The Cenozoic
摘要
This Chapter of this work examines the Cenozoic evolution of the Arabian Plate, focusing on its stratigraphy and depositional history in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq. The Cenozoic era commenced with notable tectonic and structural settings resulting from the collision of the Arabian Plate with Eurasia, culminating in developing the Zagros Mountains and related foreland basins. The stratigraphic succession is categorized into two main systems: the Paleogene and Neogene, each characterized by unique tectonic activity and sedimentary processes, where the Paleogene period, marked by marine transgressions, witnessed the deposition of significant carbonate sediments such as the Umm er Radhuma, Rus, and Dammam Formations. These strata comprise a blend of shallow marine, evaporitic, and carbonate-dominated lithologies, representing vital groundwater aquifers in the Arabian Gulf region. The Neogene period marked the Arabian Plate’s progressive separation from the Tethys Sea, leading to limited depositional environments characterized by continental effects. The Miocene period witnessed the deposition of the Dam and Hofuf Formations, shaped by the emergence of the Red Sea and the commencement of rifting in the Gulf of Aden. The Dam Formation consists of mixed marine and evaporitic facies, whereas the Hofuf Formation is mostly characterized by terrestrial clastic deposits originating from the Arabian Shield. These episodes reflect the intricate interactions of tectonics, sea-level fluctuations, and sedimentation patterns that influenced the Arabian Plate during the Cenozoic. This chapter thoroughly examines lithological variations, depositional settings, and paleoenvironmental reconstructions to elucidate the geological history of the Arabian Plate during the Cenozoic era.