File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [‎129r] (272/522)

9
the purpose of correlation ^ Limestone D of the Oaiyarah district is a persistent band. Below
it a thick limestone of type “b” has been named the “ Mishraq limestone” and lower in the
success j on a group of limestones of type a” have been named “Araij Group of limestones”.
The general tendency of the limestone is to increase in thickness to the north and the marls
decrease in the same direction. At Fathah the lowest beds of this series yet seen crop out and
will be examined in detail shortly.
Upper Pars.
Throughout the district the beds are of the usual type red marls and sandstones succeeded
by thick beds of friable greenish sandstone, Gypsum only occurs as veins. There seems to be
complete conformity between the two series.
Seepages, Sulphur, etc.
Many seepages of oil or bitumen occur in the district, the most important of which are those
of Oaiyarah and Fathah ; others occur at Jabal Najmah, Hadhra, in the Jabal Sinn Mishraq and
Hammam Ali. In many cases they appear at the outcrop of an oil-soaked bed, usually a limestone,
but are not at any definite hoi izon.
Sulphur springs are associated with nearly all the seepages and occur in many other places.
The hot springs of Hammam Ali, with which bitumen is associated have a temperature of 115
deg F.
. General Geological Structure.
The country is folded into a series of anticlines and synalines all of which have a general
N \v. S. E. trend The form of the ground is dependent on the structure, the anticlines forming
the hills and the synclines the low ground. Lower Pars beds are exposed by denudation in the
anticlines and Upper Pars occupy the synclines.
The structure has resulted from a thrust from the N. E. In the southern anticlines the S. W.
limb is steeper than the N. E. limb, but the northern ones are more symmetrical, with a slight
tendency for the N. E. limb to be steeper.
In the northern part of the area there is some evidence of another system of folds on a E. W.
or E. N. E.—W. S. W. axis. There are six well defined anticlinal areas, which are described in
detail.
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE ANTICLINAL AREAS AND PROSPECTS. %
(1) Jabal Hamrin and Jaba Makhul.
These hills form a long anticlinal ridge running about 100 miles across country ; the axis
swings in places and changes in pitch giving rise to a series of crest maxima and minima. The
S. W. limb is steeper than the N. E. About 600 feet of the Lower Pars beds are exposed.
Prospects :—
The presence of oil bearing beds as indicated by the seepages at Fathah, the form of the
anticline and the existence of crest maxima make this favourable territory in general, certain parts
of which seem promising,
(2) Jabal Khanuqah.
This ridge runs parallel with the Makhul anticline and is separated from it by a narrow
syncline. The anticline is more gently folded and has two crest maxima—one in the Humr Hills
and a higher one in the J. Khanuqah. Some faulting may have occurred on the S. W. flank near
Oalat-al-Bint. ,
Prospects ::—
The prospects of obtaining production are similar to those of the J. Hamrin and Makhul.
(3) The Huwaish Anticline. ,
This is the name given to a new anticline, which we have found between the Khanuqah
anticline and Qaiyarah. The upper beds of the Lower Pars crop out in the form of an anticline
with axis N. W.—S. E. plunging to the S. E. and probably to the N. W. and forming an elongated
done. /
Prospects :—
On the supposition that the oil-bearing beds of Qaiyarah, seven miles distant, will continue into
this anticline, the probability that domal structure is present, the prospects of this anticline may
be considered favourable.
(4) Oaiyarah Najmah and Yawan Anticline.
See Geological Report No. 1. The Qaiyarah anticlinal axis rises to another crest maximum
at J. Najmah and continues still further N. W. to J. Yawan, where it rises again. The anticline is
symmetrical.
Prospects :—
The prospects of the Qaiyarah area have already been dealt with. With regard to J. Najmah,
in view of the domal structure and the existence of a seepage there, the prospects may be considered
as similar to those of Qaiyarah.

File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [‎129r] (272/522)

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File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [‎129r] (272/522)

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