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Recent geological studies have found that the hilly region around the Zagros Mountains in northern Iraq is slowly sinking into the Earth, a process attributed to ancient tectonic dynamics. This discovery has implications for earthquake prediction and geothermal energy potential.

Zagros Mountains

• Location: Stretches ~1,500 km from eastern Turkey and northern Iraq across the Iranian Plateau to the Strait of Hormuz.
• Highest Peak: Mount Dena (4,409 m / 14,465 ft).
• Geological Composition: Primarily limestone and shale from the Mesozoic Era and Paleogene Period.
• Climate: Semi-arid temperate – cold winters and dry, arid summers.
• Vegetation: Dominated by oak and pistachio trees with steppe vegetation.

Geological Process Behind Iraq’s Sinking

• The Zagros region is influenced by the tectonic collision between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates.
• A sinking oceanic slab, part of the ancient Neotethys Ocean floor (over 66 million years old), is pulling the region down.
• This slab is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate, a process occurring over tens of millions of years, making it imperceptible in human timescales.

Research Insights

• The studyused rock records, sediment analysis, and deep-earth imaging to understand the tectonic architecture of the region.
• The findings explain why the depressions around the Zagros Mountains are deeper than the current topography would suggest.

Significance of the Study

• Helps develop precise geological models critical for:
  • Earthquake prediction – by understanding fault depths and configurations.
  • Geothermal energy exploration – estimating areas with high geothermal gradients.
• Especially relevant in a region prone to seismic activity (e.g., 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes).