Northeastern Iraq Research Articles

Microfacies analysis, depositional setting, and microfossil assemblages of Qamchuqa Formation (Early Cretaceous) in Piramagroon mountains, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, northeastern Iraq

The Lower Cretaceous limestone of the Qamchuqa Formation (QF) in the studied area is located in the northeastern limb of Piramagroon Anticline, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, northeastern Iraq. A section is sampled and 103 samples are collected. From these samples, 106 thin sections are prepared for petrographic analysis under binocular and polarizer microscopes. Qamchuqa Formation is usually mostly dolomitized and microfossils are totally or partially destroyed, but fortunately, the studied section is affected by dolomitization only in the upper part, the lower and middle parts are not dolomitized and are rich in well-preserved microfossils of benthic foraminifera with some algae and corals. The purpose of this study is to determine the microfacies, depositional settings, microfossil assemblages, and age. Based on the petrographic studies of the thin sections, seven main types of microfacies are identified, which are represented by grainstone, packstone, wackestone, bindstone, boundstone, rudstone, and mudstone with other six subtypes. Analysis of these microfacies indicates that the Qamchuqa Formation is deposited in shallow water to open marine environments including intertidal, subtidal, lagoon, shoal, and middle ramp. Very rich benthic foraminiferal assemblages are studied and analyzed in thin sections. Twenty-four species of benthic foraminifers belonging to eighteen genera and one species of algae are recognized, of which sixteen species of benthic foraminifera are discovered for the first time. These fauna assemblages indicate the age of Early Hauterivian to Late Cenomanian.

Three Dimensional Terrain Modeling for Tectonic Geomorphology of Chinara Anticline, Northern Iraq

Analysis of the terrain using three-dimensional models offers a deep insight view of ground surface topography and terrain representation. The Chinara anticline is one of the main structures of NW-SE trends for the highly folded zone in northeastern Iraq. The objective of this study is to understand the interrelationship between topography and morphotectonic features using three-dimensional models. This research employed fourth generates principal raster derivative products from the DEM using ArcGIS. To understand the undulating of this anticline with the morphotectonic style, the adaptive equation has been suggested to determine the direction and amount of the main tectonic forces, which can be applied to other undulated anticlines. The values of northeastern and southwestern limbs undulating index UI are 11.7 and 7.8 respectively that indicates the strong tectonic force towards the northeast. Two listric faults have been conducted via the field survey that confirmed by remotely sensed interpretation and DEM products. These listric faults had an intensive impact in comparison with concluded strike-slip faults, and then the Chinara anticline would be less structural undulating in a region of vicinity syncline to Perat undulation. The morphotectonic landscapes reveal that the listric fault has branched into two parts, the first one extending to form the anticline and the other comprises the structural dilemma.

Petrography, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Hemrin Basalt, Northern Iraq: Implications for petrogenesis and geotectonics

The studied Hemrin Basalt (HB) was previously mis-identified and called burnt hills. The HB is studied petrographically and geochemically as constraints for its provenance and geotectonics. The immobile trace element plot of Zr/TiO2–Nb/Y as well as mineralogy, textures and hand specimen appearance indicate that the studied rocks are basalts. This basalt occurs as surficial thin layer capping few hills along a NW/SE oriented direction within the Injana Formation in the Low-Folded Tectonic Zone, which is not related and far from the ophiolites of northeastern Iraq. It consists dominantly of diopside, labradorite and volcanic glass, and many accessory and secondary vesicle-filling minerals (amygdules). The basalt is very fine-grained with a massive and vesicular/amygdaloidal structures, and sub-ophitic as well as very rare and unusual textures, called firework and feathery in this study which are very similar to those of lunar basalts. The large ion lithophile elements (LILE) are enriched 4.8 times relative to the high field strength elements (HFSE), indicated from the MORB-normalized diagram for major and trace elements. The average content of rare earth elements (REE) in HB is 140 ppm with 10.6 times enrichment of LREE relative to HREE which is reflected in their chondrite-normalized diagram having a negative slope of 7.6 and a small Eu-anomaly of 0.7. The (La/Yb)n–La plot showed that the source magma was fractionally crystallized; whereas, the immobile trace element ratios and elemental values such as Nb/U, Ce/Pb, Nb/La, LREE/HREE, LILE/HFSE, Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta indicated that source magma for HB was contaminated while rising through the Arabian continental crust. Many major, immobile trace and REE element discriminating diagrams showed that the studied rocks are high-K calc-alkaline basalts formed as a continental volcanic arc under orogenic convergent tectonic conditions because of the continent-continent collision between the Arabian and Turkish/Iranian plates. The surficial HB and the surrounding calc-alkaline tuffs are probably related and formed by the same volcanic eruption during Quaternary period, <0.5 Ma ago. The source of HB is most probably a hot spot volcano erupted in the area close to the studied hills, ejecting large amounts of volcanic ash which deposited the tuff beds and the associated bentonites in the surroundings, and culminated by a basaltic flow which formed the HB.

