Industrial Assessment of Limestone beds of the Qamchuqa Formation for Cement Industry, Kurdistan Region, North Iraq

The Qamchuqa Formation is widely exposed in Kurdistan Region (IKR); north of Iraq. The formation along with the Bekhme Formation form the bulk of the main mountains (anticlines) in the IKR. Among those anticlines is the Ranya anticline, which has a NW – SE trend, where the Qamchuqa Formations has a thickness of about 700 m. The main lithological facies of the formation are limestone, dolomitic limestone and dolomite. We have sampled the uppermost 89 meters of the northeastern limb, by collecting 10 samples of different sampling intervals that range from (3 – 12) m. The ten rock samples were tested by an XRF to measure the concentration of the oxides at each sample. The XRF results showed that the 10 rock samples are limestone with different percentages of oxides. The weighted averages of the oxides in the collected samples have been calculated, and the results showed that the limestone beds along the studied section in the upper part of the Qamchuqa Formations are suitable for the cement industry. The average concentration of CaO and MgO is 55.13 % and 0.26 %, respectively.

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) in Gomaspan section northeast Erbil City, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of the Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) were studied in the Gomaspan section in the Bina Bawi anticline, northeast of Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The field observations refer that the formation attains 56 m of medium to thick bedded yellow limestone, grey dolomitic limestone and blue marly dolomitic limestone interbedded with thin beds of blue marl and dark grey shale with an interval of sandy limestone in the middle part and thin to medium bedded limestone interbedded with red mudstone. The petrographic study of 29 thin sections of Avanah carbonates revealed that the majority of the matrix is carbonate mud (micrite) with few microspar. The skeletal grains include benthic foraminifera, dasycladacean green algae, ostracods, calcispheres, pelecypods, rare planktonic foraminifera and bryozoa in addition to bioclasts. Non-skeletal grains encompass peloids, oncoids, intraclasts and extraclasts with common monocrystalline quartz. Based on the field observation and petrographic analysis, three different lithostratigraphic units were identified. They are in ascending order: A-Thick bedded dolomitic marly limestone interbedded with shale. B- Bedded dolomitic limestone interbedded with shale and marl. C- Thin to medium bedded limestone interbedded with red mudstone. Depending on detailed microfacies analysis of carbonate rocks, three main microfacies and 12 submicrofacies are recognized. From the sum of all petrographic, facies, textural analyses, it is concluded that Avanah Formation in Gomaspan section, was deposited in shallow marine environment, semi restricted lagoon, in lower and upper parts and open lagoon environment in the middle part interval.

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) in Gomaspan section northeast Erbil City, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of the Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) were studied in the Gomaspan section in the Bina Bawi anticline, northeast of Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The field observations refer that the formation attains 56 m of medium to thick bedded yellow limestone, grey dolomitic limestone and blue marly dolomitic limestone interbedded with thin beds of blue marl and dark grey shale with an interval of sandy limestone in the middle part and thin to medium bedded limestone interbedded with red mudstone. The petrographic study of 29 thin sections of Avanah carbonates revealed that the majority of the matrix is carbonate mud (micrite) with few microspar. The skeletal grains include benthic foraminifera, dasycladacean green algae, ostracods, calcispheres, pelecypods, rare planktonic foraminifera and bryozoa in addition to bioclasts. Non-skeletal grains encompass peloids, oncoids, intraclasts and extraclasts with common monocrystalline quartz. Based on the field observation and petrographic analysis, three different lithostratigraphic units were identified. They are in ascending order: A-Thick bedded dolomitic marly limestone interbedded with shale. B- Bedded interbedded with red mudstone. Depending on detailed microfacies analysis of carbonate rocks, three main microfacies and 12 submicrofacies are recognized. From the sum of all petrographic, facies, textural analyses, it is concluded that Avanah Formation in Gomaspan section, was deposited in shallow marine environment, semi restricted lagoon, in lower and upper parts and open lagoon environment in the middle part interval.

The Importance of Liming with an Appropriate Liming Material: Long-Term Experience with a Typic Palexerult

Aluminium phytotoxicity is considered the main limiting factor for crop productivity in agricultural acid soils. Liming is a common practice used to improve acidic soil properties, but an appropriate liming material is essential for both agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. A long-term field experiment with two liming amendments (dolomitic limestone and limestone) was developed during 10 years to determine the changes in soil acidity and assess the effects on crop (rye) yields. Although the adverse effects of the soil acidity conditions were alleviated with both amendments tested, dolomitic limestone was the most effective in the short- and long-term period. In terms of the saturation of exchange complex, dolomitic limestone had a better efficiency, likely based on its rate of dissolution. No significant changes in soil organic matter and exchangeable potassium levels between the treatments tested were found. Both liming materials significantly increased the rye total biomass, but interestingly, significant correlations were showed between tissue levels of magnesium and biomass production, but not between the latter and calcium. The increases in rye biomass production compared with control soils at the end of the research were the following: dolomitic limestone, 47%, and limestone, 32%. A link between an increase in magnesium bioavailability and biomass production was found, as well as between magnesium rye content and total, spike and stem biomass. Hence, it could conceivably be hypothesized that since magnesium is crucial for the transport of assimilates from source leaves to sink organs, alleviating its deficiency leads to avoiding the reducing growth rate of sink organs. Although further investigations are needed to gain a better understanding of liming on the biological, chemical and physical soil properties in the long term, our research provides support for the conceptual premise that an appropriate selection of liming material is crucial for the productivity of acid soils.

