Iraqi National Journal of Earth Science

Hydrothermal dolomitization (HTD) is a major diagenetic process of carbonate rocks, significantly impacting reservoir storage, reservoir quantity, and hydrocarbon migration. This paper adds a new insight in contrasting HTD mechanisms under shallow and subsurface deep settings, and focuses on dolomite characterization and properties in the Cretaceous Qamchuqa Formation. Shallow burial HTD produced four phases of saddle dolomites, SDI, SDII, SDIII, and SDIV. The deep burial HTD at least shows one type of saddle dolomitization phase, “SDs”. The hydrothermal dolomitization in a shallow system, which is related to an open system, offers growth of large, well-formed dolomite crystals, forming massive dolomite bodies due to high fluid-rock interaction. In contrast, deep burial HTD occurring under elevated temperature is primarily driven by low fluid-rock interaction in a semi-open system. The semi-open system requires a high pressure that deformed the SD formation, which coincides with an increasing of the vertical stress. As a result, the SD formation is a transfer from a ductile phase to a brittle deformation, and led to an in-situ saddle brecciation, facilitating the creation of a conduit for fluid/hydrocarbon migration.

The Avana Formation (Late Eocene) has been studied in two outcrop sections in northern Iraq. The first section is 8 m thick and located in the Aqupan area at the northern plunge of the Safin Anticline near the Shaqlawa region. In comparison, the second section is 57m thick and located in the Dohuk Region at the Bekhear Anticline. The succession of formations in both sections is composed of limestone, dolomitic limestone, marly limestone, marl, and black shale. The study recorded sedimentary structures in parts of the formation section, including lenticular and flaser bedding and herringbone cross-bedding. The lower contact of the formation is unconformable with the Gercus Formation, while the upper contact of the formation appears to be conformable with the Pila Spi Formation. According to petrographic analysis, the formation rocks contain skeletal grains of the benthic foraminifera (such as miliolids and rotaliids) and larger forams (such as alveolinids), in addition to mollusca and green algae. The bioclasts of all these organisms, as well as non-skeletal grains such as peloids and lithoclasts. The matrix consists of micrite. The formation sequences have shown effects of diagenesis processes such as dolomitization, micritization, cementation, silicification, recrystallization, dissolution, physical and chemical compaction, and authigenesis. Facies analysis studies have shown that the sequences of the Avana Formation consist of three main microfacies: lime mudstone, lime wackstone, and lime packstone. These microfacies are further subdivided into eight submicrofacies. In addition, six other lithofacies are as follows: herring bone cross-bedding limestone lithofacies, flaser and lenticular bedding limestone lithofacies, mudcrack limestone lithofacies, lamination limestone lithofacies, stromatolite limestone lithofacies, and shale lithofacies. The results of facies analysis indicated that the formation was deposited in a tidal flat environment. Facies analysis revealed that the lower parts were deposited in subtidal environments, the middle parts in intertidal environments, and the upper parts in supratidal flat environments. That is, the formation was deposited in an upward-shallowing facies.

The Egyptian Fertilizers Company (EFC) is situated in the Ain Sukhna region within the northwestern sector of the Gulf of Suez in Egypt. Twelve groundwater samples were procured from wells within the investigated area, and the presence of nitrogenous ions such as nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia was rigorously examined. To assess the quality of the water, ratios are utilized, emphasizing nitrate concentration, and the findings are juxtaposed with the guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO). The statistical methodologies endorsed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) are employed to evaluate the health risks posed to the local populace. The findings indicate that the nitrate concentrations exceeded WHO thresholds in seven samples, nitrite levels exceeded in two samples, and ammonia contents exceeded in all samples, rendering the water unfit for human consumption. Elevated concentrations of NO3 in the water samples were associated with anthropogenic activities, including the amalgamation of mixed wastewater and seawater intrusion. Nitrate levels surpassed the WHO (50 ppm) and US-EPA (10 ppm) standards, thereby presenting a non-carcinogenic risk from oral exposure, particularly for children, as hazard values exceeded the safety threshold (1). Conversely, dermal exposure did not present any significant risk. Nitrate can be converted to nitrite and N-nitroso derivatives via bacterial nitrification, which may induce carcinogenic effects within the digestive, urinary and excretory systems. Consequently, the remediation of the contaminated wells is imperative to safeguard the health of the local community.

