CHAPTER # 1

INTRODUCTION

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6 DAY GEOLOGICAL FIELD WORK IN NAMMAL GORGE, RUMLI

AREA, HAZARA AREA AND NORTHERN METAMORPHIC ZONE
Our department arranged a field trip of six days for BS-6th semester (2011-15) from 20
march to 27 march 2015.The field trip was related to the Geological mapping, structural
Geology and tectonic frame work of Pakistan.
We observed the change in relief of area, rock types, sedimentary structures depositional
condition, contacts of rock units and geomorphic features.
Our main objective was to observe and map different rock units in Rumli and Hazara
area.

AREA INTRODUCTION
EASTRN SALT RANGE
This is an excellent place for studying geology of rocks of Salt range, ranging in age from
Precambrian, cambrain, Permian, teriary, Eocene, and Miocene. Khewrda salt mine situated
at the beginning of the gorge is built on salt range formation. Maximum one hours walk
from Chua Sadden shah road to punjgrai Precambrian rocks of salt range formation and
khewrda thrusted over Miocene rocks of Kamlial formation and make a karangal rotational
thrust.

Rumli Area
2nd day we field work in Rumli .Rumli area is located in the north of Quaid E Azam
University (Islamabad).Rumli area is present in Margala rang which is dipping toward north
and strike is East-west. Murree Formation is youngest in that area and other older
Formation are present over it, which marks a thrust fault and that is MBT. Highly vegetated
area and many streams are present there. Area is easily accessible by any type of vehicle
and rock units can easily study along the road. And we map that area

Hazara Area
Hazara is a region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Hazara is bounded on the
north and east by the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. To the south are the Islamabad
Capital Territory and the province of Punjab, whilst to the west lies the rest of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. The river Indus runs through the division in a north-south line, forming much
of the western border of the division. The total area of Hazara is 18,013 km
3th day we covered the road section from Abbottabad to Nathia Gali .We observed the
lithologies of different rock unit and mark NGT Nathia Gali thrust near NathiaGali.
4th day we oghi khaki road section. 5th and 6th day we visit nikalsan monument and observe
that it differentiate the marghala ranges and Kala chitta ranges

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.

CHAPTER #2
STRATIGRAPHY

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General Stratigraphy of salt range and Hazara Ranges

AGE
Recent

Salt range

Hazara range

Alluvium
Kalabag conglomerate

Pliocene

Soan formation
Dhok pathan formation
Nagri formation
Chingii formation

Miocene

Kamlial Formation
Muree Formation

Muree formation

Oligocene

Kuldanat formation
EOCENE

Chorgali formation

Chorgali formation

Skasser Formation

Margala hill lime stone

Namal Formation
Paleocene

Patala Formation

Patala Formation

Lockhart Formation

Lockhart Formation

Hangu Formation

Hangu Formation

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Cretaceouse

Jurassic

Kawagarh Formation
Lumshiwal Formation

Lumshiwal Formation

Chichali Formation

Chichali Formation

Samanasuck Limestone

Samanasuck Formation

Shinawari Formation
Datta Formation
Kingriali Formation

Triassic

Tredian Formation
Mianwali Formation
Chhidru Formation

Late Permian

Wargal Formation
Amb Formation
Sardhai Formation

Early Permian Warcha formation

Dandot Formation
Tobra Formation
Baghanwala Formation

Datta Formation

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Jutana Formation
Cambrian

Kussak Formation
Khewra Formation

Pre Cambrian

Abbottabad Formation
Hazara Formation

Salt range Formation

Tanawal Formation

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DAY 1- 20 March, 2015

Chua Saidan shah road SECTION

Observed Stratigraphy on Chua Saidan road section

Rock Unit

AGE

Chinjii Formation

Pliocene

Kamlial Formation

Miocene

Skasser Formation

Eocene

Namal Formation

Eocene

Patala Formation

Paleocene

Hangu Formation

Plaeocen

Warcha Formation

Early Permian

Dabdot Formation

Early Permian

Tobra Formation

Early Permian

Baghanwala
Formation

Cambrian

Jutana Formation

Cambrian

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Jutana Formation
Fleming (1853) named this unit magnesium sandstone. Noetling (1894) called it
as Jutana stage. The Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan formalized the name of
this unit as Jutana Formation.
The type locality is near Jutana village in eastern Salt Range. At the type locality the
lower part of the formation consists of light green, hard, massive partly sandy
dolomite and upper part is composed of light green to dirty white massive dolomite.
In the upper part, brecciated dolomite is also present with matrix and fragments
consisting of the same rock. The thickness at type locality is 80 meters

Observation
Jutana formation was observed along Chua Saidan shah road during our field work. It
was creamish dolomite. The age of formation is described as late Early Cambrian to
early Middle Cambrian

Baghanwala Formation
The name Baghanwala Formation is now given to the rocks of the Pseudomorph
Salt Crystalzone of Wynee (1878) and the Baghanwala Group of Noetling (1894).
Holland (1926) called these beds salt Pseudomorph beds and Pascoe (1959) named
them Baghanwala Stage.
The type locality is near Baghanwala Village in the eastern Salt Range. The
formation is composed of red shale and clay, alternating with flaggy sandstone
exhibits several colors including pink grey or blue green, especially in the lower half
of the formation. Numerous pseudomorph casts of salt crystals which are found along
he bedding planes are the diagnostic feature of the formation. The thickness at eastern
salt range is 40 meters. The contact of the Baghanwala formation with overlying
Tobra Formation is unconformable, whereas the lower contact with the Jutana
Formation is conformable.

