Journal of Petroleum Geology, vol. 13(3), July 1990, pp. 247-266 27 A REVIEW OF THE CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA AND GULF: PART III. UPPER CRETACEOUS (ARUMA GROUP) STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOGEOGRAPHY A.S. Alsharhan* and A.E.M. Naimn** A historical review of the development of the stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous rocks in the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf provides a partial explanation for many of the different formational names. A type section is presented for the United Arab Emirates, and lithofacies venuations within the region are related to it. In addition to the simple model of migration of predominantly shallow-water facies belts across a shelf. he Upper Cretaceous also contains deep-water facies due to the onset of plate-margin tectonic activity, which resulted in the emplacement of the Hawasina complex and the Semail ophiolites of Oman. As observed in the earlier mid- and Lower Cretaceous racks, two eyeles can be recognized. These are found in the SE part of the region, in contrast with the mid-Cretaceous, where two cycles are more clearly recognized in the NE area INTRODUCTION The Late Cretaceous ia the Arabian Gulf and adjoining regions was a time of increasing tectonic unrest and, as a direct consequence. the stratigraphic sequence shows a greater degree of diversity than that found in Early and mid-Cretaceous times. A regional uniformity is not so apparent, because of the local differences which create @ diversity in the sedimentologic-paleogeographic pattern. The stratigraphic sequence itself is marked by more frequent local unconformities and disconformities, and smaller areas of local uplift can be discerned. The Upper Cretaceous basal unconformity, where the Laffan Formation lies above the Mishrif Formation and its equivalents in the vicinity of the Arabian Gulf, is not of long duration, as only the Turonian — and possibly the earliest Coniacian — is missing. c. g. in the Fateh field area in Dubai. However. in the type area of the Aruma Formation in Saudi Arabia, the base of the unit is dated as early late Campanian, while El-Asa‘ad (1984) considered it to be Turonian? — Coniacian to late Maastrichtian, Only in the vicinity of the present-day Oman Mountains is there evidence of the existence of an oceanic fore-deep basin, which existed from late Campanian to early Maastrichtian times, until obliterated by the emplacement of the Hawasina and Semait nappes. The nappes are overlain by sediments of the Simsima Formation, Geology Depariment, United Arab Emirates University, PO. Box 15551, AP-Ain, UAE * Barth Sciences and Resources Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.248 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part Il. Upper Cretaceous. In a general sense, the Late Cretaceous depositional environments remain unchanged, dominated by shallow-water shelf carbonates, with some areas of deeper water represented by formations such as the Campanian-Maastrichtian Figa maris of Oman and Abu Dhabi, the marly neritic limestones of the Gurpi Formation in offshore Iran, and the basinal globigerinid marls described by Dunaington (1958) from NE Iraq and NW Lurestan. As in our previous papers on this copic (Alsharhan and Nairn, 1986, 1988), an attempt is made here to present & historical account of the development of the stratigraphic terminology and a type-sequence for Abu Dhabi (UAE) that can be correlated regionally following the criteria established by Powers (1968). UPPER CRETACEOUS STRATIGRAPHY The beds of the Upper Cretaceous are currently assigned to the Aruma Group, @ terminology consistent with the other divisions of the Cretaceous (mid-Cretaceous Wasia Group, and Lower Cretaceous Thamama Group; see Alsharhan and Naitn, 1986, 1988). Initially, the term “Aruma Formation” was applied to a sequence of limestones cropping- out in Wadi al Dawasir NE of Riyadh, the name being derived from the Al Aramah Plateau in central Arabia. The rocks assigned to the formation extend northwards beyond the Saudi Arabia/Traq border — a distance in excess of 1,600 km (Fig. 1). The first formal reference was made by Steineke and Bramkamp (1952), who described the formation as a predominantly limestone unit of Campanian-Maastrichtian age. A detailed description of the type section was provided by Steineke et al, (1958), who indicated that it overlay clasties of the Wasia Formation and was in turn overlain by shales of the Umm er Rhadhuma Formation, In a description of the type section, Roach (1952, cited in Powers er al., 1966, and in Powers, 1968) divided the succession of 141.5 m (464 ft) into four units: ae aon crite 4. dolomite with interbedded shale and limestone: 3. dolomite with thin limestone; 2 fine-grained chalky limestone, with some calcareous shales: 1. fine-grained calcarenitic limestones, becoming sandy and argillaceous near the base, and overlying a basal, vuggy dolomite. ‘Towards the margins of the depositional area — in North and South Yemen to the SW, and on either side of the Saudi Arabia/Jordan border to the NW — the Aruma Formation is represented by a clastic facies (Powers et al., 1966; Powers. 