Oman Drilling Project
Scientific Drilling in the Samail Ophiolite, Sultanate of Oman
Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project
Phase 1
Drilling
December 2016–March 2017
Core description
15 July–15 September 2017
Phase 2
Drilling
November 2017–February 2018
Core description
5 July–5 September 2018
Volume authorship
Kelemen, P.B.,
Matter, J.M.,
Teagle, D.A.H.,
Coggon, J.A.,
and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team
Published by International Ocean Discovery Program
Prepared by International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and JOIDES Resolution Science Operator, Texas A&M University
Publisher’s notes
This publication was prepared and published by the JOIDES Resolution Science Operator of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) as an account of work performed under the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Oman Drilling Project.
Cover photograph shows science party members receiving a core on deck at Oman Drilling Project Site BA3 (from left: Suzanne Picazo, Laura Crispini, Site Geologist Abdul Rasak Tharayil, Juan Carlos de Obeso, and Luca Notini). Photo credit: Jude Coggon.
Supplemental data were provided by the authors and may not conform to IODP publication formats.
Copyright
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction are permitted, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citations
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, in press. Oman Drilling Project Phase 1 and 2 Summary. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program).
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, in press. Introduction to the Oman Drilling Project. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program).
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Methods and explanatory notes. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, in press. Scientific drilling Phases 1 and 2. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program).
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Introduction to Science Theme 1A: gabbro traverse. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Site GT1: layered cumulate gabbros and deep fault zones. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Site GT2: foliated to layered gabbro transition. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program).https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Site GT3: sheeted dike to gabbro transition. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program).https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2021. Introduction to Science Theme 1B: crust–mantle traverse. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2021. Site CM1: layered gabbros, crustal ultramafic rocks, and mantle harzburgite. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2021. Site CM2: crust-mantle transition zone and into upper mantle. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Introduction to Science Theme 2: fluid and mass exchange. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Site BT1: fluid and mass exchange on a subduction zone plate boundary. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2021. Introduction to Science Theme 3: multi-borehole observatory. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, in 2021. Site BA1. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2021. Site BA2. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Site BA3. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2020. Site BA4. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., and the Oman Drilling Project Science Team, 2021. Microbiology. In Kelemen, P.B., Matter, J.M., Teagle, D.A.H., Coggon, J.A., et al., Proceedings of the Oman Drilling Project: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). https://doi.org/
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14379/OmanDP.proc.2020
Oman Drilling Project collaborators
Project leadership
Principal investigators
French National Institute for Scientific Research (CNRS)
Universit de Montpellier (CNRS)
Universit de Montpellier (CNRS)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
University of California, Los Angeles
Funding agencies
International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation--Deep Carbon Observatory
International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
US National Science Foundation
Swiss National Science Foundation
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Operations and drilling
Geo-Solutions Engineering Ltd.
Hamoud Al-Rashidi & Bros. Trading
Lalbuksh Voltas Engineering Services & Trading
Project partners
Columbia University, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, USA
University of Southampton, School of Ocean and Earth Science, UK
Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman
Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), Sultanate of Oman
Public Authority for Mining, Sultanate of Oman
German University of Technology in Oman
Contents
Chapters
Introduction
2. Introduction to the Oman Drilling Project
3. Methods and explanatory notes
PDF Tables
4. Scientific drilling Phases 1 and 2
Science Theme 1A: gabbro traverse
5. Introduction to Science Theme 1A: gabbro traverse
PDF
6. Site GT1: layered cumulate gabbros and deep fault zones
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
7. Site GT2: foliated to layered gabbro transition
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
8. Site GT3: sheeted dike to gabbro transition
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
Science Theme 1B: Transition from lower ocean crust to upper mantle
9. Introduction to Science Theme 1B: crust–mantle traverse
PDF
10. Site CM1: layered gabbros, crustal ultramafic rocks, and mantle harzburgite
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
Supplemental figures
11. Site CM2: crust-mantle transition zone and into upper mantle
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
Supplemental figures
Science Theme 2: fluid and mass exchange
12. Introduction to Science Theme 2: fluid and mass exchange
PDF
13. Site BT1: fluid and mass exchange on a subduction zone plate boundary
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
Science Theme 3: multi-borehole observatory
14. Introduction to Science Theme 3: multi-borehole observatory
PDF
Tables
15. Site BA1
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
17. Site BA3
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
18. Site BA4
PDF
Tables
Supplemental tables
Visual core descriptions
Graphic summary reports (VCD). Additional Supplementary material includes E_Tabulated VCD data, K1_On-site curation and description, and K2_On-site igneous unit summaries.
