Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions

We studied the Jafnayn Formation’s lithostratigraphy, microfacies, depositional environment, and uncertain presence of the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and present the first detailed analysis of a 127-m-thick section using the standard microfacies (SMF)/facies zone (FZ) system. The formation is dominat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Frank Mattern, Andreas Scharf, Abdul Razak Al-Sayigh, Abdulaziz Al-Mamari, Laura Galluccio, Sundus Al-Ghaiti, Gianluca Frijia, Lorenzo Consorti, Maram Al-Saadi, Fatema Al-Jabri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/352
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850241922952593408
author Frank Mattern
Andreas Scharf
Abdul Razak Al-Sayigh
Abdulaziz Al-Mamari
Laura Galluccio
Sundus Al-Ghaiti
Gianluca Frijia
Lorenzo Consorti
Maram Al-Saadi
Fatema Al-Jabri
author_facet Frank Mattern
Andreas Scharf
Abdul Razak Al-Sayigh
Abdulaziz Al-Mamari
Laura Galluccio
Sundus Al-Ghaiti
Gianluca Frijia
Lorenzo Consorti
Maram Al-Saadi
Fatema Al-Jabri
author_sort Frank Mattern
collection DOAJ
description We studied the Jafnayn Formation’s lithostratigraphy, microfacies, depositional environment, and uncertain presence of the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and present the first detailed analysis of a 127-m-thick section using the standard microfacies (SMF)/facies zone (FZ) system. The formation is dominated by foraminiferal grainstones and packstones of SMF 18-FOR, followed by peloidal grainstones and packstones of SMF 16. Coral-red algae floatstones of SMF 8 occur sporadically. SMF 18-DASY appears only once. SMF 16 and 18-FOR suggest a restricted lagoon, whereas SMF 8 and 18-DASY reflect episodic open marine lagoonal conditions. The section consists of four lithostratigraphic units. Considerable detrital quartz near the base (Unit 1: 22%; sand, sandstone, conglomerate) and top (Unit 4: 40%; sand) coincides with a restricted lagoon affected by near-shore processes (base) and near-shore conditions (top). Open marine conditions show an elevated bioclast diversity in units 3 and 4. Unit 2 displays very thickly-bedded limestones of the restricted lagoon. The lagoon barriers likely consist of foraminifera and other allochems that were reworked from the lagoon to form shoals. Coral remains in units 3 and 4 suggest that coral build-ups in the upper part of the formation protected the lagoon as well. The early Eocene age of several basal <i>Alveolina</i> species in the lowermost 9 m of the studied section indicates that the section is incomplete, with the late Paleocene part and meters-thick basal yellow marl missing. The Paleocene/Eocene boundary is unexposed.
format Article
id doaj-art-d3f1d91058d74762bc49944d943dc85f
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-3263
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Geosciences
spelling doaj-art-d3f1d91058d74762bc49944d943dc85f2025-08-20T02:00:27ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632024-12-01141235210.3390/geosciences14120352Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine ConditionsFrank Mattern0Andreas Scharf1Abdul Razak Al-Sayigh2Abdulaziz Al-Mamari3Laura Galluccio4Sundus Al-Ghaiti5Gianluca Frijia6Lorenzo Consorti7Maram Al-Saadi8Fatema Al-Jabri9Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanDepartment of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanDepartment of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanDepartment of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanBadley-Ashton, Winceby House, Winceby LN9 6PB, UKDepartment of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanDepartment of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyIstituto di Scienze Marine, Area Science Park ss. 14, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanDepartment of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, OmanWe studied the Jafnayn Formation’s lithostratigraphy, microfacies, depositional environment, and uncertain presence of the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and present the first detailed analysis of a 127-m-thick section using the standard microfacies (SMF)/facies zone (FZ) system. The formation is dominated by foraminiferal grainstones and packstones of SMF 18-FOR, followed by peloidal grainstones and packstones of SMF 16. Coral-red algae floatstones of SMF 8 occur sporadically. SMF 18-DASY appears only once. SMF 16 and 18-FOR suggest a restricted lagoon, whereas SMF 8 and 18-DASY reflect episodic open marine lagoonal conditions. The section consists of four lithostratigraphic units. Considerable detrital quartz near the base (Unit 1: 22%; sand, sandstone, conglomerate) and top (Unit 4: 40%; sand) coincides with a restricted lagoon affected by near-shore processes (base) and near-shore conditions (top). Open marine conditions show an elevated bioclast diversity in units 3 and 4. Unit 2 displays very thickly-bedded limestones of the restricted lagoon. The lagoon barriers likely consist of foraminifera and other allochems that were reworked from the lagoon to form shoals. Coral remains in units 3 and 4 suggest that coral build-ups in the upper part of the formation protected the lagoon as well. The early Eocene age of several basal <i>Alveolina</i> species in the lowermost 9 m of the studied section indicates that the section is incomplete, with the late Paleocene part and meters-thick basal yellow marl missing. The Paleocene/Eocene boundary is unexposed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/352near-shore environmentstandard microfaciesforaminiferaquartz detritusRusayl Embayment
spellingShingle Frank Mattern
Andreas Scharf
Abdul Razak Al-Sayigh
Abdulaziz Al-Mamari
Laura Galluccio
Sundus Al-Ghaiti
Gianluca Frijia
Lorenzo Consorti
Maram Al-Saadi
Fatema Al-Jabri
Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions
Geosciences
near-shore environment
standard microfacies
foraminifera
quartz detritus
Rusayl Embayment
title Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions
title_full Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions
title_fullStr Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions
title_short Lithostratigraphy and Limestone Microfacies of the Jafnayn Formation (Paleocene to Early Eocene, Al-Khod, Sultanate of Oman): Deposition in a Restricted Lagoon with Intervals of Open Marine Conditions
title_sort lithostratigraphy and limestone microfacies of the jafnayn formation paleocene to early eocene al khod sultanate of oman deposition in a restricted lagoon with intervals of open marine conditions
topic near-shore environment
standard microfacies
foraminifera
quartz detritus
Rusayl Embayment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/352
work_keys_str_mv AT frankmattern lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT andreasscharf lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT abdulrazakalsayigh lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT abdulazizalmamari lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT lauragalluccio lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT sundusalghaiti lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT gianlucafrijia lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT lorenzoconsorti lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT maramalsaadi lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions
AT fatemaaljabri lithostratigraphyandlimestonemicrofaciesofthejafnaynformationpaleocenetoearlyeocenealkhodsultanateofomandepositioninarestrictedlagoonwithintervalsofopenmarineconditions