Figure 19: Paleofacies of the Oligocene spanning deposition of the Pabdeh-Chilon (Palani) formations and their regional equivalents [MFS Pg30 to intra-Ng10]. A major unconformity and sedimentary hiatus [base of AP11 dated at 34 Ma] affected much of the Arabian Plate. The sediments were deposited in a compressive foreland setting during the early stages of continental collision between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. On the western side of the Plate, the Red Sea was in a rifting stage prior to the advent of sea-floor spreading and the splitting of the Afro-Arabian Plate. With information from: Andrews (1992b); Ellis et al. (1996); Goff et al. (1995); Guiraud et al. (2001); Koop and Stoneley (1982); Kraig and Kozlu (1990); Le Métour et al. (1995); Nolan et al. (1990); Ponikarov et al. (1966); Roger et al. (1989, 1992); and unpublished Saudi Aramco Miscellaneous Report 913 (W.J. Koop, 1982).