What unique geological feature makes the Hajar Mountains and the Semail Ophiolite of Oman of extraordinary global significance to geologists?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. The world's best-exposed and largest slice of obducted oceanic crust and mantle

  1. Step 1: The Semail Ophiolite in the Hajar Mountains of Oman is approximately 500 km long and up to 5 km thick.
  2. Step 2: During the late Cretaceous (approx. 95 million years ago), tectonic compression thrust this slab of oceanic crust and upper mantle onto the continental margin (obduction).
  3. Step 3: Because it was preserved without metamorphism, it provides earth scientists with an exposed natural cross-section of the Earth's oceanic lithosphere and mantle peridotite.
Answer
The world's best-exposed and largest slice of obducted oceanic crust and mantle.
Why not the others: It is not an active rift arc; it is Cretaceous oceanic crust, not Archean granite; Oman has no Permian Antarctic moraines.

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