Warta Geologi, Vol. 51, No. 1, April 2025, pp. 1-7

Sedimentology and depositional environment of Injana Formation’s sandstone member, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Rzger A. Abdula¹,*, Mohammad Sadi Nourmohamadi², Bzhar A. Delizy², Idrees Nadir Ahmed³

¹ Petroleum and Mining Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tishk International University, Erbil, 44001, Iraq

² Department of Petroleum Geosciences, Soran University, P.O. Box 624, Erbil, 44008, Iraq

³ Earth Sciences and Petroleum Department, Salahadin University, Erbil, 44001, Iraq

* Corresponding author email address: rzger.abdulkarim@tiu.edu.iq

Abstract: Fourteen thin sections from the sandstone bed of Injana Formation in Chamchamal area were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polarized microscope. The petrographic component, and fauna content were determined. Sandstone is calclithite-sedarinite (litharenite) according to Dott’s (1964) and Folk’s (1980) classifications. The major petrographic constituents are: quartz, K-feldspar, calcite, chert, plagioclase, and fossil (algae). The Injana Formation in Chamchamal area was interpreted as littoral and later in a fluviolacustrine environment deposit.

Keywords: Miocene, Injana, sandstone sedimentology, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

References:

, S.A., Basi, M.A., Hagopian, D., Hassan, K.M., Al-Mubarak, M., Al-Badri, A., Dhiab, S.H., Faris, F.M., & Anwar, F., 1992. New names for some of the Middle Miocene-Pliocene formations of Iraq (Fatha, Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan formations). Iraqi Geological Journal, 25(1), 1-17.

Al-Rawi, Y.T. & Mohammad, K.I., 1987. Petrographic investigation of the Miocene molasses sandstone of the Upper Fars Formation in central and eastern Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Science, 28, 353-376.

Al-Salmani, N.Z., Mohammad, O.L., Alhadaithy, A., & Al- Kubaisi, M.H., 2024. Petrography and heavy minerals as tools for provenance identification of the Injana Sandstone (Upper Miocene), Al-Habbaniyah City, Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Iraqi Geol. Jour., 57(1B), 12-25.

Al-Sammarai, Kh.T., 1978. Petrology of the Upper Fars Sandstone and the origin of their cement. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Baghdad, Iraq. 141 p.

Al-Sayegh, A.Y. & Al-Nuaimy, H.J., 2004. The use of chemostratigraphy in determining the boundary between Al-Fatha Fn. (Middle Miocene) and Injana Fn. (Upper Miocene) in Bacheqh Mountain. Iraqi Journal of Earth Science, 4(1), 1-14.

Awadh, S.M., Abood, Z.S., & Eisa, M.J., 2013. Chemical and physical control processes on the development of caves in the Injana Formation, Central Iraq. Arabian Journal of Ecosciences, 6(10), 3765-3772.

Aziz, M., 2017. Petrography and mineralogy of Injana Formation (Late Miocene) in the central part of Iraq. Journal of Applied Geology and Geophysics (IOSR-JAGG), 5(4), 01-05.

Basi, M.A., 1973. Geology of Injana area, Hemrin south. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Mosul, Iraq. 127 p.

Basi, M.A., 2007. Subsurface sedimentological study of Injana Formation (Late Miocene) in the area extended from Baiji to Samara cities, central Iraq. Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining, 3, 43-51.

Bellen, R.C.V., Dunnington, H.V., Wetzel, R. & Morton, D.M.I., 1959. Lexique stratigrephique international, V. 3. Asia fasc. 10a, Iraq, Paris. 333 p.

Boggs, S., 1995. Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy. Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 765 p.

Boggs, S. Jr., 2009. Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy, 5th ed. Prentic- Hall, Cambridge. 662 p.

Buday, T., 1980. The regional geology of Iraq. Stratigraphy and palaeogeography, State Organization for Mineral, Baghdad, Iraq. 445 p.

Busk, H.G. & Mayo, H.T., 1918. Some notes on the geology of the Persian oilfields. Institution of Petroleum Technologists, 5, 5-26.

Dalrymple, R.W., Zaitlin, B.A., & Boyd, R., 1992. Estuarine facies models: Conceptual basis and stratigraphic implications: Perspective. J. Sediment. Petrol., 62, 1130-1146.