Cities are rapidly expanding, often at the expense of agricultural land. Although urban areas occupy small spaces, their growth has led to significant changes and loss of a vital, fertile farmland national resource. This expansion is driven by a rising population, particularly in developing countries. The United Nations Organization predicts that by 2030, over 60% of the global population will live in cities, with 90% of this growth occurring in developing nations. This research addresses key questions: What are the future scenarios for urban expansion in Tal Afar, considering the land’s capacity? Do these scenarios vary within the city's urban area?. The study utilizes Geographic GIS to simulate future urban expansion in Tal Afar and identify potential scenarios until 2037. This is achieved using artificial intelligence through the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) model within the GeoSOS software in GIS. The findings indicate that land cover classification helped in identifying urban expansion patterns in previous years. The ANN-CA simulation model projected an estimated urban land increase of about 22 km² by 2037. The scenarios suggest that expansion will primarily occur in highly suitable and suitable areas, avoiding regions with low suitability.

The study aims to estimate flood risks in the Qaws wadi basin south of Jeddah City by determining volumes and peak discharge of floods using the National Resources Conservation Service-Curve Number (NRCS-CN) model of the Soil Conservation Service. To achieve this aim, the study followed a methodology that gradually began by collecting data for the model application, starting with the Landsat (9) image and the soil map. Data on severe rainstorms and soil moisture are also obtained from the NASA website and Earth Climate Data. The next step was to process these data in order to obtain the Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), the hydrological groups of soil in the basin, and the distribution of storm rains and soil moisture. Thus, the study involves deriving the (CN) values by merging the two layers of LULC and the hydrological soil groups. Then, the required equations are applied as the potential maximum retention of water by the soil, and initial abstraction before the start of runoff. Thus, the risks of floods are estimated by applying equations of depth, volume, and peak discharge of surface runoff based on the most severe rainstorm that the basin was exposed to in 2022. The results of study show that the depth of surface runoff in the basin resulting from the average of 2022 rainstorm, which reached 157.1 mm ranging from 58.59 mm representing 37.3% of the total storm rainfall converted into surface runoff in the vegetation cover areas within soil hydrological group (A), to 151 mm representing 96.15% of the total storm rainfall in the road areas within different types of the soil hydrological groups, with a spatial average at basin level of 118.06 mm, 75.15% of total rainfall of this storm converted into runoff. The surface runoff volume ranges from 246,075 m3 in the vegetation areas within group (A) to 2,549,567 m3 in the sediment areas within group (B), with a spatial average at the basin level of 512,853.17 m3. The peak discharge ranges from 9.74 m3/s in areas where the vegetation distribution matches the hydrological soil group (A), to 100,851.3 m3/s in areas where the sediment distribution matches the hydrological soil group (B), with a spatial average at the basin of 20,286.56 m3/s.

Air pollution is a significant problem in densely populated areas such as the university campus. This study investigates the spatial levels and distribution of air pollutants within the University of Mosul campus. A special measuring device is used with remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. Ground-level monitoring data assesses major pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and other gases. Satellite images and digital elevation models (DEMs) are processed to extract spatial distribution information of pollutant concentrations and to learn about the effects of terrain. GIS techniques analyze spatial patterns and correlations between pollutant levels and different campus features, such as transportation routes and green spaces. Ground-level monitoring stations are strategically placed throughout the campus to validate the results. The results cover the winter 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 periods at 16 selected locations. The results show higher concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in spring compared to summer and winter, with values of 30.594 μg/m³ and 40.298 μg/m³, respectively. The highest concentrations are observed at the main entrances of the campus due to increased traffic. PM2.5 levels exceeded both the Iraqi limit and the WHO standard of 10 μg/m³, while PM10 concentrations exceeded the WHO limit of 20 μg/m³ but within the Iraqi limit of 50 μg/m³. This research contributes to effective environmental monitoring methodologies and highlights the importance of innovative techniques for assessing air pollution in educational institutions and urban environments.

