You are on page 1of 54

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

1
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

GEOLOGICAL FIELD REPORT OF SALT RANGE

WRITTEN BY:

MUHAMMAD IBRAR HAQEER

2
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

GEOLOGICAL FIELD REPORT:


A STUDY OF THE SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURE AND
STRAITIGRAPHY OF NAMMAL GORGE, KHEWRA
GORGE,ZALUCH NALA AND SIWALIK GROUP

SUBMITTED TO: MR.FAHAD ALI


SUBMITTED BY: MUHAMMAD IBRAR (ROLL NO.14,B.S 4TH GEOLOGY )

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY BACHA KHAN UNIVERSITY CHARSADDA

3
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

CONTENT

1. ACKNOWLEGDEMENT
2. ABSTRACT

I.CHAPTER #01
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OBJECTIVES
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE
1.3 METHODOLOGY
1.4 SIWALIK GROUP
1.5 NAMMAL GORGE
1.6 KHEWRA GORGE
1.7 ZALUCH NALA
II.CHAPTER#02
STRAITIGRAPHY
2.1 STRAITIGRAPHY OF SIWALIK GROUP
2.2 STRAITIGRAPHY OF KHEWRA GORGE
2.3 STRAITIGRAPHY OF NAMMAL GORGE
2.4 STRAITIGRAPHY OF ZALUCH NALA
III.CHAPTER #03
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
4
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

3.1 FIRST DAY OBSERVATIONS


3.2 SECOND DAY OBSERVATIONS
3.3 THIRD DAY OBSERVATIONS
3.4 FOURTH DAY OBSERVATIONS
IV.CHAPTER#04
CONCLUSION

5
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank Almighty Allah for giving me the sense and
strength to be a part of this field trip which was organized by the
Department of Geology Bacha Khan University Charsadda. I
would like to thank Mr. Fahad Ali who besides his serious illness
accompanied us to the field and shared his knowledge with us. I
am also thankful to Mr. Imran Ahmed, who despite having
other commitments joined us in the field and shared his
knowledge with us. At last but not the least my thanks
go to Mr.Taqveem Ul Haq who made all this possible
and arranged a trip that was recreational and knowledgeable at the
same time.

MR.FAHAD ALI

MR.IMRAN AHMAD

MR.TAQWEEM UL HAQ ALI

6
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

ABSTRACT
This field report describes the litho-stratigraphy as well as sedimentary structure of
the Nammal Gorge,Khewra Gorge,Zaluch Nala and Siwalik Group. All these areas
contain important geological and plateontogical localities with having outstanding
field areas.In fact these areas present open book of Geology where various richy
fossiliferous stratified rocks are very well exposed due to lack of vegetation and
trees . In Nammal gorge the strata from late Permian Wargal Limestone to Eocene
Murree Formation are exposed. The area is structurally characterized by features
like cross bedding, ripple marks; plumose structures, flute casts, burrows and some
joints
and
fractures
are
present.In
Khewra
gorge
The
overlying Khewra sandstone is of early Cambrian age, therefore th
e s a l t range formation is assigned an Early Cambrian to Late Precambrian age
Sedimentary features such as ripple marks and mud cracks are common
in the formation . The age of Zaluch group is range from the early Permian to late
Permian.The zaluch group is further divided in to three formations which include
Amb formation,Wargal limestone and Chhidru formation.Siwalik group is composed
of molasse sediments, which were derived from the rising Himalaya in the north. The
group along the Kankai River section is lithologically divided into the Lower, Middle
and Upper Siwaliks, in ascending order based on increasing grain size and lithology
. In our trip we focused on the geological study of sedimentary structure ,
stratigraphy, tectonic and others geomorphological features
of Nammal
Gorge,Khewra Gorge,Zaluch Nala and Siwalik Group.

7
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
1.1Objectives
A field trip was arranged by the department of Geology Bacha Khan University on 26th
April, 2016. It was a four day field trip to to Khewra Gorge,Nammal Gorge,Zaluch Nala
and Siwalik group .
which is approximately120-130 km from Islamabad. We left for trip on Tuesday 26th April ,
2016 at 8:30am and arrived back to Charsadda on Friday 29th April , 2016 at 3:30 pm. The
main objectives of the trip was to study the sedimentary Structure, stratigraphy, tectonic,
regional geology and geomorphological features of these areas.
1.2 Significance
The basic purpose of the field was to complete the degree requirement of three
credit hours field work under the instructions of our visionary and hardworking course
instructor honorable Mr.Fahad Ali . This was our second field, first we did in the
Malakand,Swabi and Nezampur areas.In this present field the main objectives were
to get familier ourselves with the faults, folded areas ,trusted shields
and complex lithologies due to deformation and to get some idea about the
complex paleotectonic mechanisms and salt diapirs which acted in the area, making
complex structures and lithologic contacts.
1.3 Methodology
We applied different methods in our field to recognize the lithology , dipping directions and
our position etc. so these methods are given below:
i.
Global Positioning System (GPS) was used for finding the geographical locations of
different stations where we worked
.i i . B r u n t o n C o m p a s s w a s u s e d f o r m e a s u r i n g t h e d i p a n d s t r i k e
of the rocks
.iii.Geological
Hammer
was
used for
c o l l e c t i n g s a m p l e s a n d d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g b e t w e e n fresh and weathered
surface of rocks. It is also used a scale
.i v . H a n d l e n s w e r e u s e d f o r s t u d y o f f o s s i l s a n d g r a i n s i z e s .
v.Measuring tape was used to measure different lithologic
sections.
vi.Acid was used to easily recognize the lithologies like
limestone
, dolomites
and
Weathered
surfaces.

8
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

1.4 Nammal Gorge


The Nammal Gorge is located in the western Salt range situated south of Islamabad at
a distance of about 200km. from Charsadda it is present at a distance of approximately
300km. the exact coordinates for Nammal gorge are 323954 North and 714807 East.
The area is easily accessible as it is located on the Grand Trunk Road from Peshawar
to Karachi. It took about 5 hours to reach Nammal from Charsadda . The path in the
gorge is rocky, bushy, and unsteady and is along the water channel that comes from the
spill of the Nammal Dam.
Climate of the area is hot and dry with very low precipitation; average rainfall is about
70-80mm per annum. Maximum rains fall in Monsoon months of July and August. In
winter months of December, January and February there is minimum rainfall which
makes it best time to visit the Nammal gorge.
In Nammal gorge we find mix lithologies. The Late Permian Zaluch Group is mainly
limestone having abundant fossils of brachiopods. The famous Permo-Triassic
Boundary (P-T Boundary) separates the Chiddru Formation of Zaluch group from
Mianwali Formation of Triassic. Tredian Formation is of sandstone while Kingriali
Formation largely consists of Dolomitized limestone. The variegated Datta Formation
underlies the Shinawari Formation above which Samana Suk Formation is present
which comprises of limestone. After the unconformity Hangu Formation is present. The
sandstone of Hangu Formation underlies the nodular limestone of Lockhart Formation.
Shales of Patala Formation are present above which Nammal Formation and Sakesar
Limestone are present.
Economically Nammal gorge is very important. Large quantities of limestone, sandstone
and silica sand are being extracted from the gorge. The quarries of limestone present
here are fulfilling the needs of cement factories as well as construction purposes.

