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Shwan sub-Basin is one of the substantial groundwater sources in northern Iraq. Along with an increase in population, agricultural and industrial activities synced with the change in climate conditions, all could have a negative impact on the hydrochemistry of groundwater. Therefore, it becomes crucial to investigate the different processes that could affect hydrochemistry and water quality. Thirty-two groundwater samples were collected from wells distributed in the study area, and one surface water sample from Lesser Zab River, all water samples were gathered during two seasons. Hydrogeochemical model was performed on physiochemical analysis results by using PHREEQC software to understand the geochemical reactions occurring in groundwater. The results of the Saturated Index showed supersaturated values for calcite, aragonite and dolomite in groundwater samples during the first season in a percent of 84%. While the second season samples were supersaturated in percent of 40.6%, 37.5% and 46.8% for aragonite, calcite and dolomite minerals respectively. The Saturated Index shows supersaturated values of quartz mineral in most groundwater samples, which are sourced from the abundance of silicate minerals that are primarily included within the ambient rock materials of the tertiary and quaternary clastic aquifer system in the study region. The saturated index showed undersaturated values with most minerals of feldspar, halide and sulfate. However, these minerals were in a dissolution state, releasing significant amounts of Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, HCO3−, Cl⁻ and SO42− ions into the solution. Most of the groundwater samples were classified as earth-alkaline water with an increased portion of alkali with prevailing bicarbonate for two seasons, except the groundwater sample W2 was classified as earth-alkaline water with an increased portion of alkali with prevailing SO42⁻ and Cl⁻. The water quality for human drinking was evaluated using the water quality index (WQI). The values of WQI were from 51.9 to 99.2 and from 53.9 to 88.5 for the first and the second seasons respectively. WQI revealed that most of the samples were classified as poor to very poor water quality, except the Lesser Zab River sample for the second season was good water quality and the sample W2 for the first season was unsuitable for drinking purposes.

The Wadi Al-Qassab and Wadi Al-Murr are the main valleys in the west of the town of Qaiyarah, extending almost parallel in the northwest-southeast direction and descending from the topographically high areas located to the west towards the Tigris River in the east. Wadi Al-Qassab extends in the area sandwiched between the mountains (Attshan, Nuegett and Eklayan) in the north of the valley and the mountains (Jawan, Najmah and Qaiyarah) south of the valley which represents anticlines. While Wadi Al-Murr extends to the south of the mountains (Najmah and Qaiyarah). These two valleys are active during the rainy season due to the wide catchment area, especially for Wadi Al-Qassab, which several seasonal tributaries flow. The structural situation reflected by the Qaiyarah and Najma anticlines helps reveal many types of rocks belonging to the Fat'ha and Injana formations, as well as the sediments that cover the area mainly derived from the rocks of these two formations. The two valleys' sediments were classified as sand and gravelly sand that will contribute to the groundwater recharge during the rainy season. The average mineral compositions of the sediments (according to X-ray data and chemical composition of major and minor oxides) in the valleys of Al-Murr and Al-Qassab were estimated to be silicate minerals (such as quartz, clay minerals and feldspar minerals) estimated at 62.78% and 59.89%, carbonate minerals (main calcite) 26.14% and 31.97%, the evaporite minerals that included gypsum mineral 5.46% and 2.87% and halite 0.62% and 0.36%, in addition to the iron oxide phases of 4.69% and 4.41%, respectively. Most of the trace elements have been associated with clay minerals, either in the form of substitution and/or adsorption, and some of them are maybe as resistant minerals inherited from the source rocks from which they were derived. Chemical analysis shows that there are no significant indicators of hydrocarbon pollutions that may enrich the area with some organometallic compounds in valley sediments due to the emitted refinery gases and fine hydrocarbon particles.

