Middle and Late Paleozoic Tectonostratigraphy of NE Offshore Abu Dhabi Salt Basin

Last week Andy travelled to Saudi Arabia for the first time, to the EAGE workshop in Riyadh where he presented our work: 'Middle and Late Paleozoic Tectonostratigraphy of NE Offshore Abu Dhabi Salt Basin'. The workshop was organised into a first half that consisted of visiting field localities to the west of Riyadh, including the spectacularly weathered/karstified Jubaila Formation (see pic.) but also including visits to study the Sulaiy as well as the Hith-Arab formations, accompanied by significant discussion of the neotectonics of the area.

The 'talks' half of the workshop involved some very wide ranging (both in time and space!) discussions of Arabian Plate geology, and it was nice to see such a spread rather than the theme being very Gulf-central. Most sessions went over time which gives you a good indication of the level of debate, it was difficult to keep the enthusiasm of participants within limits!

Photo: Entrance to Wadi Mawan showing karstified Jubaila Formation (Kimmeridgian). Cliff height approx 3-4m.