Abstract: The Jurassic rocks are well exposed in Northern Iraq within the High Folded -Thrust Zone ( Western Zagros Fold Thrust Belt). The Sargelu Formation (Middle Jurassic) was studied from a well exposed section located NW of Suliamni city and about 2km NW of Ranya town , and close from Hanjera village. , at the southwestern side of Shawiri anticline. The Sargelu Formation consists of successive beds of sucrose dolomitic limestone, limestone and argillite limestone beds, interspersed with layers of shale rich in organic matter, as well as thin beds of flint. Some beds of the formation show the presence of large size ammonite fossils. It is bounded from the bottom by the Sehkanyan Formation, and the contact surface between them appears sharp, represented by the last appearance of the hard dolomite bed belonging to the Sehkanyan Formation, and it is bounded from the top by the Naokelekan Formation and the surface between them appears in the form of a sedimentary compatible surface. The current study relied on determining the age of the formation based on nannofossils, where many species and genus were diagnosed from the samples taken from the formation, and three biozones were identified, which are from the oldest to the most recent:1 - Watznaueria britannicaInterval biozone2 - Watznaueria manivitiae Interval biozone3 - Watznaueria barnesiaeInterval biozoneThese biozones were compared with global nannofossils biozones, and it was found that the age of the Sargelu formation is the middle Jurassic ( Bajocian - Bathonian).

Abstract: Sixteen Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT / IP) traverses were conducted and correlated with pumping ‎test data to estimate aquifer parameters in NW of Sulaimani. The length of traverses ranged from 310 to 400 m ‎and the space between electrodes was 10 m. The first layer is characterized by a low-resistivity value which ‎might be interpreted to silty and sandy clays or associated with the water-saturated bed range of the depth 0-‎‎20m.. While the second layer has higher ranges between 80 to 120 ohm.m with a depth of less than 20 m. and ‎represented the variation of grain size sediment sand, silt, and gravel boulder, it is partially saturated with ‎water. Several high-resistivity value features appear in the central part of most of the sections, at a depth ‎below 20m. The third layer is considered a moderate-resistivity value which reflects a bed of silty marl bed of ‎middle Tanjero Fn., this layer acts as an impermeable layer.‎Many relationships of hydraulic Dar Zarrouk aquifer parameters were extracted showing little variations of ‎hydraulic parameters with the aquifer parameters due to the restriction of the area of study little variation in ‎lithology, and the low of the well's production. The presence of the clay content is clearly visible in the ‎porosity relation with aquifer resistivity of the middle Tanjero Fn. Moreover, the measurements of IP have ‎been extremely successful in distinguishing between clay (with high chargeability and low resistivity) and ‎water (for low chargeability and low resistivity).‎

Abstract: Climate is one of the most important factors responsible for changing vegetation cover. The climatic changes for each season determine the area and density of vegetation cover. These changes affecting the vegetation cover can be traced and their causes identified using satellite imagery which are provide a huge archive of data covering large areas of the earth at different times and the possibility of obtaining them easily and processing them using digital processing methods to extract information. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is the most important indicator adopted in the identification of pixels, which expresses the nature of changes in vegetation cover and the estimation of its prevalence in any season chosen. In the current study, some of the climatic factors affecting the variation of vegetation cover were studied in the district of Hamdaniya, which is administratively located in the Nineveh Governorate. The extent of the spread of the vegetation was determined and its area was estimated in the study area as well as, the statistical analysis was applied to the climatic elements of the same season by applying some of the multiple regression equations and predictions to determine the nature and degree of that effect. The results revealed the presence of more than one climatic element that affects the variance of vegetation cover during the fall season of the rainy years (2013 - 2019). The actual solar radiation, minimum temperature, relative humidity, and wind were the most important factors affecting the variance in vegetation cover, and they

Abstract: A detailed petrographic study is achieved of more than 120 thin sections of the carbonate rocks samples for Shiranish Formation (Early-Late Maastrichtian) from three outcrops (Brie Bahar, Ikmalah, and Zoe) at Bekhair anticline, Dohuk city, northern Iraq to identify the impact of the diagenesis processes. The diagenesis process varies in intensity from one microfacies to another at the Shiranish Formation successions, the most important dominant diagenesis processes that are identified in the current study and according to its probable timing sequence are bioturbation, compaction, cementation, dissolution (porosity), micritization, neomorphic (recrystallization), authigenic minerals (pyrite and Glugonite), fractures, and formation of veins.Among all the observed diagenetic features, dissolution and recrystallization contributed to porosity and permeability enhancement. The cementation, compaction, and micritization have a negative impact on porosity and permeability. All diagenetic indications referred that the environment that has affected the carbonate rocks in the Bekhair anticline was the stagnate Burial Diagenetic environment, as well as the Marine Phreatic Environment, and Fresh groundwater phreatic environment.

