
Rus
29
30
ZO
ARABIAN
PLATE
Wadi Shallala
Pg50
CENTRAL
IRAN BLOCKS
30
AP11
24.5
IR
JA
Line of
section
LEVANT
PLATE
Mussawa
Pg20
-S
A
SE
PALAEOGENE
Pabdeh
Mayfalah
58
Selandian
Dammam
20
OR
Z
D
RE
Thanetian
v
v
AP10
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
Ng20
Ng10
18.5
ALB
NA
ND
AJ
v
v
Ypresian
CRETACEOUS
Ma'hm
Pg30
49
50
SA
25
Palani
70
JURASSIC
Shihr
Taqah
40
45
Dammam/Seeb
Maastrichtian
MESOZOIC
Shihr
Ma'an
Lutetian
v
v
Jaddala/Pableh
Bartonian
Sur
Dam
Gachsaran
CASPIAN
SEA
NW Iran
10
Ng40
Ng30
70
40
TURKISH
PLATE
15.5
16.3
60
42 N
40
Baba
Bajawan
Dahabkia?
50
Ibrahim
Sheikh Alas
40
Pontides
Anatolia
v
v
Taqah
Tarjil
30
42 N
Euphrates
Azkand
Pg40
25 E
Mishan
Serikagai
Location Map
Dhiban
Euphrates
Ma
Sarar
Jebel Cap?
Taiyba
29
30
gh au
Hi late
P
Pg50
25
ay
at
b
Sa
Fars Group
Barzaman
Hofuf
AP11
24.5
Ba
n
y'u la
Sa asi
M
a
ez
Fars
Group
Ng20
Ng10
20
Du
Aw
r air
de w
en ekh
M L
As
/
ah
Ng30
18.5
Qa
B
b/
an
an
m
m ps
O
O
e
rn
& cro
ior fac
qf out
ste
er sur
t
u
In ub
H ts.
Ea lank
S
M
F
v
Ng40
Be
15.5
16.3
Dibdibba
Serravallian
f
Sa
a
kh
ali
tif
10
a
W
rri
Zagros Foredeep
r
Bu
Ra
iy
an
Bakhtiari
fra
ab
asi
n
Tortonian
MIOCENE
NEOGENE
Messinian
v
v
Kh
n
ga
s
Ha
nB
Zanclean
Piacenzian
Tu
at
h
ud
ah ha
lm el D )
a
D b t
ir Je oas
a
(c
H
YEMEN
Ow
e
PLIOCENE
s
Ri
ss
lei
ra
ain
OMAN
QUAT Holocene/Pleistocene
dm
s
te
ra a
h
p rn
Eu Qu
ah
R. t Al
sr
a
a
B
is
gr
Ti ut
.
R tK
a
ABU DHABI
Rid
g
Az
or
ha
1 ris
h ar- ig h
ile rth . T ata
M ha R t F
T
a
-1
en
aq
s
zte
r-a
ra
y
a
Da awr uph
Z .E
R
BAH-
KUWAIT
Ow
l
ra
nt an
e
C ord
J
IRAQ
Ch
Rid ain
ge
Ma
d t
iel es
Sh thw
ou
(S
SYRIA
rth
Ba Som
sin ali
Age
PRESERVATION
JORDAN
No
MAXIMUM
FLOODING
SURFACE
AP BOUNDARY
ERA
PERIOD
EPOCH
Khuff
Middle Anhydrite
Khuff
Khuff
Anjara
245 Tr30
246 Tr20
247 Tr10
249.5
250.5
P40
P30
252.5
P20
255
Basal Khuff clastics
Upper Gharif
AP5
257
8N
MAXIMUM
FLOODING
SURFACE
AP BOUNDARY
ERA
PERIOD
EPOCH
Age
Tatarian
Ufimian-Kazanian
Sediment Onlap
245
246
247
Tr30
Tr20
Tr10
249.5
250.5
P40
P30
P20
252.5
d
Tu
Hisban Shale
Suwayma
iss
le
Kh
Dar Dur
Amanous Sandstone
Ma'in
Huwayra
es
at
hr rna
p
Eu Qu
ah
R. t Al
sr
a
Ba
is
igr t
T
R. t Ku
a
in
ta
dh
u
Ra
ga
r
Bu
ri
r
Be
li
if
a
Aw
t
Qa
Sakmarian
an s
an
Omcrop
Omce
r
& t
rn
io fa
qf Ou
ste k
er sur
u
t
a
.
H ts
E lan
In ub
M
F
S
air
r
de w
en ekh
M L
n
y'u la
Sa asi
M
za
Je
ba
Sa
n
ay
Location Map
gh au
Hi late
P
Sudair
Chia Zairi
Khuff
Middle Anhydrite
Khuff
Khuff
Upper Gharif
Upper
Ga'ara
clastics
30
ARABIAN
PLATE
Visean
HERCYNIAN OROGENY
(sensu stricto)
330
333
asi
n
y
rra e
Mu idg
R
20
Ow
en
B
Rid
g
310
315
Oil field
Gas field
320
Intra-Carboniferous
Dolomite
AP4
INDIAPAKISTAN
PLATE
Makran
AFRICAN
PLATE
320
Sepukhovian
ma
AFGHAN
BLOCK
300
Lower
Ga'ara
clastics
310
Hi
FARAH
BLOCK
30
20
Al Khlata
pre-Unayzah Unconformity
AP4
HERCYNIAN OROGENY
(sensu lato)
330
333 C10
C10
Berwath
340
10
8N
25 E
INDIAN
OCEAN
30
40
C
a
R rlsb
id e
ge rg
50
10
60
70
340
Belek
Tournaisian
pre-Unayzah Unconformity
350
Markada
Group
Famennian
D30
v
355 D30
'Upper' Jubah
v v
350
Koprulu
Kaista
Chalki Volcanics
360
Harur
Ora
pre-'Upper' Jubah
Unconformity
v v
360
364
364
Frasnian
'Lower' Jubah
370
Jubah
Givetian
Wajid
(Age approximate
- likely to be many
unconformities
within
the formation)
'Lower' Jubah
380
Eifelian
Misfar
390
393
D20
Hammamiyat
Jauf
400
402
Jauf
D3B Shale
AP3
Tawil
Tawil
Suffi
Mudawwara
Batra Member
440
Ashgill
445
Caradoc
450
453
Llandeilo
460
Llanvirn
Tanf
Akkas
pre-Tawil Unconformity
Burgan Arch
430
Llandovery
S10
pre-Haushi
Unconformity
Sharawra
440 S10
Sarah
Zarqa
Affendi
Bedinan
O30
450
453 O40
Ra'an
Saih
Nihayda
Kahfah
Hiswah
465
pre-Hanadir Unconformity
EARLY
Arenig
Khanasser
AP2
Umm Sahm
Tremadoc
487
490
O20
LATE
494
O10
MIDDLE
500
502
510
Middle
Shale Member
Burj
520
?
Upper Hormuz Salt
Cm10
Pc20
Derik
(now metamorphosed)
Edicara
570
Stromatolites
Ghar Supersuite
AP1
?
?
Burgan
Arch
?
?
Saramuj
Buah
?
540
542 Cm10
Qatar
Arch
?
Lower Hormuz Salt
Derik
Ara
Pc10
Saramuj
Shuram
Lower Kablah
550 Pc20
560
Khufai
S
Upper
Abu Mahara
580
AP1
Shabb
570 Pc10
580
?
590
Veranger
500
502 Cm30
530
560
Volcanics
530
550
Salt
V V
Nimr
540
542
Dolomite
520
pre-Siq/Saq Unconformity
Huqf Supergroup
NemakitianDaldynian
Limestone
Angudan
Unconformity
Siq?