six location in Nenevah governerate (Khafaja , Aski Mosul and Abu Mariyya), have been chosen for collecting soil samples with gypsum content (86, 101 and 76.4 gm kg -1 ) respectively, and soil samples were collected for (0-30 cm) depth . In addition , (Al-Iyyadyah , Ain Talawi and Sino) locations were also selected for collecting other soil samples in gypsum content between (444.4 - 830 g m kg-1 ) . Soil samples were in two depths (0-15 cm) and (15-30 cm) ..For estimation gypsum percentage , the current work used four methods including (Rechard 1954 , Barium Sulfate 1988 , AL Mufty 2000 and Artieda 2006 ) ,while artificial gypsum were used as acontrol . Artieda method showed highest values of (artificial gypsum ) , and thus was used as the best method . The first three soils had a clay texture , while increasing the percentage of gypsum in the remaining of the studied soils made it difficult to estimate the percentages of soil separators .The results of this study showed the inverse relationship between the percentage of gypsum and calcium carbonate in the gypsum soil of the study location in the direction from the city of Mosul towards the Sinjar district . The increase in the gypsum percentage is accompanied by a decrease in the percentage of total calcium carbonate.The study showed that soil samples of the first three locations , it s saturated hydraulic conductivity values increase with a decrease in the percentage of fine particles in the soil . Additionally , the increase of gypsum percentage in the gypsum soils leads to a reduction in the values of the saturated hydraulic conductivity values , while the increase in the percentage of calcium carbonate was accompanied by an increase in the values of saturated hydraulic conductivity. The values of the instantaneous infiltration rate indicate that they differ between the study sites depending on the initial moisture content , texture and structure of the soil. Al Khafaja soils observed low basic infiltration rate 50% compared to gypsum soils, with an increase in the gypsum percentage at the locations (AL-Iyyadiah , Sino and Ain Talawi ) (15 - 60%), accompanied by a reducion in the values of the basic infiltration rate (66-20%) , the gypsum soils has a cumulative infiltration values during the measurement period of 120 minutes, which is higher than the another three locations soil due to its high ability to impregnate and retention moisture under low tension..From the results of (dry and wet) sieving , it was clear that the values of the mean weight diameter in first three soils were similar. In gypsum soils the mean weight diameter increased , especially after the limits of 700 g kg-1 of gypsum content . The results of Atterberg limits (shrinkage limit, lower plastic limit and upper plastic limit ) and clay effectiveness were different for first three soils (where this property could not be obtained in gypsum soils).

The depositional environment of the Khurmala Formation (Paleocene-Early Eocene) has been investigated in the Nerwa section, the southern limb of the Berat anticline in the High Folded Zone of Iraq. The thickness of the formation in the studied section was about 113m and can be divided into three units; fossiliferous bedded limestone unit (Unit A), massive dolomitic limestone unit (Unit B) and bedded marly dolomitic limestone unit (Unit C). The petrographic study of the 81 thin sections of the Khurmala carbonates revealed that the majority of skeletal grains are shallow marine derivative faunas and non-skeletal grains include peloids, cortoids and intraclasts. Depending on detailed field observations and petrographic study of the carbonate rocks, five main microfacies were recorded, these are; lime mudstone, lime wackestone, lime packstone, grainstone and boundstone in addition to one lithofacies which is an intraformational conglomerate. Based on the integration of the recognized microfacies and the field criteria of the Khurmala Formation, two facies associations were identified which elucidate deposition in a lagoonal environment including reef patches. Accompanying facies indicate that the formation's sedimentary model is a ramp carbonate platform.

Monitoring the propagation of dunes is essential for natural hazard management. Accurate dunes mapping is critical in this situation. Landscape elements such as vegetation, water, dunes, and built-up are commonly separated using spectral indices. The discovery of dune features using a spectral index is one of the most significant achievements in earth observation. In this research, it was suggested Drifting Sand Index (DSI) is a newly created index that can be used to extract the land of dunes. The DSI is calculated using the normalized difference between six Landsat-8 bands (B, R, G, NIR, SWIR-1, SWIR-2). The linear SVM algorithm was implemented using library (LibLINEAR) in the R software to calculate a new linear equation. Two versions of the index have been proposed, the first is the complete version (DSI-C), and the second is the reduced version (DSI-R). The suggested indices results were compared to four previously proposed spectral indices (NDSI-1, NDSI-2, CI, and NDSLI). The acquired results demonstrated that the DSI-C and DSI-R had a high ability to distinguish between sand and different land covers, such as vegetation, water bodies, and various soil types. The average overall accuracy for all levels of the DSI-R, DSI-C, NDSI-1, NDSI-2, CI, and NDSLI was 88.59%, 83.43%, 78.030%, 68.52%, 65.98%, and 56.490%, respectively. The average Kappa Coefficient for DSI-R, DSI-C NDSI-1, NDSI-2, CI, and NDSLI was 77.20%, 66.87%, 56.076%, 37.073%, 31.978%, and 13.011%, respectively.

