Detachment Surface Morphology and Shortening Distribution in the Foreland Folds of Iraq

Abstract

Determinations of detachment surface depth and amount of local shortening were carried out in the more specific location foreland folds of Iraq. Twenty one traverses of anticlinal structures which are normally distributed on the study area were used for this application. Two types of deformation styles were found in the study area. They are thin-skinned and thick-skinned tectonics. Depth of the detachment surface generally increases towards east with as abnormal case appeared in Aqra Anticline. Westerlythe depth becomes shallower depth from the south towards Dohuk Anticline and it returns to increase toward the north. In Ain Zala, Butma West, Dohuk and Dahqan Anticlines and some parts of Bekhair Anticline, thin-skinned style was indicated. The shortening generally increases towards the north and northeast, with specific anomaly at Permam Dagh. It increases in the area after Permam Dagh to the north and northeast. However southeast of this area has low amount of shortening and the lowest appears in Qara chauq Anticline.