bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MIDDLE EAST GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE 2010: Early Cambrian Asfar Sequence
Authors: Al-Husseini Moujahed I. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
This paper is the first in a series dedicated to the Phanerozoic Cambrian Period, and Neoproterozoic Ediacaran and Cryogenian periods, as represented in the Middle East Geologic Time Scale (ME GTS, see enclosed Chart). It introduces the term Asfar Sequence to represent a regional Early Cambrian time-rock unit, consisting mainly of continental quartz-rich arkosic sandstone, shale and siltstone, which attain a thickness of at least 750 m in Jordan and more than 700 m in Oman. The term “Asfar”, meaning yellow in Arabic, was chosen because it is the standard color for sandstone in ME GTS. To describe its stratigraphy, four representative formations are reviewed in lexicon format: Salib Arkosic Sandstone of Jordan, Siq Sandstone of Saudi Arabia, Amin Formation of Oman and Lalun Sandstone of Iran. The stratigraphic geometry of the lower boundary of the Sequence varies considerably by locality. In some regions in Iran it is conformable above the shales of the Zaigun Formation. In other regions, such as western Jordan, it is an onlap surface over Proterozoic and/or Lower and Middle Cambrian paleohighs, or a pronounced angular unconformity (e.g. central and southern Saudi Arabia). The paleo-relief represented by the unconformity surface, in many regions, forms a regional peneplain (e.g. central and eastern Jordan) implying erosion; in other paleohigh regions, the Sequence is absent by non-deposition. The age of the base Asfar Sequence is estimated at ca. 530 Ma, based on radiometric data and depositional rates in basinal areas. The top boundary of the Sequence, in Iran, Jordan, and northern and northeastern Saudi Arabia, is represented by a sequence boundary (or its correlative unconformity), above which marine, fine-grained siliciclastics and carbonates of late Early to early Mid-Cambrian age were deposited: Mila Formation in Iran, and Burj Formation in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, implying an age older than ca. 510 Ma in GTS 2004. In Oman, however, continental rather than marine deposition (Miqrat and coeval Mahwis formations) continued above the unconformity in ?Middle Cambrian. For the purpose of regional correlations it is proposed that the Angudan Unconformity of Oman be taken as the name for the basal boundary of the Sequence and the Burj Sequence Boundary for its top.
Sequence stratigraphy of the Late Campanian – Early Maastrichtian Shiranish Formation, Jabal Sinjar, northwestern Iraq
Authors: Al-Banna Nabil Yousif 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTThe Late Campanian – Maastrichtian Shiranish Formation consists of deep-marine marls and limestones that were deposited in northern and central Iraq. In northwestern Iraq, in the core of EW-trending Jabal Sinjar, a 430-m-thick section of the Shiranish Formation crops out. The base of the Shiranish section is not exposed here. It is unconformably overlain by Paleocene – Lower Eocene formations: Sinjar Formation along the northern part of the Jabal, and Aaliji Formation along its eastern side. Eighty samples were collected from the section and used for facies analysis and biostratigraphic calibration. Previous studies of planktonic foraminifera recognized four biozones, which were confirmed in the present study: Globotruncanita calcarata Interval Zone, Globotruncanella havanensis-Rosita fornicata Partial Range Zone, Globotruncana aegyptiaca Interval Zone and Gansserina gansseri Interval Zone. These zones are here calibrated in several geological time scales. Six facies were distinguishable throughout the section, representing shallow-marine, middle-shelf, outer-shelf and upper-bathyal environments. These environments were used to interpret six depositional sequences. The older five Shiranish sequences are fourth order and grouped into one third-order sequence, while the sixth and youngest Shiranish Sequence was of third order. This suggests that the studied section was deposited in about 5 million years between ca. 76.0–74.4 and 69.5–69.8 Ma. The correlation between the Shiranish sequences and those of the Aruma Formation in Saudi Arabia implies that the northern Arabian Platform was regionally flooded starting in the Late Campanian and ending in the Maastrichtian. In the study area, an unconformity straddles the Cretaceous – Tertiary (K/T) boundary and represent a hiatus of ca. 10 or more million years.