Observation
The section observed in salt range at Chua Sadden shah road. We observed salt
pseudomorph at bedding planes, which is a distinguishable criterion of the formation.
The formation contains trace fossils. The age of formation is early middle Cambrian
because of it is conformably overlain by Jutana formation which is of the same age.

Tobra Formation
The name Tobra formation was previously known as Talchir Boulder Bed or
Talchir Stage of Gee (1959) and salt range boulder bed of Teichert (1967).The
type locality is near Tobra village in eastern salt range.
Tobra formation consists of three facies Tillitic facies, Freshwater facies and
complex facies.
(1)Tillitic facies are exposed in eastern salt range. The rock unit grades into marine
sand stone which is containing Eurydesma and Conularia fauna.
(2)Freshwater facies have few or no boulders. It is an alternating facies of siltstone
and shale containing spore flora. This facies is characteristics of the Central salt
range.

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(3)A complex facies of diamictite, sandstone and boulder bed which increases in
thickness in western salt range and Khisor Range is also present. The Tobra formation
is true tillitic; the rock unit is composed of boulders of granite with fragments of
Quartz, feldspar, magnetite, garnet, claystone, siltstone, quartzite, bituminous shale,
diabase and gneiss. Some boulders are polished and scratched.

Observation
This section was observed along Chua Saidan Shah Road in eastern salt range. It
was observed that Tobra formation composed of tillitic facies. Gravels, boulders,
grits, of different sizes mixed in clay matrix The age of formation on the basis of
Stratiopodocarpites and Protohaploxypinus is considered to be Early Permian

Dandot Formation
The name Dandot formation is formalized after the Dandot Group of Noetling
(1901).The type locality is near Dandot village, eastern salt range. The Lithology at
type locality consists of light grey to olive green yellowish sandstone with occasional
thin pebbly and subordinate dark grey and greenish splintery shales.

Observation
Tobra formation has been observed along Chua Saidan shah road. It was observed that
the section consists of thick bedded sand stone with pebbles of different size. A
reverse fault is marked between Skaser and Dandot formation along Chua Saidan shah
road. The fossils of formation in the eastern salt range have yielded brachiopods and
its specie. The age of formation on the basis of fauna and its super positional order
with the Tobra formation of Early Permian is considered to be early Permian.

Warchha Sandstone
The name Warchha sandstone was coined by Hussain (1967) which has approved
by Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan.The type section is in Khewra gorge in eastern
salt range.
The formation consists of medium to coarse grained sandstone, conglomerates in
places and has interbeds of shale. The sandstone is purple, red, or shows lighter shade
of pink. It is cross bedded. The sandstone is arkosic, the pebble of the unit are mostly
granite of pink colour and quartzite.
The thickness of the formation is 26 t0 180 m in salt range and Khisor range and it is
widely distributed in these areas. The Warchha sandstone conformably overlies the
Dandot formation.

Observation
This section was observed at sadia sulthe road at pid village.

Hungu Formation
The name Hungu formation was formalized by Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan
(1973) for Hungu sandstone of Davies (1930).
The type section of the formation is near fort Lockhart and Dhak pass in salt range
as a principle reference section of the formation.
The formation consists of variegated sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale and some
nodular, argillaceous limestone in the salt range. A 2m to3m thick bed of ferruginous,

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pisolitic sandstone occurs at the base of unit. At type locality is 90 m thick, 50 m at

Hungu, 45m thick at Dhak pass in the salt range. The formation unconformable
overlies the Lumshiwal formation and conformably underlies Lockart limestone in the
salt range.

Observation
Laterite beds of Hungu formation has been observed on chio sadden road Village
during our field work.
The age of formation is assigned as early Paleocene on the basis of above mentioned
Foraminiferas.

Patala Formation
The term Patala formation was formalized by Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan for
the Patala Shale of Davies and Pinfold (1937) and its usage was extended to other
parts of the Kohat-Potwar and Hazara areas. The section exposed in Patala nala is
designated as type section in Salt range.
In the salt range, the formation consists of shale and marl with subordinate
limestone and sandstone. The shale is greenish grey and containing carbonaceous
material. The limestone is white to grey and nodular. Coal seams of economic value
are present in upper part.
The thickness of formation is 27m at Khewra and 90m at Patala nala. It widely
exposed in Kohat-Potwar and Hazara areas. Throughout its extent, the Patala
formation conformably overlies the Lockhart lime stone .The Patala formation is
conformably and Transitional overlain by Nammal formation in the Salt range.

