Influence of the Tectonic Activity on the Terraces of the Greater Zab River, NE Iraq, Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt (original) (raw)
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Arabian Journal of Geosciences
Geomorphological evaluation was carried out for three drainage basins named Hareer, Dwaine, and Hijran, which are tributaries of the Greater Zab River in the northern part of Erbil Governorate, the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, north Iraq. The exposed rocks in the three basins are mainly clastic rocks (sandstone, claystone, and conglomerate, with subordinate gypsum and limestone beds). However, in the uppermost parts of the basins, thick and massive carbonate rocks are exposed. Tectonically, the three basins are located in the Low Folded and High Folded Zones, which belong to the Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt. The main aim of the current study is to deduce the tectonic activity of the area occupied by the studied three basins. We have used and interpreted Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data to perform the geomorphological evaluation. Different geomorphological indices and forms were used to deduce the tectonic activity of the area occupied by the three basins. Accordingly, seven orders of stre...
2013
Study area is located in the higher folded belt in the Zagros Mountain in the Iraqi Kurdistan. Analyzed geomorphic indices included sixteen sub basins: the stream gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (AF), hypsometric integral (Hi), Valley floor width-valley height ratio (VF) and mountain front sinuosity (J) is obtained relative of tectonic activity in the study area. These indices above based to calculated (lat), so classified theses values into very high, high, modern and low, Basins 3,4 and 16 are very high lat, basins 2, 7,8, 13 , 14, 15 are high relative of tectonic, modern relative are in 5, 9, 10 ,11,12 and low relative of tectonic is in sub basin 1. The uplift of Arabian plate was more impact in the Pleistocene. In the Pleistocene its importance was lesser in comparison with the influence of climate changes. Climate changes result in diversity fluvial processes mainly in the time, variety of neotectonic movements result in their diversity in the space more than in t...
Geomorphology and Morphometry of the Greater Zab River Basin, North of Iraq
2013
The Greater Zab River is one of the main tributaries of the Tigris River. The river runs in the central northern part of Iraq, and then joins the Tigris River south of Mosul city, in the northern central part of Iraq. It has four main tributaries, called; Shamdinan, Haji Beg, Rawandooz and Khazir-Gomal rivers, beside tens of small tributaries and ephemeral streams, which drain directly in the main river. The studied catchment area of the Greater Zab River; in Iraq attains about 13708 Km 2 , and extends in the northern and northeastern parts of Iraq, and farther more in Turkey and Iran. The basin of the river is divided into four sub-basins of the aforementioned tributaries and a fifth one, which includes the catchment area that drain directly in the Greater Zab River. The widths of the five sub-basins range from (1.54-6.19) Km, whereas their lengths range from (41.4-108.3) Km. The catchment's areas of the Greater Zab River and its four tributaries are covered mainly by carbonate rocks of many formations, which range in age from Triassic to Pliocene-Pleistocene, beside igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially in the northeastern parts. Moreover, fine clastics of Injana and Mukdadiya formations, coarse clastics of Bai Hassan Formation, and marl, limestone and gypsum of the Fatha Formation cover considerable area. Through the courses of the Greater Zab River and its four tributaries, they cross tens of anticlines, almost perpendicularly; some of them have gorge forms, forming 34 water gaps and 15 air gaps, in the studied area. The geomorphology and morphotectonics of the Greater Zab River basin are studied. Six Morphometric indices have determined in this study, using ArcGIS technique, which indicated High, Moderate, Very High, Very High and High relative tectonic activity for the five sub-basins, respectively. Geomorphological and basin drainage maps of the studied area are prepared, too.