Facies and stratigraphic framework of a Khuff outcrop equivalent: Saiq and Mahil formations, Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Koehrer Bastian , Zeller Michael , Aigner Thomas , Poeppelreiter Michael , Milroy Paul , Forke Holger , Al-Kindi Suleiman 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTThe Middle Permian to Lower Triassic Khuff Formation is one of the most important reservoir intervals in the Middle East. This study presents a sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Khuff Formation of a well-exposed outcrop in the Oman Mountains, which may provide a reference section for correlations across the entire Middle East. On the Saiq Plateau of the Al Jabal al-Akhdar, the Permian Upper Saiq Formation is time-equivalent to the Lower and Middle Khuff Formation (K5–K3 reservoir units in Oman). The Permian section is dominated by graded skeletal and peloidal packstones and cross-bedded grainstones with a diverse marine fauna. The Lower Mahil Member (Induan Stage), time-equivalent to the Upper Khuff Formation (K2–K1 reservoir units in Oman), is dominated by grainstones composed of microbially-coated intra-clasts and ooids. In general, the studied outcrop is characterized by a very high percentage of grain-dominated textures representing storm-dominated shoal to foreshoal deposits of a paleogeographically more distal portion of the Khuff carbonate ramp.A sequence-stratigraphic analysis was carried out by integrating lithostratigraphic marker beds, facies cycles, bio- and chemostratigraphy. The investigated outcrop section was subdivided into six third-order sequences, named KS 6 to KS 1. KS 6–KS 5 are interpreted to correspond to the Murgabian to Midian (ca. Wordian to Capitanian) stages. KS 4-Lower KS 2 correspond to the Dzhulfian (Wuchiapingian) to Dorashamian (Changhsingian) stages. Upper KS 2–KS 1 represent the Triassic Induan stage. Each of the six sequences was further subdivided into fourth-order cycle sets and fifth-order cycles. The documentation of this outcrop may contribute to a better regional understanding of the Khuff Formation on the Arabian Platform.
Structures of the Kirkuk Embayment, northern Iraq: Foreland structures or Zagros Fold Belt structures?
Authors: Kent W. Norman 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
Several anticlines in northern Iraq and Syria have been studied through the construction of balanced and restored cross sections. Based upon structural analysis, each of the studied anticlines is a fault-propagation fold that developed due to Zagros-related, recent inversion of much older normal faults. Studies on the Iranian part of the Zagros Fold Belt have suggested that the regional variation in the character of the fold belt is related to weak detachment surfaces in the stratigraphic section, primarily the decollement developed near the top of the Hormuz Salt where the salt is present. No evidence for Hormuz Salt has been found within the Kirkuk Embayment, and although detachment surfaces contribute the area’s structural character, the prominent folds seem to originate mainly from basement involved faults.
Two distinct inversion structural trends exist: E-W system and a NW system of inverted grabens. In Syria, several of the faults associated with the EW-trending system cut the basement on seismic data and have stratigraphic relationships indicating that their displacement originated in the Neoproterozoic. In Iraq, the thicker sedimentary section did not allow the deep parts of the fault systems to be imaged on the available seismic. While the NW fault system of inverted normal faults could be linked to the Zagros Orogen by a decollement surface in the sedimentary section, regional relationships and potential-field data suggest that this trend also is basement involved and has a Neoproterozoic origin.
Marine flooding events of the Early and Middle Ordovician of Oman and the United Arab Emirates and their graptolite, acritarch and chitinozoan associations
Authors: Rickards Barrie R. , Booth Graham A. , Paris Florentin , Heward Alan P. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
Graptolites and their associated acritarch floras and chitinozoan faunas are described from three localities in Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They are characteristic of intervals of deeper water sediments in the Floian – Dapingian (Arenig, identified here as maximum flooding surface MFS O25) and mid Darriwilian (Llanvirn, MFS O30). These marine flooding events have distinctive and unique palynological signatures. Most of the recorded Darriwilian fauna and flora have northern Gondwana affinities. Oman and the UAE seem to have occupied relatively elevated positions during the Ordovician and only to have been inundated at times of highest sea level. Exotic rafts of Ordovician Rann and Ayim formations that crop out in the Kub Melange of the Dibba Zone range in age from Floian – Dapingian, through Darriwilian, to Katian (Arenig – Llanvirn-Caradoc) and may provide a glimpse of a relatively condensed Ordovician stratigraphy that occurs at depth beneath Musandam Peninsula and the Arabian Gulf.
