Shakrook Anticline, a Very Complicated Structural Form, North Iraq, Kurdistan Region

The Shakrook anticline has very a complicated structural form, this is attributed to three thrust faults, and the presence of four anticlinal axes with the main anticlinal body. The most northwest existing anticline is called in the current study the Sisawa anticline, the main two anticlines are called the Shakrook East and Shakrook West, whereas the fourth one is called the Biluk anticline it is developed along the southwestern limb of the Shakrook East anticline. The exposed rocks in the Shakrook anticline range from Upper Jurassic to the Paleogene age. The bulk of the main Shakrook anticline is formed by the Bekhme Formation (Upper Cretaceous age), whereas the bulk of the Sisawa anticline is formed of the Shiranish Formation (Upper Cretaceous age) with Paleogene and Neogene aged rocks. Geological maps and high-quality satellite images were used to elucidate the complex structural form of the Shakrook anticline. The updated geological map is quite different from those existing geological maps. A field investigation was carried out to check the interpreted data and to implement photography to the interested structural and geomorphological forms. Different geomorphological forms also were interpreted; they all refer to the lateral growth of the Shakrook anticline.

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.

Characteristics of Carbonate Rocks and Environmental Conditions of Some Caves, Northern Iraq

Six caves were studied in north Iraq, which is the Beeston and Shanidar in Erbil, Garston, Swaratuka, and Ain Ishky in Duhok Governorate, Al-Naqut in Nineveh Governorate. All these caves are located within geological formations of carbonate rocks, limestone, and dolostone. Geotechnical and geometrical measurements were made for these caves, and rocks were sampled from different areas inside and outside the caves. The slake durability of the rocks was measured and thin sections were made, in addition to measuring the percentage of insoluble residues and analyzing the mineral constituents of the collected samples by using X-ray diffraction. By reviewing the geotechnical characteristics and environmental conditions, the Beeston Cave was found to be the oldest of the caves studied because its size is greater than that of the other caves and its rocks have better geotechnical characteristics than the other caves, which means that the time required for it to form is longer. The Al-Naqut Cave was also found to be the newest among these six caves because, in addition to its small size, it has the lowest durability value after the Shanidar Cave and has the lowest value of compressive strength.

Exodus 21, the Sale of Daughters, and the Cuneiform Sources of Nuzi

The context and purpose of Exod 21:7–11 has been the subject of much debate. One of the most recent treatments is that of Joseph Fleishman, who suggested that the law did not allude to a father selling his daughter, but to giving her in marriage. To that end, he adduced a number of parallels that included several cuneiform legal documents, such as those of Nuzi, in North Iraq. This contribution attempts to assess the weight of those Nuzian parallels.

Morphological and Morphometrical Study of the Stink Bug Mustha spinulosa (Lefebrve, 1831) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) from Erbil – Iraq

All life stages of the pentatomid stink bug Mustha spinulosa (Lefebrve, 1831) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) collected from several types of trees in Erbil Governorate, North Iraq, along with their morphometrical description, were illustrated. Eggs are barrel in shape, green in color when freshly laid, and usually deposited in clusters that contain 14 eggs each (sometimes 12). Nymphs complete their stage through 5 instars. Head, pronotum, and connexivum of the adults and instars are with pale pink and gray spines; female is slightly larger than male; female is 27.30 mm long and 12.80 mm wide, while male is 25.80 mm long and 11.98 mm wide. Labium proboscis is1.25 ± 0.01 cm long, with brown blackish color. A pair of scent glands are located on the underside of thorax between second and third leg base. All body parts, especially head, thorax, and abdomen are densely covered with setae.

Suitability of the Carbonate Rocks of the Bekhme Formation for Cement Industry, Hareer Mountain, North Iraq, Kurdistan Region