Observation
Patala formation has been observed along Choa sadden Shah Road in Eastern
salt range during our fieldwork. A thin bed of bituminous shale and horizons of Fire
clay, coal and sand were observed. The formation is richly fossiliferous and contains
abundant Foraminiferas, mollusks and ostracodes. The age of formation is regarded as
Late Paleocene while in Hazara its age is Early Eocene.

Nammal Formation
The term Nammal formation has been formally accepted by Stratigraphic
committee of Pakistan for the Nammal Limestone and Shale of Gee (1945).The
section exposed in Nammal gorge is type section.

Observation
Lithological formation comprises shale, marl and limestone. In the Salt range, these
rocks occur as alternations. The shale is grey to olive green, while the limestone and
marl are light grey to bluish grey. The limestone is argillaceous in places.
It is 40 m thick in Khewra-Choa Saidan Shah Road section in eastern salt range and
varies at different places. The lower contact with Patala formation and Upper contact
with the Sakesar limestone are transitional.
Abundant fossils, mainly Foraminiferas and mollusks, have been reported from the
formation.
Eocene age has been assigned to the formation on the basis of fauna.

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Sakesar Formation
The term Sakesar Limestone was introduced by Gee for the most prominent Eocene
limestone unit in Salt range and Trans Indus ranges.
Type locality of formation is Sakesar Peak in Salt range. The unit consists dominantly
of limestone with subordinate marl. The limestone throughout its extent is cream
colour to grey colour, nodular, usually massive, with considerable development of
chert in upper part. The marl is cream colored to light grey and forms a persistent
horizon near the top.

Observation
Sakesar formation was observed in Eastern salt range along Choa Sadden Shah road
during our field work. Creamish coloured, massive nodular limestone with nodules of
chert in upper part was observed. It contains rich assemblage of Foraminiferas,
mollusks and echinoids. The age of formation is regarded as Early Eocene on the
basis of foraminifers reported.
Kumlial Formation
The name kumlial formation formalized by the Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan is
equivalent to kumlial beds of pinfold (1918) and kumlial stage of Pascoe (1963).
A type section has been designated near the southwest of kumlial in the Campbellpur
Distric. The formations consist of thin to medium bedded brick-red sandstone and
inter beds of purple shale and yellow intra formational conglomerate. The formation
is 90 m thick at kumlial, 580 min Khaur, and 650 m at Soan gorge. The formation
conformably overlies Murree formation and conformably underlies Chinji formation
of the Siwalik group Fossils of mammals have been recorded from the formation such
as Trilophodon cf. l.pentapotamiea Listriodon cf. and others.
The age of the formation is late Miocene according to fauna recorded from this
formation.

Observation
This formation is observed in pujgrai village where we mark a krangal thrust that is
rotational thrust between kamlial and Cambrian formations . Due to this rotational
thrust choa sadden valley was formed. In the center of valley kamlial formation is
present and at the limbs or sides of the valley Skasser formation is present.
Chinji Formation
Morris (1938) called Karghocha formation to the rocks of this formation.
Pilgrim (1913) proposed the name Chinji zone and the Stratigraphic committee of
Pakistan accepted the name Chinji formation of Lewis (1937).The type section is
located near Chinji village in Campbellpur Distric. The formation consists of red clay
with subordinate grey, thin to medium bedded, cross bedded and soft sandstone.
Pebbles of quartzite and lenses of intra formational conglomerate are found at
different horizons of the formation. The proportion of sandstone and clay is different
at different places. The formation represents the argillaceous facies containing about
16mthickness of sandstone and 60 m thickness of clay. The thickness of the formation
is 750 m at the type area and 1,800 m thick in Shinghar range. The upper contact of
the formation with Nagri formation is conformable and lower contact with kumlial

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formation is sharp and conformable. Vertebrate fossils have been recorded from the
formation such as innumerable crocodiles, turtles, lizards, aquatic birds and others.
The age of the formation is late Miocene

Observation
We observe this formation at Dhori Jhaba Chakwal road and mark a contact with
kamlia

Figure: 1 contact between jutana ,Baghanwala ,tobra and Dandot

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Figure: 2 Bookshelf model in Dandot Formation at shoa sadian shah Road

Fig: 3 Unconformity between Baghanwal and tobra Formation Shoa sadian

Road

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Figure: 4 Agular unconformity between Bagnawala, tobra, dandot at punj

grhae

Fig:5 China Clay in warcha sand stone at punj grahe

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Figure: 6 Contact between Hangu, patala, Namal, Skasser at punj

grae

Figur:7 Sahwal marl thrusted over Kamlial formation due to

Karanagal thrust Punj grae

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Figure: 8 choa sadden valley formed due to karangal rotational

thrust Choa sadden road

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2ND DAY- 21 March 2015

RUMLI (ISLAMABAD)
Observed stratigraphy In Rumli
ROCK UNIT

AGE

Muree Formation

Early Miocene

Kuldana Formation

Middle Eocene

Chorgali Formation

Early to Middle Eocene

Marghala Hill Limestone

Early Eocene

Patala Formation

Late Paleocene

Lockhart Limestone

Middle Permian

Lumshiwal Formation

Middle Cretaceous

Chichali Formation

Early Cretaceous

Samana suk Formation

Late Jurassic

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Murree Formation
Murree Formation was observed in Rumli, Islamabad during our fieldwork. The
Formation consists of purple clay and greenish grey massive bedded sandstone with
subordinate intra Formational conglomerate. The basal strata of the Formation
consist of light greenish, grey calcareous sandstone and conglomerate. Sand stone of
Murree Formation is coarse grained.

