Twelve stations in the cities of Kufa and Mishkhab were selected for studying the geotechnical, including physical, engineering, chemical and mineralogical, properties of soils in the river banks along the Euphrates River. Grain size distribution of the bank soils showed higher silt than clay and sand percentages. Soil samples from the 12 stations were classified according to the USCS standards. Silt with low plasticity constituted 91% of the silt fraction, whereas that with high plasticity composed 9%. The saturated density values ranged between 1.75-2.073 g/cm3 with an average of 1.953 g/cm3, while the dry density values ranged between 1.307-1.740 g/cm3 with an average of 1.553 g/cm3. The values of the dry and saturated density are within the permissible limits. Direct shear test showed cohesion values (C) that ranged between 15-55 kN/m2 with an average value of 34.8 kN/m2. The values of the internal friction angle (Ø°) of the clay type of soil with low plasticity ranged between 8.5°-17° with an average of 9.91°. The Ø° values of the other soil types ranged between 9°-17° with an average of 25°. Therefore, clay with high plasticity had higher Ø° values than the permissible limits. The results of unconfined compression test showed a range of 22.802-58.587 kN/m2 with an average of 38.173 kN/m2, with water percentage of 30%. The mineralogical tests of the bank soil performed using XRD analysis showed that the analyzed soil samples are composed mainly of quartz, calcite, chlorite, palygorskite, and montmorillonites. The pH value ranged between 6.4-7.55 with an average of 7.10, indicating low basicity. Gypsum concentrations ranged between 0.049-12.75 % with an average of 3.99 %, while that for carbonate ranged between 5-45 % with an average of 26.16%. Sulphates concentration ranged between 0.23-5.93 % with an average of 1.85%. Several treatment measures are proposed to stabilize the soil of the studied area.
Wasit Governorate is characterized by industrials activities such as groups of asphalts and bricks factories, oil fields and thermal power plant, in addition to the agricultural activity that is widely separated, which leads to pollution of the surface soils with heavy metals. The main objective in this research is to assess heavy metals pollution and understand the distribution in the surface soils in the studied area. Twenty two surface soils samples were collected from 6 districts and 4 subdistricts within Wasit Governorate during April 2017. The results obtained showed that grain size analyzes are classified as sandy mud (sand 9.5%, silt 50.8 % and clays 39.8%). In the term of geochemic
... Show MoreIn the present study, a total of 272 freshwater fishes belonging to three species namely: Cyprinus carpio, Barbus xanthopterus and Aspius vorax, were collected from Euphrates river at Al-Haklania distrct, Al-Anbar province during the period from August 2008 till the end of July 2009, by using gill nets and cast nets. Fishes were survyed for intestinal parasitic worms. The investigation revealed the infectation of these fishes with four parasitic species: the digenetic trematode Aspidogaster limacoides from the intestine of C. carpio, B. xanthopterus and A. vorax, larval nematode Contracaecum spp. from the body cavity of C. carpio and the external surface of intestine of B
... Show MoreTo investigate and assess the effects of land use and land cover (LULC) on concentrations of heavy metals in the surface soils of Lesser Zab River Basin (LZRB), 25 surface soil samples were taken from different LULC classes. Heavy metals concentrations were measured and their enrichment factors were calculated. Most of the LZRB soil samples are moderately alkaline with pH>8 and characterized by low organic content. The average abundance of the major oxides follow the decreasing order of SiO2 % > CaO % > Al2O3 % > Fe2O3 %> MgO > K2O % > TiO2 % > Na2O % > SO3 % > P2O5 %. A correlation matrix revealed that clay and feldspar minerals, Fe and Mn oxides / hydroxides are the most important carrier phase for several
... Show MoreModern cities suffer from heavy metal pollution due to urban expansion and population increase. Heavy metals have a great impact on human health. The objective is to determine the contamination level of heavy metals Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Zr and Pb at industrial and residential in Hilla city. The mean concentration of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Zr and Pb enrichment factors of the investigated industrial soils are 3.43, 0.74, 6.45, 3.95, 5.60, 3.44, 1.17 and 11.44, respectively. The means of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Zr and Pb in residential soils are 3.30, 1.09, 11.40, 0.94, 2.08, 5.39, 0.9 and 3.6, respectively. The I-geo mean values of heavy elements in the industrial area may be ordered in the following: Mn> Pb> Ni>
