10 - March 6th thru March 12th 2000, Vol X

The Geological Research History Work in the Republic of Yemen

(1947-1967)

By: Mohammed Darsi*

ABSTRACT:

This paper is the first paper, which discusses the geological research history work in the Republic of Yemen during the period from 1947 to 1967. And it's also the second paper after my first paper on the period from 1852 to 1946 (See Yemen Times newspaper. Issue 2-January 10th through January 16 2000, Vol. IX, Culture Page). The geological research work history in the Republic of Yemen is a brief rich culture history, included information about the first and most famous Geologists.

INTRODUCTION :
It is known that rich culture history is largely depended upon written documents, whereas the geological research history work story must be inferred from the careful study. Based on variably detailed information of hundreds publications references. I decided to divided the geological research history work in the Republic of Yemen to four stages:

First Stage: 1852-1901. I gave it two new names:
First name: The First Systematic Geological Observation Stage.
Second name: Carter's Stage.
Second Stage: 1902-1946. I gave it the following name:
The Hinterland Studies Stage.
Third Stage: 1947-1967.
Forth stage: 1968 - until today
Third Stage: 1947-1967
This Stage must started after World War II (at the end of the first half of the twentieth century) till after independent of the two parts (North and South) of the Republic of Yemen. This Third Stage I gave it two new names:
First name: The First systematic more detailed Stratigraphic and Geological Studies Stage.
Second name: Beydoun, Z.R., 's Stage.
BEYDOUN, Z. R., late 1953
One of the most famous geologists gave his time and life on studying the geology of Yemen. He died on 7 March 1998 in Beirut, at age of seventy-three. We (Yemeni Geologists) are highly and greatly appreciated him as brilliant mind, wrote many publication about Yemen, which distinguished services to geological exploration and research.

THE MEN OF THIS STAGE WERE:
1. Thesiger, W., 1947. Wrote about his Journey to the Southern Arabia and the Empty Quarter.
2. Wetzel, R., 1947 - 48. The First field-based geological mapping and stratigraphic description was started by 3. Morton, D.M., 1948 - 50. He with Wetzel, R. continued the same work, which was started by Wetzel, R., when they worked for the Iraq Petroleum Company and Associated Companies (IPC). Their work concentrated mainly on the southern part of Mahra with some work near Mukalla, in Wadi Hadramaut and they also carried out work on the salt dome of Bayhan.
4. Heybroek, 1950. Made reconnaissance trips in the Shuqra and Dathina areas and also the area between Aden and Dhala.
5. Bagnold, R.A., 1951. Studied the Sand Formation in Southern Arabia.
6. Jaques, E. H., 1952. Made a reconnaissance survey mainly in the Western Aden Protectorate (former South Yemen), devoting considerable attention to economic mineral occurrences and wrote notes to accompany the Provisional Geological Map of the Western Aden Protectorate.
7. Bunker, D.G., 1953 Wrote about the southwest Borderlands of Rub al Khali.
8. Beydoun, Z.R., 1953. He is The Man of this stage.
9. Hudson, R.G.S., 1954. Published Notes on Jurassic stromatopora from southern Arabia.
10. Lipparini, T., 1954. Wrote about the geology of the South Western Arabia.
11. Geukens, F., 1955. Travelled much (former North Yemen) for the United Nations Development Programs and augmented the lithostratigrafic data obtained by Lamare and his colleagues. In 1960, wrote about Yemen geology. And in 1966, wrote a Professor Paper on the Geology of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen.
12. Greenwood, J.E.G.W., 1958. Carried out field investigations and photogeological mapping,mainly on basement rocks in the western part of then Aden Protectorate (former South Yemen). This work has been published as two geological map sheets on 1:250,000 scale (1967).
13. Schott, W., 1960. Provided an additional observations, but of more local nature on the lithology of the stratigraphic succession, together with paleontological / palynological age dating in connection, generally with economic objectives, for the former North Yemen, which limits for the still semi-formal nomenclature utilized there.
14. Bleackley, D.,1961. He and Greenwood supplemented field work started by Greenwood on 1958 and after that they wrote a Professor Paper on the Geology of the Arabian Peninsula, Aden Protectorate (1967).
15,16. Irving, A. and Tarling, T. H., 1961. They made a study on the Palaeomagnetism of the Aden Volcanoes.
17,18. Gass, I.G. and Mallick, D.I.J., 1966. Published a study on the Acid volcanisam on the South Arabian coast.
19. Bichan, H.R., 1967. He is the first one, who concentrated his study principally on the basement rocks of the Socotra archipelago, which were reported on by him and Beydon, Z.R., 1970.