Observation
The Formation unconformably overlies various Formation of Eocene age, which is a
thrusted contact due to MBT. We observed many sedimentary structures like Ripple
marks, Cross bedding of two styles
hearing bone cross bedding and trough cross bedding was observed in Murree
Formation. Early Miocene is the age of that Formation.

Margala Hill Limestone

The term Margala Hill limestone of Latif has been formally accepted by Stratigraphic
committee of Pakistan .The name is derived from the Margala Hills in Hazara.
The Formation consists of limestone with subordinate marl and shale. The limestone
is grey, weathering pale grey, fine medium grained, nodular, medium to tick bedded
are rarely massive. The marl is grey to brownish grey while the shale is greenish
brown to brown in color.

Observation
The lower and upper contacts with the Patala Formation and Chorgali Formation are
conformable Margala hill limestone was observed in Rumli (Islamabad) road section
during our fieldwork. It was limestone of big nodules with subordinate shale and
marl. Calcite veins are observed in that area Early Eocene Age of the Formation.

Kuldana Formation
Middle miss (1896) used the name Kuldana series, Latif called Kuldana beds to
the rocks of Kuldana Formation.

Observation
Kuldana Formation was observed in Rumli (Islamabad) road section during our
fieldwork. It was variegated shale with occasional beds of limestone. The Formation
is composed of olive green shale and gypsum lenses. The Formation has a
conformable contact with underlying Chorgali Formation and upper contact with
Murree Formation is disconformable. But in Rumli, Chorgali is thrusted over Kuldana
Formation. Before road section observation, we also observed a large fragment of
Kuldana Formation along the stream in Rumli area while it has angular
unconformable contact with recent alluvial deposits.
The type locality is near Kuldana village in Hazara District. Sedimentary structures are
Slickenside, Striation, and step and calcite veins are present. The microfossils are
present in this Formation. The small pits of marls and gypsum sheet are present.(not
observed in Rumli) The age of the Formation is Middle Eocene.

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Chorgali Formation:
The Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan has formalized the term Chorgali beds of
Pascoe (1920) as Chorgali Formation. In Hazara area, the Formation is composed of
thinly inter-bedded limestone and marl.

Observation
The limestone is lightly nodular and contains chert lenses. Chorgali Formation was
observed in Rumli during our fieldwork. It consists of alternative flaggy
beds of shale and limestone. Tectonic nodules of Limestone was observed in Rumli
area. Chorgali Formation is thrusted over Kuldana Formation in Rumli.
The age of the Formation is Early Eocene.

Patala Formation
Patala Formation was observed in Rumli Islamabad during our fieldwork. It was shale
with grayish color having thin beds of limestone throughout its extent, Patala
Formation is conformably overlies Lockhart limestone. We observed that contact in
form of Duplex structure in Rumble .The age of Formation is Early Eocene.

Lockhart Limestone
Davies (1930) introduced the term Lockhart limestone for a Paleocene limestone.

Observation
Lockhart limestone was observed in Rumli Islamabad during our field work. It was
limestone with some shale and Calcite veins and Quartz nodules. The limestone is
generally bituminous and gives off fetid odor on the fresh surface.
We observed MBT between Lockhart and Samana Suk Formation in Rumli. It
belongs to middle Paleocene age.

Lumshiwal Formation
Massive bedded sand stone and shale are observed in Rumli.

Observation
We observed three different digenetic forms of Lumshiwal Formation in that area
Lumshiwal Formation belongs to middle cretaceous.

Chichali Formation
We observed dark grey to black shale with sand stone. Chichali shales have slate like
behavior in Rumli, large amount of oyster shells found in Chichali Formation in that
area. Only upper contact is observed which is gradational with Lumshiwal Formation.
It belongs to early cretaceous age.

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Figure: 9 Muree Formation showing Sandtone In Rumli

Figure: 10 Contact of Kuldana and chorgali Formation In Rumli

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Figure: 11 Contact of Margala Hill Lime stone and chorgali In Rumli

Figure: 12 Out crop of lumshiwal Formation in Rumli

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Figure: 13 Patala Formation in Rumli area

Figure: 12 Contact between Lumshiwal and Chichali Formation In

Rumli

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Figure: 15 out crop of Kuldana Formation in Rumli

Figure:16 Folding of Gypsum in Kuldana Formation in rumli

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Figure: 17 Lockhart Lime stone in Rumli

Figure: 18 Outcrop of chorgali Formation Showing Tectonic Nodules

in Rumli

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Fig: 19 Marghala lime stone in rumli

Fig: 20 Mulasks in Chorgali formation in Rumli

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DAY 3, 22 march 2015

HAZARA AREA
Sedimentation resumed in Hazara with the development of transgressive shoreline and
Hangu Formation was formed in Danian. The Hazara and Kashmir basins and adjacent areas
experienced the last marine incursion at the close of Danian in which a sequence of
carbonates and siliciclastics represented by Lockhart Formation, Patala Formation, Margala
Hill Formation and Chorgali Formation were deposited. This was followed by main collision
between India and Asia sandwiching the Kohistan Island Arc at 40 to 50Ma. This collision
was followed by retreat of sea, uplift of Himalayas, development of a foredeep and
deposition of a fluvial package, by meandering river system, from Himalayan provenance
namely Murree Formation.