1968). Evidence of this lithologic change is apparent at Khashm Zallum (30° 18°N, 40° 2'E) in the northern part of the Aruma outcrop near Sakakah (Fig. 1), where Powers er al. (1966) reported the appearance of a 61 m (203 ft) thick sandstone unit overiying the basal 11 m (36.7 ft) of, Aruma limestone (at this location, the vugey dolomite horizon was not recognized). Tracing the Aruma Formation into the subsurface eastwards towards the Arabian Gulf, SE into Abu Dhabi, or NE towards Iraq, the succession thickens rapidly, and it becomes clear that at the type locality the Upper Cretaceous section is far from complete. In addition, in the regions mentioned outside Saudi Arabia, subdivisions have been made and other formational names have been used. Consequently, it has become common practice to-adopt the initial suggestion found in Owen and Nast (1958), and to refer to the “Aruma Group.” The Group may be made up of from two to six formations, according to location: the names are given in the stratigraphic chart (Fig. 2. ‘There is everywhere a break in sedimentation at the base of the Upper Cretaceous, but Whereas near the Arabian Gulf and in the deeper parts of the basin the oldest beds are Coniacian in age. and the interval between the youngest Mishrif beds and the oldest Laffan beds is relatively short, at the outcrop of the type locality of the Aruma Formation the oldest beds are late Campanian (see Powers ef al, 1966). with late Turonian,A. S Alsharhan and A. EM. Nairn 249 Fig. L. Outline map of the exposures of rocks of the Wasia and Aruma Groups in Central Arabia (simplified from Sulaiman and Alshamlan, 1975). Note that in outcrop these rocks are described as Tormations,” not “groups.” Coniacian, and up to early Campanian absent. The break in the succession may be aitributed to tectonic movement, which also resulted in slight differential movement within the basin, for. during the earliest deposition, some areas — such as Burgan, the Fars Platform, and part of SE Abu Dhabi — acted as local highs, and did not receive sedimentary deposits until the end of Santonian times. Further reactivation and uplift in carly Maastcichtian times affected the Qatar Arch, Oman, and the interior Fars (Fig. 3). ‘These movements. relatively minor in themselves, reflect larger scale activity in the bordering regions to the east, with the emplacement of ophiolites in the developing Zagros and Oman Mountains of Iran and Oman, respectively. In contrast with the Lower Cretaceous succession, two sedimentary cycles cannot clearly be defined in the Upper Cretaceous. Although a clastic to carbonate Laffan-Halul cycle seems possible south and cast of the Qatar Arch, followed by a Figa-Simsima succession, this is not apparent in the region to the NE in Traq-Kuwait-Iran, whereas in the mid-Cretaceous, two cycles could be defined in this latter arca but not in the SE. ‘THE UPPER CRETACEOUS STANDARD SECTION OF THE UAE Formal descriptions of the Aruma Group formations in Abu Dhabi (UAE) are given below, together with a summary of the paleontologic evidence of age taken from the literature. For reference. Table | provides a listing of previously published ages of rock units, and Fig. 4 provides locations of reference sections within the area,250 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part Ill. Upper Cretaceous. “Table 1. A list of previously-published ages of Upper Cretaceous formations of the Arabian Peninsula, and data sources. Formation Location Age Author) Aruma Central Arabia Late Campanian to Powers (1968) Maastrichtian Turonianto late EL-Asa‘ad (1984) Maastrichtian Tayarat Jebel Tayarat, Iraq Late Maastrichtian Owen and Nast (1958) Maasirichtian Dunningion eral, (1959) Qurna Zubair field. Iraq Late Maastrichtian Owen and Nasr (1958) Maastrichtian Dunnington eral, (1959) Bahrah Bahrah field, Kuwait. Maastrichtian ‘Owen and Nasr (1958): Dunnington eral, (1959) Hartha Zubair field. aq Maastrichtian to ‘Owen and Nasr (1958): Late Campanian Dunnington eral. (1959) Sadi Zubair field. Iraq Late Senonian ‘Owen and Nasr (1958): Dunnington eral, (1959) Tanuma Zubair field Iraq Late Senonian ‘Owen and Nasr (1958) Late Campanian Dunnington eral (1959) Khasib Zubair field, \rag Late Senonian ‘Owen and Nasr (1958) Gudair Umm Gudair fea, Senonian