Diamond potentiality in the kimberlites of the Batain Nappes, Eastern Oman
Project Code:
Funds:
Funding Source:
Start Date:
Duration:
Team Members:
(SR/SCI/ETHS/06/01)
50,000 OMR
His Majesty’s Trust Fund
02 May 2006
3 years
Researchers
Dr. Sobhi Jaber Nasir (PI)
Dr. Salah Al-Khirbash
Dr. Hugh Rollinson
Dr. Abdulrhaman Ali Al-Harthy
Dr. Abdulrazak Sediq Al-Sayigh
Dr. Ali Ibrahim Lazki
Dr. Mubarik Ali Ali
Research Assistants
Mr. Hamdan Seif Al-Zidi
Mr. Seif Amer Al-Mamari
Graduate Students
Mr. Abdullah Said Al-Hakamani
Mr. Seif Al-Amri
Mr. Mohamed Said Al-Hakamani
Mr. Ahmed Al-Ghanbusi
Mr Younis Rashid Al-Habsi
Consultants
Prof. Hans-Joachim Massone
Dr. Thomas Theye
Dr. Felix Kaminsky
Executive Summary
Objectives
The only known economically significant primary sources of diamond are kimberlites and some
carbonatites. The presence of diamonds in a kimberlite can only be determined with confidence by
the collection and processing of a large and representative sample. The present project aims to
assess the potential of the kimberlites to yield diamond and the potential of carbonatites to yield
REE and P. The two principal objectives are
Phase I: Potentiality of diamond in the kimberlite :
Phase II: Further exploration, mapping , sampling and detailed petrological investigations to look
for urther localities where similar rocks should be sought within the Oman Mountains
Methods
The two principal methods used in prospecting for kimberlites are sampling for soil, rocks and
resistant (indicator) minerals and a number of geophysical techniques. Exploration will enable
target selection, sampling for microdiamonds, drilling and evaluation as well as interpretation of
aerial photographs and, aeromagnetic data in the Asseelah area together with reconnaissance
field mapping as well as rock and soil sampling on a 2km x 2km grid This will be followed by
detailed description of the mineralogy and texture of rocks, , detailed ground magnetic and gravity
surveys out over selected magnetic targets, geochemical analysis of indicator minerals by
electron microprobe, geochemical analysis of rock samples (XRF, ICP-MS), geochronology,
evaluation and reporting
Results:
1- Asseelah and Bomethra area, Eastern Oman
The main body of the ultramafic lamprophyres occurs in a diatreme at the coast of the Asseelah
village, northeastern Oman. The second major outcrops of ultramafic lamprophyres occur as
several 6 km long dykes at the Bomethra area. The lamprophyric sill and dyke swarms of the
Bomethra area comprise macrocrystic, spinel and phlogopite bearing hybabyssal facies calcite
aillikites/damtjernites with pelletal lapilli and globular segregationary textures. The petrography,
mineralogy, trace element and isotopic composition of the dyke rocks are comparable to aillikites
and damtjernites with kimberlitic affinity. Kimberlite indicator minerals include chromite, Crdiopside, G4 garnet, and picroilmenite. The Asseelah and the Bomethra ultramafic rocks are
enriched in light REE and have a high modal proportion of Ti-Al rich phlogopite, suggesting that
they were derived from a source region which has experienced melt-depletion followed by
metasomatic enrichment.
2- Wadi Sal
Two occurrence of carbonatites have been discovered within Batain nappes in the western and in
the eastern parts of the Wadi Sal southeastern part of Oman. They range in composition from
ferruginous carbonatites to magnesio carbonatites. A distinctive aspect of the Sal carbonatites
is the presence of anomalously high REE and P2O5 content (1300-1900 ppm; 10-15 wt. % P2O5;
eastern sal; 2200-2500 ppm REE and 2-3 wt.% P2O5; western Sal).
3- Al-Huqf area
Cambro-Ordovician highly potassik alkaline magmatism is exposed in four small laccolithic
intrusions in the Huqf area of Central Oman. The source of the magmas has many similarities to
that of EM1 oceanic island basalts. The petrogenesis of the suite is therefore explained by mixing
of melts derived by small degree partial melting of previously enriched garnet- and spinelperidotite-facies mantle sources.
