Geomorphology, Stratigraphy and Tectonics of the Mesopotamian Plain, Iraq: A Critical Review

The Mesopotamian Plain is part of the Mesopotamia which extends for vast area bigger than plain. plain almost flat and lowland, has clearly defined physiographic boundaries with other surrounding provinces. a huge accumulation geomorphologic unit, where fluvial, lacustrine, Aeolian landforms prevail; fluvial units being abundant among others. However, estuarine marine forms also are developed, but restricted to extreme southeastern reaches covered totally by Quaternary sediments origin most prevailing more specifically flood sediments. Holocene in age, whereas Pleistocene alluvial fan river terraces. cover majority Plain, northern–eastern, western southern peripheral parts only. Different geomorphological features indicate Neotectonic activity plain, such as migrations rivers due growing subsurface anticlines. tidal sabkha Marshes shallow depressions contaminated Foredeep Zagros Foreland Basin including Fold-Thrust Belt. It large continuously subsiding basin since Upper Miocene (11.62 Ma). shows no structural on surface, except main fault escarpment representing Abu Jir Active Fault Zone. rolling topography, northern indicates anticlines that still up, Balad, Samarra, Tikrit Baiji indicating activity. Moreover, many buried present different All them have caused continuous shift Tigris Euphrates their distributaries activities. minimum maximum subsidence amounts zero –2500 m, respectively.