Salib
Atdabanian
Tommotian
510 Cm20
pre-Saq Unconformity
Lenian
Shale
494 O10
Burj
Salib
470
487 O20
490
Sosink
Cm20
Anhydrite
Lower
Siltstone Member
Cm30
Sandstone
480
Khanasser
Disi
465 O30
AP2
Amdeh
Saq
Saq
LEGEND
460
Hanadir
470
480
445
Hasirah
Quwarah
Toubeiliyat
Swab
430
Sahmah
Qusaiba
pre-Zarqa-Sarah Unconformity
O40
410
418 S20
420
S20
Haima
Supergroup
Ludlow
Non-Deposition
and/or Erosion
Khushsha
418
420
390
393 D20
AP3
Praghian
410
380
400
402 D10
Qasr
D10
Mender-Lekhwair High
LATE
(Pennsylvanian)
EARLY
(Mississippian)
LATE
MIDDLE
EARLY
LUT
BLOCK
NE
290
Wenlock
EARLY
ZO
Akbarah
315
Bashkirian
LATE
LATE
CENTRAL
IRAN BLOCKS
Westphalian
Emsian
MIDDLE
280
300
Namurian
EARLY
JA
SE
CARBONIFEROUS
IR
D
RE
DEVONIAN
-S
Line of
section
AP5
Stephanian
Pridoli
SILURIAN
OR
Z
Lochkovian
ORDOVICIAN
ALB
NA
ND
AJ
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
270
272 P10
Rahab
370
CAMBRIAN
NW Iran
LEVANT
PLATE
Unayzah B
355
VENDIAN
CASPIAN
SEA
SA
Middle Gharif
Haushi
Limestone
70
40
TURKISH
PLATE
257
260
60
42 N
255
290
PALAEOZOIC
50
252.5
A/B Siltstone
Gzelian
PRECAMBRIAN (SINIAN)
40
Pontides
Anatolia
247
Asselian
Moscovian
30
42 N
245
246
Dolaa
280
Kasimovian
25 E
Ma
249.5
250.5
Doubayat Group/
Amanous
AP5
ra
sa
ah Dha
ab
m
Ha
l el )
a
u
As
D eb ast
/B
h/
r
i
J
b
a
o
(c
Ha
Ba
Sh
YEMEN
40
?
P10
OMAN
Sudair
A
270
272
ha
k
Du
ABU DHABI
Sudair
Anjara
257
260
niy
ra
af afa
W S
Beduh
Mirga Mir
Amanous Shale/
Mulussa A
Ain Musa
Hudayb Group
or
sh
Ri
1 ris
h ar- ig h
ile rth . T ata
M ha R t F
T
a
1
a-
Artinskian
EARLY
PERMIAN
Kungurian
aq
r
Az
zs
te
r-a
y
ra
a
r
h
D aw up
Z .E
R
Ow
en
Induan
Spathian
Smithian
Dienerian
Griesbach.
l
ra
nt an
e
d
C or
J
BAH-
KUWAIT
Ch
Rid ain
ge
Olenekian
PRESERVATION
d t)
iel es
Sh thw
ou
(S
IRAQ
No
rth
Ba Som
sin ali
LATE
MESO- TRIASZOIC
SIC EARLY
Ma
SYRIA
JORDAN
Lower
Abu Mahara
590
600
600
610
610
620
620
630
630
640
640
CHRONO-SEQUENCE
STRATIGRAPHY
OF THE ARABIAN PLATE
0
200
400
Km
Sturtian
650
Basement
650
8N
Appendix 12
1212
Langhian
Burdigalian
OLIGOCENE
CENOZOIC
Aquitanian
Chattian
Rupelian
Priabonian
Sh
Dibdibba
Jeribe
Anau
Dam
Dam
33
34
35
Asmari
Asmari
Shurau
EOCENE
PALAEOCENE
Pabdeh
Sediment
Truncation
55
Umm Rijam
Aaliji
(Condensed)
Rus
Umm Er Radhuma
Aaliji
LATE
Coniacian
Turonian
Cenomanian
Albian
Majzir
Umm Er Radhuma
K180
Shiranish
EARLY
Valanginian
Ryazanian Berriasian
Kimmeridgian
Oxfordian
78
Soukhne
Sharwayn
Pg20
8N
Hamzah
Wadi Umm
Gudran
K160
90
92
93
K140
95
K130
Sadi/Kometan?
Sadi
Shuayb
Laffan
Mishrif
Mishrif
Fuheis Shale
Ruwaydha
Tuwayil
Shilaif
Mahliban
Ahmadi
Judea
A
B C
D
Natih
Upper Burgan
Hayyan
Nahr Umr
(undivided)
Fartaq
K90
Cherrife
AP8
Middle Burgan
Nahr Umr
Kazhdumi
Khafji
Lower Rutbah
Bab Member
Shu'aiba
Shu'aiba
Zubair
Upper Zubair
Hawar
Middle
Middle Zubair
Kharaib
Nasr
Lower
Lower Zubair
K20
95
K130
K90
K80
123 K60
125
126 K50
Kharaib
Lekhwair
Furt
129 K40
130
Zakum
late Valanginian Unconformity
Ratawi Limestone
Ratawi Shale
138
K140
120 K70
Upper
K40
K30
90
92
93
Qishn
K50
135
136
K150
115
116
Aptian Limestone
K60
129
130
88
AP8
Shu'aiba
Shu'aiba
Blanche
K160
105
106 K100
Rays
Nahr Umr
85
110
111
Kurnub
Kurnub
K170
Harshiyat
Safaniya
Upper Rutbah
K70
K180
98 K120
100
101 K110
Sufla
Mauddud
Albian
Limestone
Lusb
Mishrif
Wara
Aljun/Ajlun
Subeihi
Mishrif
Rumaila
Fahad
M'sad
Aljun/Ajlun
Kifl
Judea
K80
65
Tawilah
Mukalla
Sadi
Derro
Hummar
K100
125
126
Yamama
Minagish
Yamama
Habshan
3
2
140
Habshan
135
136 K30
Salil
138 K20
Naifa
140
Rayda
K10
Sulaiy
147
149
J110
Makhul
Sulaiy
Hith
J80
J60
Thick Najmah
(shoal)
Muaddi
Gotnia
Arab
1
2
Najmah
J50
Hanifa
Muaddi/Mughanniyya
4
S
Arda/
Azab Hamam
Group
AP7
J30
Haramoun/
Qamchuqa
Muhaiwir
Naokelekan
Tuwaiq
Mountain
Hanifa
Tuwaiq
Mountain
Diyab
Hanifa
Hadriya
Hanifa
Tuwaiq
Mountain
Upper Araej
Jubaila
Hanifa
Upper Araej
Sargelu
Dhruma
Uwainat
Lower Araej
Sandstone
147 J110
149
Shale
154
155
156
Shuqra
Upper Dhruma
Madbi
J90
J80
J70
Dolomite
J60
Anhydrite
J50
Salt
V V
Sargelu
Kohlan
J40
AP7
J30
J20
Dhruma
Izhara
175
Aalenian
180
Upper
Mafraq
182
Alan
185
J10
Marrat
Uba'id
Nimr
B AC
Marrat/
Hamlah
Marrat
J20
180
182
Hamlah?
185
Mus
J10
Zarqa Group
Adaiyah
190
190
Pliensbachian
Lower
Mafraq
?
195
200
200
205
?
Hussainiyat
Mulussa F
Rhaetian
Mulussa E
Adaya
Hussainiyat
LATE
Alaunian
MIDDLE
LATE
EARLY
TRIASSIC
PERMIAN
PALAEOZOIC
Abu
Ruweis
Tr80
AP6
222
EARLY
Ramtha
Group
Illyrian
235
Olenekian
Induan
238
Aegean
240
Tatarian
Kungurian
Hisban Shale
Ain Musa
245
246
247
Tr30
Tr20
Tr10
249.5
250.5
255
257
Jilh
AP6
Jilh
222 Tr70
Gulailah
Jilh
225
226 Tr60
230
Mulussa B
233 Tr50
235
Upper Sudair?
238 Tr40
Suwayma
Ma'in
P40
P30
P20
AP5
Dar Dur
Huwayra
Hudayb Group
Amanous Sandstone
Dolaa
Sudair
Sudair
Sudair
Chia Zairi
Beduh
Mirga Mir
Amanous Shale/
Mulussa A
220
Gulailah
240
252.5
UfimianKazanian
Tr40
Spathian
Smithian
Dienerian
Griesbachian
Mulussa
Hisban
Bithynian
Lower Minjur
Tr50
Pelsonian
Anisian
Baluti
Halite
Mulussa B
Salit
210
Minjur
Minjur
Tr60
230
233
Mulussa C/
Kurrachine
Anhydrite
Um-Tina
Upper Minjur
215 Tr80
Abu Ruweis
Zerqa Gypsum
Butmah
Butma
Abu
Ruweis
Tr70
225
226
Mulussa D
Mulussa clastics
Carnian
Fassanian
Butmah
Mafraq?
