TY - JOUR ID - TI - LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC STUDY OF A LATE OLIGOCENE – EARLY MIOCENE SUCCESSION, SOUTH OF SULAIMANIYAH, NE IRAQ AU - Kamal H. Kareem AU - Varoujan K. Sissakian AU - Sahira A. Karim AU - Poula A. Khanqa PY - 2009 VL - 5 IS - 2 SP - 41 EP - 57 JO - Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining مجلة الجيولوجيا والتعدين العراقية SN - 18114539 AB - Late Oligocene – Early Miocene rocks are not previously known in the High Folded Zone, especially in northeast Iraq; neither in outcrops nor in subsurface sections. In most areas, the exposures of the Pila Spi Formation (Middle – Late Eocene) are overlain usually by the exposures of the Fat'ha Formation (Middle Miocene).Recent field observations and lithostratigraphic study, of an area near Basara Gorge, south of Sulaimaniyah, Northeast Iraq, revealed the presence of a succession (20 – 25 m thick) between the Pila Spi and Fat'ha formations. This succession has unconformable contact with the underlying Pila Spi Formation, marked by the presence of (6 – 8) m thick, sedimentary breccias and conglomerate indicating the presence of rocks of different ages. The succession consists of two main parts; the lower part consists of breccia, conglomerate, and red sandstone and claystone, whereas the upper part consists of fossiliferous limestone interbedded with green marl. Micropaleontological studies, of samples collected from the studied succession, proved the presence of Late Oligocene – Early Miocene rocks between the Pila Spi Formation (Middle – Late Eocene) and Fat'ha Formation (Middle Miocene), with indication of mixing environments (basinal/ shelf). The lithological diversity indicates the presence of a break in sedimentation, indicated by breccia and conglomerate over the Pila Spi Formation. Moreover, the cyclic repetition of green marl with limestone indicates oscillation of the sea level during deposition of the studied succession.This is the first time to recognize rocks with such age and mixed environments from the areas of the High Folded Zone in Sulaimaniyah Governorate, Northeast Iraq.

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