The 2D seismic data were analyzed and interpreted in Isamil region in northwestern Arbil Governorate, northern Iraq. The structural and tectonic situation of the region was constructed through the study of Shurau Formation (Oligocene). The polynomial analytical method applied to the depth map of Shurau Formation produced two maps these are regional trend map of the formation in addition to the residual structural map. The Total Horizontal Derivative method application supports the identification of the lineaments of possible faults and tectonic boundaries in the study area. The final structural map indicates that the regional trend of the study area is toward the ENE direction. The local structural features (Anticlines, Synclines, and Faults) found mostly trending NW-SE coincide with the main trend in the folded zone. This study shows the importance of using the polynomial and the Total Horizontal Derivative methods in the interpretation of the depth map of formation obtained from seismic data.

Aims: To investigate the reasons for replacement of composite restorations northern Iraq. Method: Seventy general dental practitioners (GDP) were recruited by personal contact, and asked to provide data on consecutive composite restorations they replaced for adult patients (ranged from 14-year-old to 60 years) over an eight-month period. In addition, a cross-sectional survey was carried out over eight months at the undergraduate student clinics of a University Dental Hospital (DS). The data was analyzed using SPSS software with significance set at p≤0.05. Results: Of the performed 1,338 restoration replacements. The types of restorative materials were 395 (30%) were amalgam, 929 (69%) were composite and 14 (1%) were glass ionomers (GIC). Secondary caries was the most diagnosed failure reason for the replacement of composite restorations (32%), which were more in class II cavities (47%). Conclusion: The study exposed different features of the restorative practice in the north of Iraq. The evidences are of importance that the everyday restorative practice will be analyzed by academics to make a progression in the dental services in Iraq.

A surface section of the Fatha Formation (Middle Miocene) was studied in the Shaqlawa area, Erbil, Northern Iraq. It consists of siliciclastic silt, evaporates, and carbonates in a mixed siliciclastic silt composition. The Fatha Formation in the study area can be divided into two members of variable thickness based on rocky differences. Depositional settings ranged from shallow open-marine and restricted-hypersaline to supratidal and continental (sabkha, fluvio-deltaic, and exposure). It is bounded below by a type one sequence boundary above the Eocene Pila Spi Formation and marked by conglomerates. The upper sequence boundary with the Injana Formation is conformable. Thirteen sedimentary facies were distinguished in the Fatha Formation within the Shaqlawa region of northern Iraq and include sandstone to mudstone, wavy bedded sandstone to mudstone, Flaser bedded sandstone to mudstone, Marl, sandstone, cross lamination sandstone, Trough cross bedded sandstone, Planar cross bedded sandstone, marly limestone lithofacies, bioclastic grainstone to packstone microfacies, bioclastic lime mudstone to wackestone microfacies, lime mudstone-wackestone microfacies, and gypsum lithofacies. The depositional environment of the formation was inferred based on the facies association concepts. The succession formation can be divided into several third-order cycles, which reflect fluctuations in the relative sea-level rise. High-frequency cycles of transgressive System Tract and Highstand System tract. Fundamental to the evolution of the sequence, in this case, is the local tectonic component.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an essential component of soil fertility that plays a vital role in the preservation of healthy ecosystems. This study aimed to produce an SOM-level map of the Batifa region in northern Iraq. Random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models were used to predict the SOM spatial distribution. A total of 96 soil samples were collected from the surface layer (0–30 cm) of both cropland and soil areas in Batifa. In addition, remote sensing data were obtained from Landsat 8, including bands 1–7, 10, and 11. Supplementary variables such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), brightness index (BI), and digital elevation model (DEM) were employed as tools to predict SOM levels across the region. To evaluate the accuracy of the RF and XGBoost models in predicting SOM levels, statistical metrics, including mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and determination coefficient (R2), were used, with 80% of the data used for prediction and 20% for validation. The findings of this study revealed that the XGBoost model exhibited higher accuracy (MAE = 0.41, RMSE = 0.62, and R2 = 0.92) in predicting SOM than the RF model (MAE = 0.65, RMSE = 0.96, R2 = 0.79). Band 10, DEM, SAVI, and NDVI were identified as the most important predictors for both the models. The methodology employed in this study, which utilizes machine learning models, has the potential to map SOM in similar settings. Furthermore, the results offer significant insights for the stakeholders involved in soil management, thereby facilitating the enhancement of agricultural techniques.