This study addresses the changes and geomorphological evolution of the bends and meanders of the Greater Zab River in the study area situated in Dohuk Governorate, extending between the Iraqi-Turkish border and the Dereluk Dam. The focus of the study is on analyzing the changes in bends and meanders of the river over a period extending from 1990 to 2020. Geographic Information System technique and data from the Global Mapper program are employed. The study demonstrates varying morphometric changes and developments along the riverfront. Climatic elements played an important role in altering the landscape. The fluctuation of rainfall from one year to another affected water levels and discharge rates, as well as river erosion processes in the course of the Great Zab tributary and the activity of erosion on riverbanks. Furthermore, the variation in temperature negatively influences the tributary, particularly through evaporation. All these factors have contributed to landform changes

Studying the relationships between rivers and human activity is now crucial due to the significance of rivers for their morphology. The purpose of this study is to identify the historical human impacts on the Greater Zab River’s (GZR) morphology. To detect the GZR bank line and flow path and estimate the rate of erosion and sedimentation along the riverbank for the period from 1952 to 2023, a time series of satellite images and a single toposheet have been analyzed utilizing Arc GIS 10.8 software. The results reveal that between the 1950s and the 2020s, the GZR underwent significant narrowing, shortening, and embankment due to various human influences, climate changes, and geomorphological conditions as well. Sand mining, bank erosion and accumulation, together with Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes, are the main sources of the GZR's depletion and violent alteration of its propagation. The investigation also reveals that throughout the previous 7 decades, an area of around 9.38 km2 was eroded, with the highest erosion rate during the decade (1984 to 1993). The GZR was generally wider in 1952 than it would be in 2023 in the two periods' shifting regions. Throughout the years, it is also possible to observe a frequent change in the river courses. The conclusion of this study highlights the value of using a geospatial approach to effectively analyze riverbank erosion in alluvial channels.

Wadi Al-Amghar Basin, located in the southwestern part of Al-Muthanna desert, is characterized by extreme aridity due to the scarcity of rainfall over the basin and its surrounding lands. The availability of water in the basin depends on the amount of rainfall during the winter season, as well as the inflow of water into the basin from the northern parts due to the slope gradient. However, part of this water fails to generate surface runoff due to the nature of the prevailing soil, which reduces the formation of surface runoff. Nevertheless, this does not negate the existence of runoff, as the layer beneath the sandy surface is an impermeable layer with low permeability, which allows for the formation of surface runoff. Additionally, the soil in the basin is not entirely loose; it contains a high proportion of rocks and stones. For this reason, the study relied on the amount of rainfall, which was measured at 113.9 mm during the study period extending from 2000 to 2023. The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) model is employed to estimate the volume of surface runoff due to its reliability, utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for more accurate data. The results reveal that the basin is capable of generating surface runoff with high CN values covering an area of 1,018.03 km², representing 57.23% of the basin’s total area. This indicates that more than half of the basin's area has the potential to generate surface runoff

Archaeologists have introduced AI-powered digital tools to assist in the geological surveying of artifacts and identifying their compositional textures, whether clay or rocks, as realistic examples of their ancient settlements. Modern digital applications of virtual and augmented reality are concerned with displaying archaeological models and giving the audience a full immersion that simulates the basic materials from which they were built or carved, and diagnosing the rock or clay components of the earth that were used in their manufacture. Deep convolutional neural network algorithms have played an important role in expanding the capabilities of virtual panoramas by making them more realistic and immersive. In this paper, we produce a Mesopotamian deep Panoramic–Virtual Reality (DMP-VR) model for reconstructing a completely immersive, digital clay texture of archaeological models’ information-rich and low-noise super-resolution panoramic scene of the Mesopotamian civilization in 360◦ from low-resolution 2D images of Assyrian and Babylonian models gathered from online search engines. Alignment sensor software compensates for tilt issues during acquisition, and images are first rotated using a geometric transformation depending on the data center image stitching, involving cutting training images to random fsub×fsub-pixel sub-images and stitching the ends of features to minimize errors. The quantitative and visual comparison of our method (DMP-VR) with other methods achieved ideal results in terms of reconstructing a super-resolution, fully immersive 360-degree panoramic scene. The artifacts have a digital clay texture that is identical to their original reality

