New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)

During 2002, several reconnaissance speleological explorations were undertaken by the authors and local enthusiasts in the karst of Northwestern Zagros in Northern Iraq. Some of the caves were visited for the first time and explored to a great depth by the scientists, while the Shanidar cave is a wo...

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Main Authors: Zoran Stevanović, Adrian Iurkiewicz, Aleksandra Maran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts 2009-06-01
Series:Acta Carsologica
Online Access:https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/138
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author Zoran Stevanović
Adrian Iurkiewicz
Aleksandra Maran
author_facet Zoran Stevanović
Adrian Iurkiewicz
Aleksandra Maran
author_sort Zoran Stevanović
collection DOAJ
description During 2002, several reconnaissance speleological explorations were undertaken by the authors and local enthusiasts in the karst of Northwestern Zagros in Northern Iraq. Some of the caves were visited for the first time and explored to a great depth by the scientists, while the Shanidar cave is a world-famous site representing one of the oldest discovered and investigated human settlements. The explored caves are located in well-karstified limestones of the Cretaceous age as well as in younger Eocene limestones. This paper contains the data from the nine largest caves. Their total explored lengths range from a few tens of meters up to several hundred meters. Four caves are fossil, containing only percolated water, while five represent still hydrogeologically active features. Two of them have resulted from the dissolution of carbonate or evaporate rocks stimulated by water oversaturated in H2S which migrated from deeper oil-bearing structures.
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spelling doaj.art-767a9d38a66d4aa5897805a0046bde3e2023-02-07T17:46:16ZengSlovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsActa Carsologica0583-60501580-26122009-06-0138110.3986/ac.v38i1.138125New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)Zoran Stevanović0Adrian Iurkiewicz1Aleksandra Maran2Department of Hydrogeology, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Mining and Geology; FAO ConsultantResearch Department of Environmental Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest; FAO ConsultantNatural History Museum, BelgradeDuring 2002, several reconnaissance speleological explorations were undertaken by the authors and local enthusiasts in the karst of Northwestern Zagros in Northern Iraq. Some of the caves were visited for the first time and explored to a great depth by the scientists, while the Shanidar cave is a world-famous site representing one of the oldest discovered and investigated human settlements. The explored caves are located in well-karstified limestones of the Cretaceous age as well as in younger Eocene limestones. This paper contains the data from the nine largest caves. Their total explored lengths range from a few tens of meters up to several hundred meters. Four caves are fossil, containing only percolated water, while five represent still hydrogeologically active features. Two of them have resulted from the dissolution of carbonate or evaporate rocks stimulated by water oversaturated in H2S which migrated from deeper oil-bearing structures.https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/138
spellingShingle Zoran Stevanović
Adrian Iurkiewicz
Aleksandra Maran
New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)
Acta Carsologica
title New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)
title_full New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)
title_fullStr New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)
title_full_unstemmed New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)
title_short New Insights into Karst and Caves of Northwestern Zagros (Northern Iraq)
title_sort new insights into karst and caves of northwestern zagros northern iraq
url https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/138
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AT aleksandramaran newinsightsintokarstandcavesofnorthwesternzagrosnortherniraq