Geological History of the Shatt Al-Arab River, South of Iraq

The study carried out to give an image of the geological history of Shatt Al-Arab River by studying the sedimentology, mineralogy and fossils assemblages. Four sites located at both sides along Shatt Al-Arab River were selected. These sites are located in Basrah Governorate south east of Iraq, and specifically in the southern part of Mesopotamian Plain, from Qurna town to Abu Al-Khasib. Twenty nine samples were chosen from different depths of the sites, were analyzed to determine; grain size distribution by using grain size analysis, X-Ray diffraction analysis for bulk and clay minerals contents and fossil identification and their environments. The fossils assemblages; Ostracoda, Foraminifera and Molluscs suggested three biofacies in the study area.