Table 1 - uploaded by Varoujan K. Sissakian
Content may be subject to copyright.
Source publication
The Iraqi territory exhibits diverse topography in its different parts; from the extreme southeast, where the coastal area along the Arabian Gulf, passing northwards to the Mesopotamia Plain, and more north and northeast to hilly, low mountainous and high mountainous areas, respectively. Whilst towards west, the plateau of the Southern and Western...
Context in source publication
Similar publications
Irak'ın yüzey şekilleri üç bölümde incelenebilir; Kuzeyde Türkiye ve İran sınırı boyunca uzanan dağlar,ülkenin batı ve orta kısmını kaplayan çöller ve Ülkenin güney kesimini oluşturan taşkın ovaları. Fırat ve Dicle ırmaklarının oluşturdukları tüm ovalara Mezopotamya denir. Mezopotamya'nın Bağdat'ın kuzeyinde kalan kısmına El Cezire, Bağdat'ın güney...
The structural geology and neotectonics of Iraq represent the results of tectonic events during the geological time and mostly the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. The Arabian plate is divided into the shield, inner platform, and outer platform. Iraq is occupied by the inner and outer platforms. The outer platform is unstable and...
Citations
... It has been studied by many authors like [4] that recognized four stages of the fan. [5] described Al-Batin alluvial fan as a "multistage, large fan encased in gypcrete". [6] describe the groundwater of the Al-Batin alluvial fan aquifers with a hydrochemical and isotopic investigation, while [7] pointed out the geomorphology and the type of source rock for the volcanic fragments in Wadi Al-Batin. ...
This research aimed to know the tectonic activity of the Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan using hydrological and morphotectonic analyses. Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan is deposited from Wadi Al-Rimah in Saudi Arabia, which extended to Iraqi and Kuwait international boundaries. The longitudinal and transverse faults that characterize this region were common. The Abu-Jir-Euphrates faults have a significant impact on the region. The faults zone consists of several NW-SE trending faults running from the Rutba in western Iraq to the south along the Euphrates through Kuwait and meeting the Al-Batin fault to the Jal Al-Zor fault. The Hydromorphometric analysis of the present fan shows five watersheds having asymmetry shapes, more elongated and activity from the elongation ratio and asymmetry factor values. In contrast, transverse topographic symmetry and mountain front sinuosity factor have moderate to low activity from the stream length gradient index. The morphotectonic analysis suggests that the Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan has a moderate tectonic activity due to the tectonic activity of the subsurface lineaments and the oil field activities found in the region.
... This fan, with its head in the south and its base in the north and northeast, takes an important role in the transfer of igneous sediments and rock fragments after their erosion from the Arabian shield and deposition in the form of a fan (Al-Gurairy et al., 2017). The Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan was located in the Mesopotamian Zone, and the dominant sediments are the Dibdibba Formation deposits (Sissakian et al., 2014). The research area has a desert environment with high-temperature extremes and precipitation that are modest and seasonal, with low humidity levels and a rise in the number of hours of sun brightness (Abdulameer, 2016). ...
... Wadi Al-Batin Alluvial fan considers the main source in supplying the southern governorates, such as Basra and Samawah with water requirements. It has been studied by many authors like Al-Sharbati and Ma'ala (1983) that recognized four stages of the fan, Sissakian and Abdul Jab'bar (2014), considered Al-Batin alluvial fan as multistage, and large fan which covered by gypcrete. Al-Kinani and Merkel (2017) describe the Hydrochemical and isotopic investigation of groundwater of the Al-Batin alluvial fan aquifer, while Abd Al Karim (2009) pointed out that the fan of Wadi Al-Batin was formed during the rainy period of the Pleistocene era and mentioned a number of dry valleys that cut through its surface. ...
... It starts from Wadi Al-Rummah in Saudi Arabia, passes through the Kuwaiti border and ends in Iraq. Al-Batin alluvial fan is the biggest fan in Iraq in the Southern Desert (Sissakian et al., 2014). It is located between latitude (30 23-30 51) N and (46 43-4715) E. to extend from the line of equal height (100 m) above sea level and even a streak (5m) above sea level to occupy an estimated space (5.573-2 m) inside Iraqi boundary (Al-Sulaiman et al., 1995). ...
Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan starts from Wadi Al-Rummah in Saudi Arabia and passes through the Kuwait and Iraq borders. The fan represents the southern and northern limits of the Iraq and Kuwait national boundary, respectively, deposited by Wadi Al-Batin on the southern border of the main wide depression formed by the effectiveness of the Abu Jir-Euphrates Fault. The present study aims to evaluate the hydrological properties of the fan and perform a morphometric analysis to find the groundwater flow, structural, and drainage network of the study area based on fieldwork information and satellite images using remote sensing technique and GIS environment. The hydrological analysis shows that the drainage density pattern direction in Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan is from the southwestern to the northeastern parts of the Wadi Al-Batin alluvial fan. The morphometric analysis results show that the Wadi Al-Batin fan is divided into five watersheds; each has seven stream orders, watershed 1 has the highest value of stream order, and watershed 2 has the lowest value of stream order. The drainage texture value range between fine, moderate, and very fine, which indicates the geological setting of the region consists of the Dibdibba Formation exposed in the study area. Watershed 3 has the highest value, and watershed 1 has the lowest value of stream frequency. The form factor value for all watersheds is less than 0.5 and has an elongated shape. The watershed 3 has the highest basin relief value, while the watershed 4 has the lowest value of basin relief.
... According to Fouad (2013), the involved area is located within the inner Platform and the outer Platform of the Arabian Plate [14]. The rate of tectonic movement is 0.2-2.5 cm/100 year as up-lifting [15]. About three longitudinal and other three transvers faults cross the study area [16]. ...
A 3D velocity model was created by using stacking velocity of 9 seismic lines and average velocity of 6 wells drilled in Iraq. The model was achieved by creating a time model to 25 surfaces with an interval time between each two successive surfaces of about 100 msec. The summation time of all surfaces reached about 2400 msec, that was adopted according to West Kifl-1 well, which penetrated to a depth of 6000 m, representing the deepest well in the study area. The seismic lines and well data were converted to build a 3D cube time model and the velocity was spread on the model. The seismic inversion modeling of the elastic properties of the horizon and well data was applied to achieve a corrected velocity cube. Then, the velocity cube was converted to a time model and, finally, a corrected 3D depth model was obtained. This model shows that the western side of the study area, which is a part of the stable shelf, is characterized by relatively low thickness and high velocity layers. While the eastern side of the study area, which is a part of the Mesopotamian, is characterized by high thickness and low velocity of the Cretaceous succession. The Abu Jir fault is considered as a boundary between the stable and unstable shelves in Iraq, situated at the extreme west part of the study area. The area of relatively high velocity gradient is considered as the limit of the western side of the Mesopotamian basin. This area extends from Najaf-Karbala axis in the west to the Euphrates River in the east. It is found that the 3D stacking velocity model can be used to obtain good results concerning the tectonic boundary.
... The longitudinal profile is slightly concave and transverse profile is arched. Alluvial fans have slopes that are usually less than 10° and best developed in semiarid terrains, whereas, elongate mountain are tectonically active and lack protective vegetation cover, and are subjected to erosion by heavy rain precipitation [9]. Alluvial fans are supposed to act as useful landforms to determine the tectonic activity level [10]. ...
This is an Open Access Journal / article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. All rights reserved. The study area is located within the northeast part of Iraq, covering 958 Km of its area. The aim of this research is to define the heavy mineral composition of alluvial fans of Peramagroon anticline, and try to determine the origin or the source of these alluvial fans. 10 samples were collected from these alluvial fans, the samples were separated into light and heavy fractions by heavy liquids, the rock fragments were composed mainly of carbonate, chert, igneous, and metamorphic rock. The heavy minerals are mostly opaque's, chlorite, pyroxenes, amphiboles, epidotes, garnet, biotitic, kyanite, staurolite, and muscovit. The north east part of Iraq is known to be tectonically an active area due to its position in the north east marginal part of the Arabian Plate, which is in collision with the Eurasian (Iranian) Plate. This area had suffered from Nontectonic movement, which is indicated by the existence of large alluvial fans such the Qara Chattan and Sutuka. The heavy minerals analysis proved that the studied area is characterized by high tectonic activity.
