Ferricretes of the Early Tertiary Dammam Formation in the Dukhan Area, Western Qatar: mineralogy, geochemistry, and environment of deposition

Abstract

Ferricretes of the Middle Eocene Dammam Formation, Western Qatar, were investigated using petrographic and ore microscopy, IR TGA, XRD, and geochemical analyses. The ferricretes mainly consist of goethite, which is very varigated in habit and texture. Geochemical analyses show that the ferricretes consist of impure chemical sediments, iron hydroxides plus variable amounts of carbonate and siliciclastic materials. The ferricretes resemble with respect to texture, mineralogy and chemistry modem ferrous sediments described as verdine facies. The ferricretes found within the Midra Shale are indicative of a reducing environment of deposition to have occurred during the early Tertiary in the Dukhan Area. These duricrusts may also be used to put some constrains on the climatic conditions as these marine calcareous host rocks gradually emerged during the Late Tertiary and Quaternary.