MINERAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL DEPOSITS IN THE MESOPOTAMIA PLAIN

M. Mustafa, Mazin

	MINERAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIAL DEPOSITS IN THE MESOPOTAMIA PLAIN
Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining
Article 1, Volume 0, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 1-14
Author
Mazin M. Mustafa
Abstract
The Mesopotamia Plain represents about 25% of the total area of Iraqi territory; it is a part of Arabian Platform, which is divided into Stable and Unstable Shelves, being a part of the Unstable Shelf. The sediments within the Mesopotamia Plain are fluvial, lacustrine, deltaic and Aeolian in origin. The sediments of each type are intercalated, horizontally and vertically. The Metalogeny of the Mesopotamia Plain is almost entirely related to the Quaternary sediments, which have a thickness that exceeds 180 m. There is very limited information on the pre-Quaternary economic deposits. The main economic deposits in the Mesopotamia Plain are fluviatile gravel and sand, clay, continental evaporites represented by salt pans and gypcrete, and partly the Aeolian sand. Peat is also recorded in many locations. The gravel and sand are used as a source for building material; they represent river terraces and alluvial fans, range in gravel to sand proportions and composition according to the source and distance of transportation. The Nuba'i, Chlat, Safwan and Chwaibda are the main localities for such deposits. The Aeolian sands are limited in use only in one area as a raw material for cement industry that is in Samawa vicinity. The clays are of fluvial and fluvio – lacustrine origin and are widely spread in the central and southern parts of the Mesopotamia Plain. According to their use; they are classified into two major groups: one is for brick industry and the other as a raw material for cement industry. Nahrawan deposit is the best example for brick clays and Samawa deposit as for cement industry. Continental evaporites are mainly represented by salt pans and gypcrete. The salt pans are formed by evaporation of saline water yielded by springs, then evaporate due to sun heating, leaving a veneer crust of salts. Samawa Salt Pan represents the best example for halite mineral production and Shari Salt Pan represents other type of salt minerals; mainly of glauberite. Other small salt pans are distributed in the middle parts of the Mesopotamia Plain. Gypcrete is also formed by evaporation of sulphate water raised by capillary action forming a fibrous texture with clay and sand. This type of deposits is commonly used as a mortar for brick. Peat deposits are recorded within different areas and they may be used as a source for fertilizer.

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