Abstract: One of the most common industrial byproducts created by the construction industry is granite waste. Despite having a special chemical composition, granite waste is nevertheless wasted in large quantities without being recycled, which could have a negative influence on the environment. Because of this, the current study offers a workable strategy for recovering and using granite waste as a flux to create value-added with prominent physical-mechanical properties. The granitic wastes are additives for the purpose of improving natural clay. A batch composition including 20% of granite waste was then created, dried, and fired at various sintering temperatures, including 1100, 1150, and 1200°C. The chemical and mineralogical components of the raw materials were characterized, whereas the mechanical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of the fired samples. The results of the fired samples' tests at 1200°C revealed that the samples that had been treated with 20% granite waste had enhanced bulk density from 1.86 to 1.96, apparent porosity from 19.23 to 9.22, modulus of rapture from 24.26 to 37.14, water absorption from 13.82 to 3.74, and chemical resistance from 0.28 to 0.19 to fulfill EN 295: 2013 criteria. The final research approach demonstrated that there is potential to manufacture environmentally friendly pipes with improved physical-mechanical characteristics and a reduction of harmful environmental hazards.

Abstract: The study of the importance of the geological characteristics emerged because they represent the basis of the earth surface morphology including the Karst phenomena.The problem of the study was manifested by highlighting the effect of the geological properties and their role in terms of the Karst formation and whether they play a certain role in developing the chemical erosion? What is the role played by the linear structures in terms of the emergence and the evolution. The aim of the study is to understanding the reflection of the tectonic situation on the formation of the area represented by a set of rocky formations that have a great importance in terms of the evolution of Karst, particularly the lime rocks within the pilasipi formation as they are characterized with geological weakness in the cracks and partitions and so it is considered the suitable environment for developing the Karst aspects. The results of the study highlighted the importance of the slope characteristics in terms of the evolution of several Karst phenomena in addition to the role of porosity, permeability and the purity of the lime that are necessary for the development of the land shapes in general and the Karst shapes in particular. After analyzing the geological characteristics of Maqlub mountain one of the objectives of the study was accomplished, which is their effective role in the evolution of the Karst aspects.

Abstract: A 59 km2 area of soil transect called Al-Band Hills in the eastern part of Misan governorate, south of Iraq was studied. The objective of this study was to understand the behavior of minerals and features of chemical weathering in the transect area soils that developed on fluvial and water-loaded sediments, in order to fulfill this objective, three soil pedons were selected one of them at the top of Hills and second in the middle and third pedon in the bottom of the Hill. The results showed that Al-Band Hills located in semi-arid soils in the east of Misan governorate, south of Iraq are characterized by a low and middle intensity of chemical weathering. In an alkaline environment according to its carbonate minerals richness, with a low amount of precipitation, the intensity, and type of silicate minerals weathering is restricted not only by the climate but by the chemical conditions of the soil solution. According to this study's findings, the intensity of weathering of present soil pedons is mostly inherited from the parent rocks which is transferred by the action of water movement from northern areas from Turkey and Iran which belongs to the Quaternary. This study will give clear sights into the geomorphological and geochemical processes that happen in studied soils in semi-arid regions and show the possibility of using weathering features in carbonate and alkali sediments.

Abstract: The proposed Reduction System of the Rock Mass Strength RSRMS depends on the effects of discontinuities to reduce the strength of rocks. The reduction of rock mass strength happened when the properties of discontinuities are inferior. Most classification systems worldwide used are employing engineering parameters separately. The association of the related parameters and subsequent correlations are the base of the RSRMS, which forms part of the output of the present work. The RSRMS would be applied systematically in multiple stages to arrive at the final view of the site. The system can be applied at any engineering site that has rock mass varied from soil properties to intact mass. The application of RSRMS at the Bekhme Dam Site – NE Iraq has clarified the separation between the zones of different rock mass quality along the Bekhme Gorge, Spillway, and Access tunnels. The evaluations of rock mass matched the common worldwide used rock mass classification systems. The proposed dam site is classified as high quality by RSRMS, which is classified between 4-10 according to Q-System, high according to RMR, and 10-1 according to RMi. At the Spillway Tunnel, three small zones have very low grades at the distance from the SW entrance, two zones have a low grade, and two zones have a medium grade. The best qualities extend to the eight long zones and five zones are having very good quality.

