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Mohammed A. Al-Hajj , Ali I. Al-Juboury& Aboosh H. Al-Hadidy
Geology Department, Mosul University, Iraq
North Oil Company, Kirkuk, Iraq
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17656/jzs.10492
Abstract
Upper Cretaceous successions of the Gir Bir Formation (Cenomanian-Early Turonian)
were studied in 15 wells from northwestern Iraq. The formation is composed of
recrystallized, partly dolomitized limestone with local silicification. Benthonic
foraminifera (Miliolids, Alveolina, and Orbitolina), rudist and peloids are the main
constituents. The studied succession has been affected by several diagenetic events such
as; dolomitization, recrystallization, micritization, dissolution, compaction and
silicification. Facies analysis revealed that seven microfacies subdivided into eleven
submicrofacies could be distinguished, reflecting sedimentary environments including;
deep shelf margin, slope/shoal, rudist buildups, back reef/shoal, and protected lagoon in
a regressive shallowing-upward sequence. Lateral facies variation showed that reefal
facies were commonly located in northwestern parts of the study area, whereas lagoonal
facies existed in eastern and southeastern parts. Rimmed carbonate platform is the
acceptable model for the Gir Bir Formation.
Key Words:
Gir Bir Formation,
Facies, rudist
buildups, rimmed
platform
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