1. GEOLOGY
minutes
Welcome to
the Geology Department and about Geology and
its essential applications. The Geology Day will be
held next month and we encourage our readers
to attend and enjoy the organized presentations,
displays and activities. In addition, this month we
report on the continuing services of the
Department including those that assist regional
high schools. Also we introduce the first of series
of articles on the active research projects
conducted by academic staff members of the
Geology Department.
his current issue of Geo-Minutes proudly
announces the arrangements for our
annual Geology Day. This is an open day
designed for visitors to learn more about
Interested parties are cordially invited to attend the
proceedings and presentations of GEOLOGY DAY
(Wednesday 18th May 2011) be held in the IT building
(Male students entrance) new Maqam Campus of
UAEU. The Geology Day program this year will
encompass important aspects of Environmental and
Engineering Geology of the UAE, delivered in a series
of oral presentations and posters. The Environmental
Geology theme will focus on Oil Spills, Urbanization,
Water Scarcity, Soil and Water Pollution,
Desertification, Siesmic hazards, Flash Flooding, and
Coastal Erosion. The Engineering Geology theme
centers on Subsidence, Karstification, Foundation
Stability, Geotechnical Site Investigation,
Liquefaction, Slope Stability, Landslides, Urbanization
and Waste Disposal.
Geology Chair’s
message
minutesAPRIL 2011
Geology monthly newsletter
GEOLOGY DAY 2011
Environmental and Engineering Geology of UAE
JODCO
2670000N
40o 60o
G U L F O F
A D A N
R E D
S E A
K A S P I A N
S E A
G Y P T
U D A N
E T H I O P I A S O M A L I A
E R I T R I A
S Y R I A
J O R D A N
T U R K E Y
Platinum Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
(Additional sponsorships have been promised)

2. GEOLOGY
minutes
Staff members of the Geology Department are
currently involved in a major survey to evaluate
new prospects for groundwater resources in the
Hatta, Masfout and Masafi districts. The work,
includes geological, hydrogeochemical and
geophysical investigations. Financial support for
the project has been generously provided by the
Ministry of Environment and Water.
Groundwater Evaluation
in Hatta -Masafi Area
SPE Field Trip to Jabal Hafit
Research
Project
APRIL 2011 Geology monthly newsletter
A lecture on the geological structures and stratigraphy of
Jabal Hafit was presented to SPE group at Mercure Hotel.
This was followed by an interesting tour to the main
geological sites of the area of Jabal Hafit.
Geology Staff provided two presentations at Almabadea School, Al
Khazna, entitled: "Elements of Structural Geology: Folds, Faults and
Unconformities" and "Fossils: Preservation, Importance and
Distribution in UAE". And they organized a Geologic Samples
Exhibition, providing the school with sample collection from UAE.
Geology Multaqa in Almabadea School
The Geology Department and Faculty of Science welcomed Mr. Toshiaki
Shibasaki of JODCO, Abu Dhabi on 25th April. Mr. Shibasaki gave an
informative seminar on the current environmental situation in Japan
following the record earthquake and tsunami of March, this year.
JODCO Visit to
UAEU
S T A F F
Activities
I M A G E
of the month
Eupatagus
Thirty million years old Lower Oligocene echinoid
fossil (Eupatagus) recently collected from Jabal Hafit

3. GEOLOGY
minutes
Enormous
Contributions
In this current issue of Geo-Minutes we are
pleased to inform our Readers about our activities
in two important conferences reflecting issues of
fundamental concern in the Emirates. These are
on the topics of education and sustainable
development. As always we have made every
effort to contribute in these areas in the manner
appropriate to our discipline. These and other
education and research related activities for this
month are important themes in our mission as a
national University Department.
The Geology Department participated in the UAEU
Education & Research 2011 convention organized by
the University in Abu Dhabi at the Emirates Palace
Hotel. The four best posters from the Faculty of
Science were selected for presentation. These applied
geoscience posters demonstrated new techniques in
the fields of Environment, Geophysics, Petroleum
Geology and Remote Sensing.
Geology Chair’s
message
minutesMARCH 2011
Geology monthly newsletter
The UAE University
Education & Research 2011
Investing in knowledge for the Nation’s future

