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Notes on the geology of Western Irak and Northern Saudi Arabia

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Summary

From the high western border areas of Western Irak and Northern Saudi Arabia the land slopes gently eastwards to the Mesoptamian Plain and the Persian Gulf. Thirteen physiographic provinces can be recognized within the area.

Rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Recent outcrop, and it is probable that the entire stratigraphic column is present. Few structural features are impressive. Such folds as are present within the Arabian socle are faulted at depth, caused by pinching due to unequal movements of the basement.

The shield represents a sialic “raft” in a state of instability, and forces acting to restore isostatic balance have created a giant couple. The internalstress system of tension and shearing results in differential vertical fault-block movements. The shield proper characterizes a region in which vertical movements predominate, and only in the arcuate mobile belt are tangential forces operative.

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  1. Raoul C. Mitchell
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Mitchell, R.C. Notes on the geology of Western Irak and Northern Saudi Arabia. Geol Rundsch 46, 476–493 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01803035

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