... The stages can be seen and limited clearly; depending on the: 1) tone, 2) drainage density, 3) drainage type, 4) materials of the top cover and 5) cultivation density (Fig. 5). They are multi stages, medium sized alluvial fans covered by gravels [17]. These five parameters are used to recognize the studied alluvial fans, which are not clear in satellite images. ...
... Although the morphological characters of the alluvial fan are vanished ( Fig. 6), but the studied subsurface sections indicated the fan with its lithological details [5,6]. It is one stage large fan covered with gypcrete [17]. ...
Hundreds of alluvial fans are developed and still under development in the central and eastern parts of Iraq. The fans are of different sizes, types, shapes and stages, laid down by rivers, permanent streams and valleys. The composition of the sediments of the fans differs widely depending on the source of the sediments, the depositional area, size and type of the fan. Some of the alluvial fans have typical fan forms; others are hardly recognized, especially in the field; in nature; and more specifically when the fan areas are occupied as agricultural fields and/ or are very large with very gentle gradient that hinder their occurrences. Majority of the studied alluvial fans in the studied area are not presented on geological maps. This is attributed to the fact that they are not presented on the base geological maps because they are unrecognizable in the field, mainly because they have lost their fan shapes. Others; however, are presented even on the geological map of Iraq at scale of 1:1000000. In this study, the main alluvial fans are presented and described with the reason and form of their deposition. Accordingly, different types of alluvial fans are presented and described including their coverage areas, types, number of stages, shape and constituents. This is performed through interpretation of different types of satellite images, documented field data and the experience of the authors with their long careers and expertize in the field.
... The two cliffs are the most significant geomorphological feature in the involved area, forming erosional ridges suffering from different types of mass movements. In between the ridges, the area is covered by a very large alluvial fan of one stage [16], developed ...
In central part of Iraq within the vicinity of Karbala-Najaf, two cliffs called “Tar Al-Say’ed” and “Tar Al-Najaf” form
conspicuous geomorphological forms between the Mesopotamia Plain and the Western and Southern Deserts. The top surface
between the two cliffs (tars) is covered by alluvial fan sediments, laid down by Al-Khir Valley when merging in a large depression
due to the drop in the gradient of the valley. Consequently, the depression was divided into two parts, to the left is called
Al-Razzazah Depression, whereas to the right is called Bahir Al-Najaf. This affected the course of the River Euphrates. The
deposition stopped due to an uplift movement which caused the elevation of the two cliffs which are covered by alluvial fan
sediments. The two cliffs had and are still suffering from retreating, due to lateral erosion by wave actions in Al-Razzazah
Depression. Springs located along a straight line, sag pond, deflected drainage, shutter ridges and pressure ridges can be noticed in
the area. The age of both cliffs is estimated to be upper Late Pleistocene—early Holocene
... However, according to their ages, only two types are present. These are: 1) Pleistocene alluvial fans and 2) Recent alluvial fans.It is worth mentioning that Sissakian and Abdul Jab'bar [18] have classified alluvial fans in Iraq, accordingly all the existing alluvial fans in the studied area are of Single Stage alluvial fans, with Small, Medium and Large Sizes, some of them are capped by calcrete, others by soil. In this studied, the tone of the alluvial fans are used to differentiate between old and recent fans, since light tone parts of alluvial fans are the younger and active parts of the fans (USGS, 2004). ...
... The majority of old alluvial fans in the studied area and even in the whole Iraqi territory are of Pleistocene age [4,6,7,8,18,20,21,22,23,24,25,26], and some of them may be even older, of Pliocene age. ...