1.5 KHEWRA SANDSTONE


Wynne
(1878)
uses
the
name
Purple
sandstone
series
and
Noetling(1894) called Khewra group to the rocks of this formation. Now the
name Khewra sandstone is formalized by stratigraphic Committee o
f Pakistan. T h e t y p e l o c a l i t y i s n e a r K h e w r a v i l l a g e i n K h e w r a G o r g e i n
e a s t e r n S a l t Range. The thickness of the formation in the Khewra gorge is more
than 830 m. The upper contact of the formation with Khewra sand stone is normal and
conformable. The base of the formation is almost unknown and
i s o n l y known from karampur well where the formation overlies metamorphic
rocks. The age of the formation has long been a controversial topic. The
overlying Khewra sandstone is of early Cambrian age, therefore the
s a l t range formation is assigned an Early Cambrian to Late Precambrian age
The
formation
consists
predominantly
of
purple
to
brown,yellowish brown, fine grained sandstone. The lower most part of thefor
mation contains red flaggy shale. Sedimentary features such asripple marks
and mud cracks are common in the formation. The thickness at the type locality
is
150 meters
and in
western salt
9
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

rangeits thickness is 200 meters. It is distributed throughout salt range. Thec


ontact of Khewra Sandstone with underlying Salt Range forma
t i o n i s controversial due to which problem of age aroused. Sahni (1947)
regardeda g e o f f o r m a t i o n T e r t i a r y a n d p o s t u l a t e d a t h r u s t a t t h e c o n t
a c t between Salt Range formation and Khewra sandstone. Gee (1945)mapped
the entire
salt range
and concluded
that the
contact betweenK h e w r a s a n d s t o n e w i t h u n d e r l y i n g f o r m a t i o n i s s e d i m e n
t a r y . T h e u p p e r contact with Kussak formation is conformable.Khewra Sandstone
has
been
observed
in
Khewra
Gorge
during
ourfield work. Sand grains of medium size
have been
observed
at thetype locality. Sedimentary features such as cross bedding are observed in
Khewra gorge. The lower contacts with sahwal marl member of salt range
formation have been observed gradational. The formation contains only few trace fossils
which has been interpreted astrilobite trails by Schindewolf and Seilacher (1955) and
are not indicative of particular age. Sahni (1947)regarded age of the formation
Tertiary but the age of Khewra sandstone is early Cambrian because
overlying Kussak formation is not older than late early Cambrian.

1.6 Siwalik Group


The Siwalik Group was deposited in the Himalayan foreland basin system during the
Middle Miocene to Early Pleistocene ,and now occupies the southern frontal part of the
Himalayan fold thrust belt.It consists of a 4-6 km thickness of fluvial sediments laid
down in the pale-foreland basin situated above the downwardly Indian plate in a basin
formed by the rising Himalaya. The Siwalik Group is bounded to the north by the Main
Boundary Thrust (MBT) and to the south by the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), which over
thrusts Quaternary deposits. The Siwalik Group has been the focus of numerous
lithostratigraphic, sedimentologic and chronostratigraphic studies because of its great
potential for elucidating the tectonic, climatic and erosional histories of the Himalayaand
the surrounding area. The faunal zones correspond to lithofacies. The tripartite division
consists of the Lower Siwaliks (Kamlial and Chinji Formations), Middle Siwaliks (Nagri and Dhok
Pathan Formations), and the Upper Siwaliks , Lithostratigraphy of the Siwalik Group, Karnali
River section, far-west Nepal Himalaya. Other work established a lithostratigraphy based on
proportions of mudstone, sandstone and conglomerateand dened the Kamlial, Chinji,
Nagri, Dhok Pathan, Tatrot,Pinjor and Boulder Conglomerate Formations, along with
several magnetostratigraphic studies . These divisions are now used as the standard
stratigraphic nomenclature in Pakistan. In India, the classication from the Potwar Basin has
been broadly applied. Several studies have, however, dened different stratigraphy for
some areas of the Indian Siwaliks. The Geologists divided the succession into the
Arung Khola, Binai Khola, Chitwan, and Deorali Formations, in ascending order. The
upper siwalik was divided into two formations.

10
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

1.7 Zaluch Group


The name of the zaluch group is drived from the zaluch nala which are present in the
western of the salt range which was proposed by Teichert in 1966.
The age of the group is range from the early Permian to late Permian.
The zaluch group is further divided in to three formations
1. Amb Formation
2. Wargal Limestone
3. Chhidru Formation
The Tobra Formation contains ostracizes, and fresh water bivalves, pollen, spores,microplanktons as
well as flora remains including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris . On the basis of fauna the age is
considered as Early Permian Warchha sandstone Formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The
sandstone is red,purple or lightershades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly,
friable and arkosic. Thepebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is
thick bedded. Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled. The Chiddru formation at the base is composed
of shale unit of yellowish grey to medium dark grey color with small phosphatic nodules. Above shale
beds of calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestones are present. The top most part is a white
sandstone bed which is medium to fine grained with subordinate shale partings and contains abundant
fossils.The formation has a transitional contact with underlying Wargal formation while its upper contact
is marked by a major unconformity the P-T boundary above which is the Mianwali formation of Triassic
age.

