Shallow Cores of Ras Al Hamra, Oman: Facies and Diagenesis

M. Bernecker¹, S. Al Batrani¹, R. Al Yaarubi¹, and S. Ehrenberg²

Abstract

Ras Al Hamra (RAH) is an area of small hills and valleys within the city of Muscat. This residential and industrial district is located at the coast near the port Mina Al Fahal. The outcropping sedimentary rocks of RAH have been studied in several cores penetrating to depths of 10-20 m.

The investigation is focused on the lithified limestone of the area, containing diverse biota as foraminifera, red algae, echinoids, and corals. Ranikothalia foraminifers and Distichoplax red algae indicative of Paleocene age in association with Discocyclina and Nummulitid foraminifers indicative of Eocene age suggest that the strata are of late Paleocene to early Eocene age. The RAH limestone is time-equivalent to the Um Er Radhuma Formation, defined in Saudi Arabia and visible in outcrops of the Dhofar Mountains in south Oman.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90188 ©GEO-2014, 11th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, 10-12 March 2014, Manama, Bahrain