Geochemical Study of Injana Formation and its Tectonic Significances in Selected Areas, Iraq
Abstract
This study is concerned with the geochemical analysis of major oxides; SiO2, CaO, MgO, Fe2O3, Al2O3, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, and MnO. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Ultra Violet Spectrophotometer tools were used to examine ten samples that represented the detritus sediments of the Injana Formation in Iraq in two sites from Dohuk and Al-Najaf Governorates; where five samples for each site were collected. The chemical results emphasize that Injana sandstone is classified as litharenite to slightly sublitharenite and greywacke referring to immature clasts. Arid paleoclimtic conditions predominated during deposition of the formation which coincides with low to relatively, moderate chemical weathering. Tectonically, the studied areas represent active continental margin with a slight trend to passive margin and island arc dominated by mafic to intermediate source rocks. The provenance of the Injana Formation that had been deduced is the Tourus-Complex Zagros Mountains that are characterized by the ophiolitic-radiolaritic and complex igneous rocks.