11
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

CHAPTER-2
STRATIGRAPHY
Stratigraphy Of Siwalik Group
Medlicott (1864) was the first who introduced the term Siwaliks for the fresh water deposits of
Late Tertiary age from Siwalik Hills in the Indian held Kashmir. Later on Wynne (1879)
extended it to similar rocks of the Potwar Plateau, North-West Frontier Province, Kashmir,
Baluchistan and Sindh areas of Pakistan. The constituent sediments were produced as a result of
the high uplift rates of the Himalayan orogenic belt during Miocene time (Zeitler, 1985) that
exposed different types of rocks for denudation, and transported by the Himalayan drainage
system analogous to the present day river systems of Indus, Ganges andthe mentioned belt into
their respective basins.
(Abid et al., 1983; Abbasi and Friend, 2000).
Brahmaputra that started flowing axially through The Siwalik Hills consisting of sandstones,
mudstone and conglomerates, form the sub-Himalayan lithotectonic unit of the Himalayan
tectonic system and extend for over 2000 km from Kohat Plateau (northern Pakistan). The
Siwalik Group of rocks consists of 5000 to 5500 m thick clastic sediments, The Siwalik Group
clastic sediments are assumed to have been eroded from the metamorphic rocks of the
Himalayan orogen (Najman et al., 1997; DeCelles et al., 2001).

12
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

The siwalik hill ranges

Division of the siwalik group :


Siwalik group is divide in to the three division

a. Lower siwalik:
The Kamlial and Chinji formations form the lower Siwaliks consists of a sequence of sandstonemudstone couplets with a marked dominance of the mudstones over the sandstones. The paleosol
horizons are also fairly frequent in their developments. The Lower Siwaliks have height approximately
4,000 feet with life span about 18 to 11.2 million years.
it is further divide in two formations
1. Kamlail formation
2. Chinji formation

b. Middle siwalk:
The middle siwalik has also two formations
1. Nagri formation
2. Dhokh pathan formation

c. Upper siwalik:
13
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


The upper siwalik is only one formation
1. Soan formation
But we only study chinji formation and nagri formation .

1. Chinji formation
The terms Chinji Zone of Pilgrim (1913) and Chinji Stage of Pascoe (1963)
for stratigraphic units consisting of interbedded sandstone, silty clay and siltstone were later on
reformed as Chinji Formation. The type section is exposed near the Chinji village.

Lithology:
Bright red clays, interbedded with grey, soft sandstones. Sandstones are medium to
coarse grained and thick bedded to massive.

Contact:
Pilgrim recognized two divisions of the Chinji, namely a lower and an upper division. At type
locality the lower contact of the Chinji Formation is gradational with Kamlial Formation, while the upper
contact is conformable with the Nagri Formation. Fossils range is pretty well throughout the thickness of
the Chinji deposits, and the upper and lower horizons recognized by Pilgrim really represent levels of
unusual abundance of fossils rather than zones of faunal differences. An unconformity, the only specific
break in the Siwalik series, separates the Chinji from the lowest of the siwalik zone.

Age
Early to middle Pleistocene age.

Fossil:
Abundant of vertebrate fossils crocodile, lizard, turtle, and aquatic birds

Environment of deposition:
Fluvial with pond condition due to presence of crocodile.

14
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


Stratigraphy of the siwalik group

The contact between the siwalike group formations

2. Nagri formation
The Nagri Zone of Pilgrim (1913) was formalized as Nagri Formation by
Lewis (1937). The Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan accepted the term Nagri Formation for the
middle part of the Siwalik Group. The type section of the formation is the village of Dhok Sethi Nagri.
PILGRIM (1913) identified Nagri zone which was formalized by LEWIS (1937) as Nagri Formation,
which is known from the type section the village Sethi Nagri. The Nagri Formation is conformable with
the underlying Chinji Formation and overlying Dhok Pathan Formation.

Lithology:
The Formation is composed of tens of meters of bluish grey, massive and coarse
sandstones with purple and orange clays and thick brown multistoried sandstone layers, forming
normal to paleoflow channels which have lengths for kilometers. The Nagri Formation have
approximately age about 8.5-11 million years with the thickness of 650m is characteristics of
both salt and pepper texture, in which grey sandstones are mainly deposited in braided channels
of paleoflow.

15
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Age :
Middle Miocene

Fossil :
Richly vertebrate Assemblage , crocodile, chelonian.

Environment of deposition :
Fluvial.

Stratigraphy Khewra Gorge


Khewra gorge is divide in to two ages
A. Pre-Cambrian stratigraphy of salts range
B. Cambrian stratigraphy of salts range

Pre Cambrian Stratigraphy Of Salt Range


A. Pre-Cambrian age rocks
1. Salt range formation

A. Pre Cambrian Age Rock:


Salt range formation is the oldest in the world which is expose in the pakistan at khewra.
The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its
extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the
northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Khewra,
Kalabagh and Warcha which yield vast supplies of salt. Coal of a medium quality is also found.
The term Salt Range Formation has been introduced by Asrarullah (1962) after theSalt Range
in the Punjab Province. Previously it was named as "Saline Series by
Wynne(1878) and Punjab Saline Series by Gee (1945). Khewra Gorge in the Eastern Salt Rane,
Jhelum district, Punjab Province, has beendesignated as the type section (Shah,1977).
Division of salt range formation
1. Billianwala salt member
2. Bhandar khas gypsum member
3. Sahiwal marl member

Thickness and distribution :


Salt Range Formation is widely distributed in the southern parts of the area, but it is
onlyrestricted in the nalas. Its thickness was not measured because base of the Formation isnot
exposed.
16
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Contact :
Base of the Formation is not exposed anywhere including the study area. The
uppercontact with the Khewra Sandstone is transitional

upper Contact of salt range with khewra sandstone

Age and Fossil:


The Salt Range Formation is devoid of fossils. Due to its position below Lower Cambrian sediments
and above the metamorphic Precambrian basement, it is considered as Late Neoproterozoic. This is in
accordance with the results of sulphur-isotope measurements carried out on gypsum samples from the top
of Salt Range Formation which indicate an age of about 600 m.y. (H.A. RAZA).

Environment of deposition :
Evaporitic environment .

B. Cambrian stratigraphy of salt range


Cambrian sequence is collectively known as the Jhelum group. Jhelum series, Pascoe in 1959.
Because it is expose in district Jhelum so it is called Jhelum.
Jhelum group is further divided in to the following formations.
17
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Khewra sandstone
Kussak formation
Jutana formation
Baghanwala Formation
Khisor formation

Khisor Formation is not present in study area.

Khewra Sandston
The Khewra Group of Noetling (1894) was formalized as Khewra sandstone after
its main type section of the Khewra town in the Punjab Province. Khewra Gorge
having latitude 3240N and longitude 7300E in the Eastern Salt Range Punjab
Province, was designated as the type locality.