Observed Lithology
Rock unit

Age

Margala Hill Limestone Late Eocene

Chorgali Formation

Early Eocene

Patala Formation

Late Paleocene

Lockhart Formation

Middle Paleocene

Hangu Formation

Early Paleocene

Kawagarh Formation

Late Cretaceous

Lumshiwal Formation

Middle cretaceous

Chichali Formation

Early Cretaceous

Samana Suck
Formation

Late Jurassic

Datta Formation

Early Jurassic

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Hazara Formation

Pre Cambrian

Hazara Formation
The name Hazara Formation has been formalized by Calkin and Ali (1969) for the
slate series of Hazara of Middlemiss(1896),and Hazara slates formation of marks
(1961), and Attok slates of Waagen and Wynne (1872) , and Hazara group of
Latif (1970). The Formation has its type locality near Hazara District. Exposure
around Baragali along Abbotabad-Nathiagali Road can be regarded as its type section.
The Formation consists of slate, phyllite and shale with minor occurrences of
limestone and graphite layers. Slate and phyllite are green to dark green and black in
color. Limestone beds with maximum thickness of 150 m and calcareous phyllite
gypsum from 30 to 120m thick are found in southern most hazara. Marks and ali
(1961) regarded the formation as a deep water turbidity current deposit. Calkins
(1969) contended that the beds limestone, graphite and gypsum are unlikely to occur
in a turbidity sequence and regarded the format ion as shallow water argillaceous
sequence. Latif (1970) has reported fossils from the formation similar to protobolella.
Calkin (1969) correlated the formation with Dogra slates and assigned a late
Precambrian age to the hazara formation. Latif (1970) reported fossils showing that it
may be lower Paleozoic in age. Crawford and Davies (1975) determined the age of
the formation by the Rb-Sr method. This age determination place the formation in the
Precambrian.
Datta Formation
In the southeast Hazara the best-developed outcrop of the Formation is exposed at
Jaster Gali on the Abbottabad Nathiagali Road. The Datta Formation in the southeast Hazara is composed of gritty sublithic arenites, gritty arenites, arenaceous
limestones, oolitic and pelletoidal wackestones packstones with occasional
dolomitic, marly and shaly horizons. The sandstones are cross-bedded at places.
Microconglomerate occurs in the basal portion and contains slate clasts derived from
the underlying Hazara Formation. Laterite bands and coaly layers occur at places.
Fireclay is also intercalated at places. Age of Datta Formation is Early Jurassic.

Samana suk Formation

The Samana Suk Formation generally represents Tidal to supratidal environment. The
Formation is generally medium grey on fresh surface.Massive beds of Samana suk
Formation was exposed near Thai barriers on Dhamtor locality and observed on many
localities along the and across the Dor River. Grey to yellowish limestone was
observed with Oolites and yellow dolomitic
patches, streaks, and bands are also present especially towards the lower and middle
parts.Huge amount of limestone is extracting from that outcrop form construction
material Samana suk Formation has thrusted contact with Kawagarh Formation
Samana suk Formation is in highly deformed condition in that area, many types of
folds and ductile deFormation observed along the Dor River.

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Concentric fold, Chevron folds, Kink fold, Multi Vergent fold Drag folds are
observed. Age of Samana suk Formation is Late Jurassic.
Chichali Formation
Chichali formation has already been reported in salt range section.

Specification in Hazara Area

In southern hazara the formation is divided in to three folds with almost type
section Lithology. In the lower part it consists of glauconitic sandstone with nodular
silty, calcareous, phosphatic base. In the middle part it consists of glauconitic, sandy
shale and dark pyritic unfossiliferous shale in the upper part. In northern hazara the
formation shows a facies change consisting of dark silty shale with some ferruginous
calcareous and phosphatic nodules and is similar to Spiti Shale of Himalayas. In
southern hazara it is 33 m thick while in northern hazara its thickness is 34m to 64m.
The lower contact with Samana Suk format ion is disconformable while the upper
contact with Lumshiwal format ion is gradational.

Observation
Chichali formation was observed at Abboatabad nathia gali road during our field
work. It was shale with intercalation of sandstone. Fossils of belemnite were
observed. Ammonoids and belemnites of late Jurassic age have been recorded from
Chichali formation in hazara area. In northern hazara the age of the format ion is Late
Jurassic while in southern hazara the age of the formation is Late Jurassic to Early
Cretaceous.
Lumshiwal Formation
Lumshiwal formation has already been discussed in Ramli section.

