Career

Date: 12 December
Duration: 12:30pm to 5:30pm
Field Trip Leader: Husam Al Rawahi, GSO
Field Trip Fee: $1200 (inclusive of flights, airport transfers, 2 night’s accommodation and F&B)

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Wadi Al Khoud exposes a number of tectonostratigraphic units, including autochthonous siliciclastic and carbonate sediments that range in age from late Cretaceous to Quaternary. The main deposits in the area are divided into four formations, the late Cretaceous clastics of the Al Khoud Conglomerate Formation and the shallow marine carbonate units of the Al Jafnyn (Umm Er Radhuma in the subsurface), Al Rusail (Rus in the subsurface) and Al Seeb (Dammam in the subsurface) formations. These rocks uncoformably overlie a spectacular ophiolite succession which includes deep-oceanic sediments. The Oman ophiolite was thrust over the northern margin of Oman during the late Cretaceous orogenic event, resulting in the development of new sedimentation patterns, faults and fractures.

This fieldtrip will cover three main stops in Al Khoud village:

Stop 1: Deep-oceanic sediments and ophiolite.

Stop 2: The unconformity between the Al Khoud Formation and Al Jafnyn Formation.

Stop 3: Shallow marine carbonate sediments of Al Jafnyn, Al Rusail and Al Seeb Formations.

Stop 4: (optional) Foraminifera Graveyard.

In this fieldtrip, we will focus our discussions on the reservoir characteristics, seal potential and tectonostratigraphic evolution of this part of Oman. There will be a brief mention of the dinosaur collection found within the Al Khoud Conglomerate Formation and mineral usage of the limestones (Seeb) and gypsum (Rus) in cement manufacturing. If lucky, shark teeth might be found in the carbonates of the Seeb Formation.