Conclusions:
1. The Asseelah aillikites and carbonatites known to date by their mineralogical features are
unlikely to diamondiferous. Mineral indicators of high diamond potential are absent in
grains analyzed from heavy mineral concentrates and polished sections.
2. The Bomethra aillikites, damtjernite and carbonatites show good potentiality to be
diamondiferous. These rocks contain several diamond indicator minerals, mainly Crdiopside, phlogopite, chromite and ilmenite, some of which lies within the diamond
inclusion field.
3. The Asseelah and Bomethra ultramafic rocks are also enriched with REE which could be
of economic interest.
Management of Salt-Affected Soils and Water for Sustainable Agriculture
Project Code:
Funds:
Funding Source:
Start Date:
Duration:
Team Members:
(SR/AGR/SWAE/06/01)
95,000 OMR
His Majesty’s Trust Fund
02 May 2006
4 years
Researchers
Dr. Salim Ali Al-Rawahy (P.I.)
Dr. Mushtaque Ahmed (Co-P.I.)
Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Bakri
Dr. Slim Zekri
Dr. Hayder A. AbdelRahman
Prof. Osman Mahgoub Gaafar
Mr. Saud Seif Al-Habsi
Dr. Yasin Ahmed Al-Mulla
Dr. Said Salim Al-Esmaily
Dr. Rashid Abdulla Al-Yahyai
Dr. Malik Mohammed Al-Wardy
Mr.Hamdan Salim Al-Waheibi
Mr.Mahmood Khalfan Al-Rashdi
Dr. Saleem Kassim Nadaf
Dr. Stephen Goddard
Dr. Shabbir A. Shahid
Dr. Jam'aan Rabea Shammas
Dr. Ahmed Salim Al-Busaidi
Dr. Ali Hussein Al-Lawati
Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Al-Saadi
Mr. Salim Mohammed Al-Khanbashi
Prof. Humphrey Esechie
Dr. Salim Ali Al-Jabri
Research Assistants
Graduate Students
Dr. Nazir Hussein
Mr. Mohammed Hassan Mansur
Mrs. Basma Nasser Al-Sheidhani
Mr. Amrou Saleh Al-Oulqi
Mrs. Alia Saleh Al-Hinai
Mr. Mohammed Said Al-Mazrui
Mr. Waleed Salim Al-Abri
Mr. Hamed Soud Al-Sheidhani
Mr. Said Khalfan Al-Maashari
Mr. Said Hamed Al-Saqri
Ms. Sharifa Said Al-Hashmi
Mr. Ishaq Ahmed Al-Anqudi
Dr. Nazir Hussein
Mrs. Maryam AbdullaAl-Hassani
Ms. Nafisa Mahmoud
Mr. Saif Sulaiman Al-Jabri
Mr. Abdulla Said Al-Buloshi
Mr. Mansur Hamed Al-Haddabi
Mr. Khalid Salim Al-Abri
Mr. Mahmoud Juma Al-Obeidani
Ms. Lamya Darwish Al-Balushi
Ms. Zakiyya Abdulla Al-Alawi
Mr. Salim Khamis Al-Jabri
Mr. Yahya Khamis Al-Yahyai
Mr. Hamed Sulaiman Al-Dhuhli
Mr. Said Shannan Al-Khalasi
Mr. Khalid Rashid Al-Mahrazi
Mr. Ali Mohammed Naifer
Mr. Mohammed Hamoud Al-Owaisi
Executive Summary
Objective
The project aimed at developing management guidelines which are scientifically sound for
farmers to sustain economically viable agricultural production in salt affected areas with saline
groundwater.
Methods
Scientifically sound management practices were experimented in field plots with saline soils,
underlained with saline groundwater at the Agricultural Research Center of the Ministry of
Agriculture (MoA) at Rumais. The trials were multidisciplinary in nature and provided unique
opportunities for five graduate students to obtain the MS degrees. The following studies were
conducted:
 Advanced techniques such as satellite images and geographical information systems
were used to quantify the extent of salinization over the years.

