Sultanate's rocks music hospitality leave American student group amazed

1/19/2016 1:53:57 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

A group of American students who were in Oman to study its terrain and music said they were amazed by the hospitality of Omanis.

The 15 students from the College of William and Mary in Virginia US were in Oman for two weeks to study its geology and its music.

'The hospitality we received was well beyond our wildest expectations' said John Christoph 22 who studied the geology of Ghubra. 'We got to see a place in the world that is unique not only in terms of its natural beauty but its natural resources and geology. It was fascinating to walk through these places examine and study them.'

The group toured Muscat Ibri Nizwa Sharqiyah Sands and Sur from January 2 to 16. They conducted fieldwork for research projects on falaj systems wadis and mountains and archaeological sites. Part of a course at William and Mary the course was titled 'Natural History and Contemporary Culture of Oman' or informally 'Rock Music Oman'.

The trip was led by Christopher Bailey a geology professor and Anne Rasmussen professor of ethnomusicology. 'We spent 14-16 hours every day from morning till we finally went to bed' said Bailey.

'What we'd been doing has been different from pretty much anybody because we were studying the cultural side and geology. We would go to the museum and then put on our shoes and hike up the hills.' In Muscat the group toured places such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque the Royal Opera House Muscat Sultan Qaboos University Bait al Baranda museum Muttrah Souq and the Oud Hobbyists Association.

The trip was organised with the help of the Center for International Learning in Muscat.

'Oman iconic geological destination'

Oman is well-known in geology circles for its ophiolites. Ophiolites are rocks in Earth's mantle dozens of kilometres below the crust. They are usually unreachable but in Oman they have risen above the surface.

'Oman is unlike any other place on Earth. We can see geology that's exposed that's really fundamental to how Earth operates that you really can't see that well anywhere else on the planet' said Professor Bailey.

'As a geological destination it is completely iconic.' He said the hills in Muscat especially around Muttrah are rare real examples of what Earth's mantle looks like. 'We can't actually see or observe those typically. We can use seismic waves. We can't even drill that far down' he said.

Ophiolites exist in other parts of the world but they are most clearly exposed in Oman due to its dry climate. He said studying these ophiolites helps learn about plate tectonics. Having led a group of 15 students Bailey said he is confident research in Oman will continue to expand.

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