Twenty sand samples were collected from the sand dunes of Missan fields, Southeastern Iraq. Grain size distribution, mineralogical and chemical composition were studied for the total, medium, and fine-size sand fractions. The grain size analysis shows that the sand is the main component, followed by silt and trace of clay. The predominant grain size of sand is 0.250 to 0.500 mm, which forms more than 57.28 %, which indicates that these dunes were formed under the influence of relatively strong winds and the sedimentary material is close to the source. The light components are quartz, feldspar, and different rock fragments, while the heavy mineral assemblages are composed of opaque minerals, chlorite, mica, and amphiboles. Pyroxene and epidote are the common minerals, while zircon, garnet, tourmaline, rutile, kyanite, and staurolite are in minor amounts. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveals that the predominant non-clay minerals are quartz, calcite, feldspar, and gypsum. While the dominant clay minerals are palygorskite and illite, followed by kaolinite and the mixed layer of montmorillonite – chlorite. There is a negative relationship between the percentage of heavy minerals and the grain size of sand. Dunes are distinguished by a relatively high percentage of minerals derived from intermediate and basic igneous rocks located in the Zagros belt, northern Iraq. They also may be derived from local source formations, Injana and Mukdadiya in the surrounding areas. The average geochemical components of sand as indicated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) are; SiO2 (61.36%), which is mainly represented by quartz, CaO (14.08%) related to the presence of carbonate, SO3 (0.05%) is represented by gypsum, Al2O3 (6.76 %) and alkalis (2.30%) reflect the presence of the K-feldspar and clay minerals, Fe2O3 (3.2%) is attributed to the presence of hematite, magnetite and limonite minerals. SiO2 is concentrated in a medium sand size fraction, while the other oxides are concentrated in a fine sand size fraction.
The meteorite with a single total mass of 630 gm as a visible meteorite has fallen on 22 March 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in Al-Sherqat subdistrict within Salah Al-Din, northern Iraq; and therefore, was named Al-Sherqat meteorite by the authors. It is characterized by a uniform structure of coherent and medium degree of malleability. It is of a well-crystalline structure and not homogeneous in composition. The Al-Sherqat meteorite is composed of metallic phases of 7.6 gm/cm3 density exhibiting an oriented intergrowth of kamacite (α-FeNi) with taenite showing a Widmanstätten pattern on an etched polished section with the finest octahedrite kamacite bandwidth of less than 0.2 mm. It is composed of Fe (86.9 wt%), Ni (9.63 wt%), P (1.31 wt%)
... Show MoreGeochemical proxies provide detailed information on depositional environment and diagenetic processes. The main objectives of the present study are the evaluation of the paleoenvironment and diagenetic conditions of selected three sections of the Shiranish Formation (Late Campanian-Maastrichtian) in Dokan-Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, northeast of Iraq. The major and some trace elements were analysed by X-Ray Fluoresces. These geochemical results showed a positive correlation of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO and TiO2 between each other due to the influence of detrital influx from the active oceanic margins and thrust belts of the northeast Arabian Plate. The terrigeno
... Show MoreThe current study includes preparing a geometric proposal of the main parameters that must be worked within a seismic reflection survey to prepare a three-dimensional subsurface image. This image represents the Siba oil field located in Basra, southern Iraq. The results were based on two options for selecting these approved elements to create a three-dimensional image of the Mishrif, Zubair and Yamama formations as well as the Jurassic and Permian Khuff and the pre-Khuff reservoir area. The first option is represented in the geometry in option -1 is 12 lines, 6 shots, and 216 chs. The receiver density is 66.67 receivers / km2, so the shot density is the same. Total shots are 21000, which is the same number of receiv
... Show MoreAn integrated lithofacies and mineralogical assemblage was used to describe a depositional model and sequence stratigraphic framework of the Maastrichtian–Danian succession in the Western Desert of Iraq and eastern Jordan. Fifteen lithofacies types were grouped into three associations recognized in a distally steepened ramp characterized by an apparent, distinct increase in a gradient paleobathymetric deepening westward. The clay and nonclay minerals are dominated by smectite and palygorskite, with trace amounts of kaolinite, sepiolite, illite and chlorite. Meanwhile, quartz, calcite, dolomite, opal CT (Cristobalite - Tridymite), and apatite are the main nonclay minerals. The widely dominated smectite in the Western Phosphatic Basin of Ir
... Show MoreA geochemical and environmental study was carried out for the sediments of the Southern Neo-Tethys Ocean, represented by the Yamama Formation (Berriasian-Valaganian) in southern Iraq. The formation has a particular reservoir importance. The typical WQ-220 and WQ-280 wells were selected from the West Qurna field. Data of Gamma-ray logs were used for 30 depths of the typical well. Ten core samples were analyzed by X-Ray Fluoresces and total organic matter from both wells. The results showed that shaliness was relatively low, with an average of 16.5%, leading to a decrease in the presence of clay minerals and trace elements because the environment of the Yamama Formation is relatively far away from the coast. Qualitative evaluation of clay
... Show MoreMishrif Formation is the most important succession in the southern part of Iraq and has extensive distribution in the Arabian Plate. The present study focuses upon the sequence stratigraphy and development of Mishrif Formation basin in four oil fields within the eastern part of the Mesopotamian Zone are:- Halfaya (Hf-1), Noor (No-1) and Abu Ghirab (AG-3) and Fauqi oil fields (Fq-1).
There are several types of microfacies were distinguished in the succession of the Mishrif Formation. Their characteristic of the grain types and carbonate texture enabled to interpret of five facies associations (depositional environments) were observed in this formation, they are: deep ma
... Show MoreLeishmaniasis diseases constitute an important public health problem in both tropical and subtropical areas. The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Babylon province, Iraq. The current work included the recording of 142 new cases of CL infection in Babylon province for the period from November 2019 to February 2020. Male infection was represented by 87 cases (61.27%), while females composed 55 samples (38.73%), with a significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. The age group of 5-14 years was found to have the highest recorded CL cases (56; 39.44%), while the age group of less than one year had the lowest cases (1; 0.70%), with the differences
... Show MoreDeposition environment and diagenesis processes are very important factors which affect and control the reservoir properties. The carbonate Mishrif Formation has been selected as a carbonate reservoir in selected wells from southeastern Iraq to understand the influence of the Deposition environment and diagenesis processes on the carbonate reservoir. A core examination of thin sections, shows that Mishrif Formation comprises of six depositional environments, these are: deep marine, lagoon, rudist biostrome, back shoal, and shallow open marine. These environments have effect by many diagenetic processes, including dolomitization, dissolution, micritization, cementation, recrystallization and Stylolite, some of these processes
... Show MoreVolcaniclastic rocks of Al Muqdadiya Formation (Pliocene) in Injana area, southern Hemrin anticline, NE of Iraq, were studied ( petrographically, physically, mineralogically and geochemically , as well as the engineering properties) to assess the suitability of volcaniclastic rocks to use them in industry as refractories. The results show that the physical and engineering properties change with the temperature change. The bulk density and the specific gravity increase by increasing temperature while the apparent porosity, water sorption and the linear shrinkage decrease. On the other hand the compressive strength increase by increasing temperature. The volcaniclastics have very low thermal conductivi
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