A Geology Field Trip to Oman
Saturday 15 – Thursday 27 January 2022 Alumni

Oman is a fascinating country, its history and culture shaped in no small part by its geography. This is a rare opportunity for amateur geologists to explore the landscapes and geology of Oman, with visits to cultural sites included. You will discover this geological paradise including the world’s largest and best exposed ophiolite, eclogites, sheath folds, fantastic exposures of Mesozoic limestones and ancient Tethyan Oceanic seamounts, as well as its amazing deserts and beautiful coastline. It is suited to amateur geologists who want to learn about Oman and to apply their existing knowledge in the field.

Professor Mike Searle,Professor of Earth Science, the University of Oxford

Professor Mike Searle was brought up in Oman since age 15 when his father worked for the oil company PDO (Shell). He did fieldwork for his his PhD (1980) in Oman and has spent the last 30 years working almost every year on his own research projects with students and colleagues both in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. He has been at Oxford University since 1990 and is now Professor of Earth Science and a Senior Research fellow in Worcester college. He has published more than 220 papers, co-edited 5 books, written 2 books including 'Colliding Continents' (Oxford University Press) and appeared in 5 geological programmes for the BBC, Channel 5, History channel and others on the making of Everest and other Himalayan topics. He has also carried out feldwork along the Himalaya, Karakoram, Tibet, Burma, Vietnam, Jordan, Syria and teh Aegean islands, Greece."

Professor Bruce Levell visiting Professor at the University of Oxford

Professor Bruce Levell  first visited  Oman as a young field geologist in 1981 and has been fascinated by the country's geology ever since.  He was in charge of exploration in PDO, the national oil company on secondment from Shell, from 1997-2001  when he was involved in the discovery of several large oil and gas fields. Since retirement in 2013 he has returned to Oman  yearly  to undertake his own research in this fantastic geologic wonderland.

• Traverse Jebel Akhdar, the highest peak in Eastern Arabia and witness the Mesozoic shelf carbonates
• Drive to the rim of Oman’s Grand Canyon with its amazing views, spectacular hill villages, flowing streams and deep wadis
• Drive through some remote parts of the Oman Mountains around Wadi Hawasina
• Witness the world’s largest and best exposed sheath fold along Wadi Mayh gorge
• Explore the magnificent coastline around Muscat, including the fjords of Bandar Jissah and the old souq at Muttrah