Geomorphic Indices of Tectonic Activity Through the Analysis of the Drainage Systems in Pera Magroon Anticline, Northeastern Iraq

Sarah Mohammed,Manal Al-Kubaisi,Azhar Bety

doi:10.33899/earth.2018.159267

Abstract

The study area (Pera Magroon) is located within Kurdistan Region, Sulaimaniyah Governorate, north and northwest of Sulaimaniyah city northeastern Iraq. Arc GIS, hydro tool is used to extract the drainage network in the area under study by using digital elevation models (DEM). The study area is covered by dendritic and parallel drainage patterns and divided into twenty sub-basins. Three geomorphic indices, Mountain-front sinuosity (Smf), Stream-gradient index (SL) and Valley floor width-valley height ratio (Vƒ) were calculated for sub- basins. Through averaging these three indices, we obtained index of active tectonics (IAT). The values of the index were divided into classes to define the degree of active tectonics. Therefore, relative tectonic activity is calculated and their values are classified and analyzed in three groups. The sub-basins were identified as very high, high and moderate levels..

Highlights

Pera Magroon anticline is a huge asymmetrical doubly plunging anticline within the High Folded Zone of the Zagros Fold Thrust Belt
This study presents a method for evaluating relative active tectonics based on geomorphic indices useful in evaluating morphology and topography
MATERIALS AND METHODS The digital elevation model (DEM), sentinel2 image and image processing software (Arc geographic information systems (GIS) V 10.3) are used to calculate geomorphic indices, which are suitable for assessment of tectonic activity of Pera Magroon anticline

Summary

INTRODUCTION

There are several major and minor anticlines and thrust faults existing within the High Folded Zone, the Pera Magroon anticline is located within these zones These major anticlines are considered as complex structures due to the deformation which had been caused by the collision of the Arabian plate with the Iranian plate It was intermittently uplifted in Cretaceous and Paleocene and strongly deformed in the Late Neogene causing regional compressive horizontal forces in NE-SW direction, leading to folds trending in NW - SE axial direction (Fouad, 2010), (Fig. 2). 3- Balambo Formation (Early Cretaceous): The formation consists of thinly bottomed limestone with intercalations of dark grey marl and or shale. 4- Sarmord Formation (Early Cretaceous): The total thickness of the formation is 450m, it consists of alternation of marl and limestone. Alluvial fans with fluvial deposits represent most of the Quaternary deposits (Sissakian and Fouad, 2014)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CONCLUSION