Effect of tectonic prominence and growth of the Arabian shield on Paleozoic sandstone successions in Saudi Arabia
Al-Dabbagh, Mohammad Eesa . 2013
Abstract Paleozoic successions in Saudi Arabia are exposed
around and bordering the south, north, and northeastern edge
of the Arabian shield. They are represented by theWajid group
in the south and by the Taymah, Tabuk, Qalibah, Huj, and
Buraydah groups in the north and northeast. The Wajid group
includes Dibsiyah, Sanamah, Khusayyan, and Juwayl formations.
The Taymah group includes Siq, Amai’er, Quweira,
Saq, and Qasim formations. The Tabuk group includes Zarqa,
Sara, and Hawban formations. The Qalibah group includes
Baq’a, Qusaiba, and Sharawra formations. The Huj group
includes Tawil, Jauf, and Jubah formations. The Buraydah
group includes Berwath, Unayzah, and Khuff formations. The
Wajid group form one block in the south and the other groups
form another block in the north, and they can be correlated.
There are similarities between the northern belt which consists
of the Cambro-Ordovician formations of the Tayma and Tabuk
groups and the southern belt which consists of the Dibsiyah
and Sanama formations of the Wajid group. Similarities
include sandstone composition, sedimentary environment,
paleocurrent directions, unconformities, tectonic events, and
influence of Gondwana glaciations. These formations and
probably some or all the rest of the Paleozoic formations used
to form one block but later separated after erosion caused by
gradual tectonic growth, uplift, and prominence of the Arabian
shield. During early Paleozoic time, the process started by
poststabilization then sedimentation and at a later stage the
growth and uplift of the shield occurred gradually. Growth of
shields is a fact and it is the only way to explain the exposure
of the Wajid sandstone on top of the highest mountain of the
shield which exceeds 3,000 m in As Sawdah in Asir area in
southwestern Saudi Arabia. The sandstone sediments of these
outcrops were deposited on a low lying basin before been
raised to this elevation.
حاولنا قدر الاستطاعة في هذا الكتاب أن ننقل للقارئ العربي أحدث
ما في المراجع العالمية من جديد في مجال الشعاب المرجانية. ولقد حاولنا أيض ً ا أن
نوضح ما نريد بالأشكال التوضيحية والصور…