Abstract

The Piramagroon anticline (or Pira Magrun Mountain) elongates directly to the northwest of Sulaimani city, Northeast Iraq and its southeastern part contains two other anticlines, named Harmetool and Yakhyian anticlines in addition to their complementary synclines and many other smaller folds. The anticline has experienced intense search for oil in the last few years and a well is drilled to a depth of 3000 meters but, any evidence of oil or gas wasn’t found. In the present study, the southeastern part has been studied stratigraphically and structurally and the previous studies have been critically reviewed which may help to reason about the absence of oil in the area. In this study the stratigraphy of the anticline has been determined and Kometan, Gulneri, Dokan, Balambo and Sarmord formations have been plotted on a geological map and stratigraphic column and the nannofossils have been used for the aging of intervals with undetermined ages. The thickness of the Gulneri Formation is 2-4 m and by the analysis of nannofossils its age was identified as Late Cenomanian-Early Turonian. Lithology and bedding styles of the Dokan and Upper part of the Balambo formations are very similar to Kometan Formation and they can be determined either by fossils or by using Gulneri Formation as marker bed. The outcrop of the Gulneri Formation is helpful for differentiation since it is soft and can be recognized easily in the field by its darker color. The structure of the anticline is relatively complex as it consists of asymmetrical anticlines with southwest plunge mainly in few places while it changes to overturned fold in others and is deformed by reverse fault. The anticlines are shaped by detachments on the Gulneri and Sarmord formations and by the other older soft rocks. The newly formed anticlines have the style of multi-detachment fold or multi-detachment faulted fold.

Authors and Affiliations