Main Article Content
Abstract
Khor Kharfot is part of a coastal estuarine wetland system located in the western part of the Dhofar Governorate preserving a pristine ecosystem supporting a distinct vegetation and animal habitat. A sand barrier along the khor (local term for wetlands) mouth controls the mixing of fresh and marine water in the enclosed lagoon. In order to understand the geological controls on the khor formation, a geological map of the khor barrier and inlet area is prepared. The khor is bounded by Cretaceous and Tertiary carbonate rock sequences which are cut by a number of faults. The khor mouth and barrier are comprised of late Holocene deposits divided into seven units including i) beach sand, ii) beach sand mixed with wadi gravels, iii) scree and coastal dunes, iv) lagoon, v) soil and boulders, vi) wadi gravels, and vii) talus. The khor developed as an open estuary which changed to a barrier dominated lagoon due to falling fresh water supplies as a consequence of dwindling Khareef rains. The lagoon water is brackish due to the mixing of fresh and marine water and supports a distinct flora and fauna.
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References
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References
Platel, J-P. Explanatory Notes to the Geological Map of Hawf, Sheet NE 39-16B, Scale:1:100,000. Muscat, Oman. Directorate General of Minerals, Oman Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, 1987, 48pp.
Clarke, N.V., Al-Ma’ashani, M.M, Saleem, M. and Dyras, I. Physical parameters of khawrs. Khawrs and springs of the Dhofar Governorate, Survey and monitoring studies. Planning committee for development and environment in the Governorate of Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman. 1993,2.
Abdel-Megid Abdel-Salam, H. Ecology and fauna of sandbars of some khawrs (coastal lagoons) of Dhofar. Khawrs and Springs of the Dhofar Governorate, Survey and monitoring studies. Planning committee for development and environment in the Governorate of Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman, 1993, 2.
Victor, R., Victor, J.R. and Clarke, N.V. Physical and chemical environment of Khawr Mugsayl, a coastal lagoon in southern Oman. Journal of Arid Environments, 1997, 36, 1-14.
Hoorn, C. and Cremaschi, M. Late Holocene paleoenvironmental history of Khawr Rawri and Khawr Al Balid (Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman). Palaeo. Palaeo. Palaeo. 2004, 213, 1-36.
Qidwai, H.Y. Geological Map of Uyun (1:100 000)–Explanatory Notes. Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, Directorate General of Minerals, Oman. 1988.
Salad Hersi, O., Al-Harthy, A., Abbasi, I.A., Al-Sayig, A. and Al-Lazki, A. Hydrocarbon potential of the Jeza-Qamar Forntier Basin, Dhofar, Southern Oman. In: Detective Stories Behind Prospect Generation: Challenges and the Way Forward. European Association of Geologists and Engineers (EAGE) Workshop, April 2009, Muscat. Extended Abstract: 2009, 29-33.
Hersi O.S., Abbasi, I.A., Al-Harthy, A., Cherchi, A. and Schroeder, R. Stratigraphic evolution and depositional system of lower Cretaceous Qishn formation, Dhofar, Oman. In Tectonic Evolution of the Oman Mountains (eds Rollinson, H.R., Searle, M.P., Abbasi, I.A., Al-Lazki, A. & Al Kindi, M.H) Geological Society London Special Publication, London, 2014, 392, 303–323.
Salad Hersi, O. Lithologic and diagenetic attributes of the Sharwayn (Maastrichtian) and Umm Er Radhuma (late Paleocene–Eocene) formations and their significance to the K-T unconformity, Jabal Samhan area, Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2011, 4, 147-160.
Salad Hersi, O., Abbasi, I.A. & Al-Harthy, A. R. Cretaceous Lithostratigraphy of Eastern Jeza-Qamar Basin and its Hydrocarbon Potential, Dhofar, Oman. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology Convention, Calgary. 2013, 1-5.
Ziegler, M.A. Late Permian to Holocene paleofacies evolution of the Arabian Plate and its hydrocarbon occurrences. GeoArabia, 2001, 6(3), 445-504.
Bosworth, W., Huchon P. and McClay K. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Basins. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2005, 43, 334–378.
Le´zine, A.M., Salie`ge, J.F., Mathieu, R., Tagliatela, T.L., Mery, S., Charpentier, V. and Cleuziou, S. Mangroves of Oman during the Late Holocene: Climatic implications and impact on human settlements. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2002, 11, 221–232.
Fleitmann, D., Burns, S.J., Mudelsee, M., Neff, U., Kramers, J., Mangini, A. and Matter, A. Holocene forcing of the Indian monsoon recorded in a Stalagmite from Southern Oman. Science, 2003, 300, 1737–1739.