![File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [‎191r] (404/522)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0002c5/IOR_L_PS_10_815_0404.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [‎191r] (404/522)")
File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [191r] (404/522)
The record is made up of 1 volume (244 folios). It was created in 1 Dec 1917-26 Jun 1922. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
5
„ , t ■ Z) i ^ fe 1 '~ l P atea " gavels form conspicuous features of that
part of the country which has not been subjected to violent folding. They
frequently form level cappmgs of no great thickness on hill tops and are
probably of fluviatile origin. . 1
(ia) The Mesopotamian Alluvium.—TTAn deposit, which covers extensive
areas, is formed of the silt brought down by the rivers of Mesopotamia cMefly
the iigns and Euphrates It consists for the most part of fine clays with which
are interbedded some sands and small gravels. The only direct evidence there
is at P re s e nt as to the thickness of the alluvium is obtained from water wells
drilled at Shaiba, near Basra and Amarah, by the Expeditionary Eorce At the
former place two wells were sunk to depths of 209 feet and 250 feet respectively
passing _ through clays, sands and fine gravels only, and not reaching the
underlying rock. At Amarah, on the other hand, sandstone (probablv of the
Baktitian Senes) was struck at 120 feet. The Alluvium must obviously thicken
! n ,f Westerly direction with distance from the Persian foothillsf but still
further West near Baghdad it thins out again against the Koweit Series of
which most of the ground between Baghdad and Hit is composed. The fact that
Basra now 58 miles from the coast, was a seaport in historical times, gives some
idea of the rapidity with which this deposit is accumulating.
tv ^ nal M C /r jf Pcf water from the Shaiba wells carried out by the Assistant
Director, Medical Services, indicate the nearness of the gypseous Koweit Series
beneath the Alluvium, since the content of chlorides and sulphates amounts to
56 per cent, and these obviously are not indigenous to the Alluvium, but have
been derived from the Koweit Series strata by percolation of the water.
PART 4.—TECTONICS.
(13) Eastern District.— studying the dynamics of earth movements the
ordinary physical laws of action and reaction must in every case be applied.
Action is the tangential stress which consummates the flexures and reaction is the
resistance of the rocks which therefore determines the type of fold. With any
large thickness of a hard compact rock which has been subjected to horizontal
stresses once or twice only and not at various different periods, it would be
expected to see^ large arches or anticlines running for many miles in straight
lines. Soft pliable rocks under the same conditions would be unable to resist
bending moment and the compression would be taken up by a number of
smaller parallel folds. The Khanaqin, Qasr-i-Shirin district of Mesopotamia
approximates more nearly to the latter of the two categories above set forth
tangential stresses have given rise to a series of parallel plications which
increase regularly in intensity as they approach nearer to the Persian
mountains. The folds are of the simple symmetrical and asymmetrical type
developing sometimes reversed strike faulting and overthrust faulting.
The remarkable properties of gypsum when under stress are not exhibited
m the country examined, probably chiefly because it is not exposed in sufficient
quantities, and also because the region of overfolding lies further in towards
the mountains. The regularly increasing asymmetry of the anticlinal folds is
well exhibited by the following table
Anticline
(see Map No. 3).
Geological formation.
Hade of Axial
plane degrees.
Shahraban . . * , .
Bakhtiari Series , . . .
0
Naft Khana contd. . , ,
Bakhtiari Series ....
3
Qalah Sabzi ....
Bakhtiari Series or Upper Bars
20
Qasr-i-Shirin ....
Lower Bars ....
30
Most of the anticlines need no special mention except to say that the first '
hills like the Jabal Hamrin and Jabal Qizil Eubat are directly due to anticlinal
About this item
- Content
This volume contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, telegrams and maps and geological drawings, regarding the geological examination of regions in Mesopotamia and the prospect of petroleum [oil] in these areas.