The exploitation of artificial intelligence (AI) with the hydraulic flow unit technique (HFU) to enhance permeability prediction is an important step in reservoir characterization. HFU classifies the reservoir into distinct petrophysical properties, which are then used in permeability estimation. They are a function of the flow zone indicator (FZI), which is determined based on core permeability and porosity. Core measurements are often costly, time-consuming, and only cover limited intervals; therefore, it is necessary to use other techniques to predict FZI in unsampled intervals and wells. Thus, an advanced artificial intelligence method called Bootstrap Forest is employed to predict the FZI value from well logs. In this research, 889 core samples of six wells from the Buzurgan Oilfield's Mishrif Formation are used to identify the number of HFUs based on three techniques: probability plot, RQI versus Φz analysis, and histogram analysis. Their utilization reveals that 10 HFUs represent this formation with a correlation coefficient ranging between 0.950 and 0.996. Core measurements and logs are used to construct the Bootstrap Forest model in cored wells, which yielded a high coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.999 and a low root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.01, indicating that it is an effective model for predicting FZI based just on log data for uncored wells. Finally, the effective porosity is used with the predictive FZI to estimate the permeability, resulting in a perfect match between estimated and core permeability.

One of the main natural threats is earthquakes, which pose a serious threat to human life and property. To examine seismic activity in Sulaymaniyah, a city, statistically determined distributions of earthquake hypocenters, magnitudes, and epicenters were reviewed from 1900 to 2018. Three contour maps that indicate the distribution of earthquakes in the study region were created using the Intercontinental Seismological Center Bulletin. The spreading of earthquakes shows that there is an increase in the number of earthquakes and their magnitude in areas with active faults, specifically in the southeastern and northwestern parts of the city of Sulaymaniyah, at the collision ridges between the Arabian and Iranian plates, and a decrease in the intensity, number of earthquakes, and their seismic magnitude in the center of the city itself. This means that Sulaymaniyah is the most seismically active and dangerous region in northern Iraq because it is located along the Zagros-Taurus belt, which is one of the most active seismic belts.

The research deals with hydraulic modeling processes to understand the behavior of rivers by creating a simulation system for river flow. This research aims to model the Diyala River flood wave in the city of Baqubah to determine the risk areas and their risk degrees. A scientific methodology is used based on quantitative analysis and computer programming, using flood wave data for the years 1988 and 2019. Also, the Hec-Ras program is used to enter engineering data, using the Manning coefficient and adding hydrological data, thereafter, and analyzing the results, drawing a risk map, and classifying it in the region. 36 cross-sections of the river course are studied, and the results at different rainfall return periods (10, 20, 50, 100 years) are utilized to predict the depth and speed of water from (7.1 m) in (10 years) to (7.5 m) in (100 years). The speed of water ranges between (0.91 m/s) in (10 years) to (1.5 m/s) in (100 years). The results of the areas that represent a varying risk to all residents in the study area indicated a percentage to (22%) of the total area of the area, which is not a small percentage compared to the size of the risk that threatens the lives and property of residents, and the necessity of state intervention to protect the lives and property of people by re-planning residential areas and treating residential areas that have encroached on the river area legally and humanely

Permeability (K) is a dominant property of the production and development planning strategy of oil fields. Thus, deriving and/or defining a suitable reservoir permeability model provides time and cost consumption. Most reservoir characterization studies were associated with the estimation of permeability. In the present work, three approved empirical model cases were employed by Wyllie and Rose (1950), Timur (1968), and Sheffield (1956). These models' worth utilization to predict the permeability property of the Mamuniyat reservoir (Upper Ordovician) in Murzuq Basin, SW Libya. In addition, derivation of the permeability model of the studied reservoir is based on routine core analysis (CCA) data of two oil wells. Also, a neural network (NNW) is applied to assess the prediction permeability, dependent on measurements of well logging data. Whereas validation of the predicted permeability model is taken into consideration when adding two more oil wells, which are producing from the same reservoir. In general, the predicted permeability values of the clastic Mamuniyat reservoir are greater than 0.1 mD and do not exceed 200 mD, with a good effective porosity (Øe ≈ 13%). However, correlation between the predicted permeability results by the empirical and derive models are satisfactory, with a significant level (P) equal to 0.000. Furthermore, a statistical analysis emphasizes both the Derived and NNW models, which hold a regression coefficient (R2) close to 1. Moreover, the grain size and irreducible water (Swi) have an impact on the predicted permeability.

The Gorontalo Outer Ring Road in Indonesia, a national route connecting three regions, is vital for enhancing economic development in the area. However, landslide problems are a significant concern in the Gorontalo region, threatening road safety and infrastructure stability. Landslide mitigation starts with slope stability analysis to provide recommendations for improving slope conditions and preventing landslides. This study aims to assess the Factor of Safety (FoS) values under the combined influence of rainfall and earthquakes at the study location. The methodology employed involves slope stability analysis that incorporates the effects of rainfall and earthquake-induced loads (Kh). Three conditions are analyzed: a condition without rainfall and earthquakes, a condition with rainfall effects, and a condition with earthquake coefficients. Slope stability analysis is carried out using Seep/W and Slope/W from Geostudio 2021 software. The results indicate that under normal conditions (without rainfall and earthquakes), the FoS value is 1.150, while under the influence of rainfall, the FoS value decreases to 0.818, and under the influence of earthquake coefficient, the FoS value becomes 0.746, indicating a significant risk of slope failure. These findings highlight that landslides in the study area are mainly triggered by the effects of rainfall and seismic activity, which significantly weaken the slope stability. On the other hand, the potential for landslides is considerably lower under dry conditions without seismic disturbances. The study underscores the importance of considering both rainfall and earthquake factors in landslide risk assessment and management.

The current study aims to determine the size, type, direction and causes of urban encroachment on agricultural lands as well as its environmental impact. The remote sensing and geographic information systems techniques are integrated to determine the extent of horizontal urban growth in Suq Al-Shuyoukh City for two periods (3/2003 and 4/2020). The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), accumulated normalized difference index (NDBI), and normalized difference water index (NDWI) are used. A supervised classification technique using ArcGIS software is used to map the different land use land cover (LULC) classes. The LULC map indicates a significant increase in urban (+10%) areas and arid lands (+6%), and a significant decrease in agricultural land (-17%). The city underwent major urban expansion towards the north and northeast. The chaotic urban sprawl in the study area can be classified as irregular urban sprawl. The population increase (+2.31%) has a role in urban expansion. The environmental impacts are rising temperatures, desertification, and an increased frequency of dust storms.
Keywords: Geomorphological Units, Encroachment, Man-Made, Supervised Classification, Desertification.

The study discussed the impact of the urban lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the Urban Heat Island Temperature (UHI) of Medina during the periods 2018-2020-2022. The research relies mainly on processing Landsat 8 using ArcGIS to reveal the relationship between the vegetation cover index (NDVI), the land surface temperature (LST), and the UHI. The study indicates that the NDVI in May 2018 ranged between 0.4350 and -0.0952, which was the lowest value. In May 2020, the value of the NDVI percentage rose between 0.506 and -0.118, while in May 2022, the outcomes showed that the NDVI percentage began to decrease, ranging between 0.295 and 0.197. The LST started to decline in the outskirts of urban areas, specifically in Medina. The study found that the NDVI is lower when the LST is higher, while the NDVI is higher when the LST is lower. In 2020, the UHI increased in most urban areas, reaching 37°C; in contrast to that increase, the temperature decreased to 11°C. During the entire lockdown period, Madinah witnessed a decrease in UHI in 2020. In 2022, specifically at the end of the lockdown period, Madinah witnessed an increase in UHI reaching 41°C.