Nonlinear Elasto-Visco-Plastic Creep Behavior and New Creep Damage Model of Dolomitic Limestone Subjected to Cyclic Incremental Loading and Unloading

For many rock engineering projects, the stress of surrounding rocks is constantly increasing and decreasing during excavating progress and the long-term operation stage. Herein, the triaxial creep behavior of dolomitic limestone subjected to cyclic incremental loading and unloading was probed using an advanced rock mechanics testing system (i.e., MTS815.04). Then, the instantaneous elastic strain, instantaneous plastic strain, visco-elastic strain, and visco-plastic strain components were separated from the total strain curve, and evolutions of these different types of strain with deviatoric stress increment were analyzed. Furthermore, a damage variable considering the proportion of irrecoverable plastic strain to the total strain was introduced, and a new nonlinear multi-element creep model was established by connecting the newly proposed damage viscous body in series with the Hookean substance, St. Venant body, and Kelvin element. The parameters of this new model were analyzed. The findings are listed as follows: (1) When the deviatoric stress is not more than 75% of the compressive strength, only instantaneous deformation, transient creep, and steady-state creep deformation occur, rock deformation is mainly characterized by the instantaneous strain, whereas the irrecoverable instantaneous plastic strain accounts for 38.02–60.27% of the total instantaneous strain; (2) Greater deviatoric stress corresponds to more obvious creep deformation. The visco-elastic strain increases linearly with the increase of deviatoric stress, especially the irrecoverable visco-plastic strain increases exponentially with deviatoric stress increment, and finally leads to accelerated creep and delayed failure of the sample; (3) Based on the experimental data, the proposed nonlinear creep model is verified to describe the full creep stage perfectly, particularly the tertiary creep stage. These results could deepen our understanding of the elasto-visco-plastic deformation behavior of dolomitic limestone and have theoretical and practical significance for the safe excavation and long-term stability of underground rock engineering.

Influence of overliming vineyard acid soils on the macro-nutritional status of grapevines

Aim of study: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of overliming with dolomitic lime on the topsoil and grapevine macro-nutritional levels (both petiole and grape tissues), as well as on berry weight and must quality properties in grapevines growing on an acid soil. Area of study: The study was carried out in the viticultural region of El Bierzo (Spain), one of the main wine protected designation of origin in the northwest of Spain. Material and methods: The effects of overliming were studied in soil parameters, petiole and grape tissues, as well as in must quality during three years (2014-2016). Data analysis was performed using factorial ANOVA (both parametric and non-parametric tests have been used). Main results: The results found on the soil levels of magnesium and phosphorus were mirrored by those shown in petiole and grape tissues. Data suggest that insufficient Mg supply in vineyard acid soils could lead to a lower P vascular movement in vines. Additionally, our findings suggest that a great decrease of K levels in vine tissues as a consequence of overliming, could lead to changes in harvest quality. Research highlights: Overliming with dolomitic limestone in large quantities decreased soil exchangeable K, as well as improved supply of exchangeable Mg and available P. Additionally Mg and P levels in both petiole and grape tissues were significantly affected by overliming.

Influence of overliming vineyard acid soils on the macro-nutritional status of grapevines

Aim of study: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of overliming with dolomitic lime on the topsoil and grapevine macro-nutritional levels (both petiole and grape tissues), as well as on berry weight and must quality properties in grapevines growing on an acid soil. Area of study: The study was carried out in the viticultural region of El Bierzo (Spain), one of the main wine protected designation of origin in the northwest of Spain. Material and methods: The effects of overliming were studied in soil parameters, petiole and grape tissues, as well as in must quality during three years (2014-2016). Data analysis was performed using factorial ANOVA (both parametric and non-parametric tests have been used). Main results: The results found on the soil levels of magnesium and phosphorus were mirrored by those shown in petiole and grape tissues. Data suggest that insufficient Mg supply in vineyard acid soils could lead to a lower P vascular movement in vines. Additionally, our findings suggest that a great decrease of K levels in vine tissues as a consequence of overliming, could lead to changes in harvest quality. Research highlights: Overliming with dolomitic limestone in large quantities decreased soil exchangeable K, as well as improved supply of exchangeable Mg and available P. Additionally Mg and P levels in both petiole and grape tissues were significantly affected by overliming.