210
400
205
200
Km
Hettangian
215
CHRONO-SEQUENCE
STRATIGRAPHY
OF THE ARABIAN PLATE
195
Sediment
Onlap
Sinemurian
Longobardian
Volcanics
165
168
Dhruma
Silal
Ladinian
160
162
Upper Araej
Izhara
Dhahab
175
Julian
170
Bajocian
220
Limestone
J100
Sabatayn
Ramla
Jubaila
Diyab
145
150.75
151.25
151.75
152.25
Asab
Jubaila
Hanifa
Hadriya
Najmah
J40
Arab
Jubaila
Hanifa
Naokelekan
162
Sulaiy
Late Jurassic Unconformity
Gotnia
LEGEND
143 K10
v v v v v v v v v v
J100
J90
J70
154
155
156
Lacinian
70
Fiqa/Muti
Halul
Tanuma
Khasib
K110
123
150.75
151.25
151.75
152.25
60
80
170
Tuvalian
50
Pg10
78
Semail
Ophiolite
Hartha
Safawi
Mushorah
M'sad
K120
105
106
Dabut
Wadi
As Sir
K150
168
Norian
40
10
75
Fiqa
Rajil
88
Bathonian
Sevatian
30
C
a
R rlsb
id e
ge rg
55
68
R'mah
Erek
85
165
Toarcian
45
70
Hartha
K170
160
Callovian
Aruma
Shales
Qurna
145
TithoVolgian
nian
INDIAN
OCEAN
60
v
Simsima Hassad
Fayah
Hartha
143
Portlandian
Oil field
Gas field
AP9
Ammam
Hazim
120
Hauterivian
40
58
Aruma
110
111
Barremian
AFRICAN
PLATE
AP10
20
Simsima
Lower Burgan
Aptian
20
y
rra e
Mu idg
R
Tayarat
Tayarat
Muwaqqar
Al-Hisa
68
115
116
INDIAPAKISTAN
PLATE
63
98
100
101
LATE
Jiza
Abat
Jafnayn
30
Makran
25 E
63
80
Santonian
Pg30
49
50
Rus
65
Campanian
33
34
35
Hi
FARAH
BLOCK
AFGHAN
BLOCK
10
Rusayl
Umm Er Radhuma
Pg40
LUT
BLOCK
NE
Group
60
AP9
MIDDLE
Volcanic
pre-Cenozoic Unconformity
Danian
Yemen
Taqiye Marl
Pg10
75
EARLY
Habshiyah
Dammam
Rus
29
30
ZO
ARABIAN
PLATE
Wadi Shallala
Pg50
CENTRAL
IRAN BLOCKS
30
AP11
24.5
IR
JA
Line of
section
LEVANT
PLATE
Mussawa
Pg20
-S
A
SE
PALAEOGENE
Pabdeh
Mayfalah
58
Selandian
Dammam
20
OR
Z
D
RE
Thanetian
v
v
AP10
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
Ng20
Ng10
18.5
ALB
NA
ND
AJ
v
v
Ypresian
CRETACEOUS
Ma'hm
Pg30
49
50
SA
25
Palani
70
JURASSIC
Shihr
Taqah
40
45
Dammam/Seeb
Maastrichtian
MESOZOIC
Shihr
Ma'an
Lutetian
v
v
Jaddala/Pableh
Bartonian
Sur
Dam
Gachsaran
CASPIAN
SEA
NW Iran
10
Ng40
Ng30
70
40
TURKISH
PLATE
15.5
16.3
60
42 N
40
Baba
Bajawan
Dahabkia?
50
Ibrahim
Sheikh Alas
40
Pontides
Anatolia
v
v
Taqah
Tarjil
30
42 N
Euphrates
Azkand
Pg40
25 E
Mishan
Serikagai
Location Map
Dhiban
Euphrates
Ma
Sarar
Jebel Cap?
Taiyba
29
30
gh au
Hi late
P
Pg50
25
ay
at
b
Sa
Fars Group
Barzaman
Hofuf
AP11
24.5
Ba
n
y'u la
Sa asi
M
a
ez
Fars
Group
Ng20
Ng10
20
Du
Aw
r air
de w
en ekh
M L
As
/
ah
Ng30
18.5
Qa
B
b/
an
an
m
m ps
O
O
e
rn
& cro
ior fac
qf out
ste
er sur
t
u
In ub
H ts.
Ea lank
S
M
F
v
Ng40
Be
15.5
16.3
Dibdibba
Serravallian
f
Sa
a
kh
ali
tif
10
a
W
rri
Zagros Foredeep
r
Bu
Ra
iy
an
Bakhtiari
fra
ab
asi
n
Tortonian
MIOCENE
NEOGENE
Messinian
v
v
Kh
n
ga
s
Ha
nB
Zanclean
Piacenzian
Tu
at
h
ud
ah ha
lm el D )
a
D b t
ir Je oas
a
(c
H
YEMEN
Ow
e
PLIOCENE
s
Ri
ss
lei
ra
ain
OMAN
QUAT Holocene/Pleistocene
dm
s
te
ra a
h
p rn
Eu Qu
ah
R. t Al
sr
a
a
B
is
gr
Ti ut
.
R tK
a
ABU DHABI
Rid
g
Az
or
ha
1 ris
h ar- ig h
ile rth . T ata
M ha R t F
T
a
-1
en
aq
s
zte
r-a
ra
y
a
Da awr uph
Z .E
R
BAH-
KUWAIT
Ow
l
ra
nt an
e
C ord
J
IRAQ
Ch
Rid ain
ge
Ma
d t
iel es
Sh thw
ou
(S
SYRIA
rth
Ba Som
sin ali
Age
PRESERVATION
JORDAN
No
MAXIMUM
FLOODING
SURFACE
AP BOUNDARY
ERA
PERIOD
EPOCH
Khuff
Middle Anhydrite
Khuff
Khuff
Anjara
245 Tr30
246 Tr20
247 Tr10
249.5
250.5
P40
P30
252.5
P20
255
Basal Khuff clastics
Upper Gharif
AP5
257
8N
MAXIMUM
FLOODING
SURFACE
AP BOUNDARY
ERA
PERIOD
EPOCH
Age
Tatarian
Ufimian-Kazanian
Sediment Onlap
245
246
247
Tr30
Tr20
Tr10
249.5
250.5
P40
P30
P20
252.5
d
Tu
Hisban Shale
Suwayma
iss
le
Kh
Dar Dur
Amanous Sandstone
Ma'in
Huwayra
es
at
hr rna
p
Eu Qu
ah
R. t Al
sr
a
Ba
is
igr t
T
R. t Ku
a
in
ta
dh
u
Ra
ga
r
Bu
ri
r
Be
li
if
a
Aw
t
Qa
Sakmarian
an s
an
Omcrop
Omce
r
& t
rn
io fa
qf Ou
ste k
er sur
u
t
a
.
H ts
E lan
In ub
M
F
S
air
r
de w
en ekh
M L
n
y'u la
Sa asi
M
za
Je
ba
Sa
n
ay
Location Map
gh au
Hi late
P
Sudair
Chia Zairi
Khuff
Middle Anhydrite
Khuff
Khuff
Upper Gharif
Upper
Ga'ara
clastics
30
ARABIAN
PLATE
Visean
HERCYNIAN OROGENY
(sensu stricto)
330
333
asi
n
y
rra e
Mu idg
R
20
Ow
en
B
Rid
g
310
315
Oil field
Gas field
320
Intra-Carboniferous
Dolomite
AP4
INDIAPAKISTAN
PLATE
Makran
AFRICAN
PLATE
320
Sepukhovian
ma
AFGHAN
BLOCK
300
Lower
Ga'ara
clastics
310
Hi
FARAH
BLOCK
30
20
Al Khlata
pre-Unayzah Unconformity
AP4
HERCYNIAN OROGENY
(sensu lato)
330
333 C10
C10
Berwath
340
10
8N
25 E
INDIAN
OCEAN
30
40
C
a
R rlsb
id e
ge rg
50
10
60
70
340
Belek
Tournaisian
pre-Unayzah Unconformity
350
Markada
Group
Famennian
D30
v
355 D30
'Upper' Jubah
v v
350
Koprulu
Kaista
Chalki Volcanics
360
Harur
Ora
pre-'Upper' Jubah
Unconformity
v v
360
364
364
Frasnian
'Lower' Jubah
370
Jubah
Givetian
Wajid
(Age approximate
- likely to be many
unconformities
within
the formation)
'Lower' Jubah
380
Eifelian
Misfar
390
393
D20
Hammamiyat
Jauf
400
402
Jauf
D3B Shale
AP3
Tawil
Tawil
Suffi
Mudawwara
Batra Member
440
Ashgill
445
Caradoc
450
453
Llandeilo
460
Llanvirn
Tanf
Akkas
pre-Tawil Unconformity
Burgan Arch
430
Llandovery
S10
pre-Haushi
Unconformity
Sharawra
440 S10
Sarah
Zarqa
Affendi
Bedinan
O30
450
453 O40
Ra'an
Saih
Nihayda
Kahfah
Hiswah
465
pre-Hanadir Unconformity
EARLY
Arenig
Khanasser
AP2
Umm Sahm
Tremadoc
487
490
O20
LATE
494
O10
MIDDLE
500
502
510
Middle
Shale Member
Burj
520
?