Site GT1 · Site GT2 · Site GT3
Site CM1 · Site CM2 · Site BT1
Site BA1 · Site BA3 · Site BA4
Images
Core table images (3.7 GB). Additional Supplementary material (below) includes C_Close-up photographs, D1_Whole thin section images, D2_Photomicrographs, D3_BSE images, G_XCT data, I1_Split core images, K4_On-site 360 DMT core scans, K5_On-site DMT box scans, and K6_On-site tablet photos.
Site GT1 · Site GT2 · Site GT3
Site CM1 · Site CM2 · Site BT1
Site BA1 · Site BA3 · Site BA4
Supplementary material
A_Visual core description (2.0 GB)
B_Thin_section_descriptions (70 MB)
C_Close-up_photographs (6.7 GB)
D1_Whole_thin_section_images (84.7 GB)
D2_Photomicrographs (6.8 GB)
D3_BSE images (BT1B) (33 GB)
E_Tabulated_VCD_data (51 MB)
F1_XRF_recalibration (1.1 MB)
F2_Core scanning XRF (1160 GB)
F2A_Core scanning XRF (BT1B) (143 MB)
F3_XRD_data (1 GB)
G_XCT data (0.7 GB)
H_Whole-round_MSCL_data (325 MB)
I_Split core images (56.9 GB)
J_Split-core_MSCL_data (400 MB)
K1_On-site curation and section unit descriptions (5 MB)
K2_On-site igneous unit summaries (1 MB)
K3_On-site core-section sketches (10 GB)
K4_On-site 360 DMT core scans (174 GB)
K4A_On-site 360 DMT compilations
K5_On-site DMT box scans (147 GB)
K6_On-site tablet photos (21.2 GB)
L_Wireline logging (5 GB)
Z_Virtual polarized thin sections (87.4 GB)
Oman Drilling Project science team
Phase 1
Onsite drilling team
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Damon.Teagle@southampton.ac.uk
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
michelle.harris@plymouth.ac.uk
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques (CRPG)
Department of Geosciences, CRPG-CNRS
Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel
Department of Géosciences, CNRS
benoit.ildefonse@umontpellier.fr
Department of Applied Geosciences
German University of Technology in Oman
koepke@mineralogie.uni-hannover.de
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
louise.koornneef@plymouth.ac.uk
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences
University of California, Los Angeles
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Department of Geological Sciences
Department of Geosciences, CNRS
Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
University of British Columbia
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Onsite wireline logging team
Jürg M. Matter
Project Director
School of Ocean and Earth Science
University of Southampton
United Kingdom
Philippe A. Pezard
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Philippe.Pezard@GM.Uni-Montp2.Fr
Mohamed-Amine Bechkit
Houari Boumedienne University
Algiers, Algeria
Mohamed-Amine.Bechkit@hotmail.fr
Laurent Brun
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Bernard Célérier
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Bernard.Celerier@gm.univ-montp2.fr
Gilles Henry
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Gilles.henry@gm.univ-montp2.fr
Jehanne Paris
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Gérard Lods
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Pascal Robert
GeoRessources
Université de Lorraine, Nancy
France
pascal.robert@univ-lorraine.fr
Salim Al Amri
Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources
Sultanate of Oman
Mohsin Al Shukaili
Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resource
Sultanate of Oman
Ali Al Qassabi
Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources
Sultanate of Oman
Kyaw Moe
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering
Japan
Yasu Yamada
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering
ChikyuOman 2017 description team
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Damon.Teagle@southampton.ac.uk
takazawa@geo.sc.niigata-u.ac.jp
Alteration Lead/Staff Scientist/Co-Chief Scientist
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
michelle.harris@plymouth.ac.uk
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Oman Staff Scientist/Alteration
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
Geological Survey and Research
Surface and Groundwater Assessment
Surface and Groundwater Assessment
andreas.beinlich@curtin.edu.au
School of Earth and Ocean Science
Department of Petrology, CRPG-CNRS
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
elliot.carter@manchester.ac.uk
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Department of Geological Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita
Joëlle D’Andres (was Ducommun)
Research School of Earth Sciences
Australian National University
Department of Geography and Geology
University of Southern Mississippi
Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics
Department of Géosciences, CNRS
Marguerite.Godard@umontpellier.fr
Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences
California Institute of Technology
Research Institute of Geology and Geoinformation
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science
kohei-hatakeyama@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Graduate School of International Resource Sciences
Department of Géosciences, CNRS
benoit.ildefonse@umontpellier.fr
Graduate school of Science and Technology
f17e061a@mail.cc.niigata-u.ac.jp
Department of Applied Geoscience
German University of Technology in Oman
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Structural Geology, Tectonics and Geomechanics
michael.kettermann@emr.rwth-aachen.de
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
koepke@mineralogie.uni-hannover.de
Graduate School of International Resource Sciences
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
louise.koornneef@plymouth.ac.uk
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
School of Earth and Space Exploration
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences
University of California, Los Angeles
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research
Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies
School of Natural Science and Technology
sesumin@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.j p
Structural Geology Tectonics and Geomechanics
Deep Earth Structure and Dynamics Research
Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
University of British Columbia
