Geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic composition of the Harrat Al-Madinah Volcanic Field, Saudi Arabia

Moufti, Mohammed Rashad; Moghazi, A.M.; Ali, Kamal A.

doi:10.1016/j.gr.2011.06.003

Cited by 92 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 128 publications

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“…Precise determination of the Saudi Arabian harrats is now possible with Ar/Ar, and is essential for testing the prevailing geodynamic models of the generation of post-rift volcanism of the region (e.g. Moufti et al 2012).…”

Section: Regional Volcanic Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The geology and geochronology of Al Wahbah maar crater, Harrat Kishb, Saudi Arabia

Wahab

Maaty

Stuart

et al. 2014

Quaternary Geochronology

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Al Wahbah is a large (~2.2 km diameter, ~250 m deep) maar crater in the Harrat Kishb volcanic field in western Saudi Arabia. It cuts Proterozoic basement rocks and two Quaternary basanite lava flows, and is rimmed with an eroded tuff ring of debris from the phreatomagmatic explosion that generated the crater. A scoria cone on the northern wall of the crater was dissected by the explosion and exposes a dolerite plug that was intruded immediately prior to crater formation. The dolerite plug yields a 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age of 1.147 ± 0.004 Ma. This is the best possible estimate of the time Al Wahbah crater formed. It is a few tens of thousand years younger than the age of the lower and upper basalt flows, 1.261 ± 0.021 Ma and 1.178 ± 0.007 Ma respectively. A dolerite dyke exposed within the basement in the wall of the crater is dated at 1.886 ± 0.008 Ma. This is the most precise age so far determined for the initiation of basaltic volcanism of Harrat Kishb, and confirms that it is significantly younger than the other post-rift volcanic provinces in the region. This study provides constrains the timing of humid climatic conditions in the region and suggests that the Quaternary basaltic volcanism that stretches the length of the western side of the Arabian peninsula may prove to be useful for establishing palaeoclimatic conditions.

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Section: Regional Volcanic Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a compilation of published and unpublished basalt ages, Moufti et al (2012) show a general increase in the number of basalts erupted over the past 10 million years. This implies that the eruption rate is increasing with time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geology and geochronology of Al Wahbah maar crater, Harrat Kishb, Saudi Arabia

Wahab

Maaty

Stuart

et al. 2014

Quaternary Geochronology

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“…During the last 30 Ma, the complex tectonic history of the area resulted in a geodynamic environment in which mantle-derived melts fed various types of magmatism that manifest primarily in extensive volcanic fields at the surface (Fig. 1A) [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. This typical intra-continental volcanism formed thick piles of sheet-like basaltic lava flows with associated networks of shield and fissure fed volcanoes, as well as more silicic lava domes ranging in composition from mugearite to trachyte [9].…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geosite of a steep lava spatter cone of the 1256 AD, Al Madinah eruption, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Moufti

Németh²,

Murcia

et al. 2013

Open Geosciences

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UNESCO promotes geoconservation through various programs intended to establish an inventory of geologically and geomorphologically significant features worldwide that can serve as an important database to understand the Earth's global geoheritage. An ultimate goal of such projects globally is to establish geoparks that represent an integrated network of knowledge transfer opportunities, based on a specific array of geological and geomorphological sites able to graphically demonstrate how the Earth works to the general public. In these complex geoconservation and geoeducational programs, the identification of significant geological and geomorphological features is very important. These are commonly referred to as 'geosites' or 'geomorphosites', depending on whether the feature or processes the site demonstrates is more geological or geomorphological, respectively. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an extraordinary place due to its arid climate and therefore perfect exposures of rock formations. The Kingdom is also home to extensive volcanic fields, named "harrats" in Arabic, referring particularly to the black, basaltic lava fields that dominate the desert landscape. Current efforts to increase awareness of the importance of these volcanic fields in the geological landscape of Arabia culminated in the first proposal to incorporate the superbly exposed volcanic features into an integrated geoconservation and geoeducation program that will hopefully lead to the development of a geopark named, "The Harrat Al Madinah Volcanic Geopark" [1].Here we describe one of the extraordinary features of the proposed Harrat Al Madinah Volcanic Geopark, namely a steep lava spatter cone formed during a historical eruption in 1256 AD. Keywords

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“…While a volcanic eruption did not occur in this time, the event itself highlighted the need to investigate the volcanism in this region further, applying modern techniques and systematic studies along the volcanic fields parallel to the Red Sea coast. As well as advancing our knowledge of the volcanism and volcanic processes, this recent research has provided [3][4][5][6] a scientific basis for the application of volcanic hazard assessments, as well as for natural hazards education. In addition, a "byproduct" of the volcanology and volcanic hazard studies has been the systematic evaluatation, characterization and recording of the volcanic geoheritage of these volcanic fields.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a region where large areas of land are volcanic fields that have been active in the past 10 million years [5,16,[25][26][27][28], leaving behind nearly every volcanic feature possible in a dispersed intracontinental volcanic field (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Basis of the Geoheritage and Geotouristic Values of the 641 AD Al Madinah Eruption Site in the Al Madinah Volcanic Field, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Moufti¹

2013

TOGEOJ

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Recent volcanological and volcanic hazard studies on the youngest volcanic fields in the western Arabian Peninsula, such as the Al Madinah Volcanic Field (AMVF) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, resulted in the systematic evaluation, characterization and recording of their volcanic geoheritage. The two youngest volcanic eruptions of the AMVF were in 641 AD and 1256 AD, as documented in historic records. Both eruption sites are located nearby the holy city of Al Madinah and therefore offer a unique opportunity to develop geoheritage, geoconservation and geotourism projects. Here we present geological evidence to justify the location of a visitor and education center at the 641 AD eruption site, a future gateway to the proposed Al Madinah Volcanic Geopark. The inferred location of the 641 AD eruption consists of four cones that are located in a suburban area of Al Madinah city, outside of its "haram" area (an area restricted for Muslims only). The four cones formed through a broad array of volcanic processes that represent a complete spectrum of the volcanic processes recorded in the whole AMVF. Here we provide a detailed description of the volcanic features of these four cones and contrast these features with the broader volcanic heritage of the AMVF to provide a strong scientific basis to the establishment of a visitor and geoeducation center in the vicinity of these four cones. We also provide some basic data on the potential benefit and touristic value of such a project as a potential gateway to the newly proposed Harrat Al Madinah Volcanic Geopark.

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Geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic composition of the Harrat Al-Madinah Volcanic Field, Saudi Arabia

Cited by 92 publications

References 128 publications

The geology and geochronology of Al Wahbah maar crater, Harrat Kishb, Saudi Arabia

The geology and geochronology of Al Wahbah maar crater, Harrat Kishb, Saudi Arabia

Geosite of a steep lava spatter cone of the 1256 AD, Al Madinah eruption, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Scientific Basis of the Geoheritage and Geotouristic Values of the 641 AD Al Madinah Eruption Site in the Al Madinah Volcanic Field, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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