Effect of Fractures on Euphrates River in Mesopotamian Basin in Iraq

Abstract

The study area lies in the middle of Iraq in Mesopotamian Basin between Karbala and Najaf provinces in area called Tar Al-Say’ed and Tar Al-Najaf, they are two conspicuous geomorphological outstanding features with an area 15022.4 km². The aim of this study is finding the relationship between fractures analysis and Euphrates River Basin. A comprehensive analysis of fracture traces is discussed in this study. The analysis covers various topics such as fracture trace, rose diagrams, rose maps, stress – strain, and lineaments; the rose diagram for the study area shows the dominated direction trend is E - W and second trend is NW- SE (315) and N-S trend reflect the effect of Najd and Euphrates faults in the study area. More than one hundred stations in Karbala (Tar-iAl-Say’edand Tar Al-Najaf) were taken in order to draw the poles in the study area.  Fractures were divided into extension sets and shear systems. Shear fractures could have developed under a stress regime when the maximum principal stress axis was approximately NW-SEi (Horizontal) the intermediate principal stress axis (vertical) represents the old fractures in the area while the two systems of fractures (1) and (2) with (4) sets is directions are extension fractures with nearly horizontal beds in the stable shelf (west of Euphrates River) represent young fractures.