Changes

==Tectonic setting==

==Tectonic setting==

Iraq is located in the northern part of the Arabian [[tectonic plate]]. The [[basement]] rocks are presumed to be accretionary rocks assembled during the Late Precambrian Pan-African orogeny, although no wells reach the basement rock in Iraq. Bouguer gravity values are low in the northeast, presumably due to the extreme thickness of sedimentary rocks ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig02.jpg|Figure 2]]), and become progressively higher to the west onto the Khleisia High (Rutbah subzone of Jassim and Goff<ref name=Jassimandgoff_2006 />) along the Iraq–Syria border. North- and northwest-trending basement grains are interpreted from gravity and magnetic data in southern, western, and northwestern Iraq as shown in [[:file:M106Ch12Fig02.jpg|Figure 2]].

Iraq is located in the northern part of the Arabian [[tectonic plate]]. The [[basement]] rocks are presumed to be accretionary rocks assembled during the Late Precambrian Pan-African [[orogeny]], although no wells reach the basement rock in Iraq. Bouguer gravity values are low in the northeast, presumably due to the extreme thickness of sedimentary rocks ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig02.jpg|Figure 2]]), and become progressively higher to the west onto the Khleisia High (Rutbah subzone of Jassim and Goff<ref name=Jassimandgoff_2006 />) along the Iraq–Syria border. North- and northwest-trending basement grains are interpreted from gravity and magnetic data in southern, western, and northwestern Iraq as shown in [[:file:M106Ch12Fig02.jpg|Figure 2]].

Northeastern Iraq, contiguous with Iran and Turkey, is part of the Zagros foldbelt, consisting of two zones ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig03.jpg|Figure 3]]). The High Zagros Nappe zone is a topographically high region characterized by tightly folded rocks and by ophiolite which was obducted onto the Arabian plate in the Late Cretaceous ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig04.jpg|Figure 4]]). Cretaceous and older sedimentary rocks and a suite of igneous and metamorphic rocks crop out in this region ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig05.jpg|Figure 5]]). There are no oil and gas discoveries in the High Zagros Nappe zone, although rocks containing bitumen and organic-rich rocks are exposed.

Northeastern Iraq, contiguous with Iran and Turkey, is part of the Zagros foldbelt, consisting of two zones ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig03.jpg|Figure 3]]). The High Zagros Nappe zone is a topographically high region characterized by tightly folded rocks and by ophiolite which was obducted onto the Arabian plate in the Late Cretaceous ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig04.jpg|Figure 4]]). Cretaceous and older sedimentary rocks and a suite of igneous and metamorphic rocks crop out in this region ([[:file:M106Ch12Fig05.jpg|Figure 5]]). There are no oil and gas discoveries in the High Zagros Nappe zone, although rocks containing bitumen and organic-rich rocks are exposed.