Facies associations and sequence stratigraphy of the Middle-Late Eocene Pila Spi Formation in the High Folded Zone, Kurdistan Region, northeastern Iraq

Facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of the Pila Spi Formation (Middle-Late Eocene) was studied from two outcrop sections (Bekhma and Gomaspan) within the High Folded Zone, Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The formation consists of light brown dolomitic, crystallized, chalky, limestones, and dolostone, alternating with multicolored marl and marly limestones. Chert nodules are present in the upper part of the formation. The petrographic analysis was based on 65 thin sections, and the results showed that the carbonate rocks are partially dolomitized. The distinguished bioclasts consist of benthic and planktonic foraminifera, micro-gastropods, calcispheres, ostracods, pelecypods, and bryozoans. Non-skeletal grains such as peloids, intraclasts, and extraclasts were also observed. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that abundant clay minerals are palygorskite with the rare existence of chlorite. Non-clay minerals include dolomite, calcite, and quartz with low pyrite contents. According to field observations, four different lithofacies were recognized. They are dolomitic limestone, chalky limestone, marl-marly limestone, and cherty limestone. Based on detailed microfacies analysis of limestones, four main microfacies and eleven submicrofacies types are observed. These microfacies are subdivided into two groups of facies associations; they are semi-restricted and open lagoon. The results of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes of the studied carbonate samples show negative values of δ18O, and this indicates that the seawater was warm with lower salinity. However the positive δ13C values reflect the deposition of organic-rich sediments with transgression of the sea and deepening of the basin. Two third-order depositional sequences are observed. Each of them is subdivided into a TST and HST, reflecting the transgression and stillstands of the relative sea level during Middle-Late Eocene.

Stratigraphy of the Oligocene-Early Miocene successions, Sangaw area, Kurdistan Region, NE- Iraq

Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Darzila section from Low Folded Zone, Ashdagh Mountain, Sangaw area, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq, is investigated. Forty-three species from twenty-nine genera of large benthic foraminifera (LBF) in addition to non-foraminifera fossils such as echinoid fragments, bryozoan, red algae, green algae, bivalve, and coral are recognized from the studied section. Based on the recognized large benthic foraminifera, it is subdivided into six biozones: Nummulites vascus - Nummulites fichteli Assemblage Zone, Eulepidina dilatata - Nephrolepidina marginata Concurrent-Range Zone, Praerhapydionina delicata- Peneroplis evolutus- Concurrent Range Zone, Meandrospina anahensis - Austrotrillin asmariensis Interval Zone, Ammonia beccarii –Austrotrillina howchini Assemblage Zone, and Dendritina rangi- Rotalia viennoti Assemblage Zone. Both suggest an Oligocene to Early Miocene age. Each of these biozones represents certain lithostratigraphic units, which are Sheikh Alas, Baba, Bajwan, Anah, Jeribe, and Fatha formations. The recognized biozones were correlated with comparatively well-known biozones from other parts of the tethys region which showed a good comparison between the biostratigraphic zones established in this study with other studies.

Microfacies Characterizations and Paleoenvironment of Upper Part of Qamchuqa Formation from Chwarqauran Section, Sulaimaniyia Area, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

The Qamchuqa Formation was studied in Chwarqauran section, Sulaimanyia, Kurdistan region, Northeastern Iraq. The lithology of the formation contains limestone throughout the whole section except for one bed of dolomite at the Middle part. Twenty-four slides were prepared from 24 rock samples that were taken from this section to discriminate the petrography and fossil content. The petrographic study shows four main microfacies including lime mudstone, wackestone, packstone, and floatstone. Additionally, there are four sub microfacies: bioclast wackestone, miliolid wackestone, bioclast packstone and orbitolinid packstone. However, the fossil content shows the abundance of benthic foraminifera against the planktonic. All the microfacies indicate facies zone 7, 8 and 9A which reflect deposition in the platform interior between the tidal flat to the mid ramp and back reef environment

Seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among University of Kirkuk female students.