Specification in Hazara Area

The name Giumal sandstone was given to the rocks of Lumshiwal formation in
Hazara area by Middlemiss (1896). Cotter (1933) used the name Main sandstone
series for the same rocks. Wuch khwar section in Nizampur area and Jhamiri village
on Haripur jabrian Road in Hazara are the reference sections of Lumshiwal formation.
In Hazara area the formation is mostly of marine origin consisting of quartose,
ferruginous sandstone and dark rusty brown sandy limestone. In southern hazara its
thickness is 50 m in northern hazara its thickness varies from 20 m to 10m. The lower
contact with Chichali formation is transitional and upper contact with Kawagarh
formation of upper cretaceous is disconformable.

Observation
The Lumshiwal formation was observed at Ramli during our field. The contact
between Lumshiwal and Kawagarh formation has been marked in Changala Gali. It
was thick bedded sandstone with oyster shells and glauconitic green shale. The upper
most part of formation in northern Hazara has abundant fossil casts of brachiopods,
gastropods and Ammonoids. The age of the formation in Hazara area is lower
cretaceous.
Kawagarh Formation
Thick-bedded grey to olive green micritic (very fine grained) limestone with

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subordinate marl and calcareous shale observed in our fieldwork at locality of Kala
Pani,North of NathiaGali thrust.

Observation
One of the tectonically significant Formations of the Hazara Basin, the Kawagarh
Formation,shows two distinct facies north and south of the Nathiagali Fault. The
northern facies are exposed near Giah, Borian and Kala Pani whereas the southern
facies outcrop at Changla Gali. We observed Kawagarh Formation on Abbotabad
nathia gali road section during our field work.
The Kawagarh Formation in the sections north of the Nathiagali thrust is mainly thick
bedded, fine gained and medium to dark grey limestone. The basal part is relatively
coarse grained on fresh surface. It is whitish grey or yellowish grey on weathered
surface.
The middle part is medium to thick bedded, medium to dark grey and breaks
generally with conchoidal fracture.
The basal portion at Kala Pani is nodular. A few yellow dolomitic bands are also
present within Kawagarh Formation.
South of the Nathia Gali Thrust the upper part of Kawagarh Formation is marly and
intercalations of marl are also present. This part is especially well developed on the
Dunga Gali pipeline road and at Changla Gali. The marly part is dark grey to
yellowish grey on fresh surface and relatively more yellowish on the weathered
surface. The marly part has a dark grey color on the fresh surface. Near Kundla the
base of the Kawagarh Formation has a slightly irregular surface with some pebbles
and few inches to about one foot long worm tracks.
Kawagarh Formation is marked by the occurrence of Globotruncana Helvetica
followed by Globotruncana sigali at Turonian, at Giah, and Kala Pani Sections. Lower
Coniacian is recognized by the presence of Globotruncana sigali in Changla Gali
sections.
Age of Kawagarh Formation is late Cretaceous.

Hangu Formation
We observed black shale, which marks the on set of a transgression that deposited
black shale. The Formation consists of coarse to fine grained clay/iron oxides
cemented quartz arenites at the base which grades to silty coal to the top. The top of
the Hangu Formation contains bauxitic clays that vary in color from off-white to
black and weathers to rusty grey to orange. Subordinate carbonaceous shales and
sandstones are also present at places. Hangu Formation also exposed on that road
section, coal is mining from Hangu Formation along the Dor River.
Hangu Formation has disconformable contact with Cretaceous Kawagarh Formation.
Age of Hangu Formation is Early Paleocene.

Lockhart Limestone
Lockhart limestone has already been discussed in salt range section.

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Specification in Hazara Area

Davies (1930) introduced the term Lockhart limestone for a Paleocene limestone unit
in Kohat area and usage has been extended by Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan to
similar units in Hazara area. In the Hazara area limestone is dark grey and black in
colour and contains intercalation of shale and marl. The limestone is generally
bituminous and gives off fetid odor on the fresh surface. The thickness of unit is 242m
in Hazara area. The formation conformably and transitionally overlies and underlies
the hungu formation and Patala formation respectively

Patala Formation
The Formation is composed of shale and occasional limestone bands with abundant
larger benthic foraminifera. The shales are khaki, yellowish brown to yellowish grey
on weathered surface and on the fresh surface they are khaki to grey. At other places,
the shales are greenish brown or greenish grey on fresh surface and brown to dark
brown on the weathered surface. The shales are splintery and some marly bands near
the contact with the Lockhart limestone are present. At Lora Maqsood road it has
gradational contact with Lockhart limestone. Age of Patala Formation is upper
Paleocene to lower Eocene age.
Chorgali Formation
The Formation outcrop observed near Changla gali, south of the Nathiagali Fault in
the Hazara Basin. The Formation comprises of limestone, marls and shales. The shale
is khaki to off-whitish grey. The limestones are light grey on fresh surface, weather to
pale grey and are nodular. The size of the nodules is smaller than that of Lockhart
limestone or Margala Hill Formations. They generally contain marl around the
nodules. The limestone is rarely massive and generally shows a flaggy habit. The
flaggy habit is due to the increasing marly intercalations. At places, the Limestones
are fine grained and break with conchoidal fracture. Occasionally, these limestones
weather to a chalky appearance. The marls are generally cream to off-white in color
and sometimes give light shades of grey. The Margala Hill Formation passes upwards
with a gradual change of facies into the Chorgali Formation.
Age of Chorgali Formation is early to Middle Eocene.