Geomorphology, Stratigraphy and Tectonics of the Mesopotamian Plain, Iraq: A Critical Review
Geotectonics
The Mesopotamian Plain is part of the Mesopotamia which extends for vast area bigger than the plain. The plain is almost flat and vast lowland, which has clearly defined physiographic boundaries with the other surrounding physiographic provinces. The plain is a huge accumulation geomorphologic unit, where the fluvial, lacustrine, and the Aeolian landforms prevail; the fluvial units being the abundant among others. However, estuarine and marine forms also are developed, but restricted to the extreme southeastern reaches of the plain. The Mesopotamian Plain is covered totally by Quaternary sediments among which the fluvial origin is the most prevailing and more specifically the flood plain sediments. The flood plain sediments are the Holocene in age, whereas the Pleistocene sediments are restricted to alluvial fan sediments and river terraces. The flood plain sediments cover majority of the Mesopotamian Plain, whereas the alluvial sediments are restricted to the northern-eastern, western and southern peripheral parts only. Different geomorphological features indicate the Neotectonic activity in the plain, such as migrations of rivers due to growing of subsurface anticlines. The extreme southeastern part is covered by the tidal flat and sabkha sediments. Marshes and shallow depressions are also covered by the Holocene sediments which are contaminated by the Aeolian sediments. Mesopotamian Plain is a part of the Mesopotamian Foredeep which is a part of the Zagros Foreland Basin including the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt. It is large continuously subsiding basin since the Upper Miocene (11.62 Ma). The plain shows no structural features on the surface, except the main fault escarpment representing the part of Abu Jir Active Fault Zone. However, the rolling topography, in the northern parts of the plain indicates subsurface anticlines that are still growing up, such as Balad, Samarra, Tikrit and Baiji anticlines indicating the Neotectonic activity. Moreover, many buried subsurface anticlines are present in different parts of the plain. All of them are growing anticlines and have caused continuous shift to Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their distributaries indicating the Neotectonic activities. The minimum and maximum subsidence amounts in the plain since the Upper Miocene are zero and-2500 m, respectively.
Morphotectonic Analysis of Euphrates River Basin/ Iraq
Journal of University of Babylon for Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018
Morphological and morphotectonic analysis have been used to obtain information that influencebasins. Study area includes the Euphrates river basin in Iraq. Tectonically this area within Stable shelf,The Stable Shelf which covers the vast majority of focal south and west of Iraq reaches out into Syria and Jordan and Southwards into Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It is separated in Iraq into three considerable structural zones. Discrimination of morphotectonic indices of Euphrates basin by using sevenindices. The Euphrates basin (main basin) was divided into four sub basin (s.b) Wadi Horan, Wadi Ubaiyidh, Shuab Hwaimy and Shuab Qusair.Which have been completed for each drainage basin utilizing remote sensing and GIS techniques. So as to identify tectonic activity, different indices including Drainage density (D), Sinuosity index (S), Hypsometric integral (HI), Drainage basin asymmetry (AF), Basin Shape (BS), Transverse Topographic Symmetry (T) and Active tectonic index (Iat). The study demonstrates that intensity of tectonic activities in different parts of the basin and sub basins are different. The values of Drainage density (D) main basin and sub basins are in high classes which mean that the study area has resultant of slight or impermeable subsurface material, little vegetation as well as a good discharge for water and sediments. The Sinuosity index (S) of all study area are sinuous and its semi equilibrium. Hypsometric integral (HI) of Horan, Ubaiyidh and shuab Hwaimy sub basins shows high values of HI which means high rates of geological erosion while the shuab Qusair and main basin shows moderate of erosion rates, HI high values shows that study area is tectonically uplifted. According to calculation of Drainage basin asymmetry (AF) the study area reflects inactive tectonic activity. The Basin Shape (BS) all of basins are in third class and it reflects inactive tectonic activity. After compute Transverse Topographic Symmetry (T) index in the area of investigate, the outcome demonstrate that all the sub basins lies in low active tectonics except wadi Horan and the main basin were moderate active tectonics. Based on Active tectonic index (Iat) all the basins were moderate active tectonics except Horan sub basin is active tectonically. These basins have evolved as a result of plate movements, subsidence, uplift and various erosional processes. The study shows variable relationship between faulting and valleys but most of the trends of faults are sub-parallel to Euphrates River. Faults orientations in the study area are parallel to NE-SW direction and NW-SE direction. And also the type of drainage network in study area which is varied from dendritic to parallel with SW-NE trending and its indicate that study area may be structurally control.
Modeling the flexural evolution of the Amiran and Mesopotamian foreland basins of NW Zagros (Iran)
Tectonics, 2015
The evolution of the Amiran and Mesopotamian flexural basins of the Zagros belt is approached by coupled 2-D forward modeling of orogenic wedge formation, lithospheric flexural isostasy, and stream power erosion/transport/sedimentation. Thrust geometries and sequence of emplacement derived from geometric and kinematic models presented here are the inputs to our evolutionary model, constrained by basin geometry, sediment volume, and topography. Modeling results confirm that the Zagros flexural basins evolution is consistent with two stages of deformation: (1) the obduction stage involving the Kermanshah accretionary complex and a basement unit and the collision stage, emplacing the Gaveh Rud and Sanandaj-Sirjan domains in the hinterland and forming a basement duplex in the outer part. Results provide quantitative insights into processes involved in mountain and basin building. The lithospheric equivalent elastic thickness (Te) changed from 20 km during the Amiran stage (~90-50 Ma) to 55 km during the Mesopotamian subsidence stage (last 20 Myr). The Amiran basin results from flexure of the Arabian plate below the load of the Kermanshah cover and basement thrust sheets. During this stage, material eroded in the inner parts was enough to fill the flexural trough. The Mesopotamian basin formed in front of the outermost basement units flexing the Arabian plate. During this latter stage, material eroded from the orogenic wedge was not enough to fill the Mesopotamian basin. An additional longitudinal sediment supply of up to 200 m/Myr is required to fill the flexural basin.
