Early Maastrichtian larger foraminifera of the Qahlah Formation, United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman border region

Abstract

The Early Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) Qahlah Formation is the oldest stratigraphical unit lying upon the eroded top of the obducted Semail Ophiolite, of Santonian–Campanian age, in the Northern Oman Mountains. It crops out as a series of low hills on the western flank of the mountains, which are located along the boundary between the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the bio- and lithofacies of the Qahlah Formation in the Jabal Huwayyah section (at the boundary between the Al Ain area of the United Arab Emirates and the Buraimi area of Oman). The data collected were used to determine the age and depositional environment of the rock unit studied. In addition, the section is lithostratigraphically correlated with other sections in the study area. Microfossils from Jabal Huwayyah are represented mainly by the larger benthic foraminifera Loftusia elongata, L. morgani, Pseudorbitolina marthae, Orbitoides media, Omphalocyclus macroporus and Lepidorbitoides minor. These foraminifera are reported for the first time from this section. The diversity and abundance of fauna, particularly within the calcareous siltstone bed near the top of the formation (unique to the Huwayyah area), reflect a shallow marine depositional environment.