Upper Hormuz Salt
Cm10
Pc20
Derik
(now metamorphosed)
Edicara
570
Stromatolites
Ghar Supersuite
AP1
?
?
Burgan
Arch
?
?
Saramuj
Buah
?
540
542 Cm10
Qatar
Arch
?
Lower Hormuz Salt
Derik
Ara
Pc10
Saramuj
Shuram
Lower Kablah
550 Pc20
560
Khufai
S
Upper
Abu Mahara
580
AP1
Shabb
570 Pc10
580
?
590
Veranger
500
502 Cm30
530
560
Volcanics
530
550
Salt
V V
Nimr
540
542
Dolomite
520
pre-Siq/Saq Unconformity
Huqf Supergroup
NemakitianDaldynian
Limestone
Angudan
Unconformity
Siq?
Salib
Atdabanian
Tommotian
510 Cm20
pre-Saq Unconformity
Lenian
Shale
494 O10
Burj
Salib
470
487 O20
490
Sosink
Cm20
Anhydrite
Lower
Siltstone Member
Cm30
Sandstone
480
Khanasser
Disi
465 O30
AP2
Amdeh
Saq
Saq
LEGEND
460
Hanadir
470
480
445
Hasirah
Quwarah
Toubeiliyat
Swab
430
Sahmah
Qusaiba
pre-Zarqa-Sarah Unconformity
O40
410
418 S20
420
S20
Haima
Supergroup
Ludlow
Non-Deposition
and/or Erosion
Khushsha
418
420
390
393 D20
AP3
Praghian
410
380
400
402 D10
Qasr
D10
Mender-Lekhwair High
LATE
(Pennsylvanian)
EARLY
(Mississippian)
LATE
MIDDLE
EARLY
LUT
BLOCK
NE
290
Wenlock
EARLY
ZO
Akbarah
315
Bashkirian
LATE
LATE
CENTRAL
IRAN BLOCKS
Westphalian
Emsian
MIDDLE
280
300
Namurian
EARLY
JA
SE
CARBONIFEROUS
IR
D
RE
DEVONIAN
-S
Line of
section
AP5
Stephanian
Pridoli
SILURIAN
OR
Z
Lochkovian
ORDOVICIAN
ALB
NA
ND
AJ
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
270
272 P10
Rahab
370
CAMBRIAN
NW Iran
LEVANT
PLATE
Unayzah B
355
VENDIAN
CASPIAN
SEA
SA
Middle Gharif
Haushi
Limestone
70
40
TURKISH
PLATE
257
260
60
42 N
255
290
PALAEOZOIC
50
252.5
A/B Siltstone
Gzelian
PRECAMBRIAN (SINIAN)
40
Pontides
Anatolia
247
Asselian
Moscovian
30
42 N
245
246
Dolaa
280
Kasimovian
25 E
Ma
249.5
250.5
Doubayat Group/
Amanous
AP5
ra
sa
ah Dha
ab
m
Ha
l el )
a
u
As
D eb ast
/B
h/
r
i
J
b
a
o
(c
Ha
Ba
Sh
YEMEN
40
?
P10
OMAN
Sudair
A
270
272
ha
k
Du
ABU DHABI
Sudair
Anjara
257
260
niy
ra
af afa
W S
Beduh
Mirga Mir
Amanous Shale/
Mulussa A
Ain Musa
Hudayb Group
or
sh
Ri
1 ris
h ar- ig h
ile rth . T ata
M ha R t F
T
a
1
a-
Artinskian
EARLY
PERMIAN
Kungurian
aq
r
Az
zs
te
r-a
y
ra
a
r
h
D aw up
Z .E
R
Ow
en
Induan
Spathian
Smithian
Dienerian
Griesbach.
l
ra
nt an
e
d
C or
J
BAH-
KUWAIT
Ch
Rid ain
ge
Olenekian
PRESERVATION
d t)
iel es
Sh thw
ou
(S
IRAQ
No
rth
Ba Som
sin ali
LATE
MESO- TRIASZOIC
SIC EARLY
Ma
SYRIA
JORDAN
Lower
Abu Mahara
590
600
600
610
610
620
620
630
630
640
640
CHRONO-SEQUENCE
STRATIGRAPHY
OF THE ARABIAN PLATE
0
200
400
Km
Sturtian
650
Basement
650
8N
Appendix 13
1215
Moujahed I. Al-Husseini
geoarabi@batelco.com.bh
TB 3.9 - 3.11
1.8
TB 3.5 - 3.8
1.6
5.3
TB 3.4
1.5
Zaafarana
Wardan Fm
GOS S80
1.5
1.4
TB 3.2
TB 3.1
1.3
TB 2.5 + 2.6
1.2
Tertiary
Late
24.5
Cha
AG 9
GOS S60
1.1
16.1
2.6
TB 2.1
GOS S20
TB 1.5
TB 1.4
2.4
TB 1.3
2.3
21.0
2.2
29.0
TA 4.5
2.1
33.0
TA 4.4
3.6
TA 4.3
3.5
Pg30
Late
TA 4.2
Bart
Middle
Eocene
40.4 0.2
TA 4.1
TA 3.6
TA 3.5
3.3
TA 3.4
3.2
TA 3.3
Lut
TA 3.1
48.6 0.2
Early
Pg20
50.0
Ypr
Late
55.8 0.2
Tha
Mid
Paleocene
Lower Fars
Fm
Jeribe Fm
Jeribe Fm
Mishan/
Guri Fms
Dhiban Fm
Euphrates Fm
Dhiban Fm
Euphrates Fm
Gachsaran
Pre-Hofuf Unconformity
Unnamed
Limestone
Dam Fm
Dam Fm
Ghar Fm
Burgan Fm
Upper
Nukhul Mbr
Yanbu Fm
22-23 Ma
Miocene
Lower
Nukhul Mbr
Al Wajh Fm
Abu Zenima
Fm
JIZAN
GROUP
Ibrahim Fm
Hadrukh Fm
Oligocene
Tarjil Fm
Palani Fm
Pg10
59.0
Sel
61.7 0.2
TA 2.9
TA 2.8
TA 2.7
TA 2.6
TA 2.5
TA 2.4
TA 2.3
TA 2.2
TA 2.1
TA 1.4
TA 1.3
Dan
TA 1.2
65.5 0.3
TA 1.1
Maa
30.7
K180
70.0
35.5
AG 6
Supra-Dammam Unconformity
40.4
AG 5
45.3
Usfan
Fm
Rus Fm
Rus Fm
Rus 1
UER 3
AG 2
Umm er
Radhuma
Fm
4.2
Esna Fm
Umm er
Radhuma
Fm
UER 2
59.8
K160
85.0
K150
88.0
5.5
Dakhla Fm
64.7
?
Lina
Mbr
5.3
Umm er
Radhuma
Fm
5.3
UZA 4.3
5.1
Usfan
Fm
69.6
Umm er
Radhuma
Fm
Khanasir
Mbr
6.5
6.4
UZA 3.4
6.3
79.3
UZA 3.2
UZA 3.1
6.1
Shiranish
Fm
ARUMA
GROUP
ARUMA
GROUP
ARUMA
GROUP
Cretaceous
K100
K90
108.0
UZA 2.3
7.3
110.0
UZA 1.3
UZA 1.2
Wata Fm
89.0
LZB 4.1
"middle"
K80
119.0
Early
93.9
Turonian
Hiatus
124.5
K60
125.5
Mishrif Fm
Mishrif Fm
Mishrif Fm
Mishrif Fm
98.7
Rumaila Mbr
Rumaila Fm
Rumaila Fm
Rumaila Fm
Rumaila Fm
Ahmadi Mbr
Ahmadi Fm
Ahmadi Fm
Ahmadi Fm
Ahmadi Fm
Wara Mbr
Wara Fm
Wara Fm
Wara Fm
Wara Fm
Majma 2
Raha Fm
Overlies
Basement
7.1
7
103.6
Mauddud
Mbr
Majma 1
?
