| Fieldtrip 4: Fault Geometries, surface to subsurface (North Oman Outcrops) | |
| Date: | 4-5 March 2010 |
| Time: | 07.00-18.00 hrs |
| Cost: | US$ 1,300.00 pp |
| Duration: | 2 days |
| Start/return: | 4 March 2010/5 March 2010 in the parking of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat (Qurum Area) |
| Included: | travel, food & accommodation during trip (night pre and post field trip, i.e. 3rd & 5th March are not included) |
| Max/min participants: | Max 21, min 10 participants |
| Booking deadline: | 9 February 2010 |
| Cancellation policy: | US$ 100.00 before 5th February, full fee beyond |
| Equipment required: | Sturdy boots (essentials), sun protection (hat, glasses, block), adequate fitness required to walk on slopping terrain |
| Recommended Hotel |
The Crowne Plaza is located 30min to 1 hour by car from the airport, depending on the traffic. Other hotels can be used but taxi arrangements should be taken care of by participants. |
| Return Flight |
It will be possible to fly on the evening after the trip. However the flight needs to be booked with ample time after drop-off timing (min. 2.5hours). If necessary people can be dropped off at the airport on the way to town. Shower facilities are available for a small fee at the airport. Please note that GSO cannot be responsible for missing a flight. |
| Logistic Support | Please contact GSO, Mr Yousuf Al-Sinani (info@ gso.org.om) |
| Field trip Leaders | Geological Society of Oman: Dr. Pascal Richard & Dr. Mohammed Al-Kindy |
The main objectives of this field trip are to raise awareness about
- fault geometries and associated fault damage zones,
- geometrical rules helping building static models and interpreting fault on seismic,
- which simpfications are acceptable in sub-surface modelng,
- what we need to consider when modelng simpfied fault geometries.
The field trip is based on syndicate exercises in order to trigger a maximum of discussion and learning’s, as well as optimize everybody’s participation.
The field trip leaders are here to facilitate the discussions and will try to act as listeners as much as possible to let the syndicates comes with the answers. We will be visiting two main areas in the foreland and foothills area of the Oman Mountains.
The trip will focus on the Natih and Shuaiba formations which are some of the main reservoirs of North Oman reservoirs. Throughout the two days, we will be examining fractures and faults at different scales, but the focus will be on the faults. Key elements to observe will be fault length (or height), vertical and lateral continuity, relation to mechanical stratigraphy, bed geometries, spacing, cementation and relationship to folding, faults and uplift.
We will have the opportunity to visit large scale segmented normal faults, relay geometries and fault damage zones. The implication /use of the outcrop for the sub-surface geometries will be the centre of our discussions, with special focus on fault growth processes through time and the use of analogue to support seismic and kinematic interpretations.
Provisional Itinerary
Day one – Directions
Morning:
Follow the motorway from Muscat towards Fanja and continue South along the “Semail Gap.” The first stop will be for coffee and introduction at the Shell Petrol station 123 km). Then drive on towards Nizwa. At the junction with the road to Adam (166 km), turn right towards Nizwa, Drive through Nizwa. At the third roundabout in Nizwa, take the first road right, signed for Bahlah. Continue towards Bahlah and after leaving road signs for Tanuf behind, take a right turn at the Al Maha petrol station (+/- 206 km). Follow the tarmac road North until a junction. Turn left. Follow the track and continue as it starts to wind up-hill. Stop 6.3 km up the hill, for Locality 1.2 (GPS 543572 2553741). After turning the vehicles around, return down along the track towards Ghubrat Tanuf. Some 700m away, notice a fault on the right side of the road. After passing a water well on the right hand side of road (GPS 542471 2552536), turn right off the track 2.4 km from Locality and park below the footwall of a major fault, about 500 m from track, Locality 1.3 (GPS 542286 2552377). There we walk on to the footwall of the normal fault. We will have lunch at locality 1.3 after the walk.
Afternoon:
On the way back down to Tanuf, we might stop at locality 1.4 which is 3 km from locality 1.3 to look at the fault breccia zone. From the fault breccia zone, drive down to the Niwza-Al Hoota cave road. Turn right at the Al Hoota sign (+/- 228 km). Follow the road until Al Hamra. In Al Hamra follow the main road (the one with the white line). At the first junction turn left direction Nizwa (+/- 237 km). At the first roundabout go straight. At the second roundabount (+/- 239 km-Shell station) turn right towards Jebel Shams. At 248 km, turn right enter Wadi Ghul, and turn left at the base of the slope to enter the wadi. The road becomes a track and crosses the wadi at Ghul village.
Day Two– Directions
Leave the Al Diyar Hotel following direction for Muscat. At the junction with the road to Sinaw turn right, in the direction of Sinaw. At Sinaw roundabout (104 km) turn right and cross the town and leave Jebel Madar on your left. Shortly after the junction with the road to Barzanam, turn left (127.5 km). Drive 7 km on the graded road and turn left towards Madar (GPS 0617730, 2468234). Drive 3 km and stop for an overview and introduction. Drive an extra 2 km (GPS 617117, 2473995). From here, take drinks, leave the car and walk towards Stop 3 to 5 (+/- 2 km total). While walking, the cars will drive to the next wadi (GPS 0615090-2474090). The group will pass by the cars on the way to Stop 6 to rest and pick up drinks. Then we will walk to Stop 6a and 6b and come back (+/- 2 km total) to the tent for lunch and recap session. After lunch, we will drive back to Muscat.