Geological Reports (Geo 274)

Geological Reports

(Geo 274)

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Geological reports are concise, informative

and well documented reports used to

present, analyze and summarize field data for

both industry and research purposes.

They should be accompanied by geological

maps, figures, stratigraphic columns, tables,

graphs, field photographs, etc.

The structure of a report

The Report should contain the following headings:

1. Title page

2. Abstract

3. Acknowledgments

4. Table of contents

5. List of figures

6. List of tables

7. Introduction

8. Stratigraphy and Lithology

9. Structures

10. Geological History

11. Conclusions and recommendations

12. References

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1. Title Page

Geology of the Midyan area, NW Saudi Arabia

By

Essam Abd El-Motaal

Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University

Submitted to

Saudi Geological Survey

2nd March 2020

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2. Acknowledgments

Thank people who have helped you; site owners who have

allowed access; people who have suggested improvements

to the work.

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3. Abstract The abstract is usually the FIRST thing listed after the title of your

report, but it should be the LAST thing you write.

The abstract must be brief but must include:

1. Where is the investigated area?

2. Which type of work has been carried out (e.g. field mapping,

sampling, geophysical survey, drilling etc.),

3. What is the goal of the work (e.g. establishing the stratigraphic

sequence, dating formations, recognizing structures, finding ore

minerals etc.),?

4. What are the results obtained (e.g. completion of a geological map

and stratigraphic columns)?

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3. Abstract

Example:

Exposures of rocks belonging to the Arab Formation (late Jurassic)

were examined in the Riyadh area. This report aims to provide details

of the stratigraphy at two sites - King Salman road and King Saud

University campus. It was observed that at each of these sites, the

Arab Formation consists mainly of limestone interbedded with gypsum

and anhydrite. These rocks show features that are characteristic of

deposition in deep marine conditions. Further studies are required to

understand depositional mechanisms and to evaluate the present-day

thickness of individual rock units.

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4. Table of content

Example:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

No.

Title

II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

III DEDICATION

IV ABSTRACT

VI TABLE OF CONTENTS

IX LIST OF FIGURES

XIII LIST OF TABLES

1 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1 Location of study area 1.1

1 1.2 Problem statement

4 1.3 Previous studies

7 1.4 Objectives of the study

7 1.5 Methods of study

9 CHAPTER TWO: RED SEA GEOLOGIC SETTING

25 Opening history of the Red Sea


5. List of figures

Example:

8

Page

No.

Description

2 Figure (1.1) Landsat image showing the location of Maqna area.

11 Figure (2.1) Digital elevation model showing the East African Rift

System and the plate tectonic setting of the Red Sea and its

main structural elements.

12 Figure (2.2) Simplified map of the Arabian Plate, with plate boundaries.

13 Figure (2.3) Block diagram showing the divergence of the Red Sea rift.

14 Figure (2.4) Model for development of the Red Sea Rift.

16 Figure (2.5) The tectonic layout of the north Red Sea shows the axes of

the major elements.


6. List of tables

Example:

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LIST OF TABLES

Page

No.

Description

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Table (2.1) Summary of the Red Sea region slipping rates

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Table (2.2) Summary of the Red Sea region motion.


7. Introduction

The introduction must include:

1. Location of the investigated area.

2. Geomorphology (topography).

3. Previous work.

4. Objective = Aim = Purpose.

5. Methodology.

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8. Stratigraphy

The description of rock units must proceed from the oldest

(bottom) to the youngest (top). It should be accompanied

by a stratigraphic column and appropriate field photos of

outcrops.

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8. Stratigraphy

A. Sedimentary units

1. Lithological description including color, grain size, type of

bedding (massive, well bedded, alternating beds),

mineralogy of grains.. etc.

2. Stratigraphic position (Basal and top boundaries of the unit

e.g. conformable or unconformable..).

3. Distribution = Occurrence (where it located in outcrops and

the best locality for exposure).