Pre-Majma
Unconformity
8.6
Safaniya Mbr
Upper Khafji
8.5
8.5
108.4
Mauddud Fm
Mauddud Fm
Dair Lst
Huraysan
Fm
8.4
Khafji
Main Sst
Lower Khafji
Nahr Umr
Fm
Nahr Umr
Fm
129.0
EARLY
"early"
K40
134.5
LZB 2.5
LZB 2.3
LZB 2.2
140.0
118.2
9.6
Late Aptian
Hiatus
K10
J110
142.0
145.0
147.0
Malha Fm
9.3
9.3
127.9
152.2
J60
155.25
LATE
Ratawi Fm
10.3 142.5
Pre-Yamama Unconformity
10.2
Sulaiy Fm
10.1
147.3
Late Jurassic
Hiatus
Overlies
Triassic
Qiseib Fm
Hith
Anhydrite
Arab A Reservoir
Arab A Mbr
Arab A Mbr
Arab B Anhydrite
Arab B Reservoir
Arab B Mbr
Arab B Mbr
Arab C Anhydrite
Arab C Reservoir
Arab C Mbr
Arab C Mbr
Arab D Mbr
Arab D Mbr
Jubaila
JI
11.2
Ulayyah Mbr
11.1
Hawtah Mbr
11
161.9
12.6
Kimmeridgian/Oxfordian Boundary
Oxfordian/Callovian Boundary
Polar glaciation
Lower
Jubaila
MIDDLE
12.4
12.3
171.6 3.0
Callovian/Bathonian Boundary
Bathonian/Bajocian Boundary
167.7 3.0
12.3 171.6
LZA 1.1
Bajocian/Aalenian Boundary
T3
T2
T1
Upper
Middle
Lower
13.6
UAB 4.4
13.5
UAB 4.3
13.4
Hanifa Fm
13.3
UAB 3.4
13.2
Tuwaiq Mt
Limestone
2nd Salt
3rd Anh
3rd Salt
4th Anh
196.5 1.0
Rutbah 2
Nahr Umr 1
Kazhdoumi
Fm
8.3
1a
8.2
Bab
Basin
Clinoforms
Dariyan Fm
Al-Hassanat
IV
Hiatus
Qishn IV
9.5
Qishn III
9.4
Qishn II
9.3
Lower
Kharaib
Jurf I
9.2
Th E
Lekhwair
Lekhwair
Th F
Habshan 6
Shuaiba Platform
Th D
Zakum
IV
Th G
Habshan 5
Th H
Fahliyan
Fm
9.1
Habshan
II
Habshan 3
10.3
Habshan 2
SalilRayda
A
Habshan 1
Jubayla-Rayda
10.2
10.1
11.6
Arab A
Upper Anh
Hiatus
Arab B
11.5
Lower Anh
Arab C
Najmah
Fm
Arab D
11.4
Diyab IV
Diyab III
Hanifa Fm
11.3
Diyab II
11.2
Hiatus
D5 + D6
D4
D3
Dhruma Fm
Upper Araej
Tuwaiq Mountain
Limestone
Uwainat
Dhruma Fm
12.6
12.5
Uwainat Mbr
Lower Araej
Mbr
D1 + D2
11.1
Qamchuka
Fm
12.4
Lower Araej
Sargelu Fm
Sargelu Fm
Dhruma Fm
?
Izhara Fm
12.3
?
12.2
Hiatus
Hiatus
Upper Mafraq 3
12.1
176.5
Marrat Fm
Marrat Fm
Marrat Fm
Hiatus
13.1
10.5
10.4
Hith
Anhydrite
Hith
Anhydrite
RaydaHabshan
B
Habshan 4
Habshan
I
Hiatus
10.6
Habshan
III
Hiatus
A
Alan Fm
13.6
Alan Fm
13.5
B
Seq 3
C
Mus Fm
Qamchuka
Fm
Seq 2
Upper Mafraq 2
Mus Fm
13.4
Marrat Fm
13.3
Hiatus
13.2
Upper Mafraq 1
13.1
Adaiyah Fm
Adaiyah Fm
191.1
14.6
to
14.3
Hiatus
UAB - 2
14
8.1
Gadvan Fm
14.3 to 14.6
UAB - 1
8.4
Pre-Dhruma Unconformity
13
199.6 0.6
8.5
4a
Bab
Member
Hiatus
Upper Araej
Mbr
Seq 1
Sin
Nahr Umr 2
Naokelekan
Fm
Tuwaiq Mt
Limestone
13.3 186.2
Pli
UAB 3.3
8.6
6a
Rutbah 3
Najmah Fm
Marrat Formation
189.6 1.5
Nahr Umr
Fm
Hiatus
13.5 181.3
EARLY
2nd Anh
Seq 4
181.0
Nahr Umr 4
12
UAB 4.5
7.1
Nahr Umr 3
4th Salt
Jubaila Fm
D7
Aalenian Hiatus
J10
Natih I - 1 to I - 6
Diyab I
12.1
175.6 2.0
7.2
I S1
1st Salt
12.2
Aal
UAB 4.6
Mauddud
Natih I - 7
Nahr Umr
Fm
Diyab Fm
Tuwaiq Mountain
Limestone
Dhruma Fm
12.5
12.5 166.8
LZA 2.1
7.3
8a
11.5 152.2
164.7 4.0
Baj
Sarvak 1
Manifa Fm
Hith Transition
Main Hith Anhydrite
11.3
Shlaif
Hiatus
Pre-Sulaiy Unconformity
Cal
167.5
Sarvak 2
Makhul Fm
Sulaiy Fm
Manifa Mbr
11.6
LZA 3.2
J30
Minagish
Yamama Fm
LZA 4.4
LZA 3.1
Natih II
Nasr
Mbr
Yamama Fm
11.4
162.5
Mishrif
I S2
Zubair Formation
Pre-Buwaib Unconformity
Hanifa Fm
J40
Sarvak 3
Upper Kharaib
Kharaib
Fm
Yamama Fm
10.4
LZA 4.5
159.0
7.4
Hawar Mbr
Ratawi Fm
Oxf
J50
Natih III
Rutbah 5
Dair Lst
Unnamed
Clastics
Formation
Buwaib Fm
11.3 157.0
161.2 4.0
Tuwayil
Fm
Pre-Biyadh Unconformity
10.5
155.7 4.0
J60?
Sarvak 4
132.7
10.6
151.4
J70
7.5
9.1
151.0
151.8
Natih IV
Rutbah 4
Fourth
Sand
7.6
Natih V
Ruwaydah
Fm
Th C
11.5
J80
6.2
Laffan Fm
Lekhwair
Fm
LZA 4.6
J90
6.3
Judea Fm
Shuaiba Platform
Biyadh
Sandstone
150.8 4.0
J100
6.4
Halul/Ilam
Kharaib
Fm
10
Tit
Fiqa Fm
9.6
Sulaiy Fm
LZB 1.4
6.5
1b
Lower
Fiqa
123.0
10.3
LZB 1.5
6.6
Pre-Wasia Unconformity
Sallah Fm
9.5
LZB 1.6
K20
5.1
1c
Upper
Fiqa
Hiatus
Mauddud Fm
Middle and
Lower
Third Sand
Bab
Member
Hiatus
LZB 2.1
K30
Juwaiza Fm
Hiatus
10.5 137.6
Val
5.2
Rutbah 1
LZB 2.4
136.4 2.0
Al Khod Fm
6.1
113.3
9.2
LZB 3.1
Hau
Mauddud Fm
Upper 3rd Sst
8.2
LZB 3.3
K50
5.3
Muti Fm
Qiba Fm
9.4
LZB 3.4
Thaqab Fm
1a
Mishrif Mbr
LZB 3.2
Jurassic
Ilam Fm
Derro
