Saudi Arabian Outcrops


Marrat Formation Khuff Formation, Duhaysan Member north of Quwaiyah town Top Dhruma Formation D2 member, cliff sof the top of D3 in background (equivalwent to the Sharar Reservoir Dhruma Formation, Top of the D2, Dhibi Member Panorama of the Dhruma members and Tuwaiq Mountain Formation in the distance. The Dhibi Member (D2) of the Dhruma forms the white limetone blocks in the lowermost part. Successive escarpments represent the D3 - D7 members. Shallow marine carbonates of the lower Tuwaiq Mountain Formation (Daddiyah and Maysiyah members)form resistant cliffs resting on the slope forming muddy carbonates of the Hisyan Member. The lower Daddiyah Member hosts the Upper Fadhili reservoir in the subsurface of Saudi Arabia. The Hisyan is currently the uppermost member of the Dhruma Formation although it should genetically be linked with the Tuwaiq Mountain Formation as suggested by Hughes (xxxx). The Maysiyah Member is considered to be equivalent to the significant source rock facies deposited in the intrashelf basin complex of eastern Saudi Arabia. Top of the Dhruma Formation in foreground (top D6 equivalent to the Lower fadhili Reservoir, overlain the recessive beds of the Hisyan member and the cliff forming beds of the Tuwaiq Mountain Formation Hisyan Member of the uppermost Dhruma Formation. They are now considered to be better considered allostratigraphically as a member of the Tuwaiq Mountain Formation. Tuwaiq Mountain Formation (Callovian). Carbonates . The distinctive dark beds are typical of the middle Tuwaiq Mountain Formation, and underlie the stromatoporoid-dominated beds of the upper part of the Formation. Dhruma Formation, top of D4, equivalent to Sharar Reservoir Uppermost Tuwaiq Miountain Formation showing an in-situ stromatoporoid-coral bioherm. A bed of nodular chert represents the deepest event. Dark beds represent the transgressiv e lagoon sediments. Uppermost Tuwaiq Miountain Formation showing an in-situ stromatoporoid-coral bioherm. Lower Hanifa Formation carbonates (Oxfordian). Their lagoon palaeoenvironment is indicated by the predominance of sponge spicules and shallow marine benthonic foramainifera. No stromatoporoids are present in the Hanifa at this location. Upper Hanifa Formation carbonates (Oxfordian). Their lagoon palaeoenvironment is indicated by the predominance of sponge spicuels and shallow marine benthonic foramainifera. No stromatoporoids are present in the Hanifa at this location. Upper Jubaila carbonates (Early Kimmeridgian) of outer shelf / basin flank setting, with interbedded allochthonous stromatoporoid debris flows. Note the presence of the distinctive cave development within a dedolomite bed. The section above the cave is equivalent to the Arab-D Reservoiir zone 2a Upper Jubaila carbonates (Early Kimmeridgian) showing a stromatoporoid debris-filled channel Upper Jubaila carbonates (Early Kimmeridgian) showing an encrusting stromatoporoid. Upper Jubaila Formation showing the extensiive cave development within a thick dedolomite bed. Dahl Hith, southeast of Riyadh. Anhydrites of the Hith Formation, late Tithonian, overlain by shallow marine carbonates of the Sulaiy Formation (late Tithonian to early Berriasian). Dahl Hith. Contact between the Hith and Sulaiy formations. Jubaila (below vehicles, Arab D represented by horizontal beds above veivles and Arab C by the chaotic beds forming the main part of the hill Rus Formation, Early Eocene Rus Formation, Early Eocene Dammam Formation, Khobar Member, Middle Eocene nummulites ayran Group, Al Wajh conglomerates. Latest Oligocene to Early Miocene Tayran Group Al Wajh overlain by Musayr members; latest Oligocene to Early Miocene Anhydrites of the Mansiyah Formation, Middle Miocene Wadi Waqb Member carbonates, latest Early Miocene, Jabal Kibrit Formation Upper Burqan Formation overlain by basal Jabal Kibrit Formation, Early Miocene, Planktonic zones N7 - N8 Dam Formation, basal Middle Miocene

Outcrops of Eastern Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea

This page hosts a gallery of diagrams and photographs from outcrops of Mesozoic through Tertiary Rocks. Unless otherwise noted, the photographs and diagrams are from Wyn Hughes. Photographs were taken over the period of years that Wyn spent in Eastern Saudi Arabia working for Saudi Aramco and leading many field trips across the Eastern Provinces and some to the Red Sea.

Image Gallery
This gallery of images provides an opportunity to examine rocks that included the Jurassic Marrat Formation, Tuwaiq Mountain Group, the Hanifa Formation, the Jubaila Formation and Arab D, and the Tertiary section that exposes the Early Eocene Rus Formation, the basal Middle Miocene Dam Formation close to Dharhan.

Relevant References
 
Monday, May 23, 2016
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