Fauna Assemblages and Depositional Environment of Recent Deposits in Al-Salhiya Island, Southeastern Part of Basrah Governorate, Southern Iraq

A study of Al-Salhiya Island in the Ahwar of Southern Iraq reveals that its sedimentological characteristics and faunal assemblages indicate a dynamic interplay between marine, brackish, and fresh marsh environments. The dominant sandy silt deposits suggest a calm sedimentation environment with low transport capacity, influenced by tidal currents and proximity to the Shatt al-Arab coastline. Key foraminifera species such as Ammonia beccarii, Ammonia tepida, and Eliphidium inertum point to brackish-shallow water conditions with varying temperatures, while the presence of Cyprideis torosa (Ostracoda) and specific Gastropoda and Pelecypoda species further supports a shallow, lower estuarine-marine setting. These findings highlight the island's ecological significance as part of the Mesopotamian relict landscape, reflecting both historical and contemporary environmental influences.

Alsaidi, A., Al-Ali, R. A., & Khaleefah, U. Q. (2024). Fauna Assemblages and Depositional Environment of Recent Deposits in Al-Salhiya Island, Southeastern Part of Basrah Governorate, Southern Iraq. The Iraqi Geological Journal, 252–261. https://doi.org/10.46717/igj.57.2e.19ms-2024-11-28