SERIES OF GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPS OF IRAQ,ERBIL&MAHABAD QUADRANGLES

Abstract

The map area is located in the north and northeastern parts of Iraq. It consists of two main morphological parts; the first is represented by flat terrain with some elevated parts and the second is represented by mountains, with very rugged topography in the northeastern corner of the map area. The exposed rocks range in age from Triassic to Pliocene, with different Quaternary sediments. Majority of the rocks are igneous and metamorphic rocks, carbonate, clastic with rare gypsum and marl. Conglomerates are present too. Twenty seven anticlines are located within the map area; most of them are long and few of them are thrusted, and others overthrusted and few of them overturned. The remote sensing techniques are used in order to complete the Geomorphological Map (GEM) of Erbil-Mahabad Quadrangles at scale 1:250 000 depending on ASTER satellite image 2004-2006, with field check carried out in 2011. Geomorphological map is produced depending on the visual interpretation of ASTER images using Anaglyph image; using ERDAS Imagine V. 9.1 and Arc GIS 9.3 software to produce a digital GEM map. Four main types of geomorphological unites are developed in the map area, these are: Units of Structural Origin, represented by Structural Ridges (anticlinal and synclinal ridges),Unit of Structural - Denudational Origin which is divided into:: Homclinal structures (hogback and cuesta, mesa, plateaus); Units of Denudational Origin, which includes: complex mountain, Badland, Glacis (depositional and erosional), Unstable slope, scree slope, water gap, wind gap and erosinal escarpment; Units of Fluvial Origin, which includes: river terraces, flood plains and island, infilled valleys, alluvial fan and bajada and alluvial cone.