Radiolarian biostratigraphy of Hawasina complex, northern Oman

Conference · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6327103

Blome, C D; Tippit, P; Garrison, R E; Bernoulli, D; Smewing, J D

The allochthonous Hawasina complex is a sedimentary sequence of both continental-slope and oceanic-basin deposits that were thrust up over shallow-water marine carbonates of the Arabian Shelf during the Late Cretaceous. The Hawasina tectonically overlies the autochthonous Hajar Super Group, and is overlain tectonically by the Samail Ophiolite and associated sedimentary rocks. The lower thrust units, the Hamat Duru Group, and Wahrah Al Ayn Formations, are generally interpreted as limestone and sandstone turbidites deposited on the continental rise. Samples collected from the Zulla and Wahrah (lower chert member) Formations yielded radiolarian faunas assignable to the Late Triassic (Karnian/Norian). Additional samples from the Zulla Formation indicate an Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) age; previous investigators suggested a hiatus in pelagic sedimentation during Early Jurassic time. The higher thrust units are represented by the conglomeratic Al Ayn Formation, and the deeper water Halfa and Haliw Formations. Radiolarian faunas extracted from a measured section near the type locality of the Halfa Formation range in age from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian/Tithonian) to the Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian/Barremian). Previous biostratigraphic data suggested that the thickest sections of radiolarian chert and mudstone were deposited during Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous time. Newly obtained paleontologic evidence based on radiolarian biostratigraphy indicates that significant pelagic sedimentation occurred also during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
• OSTI ID: 6327103
• Report Number(s): CONF-8304200-
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Vol. 67:3; Conference: Annual AAPG/SEPM/EMD/DPA convention, Dallas, TX, USA, 17 Apr 1983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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