Lithalogy :
The basal part consists of thin-bedded, fine to medium-grained sandstone, partly shaly,
passing upward into massive, thick-bedded, purple, occasionally buff-colored, jointed sandstone
with thin bands of clay. Upper part is dominantly reddish brown and yellowish brown
sandstone, becoming pale towards the top. The sandstone is well sorted, cross bedded and has
abundant ripple marks and mud cracks and also shows convolute bedding in the lower part .The
Khewra Sandstone can be divided into 4 units: (Saqib et. al 2009)
1. The lower unit, often called the Maroon Shale Group, consists of thin bedded, dark red to
brown, argillaceous siltstone, with intercalations of dark purple shales. Occasionally argillaceous
sandstones are present
2. The middle unit is a thin bedded to flaggy, purple to brick red sandstone. It is generally
micaceous, fine grained and silty at the base; the grain size increases towards the top.
Sedimentary structures like ball and pillow, climbing ripples, parting lineation, tabular and trough
cross bedding are present.
3. The upper unit consists of light red to yellowish white sandstone which is medium hard to
friable. It gets coarser towards the top. Wedge planar cross bedding, large scale trough cross
bedding, honey comb weathering are prominent feature of this.
4. The topmost unit of the Khewra sandstone is yellowish white, friable, medium grained,
sandstone which shows high percentage of quartz. The sandstone is ferruginous; cross bedded and
contains calcareous lenses.

Distribution and Thickness:


Khewra Sandstone is widely distributed in the southern parts of the area, but it is only
restricted in the nalas. More than 200 m in Khewra gorge.

Contacts:
18
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

The contact of Khewra Sandstone with the underlying Salt Range Formation is
conformableand gradational. Its upper contact with Kussak Formation is sharp.

Age and fossil :


The Khewra Sandstone does not contain well-preserved fossils but possesses evidence
of organic remains and trace fossils which have been interpreted as diggings of trilobites (Schin
dewolf and Seilacher, 1955). Because of its position between the Late Proterozoic Salt Range
Formation and the fossiliferous Early Cambrian Kussak Formation,in the Eastern Salt Range the
Khewra Sandstone is thought to represent the basal part of the Lower Cambrian.(Schmdewalf and
seilachaclass

Kussak Formation
It is the second formation of Jhelum group.
The "Kussak Group" ofNoetling (1894) is formalized as Kussak Formation after Kussak Fortin
Eastern Salt Range. Obolus or Siphonotreta Beds of Wynne (1878), Neobolus Beds
of Waagan (1884) and Kussak Stage of Pascoe (1959). Kussak Fort eastern Salt Range,
DistrictJhelum, Punjab.

Lithology:
Kussak Formation contains shale with thin bands of glauconitic sandstone. Shale 1sgrey,
greenish grey and purplish in color. Sandstone is micaceous.
In the Mapped Area were found greenish grey shales and thinly bedded micaceous sandstone. In
the upper part sandstone becomes calcareous. Ripple marks worm tracks were observed.

Thickness and Contacts:


At type locality it is thick while in Mapped Area its thickness is 10 feet. It is outcroppedalong
west facing scarp in Khewra gorge.It has sharp, conformable contact with Khewra Sandstone
while upper contact with JutanaFormation is transitional.

Fossils and Age:


The Formation is fossiliferous, especially in the upper part. Schindewolf, Seilacher
(1955)and Pascoe reported following fossils. Neobolus Warthi, Lingulella wanniecka, Hyolithes
Wynni and Redlichia noetlingi. Age of the Formation is Early Cambrian.(Schindewolf and
seilacher 1955)

19
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Jutana Formation or Jutana Dolomite


The Jutana Group of Noetling (1894) is formalized as Jutana Formation after Jutana
Villagein eastern Salt Range.Magnesium Sandstone of Fleming (1852) "Jutana Group"
ofNoetling(1894)".Jutana village, District Jhelum Eastern Salt Range, Punjab Province.

Lithology:
Jutana Formation is composed of dolomite, shale and sandstone. In the Mapped Area
thisFormation can be divided into three units, lower sandy dolomite, middle shaly portion(similar
to Kussak) and upper pure dolomite characterized by chop board weathering.

Thickness and Contacts:


The Formation is widely distributed in southern part ofthe Mapped Area. Typical cliffs
of Jutana Formation can be seen in Khewra gorge.At type locality the thickness is 240 ft whereas
it is 300 feet thick while in Mapped Area it isabout 60 m thick.The contact with underlying
Kussak Formation is transitional and with overlyingBaghanwa!a Formation is sharp.

Fossils and Age:


The Formation contains tracks and burrows of Trilobite. Early Cambrian or Early
MiddleCambrian age is assigned to the Formation on the basis of faunal record.(Techert 1964).

Baghanwala Formation
Baghanwala Group of Noetling (1894) is formalized as Baghanwala Formation after
thevillageBaghanwala, Jhelum districPunjab Province.Wynne (1878) named asPseudomorphic Sa
lt Crystal Zone. Holland (1926) called it Salt Pseudomorphic Beds.Pascoe (1959) "Baghanwala
Stage". Baghanwala village Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum District.

Lithology:
It is composed of claystone,. Mud stone , Siltstone and thin bedded flaggy sandstone.
Theflags are purple, grey or blue green. Primary sedimentary structures such as wave ripplemarks
and mud cracks are present. Mud stone to silt stone (Upper lower part) are in bloodred color and
characterized by pseudomorphic casts of salt crystals along the beddingplanes.
Presence of salt pseudomorphs, wave ripple marks mud cracks etc. indicate that Formationwas
deposited under lagoonal envirorunent and arid climatic condition.

Thickness and Contacts:


The Formation is mainly developed in Eastern Salt Range. Good exposures of
BaghanwalaFormation can be seen in the Mapped Area.At type locality the Formation is 300-350
20
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


feet thick. In the Mapped Area, the thickness is20 feet due to erosion. The upper contact with
Tobra Formation is unconformablewhereas lower contact is conformable with Jutana Formation.

Fossils and Age:


No fossil record and Formation is Middle Cambrian in age.

Nammal Gorge
Nammal gorge is present in the western salt range. It is located close to the main wali
rawalipindi highway. There is a small village nearby so it is called nammal gorge.
In this gorge we will studied the following groups
1. Nilawahan group
2. Zaluch group
3. Musa khel group
4. Makarwal group

Nilawahan Group
The name Nilawahan series was proposed by Gee . the rock is conformable underlying with
zaluch group but disconformably underlying Cambrian salt range.
It is divided in the following formation
1.
2.
3.
4.