RELAÇÕES CÁLCIO:MAGNÉSIO E CARACTERÍSTICAS QUÍMICAS DO SOLO SOB CULTIVO DE SOJA E MILHO

Estudou-se as relações Ca:Mg no solo e o desenvolvimento da soja e milho. Conduziu-se em vasos com solo seis tratamentos variando a relação Ca:Mg no solo de 01:01, 02:01, 03:01, 04:01, 05:01 e 06:01 e cinco repetições, por meio da incubação do solo com calcário calcítico e dolomítico, na dose final de 8 ton ha-1. O solo foi incubado e amostrado aos 45, 90, 200 e 300 dias. Após os 90 dias de incubação semeou-se a soja a qual foi colhida no final do ciclo. Em sequência semeou-se o milho, o qual também foi colhido. As relações Ca:Mg mais altas no solo (≥04:01) durante o cultivo da soja afetaram positivamente a altura e a massa das plantas; já a produção final de grãos foi superior nas relações 02:01, 04:01 e 01:01, resultado da quantidade de vagens e da massa de mil grãos. No milho a massa da planta e a quantidade de grãos por espiga foram superiores nas relações ≥04:01 e a produção final foi inferior na relação 06:01. Conclui-se que a soja pode ser cultivada numa relação Ca:Mg mais ampla e no milho, relações entre 03:01 a 05:01, favorecem a estrutura vegetativa da planta e produção. Palavras-chave: calagem; incubação; nutrição; calcário. Calcium:magnesium ratio and chemical characteristics of soil under crop of soy and corn ABSTRACT: Soil Ca:Mg ratios and soybean and corn development were studied. Six treatments were conducted in pots with soil, varying the Ca:Mg ratio in the soil from 01:01, 02:01, 03:01, 04:01, 05:01 and 06:01 and five repetitions, by incubating the soil with calcitic and dolomitic limestone, in the final rate of 8 ton ha-1. The soil was incubated and sampled at 45, 90, 200 and 300 days. After 90 days of incubation, soy was sown, which was harvested at the end of the cycle. In sequence, corn was sown, which was also harvested. The highest Ca:Mg ratios in the soil (≥04:01) during soybean cultivation positively affected plant height and mass; the final grain production was higher in the 02:01, 04:01 and 01:01 ratios, the result of the quantity of pods and the mass of a thousand grains. In corn, the plant mass and the amount of grains per ear were higher in the ratio ≥04:01 and the final production was lower in the ratio 06:01. It is concluded that soybeans can be grown in a wider Ca:Mg ratio and in corn, ratios between 03:01 to 05:01, favor the vegetative structure of the plant and production. Keywords: liming; incubation; nutrition; limestone.

Stratigraphic and Microfacies Study of Kometan Formation (Upper Turonian-Lower Campanian), in the Dokan area, Northern Iraq

The Kometan Formation is widely distributed in the northern (Kurdistan region) and central Iraq. The studied area is located near the Dokan Dam, about 58 km., to the Northwest of the Sulaymaniyah city, Northeastern Iraq. The Kometan Formation is exposed on the southwest flank of the Sarah anticline. The formation consists of limestone and dolomitic limestone, which have cherts nodules throughout the formation. The Gulneri Formation is recorded below the Kometan Formation with unconformable contact, while at the top is bounded by the Shiranish Formation unconformably too. Three microfacies are identified, these are lime mudstone, planktic foraminiferal lime wackestone-packstone, keeld planktonic foraminiferal lime wackestone-packstone microfacies. All the sedimentary and fossil evidence refer that the sedimentary environment of the formation is the outer shelf to upper bathyal at the lower and upper parts of formation and its extension to the middle bathyal in the middle part of the formation. Based on the stratigraphic ranges of the recorded Calcareous nannofossils biozones, the age of the Kometan Formation at Dokan area is Late Turonian-Early Campanian.

The Sedimentology of the Late Campanian–Maastrichtian Sequence, Southwestern Iraq

Petrography, diagenesis, and facies analyses as well as the depositional environments of the late Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence in southwestern Iraq are studied in five keyholes. The sequence incorporates parts of the Hartha, Shiranish and Tayarat Formations. The Hartha Formation comprises creamy and organodetrital dolomite, grey dolomitic marl, and evaporites. The Shiranish Formation is composed of grey marl and claystone, whereas the Tayarat Formation is composed of grey ash, along with tough and fossiliferous dolomitic limestone inter-bedded with grey mudstone layers and/or wisps. Several diagenetic processes affected the sequence, such as neomorphic replacement, dissolution, dolomitization, and sulphate development. Some of these processes obliterated the primary textures. The late Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence consists of three microfacies (Dolomitic Intraclastic Limestone, Dolomitized Biomicrite, and Biomicrosparite Microfacies) and two lithofacies (Mudrock and Sulphates-Rock Lithofacies), in addition to Fine- to Medium-Crystalline Dolomite Lithotype. The Hartha Formation is evaporitic, possibly with supratidal sabkha deposits. The overlying Tayarat and Shiranish Formations reflect deposition in a warm tropical to subtropical reefal and open marine conditions, as deduced from faunal assemblages. Some effects of deep marine condition are evident by the presence of Shiranish facies. The sequence represents deposition in the central reef- fore reef area. The absence of isolated back-reef lagoon facies suggests that the reef was patchy without isolation of water in the middle shelf region. However, at the top of the sequence, i.e. at the end of the Cretaceous Period, restricted lagoons seem to have dominated the studied succession.