4. GEOLOGY
minutes
The Geology Club organized a scientific visit to the
Natural History Museum in Sharjah. The students
examined the museum collection of minerals, rocks
and fossils representative of the geologic ages.
Sharjah Museum Visit
International Symposium on
Sustainable Systems and the
Environment “ISSE’11”
ScientificVisit
MARCH 2011 Geology monthly newsletter
The Geology Department staff participated in the
International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and the
Environment“ISSE’11”March 23-24, 2011 hold in the
American University of Sharjah. Prof. H. Arman gave a
presentation on‘The impact of the geological and
geotechnical properties of the carbonate rocks on the
sustainable land development in Al Ain City’. Dr. A. Murad
also addressed the conference on the challenges facing the
sustainability of groundwater in the United Arab Emirates.
The Geology Department hosted an international speaker Dr. Jan
Mrlina from the Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of
Sciences, Prague who presented a lecture entitled: Exploration
Gravity, Microgravity and 4D Gravity - what's the Difference? The
lecture focused on the successes of new technical applications of
gravimetry in oil, gas and water exploration and geo-archeology.
Research results on the extraordinary subsurface structure of
Jabal Hafit were also revealed.
Exploration Gravity,
Microgravity and 4D Gravity
The Geology Club convened a workshop aimed to help students master the
standard image application, Adobe Photoshop. Mr. Hamdi Kandil of the
Geology Department guided the students through the many image
enhancement and manipulation tools of Adobe Photoshop CS5.
Adobe Photoshop Workshop
Adobe
S T A F F
Activities
I M A G E
of the month
YosemiteFalls

5. GEOLOGY
minutes
Geologic
Field Trip
This February issue of Geo-Minutes continues our
program of providing up to date information on
the activities of Geology Department, particularly
in relation to contributions by our Staff towards
local, national and international affairs of
relevance to the UAE and its citizens. Once again
we hope that these short notes will be well
received by our readers and supporters as we
demonstrate our commitment to assisting and
informing the public about geology in our
society.
Five Japanese visiting geologists and geophysicists
from JODCO and ZADCO Abu Dhabi were given a
tour of the Jabal Hafit and Jabal Mundassa areas on
Saturday, 19th February. The tour was led by Dr.
Osman, assisted by Dr. Fowler, Dr. Waheed and Dr.
Abu Saima. For some of visitors it was their first trip
to Al-Ain; they enjoyed the good weather,
interesting geology and pleasant company.
ATour of Jabal Hafit and
Jabal Mundassa Areas
Geology Chair’s
message
minutesFEBRUARY 2011
Geology monthly newsletter
for JODCO and ZADCO Staff

6. GEOLOGY
minutes
The Geology Department sends its best
wishes to the Geology Students for the
New Academic Semester
The Geology Department as part of its community
role hosted schools visit from Al Badiyah and Al
Danat Secondary Schools, Al Ain Educational Zone
to the Geology Museum. The students were amazed
by the representative collections of fossils, minerals
and rocks from UAE that helped them to appreciate
the geological wonders of the UAE.
The Geology Department organized a field excursion on
3rd February for civil engineering students and their
supervisor Dr. Abdullah Yilmaz, from the School of the
Built Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai. The
excursion was designed to help the students understand
the geology of Jabal Hafit and introduce them to rocks
and geological structures from an engineering viewpoint.
Heriot-Watt University Visit
C o m m u n i t y
Activities
Schools Visit to the
Geology Museum
Dr. Ahmed Murad attended the ninth session of the Committee for the Review of the
Implementation of the Convention (CRIC9) and the Second Special Session of the CST, Bonn,
Germany (16th -25th February) to discuss regional consultations with participating countries
on the subject of regional implementation annexes of the Convention.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
A rare blue lizard
seemed completely
out of place among
the yellow limestone
of Jabal Hafit.
Academ
ic
Cooperation
FEBRUARY 2011 Geology monthly newsletter
I M A G E
of the month
The First
Induction Meeting
The Geology Club organized the
first induction meeting and
extension to new 2009-2010
students in collaboration
with the Maths Club. The
new students were
welcomed and enjoyed
a short movie
presentation about
Geology Club trips.

7. GEOLOGY
minutes
RADAR
Interferometry
The present issue of Minutes is the fourth in the
series. In this latest issue we wish to inform
supporters and associates of the Department,
and the interested public, of the many kinds of
activities that our Department staffs are
engaged in during the present month. These
include cooperation and participation in
national research and policy making, and
educational exercises that help define the role
of Geology and the Department in the scientific
community, as well as in the spheres of industry
and society. We do hope that the easy one-page
format of the Minutes will continue to provide
enjoyable reading for all.
Geology Department staff participated in a lecture
organized by JGI, PI and ESG at ADMA Auditorium,
Abu Dhabi entitled “Surface Displacement related
with Earthquakes in Northeast UAE detected by
Satellite Radar Interferometry” by Mr. Takumi
ONUMA, JGI, Inc. which demonstrated the value of
Synthetic Aperture Radar Technique (SAR) in the
detection of ground displacement and subsidence,
and its recent application in the investigation of
seismic activity of faults in the northeastern UAE.
Lecture by JGI, PI and ESG at ADMA Auditorium
Earth Surface Deformation Detection
Surface Displacement related with
Earthquakes in Northeast UAE by
Satellite Radar Interferometry
Geology Chair’s
message
minutesJANUARY 2011
Geology monthly newsletter

