Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering

The Origin and Genesis of the Dokan Conglomerate, NE Iraq

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• Abstract

  The "Dokan Conglomerate" is a new lithostratigraphic unit of Pleistocene age added to the Iraqi stratigraphic column within the Quaternary Period. The conglomerate is exposed northwest of Sulaimaniyah, starting from Khalikan anticline, near KaniWatman village; it extends on the top of the anticline for about 5 Km, and is exposed also along the southern and eastern banks of Dokan Lake. The Dokan Conglomerate consists of almost monotype clasts, which are derived mainly from the Qamchuqa Formation, well cemented by calcareous materials forming very hard beds; however, locally, sandstone and claystone are interbedded with the conglomerate beds. The thickness of the conglomerate reaches up to 300 m, but generally varies between (100 – 200) m.The Dokan Conglomerate is thickly well bedded to massive, either horizontally capping Tanjero, Shiranish, Kometan and Qamchuqa formations, on the top of Khalikan anticline, or overlies them along the northeastern limb of the anticline; with clear dipping beds. The origin and the mode of deposition of the Dokan Conglomerate are given, discussed and its deposition is tectonically correlated with the growth and development of Khalikan anticline, besides the effect of a large normal fault that is responsible for development of the depression, which is used as Dokan Reservoir. Geomorphological and structural evidences are given too; to confirm the mode of deposition. The estimated age of the conglomerate is Pliocene? – Pleistocene.