Iraqi Desert Research Articles

Using a 1D Radially Symmetric Coda Envelope Model for Robust Moment Magnitude (Mw) Estimation in Iraq’s Tectonically Diverse Zones

ABSTRACT Robust estimation of moment magnitude (Mw) can be challenging for Iraq due to the strong lateral heterogeneity across diverse tectonic zones. We aim to improve moment magnitude estimation by investigating the reliability of using a 1D coda envelope model in diverse tectonic zones of different lateral effects and offer a way forward for reliable estimates of Mw for small events that are difficult to waveform model. Iraq comprises two main tectonic zones: (1) the Outer platform, consisting of the northwestern Zagros fold-thrust belt and the Mesopotamian foredeep, and (2) the Inner Arabian platform which is overlain by the Iraqi desert. A simple 1D coda envelope model was used because coda waves have a low sensitivity to the source and path heterogeneity. Three separate coda calibrations were conducted to investigate the robustness of a single 1D calibration to fit the country: Whole-region calibration, Zagros calibration, and Mesopotamia calibration. In the whole-region calibration, we used stations from both the Zagros and Mesopotamia zones. In the two other calibration models, we used only stations that were in those particular zones. Ground-truth reference spectra derived from the coda spectral ratio method were used to constrain high-frequency site terms. There was no drastic difference when comparing the moment magnitudes calculated from the waveform modeling and the three calibration models. The results show that the 1D coda envelope model is a reliable method even for a region with diverse tectonic zones. Hence, we recommend using the whole-region calibration model for moment magnitude estimation that provides more complete path coverage and avoids biases introduced by path correction failures. The proposed calibration is a fundamental step in updating the comprehensive earthquake catalog and probabilistic seismic hazard assessments for Iraq.

Calculating the Water Balance for Kubaisa Basin by Simulating the SWAT Model, Western Iraqi Desert

This study aims to calculate the water balance of the Kubaisa Basin in the Western Iraqi Desert using the SWAT model. The study is based on simulating water discharges and the factors affecting them over several years (1990-2023). The geographical, climatic, and hydrological data were collected to run the model. The research results indicate that water distribution in the Kubaisa Basin was estimated during the studied period, including the quantities of surface water, groundwater, and discharges. Climatic results for the Kubaisa Basin indicated an increase in the trend line for total rainfall, temperature, humidity as a relative, and solar radiation, while the trend line retreated for wind speed for the same period. The results of the hydrological components of the basin, which were shown by the SWAT model, namely rainfall (RN-P), surface runoff (SR-Q), flow as lateral (LT-Q), flow as groundwater (GW-F), evapotranspiration as actual (ET), evapotranspiration as potential (PET), water-yield (WLD), and water that permeates past (percolates) the root zone (PEC) which are considered the main elements of the water balance, had values of 79.72mm, 3.10mm, 0.02182mm, 0.0028mm, 76.47mm, 1742.16mm, 3.12mm, and 0.00mm, respectively. This research makes important contributions to the understanding and management of water resources in the Kubaisa Basin and the Western Iraqi Desert regions and can be a basis for future research in the field of improving water sustainability in these regions.

Delineation Suitable Rainwater Harvesting Sites in Wadi Al-Mohammadi, Iraq

Water harvesting has become one of the topics of concern to most water specialists, due to its importance in managing water and preserving it from squandering. Wadi Al-Mohammadi is an example of a valley that needs the application of water harvesting and the exploitation of rainwater at all levels, being one of the main valleys in the Iraqi desert where surface water is lacking. The outcomes for water harvesting were derived using the SWAT model. Morphometric, the basin’s shape is far from being circular. Climatologic, the trend line indicates a clear increase in the total rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, and solar radiation, while the trend line indicates a decrease in the wind speed during the observed period. The main contributor to the total flow of Wadi Al-Mohammadi basin was surface runoff of about 99%, the base flow of about 1%, while the groundwater flow did not contribute any amount of that water. The annual average flow discharge was 0.138 m3/s with the average annual water volume being about 4.366 Mm3, while the average annual water volume calculated from runoff was about 4.651 Mm3. Dam 1 is the best-selected site with a suitable index of 97.5 followed by Dam 5, and Dam 2 with a suitable index of 95 and 90, respectively. Hence it falls under the category of highly suitable. The Dam 3 site falls within the modestly suitable category. Finally, the site of Dam 4 could not be established, because they had a suitability index of less than 70.