8. GEOLOGY
minutesJANUARY 2011
Hajir Al Qawadi
Ayesha Al Shehhi
Shatha Al Nahdi
Baraka Al Katheeri
Hanaa Aal Bishir
Aisha Al Mansoori
Moza Al Kitbi
Wafa Al Akbari
Aamena Al Shehhi
Huda Al Salmi
Maryam Al Zaabi
Aamna Al Yalyali
Adel Al Katheri
Khaled Al Hosani
Mustafa Al Attas
Mohamed Al Musabin
Abdullah Al Khanbashi
Ahmed Al Aidaros
Mohamed Almehiri
The Geology Department is sending
its best wishes for Geology Graduates
International Conference of
Engineering Geophysics
Three faculty members of the Geology Deprtment will be pat of
the organizing and scientific committees of the First International
Conference of Engineering Geophysics, which the UAE University,
in cooperation with Al-Ain Municipality, will organize during the
last quarter of 2011. The conference will address developments in
the use of Engineering Geophysics in Civil and Environmental
Engineering.
Geology Staff attended the
annual World Future Energy
Summit, Abu Dhabi,
organized by Masdar to
provide a crucial platform
for discussion of this issue.
The annual summit deals
with issues of public policy,
research and development,
and business, in a
coordinated approach.
I M A G E
of the month
Azurite, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Copper Ore Deposits
The GEOLOGY DAY 2011 planning committee, coordinated
by the Head of Department, will undertake to make this
important event a success and a benefit to our students
and society. The Committee will invite the sponsorship and
participation of Construction Companies, Environmental
Agencies, Municipalities, and Oil Companies.
“Environmental and Engineering Geology of UAE”
GEOLOGY DAY 2011
Announcement
1st
S T A F F
Activities
Workshop
Dr. Saber Hussein arranged
field training for male and
female students to instruct
them in the performance of
pumping tests and field data
recording as means of
assessing the hydrogeological
parameters of groundwater
aquifers.
Dr. Salem Issa, Geology Department, has participated in a Workshop on the Applications of Global
Navigation Satellite Systems which took place in Dubai from 16 to 20 January 2011. The workshop
is organized by: United Nations/United Arab Emirates/United States of America, implemented by
Office for Outer Space Affairs, which have been endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly.
Schlumberger Visit
The Geology Department organized a field trip to Schlumberger aiming
to promote further cooperation and opportunities for field experience.
UN Workshop: Global Navigation Satellite Systems

9. GEOLOGY
minutes
JAPAN
Dear all, as a part of our continued service and
communications with the outside community, we
present the December issue of GEOLOGY minutes.
In this issue we are pleased to report the many
activities and services of the Geology Department,
such as the ongoing friendship with JODOCO, and
individual staff activities.
Dear Readers, we hope you enjoy this issue and we
look forward to providing you with even more
topics in the next
The Department of Geology has continued its
cooperation with the national community by
joining the Seminar Feedback Party organized
by JODCO in Abu Dhabi. It was an opportunity
for both UAEU and PI students to renew the
friendly relations initiated at their first meeting
during the Japan Seminar Feedback Party.
Seminar Feedback Party
Geology Chair’s
message
minutesDECEMBER 2010
Geology monthly newsletter
Happy New Year

