Stratigraphic Palynology of the Palaeozoic of Saudi Arabia

This volume describes in detail the results of a decade of collaboration between stratigraphers from Saudi Aramco and palynologists from the Commission Internationale de Microflore du Paleozoique (CIMP) on a programme to document the unique character of palynomorph assemblages recovered from the Ordovician to Permian sequences in the Arabian Peninsula. Not only are the assemblages described in detail for the first time but their potential as an exploration tool for regional correlation and palaeoenvironmental interpretation are fully realised.
The Arabian Peninsula with its major hydrocarbon resources in the Palaeozoic, has long been dependant on long range comparisons to achieve effective correlations of deposits in the absence of a proven regional palynostratigraphic database. Despite the fact that independent biostratigraphic calibration of the sections still remain absent, the results from this study, based on data from more than 40 wells, allows the establishment of a sequence of more than 30 palynozones which can be accurately equated with lithostratigraphic units. The consistency of these results across the Peninsula have allowed numerous changes to be made to the ages of many of the lithostratigraphic units and for the magnitude for the tectonically induced hiatuses between formations to be reassessed.
The volume which consists of 13 stratigraphically arranged chapters with 40 colour plates, emphasises the unique regional character of the assemblages but also demonstrates the close links with other north Gondwanan areas.