The Persian Gulf. B. H. Purser. Springer-Verlag Berlin. Heidelberg. N ew York 1973

Transcription

1 The Persian Gulf Holocene Carbonate Sedimentation and Diagenesis in a Shallow Epicontinental Sea Edited by B. H. Purser With 250 Figures, 7 Plates and 3 Maps Springer-Verlag Berlin. Heidelberg. N ew York 1973

2 Bruce H. Purser Laboratoire de Geologie Historique Faculte des Sciences Universite de Paris Sud 91-0rsay/France ISBN-13: DOl: / e-isbn-13: This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machine or similar means, and storage in data banks. Under 54 of the German Copyright Law where copies are made for other than private use, a fee is payable to the publisher, the amount of the fee to be determined by agreement with the publisher. The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. by Springer-Verlag Berlin' Heidelberg Library of Congress Catalog Card Number Offsetprinting: J uli us Beltz, Hemsbach/Bergstr. Bookbinding: Konrad Triltsch, Graphischer Betrieb, Wiirzburg, Germany. Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1 st edition 1973

3 The Persian Gulf Holocene Carbonate Sedimentation and Diagenesis in a Shallow Epicontinental Sea Edited by B. H. Purser With 250 Figures, 7 Plates and 3 Maps Springer-Verlag New York. Heidelberg Berlin 1973

4 Bruce H. Purser Laboratoire de Geologie Historique Faculte des Sciences Universite de Paris Sud 91-0rsay/France ISBN-13: DOl: / e-isbn-13: This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machine or similar means, and storage in data banks. Under 54 of the German Copyright Law where copies are made for other than private use, a fee is payable to the publisher, the amount of the fee to be determined by agreement with the publisher. The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg Library of Congress Catalog Card Number Offsetprinting: Julius Beltz, Hemsbach/Bergstr. Bookbinding: Konrad Triltsch, Graphischer Betrieb, Wiirzburg, Germany. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1973

5 Introduction This volume, although not an integrated synthesis, treats most aspects of Holocene sedimentation and diagenesis in the Persian Gulf, grouping 22 contributions under a single cover and in one language. Because these sediments and diagenetic minerals are comparable to those existing in many ancient sedimentary basins, their appraisal should be of value to the enlarging group of workers who interpret ancient sedimentary rocks. The essential morphological, climatic and oceanographic factors determining Holocene sedimentation and diagenesis in the Persian Gulf are summarized in the introductory article by PURSER and SEIBOLD. These environmental controls and the overall morphology of the Persian Gulf have much in common with Shark Bay, Western Australia, described by LOGAN et al. (1970). On the other hand, the Persian Gulf is markedly different from the better known Florida and Bahamian provinces; the floor of the Persian Gulf is gently inclined from continental shoreline to bathymetric axis ( m); the Bahamian province, on the other hand, is horizontal and extremely shallow (2-10 m), with very sharply defined shelf edges surrounded by deep oceanic waters. These contrasting architectural styles are related to different tectonic frames. The Persian Gulf, at least in its Iranian half, is strongly affected by a late Tertiary fold system which determines the regional outline of the basin, the inclination of its sea floor, and the orientation of its bathymetric axis; the Bahamian and Florida morphologies are only remotely influenced by underlying tectonic systems, their characteristic "shelf" morphologies being the consequence of accretion to sea level under stable tectonic conditions. Because of these contrasting morphologies, regional sediment patterns in the Persian Gulf and Bahamas are quite distinct. ' Major differences in the diagenetic properties of the Persian Gulf and Caribbean Holocene sediments are related mainly to differing climatic factors. The hot, arid climate of the Middle East stimulates the formation of evaporitic minerals, including widespread dolomite. The cooler, somewhat wetter Caribbean climate does not favour evaporites, and dolomite seems to be less widely distributed. These climatic differences are probably reflected also in the rates of carbonate mineral stabilization. In sum, the processes and patterns of Holocene carbonate sedimentation and diagenesis differ markedly from one province to another. Consequently, effective interpretation of ancient analogues requires a sound understanding not only of the modern "carbonate shelf" provinces typified by the Caribbean area, but also of the shallow epicontinental basins with gently sloping floors, such as Shark Bay and the Persian Gulf. Of the 31 authors comprising 9 nationalities who have contributed to this volume, 23 are associated with one or other of three organizations: The Kiel University group under the leadership of Professor E. SEIBOLD had carried out extensive surveys in the Gulf of Oman and within the Iranian parts of the Persian Gulf. Their results, published mainly in the "Meteor" Forschungsergebnisse ( ) give abundant data concerning the oceanography of the basin. Detailed sedimentological and ecological studies are confined essentially to the deeper parts of the Persian Gulf. New information relating to these marly sediments is given by SEIBOLD et al., MELGUEN, and SARNTHEIN and WALGER, in this book. The Imperial College of London group has carried out extensive research, mainly along the Trucial Coast during the period This work was initiated by G. EVANS and D. J. SHEARMAN and directed subsequently by G. EVANS; its results are expressed mainly in the form of