2-D Basin modeling study of petroleum systems in the Levantine Basin, Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Marlow Lisa , Kornpihl Kristijan , Kendall Christopher G. St. C. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
The Levantine Basin has proven hydrocarbons, yet it is still a frontier basin. There have been significant oil and gas discoveries offshore the Nile Delta, e.g. several Pliocene gas plays and the Mango Well with ca. 10,000 bbls/day in Lower Cretaceous rocks and recently, Noble Energy discovered two gas “giants” (&gt; 5 TCF and one estimated at 16 TFC) one of which is in a pre-Messinian strata in ca. 1,700 m (5,577 ft) water depth. Regional two-dimensional (2-D) petroleum system modeling suggests that source rocks generated hydrocarbons throughout the basin. This paper provides insight into the petroleum systems of the Levantine Basin using well and 2-D seismic data interpretations and PetroMod2D. Tectonics followed the general progression of the opening and closing of the Neo-Tethys Ocean: rift-extension, passive margin, and compression. The stratal package is up to 15 km thick and consists of mixed siliciclastic-carbonate-evaporite facies. Five potential source rock intervals (Triassic – Paleocene) are suggested. Kerogen in the older source rocks is fully transformed, whereas the younger source rocks are less mature. There are several potential reservoir and seal rocks. The model suggests that oil and gas accumulations exist in both structural and stratigraphic traps throughout the basin.
Regional seismic interpretation of the hydrocarbon prospectivity of offshore Syria
Authors: Bowman Steven A. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
Analysis of 5,000 km of multi-client long-offset 2-D seismic data has led to the identification of three sedimentary basins, Levantine, Cyprus, and Latakia, located in offshore Syria. Each basin has a unique structural and stratigraphic history. They are separated from each other by the middle to Late Cretaceous aged Latakia Ridge System that initiated as a compressional fold-thrust belt and was re-activated under a sinistral strike-slip regime that developed during the Early Pliocene in response to a re-organisation of the plate-tectonic stresses. There is significant evidence for a working petroleum system in offshore Syria with numerous onshore oil and gas shows, DHIs (direct hydrocarbon indicators) observed on seismic, and oil seeps identified from satellite imagery. Prospective reservoirs range in age from Triassic to Pliocene – Quaternary and include Lower Miocene deep-water turbidite sands as encountered in recent discoveries in the offshore southern Levantine Basin. The complex structural evolution of each of the three sedimentary basins has produced an array of potential structural and stratigraphic trapping mechanisms.
Tectonostratigraphic overview of the Zagros Suture Zone, Kurdistan Region, Northeast Iraq
Authors: Al-Qayim Basim , Omer Azad , Koyi Hemin 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTThe northwestern segment of the Zagros Orogenic Belt of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq includes the Zagros Suture Zone which is consisting of allochthonous Tethyan Triassic–Eocene thrust sheets. The zone is bounded by the Zagros Main Reverse Fault in the northeast, and the Zagros Thrust Front in the southwest. Parts of this zone’s rocks are represented by stacks of thrust megasheets obducted over the autochthonous Cretaceous–Cenozoic sequence of the Arabian Plate margin. Each sheet represents a specific Tethyan tectonostratigraphic facies, and includes (from older to younger): isolated Triassic carbonate platforms (Avroman Limestone), Jurassic carbonate imbricates (Chia Gara, Sargelu and other formations), radiolarites (Qulqula Group), sedimentary mélange (sedimentary-volcanic units of the Qulqula Group), ophiolites (Mawat and Penjwin ultramafics complexes), and Cenozoic fore-arc volcano-sedimentary sequences (Walash Group). Petrography, facies interpretation and lithostratigraphic correlation of these allochthons along four traverses across the Zagros Suture Zone of the examined area indicate that they evolved during the closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. Their stacking pattern and tectonic association resulted from two important events: the Late Cretaceous obduction processes, and the Late Miocene–Pliocene collision, uplift, folding and suturing between the Arabian Plate and the Sanandaj-Sirjan Block of Iran. Based on these field observations and by using the model of the Iranian Zagros evolution, a tectonic scenario is proposed to explain the history and evolution of the Zagros Suture Zone in this area.
