Biofacies study of selected shoals Northwest of Arabian Gulf

Abstract EN

The study deals with the sediment biofacies of the northwestern part of Arabian Gulf near the entrance of Shatt Al-Arab and the southern entrance of Khor Abdulla.

Gravity corer device was used of about 60 cm penetration .The sampling was carried out from 13 to 15 August 1995.

Nineteen samples of vertically and horizontally distribution were chosen to cover the study area.

Grain size distribution indicates that the sediments are ; sandy mud, muddy sand and mud.

The identified foraminifers' species and Ostracode described in the present study lead to identify three biofacies ; marine, deltaic marine and lagoonal environments.

The fossils of shoals are mixed between recent and ancient foraminifera and Ostracode species, whereas, the ancient shells are very hard citified, buried in stiff sediments.

The foraminifer's assemblage in the shoal sediments reveals a beach environment during the regression of the sea level of Holocene age.