Preface

The Third Scientific Conference of Iraqi Desert Geology (IDGC 2023)The 3rd Scientific Conference of Iraqi Desert Geology (IDGC 2023) was held in the Department of Applied Geology, College of Science, Anbar University. Academics from Iraqi universities, postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD) in various geoscience specializations, researchers from the Iraqi Geological Survey, the Oil Exploration Company, the General Ground Water Authority, and other specialists interested in desert studies participated in the conference.The IDGC was held in person over two days from December 13 to December 14, 2023 in Ramadi, Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Each participant was given approximately 10 minutes to present the main findings of their research, followed by 5 minutes to discuss those findings.The research papers submitted to IDGC covered all geoscience disciplines related to the geology of the Iraqi desert. This included papers in stratigraphy, paleontology, structural geology, remote sensing, geophysics, hydrogeology, hydrogeology, petroleum geology, and geochemistry. The conference has taken place for the past three years and we believe the results will lead to significant contributions to the knowledge base in these scientific areas of contemporary importance.Sincerely yours,Professor Dr. Emad Abdul Rahman Mohammed SalihDepartment of Applied GeologyCollege of Science - Anbar UniversityChairman of the Scientific Committee of IDGC-2023List of Committee structure, Organizing committee, Scientific Committee are available in the pdf.

The role of water harvesting in the development of vegetation cover and reducing desertification within the desert dry areas

It has become necessary to find harmony between the need to exploit rainwater and increase agricultural production, while continuing scientific creativity, especially in the field of multiple techniques for harvesting rainwater. This is for human use, irrigation of crops, and preservation of the environment within the drought that affected the ecological balance. The study addresses the importance of water harvesting in the development of pastoral and medicinal vegetation, the advantages of water harvesting techniques, benefiting from available land resources in the Iraqi desert, maintenance of existing wells, and the role of Arab research centres in supporting and settling the local population. The water yield of the valleys was calculated using the SCS method. This method was applied in calculating the volume of water yield prepared by the US Soil Conservation Service. The state of water harvesting in the plateaus of the Kingdom of Morocco was discussed, as natural resources are available within the region represented in its biological environment, despite the existence of a state of pastoral deterioration. This case was chosen as a model to monitor the best projects that can provide a state of environmental balance and stability of natural factors. In addition to opening prospects for balanced development within the region.

Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution by Mixture of Reused Silica Gel Desiccant and Natural Sand or Eggshell Waste

The purpose of this work was to develop, characterize and test new low-cost materials suitable for removing methylene blue dye from water and wastewater by adsorption. The solid materials consisted of silica gel powder (SG), silica gel mixed with eggshell powder (SG-ES) and a mixture of silica gel with sand from the western Iraqi desert (SG-SI). The samples were milled by using an electrical mixer and a ball mill, followed by a drying step. In addition, desert sand was acid-treated in order to remove impurities. The structure and chemical composition of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscopy technique equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX), a low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (BET) technique, thermo-analytical (TG/TGA) measurements and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The previously mentioned materials were tested to remove methylene blue from an aqueous solution. The adsorption experiments were monitored by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry and showed that SG and SG-ES gave promising results for the methylene blue removal from water. After 40 min of treatment of the aqueous solution containing 10 mg/L of MB at room temperature, the tested SG, SG-ES and SG-SI materials were found to have 86%, 80% and 57% dye adsorption efficiency, respectively. Taking into consideration not only the adsorption activity of the studied material but their availability, cost and concepts of cleaner production and waste minimization, the developed silica gel with eggshell can be considered as a good, cost-effective alternative to commercially available activated-carbon-based adsorbents. Different kinetic and isotherm models were fitted to the experimental results. A pseudo-second-kinetics-order model revealed high correlation fitting, while the Freundlich model was found to appropriately describe the adsorption isotherm. The thermal stability during the possible regeneration process of the SG-ES adsorbent mixture and its interaction mechanism with cationic dye was discussed.