The study was conducted in the College of Education/Hawija, University of Kirkuk from September 1st, 2018 until the period February 28th, 2019. The first part included determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, which involved collecting blood from the female students from different stages in the different colleges of the University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk province (northeastern Iraq), ranged ˂20-24 years old. All necessary information was recorded using a questionnaire prepared for this purpose. In the current cross-sectional study, 210 blood specimens were collected from participants. Blood specimens were examined for evaluated the levels of specific anti-toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies using the protocol of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed that the total infection of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was 9.05% for IgG via 3.33% for IgM with significant difference at p<0.05. According to risk factors, the univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only increase in domestic cats' owners and directly contact with the soil (gardening in the house) had a corresponding increase with distribution of the infection (p<0.05). Data in the present study revealed that the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence ratio among participants was 12.38%. It was observed that all of the risk factors in the present study had no statistically association with the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence, except cat ownership and house gardening once, where they were showed a highest odd ratio.

Petrographical and microfacies study of Sinjar formation in Bazyan anticline, Sulaimaniyah region (Northern Iraq)

Purpose. The work studies Sinjar formation (upper Paleocene lower Eocene) within the Bazyan anticline in the Sulaimaniyah region (northeastern Iraq). The facies analysis is based on the petrographic study of limestone deposits and is essential to identify their nature. The sediments that formed Sinjar formation have a high content of skeletal granules which include a small amount of red algae and residues of unicellular organisms-foraminifera. Methodology. The method of work included two main aspects: field study and laboratory work. The first part included the field description of the rocky excavation and modeling of 10 rocks samples from it within the Bazyan section. As for the second main aspect, it included the preparation of 10 slides for petrographic study of Sinjar Formation rocks followed by a facial analysis of these deposits. Findings. Micro facial analysis showed that the sequences of Sinjar formation consist of three main facies. The wacky limestone facies bears benthic foraminifera. The facies of compact limestone bears the benthic foraminifera and red algae while the compact wacky limestone facies bears the fossils. Originality. Wacky limestone facies bearing benthic foraminifera, compacted limestone facies bearing benthic foraminifera and red algae, and wacky limestone facies bearing benthic foraminifera were selected and studied. Thus, according to the facial analysis, Sinjar formation was deposited within the open shelf before the formation of the main deposit. Practical value. Samples of rocks were obtained from the Bazyan anticline for further production of slides in order to study the facies of this anticline, which allowed showing its lithostratigraphic column.

Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Environment of Kolosh Formation in Dohuk Area, Northern Iraq

The present study deals with biostratigraphy, depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy of Kolosh Formation in two sections of Bekher anticline, northeastern Iraq by using the planktonic and benthonic foraminifera. Therefore, (48) species of planktonic foraminifera belonging to (14) genera and (34) species of benthonic foraminifera belonging to (19) genera have been recognized. The detailed planktonic foraminiferal investigation permits the recognition of seven well defined biozones and three subzones; they indicate that Kolosh Formation extends from the Early Paleocene (Danian) to Late Paleocene (Thanetian) age. The depositional environment of the formation was studied throughout relying on the variation in the diversity of planktonic forminifera, as well as throughout the ratio of the planktonic foraminifera to the whole mass of foraminifera, and the ratio of planktonic forminifera to the benthonic formiminifera. The lower part of the formation represents the upper bathyal environment, while the middle part deposited within the outer shelf environment, then deposition basin became within the middle shelf area in the upper parts of the formation. Sequence stratigraphic analysis for the studied sections of Kolosh Formation delineated three sequences which is interpreted as 3rd order sequences, and it is found that the deposition of Kolosh Formation in the Badi section had been occurred in shallower level for most sedimentation intervals compared to the Linwa section which represents a somewhat deeper marine environment.

Sedimentological and Biological indicators of oceanic anoxic events (1d) inside upper Balambo Formation, L. Albian, northeastern Iraq

The studydeals with succession from the upper part of the Late Albian Balambo Formation which are composed of fine-grained dark gray to black calcareous shale, limestone and marly limestone rich in sedimentary structures such as lamination, fissility and platy structures. Microfacies analysis revealed that mudstone, wackstone and few of packstone are the main facies in the studied succession. The studied rocks generally are rich in organic matter and pyrite in addition to dominance of radiolaria, sponge spicules and foraminifera with elongated champers maybe “Schackoina” genus. All these characters indicate deposition in marine conditions with reduced or absent-oxygen condition that relate to oceanic anoxic event (1d).