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Phase 2
Onsite drilling team
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Damon.Teagle@southampton.ac.uk
School of Ocean and Earth Science
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Grace.Andrews@southampton.ac.uk
Department of Mineralogy and Environments
Institut des Sciences de la Terre
anne-line.auzende@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
Department of Geological Sciences
Géosciences Environment Toulouse, CNRS
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS
georges.ceuleneer@get.obs-mip.fr
Department of Natural History Science
sayantani.chatterjee89@gmail.com
Scienze della Terra Dell’Ambiente e della Vita
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Department of Geological Sciences
University of Colorado - Boulder
Department of Economic Geology
School of Ocean and Earth Sciences
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Petrology-Geochemistry-Geochronology
Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences
Department of Géosciences, CNRS
Marguerite.Godard@umontpellier.fr
jmguotana@stu.kanazawa-u-ac.jp
Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science
kohei-hatakeyama@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
ICDP Operational Support Group
German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ
Graduate School of Science and Technology
f17e061a@mail.cc.niigata-u.ac.jp
Physics of Geological Processes
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques
Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques
koepke@mineralogie.uni-hannover.de
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
morii.daisuke.15@shizuoka.ac.jp
Department of Geological Sciences
Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita
Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research
National Institute of Geological Sciences
Department of Geosciences, CNRS
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques
Department of Geological Sciences
University of Colorado at Boulder
Geosciences Environment Toulouse Laboratory
mathieu.rospabe@get.obs-mip.fr
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies
Civil and Environmental Engineering
takazawa@geo.sc.niigata-u.ac.jp
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
Department of Geological Sciences
University of Maryland, College Park
Onsite wireline logging team
Jürg M. Matter
Project Director
School of Ocean and Earth Science
University of Southampton
United Kingdom
Philippe A. Pezard
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Philippe.Pezard@GM.Uni-Montp2.Fr
Kyaw Moe
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering
Japan
Yasu Yamada
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering
Mohamed-Amine Bechkit
Houari Boumedienne University
Algiers, Algeria
Mohamed-Amine.Bechkit@hotmail.fr
Laurent Brun
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Bernard Célérier
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Bernard.Celerier@gm.univ-montp2.fr
Gilles Henry
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Gilles.henry@gm.univ-montp2.fr
Jehanne Paris
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Gérard Lods
Geoscience Montpellier, CNRS
University of Montpellier
France
Salim Al Amri
Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources
Sultanate of Oman
Mohsin Al Shukaili
Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources
Sultanate of Oman
ChikyuOman 2018 description team
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Science
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Damon.Teagle@southampton.ac.uk
takazawa@geo.sc.niigata-u.ac.jp
Department of Géosciences, CNRS
Marguerite.Godard@umontpellier.fr
School of Ocean and Earth Science
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
American Museum of Natural History
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science
Department of Applied Geoscience
German University of Technology in Oman
Geological Research and Heritage Department
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
California Institute of Technology
Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
samuel.barbier@etu.univ-lyon1.fr
Scienze della Terra dell'Ambiante e della Vita
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
elliot.carter@manchester.ac.uk
Department of Natural History Science
sayantani.chatterjee89@gmail.com
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
California Institute of Technology
Department of Economic Geology
School of Ocean and Earth Sciences
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Petrology-Geochemistry-Geochronology
Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Department of Earth and Environmental Science
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences
California Institute of Technology
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
jmguotana@stu.kanazawa-u-ac.jp
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
German Research Centre for Geosciences
Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science
kohei-hatakeyama@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
German Research Centre for Geosciences
ichiyamay@earth.s.chiba-u.ac.jp
Graduate School of Science and Technology
f17e061a@mail.cc.niigata-u.ac.jp
Physics of Geological Processes
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Geosciences Environment Toulouse
University Paul Sabatier Toulouse III
mary-alix.kaczmarek@get.omp.eu
kakihata.yuki.17@shizuoka.ac.jp
Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science
Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science
Recherches Pétrographieques et Géochimiques
Department of Marine Chemistry and Geology
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
koepke@mineralogie.uni-hannover.de
Department of Stable Isotope Geochemistry
Institut de physique du globe de Paris
University of California Santa Barbara
Institut des Sciences de la Terre
Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra
Spanish National Research Council
R&D Center for Ocean Drilling Science
Graduate School of Environmental Studies
okamoto@mail.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp
Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research
Department of Solid Earth Geochemistry
School of Earth and Environment System
National Institute of Geological Sciences
Department of Geosciences, CNRS
Department of Natural History Science
Geosciences Environment Toulouse Laboratory
mathieu.rospabe@get.obs-mip.fr
Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies
aking826@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
National Institute of Geological Sciences
School of Earth and Space Exploration
State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution
Institute of Geology and Geophysics
Operational and technical support
Phase 1
Wireline diamond coring
Driller (GeoSolutions Engineering)
Site Geologist (Lalbuksh Voltas Engineering Services & Trading)
Site Manager (Lalbuksh Voltas Engineering Services & Trading)
Roughnecks (GeoSolutions Engineering)
Rotary drilling
(Hamoud Al-Rashidi & Bros. Trading)
Rock crushing
(University of Southampton)
OmanChikyu 2017 description
Phase 2
Wireline diamond coring
(Geosolutions Engineering)
Rotary drilling
(Lalbuksh Voltas Engineering Services & Trading)
Drilling Supervisor/Hydrogeologist
Rock crushing
(University of Southampton)
OmanChikyu 2018 description
Publications staff (IODP JRSO)*
Manager of Publication Services
Foreword
Funding
The Oman Drilling Project (OmanDP) has been undertaken by an international community of scientists from numerous countries and institutions. It has been possible through co-mingled funds from numerous agencies and institutions:
International Continental Scientific Drilling Project (ICDP; Kelemen, Matter, Teagle Lead PIs),
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Deep Carbon Observatory (Grant 2014-3-01, Kelemen PI),
National Science Foundation (Award NSF-EAR-1516300, Kelemen Lead PI),
NASA Astrobiology Institute (Award NNA15BB02A, Templeton PI),
German Research Foundation (DFG Grant KO 1723/21-1, Koepke PI),
Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS Awards 16H06347, Michibayashi PI; and KAKENHI 16H02742, Takazawa PI),
European Research Council (Adv Grant 669972; Jamveit PI),
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF Grant 20FI21-163073, Früh-Green PI),
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC),
International Ocean Discovery Program JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (IODP JRSO),
with important contributions from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), the Oman Public Authority of Mining, Sultan Qaboos University, Columbia University of New York (USA), and the University of Southampton (UK).
Disclaimer
Opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of the above listed supporting agencies.
Oman Drilling Project Management and Governance
The Oman Drilling Project is guided by a Project Steering Committee (PSC) comprising the lead principal investigators, specialist experts, and important liaisons with national and international bodies such as MRMWR, JAMSTEC, IODP, and ICDP.
Oman Drilling Project Steering Committee
Prof. Peter Kelemen (Columbia University, New York): Chief Scientist of the Oman Drilling Project; Chair PSC; Lead Principal Investigator on Oman Drilling Project
Prof. Juerg Matter (University of Southampton): Principal Investigator on Oman Drilling Project; Principal contact with ICDP; Principal liaison with Omani Government and other bodies; geophysical logging, physical properties measurements, and hydrology
Prof. Damon A.H. Teagle (University of Southampton): Principal Investigator on Oman Drilling Project, Vice Chair of PSC; Chair of the Sampling Oversight and Allocation Committee (SOAC)
Dr. Jude Coggon (University of Southampton): OmanDP Project Manager (2015-2019); logistics, personnel, website, organization, publications
Eng. Zaher Bin Khalid Al Sulaimani: In-Country Project Manager; Logistics and liaison in Oman
Eng. Said Al-Habsi (MRMWR, Sultanate of Oman): Chair of the Oman Drilling Committee (ODC)
Dr. Ali Al Rajhi (Public Authority for Mining, Sultanante of Oman): Permitting and government liason in Oman
Prof. Alexis Templeton (Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, USA): Biogeochemical and microbiological sampling and borehole incubation experiments
Dr. Marguerite Godard (Directrice de Recherche, CNRS, Universit de Montpellier, France): Geochemical and isotopic analyses of rock samples
Prof. David Goldberg (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, USA): Geophysical logging and borehole packer testing
Dr. Benoit Ildefonse (Directeur de Recherche, CNRS, Universit de Montpellier, France): Outreach; liaison with IODP
Prof. Jürgen Koepke (Leibniz Universitaet, Germany): Petrology of igneous and high-T metamorphic rocks from the lower crust and mantle
Prof. Chris MacLeod (School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, UK): Structural and petrological work on igneous and high-T metamorphic rocks in the middle crust and sheeted dikes
Prof. Craig Manning (Department of Earth & Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, USA): Analyses of low-T metamorphic rocks
Prof. Katsuyoshi Michibayashi (Nagoya University, Japan): Structural analyses of igneous and high-T metamorphic rocks from the lower crust and upper mantle
Dr. Jay Miller (IODP Manager of Technical & Analytical Services, Texas A&M University, USA): Core logging; publication of Initial Report; other liaison with IODP personnel
Prof. Sobhi Nasir (Head, Department of Geology, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman): Participation of undergraduates and graduate students from Oman
Prof. Matthew Shrenk (Michigan State University, USA): Biogeological sampling and borehole incubation experiments
Prof. Everett Shock (Arizona State University, USA): Water and gas sampling and analysis
Prof. Eiichi Takazawa (Niigata University, Japan): Detailed site selection and associated surface mapping and sampling
Day-to-day decisions were made by a Core Team comprising the Chief Scientist and Chair of the PSC (Kelemen), the Oman DP Project Director and Manager (Matter and Coggon, respectively), Mr. Zaher al Sulaimani of the Oman Water Society, and the Vice-Chair of the PSC and Chair of the Sample Oversight and Allocation Committee (Teagle).
