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Scientific article
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English

The geology of Khuff outcrop analogues in the Musandam Peninsula, United Arab Emirates and Oman

Contributors

Maurer, Florian; Martini, Rossana; Rettori, Roberto; Hillgärtner, Heiko; Cirilli, Simonetta

Published in

GeoArabia, vol. 14, no. 3, p. 125-158

Publication date

2009

Abstract

A revision of the stratigraphy of late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic carbonates (Bih Formation) in the Musandam Mountains near Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), clarifies the presence of deposits that are age-equivalent to the Late Permian and Early Triassic Khuff Formation. Biostratigraphic markers including benthic foraminifera and calcareous algae indicate a Permian age for the stratigraphically oldest outcrops ranging from late Wuchiapingian to late Changhsingian (K4 and K3 reservoir units in the subsurface). A late Induan – early Olenekian (Early Triassic) age is documented for the stratigraphically youngest outcrops. Sedimentological features, stacking patterns and microfacies of the Permian outcrops show strong affinity to the KS3 and KS2 Khuff sequences, dominated by high-energy bioclastic pack- and grainstone. The depositional environment of the Bih Formation is further characterised by a palynological evaluation of claystones and by XRD analysis of clay minerals. Spectral gamma-ray data from the outcrop, which indicate Uranium depletion following the extinction of Permian foraminifera, help to pinpoint the position of the Permian – Triassic boundary and to correlate the measured section with the subsurface. Some stratigraphic intervals in outcrop are affected by strong secondary dolomitisation and do not reflect the same diagenetic patterns as their subsurface counterparts. Patterns of secondary dolomitisation, however, indicate the flow of formation water and thus mimic pore-fluid flow in the subsurface reservoirs. The depositional facies show clear resemblances to the reservoir facies, and the studied outcrops most likely represent the best analogue to the Khuff reservoirs in the UAE and in the North Dome / South Pars field area offshore Qatar and Iran.

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

MAURER, Florian et al. The geology of Khuff outcrop analogues in the Musandam Peninsula, United Arab Emirates and Oman. In: GeoArabia, 2009, vol. 14, n° 3, p. 125–158. doi: 10.2113/geoarabia1403125

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)
CC BY-NC-4.0

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

1025-6059
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Technical informations

Creation

07/08/2009 10:36:00

First validation

07/08/2009 10:36:00

Update

14/09/2026 10:13:43

Status update

14/09/2026 10:13:43

Last indexation

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