Abstract
Iraq is one of the countries that are exposed to tectonic activity due to its location. Zagros-
Tours belt is located in the collision area between the Arabian plate and Iranian- Turkish
plates. For the first time in the High Folded Zone- North of Iraq, the principal strain axes has
been analyzed and this related to tectonic deformation of beds. This zone is one of the most
important tectonic zone in Iraq. Different strained beds are present in this zone; Sandstone
and limestone beds being the dominant type in the N and NE of Iraq. These beds in the study
area are deformed and contain many faults and folds The calculated axial ratios (three
dimensional orientations of the strain axes) of strained beds are shown which is equivalent to
the log Flinn diagram normally used for plotting strain ellipsoids and according to the
stereographic projection method, the long axes of these ellipsoid are sub parallel to
measured fold axes and the short axes are approximately perpendicular to the axial planes
of folds in the area. The compensation of strain data (axial ratio layer parallel
shortening) between the study area and other areas has been done. These orientation of these
axes is related to the movement of the Arabian plate.