Oman Drilling Committee
The Oman Drilling Committee (ODC) was established by representatives of the major stakeholders in the Sultanate of Oman with interests in the Oman Drilling Project. The role of the ODC is to provide independent advice and assist with the drilling permitting processes and other matters. The membership comes from a range of Omani government organizations and Sultan Qaboos University:
Eng. Said Al-Habsi (Chair): MRMWR
Dr. Rashid Al-Abri (Co-Chair): MRMWR
Eng. Salim Al-Khanbashi: MRMWR
Dr. Ali Al-Rajahi: Public Authority for Mining
Prof. Sobhi Nasir: Sultan Qaboos University
Ibrahim Al Ajmi (Director General for Climate Affairs): Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs
ChikyuOman 2017 Decision-Making Team
The Oman Drilling Project Phase 1 drill cores were described and analyzed onboard the JAMSTEC Drilling Vessel Chikyu from 15 July to 15 September 2017 (ChikyuOman2017). For these shipboard activities aboard Chikyu a Decision-Making Team (DMT) was established for effective decision making and sharing of information between the OmanDP PSC, the shipboard Co-Chiefs, Staff Scientists, the wider Science party, and the Center for Deep Earth Exploration (CDEX) Laboratory Managers. When wider discussion was required, for example budget-related issues, the DMT shared information with a broader constituency including the OmanDP PSC, ODS group leaders, and JAMSTEC administrators. Oversight of data and sampling will remain the responsibility of the OmanDP Sample Oversight and Allocation Committee (SOAC) but with refined procedures to approve and facilitate shipboard and personal sample requests (see below).
Membership of the ChikyuOman2017 Phase 1 Decision Making Team (DMT):
Prof. Damon Teagle, Co-Chief Scientist (Part A)
Prof. Eiichi Takazawa, Co-Chief Scientist (Part A)
Prof. Peter Kelemen, Co-Chief Scientist (Parts A and B)
Prof. Katzu Michibayashi, Co-Chief Scientist (Part B)
Dr. Michelle Harris, Staff Scientist (Site BT1)/Co-Chief Scientist (Site GT3)
Dr. Jude Coggon, Staff Scientist (Part A)
Dr. Natsue Abe, Staff Scientist (Parts A and B)
Mr. Juan Carlos de Obeso, Staff Scientist (Part B, Site GT3)
Ms. Chiaki Igarashi, Administration and CDEX Laboratory Manager
Dr. Akihiro Tamura, ChikyuOman2017 Project Manager
ChikyuOman 2018 Decision-Making Team
The Oman Drilling Project Phase 2 drill cores were described and analyzed onboard the JAMSTEC Drilling Vessel Chikyu from 5 July to 5 September 2018, ChikyuOman2018. For these shipboard activities aboard Chikyu a second DMT was established for effective decision making and sharing of information between the OmanDP PSC, the shipboard Co-Chiefs, Staff Scientists, the wider Science party, and the CDEX Laboratory Managers. When wider discussions were required, for example budget related issues, the DMT shared information with a broader constituency including the OmanDP PSC, ODS group leaders, and JAMSTEC administrators. Oversight of data and sampling will remain the responsibility of the OmanDP SOAC but with refined procedures to approve and facilitate shipboard and personal sample requests (see below).
