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Department of Geology, University of Kuwait, and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait

ABSTRACT

Gabbroic rocks constitute a main unit of Oman ophiolites. They are dominantly layered. In the area northwest of Al-Fujairah, three types of layering are recognised, namely layering with sharply defined phase contacts, continuous mineral graded layering and normal mineral graded layering. Late deformation of the layers by folding is common. An explanation of the origin of layers is given. They were caused by two factors: the differential settling of pyroxene and/or olivine relative to plagioclase, and the crystallization behaviour of the melt.