Late Middle Eocene Dammam Formation paleofacies study, UAE-Oman border: Bartonian age based on new occurrence of Nummulites hottingeri, a new subgroup of N. partschi group

The Middle Eocene Dammam Formation carbonates in the Saa area near the UAE-Oman border are divided into two lithofacies: grainstones and wackestones/packstones. The grainstones contain a new occurrence of N. hottingeri, a new subgroup of the N. partschi group along with Dictyoconides sp. benthic larger foraminifera, fragmented echinoids, algae, bryozoans, corals molluscs, bivalves and gastropods. The wackestones/packstones contain benthic foraminifera, miliolids, nummulites, ostracods, algae and many peloids. The ambient environment was intermediate depth marine. The grainstones were transported from shallow water areas into the deeper water, as olistostromes. The Saa carbonates are SBZ17 (Bartonian) age, based on the presence of N. hottingeri. The Saa section shares features of both the Priabonian calcarenites and Lutetian-Bartonian marly limestones of the Dammam Formation at the well-studied Gebel Hafit section, 25 km to the west. The Saa section complements the stratigraphic description of the Dammam Formation, representing a sequence that is poorly exposed at Gebel Hafit.