Membership of the OmanChikyu 2018 Decision Making Team (DMT):
Prof. Damon Teagle, Co-Chief Scientist (Part A)
Prof. Eiichi Takazawa, Co-Chief Scientist (Part A)
Prof. Peter Kelemen, Co-Chief Scientist (Parts A and B)
Prof. Katzu Michibayashi, Co-Chief Scientist (Part B)
Dr. Margot Godard, Co-Chief Scientist (Part B)
Dr. Jude Coggon, Staff Scientist (Part A)
Ms. Saebyul Choe, Staff Scientist (Parts A and B)
Dr. Natsue Abe, JAMSTEC liaison
Ms. Chiaki Igarashi, Administration and CDEX Laboratory Manager
Oman Drilling Project Sample, Data, and Obligations Policies
These policies were developed to ensure transparent access by scientists to Oman Drilling Project samples and data. They are closely related to and similar to established policies used by IODP and other ICDP projects. Scientists who received samples and access data incurred obligations on their use and reporting of the science outcomes from research based on these samples or data. The distribution and use of all cores, samples, and data fall under oversight of the OmanDP Sample Oversight and Allocation Committee (SOAC), a subgroup of the Project Steering Committee.
Oman Drilling Project Sample Oversight and Allocation Committee (SOAC)
Prof. Damon Teagle: Chair of OmanDP SOAC; Principal Investigator OmanDP
Prof. Peter Kelemen: Chief Scientist of the Oman DP; Chair of PSC
Dr. Marguerite Godard: Geochemistry; Co-Chief ChikyuOman2018
Prof. Sobhi Nasir: Representative of the Oman Drilling Committee, co-ordinating sample allocations for Omani institutions
Prof. Alexis Templeton: Waters, gases, microbiology
Dr. Jürg Matter: Logging and hydrogeological data
Prof. Eiichi Takazawa: Co-Chief ChikyuOman 2017 and 2018
Prof. Katsu Michibayashi: Co-Chief ChikyuOman 2017 and 2018
The goals of the Oman Drilling Project sample policies were to ensure the:
Availability of samples and data to Science Party members so they can fulfill the objectives of the drilling project and their responsibilities to the OmanDP;
Dissemination of the scientific findings of the Oman Drilling Project coring, logging, sampling, experimentation, and related activities to gain maximum scientific exposure and public engagement;
Scientific community has access to findings and, following the moratorium periods, data and samples to encourage scientific analyses over a wide range of research disciplines; and
Preservation of core and cuttings material as an archive for future description and observations, nondestructive analyses, and sampling.
Sample and Data Requests
There are two classes of sample requesters: Members of the Science Party and Post-Moratorium Researchers. Both groups incur their own particular obligation once a data or sample request has been approved and delivered.
The Moratorium Period is defined as two and a half years following the end of the description of the cores. The Oman Drilling Project will be divided into two Science Parties relating to the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Phases of operation. For Phase 1 of the OmanDP the moratorium period will be from September 2017 until the end of February 2020. For Phase 2 of the OmanDP the moratorium period will be from September 2018 until the end of February 2021. To submit a sample/data request you must be registered with OmanDP (via the application form). Membership of one phase does not necessarily ensure membership in the other Science Party unless certain criteria are fulfilled. For example, membership of the OmanDP Phase 1 Science Party requires at least one of the following:
1) Participation on site during the Phase 1 drilling, sampling, logging, experiment operations, of OmanDP;
2) Contribution to the visual and/or instrumental logging of the Phase 1 Oman DP cores during ChikyuOman2017 (July-September, 2017); or
3) A financial contribution to Oman Drilling Project via one or more scientific research grants that provides funds for drilling operations and/or core logging onboard Chikyu.
In addition, the SOAC will also consider sample requests, on a case by case basis, from science groups who provide specific skills or approaches NOT provided by colleagues covered by 1, 2, and/or 3, above.
Personal sample requests are prioritized by the OmanDP SOAC. The SOAC encouraged a pooled sampling approach, as commonly used during IODP expeditions, to ensure that a comprehensive suite of geochemical, mineralogical, and physical properties measurements are made on a representative suite of shared samples/powders. The SOAC also encouraged boutique isotopic and other geochemical measurements to be initially undertaken on the well-characterized pool samples.
Post-moratorium researchers are those who submit sample and data requests after the specific OmanDP Phase moratorium period ends. Sample applications by educators and outreach institutions are also considered on a case-by-case basis.
All data and observations produced from the on-site drilling and logging phases and shipboard activities of the Oman Drilling Project will be published in this open access volume akin to the IODP Expedition Reports following the moratorium period. During the moratorium period, data and samples will be restricted to the Science Party of that phase of the OmanDP.
