Heavy Mineral Distribution and Clay Mineralogy of Injana Formation at Zawita and Daigala Northern Iraq

Abstract

This study deals with the minerology of Injana Formation (Late Miocene- Pliocene) at Zawita and Daigala sections, north of Iraq. A total of 13 samples are collected from Injana Formation. The heavy minerals assemblages include opaque minerals, orthopyroxenes, clinopyroxenes, zircon, rutile, epidotes, garnet, amphiboles, tourmaline, chlorite, biotite, kyanite, muscovite and staurolite. The source rocks of these assemblages of heavy minerals are mafic igneous and metamorphic rocks principally as well as acidic igneous and old sedimentary rocks. The ZTR indices indicate the Injana sandstone is mineralogically immature .The tectonic origins of Injana Formation is characterized as lithic recycled of recycled orogeny .The mudstone consists of mixture of clay and silt percentage variable. The major clay minerals are chlorite, kaolinite, illite and smectite. The non-clay minerals are calcite, quartz and subordinate feldspars. The mineralogy of the clay fraction of Injana mudstone leads to be climate arid to semi-arid