... Show MoreThis study was the first of its kind on the Dejiala River, which is considered one of the main branches of the Tigris River in Wasit Province. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate of some physical and chemical properties of water in the Dejiala River. Monthly sampling stations were conducted for 12 months, which was starting from January to December 2016, during those five stations was chosen which divided along about 58 Km of river; each station was located at a distance of ±10 Km. The results of the study showed a clear correlation between air and water temperature in all stations. Turbidity was recorded a value ranging from 2.36-116 NTU. It was found that the water of the Dejiala was Oligohaline, weak al
... Show MoreA total of 61 bat specimens belonging to three species were collected from four distinct sites in the middle of Iraq. Five species of acarine ectoparasites on bats were found. These were: Steatonyssus periblepharus Kolenati, Spinturnix acuminatus (C. L. K.). Cheletonella sp. Rhizoglyphus sp., and Argas sp. Three of the recorded species were new to Iraqi fauna. The abundance and accurence of each parasite was varied from one species to another. S. periblepharus aria S. acuminatus were the most common species found in this study.
In this study, stabilization of expansive soils using waste materials namely; Cement Kiln Dust (CKD), and waste plastic bottles (WPB) was experimentally investigated. Using CKD and WPB are exponentially increasing day by day, due to their capability to solve both environmental and geotechnical problems successfully. Expansive soils were collected from locations with a wide range of plasticity index (PI) (15 - 27) and liquid limit (LL) (35% - 64%). Stabilizer percentages were varied from 0% to 20%, and curing durations for CKD cases were 7 and 28 days. Results showed the best percentages of CKD and WPB are 12% of each one respectively. LL, plastic limit (PL), and swelling percent (SP) loss were observed, which are 46%, 55%, and 96% respec
... Show MoreIn this study water quality was indicated in terms of Water Quality Index that was determined through summarizing multiple parameters of water test results. This index offers a useful representation of the overall quality of water for public or any intended use as well as indicating pollution, water quality management and decision making. The application of Water Quality Index
(WQI) with sixteen physicochemical water quality parameters was performed to evaluate the quality of Tigris River water for drinking usage. This was done by subjecting the water samples collected from eight stations in Baghdad city during the period 2004-2010 to comprehensive physicochemical analysis. The sixteen physicochemical parameters included: Turbidity, A
In this study water quality was indicated in terms of Water Quality Index that was determined through summarizing multiple parameters of water test results. This index offers a useful representation of the overall quality of water for public or any intended use as well as indicating pollution, water quality management and decision making. The application of Water Quality Index (WQI) with sixteen physicochemical water quality parameters was performed to evaluate the quality of Tigris River water for drinking usage. This was done by subjecting the water samples collected from eight stations in Baghdad city during the period 2004-2010 to comprehensive physicochemical analysis. The sixteen physicochemical parameters included: Turbidity,
... Show MoreEuphrates River extends about 125 km within the study area located in Annassiriyah City, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. The impact of the seven hydraulic structures on the discharge capacity of the Euphrates River needs to be considered. The main objectives of this research are to increase the discharge capacity of Euphrates River within Annassiriyah City during flood seasons and study the impact of these hydraulic structures on the river capacity by using HEC-RAS 5.0.3 software. Five scenarios were simulated to study the different current condition of Euphrates River within Annassiriyah City. Other additional four scenarios were implemented through river training to increase the river capacity to 1300 m³/s; it is the flood
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