Surface Geology of Kuwait

Abstract

This chapter represents a comprehensive review of Kuwait’s surface geology and stratigraphy from previous works accomplished by numerous geoscience researchers in the past decades. The surface of Kuwait is characterized by nearly flat topography, featureless to gently undulating, apart from a few tens of meters of escarpments in the north and south, and flat low to moderately elevated hills and ridges. It predominantly consists of siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rock units ranging in age from Middle Eocene to Holocene. The main stratigraphic exposed successions are located in Jal Az-Zor escarpment, Al-Subyiah (Bahrah) area, Ahmadi Quarry, the Khiran Ridges, and the Enjefa Beach. The oldest exposed rock units are represented by the Middle Eocene Dammam Formation, which is exposed at the Ahmadi Quarry, whereas the youngest recent deposits cover most of Kuwait’s surficial area and lie on top of the Kuwait Group’s deposits. This chapter will illustrate the geology and stratigraphy of Kuwait's surface sediments and sedimentary rock strata. Recommendations and future insights were also documented as part of the way forward to improve the presently available work for the surface geology of Kuwait.