The Lower Silurian (Hot Shale) Source Rocks of Western Iraq: Depositional Model and Stratigraphic Distribution

The Hoseiba Member, an Early Silurian basal mature hot shale of the Akkas Formation (Silurian) consists of about 80% of the Paleozoic hydrocarbon potential system, it is organic-rich with total organic carbon up to 16% as the main source for the Paleozoic gas resources in Iraq. The hot shale is the main source of rocks that are penetrated in deep wells in the western Iraqi desert such as Akkas-1, Qaim-1, and Khleisia -1, which are distributed due to paleo uplift in the restricted regional basin in the west, south, and northwest Iraqi desert and wedged to north thrust zone in Ora area of extreme northern Iraq, Ora subbasin to Aljezira NW and in the west where the approved source rocks of ‘Hot shale” Akkas -Widyian subbasin (Rephrase). The Hoseiba Member, basal hot shale in the Akkas Formation in Iraq and their correlative units are extended within neighboring countries Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Oman, and south Turkey. Qualitative and quantity of Hot Shales source rocks Silurian are Excellent in Akkas well -1 (0.95-16.62%) TOC in Akk-1 Akkas sub-basin west Iraq and an average thickness (30 m.) with 1-9.94% TOC in Kh-1 Al-Jezira sub-basin NW Iraq. The hot shale distribution was controlled by the Caledonian uplift that created paleo-high in northern Iraq and moderately deep to the northwest, and deep depression deposition in west and south desert Iraq. The hot shale expulsion and migration of hydrocarbon are controlled by the underlying main reservoir of the Khabour Formation K1 sandstone ember by block faulting

Anabasis articulata exerts an anti-arthritic effect on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Anabasis articulata (AA) is commonly found in the Iraqi desert and is utilized in traditional medicine to cure kidney infections, eczema, fever, and diabetes. The paper aimed to identify the anti-arthritic impact of AA on arthritis models in rats. Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) was used intradermally (ID) for the induction of arthritis. The author classified animals into four groups randomly: The first group took normal saline (control), the second group received AA orally for 14 days before induction and continue 17 days after induction, the third group was induced by CFA and received normal saline orally (model group), and the fourth group took AA orally 17 days after induction. AA administration increased body weight (BW) but decreased arthritis index (AI), histopathological scores, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in synovial cells. AA has an important antiangiogenesis and anti-arthritic activity in arthritis model rats.

Sustainable Development of Wadi Houran- Western Iraqi Desert

Wadi Houran is one of the largest valleys in Iraq. Although it is discharging billions of rainfall water over/during many years to Euphrates river, it's almost devoid of agricultural investment. The current study aims to focus on this important valley water resource and study the possibility of constructing a series of small dams to store rainfall water and planting forestry and establishing a natural reserve that is able to sustain and improve ecology system. Target area of 4000 km2 is selected in the midstream of the valley. In general, it is about one billion m3 of rainwater flowing to Euphrates River during some years with yearly average values about 400 Mm3. Four dams were constructed to store about 46 Mm3 of rainwater. It is possible to construct small-dam-series of optimal height and location to expand the rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging. A Current study was done and aimed to establish of oases and natural reserves in order to improve climate conditions, minimize the dust and CO2, mitigation of summer high temperature and decrease the soil erosion due to torrents. This study recommended constructing 13 optimal height dams that store about 303 Mm3 of water, and increase the water surface area of reservoirs in this valley from 15 to 90 km2which leads increase the water volume that is recharging ground water from 4.7 Mm3 to 28 Mm3 per year.

A GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision for Groundwater Potential Zone in the West Desert of Iraq

In arid and semi-arid parts worldwide, the investigation of the groundwater potential recharging zone is a main target to recompense the massive shortage in rainfall and surface water supplies. Recently, the combination of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques became possible to overcome the water scarcity and supply all the water requirements for the population, agricultural and commercial purposes in the western Iraqi desert. Various thematic layers such as geology, slope, soil infiltration, land use and land cover, rainfall, drainage density, and lineament density were derived from RS data like Landsat 8 satellite images and the SRTM Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and published Iraqi geological maps. The thematic map of the parameters was generated and transferred into the raster form by employing the raster conversion tool in ArcGIS 10.8 software, and each layer was subjected to different assigned weights through adopting Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). The prospective map of the groundwater recharging zone in the study region is categorized into five regions. The output map shows that 3.21% of the area locates in the perfect potentiality zone, followed by 10.75% in the good potentiality zone, 38.6% moderate potential zone, 42.9% in the poor groundwater zone, whereas only 4.44% of the study area falls under the very high prospective zone. To attain the sustainable management of the groundwater in the Iraqi western desert, this study provides a primary methodology and significant database for the local management of water resources by adopting the groundwater perspective map.

