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STRATIGRAPHY OF THE MESOPOTAMIA PLAIN | ||
| Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining | ||
| Article 1, Volume 0, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 1-36 | ||
| Author | ||
| Sabah Y. Yacoub | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The current study is a stratigraphic review of the Quaternary sediments of the Mesopotamia Fluvial Basin, which is essentially based on the data obtained from the regional geological survey carried out during 1975 – 1981, by the staff of GEOSURV. Many boreholes were drilled, the acquired data forms essential part of the present study. The Mesopotamia Fluvial Basin is an integral part of the Zagros Fold – Thrust Belt, which is developed as a result of the last phase of Alpine Orogeny during Pliocene – Early Pleistocene. It represents the area bordered by the uplifted Low Folded Zone, to the east and northeast, and the eastern margin of the Inner (Stable) Platform of the Arabian Shelf, to the west and southwest. At present day, the basin is totally covered by the Quaternary sediments, which are in some margins bounded by limited exposed Tertiary formations that extend beneath the thick Quaternary sediments, within the basin. Most of the stratigraphy of the Quaternary sediments has not been precisely determined due to the lack of accurate dating. However, relative ages of the main stratigraphic divisions, are suggested depending upon the stratigraphic correlation and their correspondence with global geological events; such as climatic changes. Three main stratigraphic subdivisions are recognized based on their relative ages; namely: Pleistocene, Late Pleistocene – Early Holocene, and Holocene. The main Pleistocene sediments are represented by river terraces, alluvial fans and fluvial sediments. The Pleistocene – Early Holocene Units include sheet run-off, gypcrete and slope sediments. While the Holocene Units include sediments of different origins, such as fluvial, lacustrine, marine, estuarine, Aeolian and anthropogenic. The Holocene sediments are also found in the modern sedimentary environments of the Mesopotamia Plain. The presence of Holocene marine sediments (i.e. Hammar Formation) has been confirmed in the Southern Mesopotamia Plain, indicating the influence of marine inundation during early to mid Holocene. Such a marine transgression has reached as far as Amara City, on the eastern side and Nasiriyah City, on the western side, about 200 Km north of the present day northern shoreline of the Arabian Gulf. | ||
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