TITLE:
Neotectonic Indications from the Western and Southern Deserts of Iraq
AUTHORS:
Varoujan K. Sissakian, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Lanja H. Abdullah, Jan Laue
KEYWORDS:
Neotectonics, Iraq Western and Southern Deserts, Knickpoints, Dislocated Valleys, Anomalous Valley Shapes
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.14 No.5,
May
29,
2023
ABSTRACT: The Iraqi Western and Southern deserts are part of
the Iraqi Stable Shelf (Inner Platform) that belongs to the Arabian Plate.
Therefore, both deserts lack tectonic forms like folds and faults; however,
very rarely faults and regional lineaments can be seen in both deserts.
Although both deserts are tectonically stable, tens of Neotectonic indications
can be seen everywhere in both deserts. Among those indications are: Straight
valleys, perpendicular valley bendings, sinkholes aligned along straight lines,
dislocated valleys, knickpoints within valleys aligned along straight lines,
regional lineaments, anomalous valley shapes, trends, and types, dissected
alluvial fans. We have used existing geological maps of different scales and
Esri World Imagery to recognize those Neotectonic indications. All those
recognized features are excellent indications that both the Iraqi Western and
Southern deserts are tectonically not stable. Accordingly, new terminology is
suggested instead of the Stable Shelf (Inner Platform) which is the “Less
Disturbed Shelf”.