Biostratigraphy and Systematic Palaeontology of Late Cretaceous Heterohelicidae Foraminifera from Kurdistan Region North-eastern Iraq

The biostratigraphical importance and systematic palaeontology of Early Turonian to Early Maastrichtian Heterohelicidae Planktic foraminifera from Kurdistan region, NE Iraq are described. Some 24 species from 11 genera are recorded. Species abundance and diversity increase from the Early Turonian to Early Maastrichtian, perhaps signifying cooler sea temperatures in the Arabian sector of the Tethys Ocean during the Early Maastrichtian. Despite the long biostratigraphical ranges of some species, the importance of the biserial and multiserial Planktic foraminifers in Late Cretaceous biostratigraphy is emphasized. From a biostratigraphic perspective, heterohelicids are important for the definition of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary in Kurdistan region, with Planoglobulina species being especially important in this respect, as they are in Iran, Turkey and North Africa.

Some Ostracoda Species of the Genera Cytherelloidea, Baidria, Loxoconcha, Buntonia, From Khurmala Formation (Late Paleocene-Early Eocene) in Bekhme Dam Village, Peart Anticline, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq

Some Ostracoda Species of the Genera Cytherelloidea, Baidria, Loxoconcha, Buntonia, From Khurmala Formation (Late Paleocene-Early Eocene) in Bekhme Dam Village, Peart Anticline, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Ground and Tap Water of Chamchamal City - Sulaymaniyah Governorate / Kurdistan Region, Iraq

This study focused to determine the heavy metals (i.e. arsenic, copper, chromium, cadmium, cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead and zinc) content in ground and tap water, and their health impacts in Chamchamal city, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, north-eastern Iraq. Twenty five samples were collected (i.e. thirteen groundwater and twelve tab water samples). The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technology (ICP-MS), was used to measure the contents of those metals.&#x0D; The Heavy metal Pollution Index (HPI) values of some ground and tap waters in the northern part of the study area are moderately polluted. Whereas, far north east of the studied area registered (highly polluted) with heavy metals which could be related to the industrial activities and filtration of these heavy metals from soil to water. Moreover, this study shows that there is no carcinogenic health risk of heavy metals in the studied area. The hazard index (HI) values of the ground and tap water samples in Chamchamal city appears to be less than one for all heavy metals in adults and children. The carcinogenic risk (CR) for arsenic, chromium and lead within the ground and the tap water are within the acceptable range for both adults and children.

Sedimentological, Paleontological and Mineralogical Evidences for Oceanic Anoxic Event-2 (OAE-2) in the Gulneri Formation (Early Turonian), Northeastern Iraq

In the current work, the Gulneri Formation (Early Turonian) is studied in three surface sections (Degala, Dokan and Azmir) from northeastern Iraq. The formation is characterized by grey to black color limestone and marly limestone in the Degala and Dokan sections, whereas in Azmir section, fissile marl and marly limestone with pale to reddish color are dominated in addition to few beds, which occasionally contain fish remains, with distinct gray color reflecting the very few amount of total organic carbon in these beds. Microfacies analysis revealed that the formation consists of three microfacies: mudstone, wackestone and packstone. The predominance of dwarfish planktonic foraminifera (Heterohilex) and thin shell filaments particularly in packstone microfacies represent Heterohelix shift event and filament event respectively. In addition to these events, fish remains, radiolarian pyritization, planktonic foraminiferal chambers elongation and glauconite are all refer to anoxic environmental conditions that may have been coincided with the Global Cenomanian-Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE-2).

Petrography And Diagenetic History Of The Kometan Formation (Upper Cretaceous) In The Imbricated Zone, Iraqi Kurdistan Region

The petrography and diagenetic history of Upper Cretaceous Kometan Formation is investigated from its type locality in Kometan Village, Imbricated Zone, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq. The formation comprised 44 m of white weathered, light grey, thin to medium bedded fractured limestones with chert nodules and lenses in the upper part. The petrographic study of the formation is based on 50 thin sections and showed that the majority of limestones microfacies are carbonate mud (micrite). The skeletal grains include planktonic foraminifera, oligostegina, calcisphers, ostracods, pelecypods, larvae ammonoids and echinoderms. Non-skeletal grains include peloids only. The Kometan Formation has been subjected to several diagenetic processes such as: micritization, dolomitization, cementation, neomorphism, compaction, silicification, solution, phosphatization, glauconitization and fracturing. All these occurred during marine phreatic shallow burial stage and activated during intermediate to deep burial and uplifting in the late stages. The paragenetic history of the Kometan Formation has passed through four diagenetic environments including; marine, meteoric, burial and uplifting.