to (Owen and Nasr (1958) Kuwait Campanian Laffan Dukhan field, Qatar Coniacian to Sugden and Santonian Standring (1975) Coniacian to this study. basal Santonian Halul Hd El Shargi field. Santonian-Campanian Sugden and Qatar Standring (1975) Late oniacian to Santonian his study Figa Babfield.Abu Dhabi Campanisn ‘Sugden and Standring (1975) Campanian toearly this study. Maastrichtian Coniacianto middie Harris eral. (1984) Maastrichtian Simsima Dukhan field, Qatar Maastrichtian Sugden and Standring (1975) Middle-tate this study Maastrichtian Harris etal (1984) Laffan Formation Author(s): Sugden (1953, cited in Sugden and Standring, 1975). Synonymy: Gudair Formation of Kuwait (in part) (Owen and Nasr, 1958): Khasib Formation of SE Iraq (Owen and Nasr. 1958: Dunnington et al., 1959): Laffan Formation (Dominguez, 1965): Middle Shale (Hajash, 1967): [llam Formation (in part) in offshore Iran (Mina er a/., 1967): Laffan Shale (Fox and Brown, 1968); Arumz Lower Shale of ARAMCO (Powers, 1968): Laffan Formation (Sugden and Standring. 1975). ‘Type Section: The formation takes its name from Ras Laffan on the NE coast of Qatar. The type section is selected in the Dukhan-55 veil between drilled depths 1.916-2011 ft (585-613. m). described by Sugden and Standring (1975),251 A. S, Alsharhan and AE. M. Naim “ensujuog weIqeay 2qp UI snoase 21> soddey ay} Jo wonE|auto> MdeABENSOWTT By a erate} aumoroa [E>] anousannn ES =r] sno35 Er yaavn ena | 7a | : peat fm = sivano cae beh Ee Wave 5 VALUE Vinny Pe ywano | tauno TVUVAVL Bovaunsens| s0uoino viavay 1anws aivmon | Ovals | ayonsaso a252 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part IIL. Upper Cretaceous. U ‘4 Paleohighs : @« B) Kuwait ra Mosul Central Arabia ater ~ South Fars Leknwair- Mender Haushi ~ Heat ©OOGO® Hadheamaut nm) If] motte Bet Mountains il ia [oj see Fig. 3. Geologie sett and structural provinces of the Ars 1) Rub al Kall 8) Northern Arabian Gult ©) Dibsibba 0) Siehan-Turait Peninsula (modified from Powers et al. 1966, and Alsharhan and Naim, 1986). Laffan Formation (cont.) Ref. Sect in UAE: Thickness: Lithotogy: Fossils: Age: ADMA well Umm Shuif4 (offshore Abu Dhabi), between drilled depths 4355-4444 ft (1328-1355 m) 89 128 mp). Shale. brown-green Cythereis. Crtherelta, Eucythere. Platyeythereis. Protobuntonia, Hemicwtherides. Osangularia, Anomalinoides, Lemticulina Coniacian and possibly basal Santonian The formation contains the variety of fzumal assemblages noted. but it is frequently characterised by abundant and diverse marine and quasi-marine ostracod assemblages.A. 8, Alsharhan and A. EM. Naim 253 @ CRETACEOUS oUTcROP © om FlELOS: 1.» Zubair; 2. - Bahrah; 3. - Umm Gudair; 4, - Dukhan; 5.- Idd El Shargi 6. - Bab. TYPE SECTION: A. Figa Fm, B - Halul Fm; C - Simsima Fm; D « Laffan Fm; € - Tayarat Fm Fig. 4. Loc {at Jebel Tayarat); F - Qurna Fm; G- Bahrah Fr; H - Hartha Frm; | of type and reference sections of the Upper Cretaceous roc i Frm; Fm; K - Kha Fm; L - Gudair Fm. the Arabian Peninsula. Underlying: Overlying: Halul Formation Author(s}: including Brachycythere. _Orocytheridea, —_Cytherella posterosulcara. and by the foraminifer Gavelinopsis ef tourainensis Butt, occasionally by Ammobaculites sp.. and by ‘numerous small benthic species. This age is assigned on the basis of the ostracods, which are regarded as Coniacian in Iran and in the Gulf area, The contact with the Mishrit Formation is unconformable Shales of the Laffan Formation overlie fossiliferous limestones of the Mishrif. The contact between the Laffan Shale and the overlying Halul limestone is conformable. Described in 1963 by MW. Hughes Clarke of the Shell Company of Qatar (SCQ) (cited in Sugden and Standring, 1975).254 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part Ill. Upper Cretaceous. Synonymy: ‘Type Section: Ref. Sect. in UAE: Thickness: Lithology: Fossils: Age: Overlying: Underlying: Figa Formation Author(s): Synonymy: Upper Gudair Formation in Kuwait (Owen and Nasr, 1958): Sadi and pan of Tanuma Formations of southern Iraq (Dunnington et af, 1959): Iam Formation of Iran (lames and Wynd, 1965); Halul Formation (Dominguez, 1965, first published reference); Middle Chatk (Hajash, 1967), Aruma Upper Shale (Powers, 1968): Aruma Lower Limestone (Fox and Brown, 1968). Ruilat Formation (in part) (Sugden and Standring, 1975), SCQ well Id El Shargi-l between drilled depths 3,310-3,545 ft ((,009-1.081 m). The formation takes its name from the Isiand of Halul off the coast of Qatar. ADMA well Um Shaif-¢ between drilled depths 4,069- 4355 ft (0.241-1,328 m}. 286 ft (87 m). 