Thegeology of Oman includes varied landscapes which are a blend of its geological history, and itsclimate over the past few million years. Rock outcrops in theHajar,Huqf andDhofar Mountains are a point of interest for international geologists. The rock record spans about 825 million years and includes at least three periods when the country was covered by ice.Oman, located at the southeast corner of theArabian Plate, is being pushed slowly northward, as theRed Sea grows wider. The lofty Hajar Mountains and the drowned valleys ofMusandam are dramatic reminders of this. Generally speaking Oman is fairly quiescent tectonically. Musandan experiences occasional tremors as the Arabian Plate collides with theEurasian Plate. During theCretaceous Period Oman was located adjacent to asubduction zone and a portion of theupper mantle along with overlying seafloorvolcanic rocks werethrust over thecontinental crust. Thisobducted sequence ofultramafic tomafic rocks is theSemail Ophiolite complex. Theophiolite is locally rich incopper andchromiteorebodies.[1][2]
Seismic reflection profiles consisting of magnetic and gravitational data, provide models for the subsurface of the northwestern Oman and northeastern UAE onshore/offshore topography. The data acquired showed that the geology can be separated by Pleistocene, Pliocene, Miocene, Oligocene, Eocene, Paleocene, Cretaceous stratigraphic layers which are underlaid by Ophiolite bodies. The Cretaceous to the early Miocene stratigraphic layers also represent different periods of basin deepening. The process that allowed this deepening was thanks in part to the ophiolite loading. This resulted in normal faulting, permitting accommodation for sediment accumulation.[3]
A study of the cross cutting relationships between the normal faults of the region with various aged sediments indicates that some normal faults formed early on in the history of the subduction zone. Subduction is believed to have begun approximately 104 Mya, becoming self-sufficient around 96-95 Mya. The oldest normal faults are extremely long, ranging from 1-5 km. Research has associated these faults with extensional forces that began once the force of the subducting slab was enough to overcome resistant forces of thelithosphere.[4] This supports the theory of slab-pull subduction, where subduction continues due to the weight of the subducting plate.
The interior plains of Oman are of youngsedimentary rocks, wadi gravels, dune sands andsalt flats. Beneath them is a several kilometre-thick stack of older sedimentary rocks that host the country'shydrocarbon resources. Ancient salt, which comes to the surface in severalsalt domes such asQarat Kibrit, plays an important role in forming many of these oil and gas accumulations.
Oman has become a major destination for geotourism and an increasing number of visitors are attracted by the spectacular outcrops the country has to offer.[5]
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