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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FIELD TRIP

FIELD TRIP TO THE AL AIN AREA

Karstic cavities are common structural features in the limestone bedrocks of Abu Dhabi Emirate, especially in the Dammam and the overlying Asmari Formations in Al Ain city. These cavities constitute hazards for the stability of building foundations. This tour will visit areas affected by karstic cavitation and also other more recent features of bedrock weathering. Field Trip Leaders: Prof. Hasan Arman, Prof. Abdel-Rahman Fowler,

Dr. Osman Abdelghany and Dr. Mahmoud Abu Saima.

STOP 1- SINKHOLES (NEAR AL AIN ZOO) ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF JABAL HAFIT

Sinkholes and other karstic features of the Dammam and Asmari limestone formations will be viewed on the western side of Jabal Hafit. The limestones in this area show recent surface cavitation (honeycomb) weathering related to wind and salt effects in an arid climate. Soluble gypsum/anhydrite is an important component of rocks in the Al-Ain area.

STOP 2- ROAD CUTTING ALONG THE EASTERN LIMB OF JABAL HAFIT

The beds here are steeply dipping fossiliferous limestones and soft marls of the Middle to Upper Eocene Dammam Formation. There are numerous fault structures and fibrous gypsum veins. The beds here apparently slipped over each other during the folding of the Hafit Anticline.

STOP 3- AL MUBAZARAH AREA (FOOT OF JABAL HAFIT)

In the Al Mubazarrah area (foot of Jabal Hafit) we pass through Middle Eocene nummulitic limestones and into the deepest unit in the Hafit Anticline – the Lower Eocene Rus Formation. This formation consists of fine-grained nodular structured limestones and limestones with chert nodules. A major strike-slip fault cuts through Lower-Middle Eocene rocks and may have been a conduit for hot spring waters in the past.

STOP 4- ALONG THE ROAD TO THE TOP (JABAL HAFIT SUMMIT)

Along the road to the top (Jabal Hafit Summit) we pass through the Lower Eocene Rus Formation, to see a general overview of the Green Mubazarrah area.