A NEW CONCEPT FOR THE ORIGIN OF ACUMMULATED CONGLOMERATE, PRECIOUSLTY KNOWN AS QULQULA CONGLOMERATE FORMATION AT AVROMAN-HALABJA AREA, NE-IRAQ

The present study aims to re-study the Qulqula Conglomerate Formation that is mentioned in the previous studies to be about 500m thick in Halabja - Avroman area. Those studies considered the Qulqula Conglomerate Formation as a part of Qulqula Group, which overlies Qulqula Radiolarian Formation and claimed Albian-Cenomanian age and deposited due to Subhercynian orogeny. They also mentioned that it is deposited in a deep basin of high tectonic activity in which the flysch is deposited and represented by thick succession of conglomerate and shale. In the present study, all the previously mentioned characteristics concerning tectonic, age and facies of the formation in the Avroman-Halabja area are not observed. More than that, the occurrence of the conglomerate that can be called “Qulqula Conglomerate Formation” is doubtful in this area. The authors have found a thick accumulation of conglomerate but it does not belong to Qulqula Conglomerate Formation. This is achieved according to following four facts: The first fact is that the observed conglomerate beds have dip angles nearly the same as that of the slope of the southwestern side of Avroman and Suren mountains. The second fact is that they are not covered by any strata, except soil. The third fact is that almost all clasts are derived from Avroman Limestone, which is located at higher elevation. The fourth fact is that the conglomerate overlies Qulqula Radiolarian Formation in an angular unconformity.. From these four facts, it was inferred that the conglomerate has the origin of proximal alluvial fan (fanglomerates), talus and slide blocks and debris that are deposited during Quaternary. It was also ascertained the absence of so-called wildflysch in previous studies.