CONCLUSIONS :
1. On The First Stage (1852-1901), geological observations were made by various writers, (Burr F., 1844; Blanford, W.T., 1869; Mallet, F.R., 1871; Miles, S. B. & Munzinger, Werner, M., 1871; McMahon, C.A., 1883), who published their works mostly on the lavas of Aden, but Carter, H.J., 1852 was the first man and the lonely man of this stage,who was interested in Yemen and especially in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula Coast and who made the first systematic account of observations at variety of selected locations along the south Arabian coast from Muscat to Aden. So I gave This First Stage, two new names:
First name: The First Systematic Geological Observation Stage.
Second name: Carter's Stage,
2. On The Second Stage (1902-1946), It was known, it was not till the early part of twentieth century, that some geological exploration of the hinterland made by various writers, so I gave The Second Stage, the following name: The Hinterland Studies Stage.
3. On The First stage (The First Systematic Geological Observation Stage or CARTER, H.J., Stage.) and The Second Stage (The Hinterland Studies Stage) early maps were based on photographs and on isolated visits, generally to the coastal region so Geologic and stratigraphic relations in the region are complex and it must be realized that it was not until after The Second Stage (The Hinterland Studies Stage), that it was possible to compile of the region.
4. On The Third Stage (1947-1967), More regional, extensive and relatively detailed investigations have taken place covering most aspects of geological studies, where a great number of stratigraphic sections were measured and a considerable number of field samples collected for palaneontological and microfacies study and geological and photogeological mapping. So, I gave The Third Stage two new names:

First name: The First systematic more detailed Stratigraphic and Geological Studies Stage.
Second name: Beydoun, Z.R., 's Stage.
5. I want to drew (The Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources in the Republic of Yemen, Researchers and all who are interested in this field) their attention on the following Important Matter:
If we, really want The Geological Research History Work in the Republic of Yemen to be easy to read and to understand, we must, make a restudy on the history of the Exploration Activities, a restudy on the history of Companies 's Work and a restudy on the history of Scientific Expedition Work in the Republic of Yemen. And. This entire things in accordance to my classification and division to the Geological Research History Work in the Republic of Yemen to four stages. For Example:
It is known that, Egyptian University sent the First Scientific Expedition to Southwest Arabia in 1937. So, in accordance to my classification and division to the Geological Research History Work in the Republic of Yemen to four stages, it would be easy to say, that was happened on the Second Stage or on the Hinterland Studies Stage.
6. This study led to significant improvement in imaging about the geological research history in the Republic of Yemen, particularly about the first and the most famous geologists, who worked visits, and this has been key to understanding.
7. It is broad in scope so as to serve both the beginning geology major and the under graduate seeking to learn about or to make him read about the geological research history work in Yemen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to extend my thanks to the Yemeni Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources (MOMR) and also to the Changchun University of science and technology for there help and support.
I gratefully thank the Editors of World Geology for their suggestions and guidelines for publishing the paper.
I am indebted to Professors Wang Dong Po and Xue Lin Fu (Changchun University of science and technology), who provided many helpful suggestions and comments. I am also so indebted to Mr. Walid Al-Saqqaf and all the Editors of Yemen Times newspaper for publishing the paper.

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*ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mohammed Darsi Abdulrahman Nedham graduated from the Russian among People Friendship University in 1991 as a Petroleum Engineer, Geologist (M.S. degree). He began his professional career by working as petroleum engineer, geologist in the Petroleum Exploration and Production Board (Aden Branch). His scientific interest is concentrated on the Geological Research History Work, Earth science software application and basin-modeling problems.