Factors Controlling the Mineralogical and Geochemical Distribution of Phosphatic Deposits, Western Iraqi Desert

The Iraqi phosphorites distributed in western desert belong to Tethys phosphorites. They are found in Al-Rutba- H3, Al-Ga'ara, Akashat, and Al-Ethna and in the western wadi Aakash areas. The statistical factor analysis shows that the main five factors playing great roles in phosphate formation in the congenital shelf are the more active factors that control the mineralogical and geochemical distributions in phosphorites; they are (1) Phosphorus enrichment factor, which led to apatite (francolite) formation. (2) Depositional environment factor, which represents the deposition of phosphates in continental shelf of the southern part of Tethys Sea. (3) Mg withdrawing from sea water, the factor which controlled by clay mineral transportation like palygorskite and some dolomite that contributes to form apatite. (4) The slightly increased saline factor. (5) The cyclic alternative deposition factor, which represents the sequence deposition of phosphates, carbonates and cherts periodically.

Molecular Identification of the Truffles Tirmania pinoyi and Detection of Mycorrhizae Association with the Roots of Wild Helianthemum Species in Western Iraqi Desert

Desert truffles are edible fungi formed beneath the soil surface. They are ecologically native to the ecosystem of the Mediterranean, Eastern and Arab Gulf countries of the arid and semi-arid areas. The western Iraqi desert in Al-Anbar Governorate is an important region for truffle production in Iraq. Contrary to the previous seasons, the 2018-2019 in Iraq was an unprecedented in the abundance of truffles and rain averages, their frequencies. The rains spanned from October of 2018 to the end of May 2019. The sample of truffles in this study were collected from the desert and the markets easily recognized into two forms according to their traditional name, appearance, forming nature, delicacy, color, shape, inner tissue color, texture, smell, and sell price. These types were identified as Tirmania spp. and Terfezia spp. as macro and microscopically examination. Histological inspection of a wild Helianthemum spp. (Rugrug plants) roots showed the association of a mycorrhizal fungus. The BLASTn results for the sequence analyses revealed that the truffles that was morphologically identified as Tarminia spp. showed significant alignment with 1066/1066 (99.32%) identity for Tarminia pinoyi. On the other hand, soil sample obtained from around a truffle was of positive DNA extraction also showed significant alignment with 1038/1038 (99.30 %) identity for Tarminia pinoyi ( MK 478864.1). This finding, reported for the first time detection of the fungal truffles in the desert soil from the outside the ascocarps. In addition the association of mycorrhizal fungi with the wild plants Helianthemum roots that collected directly from the desert was confirmed.

Molecular identification and genetic diversity study of the Iraqi truffles

The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular identification of the Iraqi truffles species and a better understanding of genetic diversity in the center of the truffles habitat. Thirty-two samples were collected from the Iraqi desert and local markets. Samples were chosen depending on the morphological diversity of the fruit body and sample collection area. Results of ITS region sequencing for the 32 samples showed two genuses Tirmania and Terfezia are the main dominant, 4 species of Tirmania pinoyi and 28 species of Terfezia claveryi. All species sequences were deposited in NCBI GenBank and all had accessions number. The neighbor-Joining method was used to generate a phylogenic tree to study the genetic diversity of the ITS sequences for the 32 Iraqi truffle samples. Results showed a high genetic diversity for the Iraqi truffles samples. The phylogenic study showed Iraqi truffles clustered with different groups as a clade with the reference sequences from other countries represent three continents Asia, Africa, and Europe. Also, we found in this study a unique cluster group for the Iraqi sequences for T. pinoyi and T. claveryi truffles cluster in one group and do not match with any reference sequences used in this study. This is a piece of strong evidence proofed the Iraqi habitat could be the origin of center diversity for the T. pinoyi and T. claveryi truffles.

STUDY CYTOTOXICITY, ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY, AND COMPOSITIONS BY FT-IR AND GC-MS FOR ORGANIC EXTRACT OF WHITE IRAQI DESERT TRUFFLE TIRMANIA NIVEA

The purpose of the present work aimed at exploring the potential biochemical components and biological activities of an organic extract of the white truffle Tirmania nivea collected from the Iraqi desert, then test the organic extract against the Cytotoxicity on Human Larynx carcinoma cells and selected strains of pathogenic bacteria. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry GC/MSS were used to analyze mycochemical compositions. The antibacterial activity and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was investigated using a disk diffusion agar method. The truffle extract's cytotoxicity effect against the larynx cell line (Hep-2) was assessed by the MTT assay (in vitro). FTIR results provided the presence of phenol, carboxylic acid, and alkane's functional group, The GC-MS analysis of T. nivea disclose the existence of nineteen compounds that can contribute to the pharmaceutical properties of the truffle. As for antibacterial activity result, A growth inhibition activity of truffle extract at (18-40 mm inhibition zones) against the tested pathogenic bacterial strains was detected, which minimum inhibitory concentration values ranged from 3.12 to 6.25 mg/mL for Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) Respectively. The results of cytotoxicity shown that the organic truffle extract exhibited a high inhibitory rate (52.685%) against cell line (Hep-2) at a concentration of 1.56 ?g/mL. In this work, the results showed that the organic extracts of T. nivea are very promising as cancer cytotoxicity and antibacterial agent for future medical applications.

