A possible Albian impact crater at Murshid, southern Oman

Abstract

During interpretation of a 3-D seismic survey in southern Oman a solitary, 2.5-km-wide circular basin with a central peak and raised rim was identified in the subsurface 35 km west of the Marmul oil field. The feature is the only one of its kind in the area. The basinal structure is probably of Late Cretaceous (Albian) age and the regional geology strongly suggests that it is neither a volcanic crater nor related to salt-dome tectonics or salt dissolution. It possibly represents a crater formed by a terrestrial impact event and has been named the Murshid crater. This report does not constitute a detailed investigation of the possible impact crater but rather records the 3-D seismic observations and the drilling that has taken place near the structure so far.