6 VI doctoral theses. Various aspects have been published by BUSH (1970), BUTLER (1969), EVANS (1970), EVANS et al. (1964, 1969, etc.), KENDALL and SKIPWITH (1968), KINSMAN (1964, etc.), MURRAY (1965, etc.), and SHEARMAN (1963, etc.). Their most significant contributions include detailed studies of the relationships between sabkha diagenesis and water chemistry, and coastal sedimentation and ecology; lagoonal Foraminifera, in particular, have been treated in considerable detail. Additional results concerning sabkha diagenesis are offered by BUTLER, BUTLER et ai., and BUSH, while coastal sedimentation and ecology are treated by EVANS et ai., in this volume. Shell Research B. V. (Kon. Shell Exploratie en Produktie Laboratorium, Rijswijk, The Netherlands) has concentrated its research around Qatar Peninsula but has also carried out regional surveys throughout most of the Arabian half of the basin. Initial results were published by Hou BOLT (1957). The project was continued by A. J. WELLS in collaboration with Illing Associates, their studies of Recent dolomite, evaporites and beach roc~s beint; published by WELLS (1962), ILLING et al. (1965), and TAYLOR and ILLING (1969). The results of subsequent research directed by B. H. PURSER are presented in this volume by EVAMY, DE GROOT, HUGHES CLARKE and KEIJ, KASSLER, PURSER, SHINN, and WAGNER and VAN DER TOGT. The objectives of the Shell Research group differed somewhat from those of the Kiel and Imperial College groups. Being an oil company, much of Shell's research was directed towards the establishment of the basic aspects of modern sedimentation and diagenesis which would aid in the understanding and exploitation of certain hydrocarbon reservoirs; this research tends to evaluate the forest without identifying all the species composing it. The different styles of research employed by the respective university and oil company groups are apparent in their contributions to this volume; both have their virtues. Although the greater part of research in the Persian Gulf has been carried out by the three groups mentioned above, significant contributions to this volume include those of Hsu and SCHNEI DER of the Poly technical Institute of Zurich, KUKAL and SAADALLAH of the Central Geological Survey, Prague and the University of Baghdad respectively, and by LOREAU (and PURSER) of the Museum National d'histoire Naturelle, Paris. Six of the contributions were presented orally, and as printed abstracts, at the VIII International Sedimentological Congress (Heidelberg) in September, It should be stressed, however, that although much data relating to the Holocene sediments of the Persian Gulf has already been published, the new material presented here constitutes the first attempt to group results. This coordination enables readers for the first time to obtain an overall picture of this basin. In conclusion, on behalf of all contributors to this volume, I would like to thank the following persons and organizations who have contributed in many nonsedimentological ways to the understanding of sedimentation and diagenesis in the Persian Gulf: the Rulers and Governments of virtually all states bordering the Persian/Arabian Gulf for permission to work within their territorial waters and coasts; H. V. DUNNINGTON and the staff of Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company for generous help to Imperial College personnel and to myself and my colleagues J.-P. LOREAU and K. J. Hsu; - LUDWIG HAPPEL of Munich who, as head of geological research for Shell (Rijswijk), encouraged both his own staff - including myself - and the researchers of Imperial College, London; - Huntings Air Services for use of aerial photographs, certain of which are reproduced in this volume; - Dr. KONRAD F. SPRINGER and his staff for their very active support. I would also like to offer my personal thanks not only to my fellow-contributors for their cooperation in producing this symposium, but more especially to my colleagues who shared the occasional pleasures and numerous discomforts of the long months of fieldwork in the Persian Gulf. Orsay, March 1973 BRUCE H. PURSER

