"International Journal of Geography, Geology and Environment"

The current study was selected due to the importance of studying rockfalls in the Sargalu village in northern Iraq, which is considered one of the tourist areas in the region. Sargalu is situated in the northeast limp of the Sordash anticline. The significance of this study lies in assessing the risks associated with these rockfalls and identifying appropriate preventive and corrective measures to achieve these objectives. The Rockfall Hazard Rating System (RHRS) was applied in this study to evaluate the risks of rockfalls in the area since there were no previous studies on this area. The RHRS relies on a set of criteria and indicators to determine the risk level in the area. Detailed geological, geotechnical, and geological engineering studies were conducted to identify the types of rockfalls present in the area.

The geological study of the area revealed the exposure of the following geological formations from oldest to youngest: Sargalu, Nawkalikan, Barsarin and ChiaGara. Tectonically, the area is located at the beginning of the High Folded Zone, which is part of the tectonic regions of Iraq. This geological setting makes it susceptible to recent tectonic deformations related to the Alpine movement.

The study on rockfall hazard estimation was classified as high-risk slopes. Kinematic analysis using the Dips software revealed that there is a possibility of planar sliding, wedge sliding, and direct toppling failures. The study concludes that the study area requires warning signs, speed restrictions on the road, daily road monitoring, and some treatments to avoid the effects of rockfalls. Additionally, detailed studies of the slopes are recommended.