1. (top)_Fossiliferous wackestone/packstone with abundant foraminifera, echinoderms, and molluscan fragments (186 ft, ST m) 2. Grey and white mottled calcareous marls with rotalids, foraminifera, echinoderms, and molluscan fragments (100 ft 305 m). Pseudoedomia complanata Eames and Smoutt, P. globularis Smoutt, Dicyelina cf. schlumbergeri (Munier-Chalmas), Valvulanmina picardi Henson, Archaecyclus midorientalis Eames and Smoutt, Globorruncana marginata (Reuss). Hedbergella, Bolvinia, echinoderms, rotalids. and. molluscan fragments, Coniacian (probably late Coniacian) to Santonian and possibly basal Campanian, Besides the above-mentioned fossils, the occurrence of Marginotruncana renzi (Gandolfi). M. sinousa (Porthault) and Whiteinella cf. archaeocretacea Pessagno are indicative of a Turonian-Sanionian age, probably Coniacian to late Campanian. A disconformable contact with the dark-grey mals of the Halul and shales of the Figa. ‘An apparently conformable contact with the Laffan, The boundary is taken at the lowest limestone of the Halul overlying grey-brown shales of the Laffan. Unpublished report by AJ. Standring and E. Hart (cited Sugden and Standring, 1975). Bahra Formation of Kuwait (Owen and Nasr, 1958); Hartha and Qurna Formations of southern Iraq (Dunnington et al., 1959); Shargi Formation (Dominguez, 1965): lower part of the Gurpi Formation (James and Wynd, 1965); Upper Shale (Hajash, 1967); Aruma Marl (Fox and Brown, 1968); lower part of the Aruma Limestone of Saudi Arabia (Powers, 1968); Ruilat Formation (Sugden and Standring, 1975). Figa Formation (Harris et al. 1984).‘Type Sect. in UAE: Thickness: Fossils: AS Alsharhan and A. EM. Naim 255 ADCO well Bab-44 between drilled depths 5422-6571 ft (1,663-2,003 m). The formation takes its name from a location some 9 km north of the Bab field. The following description is adapted from Sugden and Standring (1975, p. 35). 1,149 ft 350 m). Light-grey, very chalky marl grading into a white chalk with, locally, rare, slightly silty shale partings. Interbeds of chalky. foraminiferal lime wackestones containing fine skeletal débris (038 ft, 42 m), 2. Dark grey sn, calcareous shale and light-grey, chalky ‘marl grading into white chalk. Thin interbeds of buff detrital, chalky, foraminiferal lime wackestone containing shell débris and light-grey argillaceous limestone (137 ft, 42 m). 3. Limestone, light-butf, slightly argillaceous. chalky lime ‘wackestone, particles consisting of smaller foraminifera and. shell and echinoid debris (161 ft, 49 m). 4. Dark-grey. slightly calcareous shale with chalky marl (60 fi, 18 m). 5. Pale-buff, chalky to locally argillaceous limestone ferbedded with dark grey, sometimes calcareous shale, which tends to predominate in the lowest 40 ft (116 ft, 35 m) 6. Pale-grey to buf. slightly chalky foraminiferal wackestone with particles consisting of shell débris: interbeds of grey- green shale (178 ft, $4 m), 7. Dark grey-green shale grading into grey marl with thin imerbeds of light-grey to buff, fine lime wackestone (100 ft, 305 m), 8. Dark grey-green shale (233 ft, 71 m). 9. Light-grey argillaceous limestone, locally pyritic (36 f, II m). 1. Orbitoides dowillei (Astre), Rotalia aff. trochidiformis (Lamarck), Archaecyelus sp. 2 0. dowille, R.trochidiformis, Archaecyclus sp. Ataxophagium sp. 3. 0. dowillei. R. rochidiformis, Rotalia sp.. Archaecyelus p.. Bryozoa and echinoid debris. 4/5. O. dowillei,R. aft. rochidiformis. 6. 0. dowillei, O. sanctaepelagiae (Astre), rare Globotruncana sp. crab débris, echinoid spines, Bryozoa, rudist fragments, fish remains, 7. 0. sanctaepelagiae, Pseudodomia aff. multisriata Henson, 8/9. Globotruncana gt. fomicata Plummer, G. area arca (Cushman), G. area caribica Gandolfi, Globotruncana slobigerinoides Brotzen, G. cf. concavata (Brotzen). G. contusa (Cushman). Globigerinelloidesbeldingi__ (Gandolfi), Planoglobulina sp. Gumbelinasp.. Ostracoda including Bairdoppilata sp... Cytherella sp.. Paracypris n.sp. Brachycythere np. Campanian (Sugden and Standring. 1975): Campanian- early Maastrichtian (this study) From the above-mentioned: fauna, and from the fossils collected from onshore and offshore wells of the same interval, such as Globorruncana stuaniformis Dalibiez, G. bulloides256 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part Ul. Upper Cretaceous, Underlying: Overlying: Simsima Formation Author(s): Synonymy: ‘Type Section: Ref. Sect. in UAE! ‘Thickness: Lithology: Vogler, and nannofossils — Reinhardtites anthrophorus levis Prins and Sissingh, Quadrum erifidum (Stradner), Broinsonia parca (Stradner), Ceratolthoides aculeus (Stradner), Tranolithus phacelosus Stover, and Globotruncana gansseri Balii. G. rosetta (Carsey). and Rosita plummerae (Gandolfi) foraminifera — these nannofassils and foraminifera give an age of ‘Campanian — early Maastrichtian. A disconformable contact with the Halul Formation. Grey. argillaceous limestones of the basal Fiqa Formation rest on pure, dense, chalky limestones of the Halul A probable disconformable contact with the Simsima Formation, taken at the boundary between the pure lime wackestone and packstone of the Simsima, and the argillaceous limestone of the Figa. Unpublished report by W. Sugden (cited in Sugden and Standring. 