The southern part of Sulaimaniyah Governorate and northern parts of Erbil, Kirkuk and Diyala Governorates are mountainous and hilly areas, the relief difference ranges from (50 – 500) m. Tectonically, they represent the contact between the Low Folded and High Folded Zones, which is marked by an outstanding geomorphological feature that is a continuous limestone ridge represented by the Pila Spi Formation (Late Eocene). The ridge form the southwestern limb of tens of anticlines that have NW – SE trend. The continuous ridge faces; south and southwest ward a highly dissected plain, which is covered by clastics of Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan formations, the plain forms typical badland morphology. Moreover, the Pila Spi Formation is overlain mainly by the Fatha Formation (Middle Miocene), it consists of clastics alternated with rarelimestone and gypsum. However, locally, the Pila Spi Formation is overlain by Oligocene and Early Miocene rocks, mainly of carbonate. During Pleistocene, due to wet phases, the flat plain was a favorite depositional basin for the flowing rivers, streams and valleys from the north and northeast to deposit their carried loads after gradient changes. Accordingly, huge amount of sediments were laid down in form of alluvial fans that are usually capped by calcrete. The developed fans were covering vast areas that extend southwards; about 45 Km from the main ridge of the Pila Spi Formation. The thickness of the alluvial fans is highly variable, it ranges from (3 – 15) m. The main constituents are also variable; either consists mainly of carbonates that are derived from the Pila Spi Formation cemented by calcareous and sandy materials, or consists of pebbles; derived mainly from the Bai Hassan Formation, which are carbonates and silicates, with subordinate amounts of igneous and metamorphic rocks cemented by calcareous and sandy materials with rare gypsuous materials too. The size of the clasts is also variable, in the former case they reach up to 50 cm, whereas in the latter case, they reach up to 30 cm. During Holocene, most probably late Holocene, the alluvial fans have suffered from intense erosion, consequently large parts were eroded and washed out by the developed dense drainage system.
The remaining parts nowadays, are in form of relics capping folded rocks of Fatha, Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan formations. Those which are nearby the main ridge form plateaus of different sizes, with gentle inclination manifesting the paleo-relief. Whereas,those which are far from the main ridge; form almost flat areas, occasionally are occupied as agricultural fields.
... However, according to their ages, only two types are present. These are: 1) Pleistocene alluvial fans and 2) Recent alluvial fans.It is worth mentioning that Sissakian and Abdul Jab'bar [18] have classified alluvial fans in Iraq, accordingly all the existing alluvial fans in the studied area are of Single Stage alluvial fans, with Small, Medium and Large Sizes, some of them are capped by calcrete, others by soil. In this studied, the tone of the alluvial fans are used to differentiate between old and recent fans, since light tone parts of alluvial fans are the younger and active parts of the fans (USGS, 2004). ...
... The majority of old alluvial fans in the studied area and even in the whole Iraqi territory are of Pleistocene age [4,6,7,8,18,20,21,22,23,24,25,26], and some of them may be even older, of Pliocene age. ...
The southern part of Sulaimaniyah Governorate and northern parts of Erbil, Kirkuk and Diyala Governorates are mountainous and hilly areas, the relief difference ranges from (50 – 500) m. Tectonically, they represent the contact between the Low Folded and High Folded Zones, which is marked by an outstanding geomorphological feature that is a continuous limestone ridge represented by the Pila Spi Formation (Late Eocene). The ridge form the southwestern limb of tens of anticlines that have NW – SE trend. The continuous ridge faces; south and southwest ward a highly dissected plain, which is covered by clastics of Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan formations, the plain forms typical badland morphology. Moreover, the Pila Spi Formation is overlain mainly by the Fatha Formation (Middle Miocene), it consists of clastics alternated with rarelimestone and gypsum. However, locally, the Pila Spi Formation is overlain by Oligocene and Early Miocene rocks, mainly of carbonate. During Pleistocene, due to wet phases, the flat plain was a favorite depositional basin for the flowing rivers, streams and valleys from the north and northeast to deposit their carried loads after gradient changes. Accordingly, huge amount of sediments were laid down in form of alluvial fans that are usually capped by calcrete. The developed fans were covering vast areas that extend southwards; about 45 Km from the main ridge of the Pila Spi Formation. The thickness of the alluvial fans is highly variable, it ranges from (3 – 15) m. The main constituents are also variable; either consists mainly of carbonates that are derived from the Pila Spi Formation cemented by calcareous and sandy materials, or consists of pebbles; derived mainly from the Bai Hassan Formation, which are carbonates and silicates, with subordinate amounts of igneous and metamorphic rocks cemented by calcareous and sandy materials with rare gypsuous materials too. The size of the clasts is also variable, in the former case they reach up to 50 cm, whereas in the latter case, they reach up to 30 cm. During Holocene, most probably late Holocene, the alluvial fans have suffered from intense erosion, consequently large parts were eroded and washed out by the developed dense drainage system.
