TITLE:
Structural Origin of Sinjar Anticline, NW Iraq
AUTHORS:
Varoujan K. Sissakian, Nadhir Al-Ansari
KEYWORDS:
Aspect Ratio, Fold Symmetry Index, Mountain Front Length, Sinjar Anticline, Iraq
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
7,
2023
ABSTRACT: The Sinjar anticline is a double plunging, trending
almost E-W in the northwestern part of Iraq. It extends in Syria for about 42
km, whereas in Iraq, its
length is about 91 km, and the width is about 31 km. The northern limb (45° - 80°) is steeper than the
southern limb (15° - 25°),
with average plunges dip of 35° and axial plane dipping of 47.5° southwards.
The exposed rocks in the anticline range in age from Upper Cretaceous, represented by the
Shiranish Formation, to Upper
Miocene, represented by the Injana Formation. Google Earth image was used to calculate
structural data, which were used to indicate the structural origin of the
Sinjar anticline. This was achieved by calculating the Aspect Ratio (AR), Fold
Symmetry Index (IFS or IFS), and length of the mountain front (FS).
Accordingly, it was found that the structural origin of the Sinjar anticline is
a fault-bend fold.