Effect of Physiographic Unit on Sand Mineral Distribution in Different Regions From Mesopotamia Plain

Abstract

A field study was carried out in the year 2019 to find out the effect of the physiographic location on the distribution of sand minerals and some soil characteristics in the area extending from the left side of the Euphrates River and to the end of the site of the Great Musayyib Project and with coordinates 33°.32, 32°.44 N, 44°.22 and 44°.54 E, four secondary physiological units were selected was river levee represented by the MW3 series, irrigation levee represented by MW5 soil series, the river basin represented by DM97 soil series, and the depression unit represented by MF11 soil series, pedon of soil series revealed and described morphology and obtained samples from them for the of laboratory analysis, the results indicated that all soil series represent sedimentary soils with materials of river origin transported and have different texture type dependent on the physiographic location, sand particle dominate at the series of river levee. In contrast, clay particles dominate the depression unit. Mineral analysis of fine sand particles showed the dominant quartz minerals, then calcite and feldspar for light sand minerals. In contrast, heavy sand minerals appear to dominate opaque minerals, pyroxene, and amphibole. The results of weathering index showed low values to indicate a low rate of weathering in the soil.