Geology of Oman

Oman has vast hydrocarbon resources in Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. Ancient salt below those sediments moves slowly and causes salt tectonic, forming mostly domes, which play an important role in forming oil and gas accumulations. They allow the rise of the hydrocarbons by piercing water-resistant layers and form the traps. The sedimentary rocks are partly limestone, and when limestone reaches the surface, there is karst. Due to the current arid climate, it is a sort of fossil karst, where karstification has mostly stopped. Nevertheless, the aquifers play an important role for the drinking water supply. They formed during cold ages, like the caves, when the weather was much wetter.

But the country also has numerous other interesting geological structures. The rock record spans about 825 million years and includes at least three ice ages, when the country was covered by ice. During the Cretaceous Period, Oman was located adjacent to a subduction zone. As a result, a portion of the upper mantle and overlying seafloor were thrust over the continental crust. This sequence of ultramafic to mafic rocks is called the Semail Ophiolite complex and contaions copper and chromite ores. Due to those interesting features, and the fact that no vegetation covers the geology, an increasing number of visitors are attracted by the spectacular geotopes of the country.