Human health is greatly and directly affected by the quality of groundwater and the extent of its pollution. This research evaluated the quality of groundwater in the Nineveh plain in northern Iraq and determined the suitability of groundwater for drinking purposes. Sixty-nine groundwater samples were taken and the major physical and chemical constituents, including pH, TDS, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl−, So42-, HCO3-, and NO3-. were analyzed to use in calculating groundwater quality index for drinking purpose based on the World Health Organization standards for the year 2017. To prevent subjectively assigning weights in the calculation groundwater quality index, the entropy information theory was used. The estimated groundwater quality index values were loaded into ArcGIS 10.8 as a point, shapefile and interpolated using Empirical Bayesian Kriging techniques to produce the final groundwater quality index map of the study area. Results indicated that the entropy groundwater quality index for 2.9% of the samples were within the excellent range, 33% were in the good range, 14.5% were within the moderate range. The groundwater quality index values range between (48-581.8). These values were manually classified into five categories: >200 (very poor), 200-150 (poor), 150-100 (moderate), 100-50 (good), and

The content of chromium in the surface soil as well as its content in cauliflower plants in Kirkuk was studied to investigate the environmental geochemistry of this element. 30 samples of surface soil were collected from inside the study area at a depth of 0-20 cm. Eight samples of cauliflower were collected from the same study area, soil and plant sampling sites were determined using a GPS device . Using ICP-MS technology we were able to analyze these samples. The results of ICP-MS showed that the average concentration of chromium in the soil samples was 78.59 mg/kg and its highest concentration was in the sample A12 (93.4 mg/kg), the increase in the concentration of chromium in the soil is due to agricultural fertilizers, irrigation with sewage water, the impact of traffic, commercial activities and industrial workshop. The mean of its concentration cauliflower samples was 3.81 mg/kg, and the highest concentration was 4.7 mg/kg in sample AQ10, the increase in the concentration of chromium in the plant is due to pollution in the soil, and the difference in these concentrations is due to the location of the sample and the properties of the soil. The plant absorbs it through the roots, then the stems, leaves,and fruits. Bioaccumulation factor value for chromium ranged with an average of 0.047 for all cauliflower samples. CF soil samples that the surface soil for this area is within a level (low pollution, CF

The Jeribe and Azkand formations, which were deposited during Late Oligocene-Early Miocene are a major reservoir interval in the Khabaz oilfield where it is, for the most part, a carbonate reservoir. The study area is located in the north of Iraq within the Foothill Zone. Through the thin-section examination for Azkand/Anah carbonates in the Khabaz oil field (Kz-3, Kz-4, Kz-10, and Kz-43), the petrographic and microfacies have been studied, which show six major carbonate microfacies, each of them is representing a distinctive deposition environment, and these are: restricted and semi-restricted for the Jeribe Formation, and semi-restricted, back reef, reef, fore reef, shallow open marine and slope for Azkand and Anah formations. There are several types of diagenetic processes; some of these processes enhance the porosity and the other reduces it. Porosity reduction by: Cementation (Isopachous, meniscus, syntaxial calcite, Drusy calcite, botryoidal, blocky calcite), Recrystallization; Compaction and late stage of dolomitization. This appeared near the upper and lower contact of the Jeribe Formation and in the lower part of the Azkand Formation. While the porosity enhancement which represented by depositional process (primary porosity) and dissolution (secondary porosity), in addition to the early and middle stage of dolomitization. This appeared in the middle part of the Jeribe Formation and the upper part of Azkand.

Cracks have been developed in a large lecture hall on the University of Mosul Campus. These cracks exist along two sides of the building. Multi Analysis Surface Wave and Electrical Resistivity Tomography surveys were conducted at the surrounding building to investigate the nature and distribution of shallow subsurface soil/rock. The MASW’s data show three layers: the first layer is characterized by low shear wave velocity ranges between 210 and 420 m/s which is attributed to infill materials, the next layer is attributed to a river terrace (fairly competent rock) which has Vs ranging from 430m/s to 840 m/s. It is recognized by a gradual increase in mechanical characteristics as depth increases. In-depth between about 2.5m and 6.0 m the shear wave velocity drops in the top contact of this layer. The causes of low velocity may be due to weathering of the medium because of a sinkhole. The Electrical Resistivity Tomography profile shows four electrical zones, the first zone has 50-70 Ω.m. with a variable thickness from 0.5-1.5 m which indicates infill materials. The second zone has very low resistivity value, and a depth ranges 0.5m - 3.5 m, which might be interpreted to be increased clay, silt and water content (high water-saturated zone). The third zone is characterized by a high-resistivity value (>100 Ω.m) that could be related to a dry conglomerate rock and gravels belong to river terraces. The fourth zone has a low-resistivity value (

