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Groundwater is an essential water source in many areas in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The groundwater can be used for many purposes such as municipal, agricultural, and domestic. The objective of this study is to assess the quality of groundwater in the Kani-Qirzhala area. The study area covers 60 km2, and includes twenty-seven water wells, which have been selected and used to study the water quality parameters in such area. Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment Water Quality Index method was used to evaluate Water Quality Index and SPSS software version 25 even to study the correlation between Water Quality Index and water quality parameters. The results indicated that the quality of water in most of the wells is fair, except the quality of water in wells 19, 24, and 27 is found to be poor. Well19 is located close to the Erbil landfill site (Kani-Qirzhala) and this poor quality is due to the effect of Landfill site leachate. The Well 24 is in the Erbil store area where the leachate of landfill is discharged to this surrounding area. The quality of water in well 27, on the other hand, was marginal and existed on the eastern side of the study area. The significant correlation revealed a good correlation between WQI and water quality parameters such as (pH, EC, TDS, Ca2+ Na1+, Mg2+, NO3-1, K1+, SO42-, Cl1-, Hardness, Alkalinity, Iron, and Copper).

The Hamamok Dam is an earthfill dam with a height of 25 m and length of 125 m; constructed in 2011; located northwest of Koya town on a deep canyon-like valley that flows along the southeastern plunge of the Bana Bawi anticline; which forms Bawagi Mountain. The exposed rocks in the site belong to the Pila Spi and Gercus formations; however, rocks of the Khurmala and Kolosh formations are exposed upstream from the dam’s reservoir. The difference in the hardness of the carbonate rocks of the Pila Spi Formation which forms the uppermost parts of the cliffs surrounding the dam site and those of soft reddish brown clastics of the Gercus Formation caused steep slopes that suffer from slope instability problems. To assess a geotechnical study of slopes in the dam site, we have collected different field data to perform a Kinematic assessment method using Dip Analyst 2.0 software and draw the stereographic projection for the studied 10 stations using Stereonet v.11 software. Besides Bejerman’s method, which is based on field data only and indicates the Landslide Possibility Index (LPI). The results showed that the L.P.I. values range between 23 and 27, whereas the results of the Kinematic analysis showed that the right bank (Stations 1 – 5) suffers from plane sliding, whereas the left bank (Stations 6 – 10) suffers from toppling. In both cases, Joint 2 has the main role in the developed failures.

The Safeen Mountain is one of the main mountains in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, it forms one of the long anticlines trending NW – SE. The exposed formations on the top of the mountain are Qamchuqa, Bekhme, and Shiranish, with carbonate rocks of different types and thicknesses. Sampling took place in the exposed rocks on the top of the mountain where a road crosses the mountain, and a total of 20 samples out of 84 m thickness of the outcrop were collected. The distance between sampling intervals was depending on the lithological variation of the bedrock and each sample was collected to represent the sampling interval. The samples were subjected to XRF to indicate the main oxides percentages in each sample. The acquired results from the XRF showed the studied rocks can be used for cement and paper industries based on Iraqi Standards. They can also be considered using it in the sugar industry after a slight modification as well as in the drug industry.

The Khurmala Formation is exposed in restricted areas in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, usually between the Kolosh and Gercus formations. One of those exposed areas is the Haibat Sultan Mountain which extends from Koya town and eastwards to Sulaymaniyah city with NW-SE trend, where it passes to the Sinjar Formation. The rocks of the latter are used as the raw materials in five cement plants in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The rocks of the Khurmala Formation were sampled near Kalka Smaq village along the road which crosses Haibat Sultan Mountain to perform an industrial assessment of the rocks. The sampled section is 65 m thick; 13 samples were collected as channel samples with regular intervals of 5 m. In the field, the samples were lithologically described and checked with HCl acid. The samples were powdered, and subjected to XRF to detect the main oxides in the samples. The obtained results of CaO, MgO, Fe2O3, Al2O3, Na2O, K2O, SiO2, SO3, Cl, and L.O.I. as weight percentages were checked with Iraqi standards to find for what industrial uses can be suitable. Accordingly, the samples were found to be suitable for the cement industry and for the paper industry, but after slight treatment.

In the valley of the Euphrates River to the south of the Haditha city (West Iraq), the dissolution of the carbonate rocks which underlie residual soil gives rise to numerous sinkholes. These sinkholes are a potential hazard to human safety and damage to the existing infrastructure. The exposed rocks in the area under consideration belong to the Euphrates Formation of the Early Miocene age, specifically the Middle Member of the formation. Tens of sinkholes have developed with different shapes, sizes, activities, and maturities, others are under development indicating that the karstification process is still ongoing. Some of the sinkholes have spectacular scenes and can be used for touristic purposes. The karstification process has a negative impact on the infrastructure in the Haditha vicinity, especially the Hadith Dam, where extraordinary treatments to the foundation of the dam were considered to be in a safe status. We have studied different published articles and reports, which dealt with the karstification in the Haditha vicinity. Moreover, we have interpreted satellite images, and topographical and geological maps to recognize the existing sinkholes and study them. Filed trips were performed for long interrupted intervals (1984 until 2022) to collect significant data and perform field photographs for the interesting scenes.

