Microfacies and Environmental Analysis of Harur Formation Early Carboniferous (Tournaisian) Northern Iraqi Kurdistan … (original) (raw)

Dr. Mohammad Kh. Abbass …

A surface section of Harur Formation of Early Carboniferous (Tournaisian) in Nazdur area, northeast of Zakho town, Northern Iraqi Kurdistan, was selected for this study. Lithologically, Harur Formation consists of thin to medium bedded, black organic limestone, dolomitic limestone, with black micaceous shale mainly in lower and upper parts. The petrographic study has shown that these limestones consist of micrite and sparite groundmass. The skeletal grains included shallow water brachiopods, bryozoans, corals, and echinoderms, in addition to ostracods, while non-skeletal grains included peloids only. Four different microfacies were distinguished; Boundstone, Grainstone, Lime Packstone, and Lime Wackestone. Each of these had been further subdivided. Using lithologic and paleontologic criteria, the depositional environment of Harur Formation is concluded to be shallow marine environment, mostly reef and reef flanks.