EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LAND FORMS OF SOUTH WEST RAZZAZA LAKE-CENTRAL IRAQ

Abstract

    Land forms are result from interaction between lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Lithosphere composed of lithologic units and the main units of the study area are: limestone, marl, marley limestone, sandstone, pebbly sandstone, mudstone, claystone and secondary gypsum in addition to Quaternary sediments. Landforms of the study area can be subdivided according to their origin into many units: 1- Structural- denudational: plateau, mesas, hills, cliffs and wadis; 2- Denudational: desert pavement and mushroom rock; 3-Mass movements; 4- Solution: lake, salt marsh, piping caves; 5- Springs; 6- Fluvial: terraces, alluvial fan, infilled wadi, flood plain; 7- Drainage units; 8-Evaporational: sabkha, secondary gypsum; 9- Aeolian: sand dune and sand sheets; 10- Biogenic: Agamidae caves, wasp nest and termite nest; and 11- anthropogenic origin.