The structural forms (folds and faults) in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region exhibit more complexity in the northern and northeastern parts of the region; accordingly, complicated geomorphic forms were developed too. This is attributed to the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates with a convergent boundary that runs about 35 – 40 km northeast of the studied area. Many long and tight anticlines exist in the studied area, the majority of them exhibit very complex forms, such as being faulted and their axes being bent. The main characteristic structural and Geomorphic recognized forms based on the interpretation of high-quality satellite images are: Domes, en-echelon plunges, overturned beds, faulted anticlinal and synclinal axes, abandoned and recent alluvial fans, water and wind gaps, wine glasses, and different valley shapes. The recognized structural forms are quite different from those previously presented on the geological maps of different scales, and the forms are good indications for the lateral growth of the anticlines. A Field check was carried out to check some ambiguous interpreted data and to confirm the new findings.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) forms the northeastern part of the Arabian Plate that is colliding with the Eurasian Plate. Due to the ongoing collision, the whole KRI territory is folded; accordingly, long anticlines are developed in NW – SE trend, they change west wards to almost E – W. The Cretaceous carbonate rocks form the bulk of the anticlines; in the central part of KRG. North and northwest wards, rocks of Paleozoic, Triassic and Jurassic ages are exposed in the core of some anticlines. Whereas southwards, tertiary rocks are exposed in the core of anticlines. From tectonic point of view, the KRI territory is located in four tectonic zones; each has its own characteristics. Majority of the developed anticlines at the KRI are thrusted and exhibit lateral growth. We have presented many examples of laterally growing anticlines with clear indications for their growth.

Visual interpretation of satellite images is a very significant technique to recognize and interpret geomorphological features. We have used Esri World Imagery and Google Earth images to recognize geomorphological features at Pira Magroon, Surdash, and Azmar anticlines in Sulaymaniyah vicinity, Kurdistan Region, north of Iraq. The mentioned anticlines are outstanding geomorphological features in the Sulaymaniyah vicinity. The recognized and interpreted geomorphological features include: wine glasses, water gaps, wind gaps, abandoned and recent alluvial fans, different types of valleys, flat irons, karstification features …etc. All these features were discussed in detail with many images to show the discussed cases, most of the interpreted data and presented figures were never mentioned previously.

The study area lies in the Lower Folded Zone of the Outer Platform of Iraq, which belongs to the Arabian Plate. The Outer Platform is a part of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt, which is in the Zagros Foreland Basin. Due to the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates, tens of folds were developed among the anticlines that occur in the study area. The course of the Greater Zab River in the study area crosses several anticlines before merging with the Tigris River. Different river terrace levels were recognized locally as three levels along the course of the river. It is clear from the achieved data that the rates of an incision during the Early, Middle and Late Pleistocene are: 5.036 mm/ 100 years, 8.979 mm/ 100 years, and 18.117 mm/ 100 years, respectively. The maximum rate of upward movements (3.485 mm/ 100 year) was recorded at 700 m from Bekhme gorge, where the first exposures of the Fatha and Injana formations exist. The maximum rate of downwards movement (13.769 mm / 100 year) was recognized at the southeastern part of Barda Rash anticline. The rate of the upwards movement decreases towards the southeast, and the minimum rate of downwards (7.314 mm / 100 year) was recorded in Sarta oil well 1 location, near the Greater Zab River. The rates of the upwards and downwards movements are not regular. This is attributed to the existence of anticlines and synclines, which means Neotectonic activities.

A new highway is under construction since few years to join the capital; Erbil city with many main towns connecting; in the plan to the northern boarders of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. It is a double lane road constructed according to modern standards. It crosses many mountains, and two tunnels are already completed, one is almost completed and another one is abandoned: hitherto. The completed part of the highway reaches the Hareer town with some parts being under construction before and after the Shaqlawa town. Because parts of the Highway are not completed yet; therefore, those parts suffer from slope stability problems; mainly due to the drainage problems. Other completed parts; however, suffer also from slope stability problems; mainly due to steep slope road cuts and/ or irrelevant treatments for the road cuts. Among those unstable slopes, we have chosen six stations, which experienced the most severe failures. At those six stations, we have applied field method to estimate the possibility of failure following Bejerman’s method. We have found that the failure possibility is high in the station Nos. 1- 4, and is Low in the station Nos. 5 and 6.

