Published

2026-05-27

Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq

Evidencia de isótopos estables para cambios paleoambientales del Holoceno en Khor Abdullah, sur de Irak

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860

Keywords:

Stable isotope, Khor Abdullah, climate changes, TOC%, paleo-environment, Marine transgression and regression (en)
isótopos estables, Khor Abdullah, cambios climáticos, TOC%, paleoambiente, transgresión y regresión marina (es)

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Stable isotopes have emerged as valuable tools in the geosciences, particularly for thermometry and research on climate change. The essential comprehend depositional environments and paleoclimate interpretations. This understanding hinges on gathering insights from various lithological units and their depositional architecture. Sedimentary units are vital for analyzing changes in sea levels and sediment supply over time. However, studies involving stable isotopes in this region are limited, highlighting the necessity for this research. In this study, sub-bottom marine core in Khor Abdullah, specifically the Grand Faw Port were analyzed from a depth of 40 meters in the northwest Arabian Gulf region of southern Iraq. Ten bulk representative sediment samples were examined using a Mass Spectrometer, specifically an Iso-Analytical device, to calculate stable isotopes, including δ13C, δ18O, δ15N, and δ2H (in ‰) for each sample. The z-values ​​in the study area ranged between 121.37 and 60.41, the study employed (Z) values to determine whether the environments were marine, fresh, or mixed. The oxygen isotope δ18O values ranged from 23.15 to 5.36‰, while δ13C values ranged from -26.63 to -19.86‰. The analysis identified warm periods associated with marine transgression and cold periods tied to marine regression. Additionally, a positive relationship was found between Total Organic Carbon (TOC%) and the isotopes δ13C and δ18O. This relationship is influenced by climatic factors such as variations in humid-dry and cold-warm conditions, which affect peat composition. Furthermore, changes in the proportions of calcium carbonate were also found to play a significant role in these dynamics.

Los isótopos estables se han consolidado como herramientas valiosas en las geociencias, especialmente para la termometría y la investigación del cambio climático. Son esenciales para comprender los ambientes de depósito y realizar interpretaciones paleoclimáticas. Este entendimiento depende de la obtención de información de diversas unidades litológicas y su arquitectura deposicional. Las unidades sedimentarias son fundamentales para el análisis de los cambios en el nivel del mar y el suministro de sedimentos a lo largo del tiempo. Sin embargo, los estudios que involucran isótopos estables en esta región son limitados, lo que resalta la necesidad de esta investigación. En este estudio, se analizaron núcleos marinos subyacentes en Khor Abdullah, específicamente en el puerto de Grand Faw, a partir de una profundidad de 40 metros en la región noroeste del Golfo Arábigo en el sur de Irak. Se examinaron diez muestras representativas a granel de sedimentos utilizando un espectrómetro de masas, específicamente un dispositivo Iso-Analytical, para calcular isótopos estables, incluidos δ13C, δ18O, δ15N y δ2H (en ‰) para cada muestra. Los valores de Z en el área de estudio oscilaron entre 121.37 y 60.41; el estudio empleó los valores de Z para determinar si los ambientes eran marinos, de agua dulce o mixtos. Los valores del isótopo de oxígeno δ18O variaron de 23.15 a 5.36‰, mientras que los valores de δ13C oscilaron entre -26.63 y -19.86‰. El análisis identificó períodos cálidos asociados con transgresiones marinas y períodos fríos vinculados a regresiones marinas. Además, se encontró una relación positiva entre el Carbono Orgánico Total (TOC%) y los isótopos δ13C y δ18O. Esta relación está influida por factores climáticos como las variaciones entre condiciones húmedo-secas y frío-cálidas, que afectan la composición de la turba. Asimismo, se determinó que los cambios en las proporciones de carbonato de calcio también desempeñan un papel significativo en estas dinámicas.

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How to Cite

APA

Alhumaidan, Z., Al-Jaberi , M. & Al-Mosawi , W. (2026). Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq. Earth Sciences Research Journal, 30(1), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860

ACM

[1]
Alhumaidan, Z., Al-Jaberi , M. and Al-Mosawi , W. 2026. Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq. Earth Sciences Research Journal. 30, 1 (May 2026), 63–72. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860.

ACS

(1)
Alhumaidan, Z.; Al-Jaberi , M.; Al-Mosawi , W. Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq. Earth sci. res. j. 2026, 30, 63-72.

ABNT

ALHUMAIDAN, Z.; AL-JABERI , M.; AL-MOSAWI , W. Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq. Earth Sciences Research Journal, [S. l.], v. 30, n. 1, p. 63–72, 2026. DOI: 10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/121860. Acesso em: 20 jul. 2026.

Chicago

Alhumaidan, Zainab, Mohanad Al-Jaberi, and Wala′a Al-Mosawi. 2026. “Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 30 (1):63-72. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860.

Harvard

Alhumaidan, Z., Al-Jaberi , M. and Al-Mosawi , W. (2026) “Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq”, Earth Sciences Research Journal, 30(1), pp. 63–72. doi: 10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860.

IEEE

[1]
Z. Alhumaidan, M. Al-Jaberi, and W. Al-Mosawi, “Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq”, Earth sci. res. j., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 63–72, May 2026.

MLA

Alhumaidan, Z., M. Al-Jaberi, and W. Al-Mosawi. “Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq”. Earth Sciences Research Journal, vol. 30, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 63-72, doi:10.15446/esrj.v30n1.121860.

Turabian

Alhumaidan, Zainab, Mohanad Al-Jaberi, and Wala′a Al-Mosawi. “Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 30, no. 1 (May 27, 2026): 63–72. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/121860.

Vancouver

1.
Alhumaidan Z, Al-Jaberi M, Al-Mosawi W. Stable Isotopes Evidence for Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes in Khor Abdullah Southern Iraq. Earth sci. res. j. [Internet]. 2026 May 27 [cited 2026 Jul. 20];30(1):63-72. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/121860

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