Dott, R.H., 1964. Wacke, greywacke and matrix-what approach to immature sandstone classification? Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 34, 625-632.

Dunnington, H.V., 1958. Generation, migration, accumulation and dissipation of oil in Northern Iraq. In: Weeks, L.G., (Ed.), Habitat of Oil, Symposium AAPG, 1194-1251.

Folk, R.L., 1980. Petrology of sedimentary rocks. Hemphill Publishing Company, Austin, Texas. 182 p.

Homewood, P., Allen, P.A., & Williams, G.D., 1986. Dynamics of the molasse basin of western Switzerland. In: P.A. Ellen & P. Homewood (Eds.), Foreland Basins, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. 368 p.

Jassim, S.Z. & Buday T., 2006. Latest Eocene—Recent Megasequence AP11. In: Jassim, S.Z. & Goff, J.C. (Eds.), Geology of Iraq. Dolin and Moravian Museum, Czech Republic, 228-253.

Jassim, S.Z., Buday T., Chicha, I., & Opletal, M., 2006. Tectonostratigraphy of the Zagros Suture. In: Jassim, S.Z. & Goff, J.C. (Eds.), Geology of Iraq. Dolin and Moravian Museum, Czech Republic, 276-297.

Jassim. S.Z., Karim, S.A., Basi, M., Al-Mubarak, M.A., & Munir, J., 1984. Final report on the regional geological survey of Iraq, Vol. 3, Stratigraphy. Geological Survey of Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq.

Jawad, A.A., Hadi, A., & Al-Shakiry, A., 1988. Fluvio-tidal complex of the Upper Fars Formation (Upper Miocene) in Hemrin Mountains, Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Science, 29(1–2), 51-73.

Karim, K.H., Ismael, K.M., & Mohyaddin, I.M.J., 2003. New discovery of some vertebrate footprints in Mukdadiya Formation from Chamchamal area, NE Iraq. Journal of Iraqi Geological Society, 34, 1-10.

Kukal, Z. & Saadallah, A.A., 1970. Paleocurrents in Mesopotamian Geosyncline. Sander do Geologischen Runschan Band, 59, 666-685.

Lababidi, M.M. & Hamdan, A.N., 1985. Preliminary lithostratigraphic correlation study in OAPEC member countries. Kuwait. OAPEC, Kuwait, 171 p.

Le Pera, E., Arribas, J., Critelli, S., Amparo Tortosa, 2001. The effect of source rocks and chemical weathering on the petrogenesis of siliciclastic sand from the Neto River (Calabria, Italy): implication for provenance studies. Sedimentology, 48, 357-378.

Mahdi, H.Kh.M., 2006. Sedimentological study of Injana Formation in Baqaq, Bashiqa and Mandan areas, Northern Iraq. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Mosul, Iraq. 129 p. (in Arabic)

Nichols, G., 2009. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell Science Ltd., London. 335 p.

Othman, S.M., 1990. Distribution of major–minor and trace elements in the mineral components of the sediments of the Upper Fars Formation at Permam-Dagh, Erbil, Iraq. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Mosul, Iraq. 132 p. (in Arabic)

Salvik, J. & Al-Hashimi, W.S., 1973. Preliminary study of heavy minerals of the Tertiary sediments in the Hemrin mountain area of the Mesopotamian Basin. Journal of the Geological Society of Iraq, Special Issue, 80-88.

Suttner, L.J. & Dutta, P.K., 1986. Alluvial sandstone composition and paleoclimate, Framework mineralogy. J. Sed. Petrol., 56(2), 329-345.

Tucker, M.E., 2001. Sedimentary petrology: An introduction to the origin of sedimentary rocks. 3rd Ed. Blackwell Publishing Company, London. 260 p.

Wells, J.T., 1995. Tide-dominated estuaries and tidal rivers. Dev. Sedimentol., 53, 179-205.

Yakta, S., 1976. Sedimentology of Fars Group in Al-Hadar area. State Organization for Minerals, Baghdad, Iraq, report No. 739.

Manuscript received 26 April 2024;
Received in revised form 2 June 2024;
Accepted 29 September 2024
Available online 30 April 2025

DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/wg511202501

0126-5539; 2682-7549 / Published by the Geological Society of Malaysia.
© 2025 by the Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License 4.0