A REVIEW OF THE CRETACEOUS FORMATIONS IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA AND GULF: PART I. LOWER CRETACEOUS (THAMAMA GROUP) STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOGEOGRAPHY

This paper is a review of the standard stratigraphic column accepted by many workers for the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian‐Aptian) of the Arabian Gulf. Type sections, synonymy and summary paleontological details are included. A historical introduction provides an explanation of the profusion of formational and member names. The observed fades variation in the region, both vertical and lateral, can best be understood in terms of the migration of predominantly shallow water carbonate facies‐belts across a shelf. Two, predominantly carbonate, cycles can be recognised, with the maximum development of the marginal clastic fades occurring within the upper cycle.