'Mesopotamia' [‎49r] (97/152)

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Mesopotamia]
MINKRALS
87
only been carried out in a very tew districts, and the
statements as to the existence of oil are largely based
upon conclusions arrived at from a knowledge of the
general geological structure ol Mesopotamia, supported
by the uncertain evidence of surface indications of oil
or bitumen in different places. In these circumstances
it is impossible to do more than indicate the regions in
which minerals are reported to exist.
There is apparently a good deal of borax in the
desert north-west of Baghdad.
Building-storie is rare in Irak. It is reported that
below Baghdad stone is found only at Samawa, and at
the Jebel Sinam, about 30 miles south-west ot Basra.
Limestone can be quarried at Hit, and accessories for
building, such as sand, shingle, and lime, can be ob
tained on the edges of the desert. In Upper Mesopo
tamia the principal quarries are those in the hills near
Mosul, where a hard limestone and a soft marble are
obtained. Building-stone can be found in the
Euphrates valley between Feheme and Ana. and
further north at Deir ez-Zor and Ivishla Madan.
Basalt is common in the hill country south of Diarbekr,
and in parts of the northern Jezireh plain. Lime,
plaster, and marble are found in Kurdistan along
the Turko Persian borderland.
Coal is worked at Nasale, near Kifri, and there is
said to be a good deal in the hills near Halebja, south-
cast of Suleimanie. A German newspaper stated
on January 11, 1918, that important beds of coal
had been discovered 90 kilometres north-east ot Bagh
dad, not far from the left bank of the Tigris, and that
this coal had been used on Tigris steamers with excel
lent results. .
North of Mosul deposits of coal exist over a iairly
wide area. They are reported in the Dohuk district, at
TTarbol and Slieranis, north of Zakho, and further
east, in the country north of Amadia. The quantity
in the neighbourhood of Harbol is said to be large, but
the quality is at present poor.
1 Wirtschaftszcitung der Zentrahndchtc.