Geomorphological analysis of paleo drainage systems and their environmental implications in the desert of Kuwait

 A well-developed drainage network is carved in the hard calcretized and gypcretized gravelly sand of the Pleistocene Dibdibba Formation in northern Kuwait. The present-day aridity suggests that these drainages were developed during pluvial episodes that took place in the post-Pleistocene time and, therefore, are considered as paleo-drainage. Detailed morphometrical analysis of the endoeric drainage systems was performed and the degree of correlation among their different morphometric parameters was investigated. Based on these parameters, the studied drainage basins are statistically grouped into three groups. Such grouping was confirmed by discriminant analysis. The categorical data analysis demonstrated the dependence of these groupings on the surface geology, regional topography, and local geomorphological settings. Infiltration measurements revealed that the drainage bedrocks have a low infiltration rate (<20 cm h^–1), whereas the drainage fill deposits have a relatively high infiltration rate (67–30 cm h^–1). The impact of the drainage system pattern and morphometry on the hydrological conditions is discussed and potential near-surface low salinity to freshwater aquifers is delineated. The role of the studied drainage systems in the occurrence of mobile sand and sand dunes, rainwater harvesting, and land capability are discussed. Received: 8 September 1995 · Accepted: 24 October 1995     

Cumulative subject index volumes 34–38, 1980

The coast of the State of Kuwait is characterized by a relatively wide intertidal flat area. At the north, where it is close to Shatt-al-Arab estuary, the intertidal sediments are mainly fluviomarine, while open marine sediments dominate the southern intertidal flat area. Samples were examined from the intertidal zone of deposition from the fluviomarine and open marine environments.The sediments consist mainly of carbonate minerals (low-Mg calcite, high-Mg calcite, aragonite and dolomite), quartz, feldspars, clay minerals and heavy minerals. The mineralogy of the clay fractions of the sediments is dominated by illite, mixed-layer illite—montmorillonite, montmorillonite, chlorite, kaolinite and palygorskite with only minor amounts of quartz. Heavy minerals are concentrated in the very fine sand fraction and are dominated by opaque minerals, amphiboles, pyroxenes, epidotes, garnet, kyanite and sillimanite. Zircon, tourmaline, andalusite, staurolite and rutile are present in subordinate amounts.Three main sources are suggested for the intertidal sediments of Kuwait: (a) Shatt-al-Arab fluviatile deposits, (b) aeolian dust fallout, and (c) direct chemical and biogenic precipitation from the Gulf water.