What types of sediment cover the floor of the Persian Gulf?

The floor of the Persian Gulf is covered by a variety of sediments shaped by river deposits, wind, and biological processes:

• Gray-green muds: Found primarily in the deeper areas near the Iranian coast and the Tigris-Euphrates delta, these muds are rich in calcium carbonate.1
• Skeletal sands and carbonate muds: The shallower southwestern areas are covered with whitish gray or speckled sands composed of skeletal debris and fine carbonate muds.1
• Land-derived detritus: Immense quantities of silt are deposited in the northwest by the Tigris, Euphrates, and Karun rivers. Additionally, fine dust and quartz sand are blown into the gulf by northwest winds from surrounding deserts.1
• Hardened seafloor: In many locations, the seafloor has been cemented into rock by the deposition of calcium carbonate from the warm, salty water.1

Historically, the basin has accumulated vast quantities of sediment, including limestone, marls, and evaporites, which contributed to the region's significant oil resources.2