geosciences Article Quaternary Thrusting in the Central Oman Mountains—Novel Observations and Causes: Insights from Optical Stimulate Luminescence Dating and Kinematic Fault Analyses Daniel Moraetis 1,*, Andreas Scharf 2, Frank Mattern 2, Kosmas Pavlopoulos 3 and Steven Forman 4 1 Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box: 27272 Sharjah, UAE 2 Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 36, PC 123 Al-Khod, Muscat, Oman;
[email protected] (A.S.);
[email protected] (F.M.) 3 Geography and Planning Department, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, P.O. 38044 Abu Dhabi, UAE;
[email protected] 4 Geoluminescence Dating Research Lab., Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Received: 18 March 2020; Accepted: 30 April 2020; Published: 5 May 2020 Abstract: For the first time, Quaternary thrusts are documented within the Central Oman Mountains to the northwest of the Jabal Akhdar Dome. Thrusts with a throw of up to 1.1 m displace Quaternary alluvial fan conglomerates. These conglomerates have an Optical Stimulate Luminescence (OSL) age of 159 7.9 ka BP and were deposited during MIS 6 (Marine Isotope Stage). The thrusts occur ± in two sets. Sets 1 and 2 formed during NE/SW and NW/SE shortening, respectively. Set-1-thusts correlate with the present-day stress field of NE/SW shortening which is related to subduction in the Makran Subduction Zone, and they strike parallel to the main continuous fold axis of the Jabal Akhdar and Hawasina windows.