Requests for data or samples must be made through official OmanDP processes and use the OmanDP sample request form. These requests will be assessed by the SOAC and accepted, refined, combined, or rejected to ensure the best scientific outcomes. Core samples were generally only taken during the core logging activities (in 2017 onboard Chikyu) in a series of sampling meetings immediately following the description of each hole. To oversee these sampling events the SOAC delegated specific sample allocation to a shipboard team comprising the Co-Chief Scientists and Staff Scientists with assistance from the Curator. These teams resolved conflicts and ensured a fair and efficient distribution of samples. All sample request conflicts were resolved aboard.
Obligations for Members of the OmanDP Science Parties receiving Samples and/or Data
All members of the OmanDP Science Parties who receive samples or data incurr obligations to conduct research during the moratorium period and publish their data and results in an English language peer-reviewed scientific journal or a peer-reviewed data report that will supplement the open access OmanDP Initial Reports, within 48 months of the core description campaign. Failure to meet these obligations may result in the rejection of future sample requests and may influence participation in other aspects of the Oman Drilling Project.
All publications arising from the OmanDP operations must acknowledge the Oman Drilling Project using a modified version of the following wording:
This research used samples and/or data provided by the Oman Drilling Project. The Oman Drilling Project (OmanDP) was made possible through co-mingled funds from the International Continental Scientific Drilling Project (ICDP; Kelemen, Matter, Teagle Lead PIs), the Sloan Foundation Deep Carbon Observatory (Grant 2014-3-01, Kelemen PI), the National Science Foundation (Award NSF-EAR-1516300, Kelemen lead PI), NASA Astrobiology Institute (Award NNA15BB02A, Templeton PI), the German Research Foundation (DFG Grant KO 1723/21-1, Koepke PI), the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS grants 16H06347, Michibayashi PI; and KAKENHI 16H02742, Takazawa PI), the European Research Council (Adv grant 669972; Jamveit PI), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF grant 20FI21_163073, Früh-Green PI), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), the International Ocean Discovery Program JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (IODP JRSO), and contributions from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, the Oman Public Authority of Mining, Sultan Qaboos University, CNRS-Université Montpellier (France), Columbia University of New York (USA), and the University of Southampton (UK).
Publications should include the words Oman Drilling Project as keywords provided to the journal or book published of the manuscript.
Authors should send a PDF copy of the manuscript to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the OmanDP Project Steering Committee and the Project Director (Kelemen, Teagle, and Matter, respectively).
All data generated should be made openly available and either lodged in the OmanDP Proceedings Volume supplements as data reports or archived in an open access data repository (e.g., PetDP).
Authors wishing to publish scientific papers within the Moratorium Period must receive prior approval in writing by a majority of the scientific party and the support of the OmanDP Project Steering Committee. This approval will be coordinated by the OmanDP Project Manager, who will circulate the manuscript among the scientific party, tabulate responses, and notify the author of the scientific party’s decision. Unless specifically agreed, all publications within the Moratorium period must include the Oman Drilling Project Science Team in the authorship.
Acknowledgments
The Oman Drilling Project has received essential assistance from hundreds of volunteers, many of whom covered their own travel expenses as well as providing weeks to months of their time and effort without compensation. We are very grateful for this exceptional community effort.
The In-Country Manager of the Oman Drilling Project is Eng. Zaher Al Sulaimani, Director of the Oman Water Centre. It is likely that the Oman Drilling Project would not have succeeded without his wise guidance. We also thank his son, Mazin Al Sulaimani, for able and efficient assistance with logistics. Eng. Nehal Warsi served as Site Geologist, our dedicated and reliable representative, every day of drilling for two seasons (7 months in total) and also volunteered a month of his time to help with core description on board the Drilling Vessel Chikyu.
Funding for the Oman Drilling Project was generously provided by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Sloan Foundation Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO), the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Research Council (ERC), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). We are particularly grateful for advice from Dr. Uli Harms of ICDP, for support from JAMSTEC President Dr. Asahiko Taira, and for extensive assistance with proposal preparation from Dr. Nobu Eguchi at JAMSTEC. Special thanks also go to Jesse Ausubel of the Sloan Foundation Deep Carbon Observatory and Dr. Leonard Johnson and Dr. Dennis Geist of the US NSF.