Green Glauconitic Marl Bed As A Sequence Stratigraphical Key For Interpretation Of Contact Between Qamchuqa And Bekhme Formations In Bekhal Area, Kurdistan Region, NE Iraq

This study incorporates a study of stratigraphy and sedimentology of the green glauconitic marl bed between Qamchuqa and Bekhme Formations in selected section of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The studied area is located in Gali Garukaju near Rwanduz in Erbil Governorate, northeastern Iraq. Instead of Basal Conglomerate bed, the thin beds of green glauconitic marl occurs along the contact between Qamchuqa and Bekhme Formations in the studied section. Six samples were collected from this section, two samples for XRD and four samples for petrography analysis. Samples for XRD and petrographic analysis were taken from green glauconitic marl beds at the contact between two formations and from upper contact of Qamchuqa Formation and lower contact of Bekhme Formation. XRD analysis data proved the presence of glauconite in green marl bed. General petrographic observations of other remaining four samples in thin sections reveal that the upper contact of Qamchuqa Formation and lower contact of Bekhme Formation are dolomite and dolomitic limestone. The dolomite bed represents type 1 or type 2 depending on the thickness and extension of dolomite bed. Color, morphology, maturity and abundance of glauconite grain were the dominant factors used in the determination of the surface between the two formations. The result emphasizes that the surface was not a gradational surface consisting of low stand and condensed system tract (LST/CS). Two factors, color and morphology, of glauconite grains were analyzed by binocular microscope under reflected light. The morphology of most glauconite grains in this section is ovoidal and tabular with green to dark green in color. Based on these two factors the glauconite grains were within stages 3 and 4 of McCracken et al. (1996) classification and can be interpreted as evolved and high evolved in view of maturity. The presence, increase in concentration and mature grains of glauconite (evolved and high evolved) in marl beds at lower part of Bekhme Formation indicate transgressive or maximum flooding surfaces.

Genetic epidemiology of hemoglobinopathies among Iraqi Kurds.

Hemoglobinopathies are major health problems among Iraqi Kurds, who are a distinct ethnic group inhabiting North and Northeastern Iraq. We reviewed published literature on these disorders in this part of the world, and it was revealed that the most prevalent is β-thalassemia with carrier rates of 3.7-6.9%. Alpha thalassemia is less prevalent with carrier rates of0.03-1.22%, while the sickle cell gene is variably distributed with carrier rates of 0.06-1.2%. Other structural hemoglobinopathies and δβ-thalassemia are sporadic. Twenty-seven different β-thalassemia mutations were identified, with seven constituting 82% of 1039 chromosomes characterized, namely: IVS-II-1 (G>A), IVS-I-6 (T>C), IVS-I-I (G>A), codon 8 (-AA), codon 8/9 (+G), IVS-I-110 (G>A), and codon 5 (-CT). There were notable regional variations in the distribution of β-thalassemia mutations, with Cd44 being mainly prevalent in the North, while IVS-I-110 is mainly prevalent in the East. In relevance to α-thalassemia, ten different mutations were detected, with the four most frequent constituting 92.4% of 262 alleles characterized being: -α3.7, --MED, α-5ntα, and αPolyA1α. In relevance to sickle cell gene, it is seen in the northern part of the region bordering Turkey, with comparable prevalence rates, and is associated, similar to Turkey, mainly with the Benin haplotype, unlike that in Southern Iraq where it is associated with the Arab-Indian haplotype, similar to Eastern Arabian Peninsula. Given the high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in the region, and the high rates of consanguineous marriages, a preventive program was initiated in 2008, and results of its first 5 years were promising, though there are still many outstanding challenges that require addressing.

