During the Maastrichtian, the rudists and benthic foraminifera of Aqra Formation underwent two major radiations, the first beginning in early Early Maastrichtian and peaking in the late Early Maastrichtian, and sconed extending from the early Late Maastrichtian to a late Late Maastrichtian peak.The radiations were punctuated and separated by prominent extinction episodes, fit with global Maastrichtian mass extinction.The high level of rudist, endemism [90%] allows definition of true regional origination and extinction pattern; these may represent global pattern for rudists. Radiation and extinction patterns in the northern Iraq [Kurdistan Region] can be variously related to relative sea level fluctuation and the rate of food and clastic sediments supply.The two Maastrichtian extinctions of Aqra Formation is true extinctions in that they occur during low or zero origination rates among rudists.
This study deals with the biostratigraphy of Shiranish Formation (Late Cretaceous), depending on the Ammonite and associated Foraminifera in four outcrop sections, three of which are located in Al-Sulaimaniya governorate (Dokan, Esewa and Kanny dirka sections) and one in Erbil governorate, northern Iraq (Hijran section). Fourteen species of Ammonite belonging to fourteen genera were determined, which are: Dsemoceratidae, Gaudryceras, Gunnarites, Hoplitoplacenticeras, Kitchinites, Kossmaticeratinae, Neancyloceras, Neokossmaticeras, Nostoceras, Paratexanites, Partschiceras, Phylloceras, Pseudophyllites and Yubariceras. Also, thirty- five species of Foraminifera belonging to thirteen genera w
... Show MoreThe lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic studies of the Shiranish Formation in the Diana area, Erbil, Northern Iraq, were conducted to distinguish the main lithostratigraphic units, depositional environment and the formation age. The Shiranish Formation in the study area can be divided into three rock units. The lower and upper units consist of marly limestone, marl and limestone deposited in the outer shelf environment, while the middle unit is dominated by laminated calcareous shale and marl deposited in the upper bathyal environment. Calcareous nannofossils showed the presence of about 20 species/genera in the studied Shiranish Formation. Three biozones are identified; Misceomarginatus pleniporus biozone;
... Show MoreThe Shiranish Formation is cropped out in several areas in northern Iraq. A stratigraphic and facies study was conducted within the Duhok region to determine the sedimentary environment. Three microfacies, reflecting the various subenvironments within different shelf parts of the deep sea, have been identified within the Shiranish Formation. Four depositional environments are identified: slope, the toe of slope, deep shelf, and deep-sea or cratonic deep basin. The Shiranish Formation in the Duhok region, Northern Iraq, was deposited in an open shelf carbonate platform. The Shiranish Formation sequence is divided into six third-order cycles in the study area. These asymmetrical cycles reflect an imbalance between the relative level of the
... Show MoreThe location of the study area is surging hills in Bongomene area, Gorontalo, Indonesia. In this study, a geological survey and sampling were taken, and then an analysis of the content of benthic foraminifera was performed in each sample. The study aims to discover the species of benthic foraminifera fossils and to determine the paleobathymetry to the studied regions. The results of the analysis contained seven fossils species, namely Ammomassilina alveoliniformis, Stelligerum astrononion, Haynesia germanica, Nonion fabum, Praeglobobulimina ovata, Rhabdammina discreata and Saccorhiza ramosa. Based on the content of benthic foraminifera fossils, paleobathymetry is determined as Middle Shelf to Outer
... Show MoreAge and paleoenvironment of part of the Damlouk Member, Ratga Formation from a surface section in the Iraqi Western Desert are investigated. Twenty-nine species of Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) belonging to 13 genera are recognized from the studied section. The LBF assemblage is dominated by the following groups, Nummulites, Alveolina, Rotalia, and Lockhartia. Two species of corals with fragments of bryozoan, red algae and mollusca had also been identified.
The palaeontological investigation aimed at identification of LBF assemblages to evaluate their abundance and distribution with respect to sedimentary environment and to determine its age. Based on the recognized Larger Benthic F
... Show MoreCalciturbidites are similar to siliciclastic turbidites in structure, texture, basin physiography and processes of deposition; nevertheless, their clasts (grains) are carbonate minerals. Turbidity currents transport carbonate grains from carbonate source areas and coastal areas to the deep basins after passing the shelf (peri-platform). These currents are triggered by short-lived catastrophic events, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, marine slides, and typhoons. The Late Cretaceous Zagros Foreland and Hinterland in NE-Iraq (Kurdistan Region) was an active source for the shedding of voluminous sediments to the deep basin of Zagros Foreland Basin. During late Campanian, Shiranish Formation was deposited in the foreland basin; it occurs in the
... Show MoreBased on collections made during March to September 2012. A totals of 58 species belong to 33 genera were identified from extra north to extra south of Erbil governorate, among them 30 species are registered as a new record to flora of Iraq. Most attention was paid to the most common and abundant lichens that present almost in most locations, which were Collema cristatum, Diploschistes scruposus, Lecanora dispersa, Lecanora murales, Pertusaria flavicunda, Placidium lacinulatum, Thelomma californicum and Verrucaria Maura.
Mishrif Formation was deposited during The Cenomanian-Early Turonian, which has been studied in selected Tuba and Zubair OilFields, these wells (TU-5, TU-24, TU-40, ZB-41, ZB-42, and ZB-46) are located within Mesopotamian basin at southern Iraq and considered as a major carbonate reservoir in Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. The palaeontological investigations mainly depending on benthonic foraminifera of the studied wells of Tuba and Zubair Oilfields in Mishrif Formation, twenty-four species belonging to fourteen genera are recognized of benthonic foraminifera, which has been recognized through this study, especially benthonic foraminiferal, indicating four zones as follows:
A total of 47 species belonging to 46 genera, 34 subfamilies, 23 families and 7 orders of predator and parasitoid insects were collected and identified. The survey was conducted throughout the program held by the General Directorate of Agriculture-Duhok, in cooperating with the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq from May 2013 to April 2014.
The species hosts, collecting date, locality and distributions are given. The current checklist also included some species previously collected by other researchers in Duhok Province.
Thirty-four dolomite and dolomitic limestone samples were collected from Aqra – Bekhma (It is difficult to separate the two formations as they are intervening) Formation in Bekhma Gorge area near Shaqlawa in northern Iraq. Alizarin red - s was used to distinguish calcite from dolomite. The saddle dolomite was recognized as a virtually rough crystalline material with milky-white or rosy color when seen in outcrop. In addition, we observed a pearl luster and a characteristically marred crystal building that is, in principle, described as damaged crystal faces with cleavage planes, while microscopically it appeared as a widespread extinction. The crystal faces, although well advanced, are frequently pavement-like facets.