Margala Hill Limestone

The Formation is mainly a fossiliferous, medium grained to fine grained nodular
limestone with marly horizons. It is bluish grey and yellowish grey on the weathered
surface and on the fresh surface is generally dark to blackish grey. The lower part may
contain frequent marly horizons. The nodularity of Margala Hill Limestone is more
prominent as compared to the Lockhart limestone. Generally the limestone is medium
grained but fine-grained horizons occur which may break with sub-conchoidal
fracture. We observed this Formation near Khaira gali during our field work
Age of Margala Hill Limestone is Middle to Late Eocene.

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Figure: 21 Hazara slate at Nathiagalia Road section

Figure: 22 Dolomtization in samna suck Formation Nathia gali

road

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Figure: 23 Kawagarh Formation at nathia gali road section

Figure: 24 Contact Between Hangu and Lockhart

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Figure: 25 Margala Hill limestone near NathiaGali

Figure: 26 Chichali formation near On NathiaGali Road

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Figure: 27 Lumshiwal Formation Exposed In Nala along Nathia

Gali Road

Figure: 28 Chorgali formation deformed due to NGT near Nathia

Gali

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Chapter # 3
STRUCTURE OF
THE FIELD AREAS

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Tectonic Framework of Pakistan

In the late Cretaceous Period about 90 million years ago, subsequent to the splitting
off from Gondwanaland of conjoined Madagascar and India, the Indian Plate split
from Madagascar. It began moving north, at about 20 cm/yr (8 in/yr), and is believed
to have begun colliding with Asia between 50 and 55 million years ago, in the Eocene
epoch of the Cenozoic Era, although this is contested, with some authors suggesting
it was much later at around 35 million years ago. If the collision occurred between 50
and 55 Ma, the Indian Plate would have covered a distance of 2,000 to 3,000 km
(1,200 to 1,900 mi), moving faster than any other known plate. In 2007, German
geologists suggested that the reason the Indian Plate moved so quickly is that it is
only half as thick as the other plates, which formerly constituted Gondwanaland. The
collision with the Eurasian Plate along the boundary between India and Nepal
formed the orogenic belt that created the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalaya
Mountains, as sediment bunched up like earth before a plow.
There are five major thrust system forms due to this collision.
MKT (MAIN KARAKORUM THRUST)
MMT (MAIN MANTLE THRUST)
MCT (MAIN CENTRAL THRUST)
MBT (MAIN BOUNDARY THRUST)
SRT (SALT RANGE THRUST
The Indian Plate is currently moving northeast at 5 cm/yr (2 in/yr), while the Eurasian
Plate is moving north at only 2 cm/yr (0.8 in/yr). This is causing the Eurasian Plate to
deform and the India Plate to compress at a rate of 4 m/yr (0.15 in/yr).

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Formation of Thrusts by collision of Indian plate and Eurasian plate

MKT (Main Karakorum Thrust)
MKT is oldest thrust system form by collision of Eurasian and Indian plates, world
highest peak Mount Everest from due to Formation of MKT, and called as northern
suture zone.

MMT (Main Mantle Thrust)

Main mantle thrust form after the MKT; mean its younger then MKT. higher

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Himalayas present between MMT & MCT. It formed by continental vs. continental
collision of Indian and Eurasian plate. It contains a syntaxes structure.
MMT also called as southern suture zone. We observed MMT at locality of Basham
at Karakorum highway during our field work.

MCT (Main central Thrust)

MCT is present in north of MBT. Main central thrust is younger then MMT
MCT is southern suture zone.

MBT (Main boundary Thrust)

The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) is a regional thrust dipping northward and oriented
subparallel to the MMT. It is located at the northern margin of Indian Plate and is
younger to MMT in age. It comprises a set of north-dipping faults and forms a
boundary between the Sub Himalayas and the Lesser Himalayas. It has generated
low to moderately high and frequent seismicity, with characteristically shallow focal
depths. MBT is present in the north of salt range thrust and it is older than S.R.T.
During our field we marked MBT in Rumli (Islamabad) where Eocene Samana suk
Formations thrusted over Paleocene Lockhart Limestone.

Panjal Thrust Structure

The Panjal Thrust structure is sited parallel to MBT on the eastern limb of the
Syntaxes. The Panjal Thrust probably separates from MBT about 6 km south of
Balakot and continues beneath Kaghan Valley alluvium up to Ghari Habib Ullah.
Panjal Thrust is an active fault and represents southeastern tectonics of the area.
Panjal Fault appears as reverse fault with strike-slip component, in the south of
Abbottabad. Panjal thrust divide lesser Himalayas into two parts

Southern sedimentary zone/Southern Hazara

Also called as Attock Hazara Fold and Thrust belt.