The remaining parts nowadays, are in form of relics capping folded rocks of Fatha, Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan formations. Those which are nearby the main ridge form plateaus of different sizes, with gentle inclination manifesting the paleo-relief. Whereas, those which are far from the main ridge; form almost flat areas, occasionally are occupied as agricultural fields.
... The two cliffs are the most significant geomorphological feature in the involved area, forming erosional ridges suffering from different types of mass movements. In between the ridges, the area is covered by a very large alluvial fan of one stage [16], developed ...
In central part of Iraq within the vicinity of Karbala-Najaf, two cliffs called “Tar Al-Say’ed” and “Tar Al-Najaf” form
conspicuous geomorphological forms between the Mesopotamia Plain and the Western and Southern Deserts. The top surfacebetween the two cliffs (tars) is covered by alluvial fan sediments, laid down by Al-Khir Valley when merging in a large depression due to the drop in the gradient of the valley. Consequently, the depression was divided into two parts, to the left is called Al-Razzazah Depression, whereas to the right is called Bahir Al-Najaf. This affected the course of the River Euphrates. The deposition stopped due to an uplift movement which caused the elevation of the two cliffs which are covered by alluvial fan sediments. The two cliffs had and are still suffering from retreating, due to lateral erosion by wave actions in Al-Razzazah
Depression. Springs located along a straight line, sag pond, deflected drainage, shutter ridges and pressure ridges can be noticed in the area. The age of both cliffs is estimated to be upper Late Pleistocene—early Holocene.
... It consists of four stages; therefore, it is considered as "multi stage large alluvial fan covered by gypcrete" [1]. The length of the fan is about 153.8 Km, whereas its maximum width is about 119.1 Km; however, the length from the outlet of the valley is only 110.192 Km. ...
... -Yacoub [15] [16] described the composition of the alluvial fan. -Sissakian and Abdul Jab'bar [1], considered Al-Batin Alluvial Fan as "multistage, large alluvial fan covered by gypcrete". ...
... Al-Batin Alluvial Fan is considered as "multi (four) stages, large alluvial fan covered by gypcrete" [1]. The length of the fan is 110.192 ...
Al-Batin alluvial fan is one of the largest alluvial fans in Iraq, especially in the Iraqi Southern
Desert. Its eastern and southern limits form parts of the Iraqi-Kuwait international borders. The
fan is deposited by Wadi Al-Batin, the last apex being on the southern limits of the main wide depression
formed by the active Abu Jir-Euphrates Fault Zone. The main trend of the fan is almost
SW-NE. The length and the maximum width of the fan are 110.192 Km and 119.1 Km, respectively,
whereas the slope along its length is 0.7˚. The fan is covered by gypcrete sheet with thickness varying
from (0.5 - 1.5) m. Four stages were recognized within the fan, which is dated to be Pleistocene
in age. The four stages are marked by clear height differences. The deposition of the alluvial
fan is highly affected by the activity of the active Abu Jir-Euphrates Fault Zone, which is represented
on the surface as a wide shallow depression in which the fan is laid down by Wadi Al-Batin.
The continuous deposition of the fan has affected the course of the Euphrates Formation within
Hammar Marsh and also the course of Khor Al-Zubair in its upper reaches south of Al-Qurna,
where the Euphrates and Tigris rivers merge together. Also there is a trace of ancient distributary
of the Euphrates River that was flowing directly to the Arabian Gulf, through an estuary, which is
abandoned and does not exist anymore.
