Origin of Some Transversal Linear Features of NE-SW Trend in Iraq, and Their Geological Characters

Abstract

Iraq is located at the extreme northeastern part of the Arabian Plate, which is in collision with the Eurasian Plate. This collision is still onward, and has caused alignment of the evolved structures in NW-SE trend, mainly, especially in the northern, northeastern and eastern sides of Iraq. However, many transversal linear features of NE-SW trend, represented by rivers, streams, valleys, playas, anticlines and offsets are developed, in parallel trend to the main compressional forces created by the aforementioned collision. Many examples from different parts of Iraq confirm the mechanism of their formation through the geological, geomorphological, tectonics and structural aspects. Although the existing linear features are tens of kilometers in length, but almost no surface displacements were reported, except very few, in some parts of Iraq. The given examples are selected to be the most obvious, when geophysical data are available, the surface and subsurface geology of the involved area is correlated to deduce whether the surface expression coincides with the subsurface or otherwise. A brief tectonic history is also given.