Geographic Inheritance

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Geology: United Arab Emirates




This simplified geological map shows the distribution of sediments and rocks occurring at the land surface and in the near-shore shallow marine environments of the United Arab Emirates. The units are broadly divided into two groups: autochthonous units and allochthonous units.

Autochthonous units are sediments and rocks that have remained within their area of original formation; such rocks are typically geologically recent.

Allochthonous units, in contrast, are rocks that have been transported away from their place of formation; typically these rocks are older. Inland areas are dominated by Quaternary aeolian sand dunes and interspersed with desert plain deposits while the near-shore marine environments are largely made up of delta or shoal deposits.