Soil is one of the most important natural resources. A comprehensive geotechnical soil assessment must be performed when starting any engineering project to avoid future damage. The properties of soil and concrete are greatly affected by the chemical composition, which makes understanding statistical relationships between soil properties essential in the study, planning, and preliminary design stages of engineering projects, saving time and money. This research aims to evaluate some geotechnical properties of the soil in Taza district, SE of Kirkuk for ten locations distributed across the district and use mathematical relationships to predict the physical properties (fines ratio, LL, PL, PI) based on the chemical properties of the soil (pH, TDS, OM, SO3, Cl⁻, gypsum) Using simple and multiple linear regression analysis. The results of particle size analysis show that coarse soils predominate in sites T1, T2, and T10(1), while fine soils, especially silt, in sites T3–T10, with an average of 50.53% for all sites. The soil can be classified into low-plastic clay (CL) and low-plastic silt (ML) according to the plasticity chart, with medium liquidity and plasticity index values ranging from low to medium. The results of the standard compaction test show similar values for the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density. Specific gravity values range between 2.64 and 2.81, and chemical tests show that site T10 recorded clear increases in most properties. The results of Simple Linear Regression Analysis (SLRA) show an inverse relationship between the chlorine percentage and some physical properties, while Multiple Linear Regression Analysis (MLRA) shows stronger relationships between the variables

Phosphogypsum is a by-product of the reaction of sulfuric acid with concentrated phosphate ores to produce phosphoric acid, the latter being the most important acid in the production of all types of phosphate fertilizers. This process takes place in the Iraqi General Phosphate Company in Al-Qaim District, west of Iraq. Phosphogypsum waste is disposed of in large quantities, and the increase and accumulation of this material requires large basins to absorb and preserve; therefore, the use of phosphogypsum in construction industries leads to its disposal. Mineral analyses showed that phosphogypsum is composed of gypsum. Chemically, phosphogypsum consists of (CaO=33.3) (SO3=44.6) (H2O=20.05), and the rest of the oxides enter into the sulfate compounds. Phosphogypsum in the present study was used in gypsum board production by adding slime (the by-product of calcining the carbonate part of phosphate raw materials) at a ratio of (90 phosphogypsum: 10 slime), which is called the selected mixture. The suitability of the mixture was evaluated by conducting physical tests, and the results were consistent with the Iraqi standard specifications (ISS, 2015). The mixture was tested by physical tests (compressive strength test (5.51 N/mm2) and fracture criteria (3.295 N/mm2). Phosphogypsum can also be used as a plaster material for interior wall cladding, and the results of the physical tests were consistent with the (ISS, 2015); compressive strength (5.74 N/mm2), fracture toughness (1.937 N/mm2), fineness (5.5-7.5), consistency (18 min), and standard texture (56.8-58.4) %. Mineralogical and chemical analyses were conducted on the approved mixes, which complied with (ISS, 2015). The use of industrial waste, such as phosphogypsum and slime, not only alleviates environmental problems but also provides new resources for the construction industry and reduces the use of natural raw materials.

The research aims to study and evaluate some geotechnical properties of the sediments within the Kirkuk Irrigation Project, starting from the Al-Dibs Barrage to the end of the Tuz Khurmatu district. Geotechnical tests were conducted on six stations representing these sediments. The tests revealed that the project sediments exhibit varying grain sizes, indicating that the soil is heterogeneous in its properties. Based on the plasticity chart, some samples were classified as low-plasticity clay (CL), while most samples were classified as low-plasticity silt (ML). The specific gravity values ranged between 2.66 and 2.74. Chemical analyses showed that the gypsum content, total dissolved salts (TDS), organic matter, and sulfate content ranged between 5.33–13.23%, 7.13–15.18%, 0.12–0.65%, and 0.9–4.7%, respectively. The pH values ranged from 7.94 to 8.3. These high levels, particularly gypsum and TDS, significantly affect the engineering properties of the sediments. Geotechnical tests indicated that cohesion values ranged between 2.2 and 14.9 kg/cm². Cohesion values increase with a higher fine particle content and decrease with increased moisture content and coarse particle content. The internal friction angle ranged between 8° and 22°, and it is influenced by the plasticity index and the proportion of coarse particles. In conclusion, the sediments in the study area can generally be utilized for certain engineering purposes after proper treatment.

