Ediacaran and Cambrian
摘要
The Ediacaran and Cambrian geological formations in Arabia provide essential insights into the region’s tectonic and sedimentary history. The Infracambrian sequence, encompassing Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian strata, illustrates a succession of depositional and tectonic processes that influenced the Arabian Plate. The geology of Western Arabia is primarily characterized by Neoproterozoic crust, which is substantially visible due to the rifting of the Red Sea. In contrast, eastern Arabia, including Qatar, does not exhibit exposed Precambrian basement rocks. The eastern portions, characterized by dense Phanerozoic layers, are believed to harbor juvenile Neoproterozoic crust beneath the sedimentary cover, as observed in Oman. Prominent formations, like the Hormuz and Huqf Groups, indicate substantial salt tectonics and hydrocarbon potential throughout the region. The Qatar High separates significant salt basins, with the Hormuz salt mobilization creating elongated formations and salt domes that affect oilfields and subsurface structural traps. The Huqf Group in Oman and the Hormuz Series are geologically interconnected, consisting of clastics, carbonates, and evaporites formed in an arid setting. Islands such as Halul and Sharao, located off the coast of Qatar, exhibit outcrops of the Hormuz Formation, which comprises dolomite, anhydrite, and small igneous intrusions. The dolomitic formations of these islands exhibit the effects of salt diapirism and tectonic brecciation. The Ediacaran-Cambrian sequence includes formations like the Jibalah Group and the Cambrian Siq and Burj Formations, exemplifying depositional conditions from fluvial to tidal systems. Stratigraphic investigations throughout Arabia, particularly in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, facilitate the reconstruction of the regional context of these formations. This chapter offers an extensive overview of the Ediacaran-Cambrian strata of the Arabian Plate, emphasizing its importance in tectonics, sedimentology, and resource exploration.