Assessment of clay briquettes for various building applications take into consideration, for this purpose seven clay samples by channel method collected from Injana, Mukdadiya and Bai Hassan Formations with Quaternary deposits in Bestana village, for the evaluation test purpose, 84 rectangular briquettes (1x4x8 cm) were prepared by semi-dry (8%water) pressing method (250Kg/cm²), fired at 800, 900, 1000, 1080ºC, for the evaluation tests of color, linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, water absorption, bulk density, efflorescence and modulus of rupture, and 28 cylindrical briquettes (4 cm height and diameter) were prepared for the evaluation test of compressive strength. The results showed that the color of the briquettes varied with different firing temperatures as a function of various mineralogical compositions. The dry sensitivity index measured for the studied ceramic briquettes, showed high dry sensitivity index, drying shrinkage and water content % values, due to this result they require low temperature drying for long periods by adding 7.96 to 13.54% water during briquette paste preparation. Comparing these evaluation test results with the International standard specifications for the ceramic industry No.25 (1988), 17 (1998), and C1167 (2003). This study showed the availability of using all of the studied samples in the brick industry, floor and wall tile industry, with Injana, Bai Hassan, and Quaternary deposits of Bestana village can be used in the roofing tile industry. Samples from Mukdadiyah and Bai Hassan Formations can be used as chemical resistant tiles when fired at 1080oC.

