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). De

Volcaniclastic 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

Volcaniclastic 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 conductivity.
The petrography, mineralogy and

The Aqra - Bekhme, Shiranish, Tanjero and Kolosh formations outcrop in the High Folded Zone, Northern Iraq in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates. The formations have been studied at two selected geological sections (Bekhme Gorge and Zarda Bee). In this study, these formations are investigated based on both benthic and planktonic foraminifera. Depending on foraminifer’s investigation, three biozones have been recognized; two biozones are identified in the benthic foraminifera and the third one is identified in the planktonic foraminifera as follow:

1. Siderolites calcitropodes - Orbitoides apiculatus - Omphalocyclus macroporus Assemblage zone.
2. Loftusia morgani range zone.
3. Aba

     The Fort Munro Formation is well exposed along DG Khan-Fort Munro road, a type locality. The section was measured and sampled for the biostratigraphy, where it has a conformable lower contact with Mughalkot Formation and is underlain by the Pab Sandstone. The total observed thickness was 105 meters, and 26 samples were collected from top to the bottom at random intervals. Fifty thin sections were studied carefully, and five species of large benthic foraminifera, including Orbitoidestissoti, Orbitoidesapiculata, Orbitoides media, Orbitoideshottingeri, and Omphalocyclusmacroporus were identified along with miliolids. Gastropods, Bivalves and Echinoderms were also observed. Based on identified microfossils, the de

Exploratory 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

    The Mawat Ophiolite Complex located in north-eastern Iraq represents part of the Iraqi Zagros Suture Zone, located at the border between the Arabian-Iranian plates. It consists of peridotite, gabbro, subvolcanic sheeted dykes and volcanic pillow lava. The geochemical signatures of the gabbro show a significant variation in major elements concentration, low concentrations of TiO₂ (0.06-0.36 wt.%), Na₂O (0.44-0.98 wt.%), K₂O (0.024-0.48 wt.%), P₂O₅ (0.002-0.009 wt.%) and moderate variations in SiO₂ (46.13-53.77 wt.%) with wide ranges and high concentration of Al₂O₃ (13.87-22.18 wt.%), Fe₂O₃ (0.04-2.95 wt.%), FeO (2.68-8.76 w

The current research to study the petrography, mineralogy and geochemical relationships of the ultramafic rocks in the Galalah area within Erbil Governorate, at the Unstable Shelf in the Imbricate Zone, to determine the origin of the ultramafic rocks.

      Dunite and Harzburgite are the most abundant rock bodies in the study area, and they represent most of the outer surface exposure of the ultramafic rock aggregates. The dunite rocks are characterized by pale brown color on the altered surface that is broken into olive green and dark green lithic. Dunite represents a homogenous lithologic feature that mainly consists predominately of olivine with accessory spinel and traces of orthopyroxene. While the harzburgite appears as