DEDUCING THE LATERAL GROWTH OF HANDREEN, ZOZIK AND TANOUN ANTICLINES IN KURDISTAN REGION USING GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

Varoujan K Sissakian; Hawkar Ali Abdulhaq; Ala Ghafur; Hassan Othman Omer

doi:10.46717/igj.53.1C.1Rx-2020-04-01

Varoujan K Sissakian University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9840-5422
Hawkar Ali Abdulhaq University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq
Ala Ghafur University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8535-2472
Hassan Othman Omer University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46717/igj.53.1C.1Rx-2020-04-01

Keywords: Lateral growth, Water and wind gaps, Fork-shaped valleys, Radial valleys, Curved valleys

Abstract

Handreen, Zozik and Tanoun are three major anticlines in the northern part of Iraqi Kurdistan Region located NE of Rawandouz town. All anticlines are oriented NW-SE with a steep southwestern limb. The length and width of Handreen, Zozik and Tanoun anticlines are 20.2 km, 23 km, 27 km, and 10 km, 4.7 km and 2.5 km, respectively. The anticlines are separated by very narrow synclines. However, Tanoun anticline is thrusted over Zozik anticline causing the disappearance of the synclinal axis between the two folds. The oldest exposed rocks in Handreen anticline are the Cretaceous age, in Zozik anticline are the Upper Jurassic rocks, whereas in Tanoun anticline, the Lower Jurassic rocks are exposed. The carapace of Handreen and Zozik anticlines is built up by Bekhme and Qamchuqa formations and that of Tanoun anticline by the Qamchuqa Formation. Satellite images and geological maps were used to recognize the geomorphological and structural features which were checked and confirmed in the field. Handreen, Zozik and Tanoun anticlines show clear geomorphological and structural features which indicate their lateral growth. Among those features are water gaps, wind gaps, forked-shaped valleys, curved valleys, inclined (curved) valleys, radial valleys, abandoned alluvial fans, wale-back shape, en-echelon folds and folds with malty domes.

Author Biographies

Varoujan K Sissakian, University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq

Varoujan K. Sissakian
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=e5McLU8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=title

Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Kurdistan Region
Iraq

Varoujan K. Sissakian graduated from the University of Baghdad in 1969 with B.Sc. degree in Geology, and M.Sc. in Engineering Geological Mapping from I.T.C., the Netherlands in 1982. He joined Iraq Geological Survey (GEOSURV) in 1971 and was nominated as Expert in 2005; retired in 2012. He has 125 documented reports in GEOSURV's library and 155 published articles in different geological aspects in different geological journals and 27 articles in different stages of publications. He was the Deputy Vice President of the Middle East Subcommission of the Committee of Compilation the Geological Map of the World (CGMW), Paris, from February 2010 until August 2012. He was Visiting Lecturer in University of Kurdistan, Hewler, since October, 2014 and Lecturer since February, 2017. Currently, he is a Lecturer in the University of Kurdistan Hewler.

Hawkar Ali Abdulhaq, University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq

Hawkar A. Abdulhaq
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BNqSmUwAAAAJ&hl=en

Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Kurdistan Region
Iraq

Hawkar Ali Abdulhaq is a Teaching and Laboratory Assistant at the Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hawler. He got the B.Sc. degree in Geology and the M.Sc. degree in Earth Science Engineering. His research interests are in tectonics, subsurface and structural geology.

Ala Ghafur, University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq

Ala A. Ghafur
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=e6RIuNsAAAAJ

Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Kurdistan Region
Iraq

Ala Abdulla Ghafur is an assistant professor at the department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, University of Kurdistan-Hewler. She got the B.Sc. in Geology from University of Sulaimani and the MPhil-PhD. degree from Cardiff University-UK in Petroleum Geology. Her research interest is in Carbonate Sedimentology, Diagenesis, Reservoir Characterizations and Formation Evaluation. Dr. Ala is a member in Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

Hassan Othman Omer, University of Kurdistan Hewler, KRG, Iraq

Hassan O. Omar
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0232-5653

Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Kurdistan Region
Iraq

Hassan Othman Omer is a Teaching and Laboratory assistant at the Department of Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management at University of Kurdistan Hewlêr. He got his B.Sc. degree in applied geophysics from Damascus University. His area of expertise covers, drilling oil and water wells, formation Evaluation, Core processing engineering, and mud logging. He had worked with several international oil companies in Kurdistan; Gazprom, ALS Group and TAQA Energy.