The Garagu Formation represents a part of the Late Tethonian-Middle Valanginian sequence, which was deposited during the Early Cretaceous period within the main carbonate open marine environment. The studied area covers three oil fields; Jambur (Ja-46), Khabaz (Kz-1), and Qara Chauq (Qc-2) oil fields which are located in the north part of Iraq within the Low Folded Zone. Eight major microfacies were recognized in Garagu Formation within the area of study to determination and recognition the paleoenvironments. The major microfacies for this carbonate succession are; Lime mudstone microfacies, Orbitolinid and Nezzazata wackestone with bioclast microfacies, Foraminifera wackestone-packstone microfacies, Bioclast wackestone – packstone microfacies, Algal wackestone-packstone with bioclast microfacies, Oolitic packstone-grainstone with bioclast microfacies, Coral bioclast packstone - grainstone microfacies, Planktonic wackestone-packstone microfacies and Peloidal (pellets) packstone - grainstone microfacies. These microfacies are deposited in restricted marine, shoal and open marine, Mid ramp, and outer ramp associations facies. The Garagu succession in the studied area is divided into two depositional cycles (C1 and C2) of highstand system tracts (HST) in Ja-46 well. In the Khabaz oil field (Kz-1), the succession is divided into three cycles of HST (C1, C2, and C3). While in the Qara Chuaq oil field (Qc-2) the succession is divided into four depositional cycles of HST (C1, C2, C3, and C4) with conformable underlying Makhul Formation and conformable overlying of Ratawi Formation. In both oil fields, the Sarmord Formation is conformable underlying of Garagu Formation and conformable overlying of Ratawi Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface sediment characters and understanding the earth's surface processes are very interesting global research topics. The region in southeastern Tikrit city is characterized by the spread of large surface sediment from aeolian deposited types and dunes. These dunes were investigated to understand the origin of these dunes. For this purpose, grain size analysis, XRD, XRF, and heavy mineral analyses were conducted. Results indicate that these sand dunes in the study area are mainly composed of coarse particles such as sand (especially fine sand) with a percentage more than fine particles (mud), and the fine sand fraction is the predominant class. The sand grains are characterized by also negative value of skewness (strongly coarse skewed), moderately sorted, and leptokurtic. The normal distribution curve shows a unimodal type for most samples, reflecting one potential sediment source. Mineralogically, quartz is the main mineral composition of this sand, in addition to other minerals such as feldspar, clay minerals, calcite, dolomite, and gypsum. The identified heavy minerals in these samples were tourmaline, garnet, zircon, kyanite, chlorite, rutile, hornblende, and olivine. Regarding the geochemistry, the distribution of major oxides and trace elements in these samples area showed high SiO2 and TiO2 and low content of Na2O. UCC-normalization reveals enrichment of CaO, Cr, and Cl and depletion of other trace elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early Carboniferous Harur Formation from the Ora outcrop section of northern Iraq consists of black shale, calcareous shale and carbonate. The mineralogical and geochemical investigations (major and trace elements) of the black shale and calcareous shale units have been conducted to evaluate paleoenvironmental conditions including paleoclimate, paleoredox conditions, paleoproductivity, sedimentary rate, and to evaluate their effects on organic matter accumulation. The geochemical proxies such as the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), A-CN-K plot, Sr/Cu ratio, and the relation between the ratio of Ga/Rb and Sr/Cu suggest moderate to intense chemical weathering under humid conditions. The Rb/K and Sr/Ba ratios indicate a freshwater environment during deposition. Multiple paleo-redox indicators such as ratios of V/(V+Ni) and Th/U) and U index indicates deposition under depleted marine oxygen conditions and consequently recording an Ocean Anoxic Event (OAE). The Th/U ratio indicates that the sedimentary rate at the lower part of the section is less than that of the upper part of the section. The terrigenous clastic input index (Ti and Al) shows that clastic input reduced from the lower to the upper section which implies that the sea level rose first lower to the upper section. Both Al and Ti have positive correlations with TOC (Total Organic Carbon) which reveal that clastic input was advantageous for OM accumulation. The high ratios of (Fe + Mn)/Ti and the presence of nacrite minerals indicate hydrothermal activity during deposition. Hence, the main control factors of OM accumulation in the black shale and calcareous shale of the Harur Formation were terrigenous clastic fluxes, in addition to paleo-redox conditions and hydrothermal activities. On contrary, paleoproductivity proxies play a relatively less significant role in OM accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined groundwater in five villages located south of Nineveh Governorate, northern Iraq, which are (Asfiya, Harara, Al-Rasif, Al-Na'ana, and Tal Wai). One well was selected from each village during the autumn, winter and spring seasons for studying it and showing its quality by studying its physical and chemical properties and compared results with the upper limits allowed by the World Health Organization and the application of the water quality index (WQI) to determine the suitability of the studied water for drinking and various domestic uses. The study indicated that the pH rates ranged between (7.75) in the water of village Al-Na'ana to (8.08) in the water of village Al-Rasif, and the values of the total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged between (1123) mg/l in the water of village Tal Wai and (1933) mg/l in the water of village Asfiya. The total alkaline rates ranged between (220-490) mg/l, and the study areas recorded an increase in the total hardness values as far as the limits allowed by World Health Organization, their rates ranged between (1100-1660) mg/l, and the concentrations of calcium ions ranged between (214-492) mg/l. The results of the water quality index (WQI) indicated that the WQI values of the studied groundwater ranged between (51) in the water of villages Harara and Al-Na'ana and (60) in the water of village Al-Rasif, which indicated that the studied water is of poor use for drinking and of various domestic uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to assess the environmental risk of the municipal dump site on the quality of surface and groundwater in the city of Baiji in Salah al-Din Governorate, as 20 water samples were collected divided into three groups according to their type, 3 samples from the water of the Tigris River passing through the study area and 14 samples from water wells. Groundwater and 3 samples from the sewage drain passing through the study area. With regard to the concentrations of heavy metals, the results of the iron ion concentrations in the water samples of the Tigris River showed that they were within the permissible limit, while the percentage of 0.86 of the groundwater samples was within the permissible limit. Tigris and groundwater samples were within the permissible limit. The results of manganese and cobalt concentrations in all samples showed that they were above the permissible limit and the results of nickel concentrations in the Tigris River water samples showed that all of them were within the permissible limit, while the groundwater was 0.50 was within the permissible limit and 0.50 was above the permissible limit, while the concentrations of cadmium and zinc the device did not read them because their concentrations were below detection limit of the device. In terms of pollution of the Tigris River water and groundwater in the study area, the Heavy Metal Water Pollution Index showed that the Tigris River water samples were of medium pollution, as 0.78 of the groundwater samples were of low pollution and 0.22 of them were moderately polluted. Heavy metals results showed that the waters of the Tigris River were highly polluted, 0.78 of the groundwater samples were highly polluted, and 0.22 of them were moderately polluted and unfit for drinking according to the heavy metals assessment index. As for the degree of pollution index (Cd), it showed that the water samples of the Tigris River were of a high degree of pollution and that 0.71 of the groundwater samples were of low pollution, 0.21 of them were highly polluted and one well of medium pollution.