Many geological formations are exposed in the Pira Magroon anticline (Mountain); in the northeastern part of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The components of the exposed formations are carbonate rocks, especially limestone, which might be utilized for different industrial uses. To have an industrial assessment for the exposed limestone beds in the Pira Magroon anticline, Zewe Gorge has been chosen for sampling, where the Shiranish and Kometan formations are exposed in the outlet of the gorge. Eleven samples have been collected within the Shiranish and Kometan Formations starting from the bottom of the Kometan Formation, with different sampling intervals. Thereafter, the samples were prepared to be tested by XRF machine; in order to show the concentrations of the main oxides in the collected samples. The weighted averages were calculated from the concentrations of the oxides, and then the averages were indicated. Accordingly, the data was compared with the Iraqi and other industrial standards, to know the usage of the tested rocks for different industries. The acquired data showed that the carbonate successions of the Kometan and Shiranish Formations of the Zewe Gorge in the Pira Magroon Anticline, can be used in cement production.

Visual interpretation of satellite images is a very significant technique to recognize and interpret structural features, which indicate lateral growth of folds, the origin of folds, and dating of folds using the exposure dating method. In this study, Landsat 8 (ESSRI) and Google Earth images are used to recognize structural features at Pira Magroon, Surdash, and Azmar anticlines in the Sulaimaniyah vicinity, Kurdistan Region, north of Iraq. The mentioned anticlines are outstanding geomorphological and structural features in the Sulaimaniyah vicinity. The recognized and interpreted structural features include: en-echelon folding, domes, and Neotectonic indication. All these features are discussed in detail with many images to show the discussed cases, most of the interpreted data and presented figures are never mentioned previously.

The Bekhme Formation forms almost the bulk of the Shakrook anticline, especially the limbs. The current research deals with studying the exposed beds within the Bekhme Formation at the Shakrook anticline to check the suitability of the exposed rocks at the northeastern limb of the anticline for the cement industry. Twenty rock samples from a section which lies along a deeply cut valley that crosses the northeastern limb of the Shakrook anticline within the Bekhme Formation were collected. The channel sampling method was applied; therefore, each sample represents the concerned sampling interval and to be representative for the thickness of the sampled interval. The total thickness of the sampled section is 110 m with a covered interval of 15 m, totaling to 125 m. The collected 20 samples were prepared at the laboratory of the Koya University and were subjected to XRF test at the Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, to indicate the concentration of the main oxides (CaO, MgO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, Na2O, K2O, and SO3), and Cl and L.O.I. The indicated concentrations at each sample, from both universities, were compared and were found to be almost coinciding. The average concentrations at each sample were changed to weighted averages and the results were compared with the Iraqi standards for cement industry. The results revealed that the sampled rocks are excellent for cement production.

The shale gas well station plays a critical role in the extraction of shale gas, and its safety status exerts significant influence not only on shale gas production but also on the ecological balance of the surrounding environment. To investigate the response characteristics of the shale gas well station under the impact of tailings dam failure debris flow, a comprehensive analysis was conducted using a combination of physical modeling and numerical simulation. The analysis focused on the dynamic inundation process and the impact siltation law caused by the downstream flow of tailings dam failure debris at the shale gas well station. The depth of inundation and the extent of siltation damage were employed as key parameters for characterization. Experimental findings revealed that the downstream mudflow inundation process could be divided into three distinct stages: rapid increase (0-60 s), steady increase (60-106 s), and slow advance (106-250 s). The pattern of mudflow siltation height variation at the well station exhibited an initial rise, followed by a subsequent decline and eventual stabilization. The highest siltation volumes recorded at measurement points Ato D were 4.4, 4, 5.2, and 6 m, respectively. Additionally, by employing computational fluid dynamics, numerical calculations were performed under unprotected conditions, with the error between the calculated conclusions and the test results not exceeding 15%. Furthermore, the blocking effect of 8 and 16 m debris flow blocking dam on the debris flow was thoroughly investigated. The study demonstrated that the check dam with a height of 16 m yielded the most effective blockage, resulting in the highest sediment siltation height of 0.4 m. The research results provide some reference for the prevention and control of debris flow disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hamamok Dam is an earthfill dam with a height of 25 m and a length of 125 m, constructed in 2011, located northwest of Koya town on a deep canyon-like valley that flows along the southeastern plunge of the Bana Bawi anticline, which forms Bawagi Mountain. The exposed rocks at the site belong to the Pila Spi and Gercus Formations; however, rocks from the Khurmala and Kolosh formations are exposed upstream from the dam’s reservoir. The difference in the hardness of the carbonate rocks of the Pila Spi formation, which forms the uppermost parts of the cliffs surrounding the dam site, and those of the soft reddish brown clastics of the Gercus Formation caused steep slopes that suffered from slope instability problems. To perform a geotechnical study of slopes at the dam site, we have collected different field data to perform a kinematic assessment method using DipAnalyst 2.0 software and drawn the stereographic projections for the studied 10 stations using Stereonet v11 software. Besides, Bejerman’s method, which is based on field data, is used to indicate the landslide possibility index (LPI). The results showed that the LPI values range between 23 and 27, whereas the results of the kinematic analysis showed that the right bank (stations 1–5) suffers from plane sliding, whereas the left bank (stations 6–10) suffers from toppling. In both cases, Joint 2 has the main role in the developed failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]