7 Contents PURSER, B. H. and SEIBOLD, E.: The Principal Environmental Factors Influencing Holocene Sedimentation and Diagenesis in the Persian Gulf KASSLER, P.: The Structural and Geomorphic Evolution of the Persian Gulf HUGHES CLARKE, M. W. and KEIJ, A. J.: Organisms as Producers of Carbonate Sediment and Indicators of Environment in the Southern Persian Gulf SEIBOLD, E., DIESTER, L., FUTTERER, D., LANGE, H., MULLER, P., and WERNFR. F.: Holocene Sediments and Sedimentary Processes in the Iranian Part of the Persian Gulf SARNTHEIN, M. and W ALGER, E.: Classification of Modern Marl Sediments in the Persian Gulf by Factor Analysis MELGUEN, M.: Correspondence Analysis for Recognition of Facies in Homogeneous Sediments off an Iranian River Mouth KUKAL, Z. and SAADALLAH, A.: Aeolian Admixtures in the Sediments of the Northern Persian Gulf WAGNER, C. W. and VAN DER TOGT, c.: Holocene Sediment Types and Their Distribution in the Southern Persian Gulf PURSER, B. H.: Sedimentation around Bathymetric Highs in the Southern Persian Gulf SHINN, E. A.: Carbonate Coastal Accretion in an Area of Longshore Transport, NE Qatar, Persian Gulf SHINN, E. A.: Rl'L'l'nt Intertidal and Nearshore Carbonate Sedimentation around Rock Highs, E Qatar, Persian Gulf SHINN, E. A.: Sedimentary Accretion along the Leeward, SE Coast of Qatar Peninsula, Persian Gulf PURSER, B. H. and EVANS, G.: Regional Sedimentation along the Trucial Coast, SE Persian Gulf EVANS, G., MURRAY, J. W., BIGGS, H. E. J., BATE, R., and BUSH, P. R.: The Oceanography, Ecology, Sedimentology and Geomorphology of Parts of the Trucial Coast Barrier Island Complex, Persian Gulf LaREAU, J.-P. and PURSER, B. H.: Distribution and Ultrastructure of Holocene Ooids in the Persian Gulf EVAMY, B. D. : The Precipitation of Aragonite and Its Alteration to Calcite on the Trucial Coast of the Persian Gulf PURSER, B. H. and LaREAU, J.-P.: Aragonitic, Supratidal Encrustations on the Trucial Coast, Persian Gulf DE GROOT, K.: Geochemistry of Tidal Flat Brines at Umm Said, SE Qatar, Persian Gulf BUSH, P.: Some Aspects of the Diagenetic History of the Sabkha in Abu Dhabi, Persian Gulf 395 Hsu, K. J. and SCHNEIDER, J.: Progress Report on Dolomitization - Hydrology of Abu Dhabi Sabkhas, Arabian Gulf BUTLER, G. P.: Strontium Geochemistry of Modern and Ancient Calcium Sulphate Minerals 423 BUTLER, G. P., KROUSE, R. H., and MITCHELL, R.: Sulphur-Isotope Geochemistry of an Arid, Supratidal Evaporite Environment, Trucial Coast 453 Bibliography Three maps inside back cover