Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geological assessment of the Neom mega-project area, northwestern Saudi Arabia: an integrated approach

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Neom mega-project area is located on the northwestern Arabian Plate and is associated with the Red Sea divergence and the Gulf of Aqaba-Dead Sea transform boundary. The study area is controlled by numerous major regional tectonic features including the Red Sea, Gulf of Suez, the Gulf of Aqaba-Dead Sea fault system, and a large number of recorded earthquakes. Evaluation of the tectonic framework of the Neom mega-project is important because of its economic and developmental significance. Here, geological, geophysical, field investigation, and seismological data were integrated to achieve these aims. The sinistral strike-slip regime of the study area involves extensional structures including normal faults and horizontal shear zones of vertical planes. In the Aqaba-Dead Sea faults, the left-lateral transform fault system is sharply expressed along the Wadi courses cutting into Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks. The historical and instrumental seismicity data collected and processed illustrates a good association with the general tectonic trends affecting the Neom area. Moreover, the Gulf of Aqaba region remains the most active seismotectonic source zone affecting northwest Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba region, with three big earthquake swarms recorded in 1983, 1993, and 1995.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahadov B, Jin S (2017) Present-day kinematics in the Eastern Mediterranean and Caucasus from dense GPS observations. Phys Earth Planet Inter 268:54–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al Shamarani MM (2013) Influence of rift tectonics on the stratigraphy at Maqna area, northwestern Saudi Arabia. Master Thesis, Geology and Geophysics Dept., King Saud University

  • Al-Arifil NS, Fat-Helbary RE, Khalil AR, Lashin AA (2013) A new evaluation of seismic hazard for the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia. Nat Hazards 69:1435–1457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Besher ZI (2013) Seismic hazard assessment for Tabuk city, NW Saudi Arabia. J Geosci Environ Protect 1:7–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-damegh KS, Abou Elenean KM, Hussein HM, Rodgers AJ (2009) Source mechanisms of the June 2004 Tabuk earthquake sequence, eastern Red Sea margin, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Seismol 13:561–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Tayyar JA, Al-Otaibi RH, Rowainy MN (1982) Reconnaissance geology of the Jabal al Lawz quadrangle, sheet 28/36 A. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources Open File Report DGMR-OF-02-15, p. 23

  • Ambraseys N, Melville P, Adams R (1994) The seismicity of Egypt, Arabia and the Red Sea, a historical review, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology. Cambridge University

  • ArRajehi A, McClusky S, Reilinger R, Daoud M, Alchalbi A, Ergintav S, Gomez F, Sholan J, Bou-Rabee F, Ogubazghi G, Haileab B, Fisseha S, Asfaw L, Mahmoud S, Rayan A, Bendik R, Kogan L (2010) Geodetic constraints on present-day motion of the Arabian Plate: implications for Red Sea and Gulf of Aden rifting. Tectonics 29:TC3011. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009TC002482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayer HJ, Hotzl H, Jado AR, Roscher B, Voggenreitter W (1988) Sedimentary and structural evolution of the northwest Arabian Red Sea margin. Tectonophysics 153:137–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Avraham Z, Garfunkel Z, Almagor G, Hall JH (1979) Continental breakup by a leaky transform: the Gulf of Elat (Aqaba). Science 206:214–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blank HR (1977) Aeromagnetic and geologic study of Tertiary dikes and related structures on the Arabian margin of the Red Sea, in Red Sea Research 1970–1975. Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources Bulletin 22:1–18

  • Bosworth W (1994) A model for the three-dimensional evolution of continental rift basins, north-east Africa. In: Schandelmeier H, Stern RJ (eds) Geology of northeast Africa (Part 2), Geologische Rundschau, vol 83, pp 671–688

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosworth W, Huchon H, Mcclay K (2005) The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden basins. J Afr Earth Sci 43:334–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu D, Gordon RG (1999) Evidence for motion between Nubia and Somalia along the Southwest Indian ridge. Nature 398:64–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark MD (1986) Explanatory notes to the geologic map of the Al Bad’ quadrangle, sheet 28A, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources Geoscience Map Series GM-81A, C, Scale 1:250,000, with text, p 46

  • Coleman RG (1993) Geologic evolution of the Red Sea Oxford monographs on geology and geophysics, vol 24. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 186