1975). Tayarat Formation (Owen and Nasr, 1958); Simsima Formation (Dominguez, 1965). upper part of the Gurpi Formation (James and Wynd, 1965); Simsima Formation (Dunnington, 1967): Upper Chalk (Hajash, 1967); Aruma Upper Limestone (Fox and Brown, 1968): upper part of the Aruma Limestone (Powers, 1968); Simsima Formation (Harris, et al, 1984). The Simsima Formation was originally described by Sugden from the Dukhan-28 well in Qatar, but the type section was later designated as Dukhan-53 by the QPC between drilled depths 1,158-1,646 ft (353-502 m), The formation takes its name from the locality of Simsima in NE Qatar. ADCO well Shak-d between drilled depths 4003-4256 ft (0.220-1,297.5 m). 253 ft (77 m). 1. (top) Dark-grey to dark-brown bioclastic and peloidal packstones, wackestones, and grainstones with wavy and planar lamination and burrows. Micritization is common around bioclasts and peloids. Rudist remains are common: shelly levels are composed of rudists and foraminifera (34 ft, 104 m). 2. Dark-grey to dark-brown microcrystalline and eryptocrystalline dolomite and dolomitic limestone, grainstone, packstone, wackestone, shaley carbonate and black, organic shale (43 ft, 13.1 m). 3. Brown and buff bioclastic grainstone and packstone, with lenticular, wavy and plane horizontal sedimentary structure. Foraminifera, rudist remains, and echinoid debris are common. Endoclasts and grapestones occur in the grainstone (44 ft, 134 m), 4. Brown and buff crystalline dolomite with lenticular sedimentary structure and bioclasts (echinoids) (17 ft, 5.2 m). 5. Buff and dark-grey crystalline dolomite and dolomitic limestone, with typical pocket and lenticular sedimentaryAS Alsharhan and A. EM. Naim 257 structure, locally wavy. Echinoid and rudist remains and rare pellets occur. and some pyrite is common in the lower 9 ft (61 fi. 18.6 m), 6. Buff bioclastic and pelletoidal packstone, mudstone with ‘wavy lamination, ostracods, echinoid remains. Micritization is very rare, but pyrite is abundant in some intervals (22 ft. 6.7 m). 7. Grey and dark-grey bioclastic and pelletoidal packstone, wackestone, and very rare grainstone with lenticular and typical pocket sedimentary. structure, Echinoid remains. foraminifera, and rare endoclasts occur: burrows are locally frequent: pyrite is present (32 ft, 10 m) Fossils: 1/2. Dascycladaceae, milliolids. and Lacazina beds, intercalated with rudist and ostracod beds. A few gastropods and solitary corals. Foraminifera — Lofiusia sp.. Lacazind sp.. Broeckinella arabica Henson, Fissoelphidium operculiferum Smoxt, Elphidiella muliseissirata Smout. Rotalia eX. gr skourensis (Pender), valvulinids, Reticulina sp., milliolids. and Lepidorbitvides. 3. Echinoderm débris and scarce Bryoz0a débris. Numerous Dascycladaceae. Foraminifera — Lepidorbitoides socialis (Leymerie), Pseudodomia globularis Smout, P. multstriata Henson. Loftusia sp. Omphalocyclus macroporus (Lamarck). Simplorbites gensacicus (Leymerie), Rotalia ex. gr. skourensis fender, Roralia aff. trochidiformis (Lamarck). 4, Frequent Lepidorbitoides and Dascycladaceae: . Numerous rudist remains: 6 Ostracod débris; 7. Lofiusia, orbitoids, and Omphalocyelus. Age: ‘Middle to late Maastrichtian, but may be early Maastrichtian places. Overlying: ‘The upper limit is regionally unconformable with the Umm er Rhadhuma shale. Underlying: The lower contact with the Figa Formation is probably disconformable, and rests on the Figa Formation, REGIONAL VARIATIONS. Historically, in the Umm Shaif field (Abu Dhabi, UAE) the Aruma Form: regarded as encompassing the entire Upper Cretaceous, with the Laffan Formation being. assigned to the mid-Cretaceous (Elder and Grieves, 1965). It was not until 1968 that the ‘Aruma was finally accorded “group” status with the demonstration that the Laffan Shales were of Coniacian age and hence mark the base of the Aruma Group. The succession established by Fox and Brown (1968) in offshore Abu Dhabi closely parallels the ADCO sequence in onshore Abu Dhabi (Hajash, 1967). The current stcatigraphic classification is compared with previous schemes in Table 2. To the NNW in Qatar, there is no representation of the upper argillaccous unit (Figa Formation), and above the Laflan Formation is a predominantly limestone unit. first ‘named the Tayarat Formation (QPC, 1940-1957) by analogy with the sequence in Iraq (Sugden and Standring, 1973); but after the restsiction of this term in Iraq (see Fig. 2). the limestone was first subdivided into the Simsima and Riulat Formations, Then. with the recognition of an unconformity in the lower (Riulat) unit. the term “Riulat” was restricted to the upper part and “Halul Formation” was applied to the lower part. Sugden. and Standring (1975) provided evidence to suggest that the restricted Riulat Formation was the258 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part Ill. Upper Cretaceous. ‘Table 2. Present and previous terminology of Upper Cretaceous rocks in the UAE. Dhabi Fox and Brown Hajash (present study) (1968) (1967) Lithology Simsima Limestone Anima Upper Upper Chalk Unit Argillacousor Limestone locally sity limestone Figa Formation Aruma Matl Shale Unit Silty mar with subordinate limestone Halu (or tam) Arima Lower LowerChalk Unit Dolomite. dolomite Formation Limestone and mic imestone Latfan Shale Laffan Shale Laffan Shate Shale lateral equivalent of the Figa Formation of onshore Abu Dhabi and other areas nf Qatar. Shell (Qatar) abandoned the term “Riufat” altogether and refer to its offshore equivalent as the "Shargi Formation” (Dominguez, 1965) To the NW in Kuwait, the sequence is entirely calcareous: however, in southern Iraq, where six formations are recognized (Dunnington er al., 1959). a thin shale interval — the Quma Formation — is correlated with the top part of the Fiqa Formation (see Fig. 2). A ower shale and mari sequence, the Sadi Formation, has no real equivalent elsewhere, except at the top of the svbsusface shale wait in Saudi Arabia (Lower Aruma Shale). The preceding variations are typical of the changes recorded in the carbonate shelf environment. In ENE UAE and towards the Oman Mountains. in strong contrast, there is, a passage into a foredeep basin with its variety of deep-water sediments. The relationship of these sediments is shown in Fig5. In Abu Dhabi — Dubai, the Coniacian Laffan (Shale) Formation is followed by the Ham Limestone (=Halul) Formation, dated as late Coniacian to fate Campanian. ‘Transgressing over this in late Campanian time is the upper part of the Figa Shale (age- range late Campanian — early Maastrichtian). The last formation in this area is the Simsima Formation, part of a shoaling-upward sequence that ends with a return to shallow-water, subtidal to tidal-flat limestones. Passing into the Aruma fore-deep basin, Harris et al (1984) recognized a transition from neritic shelf limestones to platform-slope marls in the Ham Formation, Still further to the east, outes-shelf and deeper-marine shate Iihofacies, assigned to the lower Figa Formation, equate to both the lam and Latfan Formations. In the easternmost part of the basin, the lower part of the Figa Formation is, represented in turn by the Muti Formation (Fig. 5),a sequence of shales and marls which, contains some limestones, as well as conglomerates and turbidites, and ranges from Conician to Campanian in age. The distinctive feature of the overlying Juweiza Formation (equivalent to the upper Fiqa Formation) is that it contains débris from allochthonous terrains, and includes abyssal and basin-slope sediments from the Hawasina complex and clasts from the Semail ophiolite. In the Abu Dhabi—Dubai—Sharjah area, the transgression of the Figa facies marks a westward migration of the deeper-water shale facies, which is matched by an increase in the proportion of turbidites in the upper part of the Figa in the eastern part of the basin. Here, there is a passage from the Figa to the lithofacies of the Juweiza DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OF THE UPPER CRETACEOUS, Over the Arabian Platform, the Wasia-Aruma break was followed by a Coniacian transgression (which may have begun as early as late Turonian time in the east), which continued through Coniacian to early Campanian time (Fig. 6). The progress of the transgression can be followed from Abu Dhabi and Qatar 10 Saudi Arabia, as the deftaic sediments of the basal Laffan Formation gave way to a shallow, open-marine shelf environment, in which the predominantly argillaceous sediments of the upper Laffan Formation were deposited. The process continued during the deposition of the overlying. Halul Formation, the clastic contribution progressively diminishing as a bioclasticA. S. Alsharhan and AEM. Nain 259 w = wesTeRN ‘OwsHORE oman MTHS. uly at AGE | cuss shanuan GAMA ae = | wauooun, avenue = 3 Ys | main ume au Fig. 5. Lithostratigraphic correlation of the mid- and Upper Cretaceous sequence from the western Oman Mountains to offshore Dubai (UAE) across the fore-deep basin (after Glennie et al. 1974; ‘Burruss ea 1983; Jordan cr al. 1985; Patton and O'Connor, 1986). carbonate environment became established. At its maximum extent, this