Volanics
125.0 1.0
MESOZOIC
R'mah Fm
Maliha Fm
9.5
K70
Simsima
Fm
ARUMA
GROUP
Pre-Aruma Unconformity
Abu Qada
Fm
7.2
LZB 3.5
TRIASSIC
Simsima
Fm
Gulneri
8.1
Het
Tarbur
Fm
C2
Adaffa Fm
Late
121.0
5.5
Khasib BI
8.3
183.0 1.5
Shiranish
Fm
B3
8.3
LZB 4.2
4.2
4.1
B2
UZA 1.1
112.0 1.0
Jafnayn
Fm
Tanuma
Fm
84.1
7.5
7.4
UZA 2.1
Umm er
Radhuma
Fm
Sa'adi
Fm
Hiatus
UZA 2.4
UZA 1.4
Alb
Toa
Umm er
Radhuma
Fm
Gurpi Fm
Hiatus
Matulla Fm
UZA 1.5
Bat
4.3
Lower
Hartha C3
Qamchuka Formation
100.5
4.5
4.4
Kolosh 2
C1
6.3
6.2
UZA 2.2
Rusayl Fm
Sinjar Fm
Gotnia Salt
99.0
Rus Fm
Bekhme
Aruma 1
74.4
Tayarrat
Fm
Burgan Formation
95.5
4.6
Aruma 2
6.6
UZA 3.5
UZA 2.5
3.1
Muthaymimah
Fm
Gotnia Formation
K120
K110
Kim
Rus Fm
3.2
Seeb Fm
Hiatus
Simsima
Fm
Hajajah
Mbr
Sudr Fm
7.3
145.5 4.0
Dammam
Fm
5.4
Aruma 3
Cen
Ber
3.4
Aruma 4
Wasia Formation
93.0
Shama Fm
Pre-UER Unconformity
5.4
7.5
K130
140.2 3.0
3.5
Pabdah 1
Dubai
Kolosh 1
UZA 2.6
K140
3.6
Pabdeh 2
Hiatus
UZA 2.7
Tur
130.0 1.5
2.2
Pabdah 3
Dubai
Sinjar 1
7.6
Barr
Hiatus
Laffan Fm
89.3 1.0
2.3
AG 1
Early
Cenozoic Hiatus
5.5
UZA 3.3
San
Apt
2.4
Asmari
Fm
5.6
6.5
83.5 0.7
2.5
5.6
UZA 4.4
UZA 4.1
Sawadi Fm
Taqa Fm
Sinjar 2
UER 1
4.1
Duwi Fm
78.0
Sinjar 3
Rus Fm
Rus 2
4.4
4.3
2.6
Hiatus
PadehJahrum
Fms
Jaddala
Fm
Sagerma
50.1
55.0
1.1
Dammam 1
Pre-Dammam Unconformity
4.5
Jaddala/
Gercus
Fms
Dammam
Fm
Dammam 2
Rus 3
Thebes
Fm
4.3
1.2
3.3
Saila Mbr
AG 3
Cam
K170
Dammam
Fm
Midra Mbr
4.6
4.5
1.3
Dammam 3
Alveolina Mbr
Dammam
Fm
AG 4
3
1.4
Barzaman Fm
Dammam
Fm
Khobar Mbr
3.1
5.2
UZA 4.2
Mid-Cenozoic
Hiatus
Alat Mbr
99.6 0.9
Lower Fars
Fm
"Clastics
and
Evaporites
Fm"
2.1
Matiyah Fm
33-34 Ma
3.3
UZA 4.5
93.5 0.8
Upper Fars
Fm
Chilou
Fm
Hiatus
3.5
3.4
TA 3.2
Early
Fat'ha Fm
Lower Fars
Fm
Jabal Kibrit
Fm
Upper
Rudeis Mbr
Hiatus
Pri
"late"
Upper Fars
Fm
25.8
Con
Injana Fm
GOS T10
GOS S10
2.3
Rup
85.8 0.7
Bakhtiari
Formation
Hiatus
GOS T00
TB 1.1
37.2 0.1
LATE
Kareem
Fm
Lower
Rudeis Mbr
33.9 0.1
Paleogene
Kial Fm
Bakhtiari
Formation
AG 7
Pg40
70.6 0.6
Belayim Fm
Bakhtiari
Formation
GOS T30
GOS S30
GOS T20
AG 8
2.5
TB 1.2
58.7 0.2
Mansiyah
Fm
Dibdibba
Formation
FARS GROUP
28.4 0.1
Early
Oligocene
Pg50
South Gharib
Fm
Dibdibba
Formation
HADHRAMAUT GROUP
1.3
2.5
23.0
Ghawas
Fm
Hofuf
Formation
ARUMA GROUP
20.0
GOS T70
Zeit Fm
1.5
Hofuf Formation
gravel, erosion
of cover rock
WASIA GROUP
Ng10
Aqu
CENOZOIC
6.4
TB 2.2
20.4
Outcrop
1.6
Agha Jari
Formation
17.5
TB 2.3
Subsurface
Badr Fm
Ifal Fm
Surmeh Formation
Early
TB 2.4
OMAN
KAHMAH GROUP
Ng20
Bur
Subsurface
GOS T50
14.5
15.9
UNITED
ARAB
EMIRATES
IRAN
Lower Red Fm
16.0
Ng40
Ng30
SYRIA
Kashtak Fm
Lurestan
13.8
Lan
IRAQ
Khane Khat Fm
Middle
Ser
KUWAIT
GOS S70
11.6
Miocene
Neogene
Tor
TB 3.3
Outcrop
QATAR
Garau Formation
Late
7.2
Red Sea
BAHRAIN
1.5
Pliocene
Mes
SAUDI ARABIA
Upper Red
Fm
Ma
EGYPT
GULF OF
SUEZ
MFS
SEQUENCE
BOUNDARY
AROS 2008
UNCONFORMITY
DS SB
Ma
Basarin Fm
Age (Ma)
Haq et al.
(1988)
Aalaji Formation
Pleistocene
ARABIAN
PLATE
Aruma Formation
Stage
Epoch
Quat Period
Era
GTS 2004
AROS
DS
GeoArabia
Pre-Marrat Unconformity
200.8
Minjur Sandstone
Minjur Fm
Limestone
Hamlah Fm
Dolomite
Minjur Fm
Anhydrite
Butmah Fm
Shale
Sargelu Fm
Sandstone
Dashtak Fm
Marl
Hamlah Fm
Reservoir
Volcanic
TransgressiveRegressive
Sequence
14.2
and
14.1
GeoArabia
ARABIAN
PLATE
Age (Ma)
MFS
Ma
AROS 2008
DS
SB
Ma
SEQUENCE
BOUNDARY
UNCONFORMITY
SAUDI ARABIA
Outcrop
BAHRAIN
QATAR
KUWAIT
IRAQ
14.3 200.8
Rha
Minjur Sandstone
14
234.8
Lower
Jilh
Gelli
Khana
Formation
Sudair
Formation
Mirga Mir
Formation
U. Khartam
Mbr
* PTr
Boundary
18.6
L. Khartam
Mbr
18.5
18.5 254.2
Midhnab
Mbr
P30
256.0
18.3
18.3 259.1
18.2
Cap
18.1
18
P20
266.0
264.0
19.6
Duhaysan
Mbr
K0
C3
C2
C1
KII
KS1
KS2
KS2
KS3
Upper Anh
KS4
Mid Anh
KS3
KS4
Huqayl Mbr
KS5
D
Ash Shiqqah
Mbr
Kurra Chine
Dolomite
KS5
KIII
Amanus Shale
Amanus
Sandstone
Aghar Shale
Kangan I
Darari
Member
Markada
Formation
II
Upper III
Dalan
Member
IV
KSI
Nar
Member
Lower
Dalan
Member
Basal Khuff
Clastics
Basal Khuff
Clastics
Basal Khuff
Clastics
?
