The Semail Ophiolite in the Hajar Mountains of Oman is world-famous in geology for which reason?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Exposed section of oceanic crust and upper mantle obducted onto land

  1. Step 1: The Semail Ophiolite (Oman Ophiolite) was obducted onto the Arabian continental margin during the Late Cretaceous.
  2. Step 2: It is globally recognized by earth scientists as the premier exposed terrestrial cross-section of oceanic lithosphere, including basalt, sheeted dykes, gabbro, and peridotite.
Answer
Exposed section of oceanic crust and upper mantle obducted onto land.
Why not the others: 'It contains the world's deepest active volcanic magma chamber' is false because the ophiolite is an ancient obducted slab, not an active volcano; 'It holds the oldest fossilized multicellular animal skeletons' refers to Ediacaran deposits in Canada/Australia; 'It represents an intact continental rift valley formed by glaciers' confuses oceanic obduction with glacial rifting.

Practise more Hajar Mountains, Musandam Fjords, Coasts and Desert Topography.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed General Knowledge (Oman) mock tests.

All Hajar Mountains, Musandam Fjords, Coasts and Desert Topography questionsTake a mock test

More Hajar Mountains, Musandam Fjords, Coasts and Desert Topography questions