Land is increasingly under pressure to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding population, so more resources are needed to maintain basic services and a high standard of living. This pressure leads to the reduction of natural vegetation and the formation of urban heat islands, a global concern linked to rising land surface temperatures, which, in turn, promotes unsustainable development. As a result, understanding the impact of land-use and land-cover changes (LULCC) on ecosystem sustainability has become critical in global change studies. This study utilizes Landsat satellite imagery processed with ArcGIS 10.5 and FRAGSTATS 4.2 to assess changes in land use and land cover, land fragmentation, and their relationship with land surface temperature (LST) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the Domkal block of Murshidabad District. The study assesses the magnitude and direction of these changes between 1991 and 2021 using change vector analysis. The findings reveal significant reductions in agricultural land (80.77 km²) and plantation areas (11.03 km²), offset by increases in built-up land (19.86 km²) and aquatic bodies (1.6 km²). Analysis of land surface temperature indicates an increase from 17-23°C in 1991 to 18-26°C in 2021. These changes are driven by demographic pressures, economic transformations, and reduced agricultural subsidies. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable land management practices, including the conservation of agricultural lands, efficient urban planning, and the implementation of conservation strategies to ensure ecological balance and promote socio-economic development.

The upper Jurassic Naokelekan Formation has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy in two outcrop sections from Halabja and Barzinja areas in northeastern Iraq to determine mineralogical composition. The study shows that the abundance of calcite, rare dolomite, quartz, feldspars, and some other minerals, such as pyrite, goethite, natrolite, and apatite, form the main non-clay composition. Illite (mica) and mixed layers of illite\smectite are the clay minerals. Calcite is the dominant mineral in all the studied samples, while the presence of the framework silicates of quartz and feldspars (plagioclase and K-feldspar) shows a variation across the studied sections, where they increase in the argillaceous limestone and calcareous shale samples. Various forms of calcite reflect contributions from depositional environment, diagenesis, inorganic mineralization, and biogenic contribution, while detrital contribution due to weathering is responsible for the quartz and some feldspar content. Hot arid paleoclimatic conditions are indicated by the common presence of illite (mica).

Assessing earthquake risks is crucial. The risks come due to the great destruction caused by earthquakes, which depend heavily on the movement of tectonic plates. One technique for determining earthquake movement characteristics in a specific area is studying the shear wave velocity (Vs). This study uses an empirical equation tailored for clayey silt soils to explore the relationship between shear wave velocity (Vs) and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) N-values. Subsurface soil investigations are performed at the Nadir Highway intersection site in Hilla City. SPT-N values are obtained from four borehole wells alongside corresponding shear wave velocity measurements from Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW). An empirical equation is developed through regression analyses of the collected data to relate the SPT-N values to Vs, facilitating the estimation of shear wave velocity based on SPT results. Vs-measured values are then employed to estimate the Vs-expected value at the site or at sites closely resembling it in terms of N-values in cases where Vs measurements are unavailable. Based on the Iraqi Seismic Code 303 and the estimated Vs value, the site is classified as class D (hard soil). This classification provides insights into the potential seismic behavior of the site and can be used to inform earthquake hazard mitigation strategies.