The main lithological composition of different formations in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region is the carbonate rocks; some of those rocks are suitable for cement production; such as Qamchuqa Bekhme, Sinjar, Pila Spi and Anah formations. However, the six existing cement plants in are using limestone beds, five of those plants are using limestone from the Sinjar Formation, and one plant is using limestone from the Anah Formation. Recently, performed research works confirmed that the limestone beds within the Qamchuqa, Bekhme and Pila Spi formations are very suitable for cement production. The current research work deals with studying the exposed limestone beds within the Bekhme Formation at Hareer Mountain in the central part of IKR to check their suitability for the cement industry. Accordingly, we collected 12 rock samples from a section within the Bekhme Formation at an almost constant sampling interval (5 m); however, for two samples the sampling interval was 6 and 8 m (sample No. 2 and 12, respectively). Each sample represents a channel sample for the concerned sampling interval to be representative for the thickness of the sampled interval. The total thickness of the sampled section is 64 m with a covered interval of 30 m, totaling up to 94 m. The collected 12 samples were prepared at the laboratory of the University of Kurdistan Hewler and were subjected to XRF test at Mass Cement Plant (Sulaimaniyah) to check the concentration of certain oxides that are used in the Iraqi Standard for cement production. The acquired concentrations of the main oxides (CaO, MgO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Na2O, K2O, SO3), and Cl and L.O.I. at each sample were changed to weighted averages and the results were compared with the Iraqi standards for cement industry. The result was the sampled rocks are excellent for cement production.

MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE OF SHEEP GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES IN BAKRAJO DISTRICT, NORTH IRAQ TO ALBENDAZOLE, IVERMECTIN, AND LEVAMISOLE

A survey including 25 sheep farms in Bakrajo District, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, was conducted to determine anthelmintic resistance (AR) against albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole. Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) was used to accomplish this goal. Forty 6–24 month-old sheep of mixed sexes were selected from each farm and randomly divided into four groups. One group served as the untreated control, and the other groups orally administered the recommended doses of the tested drugs. Multidrug resistance against all three drugs was present in 8 of 25 farms (32%). Also, resistance to albendazole and ivermectin was detected on one farm. Albendazole was the most effective anthelmintic agent. Resistance to ivermectin was significantly higher than levamisole and albendazole. Larval cultures revealed that Trichostrongylus spp., Nematodirus spp., and Trichuris spp. were the prevalent gastrointestinal nematodes in the study area. The nematode genera were also detected in the posttreatment larval cultures. It is concluded that AR to albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole is widespread in sheep in Bakrajo District, north Iraq. This resistance is mainly caused by the emergence of resistant Trichostrongylus and Nematodirus spp.

Depositional Environment of the Upper Triassic Baluti Formation in Gara Anticline, Kurdistan Region, North Iraq: Insight from Microfacies and Biomarker Characteristics

The studied section is located in the core of the Gara Anticline, about 12 km southeast of Amedi Town. The Baluti Formation is generally composed of grey and green shale, calcareous, dolostone with intercalations of thinly bedded dolostones, dolomitic limestones, and silicified limestones which are occasionally brecciated. The petrographic study shows five main microfacies in the Baluti Formation namely; finely laminated dolomudstone, fossil-barren and lime mudstone, fenestral mudstone/packstone, peloids and ooids wackestone, and lithoclasts (intraclasts) grainstones. The mudstones facies with no fauna and radial-fibrous ooids can point to a protected and low energy environment. Moreover, fenestral structures are reliable criteria for identifying a tidal flat environment. The presence of the lithoclasts (intraclasts) with radial ooids and a few terrestrial fragments may represent a quiet environment, albeit one affected by infrequent storm deposits. As a supplementary to microfacies, the biomarker characterizations were used to deduce the depositional environment of the Baluti Formation. Biomarker parameters show that the Baluti Formation could be deposited in anoxic to suboxic environment, and organic matter input is more likely characterized by land plant organic matter. This study showed that the most likely paleoenvironments for the Baluti Formation were supratidal, intertidal, subtidal, and sand shoals setting. However, the lack and/or very low diversity of skeletal fauna, and the lack of subaerial exposure may indicate that some parts of the formation seem to be deposited in low energy and restricted environment (Lagoon).

Identification of Vulnerable Zones for Groundwater Using a GIS-based DRASTIC Technique in Shwan Sub-basin/North-Iraq

Groundwater is considered as one of the most important sources of fresh-water, on which many regions around the world depend, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. Protecting and maintaining groundwater is a difficult process, but it is very important to maintain an important source of water. The current study aims to assess the susceptibility of groundwater to pollution using the DRASTIC model along with the GIS environments and its tool boxes. A vulnerability map was created by relying on data collected from 55 wells surveyed by the researchers as well as archived records from governmental institutions and some international organizations. The results indicate that the region falls into three vulnerability functional zones , namely very low, low and medium. Fortunately, most of the region is in a very low - low range (89-125) which covers approximately 94.6% of total area of the region, while the medium zone (125-133) forms 5.4%, as the smallest part of the total area ofregion. To reduce the risk of pollution in the medium zones of vulnerability, precautionary measures must be taken before commencing industrial or agricultural activities.