Geology, tectonics and natural resources of Arabia and its surroundings
Covering around 900 million years of Earth’s history, this substantial volume provides a comprehensive overview of the geology and natural resources of the Arabian Plate, from Neoproterozoic metal deposits through to petroleum formation and modern-day issues like carbon capture and geohazards.
The book represents something of a departure from many previous regionally focused volumes in the series. Rather than presenting a traditional narrative, it offers a multi-faceted scientific compendium that reflects current research and understanding of the region’s geology and resources. Few books bring together mineral and petroleum resources under the same cover, and perhaps the Arabian Peninsula is unique in hosting such large reserves of both. The lack of vegetation cover also makes it an ideal geological terrain for mapping and observing structures on a large scale, as illustrated by the numerous field photographs throughout the volume.
The 19 papers collectively describe the tectonic history, stratigraphy, natural resources and modern geohazards of Arabia and neighbouring regions. Particularly enjoyable is the chapter on meteorite falls, especially those in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Somewhat esoteric compared with the rest of the volume, it is nevertheless so well written that it is hard for any geologist not to enjoy.
Given the geographical scale of the region, the coverage of geology and tectonics is impressive. Mineral resources associated with petroleum, natural gas, iron, nickel, cobalt, vanadium and scandium are discussed in detail. There are, however, some notable omissions. There is little mention of the mineral resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, currently a major focus of global exploration for gold and copper, nor of the historically important silver and base metal deposits of Yemen. A broader overview of the peninsula’s metallogeny would also have been welcome, and perhaps these topics could form the basis of a future volume.
Notwithstanding these omissions, the editors and authors are to be commended for producing a high-quality contribution to the field. Most chapters present new data alongside reviews of previous work and offer fresh insights into the geological evolution of Arabia.
This volume will be a valuable reference for universities throughout Arabia and for geoscientists, policy makers and industry professionals seeking to understand the region’s geology and natural resources.
Reviewed by Rob Bowell
DETAILS
BY: Andreas Scharf et al, Geological Society of London (Special Publications, v. 550), 501 pp.
ISBN: 9781786206220
PRICE: £180, Fellows £90, available from the Geological Society’s bookshop
