Geochemical Parameter Indicators of Origin and Sediment Type, Paleoclimate, and Source Rocks of Al-Teeb River Sediments in the Missan Governorate, Eastern Iraq

This geochemical study concerns the Al-Teeb River sediments that accumulate in the river course or river basin. The river is one of the seasonal rivers in Iraq, located in the Missan Governorate in southeastern Iraq, northeast of Amara City. It originates from the Himrin mountains near the Iranian border and flows into Hor Al-Snnaf. It has a maximum length of about 63 km and runs through the Al-Teeb District. Eight samples were collected and subjected to geochemical analyses by XRF. Numerous geochemical parameters and major and trace element relationship diagrams have been used to infer the origin and type of sediments, paleoclimate, and source rocks. The average chemical alteration index (44.12) indicates that the sediments have undergone low to moderate weathering. Results obtained from the chemical index of weathering (55.043), plagioclase index of alteration (50.5), and index of chemical variability (2.37) support this conclusion and confirm the low weathering of the source rocks and low maturity. The climate of source rocks is semi-arid to sub-humid and mean annual temperature is 15.22°C. The chemical classification of Al-Teeb river sediments is greywacke and originated from continental arc or oceanic arc environments.