Included in the volume are the following reports:
- ‘MESOPOTAMIA GEOLOGICAL REPORTS No. 7-11’ (‘No. 7’ is crossed out and replaced with ‘No. 8’), 1920 (ff 9-22)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No. 7 NOTES ON THE UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES OF NORTHEN MESOPOTAMIA’, 1920 (ff 25-31)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No. 6 NOTES ON ZAKHO AND DOHUK [Duhok]’, 1920 (ff 41-44)
- ‘MESOPOTAMIA GEOLOGICAL REPORT 1919’, 1920 (ff 57-109)
- ‘REPORT OF THE BITUMINOUS DEPOSIT NEAR KIFRI’, 1919 (f 114)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No 5. THE KIFRI DISTRICT’ (ff 115-116)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No 4. RECONNAISSANCE REPORT ON THE COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT BANK OF THE RIVER TIGRIS BETWEEN BAIJI AND MOSUL’, 1919 (ff 122-129)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No 3. RECONNAISSANCE REPORT ON THE EUPHRATES VALLEY BETWEEN HILLAH AND HIT’, 1919 (ff 131-143)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No 2. PRELIMINARY NOTES ON THE JABAL HAMRIN’, 1919 (f 143)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (Mesopotamia) No 1 ON THE DISTRICT OF QAIYARAH [Al Qayyarah]’, 1919 (ff 146-151)
- ‘APPENDIX. Translation of a Captured Document. Report of a Tour to the Coal Area and Petroleum Springs in the Zone of the Sixth L. of C. Inspectorate’, 1919 (ff 156-158)
- ‘No 13. Notes on the Jabal Gilabat [Qilabat] between Chinchal-al-Kabir and Qarah Tappah’, 1919 (f 164)
- ‘No 14. Notes on the Jabal Hamrin between Qarah Tappah and Table Mountain’, 1919 (ff 164v-167)
- ‘No. 10. Notes on the Geology of the Country between Tazah Khurmatu and Tauq [Tukhama Khulu]’, 1919 (ff 182-185)
- ‘REPORTS ON THE PROSPECTS OF PETROLEUM IN THE BAGHDAD WILAYAT [Vilayet]’, 1918 (ff 187-201)
- ‘Report No 9. Oil in the Kirkuk Anticline’, 1919 (ff 204-205)
- ‘No 3. Report on the Prospects of Obtaining Oil in the Jab-al-Khanuqah, S.E. of Sharqat [Ash Sharqat]’, 1918 (f 207)
- ‘No 4. Prospects of Obtaining Oil in the Jab-al-Qaiyarah and its continuation, the Jab-al-Najmah’, 1919 (ff 208-209)
- ‘No 5. Possibilities of Obtaining Oil in the Jab-al-Mishrak [Al Mishraq] and Country West of Hammam Ali [Hammam al Ali]’, 1919 (ff 210-211)
- ‘No 6. The Country between Mosul and Quwair [Al Kuwayr] on the Greater Zab, and its Prospects as Oil-producing Territory’, 1919 (ff 211v-212)
- ‘Report No 7. Sulphur near the Confluence of the Greater Zab with the Tigris’, 1919 (f 213)
- ‘No 8. Prospects of Obtaining Oil in the Quwair Dome’, 1919 (ff 213-214)
- ‘Appendix to Report No. 4, on the Jab-al-Qaiyarah Oil-field’, 1919 (f 214v)
- ‘Report on the prospects of obtaining Oil in the Jabal-Hamrin and Jabal- Makhul between Tikrit and Sharqat’, 1918 (ff 217-218)
- ‘Odd Notes on the Country between Tikrit and the Jabal-Hamrin and Jabal Makhul’, 1918 (ff 219-220)
- ‘PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE PROSPECTS OF PETROLEUM IN THE BAGHDAD WILAYAT’, 1918 (ff 233-236).
Also included in the volume are the following maps and geological drawings:
- ‘TO ACCOMPANY GEOLOGICAL REPORT MESOPOTAMIA No 8’, 1920 (f 20)
- ‘To ACCOMPANY GEOLOGICAL REPORT MESOPOTAMIA No 8 ON THE SULAIMANIYAH DISTRICT’, 1920 (f 21)
- ‘TO ACCOMPANY GEOLOGICAL REPORT MESOPOTAMIA No: 7a. THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE MANDALI-BADRAH DISTRICT’, 1920 (f 30)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL REPORT (MESOPOTAMIA) No 7 NOTES ON THE UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES OF NORTHERN MESOPOTAMIA’, 1920 (f 31)
- ‘TO ACCOMPANY GEOLOGICAL REPORT No 6’, 1920 (f 44)
- ‘TRANSVERSE SECTION. JABAL HAMRIN’ (f 88)
- ‘Diagrammatic Section across Jabal Hamrine [Hamrin] in the Table mountain area, shewing [showing] relationship of Pos Tertray [Post-Tertiary] Gravel to the Tertainis [Tertiaries]’ (f 168)
- ‘Red Clay & Sandstone Series Transverse section across Jabal Gilbat’ (f 169)
- ‘QĀRAH TAPPAH’, 1918 (f 170)
- ‘CHINCHĀL-TALISHĀN’, 1918 (f 172)
- ‘SHAHRABĀN’, 1917 (f 174)
- ‘MANSURĪYAH AL JABAL’, 1918 (f 176)
- ‘1 Diagrammatic Section N[orth]. of the Tuz Khurmatu’ (f 183)
- ‘2 Diagrammatic Section oposite [ sic ] Sulaiman Beg, just N[orth]. of the stream’ (f 183)
- ‘3 Diagrammatic Section oposite [ sic ] Sulaiman Beg just S[outh]. of the Stream’ (f 183v)
- ‘Transverse Section across Jabal Nasaz near Gil’ (f 185)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL MAP OF NAFT KHANA DISTRICT OF MESOPOTAMIA’ (f 198)
- ‘THE PETROLEUM DEPOSITS OF HIT’ (f 199)
- ‘GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE IN N.E. MESOPOTAMIA’ (f 200)
- ‘SECTION FROM SHAHRABAN TO CHAH SURKH [Chiya Surkh]’ (f 201)
- Transverse Section Maps of Jabal Hamrin and Jabal Makhul (f 220).
The volume comprises internal correspondence between British officials of different departments. The principal correspondents are: the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; the Under-Secretary of State, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Baghdad; officers of the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau; and officers from the Petroleum Department.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (244 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 246; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [191r] (404/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/815, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100151508902.0x000005> [accessed 13 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100151508902.0x000005
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100151508902.0x000005">File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’ [‎191r] (404/522)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100151508902.0x000005"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0002c5/IOR_L_PS_10_815_0404.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0002c5/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/815
- Title
- File 1450/1919 ‘Mesopotamia & Kurdistan: Geological Reports on’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:19v, 22r:29v, 32r:43v, 45r:87v, 89r:167v, 177r:182v, 184r:184v, 186r:197v, 202r:219v, 221r:245v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence