The Collisional Origin of Umm Chaimin Depression in Western Iraq: A Synthesis of Geological and Geomorphological Evidence

The Collisional Origin of Umm Chaimin Depression in Western Iraq: A Synthesis of Geological and Geomorphological Evidence | 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 The Collisional Origin of Umm Chaimin Depression in Western Iraq: A Synthesis of Geological and Geomorphological Evidence Turhan Al-Mufti, Ameer Mohammed Khalaf, Zuhair Mushref, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Naemi, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9203955/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Umm Chaimin region is located in southwestern Iraq and is characterized by a semi-circular geological depression about 95 km southwest of the city of Rutba. This study aims to investigate the geological features and geomorphological characteristics of the depression to understand its geological history and the impact of natural processes on it. The study examines the surface geological formations through geological maps and field observations. The methodology includes examining thin sections of rocks using optical and electron microscopy to assess their mineral composition. A geomorphological analysis of the crater is conducted using contour and slope maps to determine the topography and geometric dimensions. A drainage pattern map was used to represent the distribution of the water flow in the study area. The geological survey shows that the geological formations in the study area belongs to the Eocene and the Quaternary sediments, proves the impact of modern natural processes such as runoff. The depth of the crater’s depression which is up to 30 meters and its semi-circular shape reinforces the hypothesis that the crater is formed by a relatively recent meteorite impact. The sample rocks taken from the depression also supports the hypnosis because they predominantly contain quartz, with Prehnite. This is an indication of a low thermal metamorphism caused by a meteorite impact. The sediment deposition within the crater indicates the influence of climatic phenomena such as rainfall and runoff in on the region’s post-impact development. Water drainage patterns reveal radial drainage surrounding and within the crater’s center, therefore reflecting the effect of the impact-induced topography on water routing. The results show that the meteorite impact was of moderate strength, resulting in crater formation without causing substantial thermal and pressure alterations in the region. Finally, Umm Chaimin crater is the largest in the Middle East, and the research emphasizes the importance of the region as a geological landmark that deserves further investigation, conservation and attention. Umm Chaimin Meteorite impact geological formations drainage patterns Full Text Supplementary Files image.jpg Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 08 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 22 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 14 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 11 Apr, 2026 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. 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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-9203955","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":627460685,"identity":"f52002bc-f3c6-43f5-8e2a-e894ee096e5c","order_by":0,"name":"Turhan Al-Mufti","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Prime Minister's Office","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Turhan","middleName":"","lastName":"Al-Mufti","suffix":""},{"id":627460686,"identity":"77a61959-d64d-4f6a-acfd-4bd28702084d","order_by":1,"name":"Ameer Mohammed Khalaf","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Anbar","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ameer","middleName":"Mohammed","lastName":"Khalaf","suffix":""},{"id":627460687,"identity":"2b349d3f-9897-4426-ac4f-c7d5c96e58db","order_by":2,"name":"Zuhair Mushref","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"University of Anbar","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zuhair","middleName":"","lastName":"Mushref","suffix":""},{"id":627460688,"identity":"00396a73-1fa7-4f45-bfb9-3e988e6bf9fd","order_by":3,"name":"Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Naemi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":": Republic of Iraq Ministry of Oil","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ahmed","middleName":"Ibrahim","lastName":"Al-Naemi","suffix":""},{"id":627460689,"identity":"edac52b3-66da-4b02-af7e-126fc1a1a765","order_by":4,"name":"Abu Baker A. 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This study aims to investigate the geological features and geomorphological characteristics of the depression to understand its geological history and the impact of natural processes on it. The study examines the surface geological formations through geological maps and field observations. The methodology includes examining thin sections of rocks using optical and electron microscopy to assess their mineral composition. A geomorphological analysis of the crater is conducted using contour and slope maps to determine the topography and geometric dimensions. A drainage pattern map was used to represent the distribution of the water flow in the study area. The geological survey shows that the geological formations in the study area belongs to the Eocene and the Quaternary sediments, proves the impact of modern natural processes such as runoff. 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