The Cretaceous Balambo Formation from three sections in Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq was studied. The selected sections are located in the Zagros Fold -Thrust Belt. Eleven rock samples were analyzed by means of the organic geochemical method, Bitumen extraction method, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the bitumen and hydrocarbon content, kerogen types, origin of organic matter, thermal maturity level, and depositional environment. The analyzed samples are considered to have an excellent potential in Baranan-1.G1 and Sazan sections, with poor to fair potential in Baraw section. The Baranan-1.G1 source rocks are of type II kerogen (oil prone), whereas Sazan and Baraw samples are of type II/III (oil/ gas prone). Detailed distribution analysis of biomarkers such as normal alkane, isoprenoids, sterane and terpane was performed on saturated hydrocarbons. The mode of n-alkanes and isoprenoids distribution in all analyzed samples is similar, with a unimodal distribution that indicates non-biodegraded hydrocarbons, with the same range of alkane compounds between C13-C34 alkanes. The results of n-C17, pristane, n-C18 and phytane, and regular steranes show that the source rocks of Balambo Formation in Baranan-1.G1 are mainly rich with algal marine organic matter deposited under a reducing environment, while Baraw and Sazan sections are composed of mixed marine organic matter that refers to terrestrial land plants input deposited under reducing anoxic/dysoxic environments. Thermal maturation appraisal is deduced from Pristane/n-C17 versus Phytane/n-C18 diagram, Carbon Preference Index (CPI), C29 ββ/ (ββ+αα), C29 20S/ (20S +20R), C32 22S/ (22S+22R), and Ts/ (Ts+Tm). All these parameters indicate that the analyzed samples are mature and have entered the oil window (early to peak oil window). Biomarker ratios of C22/C21, C24/C23 and C26/C25, C31R/C30H show that the Balambo Formation is composed mostly of carbonates with less shale beds.
This work is the first study of the Curculionoidea fauna from Kurdistan region of Iraq, based on the intensive survey in different localities of Kurdistan from March 2016 to November 2017. In total, 41 species belonging to 28 genera, 21 tribes and 3 families were collected and identified, including 25 species newly recorded for the Iraqi fauna.
General distribution, collecting localities and methods, with plant association data for each species are given.
16 March of every year marked the anniversary of the chemical gas attack on the City of Halabja, Kurdistan, Iraq, and its nearby villages. In the process, 5000 people reportedly died from the attack. Many more were wounded and the event left nearly 60 000 people displaced. A perceived consequence of the chemical bombing of Halabja City was the environmental pollution of the soil and water. A recent questionnaire completed by the population of Halabja City indicated that 35% believed that water pollution was still an issue, and 55% thought that soil pollution posed a high risk.
In 2016, were requested by the Halabja City governor to investigate the situation. And to lay to rest the perception and
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 accumulation of sediment in reservoirs poses a major challenge that impacts the storage capacity, quality of water, and efficiency of hydroelectric power generation systems. Geospatial methods, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS), were used to assess Dukan Reservoir sediment quantities. Satellite and reservoir water level data from 2010 to 2022 were used for sedimentation assessment. The satellite data was used to analyze the water spread area, employing the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) to enhance the water surface in the satellite imagery of Dukan Reservoir. The cone formula was employed to calculate the live storag
... Show MoreExploratory activities carried out by oil companies in the latter half of the past
century proved the existence of voluminous reserve of oil and gas in the
southwestern area of Iraq. In view of this, it seemed more than prudent to add a new
knowledge to that currently existing about the subsurface lithostratigraphy of this
area. As a first step in fulfilling this mission, this paper will attempt to do so by
covering the time interval from the Upper Cretaceous to the Neogene. In turn, this
effort had entailed both the description of about 4707 metres of fully recovered
cores, plus the subjection of more than 4000 samples to existing petrologic analyses.
Findings worth mentioning does include the observation that wi
This study involves microfacies analysis of the Kometan Formation from northeastern Iraq supported by detailed petrographic investigation for the main components and diagenetic processes using a petrographic microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The techniques have revealed that the formation includes two microfacies; lime wackestone and lime packstone microfacies which in turn are subdivided into seven sub-microfacies, that were deposited in the quiet and deep marine environment. Planktonic foraminifera (keeled and globular chamber types) are dominant, along with oligostegina in addition to subordinate benthonic foraminifera and fine-grained bioclasts. Calcite forms the main mineralogical compositi
... Show MoreGastropod species belonging to Qamchuqa Formation (Aptian-Cenomanian) in the North of Iraq are studied. These species are Harpagodes nodosus (J.de C. Sowerby,1823), Ampullina sp.1 (Hannaa and Furisch, 2011), Ampullina sp.2 (Hannaa and Furisch, 2011), Tylostoma pallaryi (Peron and Fourtau, 1904), Calliomphalus orientalis (Douville,1916), and Pyrgulifera (Meek, 1871). They are recorded in the Upper Cretaceous succession of Northern Iraq for the first time. Most of these species are internal moulds and not abundant at any stratigraphic level but irregularly scattered in the formation.
The study aims to detail the chemistry of Sabkha located in Abu-Graib, western Baghdad to know the content of the rare elements distributed. Sabkhas are found in dry areas with significant evaporation rates. The quantity of dissolved salts rises as water evaporates from the shallow basins, eventually causing salt to crystallize. The creation of the distinctive salt pans and crusts on the top is greatly influenced by this process. The trace elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Ba, Ta, Tl, Pb, Th, U, I, and Br) beside the major oxides were analyzed using XRF technique. There are no clear significant differences in the distribution of the elements between the two Sabkhas in the village of Kadim Al
... Show MoreChlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are toxic chemical entities emitted invariably from stationary thermal operations when a trace of chlorine is present. Replacing the high-temperature destruction operations of these compounds with catalytic oxidation has led to the formulation of various potent metal oxides catalysts; among them are ceria-based materials. Guided by recent experimental measurements, this study theoretically investigates the initial steps operating in the interactions of ceria surface CeO2(111) with three CVOC model compounds, namely chloroethene (CE), chloroethane (CA) and chlorobenzene (CB). We find that, the CeO2(111) surface mediates fission of the carbon–chlorine bonds in the CE, CA and CB molecules via mo
... Show MoreThe present work aimed to study the efficiency of thermal osmosis process for recovery of water from organic wastewater solution and study the factors affecting the performance of the osmosis cell. The driving force in the thermo osmosis cell is provided by a difference in temperature across the membrane sides between the draw and feed solution. In this research used a cellulose triacetate (CTA), as flat sheet membranes for treatment of organic wastewater under orientation membrane of active layer facing feed solution (FS) and draw solution (DS) is placed against the support layer. The organic materials were phenol, toluene, xylene and BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylene) used as feed solution. The osmotic agent in draw solution was
... Show More