Contribution of Iraqi and Syrian dust storms on particulate matter concentration during a dust storm episode in receptor cities: Case study of Tehran

Frequent dust storms originated from Middle Eastern deserts impact major cities in Iran, including Tehran. Previous studies identified Iraqi and Syrian deserts as the main cross-border contributors to Tehran Particulate Matter (PM) levels. In this study, the contribution of Iraqi and Syrian dust storms to Tehran's PM10 and PM2.5 concentration were assessed during a dust storm episode. Initially, a dust storm event was identified through the statistical analysis of the recorded air pollution data at Tehran's monitoring stations and the visual inspection of the satellite images. A combination of CMAQ/WRF/SMOKE modeling systems was used to simulate PM concentrations from Tehran local sources and dust storms formed in Iraq and Syria. An emission inventory of Tehran anthropogenic and biogenic pollutant sources was also developed and distributed throughout the city. In order to obtain the contribution of the different sources to Tehran PM10 and PM2.5 concentration, several sets of simulations were performed using different emission groups including local sources, Iraqi dust storms, Syrian dust storms and both Iraqi-Syrian dust storms. The results showed local emissions comprised most of the PM concentrations, however cross-border dust sources heavily influenced PM levels at all monitoring stations during the dust event. Nearly 28% of the average PM concentrations were dust particles formed in Iraq and Syria. The simulation of the dust event showed Iraqi's desert were responsible for nearly twice amount of observed PM concentrations in Tehran compared to Syria's desert during the episode. The results of this study could be used for planning effective measures to reduce dust related pollution problems in Tehran.

Flowing well potential zoning at Iraqi southern and western deserts using frequency ratio and geographic information system

The objective of this study is to integrate geographic information system and bivariate frequency ratio method for the mapping of flowing well zones in the west and southwest parts of the Euphrates river basin of Iraq. Ten groundwater conditioning factors are identified as controlling factors of groundwater movement based on data availability, literature review, and expert’s opinions. The spatial association between flowing well locations and groundwater controlling factors is investigated by means of a probabilistic frequency ratio approach. Seventy percent or 148 wells from an inventory of 211 flowing wells in the study area are randomly selected for training, and the remaining 30 or 63% wells are used for validation of the probabilistic frequency ratio model. The estimated probabilistic ratio values are overlaid and summed to produce the groundwater potential index map. The results reveal that groundwater potential in 128,547 km2 or 84% of the total area is very low to low. The moderate potential zone covers an area of about 11,210 km2 or 7%, while the high and very high potential zones are found in an area of 12,982 km2 or 9% of the study area. Validation of obtaining results by means of a receiver operating characteristic technique reveals that the predictive accuracy of 94% indicating the excellent performance of the proposed approach for spatial zoning of groundwater flowing well boundary at Iraqi desert.

Biodiversity and bioecology of Iraqi desert truffles (Pezizaceae) during season 2014

<p><span lang="UK">Desert truffles were a mystery to the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans but this did not prevent their culinary enjoyment and knowledge of several varieties from various locations</span>. <span lang="UK">The hypogeous ascomycetes (desert truffles) were collected and identified from Hit market western Iraq</span> with its prices and environment.<span lang="UK"> Generally, two genera were observed viz., </span><em><span lang="UK">Terfezia</span></em><span lang="UK"> sp. and </span><em><span lang="UK">Tirmania</span></em><span lang="UK"> sp. Locally, </span><em><span lang="UK">Terfezia</span></em><span lang="UK"> sp. called in Arabic “ahraq” or “jaba” while </span><em><span lang="UK">Tirmania</span></em><span lang="UK"> sp. called “zubaidi” or “sheikh” or “shiuokh”. These truffles live in mycorrhizal association with </span><em><span lang="UK">Helianthemum</span></em><span lang="UK"> sp. or without any mycorrhizal association. </span>Desert t<span lang="UK">ruffles appeared from last January to beginning of March 2014 in this Iraqi market. Its prices started from 65000 IQD/kg (around 52 USD</span>/kg<span lang="UK">) then declined when high amounts of truffles are coming into market. Two factors, rainfall and exportation, effect on </span>desert <span lang="UK">truffles prices. Some of amounts were exported to Baghdad or other places (in side), or Jordan (outside), thus that led to increase its prices, and the reverse is true. </span><em></em></p>