Late Permian to Late Jurassic “microproblematica” of Saudi Arabia: Possible palaeobiological assignments and roles in the palaeoenviromental reconstructions
Authors: Hughes Geraint Wyn 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTPalaeoenvironmental interpretation of Permian and Jurassic intertidal to very shallow-marine carbonates is difficult where typical shallow-marine microfossils are either absent or sparse. A collection of microfossils originally considered as “microproblematica” because of their uncertain biological affinities are, however, often present. These include species of Aeolisaccus, Gakhumella, Prethocoprolithus, Thaumatoporella, Favreina and Terebella. Observations of their vertical distribution and relationship with carbonate fabrics reveal their environmental preferences, and these contribute to palaeoenvironmental interpretation within a spectrum of very shallow-marine settings that previously precluded refinement. The recognition of high-frequency depositional cycles and definition of cryptic reservoir layering in such shallow to marginal-marine carbonates is now facilitated by the use of these microfossils from the Khuff, Hanifa, Jubaila, Arab and Hith formations.Aeolisaccus dunningtoni is interpreted as either a fossilised cyanobacterial tube or possible foraminifera of Early Permian to Late Jurassic age. It is well represented within mudstones, wackestones and packstones of supratidal flats to very shallow intertidal palaeoenvironments with occasional freshwater influence. The microbialitic Gakhumella cf. huberi is locally present in these Upper Jurassic intertidal to very shallow-marine bioconstructions. Prethocoprolithus centripetalus is a faecal ribbon, considered to be of mollusk origin, within shallow subtidal grainstones and packstones. Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera is considered a green alga that is typically found encrusting biocomponent fragments. It ranges from the Middle Triassic to Upper Cretaceous and is extensively present in intertidal, possibly hypersaline to shallow-marine, normal salinity lagoon grainstones and mud-lean packstones. Certain types of the distinctively canaliculate, microcoprolitic decapod crustacean faecal pellets, of the genus Favreina, are diagnostic of Late Jurassic intertidal to shallow subtidal conditions found within packstones. Terebella lapilloides is an agglutinated polychaete tube, typical of Upper Jurassic intertidal to shallow-marine packstones.
Mid-Permian Khuff Sequence KS6: Paleorelief-influenced facies and sequence patterns in the Lower Khuff time-equivalent strata, Oman Mountains, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Bendias Daniel , Koehrer Bastian , Obermaier Michael , Aigner Thomas 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTKhuff Sequence KS6 was studied in the Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Oman Mountains, in an area of 30 x 50 square kilometers by means of detailed sedimentological logging of five time-equivalent outcrop sections of the Saiq Formation. KS6 represents one transgressive-regressive, third-order sequence, and is composed of four facies associations each representing particular environments of deposition (backshoal, shoal, foreshoal and offshoal) with distinct sedimentological characteristics. Facies stack to form cycles and cycle sets that were used for correlation at a subregional scale and to reveal the KS6 stratigraphic architecture. During the initial phase of basin-fill, clastic sediments (“Basal Saiq Clastics”) were deposited in paleolows above the “Sub-Saiq Unconformity”. In contrast to younger Upper Khuff sequences KS4 to KS1, the underlying paleorelief strongly affects the thickness and facies composition of KS6. The correlation strategy to follow paleolandscape surfaces using all available sedimentological, biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic data resulted in a stratigraphic architecture with subtle shingle geometries.Sequence KS6 shows a strong facies partitioning resulting in the necessity of two separate facies models for the transgressive (crinoidal ramp) versus regressive hemisequence (oolitic/peloidal carbonate ramp). This study revealed potential reservoir units in KS6, commonly regarded as non-reservoir in the subsurface of Oman and other parts of the Gulf region. The abundance, nature and lateral extent of reservoir facies strongly varies with stratigraphic position. In the transgressive part of KS6, crinoidal grainstones are concentrated around the margin of a gentle paleohigh. They might have the best reservoir potential, although early diagenetic cementation is common in most settings. Oolitic/peloidal grainstones in the upper regressive part have a much higher diagenetic reservoir potential and are laterally much more widespread. Thus, Khuff Sequence KS6 differs profoundly in its stratigraphic architecture from the more “layer-cake”-like KS4 to KS1 sequences. Facies and thickness patterns are controlled by a marked paleohigh to paleolow configuration, resulting from the antecedent uneven topography during the Neo-Tethyan syn-rift setting, in contrast to the post-rift setting with low tectonic activity during KS4 to KS1.
