The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden basins

This paper describes the updated stratigraphy, structural framework and evolution, and hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins of Yemen, depicted also on regional stratigraphic charts. The Paleozoic basins include (1) the Rub' Al-Khali basin (southern flanks), bounded to the south by the Hadramawt arch (oriented approximately W-E) towards which the Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments pinch out; (2)

Section: Cenozoic Basinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sedimentary basins of Yemen: their tectonic development and lithostratigraphic cover

As-Saruri¹,

Sorkhabi

Baraba

2010

“…The movement of the Arabian plate away from Africa in a north-east direction since 30 Ma (Beydoun 1970;Le Pichon and Francheteau 1978) led to opening of two young oceanic basins: the Red Sea, between Africa (Nubia) and Arabia, and the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Arabia (see a review in Bosworth et al 2005; Fig. 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, Le Pichon and Gaulier (1988) proposed that the Red Sea spreading started at about 13 Ma although magnetic anomalies indicate a younger age at 5 Ma (Izzeldin 1987). The age of the onset of rifting is still disputed (Hughes et al 1991) but is generally considered to be late Oligocene (Bosworth et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Paleostress analysis of the volcanic margins of Yemen

Khanbari

Huchon

2010

Self Cite

The western part of Yemen is largely covered by Tertiary volcanics and is bounded by volcanic margins to the west (Red Sea) and the south (Gulf of Aden). The Oligo-Miocene evolution of Yemen results from the interaction between the emplacement of the Afar plume, the opening of the Red Sea, and the westward propagation of the Gulf of Aden. Structural and microtectonic analyses of fault slip data collected in the field reveal that the volcanic margins of Yemen are affected by three main extensional tectonic events. The chronological order of these events is as follows: first E-W extension was associated with the emplacement of volcanic traps of Yemen, then NE-SW extension was related to the Red Sea rifting, and finally, the volcanic margin was submitted to N160°E extension, perpendicular to the overall trend of the Gulf of Aden, which we interpret as induced by the westward propagation of the oceanic ridge of the Gulf of Aden.

“…The upper boundaries in all outcrops are represented by gradational conformable contact with the carbonate of the Amran Group (Figs. 2a, b, d, 3a Afar region (Beydoun 1991;Bosworth et al 2005) Somalia (Barnes 1976;Bosellini 1989;Beydoun 1991) Sultanate of Oman (Beydoun 1991) Kuhlan Formation Dhruma Formation 4a-c, 6a-c, and 7). In subsurface of Marib-Al-Jawf basin, it is overlain by the Akbarah Formation it is underlain by the Amran Group at the northern parts and on the basement rocks at the southern parts of the basin, while it is underlain by the Amran Group in all parts of the basin (Fig.…”

Section: Stratigraphic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Kuhlan Formation in Yemen

Al-Wosabi

Wasel

2010

The lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Kuhlan Formation in Yemen is reviewed based on the previous literature and new examination of five widely spaced outcrops in the Kuhlan Affar, Jabal Maswar, Jabal Salab, Wadi Hajar, and Ras Falanj areas. Following the guidelines set by the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature, Kuhlan Formation, with an age as latest Triassic to the Middle Jurassic, includes three members, Azzan, Souq, and Hesn, in an ascending order. Azzan member consists mainly of about 40 m of whitish coarse grained sandstone with many conglomeratic horizons. The Souq member is characterized by its reddish to brownish sandstones as well as the presence of polygonal structures at in the central part of this member, with a thickness of about 70 m. The Hesn member consists dominantly (80 m) of whitish sandstones with some marl intercalations at its topmost part. The Kuhlan Formation was deposited in a fluviatile environment.