Geochemical and Digenetic controls on the Dammam Formation in the Southern Desert of Iraq

Geochemical and Digenetic controls on the Dammam Formation in the Southern Desert of Iraq | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Geochemical and Digenetic controls on the Dammam Formation in the Southern Desert of Iraq Maher M. Mahdi, Falah H. Maziqa, Hamid A. Alsultan This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6890490/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The integrated geochemical and diagenesis process provide valuable understandings into the depositional environments and mineral resources of the Eocene succession in the region, supporting both geological understanding and economic exploration efforts. This research utilizes geochemical and petrographic analyses of sediment samples (24 core samples) from the Dammam Formation in southern Iraq to reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions during the Eocene epoch. The formation is primarily composed of carbonate lithology, predominantly limestone with dolomitic and fossiliferous strata, and exhibits evidence of extensive diagenetic alterations such as dolomitization, silicification and other processes. Geochemical data reveal high concentrations of calcium and magnesium oxides, consistent with carbonate-rich, shallow marine depositional environments. Notably, the presence of unconformities at the boundaries with the Euphrates and Rus formations indicates depositional hiatuses likely linked to sea-level fluctuations. Elemental correlations suggest a dominant marine influence with limited terrigenous input, as reflected in the low concentrations of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and alkali oxides. Variations in sulfate oxides and the occurrence of gypsum nodules point to fluctuating salinity conditions, possibly related to lagoonal or restricted platform environments. Silicification processes, especially in the central regions of the formation, involve silica filling voids and replacing carbonate minerals, indicating diagenetic silica enrichment during lithification. The presence of red-stained marl zones and iron oxides signifies oxidative, coastal, peritidal settings. Overall, the integrated geochemical and petrographic evidence supports interpretations of a dynamic depositional environment characterized by shallow marine, lagoonal, and restricted platform conditions, which reflect significant sea-level changes during the Eocene and contribute to understanding regional sedimentation and diagenetic histories. Geochemistry Diagenetic process Dammam Formation Iraq Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 07 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 Jul, 2025 Reviews received at journal 02 Jul, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 17 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 17 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 13 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6890490","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":473023843,"identity":"7c7facf7-6913-48bc-9c03-a5d49fbeebf6","order_by":0,"name":"Maher M. Mahdi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABFElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHghlwJDY+ICB4QCIzQbEzGBESEuzAalaEtgkULXgALrtZw8+rmDYJm/OntxWzVNxR15+9uFnDxgqrBMb2Jk3YNNidiYv2fAMw23DnT0P227znHlmuOFcmrkBw5n0xAZmtgKsWg7kmEk2MNxm3HAjse02b9thxg08DGYSjG2HgVp4DLBqOf/G/CdQiz1ISzFQi/38HvZvEoz/8Gi5kWPGCNSSCNLCzAsy/AwP0JYGfFreGEs2GNxO3nDmYbPknDPPgAyeMomEY+nGbbj8cj7H8GNDxW3bDcfTH354U3HHFuiwbRIfaqxl+/kPYw0xCMBwQAIDOHawOgw/IEPLKBgFo2AUDEMAAPZ5ZxtJSGnXAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"University of Basrah","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Maher","middleName":"M.","lastName":"Mahdi","suffix":""},{"id":473023844,"identity":"ec18f89b-7c12-4375-9226-14ceb4de6321","order_by":1,"name":"Falah H. Maziqa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"General Directorate of Education in Holy Karbala Province","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Falah","middleName":"H.","lastName":"Maziqa","suffix":""},{"id":473023845,"identity":"da339770-ad3b-47f8-b8d9-ee520bb594d9","order_by":2,"name":"Hamid A. Alsultan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Babylon","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hamid","middleName":"A.","lastName":"Alsultan","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-13 19:38:07","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6890490/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6890490/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":85004572,"identity":"44394660-5983-4b6c-b5d5-81d220ed6876","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-19 20:24:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":711973,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"1MaherandMaziqa.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6890490/v1_covered_98292b93-df1e-4245-8f83-6dd822346eb9.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Geochemical and Digenetic controls on the Dammam Formation in the Southern Desert of Iraq","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"carbonates-and-evaporites","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"caev","sideBox":"Learn more about [Carbonates and Evaporites](http://link.springer.com/journal/13146)","snPcode":"13146","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/13146/3","title":"Carbonates and Evaporites","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Geochemistry, Diagenetic process, Dammam Formation, Iraq","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6890490/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6890490/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe integrated geochemical and diagenesis process provide valuable understandings into the depositional environments and mineral resources of the Eocene succession in the region, supporting both geological understanding and economic exploration efforts. This research utilizes geochemical and petrographic analyses of sediment samples (24 core samples) from the Dammam Formation in southern Iraq to reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions during the Eocene epoch. The formation is primarily composed of carbonate lithology, predominantly limestone with dolomitic and fossiliferous strata, and exhibits evidence of extensive diagenetic alterations such as dolomitization, silicification and other processes. Geochemical data reveal high concentrations of calcium and magnesium oxides, consistent with carbonate-rich, shallow marine depositional environments. Notably, the presence of unconformities at the boundaries with the Euphrates and Rus formations indicates depositional hiatuses likely linked to sea-level fluctuations. Elemental correlations suggest a dominant marine influence with limited terrigenous input, as reflected in the low concentrations of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and alkali oxides. Variations in sulfate oxides and the occurrence of gypsum nodules point to fluctuating salinity conditions, possibly related to lagoonal or restricted platform environments. Silicification processes, especially in the central regions of the formation, involve silica filling voids and replacing carbonate minerals, indicating diagenetic silica enrichment during lithification. The presence of red-stained marl zones and iron oxides signifies oxidative, coastal, peritidal settings. Overall, the integrated geochemical and petrographic evidence supports interpretations of a dynamic depositional environment characterized by shallow marine, lagoonal, and restricted platform conditions, which reflect significant sea-level changes during the Eocene and contribute to understanding regional sedimentation and diagenetic histories.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Geochemical and Digenetic controls on the Dammam Formation in the Southern Desert of Iraq","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-19 20:00:01","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6890490/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-07-08T01:10:40+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-05T14:48:09+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-07-02T08:10:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"101553739637952319997045645696717108492","date":"2025-06-21T14:23:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"60334319665260420785123358823254558374","date":"2025-06-17T15:59:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-17T15:51:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-17T15:38:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-14T13:02:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Carbonates and Evaporites","date":"2025-06-13T19:23:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"carbonates-and-evaporites","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"caev","sideBox":"Learn more about [Carbonates and Evaporites](http://link.springer.com/journal/13146)","snPcode":"13146","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/13146/3","title":"Carbonates and Evaporites","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"45ee6815-5cc9-4deb-b44a-457b5cf80975","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 19th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-09T17:38:55+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-19 20:00:01","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6890490","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6890490","identity":"rs-6890490","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}