Abstract: Pumping test analysis is one of the most hydrogeological urgent problems facing hydrogeologists to discover reliable values for hydrological formation. The current study included the use of pumping test data wells (B7-3) done by a Yugoslavian company (Consortium), where this well penetrated each of the Dammam Formation and Umm Er Radhuma Formation in Ain –Tamer area west of Iraq. The type aquifer of the study area has been considered as a confined aquifer regarding the geological situation. The AQTESOLV v4.5 program has been used to simulate the pumping test data of this well, Barker, Cooper-Jacob, Hantush, Murdoch, Papadopulos -Cooper, and Theis-Hantush methods which are used to calculate the hydraulic properties of this aquifer. The results show that each of the Papa-Cooper and Theis-Hantush methods present the same value for transmissivity and storativity of the aquifer, (0.016 m2/sec) & (0.2) respectively. While the Cooper-Jacob method gave values for aquiver properties higher relatively. Also, each of Barker and Murdoch’s methods offered different values for specific storage, 0.006 m-1, and 0.06 m-1 respectively. As well both methods had different values for Kx. The results prove that the pumping test methods have to apply carefully in the case of identifying the hydrogeological parameters of aquifers.

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the stabilization of representative samples of expansive soil in the Al-Azraq area. This is achieved by mixing soil with different proportions of four types of stabilizers: lime, phosphatic clay, cement kiln dust (CKD), and sandstone. The index properties of the base soil have been investigated through various tests. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of materials have been examined. Compaction, California bearing ratio, and unconfined compression tests are used to assess the engineering properties of the stabilized soil. The results revealed that with 5% lime, 10% phosphatic clay, 7.5% CKD, and 10% sandstone, the plasticity index reduced from 60% to 17.2%, 18.47%, 17.52%, and 22.70%, respectively. The maximum dry density increased by adding 5% lime from 1.19 mg/cm3 to 1.58 mg/cm3. The optimum moisture content decreased from 40.1% to 25.1% with the addition of 5% lime. The California bearing ratio increased from 9% to 17.5% with the addition of 7.5% CKD. The unconfined compression strength improved significantly with the addition of all stabilizers due to chemical reactions that resulted in the production of binding compounds. The maximum compressive strengths were after 21 days of adding 5% lime and 7.5% CKD (1800 and 1720 Mpa, respectively). According to the results, the addition of 5% lime and 7.5% CKD is responsible for forming new product-binding materials that improve mechanical strength via the pozzolanic reaction. Reusing by-product materials such as CKD and phosphatic clay as non-traditional soil stabilizers could reduce the amount of these materials destined as waste.

Abstract: Soil contamination with heavy metals is currently one of the greatest environmental threats. The left bank soil of Mosul city has been studied to assess contamination by heavy metals. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured on 96 topsoil samples collected ( by a random sampling system and analyzed using the ICP-MS technique ) from green areas and parks in the left bank of Mosul city in order to assess the distribution of these heavy metals in the urban environment; to differentiate natural and anthropogenic contributions; and to identify possible sources of pollution. The average of earth crust was dependent as a reference value. Results for the elements (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) showed higher values than the average crust by 100%, 38.57%, 46.88%, 100%, 20.0%, and 33.33% respectively. It is noted that the concentration of nickel and lead in the investigated urban soils of the left bank was higher than that of the right bank.Pollution factors (Igeo, EF, and CF) indicate that most of the contamination is attributed to the anthropogenic addition due to war activities and the use of various heavy weapons like bombs, missiles, ammunition, and their residues that contain many heavy metals, as well as pollutants generated from waste burning, vehicle exhausts, electric generators, and liquid waste in urban and industrial areas.

Abstract: The Chia Gara Formation at Rania section located in Shawli anticline near the village of Hangerah in the Rania district of Sulaymaniyah northern Iraq . This section consists mainly of limestone and shale containing organic matter. Geochemical data of major and trace elements were used in order to constrain paleoenvironmental conditions including paleoproductivity, redox conditions, hydrodynamic conditions, paleoclimate , paleo-water depth, hydrographic conditions and hydrothermal activity. The productivity proxies (Ba/Al and P/Ti ratios) indicate lower productivity. Redox proxies for trace elements [V/(V + Ni), V/Cr, Ni/Co, and Mo] suggest anoxic to dysoxic marine conditions. The Zr/Rb values indicate roughly that the hydrodynamic energy increased from lower to upper section. Sr/Cu and Rb/Sr ratios, which are paleoclimate proxies, indicate a semiarid to arid climatic conditions. The Co*Mn proxies refer to open marine environments associated with upwelling as well as subordinate restricted marine environments. Ni–Zn–Co plot suggests hydrothetrmal activity during deposition . The Rb/Zr ratio indicate shallowing upward during sedimentation