Northern Igneous and Metamorphic zone/Northern Hazara

NathiaGali Thrust
Another thrust in between Panjal thrust and MBT that is known as NathiaGali thrust.
Hazara slates are not present in south of Nathia Gali thrust. NGT was marked near
Nathia Gali during our field work where Precambrian Hazara Formation thrusted
over Eocene Chorgali Formation.

Salt Range Thrust

Salt range thrust is a sequence of folds and fault belts that produced due to collision
of Eurasian plate and Indian plate. It is youngest thrust system in Pakistan about 0.5
Ma old. SRT dip toward MBT in northward and it extend from Jhelum River in the
east, to Indus River in west. It bounded by Jhelum (L.L) strike slip fault in the east and
Kalabagh (R.L) strike slip fault in west.

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Tectonic map of Pakistan (After McDoughal and Khan, 1990)

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Structure of Field Area:

Our field work area is structurally very complex due to major thrust system. Rocks
were in highly deformed and many type of structures such as folds faults were
observed during our field work.

We observed the following structure during our field work.

Fig29: Normal Fault in Eocene and Permian Rocks at shoa sadden shah
road
Fig30: Normal Fault in Tobra and Baghanwal Formation
Fig31: Recumbent Fold in marghala hill lime stone at rumli
Fig32: Superimposed fold in marghala hill lime stone at rumli
Fig33: Anticline Tight Fold in marghala hill lime stone at rumli
Fig34: Class 1B Fold in Marghala hill lime stone at rumli
Fig35: MBT between samana Suck Formation and lockhart lime stone
Fig36: NGT between Chor gali and Hazara slate at Nathia Gali raod

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Fig: 29 Normal fault in Eocene and and Permian rocks at choa

sadden road

Fig: 30 Normal Fault in Tobra and Baghanwala formation at whali

bala

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Fig: 31 Recumbent Fold in Marghala hill lime stone at Rumli

Fig: 32 Superimposed Fold in Marghala Hill lime stone at Rumli

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Fig: 33 Anticline tight fold in Marghala Hill lime stone at rumli

Fig: 34 Class 1B fold in Marghala hill lime stone at rumli

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Fig: 35 MBT Between samana suck Formation and Lockhart

Limestone at rumli

Fig: 36 NGT Between Chorgali and Hazara slate at nathiagali road

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Chapter#4
Geological mapping

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DAY 4TH AND 5TH 23, 24 March 2015

Introduction to Geological Mapping
Map is a representation of large area and its features on a piece of paper or chart.
Map is helpful in finding a particular point or an area in large outcrops. In Geology,
we use topographic maps to show geography of a particular area. A base map is one
on which we plot our geological observations on. During mapping we keep a certain
scale like 1:25,000. This scale depends upon the distance we are mapping. Larger the
distance, larger will be the scale. Pace and compass mapping is a simple type of
mapping in which, by only taking bearing using the compass, we can map any area or
locality. It is easy because no equipment or manpower is needed. You yourself can
map any area with no trouble. It is simplest way of locating your point of interest.
Mapping Locality
We done mapping in the Rumbli (Islamabad) and OGHI KHAKI road section. The
tracks were all zigzag and we took readings and noted down their features, and dip
strike. At Rumbli we mapped the rock unit from Margalla Hill Limestone to Samana
suk Formation.In 2nd area we map all the road section which contain rock units from
Precambrian Tanawal Formation, to sussal Gali granet We also mark many types of
folds and small faults in mapping area,we observed drag folds, carinate fold,
concentric fold in Samana suk Formation on Dhamtour-NathiaGali road. A drag fold
was also observed in Rumli, between Lockhart Limestone and Patala Formation

Scale
Maps are prepared on scale of 1:25,000; mean 1 inch on map is equals to 25,000
inches on ground.

Maps:
Geological map of Rumli (Islamabad), Lesser Himalayas.
Geological map of oghi khaki road

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Refrence
1. Abbas, S. G. and Ahmad, Z 1979. The Muslimbag
ophiolites. In: Farah, A. abd Dejong, K.A.(esd)
Geodynamics of Pakistan. Geol.surv.pak,Quetta 243249
2. Geology of Pakistan edited by F.K
Bender,H.Bender,F.Geuneberg A.H.Kazmi,H.A Raza
and F.A Shams
3. Stratigraphy of Pakistan GSP Memoirs VOL.22 by S.M
Ibrahim Shah
4. www.geology.com
5. Gill, W. D., 1952, The stratigraphy of the Siwalik
Series in the northern Potwar, Punjab, Pakistan:
Geol. Soc. London Quart. Jour., v.107, pt. 4, no. 428,
p. 375-394.
6. Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee on Pakistan,
1962, Stratigraphic code of Pakistan: Pakistan Geol.
Survey Mem., v. 4, pt. 1,8 p

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