Tobra formation
Dandot formation
Warccha limestone
Sardai formation

Tobra Formation
The term Tobra Formation has been introduced by Gee (written communication, 1964),
for the lowest unit of the Nilawahan Group. "Talchir Series" of Blanford (1856),"Talchir
Conglomerate", "Talchir Stage" of Gee (in Pascoe, 1959), "Talchir Boulder Beds" of Pascoe
(1959), "Salt Range Boulder Bed" of Teichert (1967) were known in previousliterature. Tobra
village Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum district,Punjab Province.

Lithology:
The Formation includes following units from base to top
Boulders which are mainly pink granites and grayish quartzite.
Red pebble bedded sandstone.
Grayish cross bedded siltstone
21
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


White massive sandstone.
Black shale with grit lenses

Distribution and Thickness:


It is only present in the southern part of the Mapped Area, along nalas. The Formation hasa
thickness of 10m

Contacts:
The lower contact of the Tobra Formation is a widespread unconformity with baghanwala
Formation while The upper contact with the Dandot Formation is
(gradational)conformable. The contact can be recognized with change in lithology from black and
dark brown shale to greenish sandstone of Dandot Formation

Age and Fossil:


The Tobra Formation contains ostracizes, and fresh water bivalves, pollen, spores,microplanktons
as well as flora remains including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris (Reed1936). On the basis of
fauna the age is considered as Early Permian (Shah, 1977).

Warchha Sandstone
The name Warchha Sandstone was coined by Hussain (1967), prior to this other terms
wereWarchha Group by Noetling (1901) after the Warchha Gorge in the Salt Range in
Mianwalidistrict, Punjab Province. "Middle Speckled Sandstone" of Waagen (1889-91) and
"SpeckledSandstone" of Gee (1945) were also prevalent in literature. The type section of
WarchhaSandstone is Warchha Gorge (lat. 3227N; long. 7158E), in Central Salt Range,
PunjabProvince.

Lithology:
This Formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The sandstone is red,purple or
lightershades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly, friable and arkosic.
Thepebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is thick bedded.
Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled.

Distribution and Thickness:


The Formation is widely distributed in the southern and south western part of the
mappedarea. It is mainly present along the nalas; Khewra gorge upper portion of the Khewra
scarp.. It is57m thick in the Mapped Area.

Contacts:

22
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


The lower contact with Dandot Formation is conformable and sharp. The upper contact
withthe Sardhai Formation is transitional which is placed at the top of the highest
massivesandstone.

Fossils:
No diagnostic fossils are known from this Formation except from worm- casts and
petrifiedwood (Fatmi, 1973).

Age:
On the basis of stratigraphic position, Early Permian age
has been assigned to thisFormation.(Hussain 1967)

Sardai formation
This is the fourth and last member of the nilawahan group.

History :
The upper part of the warccha by Noelting (1901) is named as levander clay or sardai
formation by Gee and Pascoe in 1959.

Lithology:
This formation is mainly is composed of bluish to greenish colored clay minor gray
sandstone and gypsum , and calcareous beds in the upper part

Environment of deposition :
Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow reducing marine to estuarine
environment

Thickness:
This The formation is 50m in Khisor Range, 65m in W. Salt Range, at type locality i.e.,
eastern salt range 42m.

Fossil :
Plants remains and fish scales have been reported
Limestone beds well developed at Khisor Range having brachiopods and bryozoans

Zaluch Group

23
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


The name of the zaluch group is drived from the zaluch nala which are present in the
western of the salt range which was proposed by Teichert in 1966.
The age of the group is range from the early Permian to late Permian.
The zaluch group is further divided in to then formations
4. Amb Formation
5. Wargal Limestone
6. Chiddru Formation
Here we observed only the wargal and chiddru formations.

Warchha Sandstone
The name Warchha Sandstone was coined by Hussain (1967), prior to this other terms
wereWarchha Group by Noetling (1901) after the Warchha Gorge in the Salt Range in
Mianwalidistrict, Punjab Province. "Middle Speckled Sandstone" of Waagen (1889-91) and
"SpeckledSandstone" of Gee (1945) were also prevalent in literature. The type section of
WarchhaSandstone is Warchha Gorge (lat. 3227N; long. 7158E), in Central Salt Range,
PunjabProvince.

Lithology:
This Formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The sandstone is red,purple or
lightershades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly, friable and arkosic.
Thepebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is thick bedded.
Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled.

Distribution and Thickness:


The Formation is widely distributed in the southern and south western part of the mappedarea.
It is mainly present along the nalas; Khewra gorge upper portion of the Khewra scarp.. It is57m
thick in the Mapped Area.

Contacts:
The lower contact with Dandot Formation is conformable and sharp. The upper contact
withthe Sardhai Formation is transitional which is placed at the top of the highest
massivesandstone.

Fossils:
No diagnostic fossils are known from this Formation except from worm- casts and
petrifiedwood (Fatmi, 1973).

Age:
24
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


On the basis of stratigraphic position, Early Permian age
has been assigned to thisFormation.(Hussain 1967).

Chiddru Formation
The name Chiddru formation was introduced by Dunbar (1932) to the Chiddru beds of Waagen
(1891) and Chiddru group of Noetling (1901).

Lithology:
The formation at the base is composed of shale unit of yellowish grey to medium dark grey
color with small phosphatic nodules. Above shale beds of calcareous sandstone with few sandy
limestones are present. The top most part is a white sandstone bed which is medium to fine
grained with subordinate shale partings and contains abundant fossils.

Contacts:
The formation has a transitional contact with underlying Wargal formation while its upper
contact is marked by a major unconformity the P-T boundary above which is the Mianwali
formation of Triassic age.

Musakhel Group
Shah 1980 introduces the term.
Type locality, Nammal Nala 4km east of Musakhel.
Group contains the following Triassic formation
1. Mianwali Formation
2. Tredian Formation
3. Kingriali Formation

Mianwali Formation
Gee (in Pascoe, 1959) used the name Mianwali Series which was later modified by
Kummel (1966) into Mianwali Formation.

Lithology:
The formation represents a great wedge of varied facies consisting of marl, limestone,
sandstone, siltstone and dolomite which is thickest in the west and wedges out towards the east.
The formation was divided into three members in the Salt range and Trans Indus ranges by
Waagen which were also recognized by Kummel (1966). These members are not recognized in
Kala Chitta area.
25
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Thickness:
The formation is 121m thick in Zaluch nala while in Tappan Wahan section it ranges from
135m to 187m.