Agronomic methods combined with modern irrigation methods were evaluated to
determine optimal combinations resulting in increased productivity and minimal
salinization.
 Feeding trials of Omani sheep confirmed that fodder grown in saline soils with saline
water have no negative impact on their growth or their meat quality.
 Incorporation of aquaculture in saline areas was proven feasible and profitable.
 Socio-economic study of the rural society, was carried out in which over 120 farmers at
Agricultural Developmental Centers of the Ministry of agriculture in the Wilayats of Barka,
Musan’a, Suwaiq, Khaboura, Sohar and Shinas made invaluable contributions. This
study reflects the very existence of the rural society, was one of the main objectives of
the project. It involved holding workshops with the farmers at Agricultural Development
Centers of the Ministry, their salt-affected farms visited and detailed information gathered
for the study.
These results of all the above studies were confirmed by analyzing over 2,000 soil, water, fodder,
fish and meat samples produced during trials which helped understand the nature of the situation
better.
Results:
 Remote sensing and GIS techniques in assessing the degree and extent of the AlBatinah Region has given good indication of its precision and effectiveness in terms of
speed and low cost. (Figure 1)
 Trials confirmed that salt-tolerant varieties of tomatoes, barley, sorghum and pearl millet
can be grown successfully in prevailing conditions (up to 9 dS/m irrigation water). Two
varieties of pearl millet were selected for their superiority in both salinity and heat
tolerances. (Figures 2, 3, 4, 5)
 Intermittent leaching in soil resulted in good plant growth.
 Mulching surface soil with a thin layer of shredded date palm residues resulted in lesser
salt accumulation in the soil resulting in more crop yield than other methods. (Figure 6)
 Results show that feeding fodder grown on highly saline conditions (up to 9 dS/m
irrigation water) to Omani sheep had neither adversely affected their health nor meat
quality. (Figure 7)
 Preliminary study on integrating aquaculture in saline agriculture shows that it could
improve economic return since it is another food source for the farmers. In addition,
residual water that come out of fish ponds is rich in nutrients and could be used to
irrigate crops in salt-affected farms. (Figure 8)
 Economic losses inflicted to farmers due to land salinity has been evaluated in terms of
gross margin for three types of farms. The damage caused by salinity was obtained
through comparison of three types of farms. In the low salinity farms the profit was 2,197
OR/ha, while it reached only 1,581 RO/ha in the medium salinity farms. Farms with high
salinity irrigation water registred the lowest profit with only 638 OR/ha, or 71% less than
the low salinity farms. Discussions among SQU team, with our colleagues in the MoA and
farmers demonstrated that farmers are receptive in scientifically sound guidelines. The
farmers responded very positively and highly appreciated the efforts by the SQU-MoA
team.
Conclusions
Sound management practices of saline soil and water in this study have shown great potential for
sustainable agriculture in the Al-Batinah. This justifies a growing need to utilize land and water
resources which are of marginal quality for growing salt-tolerant crops in the Al-Batinah where
there is increasing demand on the limited water resources. This would contribute towards
agricultural sustainability, food security and combating desertification and maintaining social
cohesion of rural community.
Family and genetic understanding of autosomal recessive disorders: a
clinical genetic, cytogenetic, molecular and linkage study in Oman
(famguardinoman):
Dr Aisha Al-Khayat
Biology, College of Science
This research will clarify the genetic causes in Oman of several serious autosomal recessive (AR)
diseases of the retina and of the central nervous system. We will carry out a population study of
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in Omanis, comparing results with published SNP
findings from other countries. We will then use that data, plus detailed clinical and family data
from consanguineous Omani families with ophthalmological or developmental disorders, to
confirm or exclude AR inheritance using linkage analysis. Micro-array based gene chip studies of
SNP markers covering the whole genome will provide the population data as well as identifying
sites of SNP homozygosity in affected people. Also, we will check for chromosomal microdeletions or duplications in affected individuals using metaphase-based Comparative Genomic
Hybridisation (CGH).
We estimate that the population SNP study and SNP investigations in the highly informative
Omani families, as well as metaphase CGH, will localize the site of a causative AR gene in a
majority of the 50 families to be studied or identify micro-deletions or duplications.