FOREWORD

All praises be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet and his Associates.

Dear Participants, On behalf of the Saudi Society for Earth Sciences I am very pleased to welcome all of you to the third meeting. I hope that this meeting and the meetings to come will provide us with opportunities to discuss and exchange ideas and thoughts about the geology of Saudi Arabia. The papers on the various aspects of the geology of Saudi Arabia that are going to be discussed in this meeting will make valuable contribution to its success and will add great knowledge to the progress of the scientific community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I am also honored to announce that we have received the permission from the Custodian of the Two Holly Mosques to hold the fourth, fifth and six meetings over the three coming years.

Finally, I would like to thank His Royal Highness Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud for his Auspices of our meeting.. Special thanks to his excellency Dr. Khalid Al-Ankary, Minister of Higher Education, and Rector of King Saud University his Excelancy Dr. Abdullah Al-Faisal for their support, and Special Thanks to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, (Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources, and the Dept. of Areal Survey), The Ministry of Defense and Aviation (Survey Dept.), Ministry of Agriculture and Water. King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology King Abdul Aziz University, King Fahad University, Saudi Ceramic Co .. Saudi Yamama Cement Co. Ltd., Al-Jeraisy Establishment, The National Commercial Bank and Dames and More company for their support and finall y special thanks to those who are working behind the scenes, the organizing, and the scientific committees of the Saudi Society for Earth Sciences.

Chairman

Prof. Dr. A. A. El - Khayal