THE STUDY OF INFILTRATION RATE AND  ATTERBERG LIMITS OF SOILS IN KOI SANJAQ CITY, ERBIL GOVERNORATE,  KURDISTAN REGION, NORTH IRAQ

B. Bapeer, Galawezh

	THE STUDY OF INFILTRATION RATE AND ATTERBERG LIMITS OF SOILS IN KOI SANJAQ CITY, ERBIL GOVERNORATE, KURDISTAN REGION, NORTH IRAQ
Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining
Article 1, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 41-55
Author
Galawezh B. Bapeer
Abstract
The present study aims to determine the infiltration capacity and some physical properties of soils from some selective locations in Koi Sanjaq city and near surrounding areas, within Erbil Governorate, north Iraq. The exposed geological formations (Pila Spi, Fatha and Injana) and Quaternary sediments have been studied, for this purpose. Pila Spi and Fatha formations are exposed in west, northwest, north, and northeastern parts of the study area, whereas, Injana Formation is exposed in the central, southern, southeastern, and southwestern parts of the study area. The Quaternary sediments cover some of the central parts of the study area, too. Sixteen locations were selected in different parts of the study area, for sampling and infiltration test application. These locations were selected according to the type of the exposed rocks and existing of the Quaternary sediments. The depth of the infiltration capacity with time, grain size distribution, and Atterberg limits are determined for all the studied locations. According to f (t) value, the infiltration capacity of the study area is between (Slow – Rapid). The infiltration capacity results indicated that the west and northwestern parts of the study area are characterized by Medium – Rapid rate of infiltration, the northern part is characterized by Medium rate of infiltration. Whereas, the central, east, southeast, southwest and northeastern parts are characterized by Slow – Medium rate of infiltration. However, the southern part is characterized by Slow rate of infiltration. Therefore, west, northwest and northern parts of the study area are considered as a good recharge areas for Koi Sanjaq city, as the Quaternary sediments are concerned, hence it is recommended not to use these areas for urbanization projects; to remain the area as a source of recharge for Koi Sanjaq city. The southern part of the study area is characterized by Slow rate of infiltration capacity, which indicates that it consists mainly of clay. The clay is characterized by high porosity, but low permeability, consequently the rate of infiltration is Low, therefore, this part is not recommended for deep water well drilling, consequently, the population of this part benefits the shallow water wells. The coefficient of permeability also is determined and the results indicated that the coefficient of permeability is High in the northern and northwestern parts of the study area, it decreases south wards. The study of the grain size distribution of the soil samples indicated that the north, west and northwestern parts of the study area are characterized by increase of coarse grained sediments; whereas the central, south, southeast and southwestern parts are characterized by increase of fine grained sediments. The Atterberg limits (liquid limit and plastic limit) indicated that the soil is generally with low to medium plasticity index.

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