The current study focuses on the palynological study of the upper part of the Gercus Formation of (Middle to Late Eocene) age in northern Iraq. Fifteen samples were collected from the studied outcrops. The studied section is about 57 meters. Twelve species belonging to eleven genera of spores and pollen grains are identified as follows: Sphagnum triangularum, Polypodiaciesporites retirugatus, Verrucatosporites usmensis, Monoporites annulatus, Perfotricolpites nigerianus, Tricolpites cf. brevicolpus, Retitricolporites irregularis, Psilatricolporites crassus, Psilatricolporites cryptoporus, Gemmastephanocolporites brevicolpites, Pinus sp, and Cycas sp. Based on the stratigraphic distribution of the identified palynomorph species, three palynological zones have been recognized, arranged in ascending order from the lowest (oldest) to the uppermost (youngest) part of the section as follows:
1- Monoporites annulatus-Gemmastephanocolporites brevicolpites interval Biozone (M1)
2- Gemmastephanocolporites brevicolpites Range Biozone (M2)
3- Perfotricolpites nigerianus Range Biozone (L)
These biozones are correlated and compared with other studies outside Iraq. The biostratigraphic analysis conducted in the present study indicates that the Gercus Formation is of Middle to early Late Eocene age.

Over the past few decades, the Kirkuk region in Iraq has been seriously threatened by global warming under climate and temperature change scenarios. Over the course of a year, the study examines the spatio-temporal fluctuations in Land Surface Temperature (LST) and how they affect the vegetation cover in Kirkuk, Iraq, for the period from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Utilizing satellite data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, the study analyzed the correlation between LST and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), showing a fair but negative correlation (R² = 0.65). Additionally, the relationship between NDVI and Kirkuk wheat yield indicated a strong positive correlation (R² = 0.89). The results reveal that factors such as urban expansion, changes in cropping patterns, and global climate change contribute to the increase in LST. The findings highlight the importance of using remote sensing and GIS tools to assess climatic influences on environmental conditions, which are essential for sustainable land management and agricultural practices in the context of global climate change.

A geometric analysis is conducted on eight proposed sites for the construction of rainwater harvesting dam reservoirs to build rainwater harvesting dams in Wadi Al-Qasab, This give the importance of these dams in providing water to the residents of the villages surrounding Wadi Al-Qasab and in increasing the agricultural areas of these lands, which have been affected by climate fluctuations and scarcity of rain in recent years, in addition to protecting these areas from the dangers of torrents and floods, A digital elevation model with a resolution of (10mx10m) is used in the study to deduct the boundaries of the reservoirs in each of the selected sites, and geological programs are applied such as (Global Mapper, ArcGIS, Surfer) to deduce and extract the geometric elements that include the positive volume PV (volume of islands within the reservoir), negative volume NV (volume of water storage), positive surface area (PSA, the area of islands within the reservoir), negative surface area NSA (area of the reservoir bottom or wetted area), positive planar area (PPA, the area of island projections within the reservoir boundaries), and average depth of the reservoir (AD). Relationships are found between the geometric elements and the proposed dam sites to determine the best sites as a water reservoir, and it is shown through these relationships that the second site in the village of Nazaza represents the best sites as a water reservoir.

The research included finding the geotechnical properties of the Samarra Dam Reservoir sediments in three locations and the Tharthar Depression sediments in four locations. Physical tests showed that the moisture content of the sediments varies according to the flood and drought seasons. The moisture content was studied during August in the year 2023 and the month of January in the year 2024, and the results showed a clear difference. Between the months, the moisture content (wc%) value in August was (11%_5%),

In this study, an innovative application of the ANFIS artificial neural network is presented to predict the water quality index based on physicochemical parameters for groundwater in the Telkaif District, Iraq. Samples of water were collected from 16 wells located in the Telkaif district for nine months, from January to September 2024. Measured parameters include total dissolved solids (TDS), magnesium, calcium, sodium, sulfate, and dissolved oxygen. The spatial distribution pattern of all measured parameters is prepared, indicating that most of the parameters are high in the central region of the study area. The groundwater quality index is estimated using ANFIS, and the results show that one well is excellent, 3 wells are good, one is marginal, 2 are moderate, and 9 are poor.