The Geological Survey of Iraq (GEOSURV-IRAQ) is highly interested in bringing the attention of the world earth scientists to this poorly studied and highly interesting part of the Zagros Orogenic Belt. GEOSURV-IRAQ is coordinating an international group of Earth scientists who are interested to study this area from various aspects including among other things:-

The program includes a field excursion at 23-27 of Nov.2011in Sulaimaniya City for five days to enable scientific observation, documentation, sampling and discussions in the field.

A symposium will be organized by GEOSURV-IRAQ in 2012 to present the results of research carried out by the participating scientists and all papers may be published in a special issue of the Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining (published by GEOSURV-IRAQ).

Field excursion and symposium will be funded by GEOSURV-IRAQ including accommodation and local transport inside Iraq. International transport and cost of the research work is to be borne by the scientists who can apply for funding from their institutes or universities.

All scientist who are interested to join this international research group should fill-in the following form to enable contact, Visa, and arrange for the field excursion as soon as possible.

The contact scientist from GEOSURV-IRAQ is Dr. Saffa F. A. Fouad/ e-mail: saffafouad@geosurviraq.com, saffa.fouad1957@gmail.com Please address all your correspondence to the above e-mail address. Looking forward for your participation and contribution.

The Zagros Mountain is the NW-SE trending segment of the Alpine- Himalayan orogenic belt. It extends more the 1800km from southern Turkey through north and east Iraq to the Straits of Hormuz, southwestern Iran. The width of the Zagros Mountain range inceaese from northwest (150 km in Kurdistan) to southeast
(350 km in Fars Arc.).

The Zagros Mountains are the product of the deformation produced by the Late Cretaceous-Qaternary convergence of the Arabian and the Iranian (Eurasian) plates. The deformed rock sequence consists of Late Proterozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary pile that accumulated on the northern margin of the Arabian plate. The Zagros orogenic belt has been traditionally subdivided into several structural domains trending parallel to the plate suture.The Zagros Mountain front, however, is sinuous and contains a number of tectonic salients (ares) and re- enternts (embayments). These are, from southeast to northwest; Farc Arc, Dezful Embayment, Lurestan Arc, and Kirkuk Embayment.

The regional stratigraphy of the Zagros region has been well studied in Fars Arc and Dezful Embayment. The regional stratigraphic column has been divided into five structural– mechanical groups, they, from base to top. the Basement Group
(Panafrican crystalline basement complex); the Lower Mobile Group (Late Infracanbrian- Early Cambrian Hormuz Salt); the Competent Group (Cambrian to Early Miocene platformal sediments); the Upper Mobile Group (Miocene salt); and the Incompetent ( Passive) Group ( Late Miocene to resent molasses).

There is a general agreement among structural geologists working in the Zagros Fold- Thrust Belt that the mechanical properties of the folded sedimentary pile substantially governing the mechanism and the geometrical style of folding.

Analysis and interpretation of folding and faulting in the Zagros orogenic belt have been rapidly evolving in the last decade, and several research groups are actively working on these topics currently. Unfortuantely almost all of the contemporary research groups and studies have focused on the south and central parts of the Zagros in Fars Arc, Dezful Embayment and Lurstan, whereas non of them have focused on the western part of the Kirkuk Embayment.

The Western Zagros of the Kirkuk Embayment consists of a large number of folds of variable size and style. The deformation within the folded belt varies both along and across the tectonic strike.

The Western Zagros belt within of the Iraqi territory has been divided into four main structural domains with different characteristics. These domains, from the interior to the outer part of the belt, are: Shalair ( Sanandaj- Sirjan) Terrain, the Zagros Suture, Zagros Fold- Thrust Belt, and the Mesopotamian Foredeep. The Shalair Terrain consists of metamorphosed Paleozoic- Miocene sediments and meta-arc volcanics. The Zagros Suture is occupied by intensely deformed thrust slices of ophloites, radiolarites and minor volcanics. The Zagros fold- Thrust Belt consists of thick folded and faulted Paleozoic to Pliocene marginal and sediments, whereas, the Mesopotamia Foredeep is covered by Miocen to Quaternary, marine and terrestrial clastics.

The Western Zagros Fold- Thrust Belt contains almost 50% of the total oil reserve of Iraq and yet it is very poorly studied. It is covered by very limited seismic surveys of poor quality in which deep structures are not shown. On the other hand, detailed surface geological maps are hardly available and no deep exploration wells have been drilled. The lack of reliable data may allow seriously different interpretations. Therefore new successful exploration eventually requires good understanding of the geometries of the structures and their continuation at deep, timing and sequence of geological events as well as the role of the mechanical stratigraphy.

It is worth mentioning that the Iraqi side of the Zagros is remarkable for numerous mineral showings that may be related to tectonic and magmatic processes. These include copper, Ni-rich chromite, Pb-Zn, magnetite, Mn- Fe, radioactive minerals, etc. Research work is needed to study the genetic aspects of these ore minerals and their relation to the tectonic history of the Zagros.

Visit State Company of Geological Survey and Mining of Iraq

The Netherlands Government recently organized a conference in The Hague on the assistance of the Netherlands to help rebuild Iraq. On the occasion of that meeting, Dr.K.S. Al-Bassam, Director General of the State Company of geological Survey and Mining of Iraq (GEOSURV-IRAQ), paid a surprise visit to ITC on 28th January to discuss a revival of the collaboration between ITC and GEOSURV-IRAQ which in the past led to the training of GEOSURV-IRAQ staff, currently still in active service.

Discussions progressed smoothly and efficiently and resulted in the concluding of a Memorandum of Understanding to confirm the intensions of ITC and GEOSURV-IRAQ and to provide the enabling vehicle to develop and implement mutually beneficial and agreed upon initiatives, with training of GEOSURV-IRAQ staff being a priority.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Professor Molenaar, on behalf of ITC and Dr. Al-Bassam on behalf of GEOSURV-IRAQ