transgression, can be recognized from Yemen and South Yemen to Jordan by the presence of shoreline Clastics and continental deposits (Powers e al. 1966: Powers, 1968), while to the east there lay a vast epeiric sea, covering the Arabian Shield from northern Iraq to the Rub al Khali and the foreland area of Oman (Powers, 1968). Within this area, local highs remained emergent at least until Santonian time — e.g. Ghawar (Saudi Arabia). Burgan (Kuwait), the Fars Platform (Iran), and parts of SE Abu Dhabi (see Fig, 3), and a deep. pelagic basi occupied parts of southern Iraq and Iran (Fig. 7) where globigerinid marls accumulated (the Sadi Formation, Fig, 2). Local unconformities over the Qatar Arch and in the coastal regions of Iran mark relative uplift in early Maastrichtian time: these may be correlated with the tectonic activity in Oman. The Laffan and Halul Formations form a first transgressive cycle typical of the cycles which affected the Arabian Platform in the earlier Cretaceous. The second cycle. the Figa-Simsima cycle, is more directly related to the tectonic events that show their260 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part IL Upper Cretaceous, Boeke |PALEODEPTN CURVE FoR TIME SCALE SEQUENCE | THE ARABIAN PENINSULA Kuwar _ouay) <— RELATIVE DEEPENING wansraoaman [EE Ee CAMPANIAN ARUMA ‘SANTONIAN GONIACIAN NIAN CENOMANIAN ALBIAN APTIAN BARREMIAN CRETACEOUS HAUTERIVIAN VALANGINIAN BERRIASIAN HORII Fig. 6. Stratigraphic units and paleo/depth curve for the Cretaceous of the Arabian Peninsula (modified from Harris ct al, 1984). Reef build-up in the Cretaceous shown by cross-hatching. maximum effects in Oman and Iran. These tectonic events are reflected in the significant changes in the depositional environments of the Upper Cretaceous. which can be recognized in NE Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, and offshore Iran. They are related to the collapse of the continental margin, with the formation of a fore-deep that was eventually closed by the emplacement of the Hawasina complex and Semail ophiolitic nappes in early-middle Maastrichtian time (see below) as a result of the subduction of the eastern margin of the Arabian Block. Ina traverse from the platform into the fore-deep (see Figs. 7 and 8). Harris etal. 1984) noted the transition from neritic shelf limestones (Halul Formation) to platform-slope marls, giving way in-turn to outer shelf and deeper-water marine shales — a facies assigned to the Figa Shales in Oman and the Gurpi Formation in offshore Iran. In the deeper part of the basin in Oman, the early Maastrichtian lithofacies equivalents of the Figa Formation are assigned to the Juweiza Formation, These contain an increasedAS Alsharhan and A. EM. Nain FREE te Ht Heth F At HERE P ise FREE Riyadh am r bE Pee RREREE Ha eH FREER ie He KF Fe hREH F ite i! ‘Arablen Sea hE nein FF FR bRE, bE fb nh REREEE SHALLOW SHELF DEEP OPEN WARWE FE5) canaonares EE ausmes 3 custes cxasnics mixeo in CanBowres — 3] ALLUVIAL PLAIN CCARBONATES EVAPORITES rodetlcatenht tah DEEP SHEL SYNOROGENE DEPOSIT: dated DSTA. = neo [EE] mon ‘eww EROSIONAL LIMIT Fig. 7. A paleogeosra map of the Late Cretaceous of the Arabian Peninsula (qaodified from Murris, 1981), 261262 Cretaceous formations in Arabia: Part II Upper Cretaccous proportion of turbidites, with olistostromes, débris flows, and conglomerates with exotic pebbles. The margins of the trough were probably riftlike, oversteepened fault-margins, from which the boulder muds and fluxoturbidites slumped of flowed into deeper water. Within the basin, boulders of Hawasina radiolarian cherts and exotic limestone blocks in the conglomerates indicate derivation from the east, from a source where the exposed. rocks were similar to those found in the Hawasina complex and the Semail ophiolite nappes (Searle et al, 1983). In offshore Iran, the deep-water shales of the Gurpi Formation, without boulder-conglomerate horizons, continue up into the Maastrichtian with little change (Fig. 7). At various times in the Maastrichtian, the different zones of the nappes were covered by an upward-shallowing carbonate sequence, which provides evidence of intertidal 10 subtidal carbonate conditions. These beds resting unconformably on the nappes belong, to the Simsima Formation. The structural relationships of the mid-Cretaceous and Upper Cretaceous formations in the fore-deep region are illustrated in Fig. 8, ‘THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEDIMENTATION AND TECTONICS The effects of increased plate movement, signalling the beginning of the closure of the southern NeoTethys (Hays and Pittman, 1973), are indicated by the localised salt movements they induced (Koop and Stoneley, 1982). Sedimentation of the mid- Cretaceous Wasia