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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1990; v. 49; p. 387-395;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.049.01.24
© 1990 Geological Society of London

Evolution of the Oman Tethyan Continental Margin

Seismic interpretation of the structure and stratigraphy of the Strait of Hormuz

P. L. Michaelis1 & R. J. Pauken2

1 Mobil Exploration and Producing Services Inc., Dallas, P.O. Box 650232, Dallas, Texas 75265-0232 USA
2 Mobil New Exploration Ventures, Dallas, Texas, USA

Multifold seismic data from the Strait of Hormuz display stratigraphy and structure typical of that found on the Musandam Peninsula to the south. The sedimentary section seen on the seismic and tied to nearby hydrocarbon exploration wells ranges in age from Early Cretaceous to Recent. The section is subdivided into three seismic stratigraphic sequences by two prominent unconformities; the lowermost is at the top of the Lower Cretaceous and the upper one is at the base of the Miocene. The unconformities appear to have been formed as a result of two episodes of compression in the region; one during the late Cretaceous and the other during Oligocene-Miocene time. A Prominent ‘hummocky’ surface is present on many of the seismic lines and is interpreted as the result of erosion of piggy-back nappes consisting of allochthonous Musandam Limestone thrust westward on the Tethyan continental margin, in this region, during the Late Cretaceous. Two alternative interpretations of the ‘hummocky’ surface are that it is (a) composed of Miocene Makran conglomerate and (b) Upper Cretaceous Coloured Melange. These models and seismic data may be useful in future attempts at linking the stratigraphy and structure of the Musandam Peninsula to that in the Zagros Fold Belt to the north as more data become available.





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E. Uchupi, S.A. Swift, and D.A. Ross
Tectonic geomorphology of the Gulf of Oman Basin
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2002; 195: 37 - 69.
[Abstract] [PDF]