English

Arid soils are complex ecosystem that maintains topographically distinct mycoflora populations. A total of 45 soil samples collected from the arid soils in Iraqi desert were cultured by dilution plate method and screened for Aspergillus terreus. The aim of this study was to enhance ecological knowledge of cultured colonies variation of A. terreus as well as environmental interactions in arid soils. An attempt is made to comprehensively screen desert soil for the wild type A. terreus producing lovastatin. The results show that the most frequent Aspergillus spp. included: A. niger (159 isolates), A. terreus (143), A. flavus (115) and A. fumigates (42) and other fungi. Genetically, the diagnoses of 19 isolates of A. terreus were in the scope of our interest. The specific primer pair had monomorphic bands of approximately PCR product of 450 bp. Ribotyping isolates of A. terreus with primer pairs (ITS1/ITS4 and ITS1/ITS2) were 19 isolates, with a single PCR product of 550-600 bp and 280-380 bp, respectively. RAPD-PCR was also used to distinguish between ecological patterns generated and allowed a distinction of very closely related environmental isolates. Lovastatin production was carried out with thin layer chromatography. Results suggest that phenotypic variations in A. terreus isolates were not useful for identifying them, and showed no significance in the identification in all the sites studied. However, using discriminatory molecular methods, such as amplification of the targeted regions by specific and universal characterization of the isolates could be pivotal in understanding ecological variation. Wild type soil isolates of A. terreus have the ability to produce lovastatin. Key words: Molecular ecological typing, Aspergillus terreus, arid soils, lovastatin, Iraq.

Erratum to: Refining landscape contexts for open-air, Lower and Middle Paleolithic sites: a case study from Muthanna Province, Southern Iraq

Open-air Paleolithic sites in desert and semiarid landscapes provide interpretive quandaries because of the absence of depositional matrices and stratigraphic controls. This paper argues that datable and stratified vertical contexts may be preserved in the vicinity of open-air artifact scatters. These, in turn, may account for paleo-environmental conditions that would have attracted Paleolithic groups. The site in question is in the Southern Iraqi desert, a locale heretofore terra incognita for early hominin activity. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates were taken from ancient spring and dune deposits in a depression flanking the hamada surfaces on which the artifact distributions were found. Geochemical and granulometric studies were used to reconstruct the depositional histories of the spring locale, and the dates were projected onto contemporary oxygen isotope curves that serve as proxies for the climatic cycles operational across the greater Near East. The advent of OSL dating provides a new window for dating events and environments linked to Paleolithic chronologies. The locations of surface scatters may signify preservation of nearby micro-environments which could be proxies for structuring landscape and occupational chronologies.

Evaluation of aggregate stability of some Iraqi western desert soils 2- Relationship between mean weight diameter and some soil properties

Soil samples were collected during the season of summer of 2011, from different locations of unused soil, in the western Iraqi desert. Soil samples conducted analyzes of soil taken from the horizons of the soil to investigating the depth of 30 cm. Soil sample passed through 8 and 4 mm sieves respectively, with natural moisture then air dried, took the soil aggregate on the sieve of 4 mm for the purpose of estimate the mean weight diameter(MWD). The results showed that the MWD Scattered with the soil characteristics, and shows the regression analysis that the characteristics of the soil in general do not give a significant correlation for each properties individually with MWD. The correlation is significant exponential decrease with the clay percentage when pre-wetting samples by flood with r2 equal 0.31, and logarithmic decrease with pre-wetting by steam and under 10 cm tension with r2 about 0.35 and 0, 18. Significant exponential increase to MWD with increasing the percentage of gypsum in soil sizes 0.25 – 0.5, but increase with power function with r2 0.47 for size less than 2 mm. MWD was increased with increasing soil gypsum content, with exponential relations, for particles size less than 0.25 mm with r2 around 0.51. The overlap, shows that the values of the r2 increase with 0.30, 0.27 and 0.20 for group soil separate and groups the physical and chemical properties respectively, to 0.65 when overlapping groups properties as average for all pre-wetted method, and gave the groups overlap ratios of lime, gypsum and organic matter r2 equal to 1.00, as well as when overlapping each studied properties, with different input regression analysis.