Stratigraphic control of the Aptian–Early Turonian sequences of the Levant Platform, Coastal Range, northwest Syria
Authors: Ghanem Hussam , Kuss Jochen 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
The predominantly carbonate Aptian–Lower Turonian succession of the Coastal Range in northwest Syria represents the northern edge of the Levant Platform. It was divided into 28 lithostratigraphic units, mainly reflecting shallowing-up and deepening-up intervals. We combined lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and carbon-isotope measurements, with facies interpretations, to establish a sequence-stratigraphic framework, adapted from outcrop data along two transects. The sequence-stratigraphic evolution records major transgressions-regressions and hiatuses that are compared with regional sequences of the Arabian and Levant platforms and the Tethyan realm. Age control, based on planktonic and benthonic foraminifera and ammonite biostratigraphies, is relatively good, despite changing diversities and occurrences. The chronostratigraphic framework is based on seven benthonic foraminiferal biozones (Aptian to Early Turonian) and six planktonic foraminiferal biozones (with two subzones) (latest Albian to Cenomanian). The studied carbon-isotope fluctuations record significant perturbations that are comparable with several global changes of the carbon cycle: OAE1d, LCE I-III, MCE and OAE2. The combined chemostratigraphic and biostratigraphic approach permits correlating the carbon-isotope curve of the Coastal Range with those from the Tethyan realm, England and South Palmyrides.
Depositional environment of Late Cretaceous to Eocene organic-rich marls from Jordan
Authors: Ali Hussein Mohammad , Alqudah Mohammad , Blessenohl Myrna , Podlaha Olaf G. , Mutterlose Jörg 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT
Oil-shale beds formed under anoxic conditions that were controlled by various local, regional and global factors. The Jordanian oil shales, which were deposited during the Late Cretaceous to Eocene, are considered as an example for the interplay of these factors. Two cores of organic-rich marls were investigated and analyzed with respect to their lithology, ichnofabrics and carbonate microfacies. The first core (OS-01, 183.3 m; South Jordan) is of Late Cretaceous age, the second one (OS-23, 256.3 m; Central Jordan) is of Eocene age. Our studies revealed that the Upper Cretaceous oil shales were deposited in a shallow-water carbonate shelf. Oyster bioherms acted as physical barriers that reduced the water circulation with the open shelf, thereby causing anoxic conditions. The Eocene oil shales also accumulated on a shallow-water carbonate shelf. In this case, however, synsedimentary tectonics caused subsiding grabens and half grabens, which in turn gave way to anoxic conditions. Both deposition and richness of the Jordanian oil shales were affected by regional sea-level fluctuations and global climatic changes.
Cretaceous ammonites from the Sultanate of Oman (Adam Foothills)
Authors: Meister Christian , Piuz André 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTTwenty taxa are described from the Cretaceous of Oman (Adam Foothills). The genera Puzosia, Placenticeras, Cunningtoniceras, Nigericeras, Metoicoceras, Rubroceras and Hoplitoides and the subgenus C. (Gentoniceras) are recorded for the first time from the Arabian Peninsula. Based on the ammonite ranges, a sequence of nine bioevents of the Albian–Turonian is correlated within the zonation, and some markers allow correlations at a larger scale, at least along the southern Neo-Tethys margin. The ammonite data give new constraints for the correlations of the lithological units along the Adam Foothills West-East transect and they question the definition of the lithostratigraphic units within the Natih Formation, especially the Natih A and B members. From a paleogeographic point of view Oman is a landmark for the distribution of the ammonites between the western Neo-Tethys (Europe, North Africa, Middle East) and the eastern Neo-Tethys (Africa, Madagascar and India).