The Study of the Biological Diversity in the Mountainous Environment of North and North-Eastern Iraq -Problems and Solutions-

The current research aims to study the biological diversity in the mountainous environment of north and north-eastern Iraq and to discover the geographical factors affecting this diversity in terms of natural factors, climate, terrain, water resources and human factors from population growth, road construction, overfishing, shrinking pastures and military operations, and the change experienced by living things in The study area during the past decades, as animals, wild birds and even vegetation were subjected to declining numbers and shrinking the area of ​​their natural habitats, which was reflected in the deterioration of the natural heritage of the study area, and therefore large groups of them were exposed to the risk of extinction, and in order to determine the current reality of the biological diversity of the mountain region, In this study, research, references, and reports of international and local organizations from the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, the United Nations Environment Program, the Nature Organization of Iraq, and publications of the Iraqi Natural History Museum were , which included recent explorations of the neighborhoods of the region along with some field visits for the year 2018 AD, and the use of geographical information systems (GIS) programs then come up with some results that serve the search.The study revealed the existence of a rich diversity of plant and animal organisms, forest ecosystems and an ecosystem of natural caves in the mountain environment, and the existence of a relationship and impact between climate and surface manifestations on the diversity and distribution of wildlife, in addition to the multiple human factors that have affected the numbers and types of these organisms, The bottom line is that the mountainous region possesses physiographic features from a geographical location, diverse terrain, a favorable climate, and a rational government, all of which qualifies it to become safe havens for biological diversity and the genetic banks of living organisms if the best use of these resource constituents is provided.

MANAGEMENT OF BAI HASSAN UNCONFINED AQUIFER, LESSER ZAB RIVER BASIN, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ USING A MODELING APPROACH

A numerical groundwater modeling approach is presented to quantify spatial and temporal trends in groundwater flow and availability, and to analyze the cumulative impacts of human activity on the shallow Bai Hassan aquifer underlying the central portion of the Lesser Zab River Basin, Kurdistan region, Iraq. The study area lies in the Kurdistan region of northeastern Iraq between the cities of Mosul, Kirkuk, Erbil, and Dokan. Increasing population, some of which has been displaced by conflict, coupled with continuing drought, climate change, and increasing agricultural irrigation, has intensified the need to identify water resources in the region. The Bai Hassan Formation (Pliocene – Pleistocene) is exposed in much of the basin and appears as a large potential source of water. Initial model inputs are in part based on the 365 historical data from the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources and monitoring of about 40 wells in the area during 2014. The transient simulation model assumes 500 new wells will be drilled within the next ten years, with a discharge rate equal to 20 l/sec and with a pumping duration of eight hours daily. Simulations model of the future pumping and recharge for five and ten years from the present shows a general decrease in hydraulic head in the unconfined aquifer on both sides of the Lesser Zab River but do not show a significant and immediate impact on the surface water flow. The recommended solution is to prevent excessive depletion in the middle and southern parts.

Geology and Structural Description of Shakrok Anticline; Northern Iraq

The studied area is a part of the Arabian plate located within the High Folded Zone of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt in northeastern Iraq (Kurdistan Region). The Study area deals with the Shakrok Anticlines is located between Safin Mountain and Sork Mountain. These structures are formed during the Alpine Orogeny in Cretaceous-Tertiary period. Generally, the folded structures are trending NW-SE direction which is parallel to the main Zagros Orogenic trends.&#x0D; The exposed stratigraphic succession of the studied area that represented by 4 formations deposited from the Early Cretaceous which are Shiranish, Aqrah, Bekhme and Qamchuqa formations. Shakrok Anticline are asymmetrical, double plunging and verging toward northeast. This establishes that Merawa is a Tertiary continuation part of Cretaceous Shakrok Anticline, but there is a deflection in the direction of the fold axis that affected the Merawa Anticline due to the effect of strike slip fault addition to Lineament. Shakrok Anticline with Cretaceous successions formed due to the effect of Cretaceous and Tertiary folding phases. But Merawa Anticline with Tertiary succession that formed due to the effect of Tertiary folding phases.&#x0D; The high stress and intensity of the major fault on the southwestern limb rotated and overturned Tertiary successions and changed its dip toward NE.&#x0D; The differences in fold geometry, fold axis, axial surface, and curvilinear hinge imply that the structure formed as a result of two folding phases &amp; lateral growth of folds that developed by changing the direction of the compressional tectonic processes due to Alpine Orogene of Zagros. The fold axis of Shakrok Anticline rotated 16o in anticlockwise trend from Merawa to Sork anticlines. Because of anticlockwise rotation of the Arabian plate due to its collision with Iranian and Anatolian plates.