Background: Annually, thousands of scorpion stings and rare mortalities are recorded in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the present study, we prepared a checklist for the geographical distribution of scorpion fauna composition, new localities data, and scorpion sting profile for the years 2019–2020 in the region. Methods: Random field surveys for scorpion collection were carried out in 22 localities in the Kurdistan Region from June 2020 to October 2021. Clinical data related to scorpion stings in 2019 and 2020 were obtained from the medical records of public health offices in the region. Results: In this survey, 166 specimens were collected. They were composed of seven scorpion species belonging to three families including: Buthidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Scorpionidae. The collected species were Androctonus crassi­cauda, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus mesopotamicus, Orthochirus fomichevi, Hemiscor­pius lepturus, and Scorpio kruglovi. Moreover, three scorpion species comprising Buthacus tadmorensis, Hottentotta mes­opotamicus, and Calchas anlasi were recorded in the previous study conducted in the Kurdistan region. In 2019–2020, 3726 scorpion stings were reported, with a peak in the summer season. Most of the patients were 15–49 years old. In the current study, medically significant scorpion species have been identified. Conclusion: The outcome of the present work will increase the awareness of the Kurdish community regarding the distribution of dangerous scorpion species and consequently reduce their stings.

The fundamental characteristics of environmental isotopes in water resources management is dependable on the nature of geographical region of the catchment boundaries. The method of applying different isotopes has a main character in quantity and quality estimations of water resources that sometimes cannot be achieved by old techniques. Nowadays the detailed inquiry of surface water or ground water difficulties can practically have been explained against the support of performing the isotopes. The present study assembled some investigations and applications on the environmental isotopes that predict the water management systems in different catchment areas and implementing the isotope techniques in Kurdistan region of Iraq. This should help us to solve many problems of surface and ground water such as the recognition a source of ground water, ground water dating, problems of ground water contamination, trace the direction and velocity of flow, the interaction of surface water with ground water, physical transportation link between different aquifers, some characteristics of an aquifer and renewability of water. The objectives of this study are to implicate and investigate on the most intensive science of environmental isotope in different catchment areas of Kurdistan region in northern Iraq. The data were taken by (Dana,2016) for different springs and wells in the region starting from Haji-Omaran to Barzan. There are no meteorological or hydrographic measuring stations. The ground water compositions of 10 wells and 12 springs were illustrates that the seasonal does not conclusive a part while the assumptions would be modified for the precipitation data. The results show that, groundwater saves the 18O and deuterium (D) content out of which they were formed. The isotope contents of most groundwater lie somewhere near the local respective meteoric water line (MWL). Whereas, the proportionality pf high degree in deuterium surplus (d) is about 10 which is representative for the Mediterranean Sea region. also, the high concentration of isotopes was taken place at Haji-Omaran and Jundian w that about 8.93 and 8.37 degrees respectively. This is leads to offer the possibility with a relatively small financial expense to use isotopic hydrological methods to explore the underground water balance in northern Iraq.

In this study, formation-water samples were collected by NOC Staff, during drilling time, from the Mauddud Formation reservoir of the Khabbaz Oilfield, for this reason four samples from four wells; Kz-3, Kz-4, Kz-7, and Kz-23 were selected to geochemical analysis. Analyzed geochemical parameters include TDS and the concentrations of the different dissolved cations and anions present in brines (Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+1, SO4-2, Cl-1, HCO3-1, and NaCl). Variations among the resulted data are discussed by comparison with other Cretaceous Brines. Geochemical ratios of Na/Cl, (Na-Cl)/SO4) and (Cl-Na)/Mg+2 was calculated for formation water classification following Bojarski, (1970). The calculated geochemical ratios of the studied samples in the studied four wells indicate that all of these waters are "chloride calcium" type under subsurface conditions, this type reflect closed system isolated associations reservoir, which are becoming high hydrostatic in deeper zones without influence by infiltration waters. A major transversal fault cutting the structure at its SE plunge had participated in the dilution of the Mauddud reservoir brine effectively.