19.3 273.7
19.2
Unayzah
Formation
A Res
278.5
OSPZ4
Art-Kun
20.5
20.5 283.4
OSPZ3
20.4
20.3 288.3
20.2
20
294.6 0.8
293.1
21.6
Ass
OSPZ2
Ass-Sak
20.1
21.5
21.5 298.0
299.0 0.8
21.4
Haushi
Formation
Unayzah
Formation
Juwayl
Member
of the
Wajid
Sandstone
Saiq Sq
Saiq A4
Saiq Sq
21.3 302.8
Ste
21.2
Kas
Faraghan
Formation
Ga'ara
Formation
Haushi
Formation
311.7 1.1
18.2
Saiq A3
Saiq Sq
18.1
P18
P17
Saiq A2
Saiq Sq
1L
Saiq Sq
Saiq A1
1v
B Res
Chal-e
Shah
19.4
Gharif 7
19.3
Gharif 6
Upper
Gharif 4
19.2
19.1
20.6
Lower
20.5
Gharif 2
20.4
Saiwan Fm
Basal Unit
20.3
Gharif 1
Rahab Lake 2
Intra-Rahab
Rahab Lake 1
Rahab
Shale
Blanketing Diamictite
AK PIA Early Lake
AK PIA Unnamed Diamictite
Gondwana Glaciation
in Southwest Arabia
and Oman
Ghazal
Mbr
19.5
Gharif 8
Gharif 3
Jawb
Mbr
19.6
Hiatus
20.2
20.1
21.6
21.5
21.4
Al Khlata AK P5
C Res
21.2
Hiatus
21.1
307.7
Wes
22
Pre-Unayzah Unconformity
318.1 1.3
Nam
22
23
326.4 1.6
2v
P20
Al Khlata AK P9
21
Bas
Ser
2a
P27
P23
18.5
18.3
Gharif 5
Tinat
Mbr
21.1
306.5 1.0
Mos
2b
18.6
21.3
OSPZ1
303.9 0.9
18.4
21.3
Gzh
Saiq Sq
P30
P19
KS7
*
*
Saiq B1-B6
Saiq C1-C5
Wudayhi
Mbr
Juwayl Formation
20.3
Sak
KS5
Basal Khuff
Clastics
UNAYZAH GROUP
20.6
286.0
KS4
Middle
Nuayyim Formation
19
P10
P35
Pre-Khuff Unconformity
19.1
Art
KS3
Upper
19.3
275.6 0.7
19.4
Kun
Upper
Member
P40
KS6
19.5 268.8
270.6 0.7
Mahil
Formation
17
KS2
Satina Evap
Zinnar
Member
Basal Khuff
Clastics
19.5
Roa
Mahil
Formation
Sudair
Formation
KS6
Wor
268.0 0.7
KI
KS1
253.0
260.4 0.7
GUADALUPIAN
Middle
Gulailah
Formation
249.4
Wuc
CISURALIAN
Early
Jilh
Formation
Redefined Gharif
Sudair Shale
17
18.4
284.4 0.7
15
Dashtak
Formation
16
Khuff Formation
P40
Sudair
Formation
Khuff Formation
250.0
250.5
14.1
Lower
Khuff Formation
Tr20
Tr10
14.2
Gulailah
Formation
Lower
Jilh
247.7
253.8 0.7
265.8 0.7
Kurra Chine
Salt
Middle Salt
Jilh
Formation
Middle
Khuff Formation
EARLY
LOPINGIAN
Late
Cha
PENNSYLVANIAN
"Late"
East
Kurra Chine
Anhydrite
17
Tr30
251.0 0.4
Jilh Salt
Kurra Chine
Formation
Middle
242.0
16
Adaya Fm
Khuff Formation
Tr40
245.0 1.5
MISSI
"Middle"
Central
Lower
Mafraq
Clastics
Hamlah
Formation
Lower
233.0
Mus Fm
Lower
Tr50
OSPZ6
Wor - Late Permian
MIDDLE
16
237.0 2.0
249.7 0.7
Carnian Salt
Crisis
227.0
228.0 2.0
Ole
Butmah
Formation
AKHDAR GROUP
Tr60
220.2
Jilh Formation
220.0
Upper
Jilh
Upper
Jilh
Upper
15
15
Ani
Minjur
Formation
205.6
208.0
216.5 2.0
Lad
Hamlah
Formation
HAUSHI GROUP
Tr80
Tr70
Triassic
Subsurface
Butma Fm
OSPZ5
Roa-Wor
LATE
Nor
Car
Permian
Minjur
Formation
14.1
203.6 1.5
Carboniferous
OMAN
Sargelu Fm
14.2
MESOZOIC
UNITED
ARAB
EMIRATES
PALEOZOIC
IRAN
Subsurface
Jurassic
Ind
SYRIA
Khuff Formation
Stage
Epoch
Period
Era
GTS 2004
AROS
DS
322.3
Mid-Carboniferous
Hiatus
Limestone
Anhydrite
Sandstone
Reservoir
Dolomite
Shale
Marl
Volcanic
TransgressiveRegressive
Sequence
22
23
Appendix 14
1218
C6
East
West
0.5
0.0
300
200 +100
-100
Piacenzian
Zanclean
Messinian
E.
Late
Middle
MIOCENE
NEOGENE
C
I
1.0
Basinward
Dibdibba
Tortonian
Serravalian
Langhian
Burdigalian
Onlap Curve
Landward
1.0
0.5
Sea-Level Curve
Basinward
0.0
300
200 +100
-100
Isthmus of Panama
closes
Arctic glaciation
begins
Closure of Gibralter
Isthmus, isolation of
Mediterranean
Messinian Salinity
Crisis
Hofuf
Dam
Final submergence of
Iceland-Faroe Ridge
Collision on eastern Arabian
margin (Zagros-Oman
Foldbelt forms)
Ng40 (14.6)
Ng30 (15.9)
Ng20 (18.5)
Hadroukh
Ng10
(20)
Aquitanian
HST
TST
HST
C11
C12
Late
Pg40
Rupelian
Pg30
Priabonian
Bartonian
C21
C22
Middle
C23
C28
C29
C30
70
Late
Early
C26
C27
65
HST
Dammam
Alveolina
HST
Saila
TST
Pg20
HST
(48.6)
TST
40
South Hemisphere
glaciation
Onset of collision of
India with Asia
45
50
HST
TST
HST
Spreading in Norwegian
Greenland sea begins
HST
Umm Er
Radhuma
55
TST
Pg10
(59)
Selandian
HST
TST
60
Danian
K180
Maastrichtian
C31
35
Onset of Antarctic
bottom water regime,
widespread deep
sea hiatuses
Spreading direction
change in north Pacific
Rus
Ypresian
Thanetian
25
South Hemisphere
glaciation
TST
TST
C25
60
Lutetian
C24
PALEOCENE
55
Dammam
Khobar
Midra
Early
50
45
EOCENE
C20
PA L E O G E N E
C19
C18
20
30
Hasbah
Alat
C17
40
15
Further inversion of
Euphrates Graben,
Palmyrids, Sinjar, following
onset of Zagros compression
(29)
(33)
Late
C13C16
Onset of North
Atlantic deep water
35
(24)
Chattian
10
Widespread Cherts
on ocean floor
C10
Early
C8
C9
30
OLIGOCENE
C7
05
Major enlargement
of Antarctic ice sheet
Onset of monsoons
and upwelling in
Arabian Sea
South Hemisphere
glaciation
LST/TST
Pg50
25
Time (Ma)
Onlap Curve
Major Tectonic
Events
Major
Paleoceanographic
and Climatic
Events
Tectonostratigraphic
Megasequences
Member
Source
Intervals
Gelasian
L.
Early
20
C5
Reservoir
Intervals
Global Mean
Sea-Level Changes
AP11
Formation
C3
10
15
Standard
Stages / Ages
Generalized
Depositional
Profile (Chronostratigraphic
Extent)
AP10
PLIO.
C2
C4
Generalized
Saudi Arabian
Stratigraphy
Pleistocene-Holocene
C1
05
Series/Epochs
Systems/Periods
ERAS
Magnetic Chrons
Time (Ma)
(68)
Masirah Ophiolite
obduction on East Arabian
margin and obduction
on North margin drives
Syrian Arc inversion
HST
TST
HST
TST
65
Separation of Seychelles
from India
70
HST
TST
HST
75
TST
Onset of rifting in
Euphrates and Sinjar
Basins of Syria
HST
TST
C32
HST
75
Campanian
80
C33
Aruma
K170
(78)
TST
HST
HST
TST
HST
TST
AP9
TST
80
Middle Turonian
Unconformity
90
Turonian
Mishrif
95
Rumaila
C34
105
Wara
Safaniya
Albian
Khafji
Ahmadi
(Qatar)
Mauddud
K100
(106)
Khafji
K80
(117)
Shuaiba
K70
(122.5)
Barremian
Zubair
Biyadh
130
Hauterivian
Buwaib
Buwaib
Valanginian
Yamama
Ratawi Sh.
Ratawi LST.
Ratawi
LATE
150
Kimmeridgian
155
Arab
Arab
(A - D)
Jubaila
J2
J1
160
JURASSIC
165
170
Jubaila
Upper
Bathonian
Bajocian
Daddiyah
Maysiyah
Baladiyah
Hisyan
Atash
Hadriya
LST / TST
HST
HST
LST / TST
(Iraq)
Dhruma
Lower
185
Marrat
130
135
140
TST
TST
Rifting of eastern
Mediterranean begins
(Uplift of western margin
of Arabian Arch)
TST
Madagascar separates
from Africa
Atlantic begins to open.
(Unconformity with major
erosion on margin of
Arabian Plate)
TST
TST
TST
J50
HST
(158)
TST
(180)
TST
HST
Major anoxic
event North Sea,
Siberia?