4. Thickness.

5. Fossil content and age of unit.

6. Depositional environment - terrestrial (fluvial, lacustrine) or

marine (shallow, deep). 12

Sedimentary Facies

On a continental shelf, sand may accumulate in the high-energy nearshore environment

• Mud and carbonate deposition takes place at the same time in offshore low-energy environments

Marine Transgression

Rocks of each facies become younger in a landward direction during a marine transgression

• One body of rock with the same attributes (a facies) was deposited gradually at different different places so it is time transgressive

– ages vary from place to place

older shale

younger shale

Marine Transgression

Three formations deposited in a widespread marine transgression are exposed

Marine Regression

During a marine

regression, sea level

falls with respect to the

continent

– and the environments

paralleling the shoreline

migrate seaward

Marine Regression

• A marine regression is the opposite of a marine

transgression

• It yields a vertical sequence with nearshore facies

overlying offshore facies and lithostratigraphic rock

units become younger in the seaward direction

younger shale

older shale

Transgression/Regression

Walther’s Law

The vertical progression of facies will be the same

as the corresponding lateral facies changes


8. Stratigraphy

B. Igneous units

1. Lithology, mineral content, texture, rock type (intrusive,

extrusive).

2. Igneous forms (flow, dyke, sill) and contact with the

surrounding rock units.

3. Thickness.

4. Age.

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8. Stratigraphy

C. Metamorphic units

1. Lithology, mineral content, texture, rock type.

2. Foliated or non-foliated and contact with the surrounding

rock units.

3. Parent rock (sedimentary or igneous) and the metamorphic

grade.

4. Thickness.

5. Age.

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9. Structures

A. Folds

Description of folds must include:

1. Types of folds (syncline, anticline).

2. Orientation of fold axis and dip of axial plane and trend and

plunge of the fold hinge line (axis).

3. Occurrence of folds (where are they in the study area).

4. Orientation of the compression that produced them.

5. Age (according to the age of the folded rocks).

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9. Structures

B. Faults

Description of faults must include:

1. Types of faults (normal, reverse, strike-slip).

2. Strike, dip direction and angle of dip of fault surface .

3. Occurrence of faults (where are they in the study area).

4. Displacement amount of geological markers.

5. Type and orientation of the stress (tension, compression, or

shear) that produced them.

6. Age (according to the age of the faulted rocks and

crosscutting relationships between structures of different ages). 24



The geological history is a brief history of the evolution of your

investigated area through time. Always describe the evolution

from the oldest event to the youngest event.

1. Start with the basement rocks, defining the time of deposition,

metamorphic conditions and time of metamorphism.

2. Use presence, age and duration of unconformities to separate

distinct cycles within the main stratigraphy sequence.

3. Is the sequence terrestrial or marine? Is there a transition from

terrestrial to marine conditions? Is the marine sequence

shallowing or deepening upwards?

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4. Are there unconformities within the sequence?

5. Are there igneous events that interrupt the sedimentary

sequence? What is their age?

6. What is the age of the youngest sediments preserved in

outcrop?

7. When was the area uplifted?

8. When were the units deformed?

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Geologic history


11. Conclusions and recommendations

A brief summary of everything that the work has achieved

(production of a geological map, cross sections and

stratigraphic columns, discovery of new outcrops or fossil

localities, construction of the geological history).

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12. References All publications used in the text should be noted in a list of

references at the end of the report. They should be listed in

alphabetical order with respect to the last name of author(s).

References cited as sources for figures should be included in the

list.

No references from the Internet are allowed.

No personal communication "pers. comm." citations should be

included in the references cited list.

Use the style of the Geological Society of America Bulletin for your

References Cited. Here are some examples; look at a recent issue

of GSA Bulletin for more:

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12. References

O Journal articles:

Author, date. Title of article: Journal, volume, pages.

Selverstone, J., Axen, G. J., and Bartley, J. M., 1995. Fluid

inclusion constraints on the kinematics of footwall uplift

beneath the Brenner Line normal fault, Eastern Alps:

Tectonics, v. 14, p. 264-278.

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12. References

O Books: Author, Date. Title of Book (edition): Publisher, Place of publication, pages.

Blaxter L., Hughes, C. and Tight, M., 1996. How to Research (second edition):

Open University press. Milton Keynes, 263 p.

Davis, G.H. and Reynolds, S.J., 1996. Structural Geology of Rocks and

Regions, 2nd edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 776 p.