10. GEOLOGY
minutesNOVEMBER 2010
- Dr. Esam Abd El-Gawad, delivered a presentation to the Petroleum
Institute of Abu Dhabi (29th Nov). Geochemistry: “A Successful Tool
for Hydrocarbons Exploration, Development & Production “A Case
Study for Geochemical Characterization of Abu Dhabi Crude Oil
Using Biomarker Fingerprint technique”. The presentation has been
attended by the head of the petroleum geosciences department,
faculty members and graduate students of PI Abu Dhabi.
- The Geophysics Team under supervision
of Dr. Khaled Al Bloushi, organized many
activities in the UAE National Day includes:
Demonstrations: Using GPS and showing
how to measure Earth’s magnetic field
using a magnetometer. Workshop: How to
distinguish minerals using Moh's scale,
magnetism. Posters: Magnetic methods in
groundwater exploration in the UAE,
Introducing the ophiolite of the UAE, and
The uses and applications of sieving.
- Dr. A. Fowler presented a seminar entitled:
Late Proterozoic structural evolution of the
Wadi Sa’al-Wadi Zaghra complex, Sinai: a
preliminary model involving extensional
and compressional events
- Dr. Amir Gabr organized a workshop on seismic wave velocities and
bedrock depth determination using seismic survey, and computer
application
I M A G E
of the month
Forensic Provenancing
with Natural Isotopes
The natural environment as defined by
geology, climate and ecology provides a
wealth of chemical markers that are
unevenly distributed on the earth’s
surface and thus provide a potential for
spatial classification of natural materials
and derived products. Incidentally
individual spatial markers have been
used for scientific concept studies or
ad-hoc comparisons in specific cases but
no forensically sound maps exist. The
presentation will demonstrate that newly
available spatial geological, geochemical
and climatic data provide opportunities
to predict the spatial distribution of
natural chemical markers in a cost
effective manner. Plants and animals are
all related to regional soil and climatic
conditions through the food (supply)
chain and thus regional food webs often
show systematic relations between the
isotopic profiles at different trophic levels
and even humans.
As part of its academic mission to raise awareness amongst its students
and to enhance and diversify their skills, the Geology department, GIS
and RS lab organized this workshop in a new campus venue (15th Dec)
It included an introductory workshop on the use of GIS for problem
solving in geology and environmental sciences. “This workshop is a
very important event, especially for those students who will graduate
this year”, Dr Salem Issa commented.
Geology and Biology Departments, organized a lecture:
Prof. Gaber Barakat, Emeritus Prof. of Stratigraphy, Paleontology and
Subsurface Geology, Cairo University, gave a round table discussion
about petroleum systems in the Western Desert and Nile Delta basins,
Egypt. He explained also the problem of the degradation and erosion of
Nile Delta in Egypt.
Dr. Jurian Hoogewerff,
Centre for Forensic Provenancing,
University of East Anglia
S T A F F
Activities
GIS Workshop

11. GEOLOGY
minutesNOVEMBER 2010
EAGE
Dear all, it is an pleasing opportunity to
introduce the first issue of Geology Minutes.This
Minutes will be presented on a month basis and
will cover a variety of departmental activities
and achievements. Geology Minutes is concise
enough to be read in minutes and deals with
geologic and earthscience news light hearted
and professional national and international
topics.
In Geology Minutes we introduce our Geology
Department to the outside community to
inform them of our achievements in research,
consultations, and other geoscience services.
We sinceerly hope that this newsletter will give a
clear picture of our commitments to providing
quality in research and a scientific perspective
our geoscience issues of relevance.
Under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh
Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Chancellor of
UAEU, and accordance with the Vice Chancellor
and the strategic plan of the University Provost,
the Geology Department hosted the EAGE
Student Lecture Tour, Middle East. Prof. Rudy
Swennen, Katholieke Universiteit, Pelgium
presented a lecture entitled: “Diagenesis in
carbonate reservoirs in foreland folds and thrust
belts with special emphasison hydrothermal
dolomites”. The EAGE ectures are intended to
enhance the collaboration between the Geology
Department and the EAGE.
EAGE Student Lecture Tour
Middle East 2010
EUROPEAN
ASSOCIATION OF
GEOSCIENTISTS &
ENGINEERS
Geology Chair’s
message
minutesGeology monthly newsletter

12. GEOLOGY
minutesNOVEMBER 2010
National Day
Arabian
Peninsula
from Space
A
R
A
B
I
A
N
G
U
L
F
I R A N
I R A Q
S A U D I
A R A B I A
R u b a l K h a l i
U N I T E D A R A B
E M I R A T E S
O M A N
Y E M E N
QATAR
BAHRAIN
KUWAIT
- Dr. Abdel-Rahman Fowler presented a paper and
acted as Chair for session in the Sinai International
Conference for Geology and Development in St.
Katherine, Egypt. The conference attracted about
seventy participants including scientists and
petroleum industry professionals from Egypt, Sudan,
Yemen, Germany and Italy.
- Dr. Ahmed Murad presented a paper on the Earth
Sciences and Development of Civilization in Major
Rivers Basins. Luxor, Egypt. Also, he attended the
foundation meeting of Arabic Alliance for
Environmental Sciences as member of the Alliance
in Doha, Qatar
- Prof. Alaa Aldahan presented three papers in the
Environmental Radioactivity Conference. Rome, Italy.
- Dr. Sulaiman Alkaabi attended and presented a paper
in the 11th Arab Conference for the Mineral Resourses.
Tripoli, Libya.
I M A G E
of the monthI n t e r n a t i o n a l
Conferences
Prof. Abdulrahman Alsharhan
on being awarded the
Emirates Appreciation Prize of
Sciences and Arts for Reseacrch
and Environmental Studuies
Congratulations
Geological Heritages Protection
Geology Department, participated in the second
session of the Geological Heritages Protection
Abu Dhabi Urban Council
Prof. Mahdy Abdulrahman Kurtan, Professor of
Geophysics had passed away at 21st October.
Prof. Mahdy had joined Geology Department,
UAE University for the period 1996-2001