Contacts:
Lower contact of the formation is marked by the P-T boundary wile its upper contact with
Tredian formation is sharp and well defined.

Tredian Formation
The name Tridian formation was introduced by Gee (in Kummel, 1966) to replace his
earlier name Kingriali sandstones. The Tredian formation is generally non-marine unit that
succeeds the Mianwali formation.

Lithology:
The formation consists of two members the lower Landa member and the upper Khatkiara
member. The Landa member consists of sandstone and shale. The sandstone is micaceous and
varies in color from pinkish, reddish grey to greenish grey and is thin to medium bedded. The
Khatkiara member is massive, thick bedded white sandstone with inclusions of some dolomite in
the upper part.

Thicknees:
The formation is 1560m in Tappan Wahan section of the Khisor range and 76m in Zaluch
sections of salt range.

Contacts:
The contact with underlying Mianwali formation is sharp while with overlying Kingriali
formation is gradational.

Kingriali Formation
The name Kingriali formation was given to the Kingriali Dolomite of Gee (1945). The
name originates from the Kingriali Peak of the Khisor range.

Lithology:
The formation consists of thin to thick bedded, massive, fine to coarse textured, light grey to
brown dolomite and dolomitic limestone with interbeds of greenish dolomitic shale and marl in
the upper part. The formation is widely developed in the Salt range, Trans Indus ranges, part of
Kala Chitta, Kohat and southern Hazara.

Contact:
26
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


The upper contact with Datta formation is disconfirmable and shows development of Ferruginous
dolomite and uneven surface at the contact. The lower contact with Tridian formation is
confirmable.

Datta Formation
This formation is member of the boarch group.
The name Datta formation was introduced by Danilchick and Shah (1967) for the variegated
stage of Gee (1945).

Lithology:
The formation is mainly of continental origin and consists of variegated colored sandstone,
shale, siltstone and mudstone with irregularly distributed calcareous dolomitic, carbonaceous,
ferruginous glass sand and fireclay horizons. The fireclay is present mainly in the lower part.

Contacts and Thickness:


At type locality the formation is 212m thick but increases to 230m in Punnu nala to the west
and over 400m in Sheikh Badin Hills. In Nammal gorge area the thickness is 150m which reduces
further as we move towards east.
The formation overlies unconfirmably on the Kingriali formation in Salt range and Trans Indus
ranges while in Hazara it rests unconfirmably over the Precambrian Hazara formation. The upper
contact with Shinawari formation is gradational.

Makarwal Group
Shah 1980, who named and described this group.
Type locality is suggested at Makarwal (lat. 320 51 00N & long. 710 09 00E).
Makarwal group well developed all over the KohatPotwar province with gradational pinching of
lower part of the group in eastern Salt Range.
Makarwal Group consists of the following formation
3.Patala Formation
2.Lockhart Limestone
1.Hangu Formation

Hangu Formation

27
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


The Hangu Shale and Hangu sandstone of Davies (1930) from Kohat area have been
formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan. A section south of Fort Lockhart is designated as
its type section.

Lithology:
The Hangu formation consists of sandstone with grey shale intercalations in upper part. The sandstone
is white, light grey and reddish brown, weathers dark rusty brown, fine to coarse grained and medium to
thick bedded. In Nammal area the sandstone is dark colored and variegated rarely, shale, carbonaceous
shale and some nodular argillaceous limestone.

Thickness:
The formation is 90m thick at the type section, 50m at Hangu and about 35m in Mandeha Banni in
Hazara.

Contact:
There is an unconformity and is underlain by Chichali formation in Nammal while is conformably
overlain by Lockhart Limestone.

Lockhart Limestone
Davies (1930a) introduced the term Lockhart Limestone for Paleocene limestone unit in Kohat area
formerly known as Nummulitic Series of Middle miss (1896). A section near Fort Lockhart in Samana
range is designated as a type section.

Lithology:
At type locality the limestone is grey, medium to thick bedded, massive, rubbly and brecciated at
places and flaggy at basal part. In salt range Nammal area the limestone is grey to light grey, medium to
thick bedded, nodular with minor amounts of grey marl and dark bluish grey calcareous shale in he lower
part.

Thickness:
The limestone is well developed and 60m thick at type locality. It is about 70m thick in Nammal
gorge and 242m in Hazara area.
The formation conformably and transitionally overlies and underlies the Hangu formation and the Patala
formation respectively.

Patala Formation
The term Patala formation was formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan for the
Patala shale of Davies and Pinfold (1937) and Nummulitic formation of Waagen and Wynne (1872).
Patala nala in Salt range is its type section.
28
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Lithology:
In salt range the formation consists of shale and marl with subordinate limestone and sandstone. The shale
is dark greenish grey, selenite bearing., in places carbonaceous and calcareous acd also contains marcasite
nodules. The limestone is white to grey and nodular and occurs as interbeds. Subordinate interbeds of
yellowish brown sandstone are present in the upper part. Coal seams of economic importance are present
locally.

Thickness and Contact:


Patala formation conformably overlies the Lockhart limestone and is conformably and transitionally
overlain by Nammal formation in Salt range. Thickness of Patala formation at type locality is 90m while
at Khewra it is 27m thick.

Sakesar Limestone
Sakesar limestone is the member of cherat group.
The term Sakesar limestone was introduced by Gee (in Fermor, 1935) for the most prominent Eocene
limestone in the salt range and Trans indus ranges. Sakesar peak in the Salt range has been designated as
its type locality.

Lithology:
The unit consists dominantly of limestone with subordinate marl. The limestone throughout its extent
is cream colored to light grey, nodular, usually massive with considerable development of chert in the
upper part. The marl is cream colored and forms a persistent horizon nea the top. Near Daud Khail in
western salt range the limestone grades into white to grey massive gypsum.

Thickness:
The formation is widely distributed in salt range where the thickness ranges from 70m to 150m.

Contacts:
The lower contact with Nammal formation is confirmable. In eastern salt range upper contact with
Chorgali formation is confirmable while in central and western part, Rawalpindi group overlies it
conformably.

