Geochemical Insights into the Paleodepositional  Environment of the Garagu Formation, Gara  Anticline, Kurdistan, Northern Iraq

Tola A. Mirza; Ibrahim M.J. Mohialdeen; Shahra  O. Abdalla

doi:10.14500/aro.11910

Tola A. Mirza Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6951-8914
Ibrahim M.J. Mohialdeen Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4544-3959
Shahra O. Abdalla Development Center for Research and Training, University of Human Development, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8992-547X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14500/aro.11910

Keywords: Cretaceous, Gara mountain, Garagu formation, Kurdistan, Rare earth element

Abstract

The Garagu Formation is mostly composed of carbonate layers with iron-rich horizons in the middle part. The geochemical evidence for the paleodepositional environment of the Garagu Formation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s Gara anticline has been explored in this paper. A total of 9 samples from the Garagu Formation were analyzed by XRF for major elements and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer for trace elements. From geochemical data of major and trace elements, including rare earth elements, a series of identification indexes, such as Sr/Ba, Rb/K₂O, Th/U, U/Th, V/(V+Ni), δU, V/Sc, Sr/Cu, and C-Value ratios, are calculated, which can be used to indicate paleosalinity, ancient oxidizing environment, and paleoclimate conditions. As would be predicted in this limestone-dominated deposit, CaO has the greatest weight percentages of any sample. Several samples from the iron-rich mineralization in the middle part of the formation exhibit significant percentages of FeO. The elemental geochemical ratios indicate to saline shallow marine environment with lower salinity in the middle part of the formation. The paleoredox proxies revealed that the oxic to suboxic conditions prevailed during the deposition of the formation.

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Author Biographies

Tola A. Mirza, Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Tola A. Mirza is a Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum College of Science, Sulaimani University. She got a B.Sc. degree in geology, an M.Sc. degree in industrial rocks and minerals, and a Ph.D. degree in ore geology. Her research interests are in ore geology, rock and minerals, and geochemistry. Dr. Tola is a member of the Kurdistan Geological Society.

Ibrahim M.J. Mohialdeen, Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Ibrahim M.J. Mohialdeen, is Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences and Petroleum, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. He got the B.Sc. in 1989, M.Sc. in 1993 from Salahaddin University, and Ph.D. in 2008 from the University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. His research interests are in the sedimentary rocks, organic and inorganic geochemistry of source rocks, and using biomarkers for oil source rock correlation from Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks of Kurdistan and Iraq. Dr. Ibrahim has been a member of the Iraqi Geological Society since 1989, a member of the Kurdistan Geological Society since 1992, and a member of the Berriasian Working Group, ISCS, since 2012.

Shahra O. Abdalla, Development Center for Research and Training, University of Human Development, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Shahra Othman Abdalla is a Researcher at the Development Center for Research and Training, University of Human Development, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She got the B.Sc. degree at the University of Sulaimani and the M.Sc. degree at the University of Sulaimani. Her research interests are in Ore Geology, Ore genesis, and the geochemistry of igneous rocks. Ms. Shahra is a member of the Kurdistan Geological Society.

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