Group was terminated by uplift at the end of the Cenomanian and in the early Turonian, which affected Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. This movement resulted in variable rates of erosion in the now-emergent zone. A thick Wasia sequence remains preserved in many areas, as in central Abu Dhabi, whereas the entire Wasia limestone sequence is absent in other regions, as in Lekhwair and Mender in Omen and in SE Abu Dhabi (see Fig 3). The degree of erosion does not appear to be a direct function of the length of time exposed, and in Oman it may be directly related to tectonic events This Wasia-Aruma break (Glennie et al, 1973) marks an important stage in the structural-tectonic history of the Arabian Gulf area. The duration of the break may have been as litle as 3 MM yrs in eastern Arabia, but may have been as much as 15 MM yrs in the western part of the Arabian Shield (Harris eal, 1984). In timing, it appears to coincide with the Alpine sub-Hercynian movements. In the foreland area of the northern Oman Mountains, this regional upwarping is referred to as a cratonward-migrating, peripheral swell that became buried and inactive beneath deposits of the Aruma fore-deep (Patton and O'Connor, 1986) by Santonian time. The upwarping of the peripheral swell was associated with down-flexing of the Arabian continental margin that floored the Aruma fore-deep. Thus, the Wasia-Aruma break records termination of the passive margin conditions that had characterised the Arabian shelf carbonate ‘platform, or ramp sequtence, from the Jurassic to the mid-Cretaceous — a sequence which had become more complex with the closer approach of the cratonic area to the zone of active subduction, Until the mid-Cretaceous, the shelf edge of the Arabian Platform lay further offshore, NE of the limits of the present autochthonous basement outcrops. The development of the Aruma fore-deep signalled the onset of plate-margin tectonics beginning the final stages, of the closure of the NeoTethys, a process culminating in the emplacement of the Hawasina complex and Semail ophiolites — about which much has been written (eg. Wilson, 1969; Glennie et al. 1973: Searle er al, 1983). The outer’ margin of the Aruma fore-deep was formed by an offshore ridge. an allochthonous terrain from which were derived blocks of the abyssal and basin-siope facies similar to the Hawasina complex and the Semail ophiolites (Searle eral, 1983). As subduction continued, the basin narrowed and deepened, and into it a thick flysch sequence was deposited which included olistostromes, débris flows, and conglomerates with exotic pebbles (see Fig. 8)AS. Alsharhan and A. EM. Nairn 263 WNW ESE DuBAl/ WESTERN SHARJAH OMAN MTNS.| SIMSIMA/QAHLAH_ SIMSIMA/QAHLAH Fig. 8. The structural and stratigraphic relationships of the mid- and Upper Cretaceous formations in ‘the foredeep basin between Oman and the UAE (modified from Patton and O'Connor, 1986). ‘The age of the Simsima varies for different locations in Abu Dhabi. and ranges from mid- to late Maastrichtian. In Oman, late Maastrichtian (Searle er al., 1983) shallow-water carbonates of the Simsima Formation rest unconformably on the nappes. indicating that the Hawasina complex and the Semail ophiolite sequences were in place by this time. Thus, the telescoping and destruction of the Aruma Basin at the Oman continental margin occupied a period of less than 20 MM yrs — from Turonian to early Maastrichtian time (Searle al, 1983). Radiometric dating of the Kermanshah ophiolites in the Zagros Mountains (Iran) and of the Oman ophiolites provides ages in the 90 MM ‘yts range. consistent with this chronology. During the Late Cretaceous. tectonic events triggered diapiric movement of the Hormuz evaporites. This halokinetic movement created large domal structures which now form major oilfields. In the Fateh field (Dubai) the salt movement resulted in an unconformity across the top of the field and the thinning of some formations (eg. a thinning of 73 ft- 22 min the Nahr Umr Formation) or their complete removal (eg. the entire Mishrif Formation: 453 ft, 135.9 m) at the end of Turonian time (Jordan er al., 1983). “Major structures, such as the Qatar Arch and the Rub al Khali depression to the south, and the corresponding but less well-marked depression north of the arch, may reflect Older basement structures which were reactivated through geologic time. particularly during the Mesozoic, the extent of the reactivation being related to distance from the active margin. By way of example. the entire Upper and mid-Cretaceous section has been removed over the Lekhwair-Mender High whereas, in contrast, the section is continuous in central Abu Dhabi. 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