29
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

CHAPTER-3
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
Station-1
Siwalike group is our first stop or station where we observe the lithology, color and the stratigraphy
features of the two formations ( chinji and nagri ) of the the siwalike group because at that area these two
formations are exposed. First we observed the chinji formation where we study the lithology color and the
upper and lower contacts of the chinji and also we observe different type of fossil.
In chinji we observe beds of pseudo-conglomerates with typical Lower Siwalik fauna and bright red
clays, interbedded with grey, soft sandstones and unconsolidated. Sandstones are medium to coarse
grained and thick bedded to massive. Its color is different due to the presence of impurities. It has
different fossils. we can also study that the lower contact of the Chinji Formation is gradational with
Kamlial Formation, while the upper contact is conformable with the Nagri Formation.

Chinji formaton picture at field

30
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

The contact between the chinji formation and nagri formation.


After the study of chinji formation we observe the nagri formation in which we also studied the color,
lithology and contact of the the nagri formation. In lithology we observe The Nagri Formation is
conformable with the underlying Chinji Formation and overlying Dhok Pathan Formation. The Formation
is composed of tens of meters of bluish grey, massive and coarse sandstones with purple and orange
clays and thick brown multistoried sandstone layers, forming normal to paleoflow channels which have
lengths for kilometers. The Nagri Formation have approximately age about 8.5-11 million years with the
thickness of 650m is characteristics of both salt and pepper texture, in which grey sandstones are mainly
deposited in braided channels of paleoflow.

Nagri formation

After the observation of siwalik group we stay in youth hostel katas Raj for one night

31
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

The view of katas Raj

Station-2
At second day our first stop is salt range formation where we observe the pre-Cambrian age of
different rocks for example

32
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


1. Billianwala salt member
2. Bhandar khar gypsum
3. Sahiwal marl member
In the khewra gorge first we study the billianwalan salt member which is largely composed of
hematitic, dull red, gypsiferous marly beds with thick seams of salt.

Billianwalan Salt Member


After the study of the Billianwala salt member we study the Massive gypsum with minor beds of
dolomite and clay. Bandarkas Gypsum Member contains marl and huge deposits of crystalline
and non crystalline gypsum.

33
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Bandar khas Gypsum


After the study Bander khas gypsum we observe the sahiwal marl member which is divide in two
unites
Bright red marl beds with irregular gypsum, dolomite beds and khewra trap
Dull red marl with some salt seams and 10m thick gypsum beds on top
The marl is composed of 50% clay and 50% calcium carbonate .The difference in the color is due
to the abundance of iron.

34
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Bright Red Marl

Dull Red Marl

Khewra Sandstone has been observed in Khewra Gorge during our


field work. Sand grains of medium size have been observed at the

35
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


type locality. Sedimentary features such as cross bedding are observed in Khewra gorge. The
lower contacts with sahwal marl member of salt range formation have been observed gradational.
We also observed some sedimentary structure like Ripple marks, mud crack, Rain pets Ball and
pillow structure and some cross bedding.

36
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Khewra sandstone

37
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


The sedimentary structure formation in khewra sandstone

Sedimentary Structure Rain Pets

Sedimentary structure Ball and Pillow


38
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Sedimentary Structure Mudstone

Crossing Bedding
39
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Our third stop was on the type locality of Kussak formation where we study greenish grey,
glauconitic, micaceous sandstone, greenish grey siltstone interbedded with light grey dolostone
and some oolitic, arenaceous dolomite. Numerous layers of intraformational conglomerate are
present. Pink gypsum lenses are present near the top

Kussak Formation

Gluconitic Sandstone:
Glauconite is a green-colored mineral. It is structurally similar to micas and is
sometimes considered to be one of the mica minerals. Despite that it appears usually in
rounded ill-formed platelets which are not at all similar to typical flakes of common
micas like muscovite and biotite. However, it still possesses perfect cleavage like other
micas, we just dont see it. Sometimes it is included in the clay mineral group. Whatever
the case, glauconite is definitely a sheet silicate. These confusing nuances only show that
our classification principles are imperfect and we shouldnt take them too seriously. They
are there only to guide us.

40
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Gluconitic Sandstone

At forth stop we observed 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 rocks. We also study primary and
secondary dolomites. Primary dolomite is formed by the direct deposition of Mg and Ca. and
secondary is formed by replacement of Ca by Mg.

41
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Jutana Dolomite
At this stop we observed Baghanwala Formation Mud stone, Siltstone and thin bedded flaggy
sandstone. The flags are purple, grey or blue green. We observed salt pseudo morph at bedding
planes, which is a distinguishable criterion of the formation.

42
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Baghawalanwala Formation

Station-3
At first stop we observed Tobra formation
Boulders which are mainly pink granites and grayish quartzite.
Red pebble bedded sandstone
Grayish cross bedded siltstone
White massive sandstone.
Black shale with grit lenses
We also studied the tobra formation at the khewra gorge

43
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Tobra Formation
After that we observed the warccha sandstone in which we studied
The sandstone is red, purple or lighter shades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is
pebbly, friable and arkosic. The pebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The
sandstone is thick bedded.
We observed two type of sandstone
1. Mature sandstone: which is round in shape
2. Immature sandstone: those which is irregular in shape

44
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Warccha Sandstone
Then we observed the sardai formation in which we studied
The bluish to greenish colored clay minor gray sandstone and gypsum , and calcareous beds in
the upper part. Lavender clay

Sardai Formation
45
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Station-4
At this stop we observe the wargal limestone in which we studied
Limestone, dolomite of light to medium grey, brownish grey and olive grey colors.
The unit was observed in Nammal gorge. Fossils of Trilobites, Gastropods and Bivalves we are
observed. The fauna consist of abundant bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, nautiloids,
Ammonoids, trilobites and crinoids.

Wargal Limestone

Fossil of the Wargal Limestone


46
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


After the study of wargal limestone we observe the Mainwali formation in which we studied the three
members

1. Kathwai Member
In this member we observe the dolostone in the lower part and limestone in upper part.
The dolomite isfinely crystalline and includes fossil fragments and quartz grains. The upper unit
is grey tobrownish glauconitic limestone.

2. Mittiwali Member
We studied at this member the grey, fine grained, non-glauconitic limestone with
abundant ammonites.

3. Narmia Member
grey to black shale with interbeds of sandstone and lenticular limestone and dolomite.
The top most bed is a grey to brown, massive dolomite.

Contact Between Mianwali formation and Tredian formation


After this we observed the Tredian formation in which we studied two member of the Trendian.

1. Landa Member
We observe in this member the sandstone is micaceous and varies incolour
from pinkish, reddish grey to greenish grey. It is thin to thick bedded with rile marks and
slump structures.

