This work includes the preparation of aerial photogeological map and the study of many geological profiles. It also involves the study of stratigraphical division and correlations of the exposed bedrocks at Butmah-East and Raven anticlines, particularly the Fat'ha Formation near Mosul Dam northern Iraq.It is evident that the sinkholes persisting through the area in question were initiated primarily within the upper part of the upper member of Fat'ha Formation. These were produced from the dissolution of thick gypsum beds in addition to the structural interplay and intersections of lineaments and faults. It can be concluded that the recent sinkhole in the tourist city is a product of faults crossing and the study could predict a new sinkhole development about 200m to the southeast of the present one.

In hydrometer analysis for soil grain size distribution, usually, the grains passing sieve No. 200 (<0.074 mm) are used. However, the hydrometer results occasionally give diameters greater than 0.074 mm. This event causes a mismatch in the curve of grain size distribution obtained from sieving and hydrometer methods. Hence, a new approach is proposed for smoothing soil grain size curve determined by hydrometer using Excel-2007 with simple statistical methods. The treatments show that in case of large sizes, there are big differences between the values of soil grain diameters smoothed by Excel-2007 in comparison and the values measured by references. These differences generally decrease with decreasing soil grain size diameters. The statistical treatments also divulge whether the hydrometer results are accurate or not. Furthermore, a general equation has been derived to estimate values of K factor, which is used for calculating the grain diameters in hydrometer analysis. The equation can be applied for any specific gravity of soils and for wide range temperatures.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of weathering on rocks used in construction during a defined period of these rocks. The field study involves weathering and rock strength measurements using a geological hammer. Laboratory testing for both wall limestone and fresh quarry limestone was performed to determine the bulk density, the porosity and absorption of water, and the durability test was performed for fresh quarry limestone. A polarized microscope and scan electron microscope, petrographic analysis has been conducted for various weathering rates.Field notes explain the moderate and high degree of weathering and low strength in the bottom of the wall, whilst the top is slightly weathered and high strength. Laboratory notes through stone crushing show a change from white to beige for slightly weathered samples to moderately and highly weathered samples in powder color. Increasing weathering reduces bulk density and insoluble residues, from 13% in non-weathered rocks to 25% in high-weathered rocks the level of insoluble residue increases. Water absorption in non-weathered rocks and high weathering rocks rises from 6% to 14% and porosity from 14% to 27% respectively. Durability tests show that calcarenite exceeds very high durability, high durability calcirudite and calcilutite, and moderately durable calcisiltite. Four types of porosity, intergranular, intragranular, mold and microfracture appear in the petrographic study using a polarized microscope. Clay minerals and iron oxides surrounding the pores appear in weathered specimens, not in fresh, calcite crystal oxidation and secondary calcite growth on the inner surface of voids have also been shown in the scanning of electron microscopes.