Said, R., 1990. The Geology of Egypt. Blkema, Rotterdam, 734 p.

Tissot, B.P., Welte, D.H., 1984. Petroleum Formation and Occurrence. Springer

Verlag, New York, 699 p.

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12. References

O Books: Author, Date. Title of Book (edition): Publisher, Place of publication, pages.

Twiss, R.J., and Moores, E.M., 2007. Structural geology (2nd edition),

Freeman and Co., New York, 736 p.

Drever, J. I., 1988. The geochemistry of natural waters (second

edition): Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 437 p.

Ramsay, J.G., 1967. Folding and fracturing of rocks. McGraw-Hill, New

York, 568 p.

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12. References

O Edited Books: Authors, date. Title of article. in Editors, Title of Edited Book: Publisher, pages.

Zimmerman, J., Axel, R.S., 1989. Tectonic setting of olistostromal units

and associated rocks in the Talladega slate belt, Alabama

Appalachinas. in Horton, J. W., and Rast, N., eds., Melanges and

olistostromes of the Appalachians: Geological Society of America

Special Paper 228, p. 247-269.

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12. References

O MSc or PhD Thesis:

Author, date. Title of thesis. Thesis type, Name of university, pages.

Benaafi, M., 2011. Depositional Environments and Reservoir

Characteristics of the Sandstones of Burqan Formation, Midyan

Region, Northwestern Saudi Arabia. MSc Thesis, King Saud University,

124 p.

Taj, R.J., 1991. Stratigraphy and Sedimentology of the Cover Rocks of

the Magna Area, Saudi Arabia. PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow, 256

p.

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12. References

O Geologic maps:

Author, date. Map name: Place of publication, Publisher, Scale.

Brown, G.F., 1972. Tectonic map of the Arabian Peninsula: Riyadh,

Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources, scale

1:4,000,000.

Staikopoulos, G. and Efstratiades, G., 1987. Geological map of Greece,

Akhladhokhorion sheet: Athens, Institute of Geology and Mineral

Exploration, scale 1:50,000.

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12. References

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12. References

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12. References

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Coleman, R.G., 1993. Geologic evolution of the Red Sea. Oxford Monographs on

Geology and Geophysics, v. 24. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 186 p.

Coleman, R.G., Gregory, R.T. and Brown, G.F, 1983. Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks of Saudi

Arabia. US Geological Survey Open File Report, 82, 83-788.

Coleman, R.G., Hadley, D.G., Fleck, R.G., Hedge, C.T. and Donato, M.M., 1979. The

Miocene Tihama Asir Ophiolite and its bearing on the Opening of the Red Sea.

In: Al-Shanti, A.M.S. (ed.) Evolution and Mineralization of the Arabian–Nubian

Shield. Pergamon, Oxford, 173–186.

Coleman, R.G., Fleck, R.J., Hedge, C.E. and Ghent, E.D., 1977. The volcanic rocks of

southwest Saudi Arabia and the opening of the Red Sea, In: R.S. Hilpert (Editor),

Red Sea Research 1970-1975. Saudi Arabia, Dir. Gen. Miner. Resour., Bull., 22:

Dl-D30.


12. References

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Evans, A.L., 1988. Neogene tectonic and stratigraphic events in the Gulf of Suze rift area,

Eygpt: Tectonophysics, v. 153, p. 235-247.

Filatoff, J. and Hughes, G.W., 1996. Late Cretaceous to Recent Palaeoenviromnents of the

Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Journal of African Earth Sciences, v. 22, no. 4, p. 535-548.

Freund. R., Zak. I, and Garfunkel, Z., 1968. Age and rate of the sinistral movement along

the Dead Sea rift: Nature., v. 220, p. 253-255.

Frisch, W., Meschede, M., and Blakey, R., 2011. Plate tectonics: Continental drift and

mountain building. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 212 p.

Girdler, R.W. and Southern, T.C., 1987. Structure and Evolution of the Northern Red Sea.

Nature, v. 330, p. 716-721.

Geological Reports (Geo 274)

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Transcript of Geological Reports (Geo 274)