145
150
155
160
HST
Rifting of Indian Plate from
Africa begins (Rifting in
south Arabian margin,
tilting northward)
Active opening in Gulf of
Mexico and North Atlantic
TST
HST
TST
HST
LST / TST
Long Term
Curve
170
Short
Term
Curve
175
Major anoxic event
(Tethys, Europe)
180
LST / TST
185
Sinemurian
TRIASSIC
210
LATE
Hettangian
Beginning of rifting
between East and
West Gondwanaland
Rhaetian
Norian
Minjur
Upper
Minjur
Shale
Evaporite
Carbonate
Oil Reservoir
Non-associated
Gas Resrvoir
Oil and Non-associated
Gas Reservoir
Proven Source
Interval
Potential Source
Interval
190
195
200
210
Jurassic-Neogene
Arabian Platform Cycle Chart
Sandstone
AP6
Beginning of rifting
between North America
and Africa and in Gulf
of Mexico
Initial breakup of Pangaea
EARLY
195
200
165
Tethys Current
establishes
Pliensbachian
190
120
125
HST
J70 (154)
J60
(155)
J10
110
TST
LST / TST
Toarcian
105
HST
HST
Marrat
Major anoxic
event in Europe
HST
(170)
100
TST
LST / TST
HST
HST
J20
Major anoxic
event on ocean
floor
Opening of Mediterranean
begins (sub-basins form
on Arabian Platform)
LST / TST
J110
(147)
(167)
95
115
HST
HST
J30
Faridah
90
Major anoxic
event on ocean
floor
TST
K10
(144)
J100 (150.75)
J90 (151.5)
Major anoxic
event South
and central
Atlantic
HST
HST
(163)
Lower Fadhili
Middle
HST
K30
(139)
K20
(141)
J40
Upper Fadhili
Sharar
LST / TST
LST / TST
J80 (152.5)
Hawtah
Tuwaiq
Mountain
HST
K50
(129)
Aalenian
175
MIDDLE
Callovian
Hanifa
(Yemen)
Hanifa
Ulayah
Oxfordian
180
(Hith)
Manifa/Hith S.
LST / TST
TST
Sulaiy
Tithonian
HST
HST
LST / TST
K40
(132)
Berriasian
145
Onset of ophiolite
obduction on Northeast
Arabia and inversion
(Fault Reactivation,
warping of plate with
erosion and onlap)
Breakup of AustraliaAntarctica starts
New spreading ridge
forms off the eastern
margin of Arabian
Platform (later obducted
as ophiolite in
Turonian)
HST
LST / TST
HST
TST
K60
(126)
Late Valanginian
Unconformity
135
140
K90
(111)
EARLY
125
85
LST / TST
(U.A.E)
(U.A.E)
120
TST
Safaniya
115
Shuaiba
(88)
K110
(101)
Aptian
HST
K120
(98)
Wara
Mauddud
Wasia
Rumaila
110
Ahmadi
C R E TA C E O U S
Cenomanian
K150
K140
(93)
K130
(95)
Mishrif
Spreading begins
between Australia
and Antarctica in
Tasman Sea
HST
TST
AP8
Lawhah
Coniacian
100
K160
(85)
AP7
Santonian
85
LATE
TST
HST
TST
Hiatal Surface
J10
Intra-Formational
Hiatus (Erosional or
non-depositional)
(180)
Scale Change
200 +100
-100
1.0
0.5
0.0
300
200 +100
Lower
Upper
Jilh
Upper
Wordian
Roadian
Kungurian
Khuff (A-C)
Duhaysan
Khuff
Huqayl
TST
Tr50
HST
(234)
TST
230
Arabian Plate moves
into equatorial
latitudes
240
P40 (254)
TST
P30 (255)
TST
250
HST
260
HST
LST / TST
Basal Khuff
Aeolian
Playa
Unayzah A
Marine
Opening of Neotethys,
passive margin subsidence
around Arabia
South Hemisphere
glaciation
270
280
Tethys established
(Oman)
P10
(287)
Fluviolacustrine
Stephanian
Unayzah C
Juwayl
Unayzah B
Bashkirian
Serpukhovian
Fluvio-glacial
Incisions
Fluvioglacial
Westphalian
Paleotethys forms
Namurian
Late
HST
P20
(261)
Unayzah
Early Middle
Tr60
220
Tr30 (249.75)
Lower
Khartam
Midhnab
Artinskian
Late
HST
C10
Visean
LST / TST
Glaciation on A.P.
310
South Hemisphere
glaciation
320
330
Berwath
Effects of Hercynian
Orogeny observed
on Arabian Plate
LST / TST
HST
LST / TST
HST
Tournaisian
390
Givetian
Early
Late
L
500
510
520
530
Late
Middle
Early
Late
Middle
CAMBRIAN
490
Pridolian
Ludfordian
Ludlow.
Gorstian
Jauf
LST / TST
HST
Aeronian
Rhuddanian
Caradocian
Llandeilian
Jauf
HST
LST / TST
(408)
LST / TST
LST / TST
HST
S20
(418)
Qusaiba
Sarah
S10
Mid Qusaiba
Sarah
Sarah
Quwarah
Quwarah
Kahfah
Kahfah
380
390
Short
Term
Curve
400
Indochina rifts from
Gondwana
Iapetus Ocean closed
O20 (483)
HST
O10 (486)
LST / TST
HST
Cm30
(Oman)
LST / TST
(496)
Cm20
Gondwana extends in
South high latitudes
HST
(Ara)
HST
(538)
430
South Hemisphere
glaciation
440
Glaciation on Arabian
Plate followed by
isostatic rebound
450
Paleozoic Gondwana
assembled and Iapetus
and Panthalassa
Oceans established
Onset of subsidence
following peneplanation
on Arabian Plate
Cm10
South Hemisphere
glaciation
South Hemisphere
glaciation
470
490
510
South Hemisphere
glaciation?
Widespread carbonate
platforms in China, Siberia,
North America
LST / TST
(Volcanics)
Shale
Evaporite
Carbonate
Oil Reservoir
Non-associated
Gas Resrvoir
Oil and Non-associated
Gas Reservoir
Proven Source
Interval
Potential Source
Interval
530
550
Cambrian-Triassic
Arabian Platform Cycle Chart
Sandstone
410
LST / TST
(506)
(Oman)
420
LST / TST
(469)
Pre-Siq Unconformity
Northern Gulf Salt Basin
(Jibalah Group)
HST
O30
Atdabanian
Tommotian
LST / TST
(454)
Burj
Siq
Botomian
HST
O40
Risha
St. Davids
Onset on Hercynian
Orogeny (sensu lato)
Sajir
Merioneth
HST
(440)
Hanadir
Saq
370
Raan
Qasim
South Hemisphere
glaciation?
HST
LST / TST
Sharawra
Qalibah
Long
Term
Curve
LST / TST
Pre-Tawil Unconformity
Arenigian
Lenan
Short
Term
Curve
LST / TST
D10
Tawil
Llanvirnian
Tremadocian
(401)
Long Term
Curve
HST
Telychian
Llandoverian
LST / TST
D20
Homerian
Sheirnwoodian
Precambrian
550
Hammamiyat
Subbat
Qasr
Shaiba
Nemakit - Daldynian
540
HST
Murayr (Fiyadh)
Pragian
Ashgillian (Hirnantian)
Early
ORDOVICIAN
480
Emsian
Wenlock
Early
SILURIAN
A
P
470
Lower
Eifelian
Lochkovian
440
450
HST
Middle
LST / TST
410
430
LST / TST
Jubah
400
420
LST / TST
HST
Frasnian
Middle
380
DEVONIAN
Late
370
(361)
360
AP3
Famennian
HST
AP2
Upper
D30
AP1
360
340
350
LST / TST
Early
350
290
300
South Hemisphere
glaciation
Hercynian Carboniferous
unconformity on A.P.
HST
(333)
Stadial/Interstadial
climate on A.P.
AP5
Capitanian
Middle
(220)
210
AP4
Sudair
Unfimian- TataKazanian rian
Early
Lopingian
HST
200
(241)
Wuchiapingian
Guadalupian
Pennsylvanian
Mississippian
CARBONIFEROUS
Tr70
(226)
Lower
Time (Ma)
Tr40
Olenekian
Induan
Changsingian
Gzhelian
Kasimovian
Moscovian
195
LST / TST
HST
LST / TST
(211)
Tectonostratigraphic
Megasequences
-100
AP6
Tr80
Ladinian
C
I
O
300
Basinward
HST
Minjur
Asselian
310
460
0.0
Landward
Sea-Level Curve
Major
Paleoceanographic
and Climatic
Events
Early
Late
Upper
Minjur
Jilh
300
340
0.5
Onlap Curve
Major Tectonic
Events
Beginning of rifting
between East and
West Gondwanaland
Sakmarian
330
Basinward
Carnian
290
320
East
West
1.0
Norian
Cisuralian
PERMIAN
260
280
Anisian
250
270
Onlap Curve
Hettangian
Middle
TRIASSIC
Z
O
S
240
Source
Intervals
Sinemurian
230
Member
Global Mean
Sea-Level Changes
Rhaetian
210
220
Reservoir
Intervals
Generalized
Depositional
Profile (Chronostratigraphic
Extent)
Series/Epochs
Formation
200
Generalized
Saudi Arabian
Stratigraphy
Standard
Stages / Ages
195
JURASSIC Systems/Periods
ERAS
Time (Ma)
Hiatal Surface
D20
Intra-Formational
Hiatus (Erosional or
non-depositional)
(401)
Scale Change