    Google Scholar 

  • Elawadi E, Haider Z, Awni B, Mogren S, Laboun A, Ghrefat H, Zumlot T (2013) Structural interpretation of the Ifal Basin in north-western Saudi Arabia from aeromagnetic data: hydrogeological and environmental implications. Explor Geophys 2013(44):251–263. https://doi.org/10.1071/EG12069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Isa Z, Shanti A (1989) Seismicity and tectonics of the Red Sea and Western Arabia. Geophys J R Astr Soc 97:449–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Isa ZH, Merghelani HM, Bazzari MA (1984) The Gulf of Aqaba earthquake swarm of 1983 January-April. Geophys J R Astron Soc 78:711–722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans AL (1988) Neogene tectonic and stratigraphic events in the Gulf of Suez rift area, Egypt. Tectonophysics 153:235–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freund R, Zak I, Garfunkel Z (1968) Age and rate of the sinistral movement along the Dead Sea rift. Nature 220:253–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freund R, Garfunkel Z, Zak I, Goldberg M, Weisbrod T, Derin B (1970) The shear along the Dead Sea rift. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A267:107–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghebreab W (1998) Tectonics of the Red Sea region reassessed. Earth Sci Rev 45:1–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guennoc P, Pautot G, Coutelle A (1988) Surflcial structures of the northern Red Sea axial valley from 23 degrees N to 28 degrees N: time and space evolution of neo-tectonic structures. Tectonophysics 153:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haq BU, Hardenbol J, Vail PR (1987) Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic. Science 235:1156–1167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrige JJ, Estevou P, Burollet PF, Montenat C, Prat P, Richert JP, Thiriet JP (1990) The multistage tectonic evolution of the Gulf of Suez and northern Red Sea continental rift from field observations. Tectonics 9:441–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klinger Y, Rivera L, Haessler H, Maurin J-C (1999) Active faulting in the Gulf of Aqaba: new knowledge from the Mw 7.3 earthquake of 22 November 1995. Bull Seismol Soc Am 89:1025–1036

    Google Scholar 

  • LePichon X, Francheteau J (1978) A plate tectonic analysis of the Red Sea- Gulf of Aden area. Tectonophysics 46:369–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LePichon X, Gaulier JM (1988) The rotation of Arabia and the Levant fault system. Tectonophysics 153:271–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClusky S, Reilinger R, Mahmoud S, Ben SD, Tealeb A (2003) GPS constraints on Africa (Nubia) and Arabia plate motions. Geophys J Int 155(1):126–138. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-246X.2003.02023.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie D, Davies D, Molnar P (1970) Plate tectonics of the Red Sea and East Africa. Nature 226:243–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mechie J, El-Isa ZH (1988) Upper lithospheric deformation in the Jordan-Dead Sea transform regime. Tectonophysics 153:153–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller PM, Barakat H (1988) Geology of the Safaga concession, northern Red Sea, Egypt. Tectonophysics 153:123–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motti E, Teixido L, Vazques-Lopez R, Vial A (1982) Maqna Massif area: geology and Mineralization. Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources Open File Report BRGM-OF-02-16, p 44

  • Naylor MA, Mandl G, Sijpesteijn CHK (1986) Fault geometries in basement-induced wrench faulting under different initial stress states. J Struct Geol 8:737–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quennell A (1958) The structure and evolution of the Dead Sea rift. Quat J Geol Soc 64:1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay CR, Drysdall AR, Clark MD (1985) Felsic plutonic rocks of the Midyan region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pt. 1: distribution, classification and resources potential. In: Drysdall AR, Ramsay CR, Stoeser DB (eds) Felsic plutonic rocks and associated mineralization of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, vol 29. Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources Bulletin, pp 63–77

  • Richardson M, Arthur MA (1988) The Gulf of Suez-northern Red Sea Neogene rift: a quantitive basin analysis. Mar Petrol Geol 5:247–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roobol MJ, Stewart ICF (2018) Cenozoic faults and seismicity in northwest Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba region. In: Rasul NMA, Stewart ICF (eds) Geological Setting, Palaeoenvironment and Archaeology of the Red Sea. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99408-6_13

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Roobol MJ, Al-Rehaili M, Arab N, Celebi M, Halawani MA, Janjou D, Kazi A, Martin C, Sahl M, Showail A (1999) The Gulf of Aqaba earthquake of 22 November, 1995: its effects in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources Technical Report BRGM-TR-99-16, 67 p 49 figs, 4 tables, 1 app

  • Tewflk N, Ayyad M (1984) Petroleum exploration in the Red Sea shelf of Egypt proceedings of the 6th exploration seminar: March, Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Egypt Petroleum Exploration Society, Cairo, 1:159–180

  • Tubbs RE, Fouda HGA, Afifi AM, Raterman NS, Hughes GTW, Fadolalkarem YK (2014) Midyan Peninsula, northern Red Sea, Saudi Arabia: seismic imaging and regional interpretation. GeoArabia 19(3):165–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Wescott WA, Krebs WN, Dolson JC, Ramzy M, Karamat SA, Moustafa T (1997) Chronostratigraphy, sedimentary facies, and architecture of tectonostratigraphic sequences: an integrated approach to rift basin exploration, Gulf of Suez, Egypt. In: Shanley KW, Perkins BF (eds), Gulf Coast Section SEPM Foundation 18th Annual Research Conference, Shallow Marine and Nonmarine Reservoirs, December 7–10, 1997, p 377–399

  • Younes AI, McClay KR (2002) Development of accommodation zones in the Gulf of Suez-Red Sea rift, Egypt. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 86:1003–1026

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author thanks the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions and constructive comments.

Funding

This work was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University through the Research Group No. (RG-1438-059).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology and Geophysics Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ali Y. Kahal

Authors
  1. Ali Y. Kahal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Y. Kahal.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: François Roure

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kahal, A.Y. Geological assessment of the Neom mega-project area, northwestern Saudi Arabia: an integrated approach. Arab J Geosci 13, 345 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05345-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05345-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation