Page 133 - Dilmun 29

fowzia@alsakhriconsult.com Dr. Fowzia Abdullah Geology of the Arabian Gulf and Failaka Island-Review
Petroleum Geology Consultant
ALNAFT ALSAKHRI consultancy
Geology of the Geology of the Arabian Gulf
Arabian Gulf and Failaka Island-Review
Abstract
The geology of Kuwait is re-
lated to the Arabian basin
tectonic elements; the Ara-
bian Shield in the west and
the Zagros Mountains on
the north. Subsurface for-
mations in Kuwait are gently
dipping towards northeast.
Recent beach deposits are
represented by carbonates
in the south and clastics in
the north. Both Kuwait and
upper Hasa groups of Ceno-
zoic age are outcropping in
Kuwait and are composed
of clastic and carbonate
rocks, respectively.
Failaka is the most import-
ant island in Kuwait located
20 km offshore from Kuwaiti
mainland. The geology of
Failaka and northern part of
Kuwait are almost similar.
Recent off-shore sediments
deposited here are originat-
ed from Shatt Al-Arab delta.
Carbon dating of rocks in
7
Kuwait has revealed a
change in the sea level in
the last 11,000 years, where
it dropped to more than 120
m relative modern sea level
causing exposure of the
Arabian Gulf. The ancient
human settlements in Faila-
ka Island make it important
to study its geology and to
predict the sea level chang-
es during the Holocene time.
Key words: Failaka, Geolo-
gy, Holocene, Beach rocks,
Terraces.
Introduction
Failaka Island is the most
important archeological site
in Kuwait. It was the most
urban center in Kuwait in the
ancient times particularly in
the Bronze age from 2200-
1800 BC. The southwestern
corner of Failaka was the
main harbor during the Dil-
mun time )Aziz et al., 2007(.
Settlement in this island