Active Tectonics of the Saymareh-Karkheh River Basin (Northwest of Persian Gulf, Iran)
Open Journal of Marine Science
Active tectonics is an indicator of recent movement of mountains and landscapes evolution for regions affected by current tectonic activity. The Saymareh-Karkheh river basin is located on the Zagros Mountain in the west Iran. The Zagros Mountain is an orogenic belt that is formed by the collision between the Eurasian and Arabian plates during Cenozoic. Active tectonics has analyzed by measurement of six geomorphic indices (hypsometric integral, basin asymmetry factor, basin shape, the stream length-gradient, mountain-front sinuosity and valley floor width-height ratio) which they combined to index of active tectonics (Iat). Based on values of this index, the Saymareh-Karkheh river basin was divided into high (Class 2, 18.8%), moderate (Class 3, 70.3%), and low (Class 4, 10.9%) relative tectonic activity parts. The above results confirm the usefulness of geomorphic analyses for regional assessment of active tectonics they are compatible with differential tectonic activity in the High Zagros and Zagros fold and thrust belt. Also, it was revealed that geomorphic indices and using of GIS technics are very useful to investigation of active tectonics in the mountain areas.
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering
The Tectonic Activity of regions with active tectonics can be assessed by using of the geomorphic indices. Six Geomorphic indices including stream-gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), drainage basin shape (Bs), hypsometric integral (Hi), valley floor width-valley height ratio (Vf), and mountain-front sinuosity (Smf) were calculated using GIS technique in Kifri Chai Basin; northeast Iraq, which belongs to the Western Zagros Mountain. The basin was divided into eighteen subbasins depending on the 4th, 5th and 6th stream orders of the drainage within Kirfi Basin. It was found that the SL, Af, Bs, Hi, Vf, and Smf (J) values are uniform and exhibit almost the same classes. However, few exceptions occur, especially in Bs values, but the exceptional values do not influence significantly on the acquired results, in each of the eighteen sub-basin. From these indices the relative active tectonics index value (Iat) was determined. The results of average Iat values (2.35) showed that the tectonic activity in the whole basin is Moderate. Moreover, an attempt was carried out to compare the regional Neotectonic activity with the relative tectonic activity in the basin. The results showed that there is a positive relation between the two comparatives; especially the subsidence amount and scored relative tectonic activity.
Morphotectonic of Euphrates River between Al-Qaim and Haditha cities, western Iraq
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2023
The study area is located between Haditha and Al-Qaim cities, western Iraq. The research aims to demonstrate the effects of tectonic activity and structural features on the course of the Euphrates River by using field studies and remote sensing techniques to know the structures, hydrological indicators and morphometric properties which affected upon river course. Two main software, ArcGIS 10.8 and EARDAS Imagine, are used. The extension phases during Late Cretaceous develop Anah Graben and Abu Jir normal fault that delineate the course of the Euphrates River whereas the positive inversion of Anah Graben and the dextral movement along of the Abu Jir fault zone formed Anan Anticline and pressure ridges during the E-M Miocene respectively, determine the river course along both structures, many indications of hydrological and morphometric properties reflect the impact of the last activities that prevent it to creep or change the direction of its course.
Journal of Maps, 2021
We present the geomorphological map of the northwestern part of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where the landscape expresses the tectonic activity associated with the Arabia-Eurasia convergence and Neogene climate change. These processes influenced the evolution of landforms and fluvial pathways, where major rivers Tigris, Khabur, and Great Zab incise the landscape of Northeastern Mesopotamia Anticlinal ridges and syncline trough compose the Zagros orogen. The development of water and wind gaps, slope, and karsts processes in the highlands and the tilting of fluvial terraces in the flat areas are the main evidence of the relationship between tectonics, climate variations and geomorphological processes. During the Quaternary, especially after the Last Glacial Maximum, fluctuating arid and wet periods also influenced local landforms and fluvial patterns of the area. Finally, the intensified Holocene human occupation and agricultural activities during the passage to more complex societies over time impacted the evolution of the landscape in this part of Mesopotamia.