In-kind and administrative support for the Oman Drilling Project in Oman was kindly provided by personnel at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (especially His Excellency Minister Dr. Ahmed Al Shili, Eng. Said Al Habsi, Director General of Water Resources Assessment, Eng. Salim Al Khanbashi, Director General of Surface & Groundwater Assessment, Dr. Rashid Al Abri, Eng. Nasser Mohammed Nasser Al Batashi, Eng. Haider Ahmed Mohammed Alajmi, Mohsin Al Shukaili, Ali Al Shukaili, Eng. Abdullah Al Kasbi, Said Al Mangi, and Suleiman Al Mangi), the Public Authority for Mining (especially Dr. Ali Al Rajhi, Director General of Research & Geological Surveys, Mohamed Al Batashi, and Mohamed Al Araimi), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (especially His Excellency Minister Dr. Mohammed Al Toobi), the faculty of Sultan Qaboos University (especially Prof. Sobhi Nasir, Her Excellency Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Rahma Al Mahrooqi, His Excellency Vice Chancellor Prof. Ali Al Bemani, Prof. Osman Abdalla, Dr. Issa El-Hussain, and Majid Al-Saifi), the faculty of the German University of Technology in Oman (especially Heads of the Dept. of Applied Geosciences, Prof. Michaela Bernecker and Prof. Willfried Bauer and faculty members Dr. Ana Jesus and Dr. Ekkehard Holzbecher), and Petroleum Development Oman (especially Geosolutions Manager Dr. Hisham Al Siyabi and XGL Dr. Hamad Al Shuaily).
Special thanks go to Dr. Uli Harms and the ICDP Operational Support Team: Dr. Ronald Conze, Dr. Thomas Gorgas, Dr. Tanja Hörner, and Dr. Thomas Wiersberg for their assistance in and valuable advice in designing and setting up the drill site core logging protocols and for being available at all hours of the day and night to help us to solve problems and ensure smooth drill site operations.
We worked with several drilling contractors in Oman. We particularly thank GeoSolutions Engineering, owned and operated by Managing Director Sultan Al Saadi, who is assisted by the exceptionally able Driller Shaikh Oliullah (Wali) and by Geologist Abdul Rasak Tharayil. Their attention to quality and efficiency were above and beyond the call of duty and resulted in timely acquisition of 3200 meters of core with 100% recovery.
During core description onboard Drilling Vessel (D/V) Chikyu, we were ably assisted by the ship’s crew and technical staff. We particularly thank President Dr. Asahiko Taira, Dr. Kyoshi Suyehiro, Dr. Nobu Eguchi, Director of the Science Services Department, Center for Deep Earth Exploration (CDEX), Chikyu Laboratory Managers Dr. Lena Maeda and Dr. Yusuke Kubo, shore-based Expedition Manager Dr. Chiaki Igarashi, and Ms. Maya Takebayashi Noguchi at JAMSTEC.
We thank Dr. Jay Miller and Dr. Brad Clement at IODP JRSO at Texas A&M University (TAMU) for their advice and assistance in planning and organizing logistics and protocols for shipboard core description. In addition, Shana Lewis, Rhonda Kappler, Jean Wulfson, and Phil Rumford kindly joined us onboard D/V Chikyu to provide publications and curation support, and Lorri Peters and her team at JRSO TAMU worked extremely hard to edit and produce this volume.
Among the scientists involved with the Oman Drilling Project, a few deserve special thanks here. Project Manager Dr. Jude Coggon and Project Director Prof. Jürg Matter did an amazing, exceptional job of managing logistics, arranging contracts, and supervising operations in the field and during core description. Niigata University Prof. Eiichi Takazawa and his students found and mapped the drill sites at the crust-mantle transition zone. Nagoya University Prof. Katsu Michibayashi provided his own research funds to enable core description onboard D/V Chikyu in summer 2017. Katsu and Eiichi, together with Dr. Natsue Abe of JAMSTEC, Dr. Jude Coggon, and Prof. Damon Teagle of Southampton University, Dr. Marguerite Godard of the University of Montpellier, Dr. Michelle Harris of Plymouth University, and Prof. Peter Kelemen and graduate student Juan Carlos de Obeso of Columbia University, served as Co-Chief Scientists and Staff Scientists onboard D/V Chikyu. Prof. Alexis Templeton, Dr. Eric Ellison, and graduate student Katy Rempfert from the University of Colorado built and operated the biogeoscience laboratory on the drill site in January 2018.
Dedication
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said
18 November 1940–10 January 2020
Sultan of Oman, 23 July 1970–10 January 2020
The Oman Drilling Project, the results within this volume and our future scientific outcomes are dedicated to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.
نتشرف بأن نهدي أعمال مشروع الحفر في سلطنة عمان، والنتائج المنشورة في هذا الإصدار، وكذلك الاستنتاجات العلمية التي سنخرج بها مستقبلا، لروح المغفور له باذن الله صاحب الجلالة السلطان قابوس بن سعيد بن تيمور ال سعيد - طيب الله ثراه - .
Sultan Qaboos recognized the importance of the unique geology of Oman to his country and the great role that science can play in the development of peace and prosperity. He was instrumental in opening up Oman to national and international scientific collaborations that, together with the warm welcome of the people of Oman, have allowed the mountains of the Samail Ophiolite to become one of the world’s most iconic geological terrains.