2. Khatkiara Member
We studied in this the massive, thick bedded, white sandstone that grades
into the overlyingKingriali formation.
Then we observed the kingriali dolomite which is the secondary dolomite.
47
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


After that we studied the Datta formation which compose of shell and limestone
At the last stop we studied three formations

1. Hangu formation
In this formation we observed the sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale and
some nodular,argillaceous limestone

Hangu Formation

2. Patala formation
In this formation we observed the shale and marl with subordinate limestone
andsandstone. The shale is greenish grey and containing carbonaceous material. The
limestone iswhite to grey and nodular. Coal seems of economic value are present in upper
part.

3. Lockhart formation

In this we studied the limestone and marl, shell


grey to medium grey
medium to thick bedded
lower part being dark grey to bluish grey, flaggy and splintery

48
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

Lockhart Formation

49
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

CHAPTER-04
CONCLUSION
In Nammal gorge we find mix lithologies. The Late Permian Zaluch Group is mainly limestone having
abundant fossils of brachiopods. The famous Permo-Triassic Boundary (P-T Boundary) separates the
Chiddru Formation of Zaluch group from Mianwali Formation of Triassic. Tredian Formation is of
sandstone while Kingriali Formation largely consists of Dolomitized limestone. The variegated Datta
Formation underlies the Shinawari Formation above which Samana Suk Formation is present which
comprises of limestone. After the unconformity Hangu Formation is present. The sandstone of Hangu
Formation underlies the nodular limestone of Lockhart Formation. Shales of Patala Formation are present
above which Nammal Formation and Sakesar Limestone are present.
K h e w r a s a n d s t o n e i s o f e a r l y C a m b r i a n a g e , t h e r e f o r e t h e s a l t range formation is
assigned an Early Cambrian to Late Precambrian age.The formation consists predominantly of
purple
to
brown,yellowish brown, fine grained sandstone. The lower most part of theformation conta
ins red flaggy shale. Sedimentary features such as ripple marks and mud cracks are
common in the formation. The thickness at the type locality is 150 meters and in western salt
rangeits thickness is 200 meters. It is distributed throughout salt range. The
contact of Khewra Sandstone with underlying Salt Range formation isc
ontroversial
due
to
which
problem
of
age
aroused.
Sahni
(1947)
regardeda g e o f f o r m a t i o n T e r t i a r y a n d p o s t u l a t e d a t h r u s t a t t h e c o n t a c t between S
alt Range formation and Khewra sandstone. Gee (1945)mapped
the entire
salt range
and concluded
that the
contact betweenK h e w r a s a n d s t o n e w i t h u n d e r l y i n g f o r m a t i o n i s s e d i m e n t a r y . T h e u
p p e r contact with Kussak formation is conformable.Khewra Sandstone has been observed in
Khewra Gorge during ourfield work. Sand grains of medium size have been observed
at thetype locality. Sedimentary features such as cross bedding are observed in Khewra gorge. The
lower contacts with sahwal marl member of salt range formation have been observed
gradational. The formation contains only few trace fossils which has been interpreted astrilobite trails by
Schindewolf and Seilacher (1955) and are not indicative of particular age. Sahni (1947)regarded age of
the formation Tertiary but the age of Khewra sandstone is early Cambrian because
overlying Kussak formation is not older than late early Cambrian.
The Siwalik Group was deposited in the Himalayan foreland basin system during the Middle Miocene
to Early Pleistocene ,and now occupies the southern frontal part of the Himalayan fold thrust belt.It
consists of a 4-6 km thickness of fluvial sediments laid down in the pale-foreland basin situated above the
downwardly Indian plate in a basin formed by the rising Himalaya. The Siwalik Group is bounded to the
north by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and to the south by the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), which
over thrusts Quaternary deposits. The Siwalik Group has been the focus of numerous lithostratigraphic,
sedimentologic and chronostratigraphic studies because of its great potential for elucidating the tectonic,
climatic and erosional histories of the Himalayaand the surrounding area. The faunal zones correspond to
lithofacies. The tripartite division consists of the Lower Siwaliks (Kamlial and Chinji Formations), Middle Siwaliks
(Nagri and Dhok Pathan Formations), and the Upper Siwaliks , Lithostratigraphy of the Siwalik Group, Karnali
River section, far-west Nepal Himalaya. Other work established a lithostratigraphy based on proportions of
mudstone, sandstone and conglomerateand dened the Kamlial, Chinji, Nagri, Dhok Pathan, Tatrot,Pinjor
and Boulder Conglomerate Formations, along with several magnetostratigraphic studies . These divisions are
now used as the standard stratigraphic nomenclature in Pakistan.In India, the classication from the Potwar Basin
50
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


has been broadly applied. Several studies have, however, dened different stratigraphy for some areas of
the Indian Siwaliks. The Geologists divided the succession into the Arung Khola, Binai Khola, Chitwan,
and Deorali Formations, in ascending order. The upper siwalik was divided into two formations.
The name of the zaluch group is drived from the zaluch nala which are present in the western
of the salt range which was proposed by Teichert in 1966.
The age of the group is range from the early Permian to late Permian.
The zaluch group is further divided in to three formations
7. Amb Formation
8. Wargal Limestone
9. Chhidru Formation
The Tobra Formation contains ostracizes, and fresh water bivalves, pollen, spores,microplanktons as
well as flora remains including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris . On the basis of fauna the age is
considered as Early Permian Warchha sandstone Formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The
sandstone is red,purple or lightershades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly,
friable and arkosic. Thepebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is
thick bedded. Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled. The Chiddru formation at the base is composed
of shale unit of yellowish grey to medium dark grey color with small phosphatic nodules. Above shale
beds of calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestones are present. The top most part is a white
sandstone bed which is medium to fine grained with subordinate shale partings and contains abundant
fossils.The formation has a transitional contact with underlying Wargal formation while its upper contact
is marked by a major unconformity the P-T boundary above which is the Mianwali formation of Triassic
age.

51
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

52
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016

REFERENCES
1.

"geology". Online Etymology Dictionary.

2.

. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A GreekEnglish Lexicon at thePerseus Project

3.

New Hampshire Geological Survey, Geologic maps, section Surficial Geologic Maps

4.

Hess, H. H. (November 1, 1962) "History Of Ocean Basins", pp. 599620 inPetrologic


studies: a volume in honor of A. F. Buddington. A. E. J. Engel, Harold L. James, and B. F.
Leonard (eds.) [New York?]: Geological Society of America.

5.

Kious, Jacquelyne; Tilling, Robert I. (February 1996). "Developing the Theory".This Dynamic
Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics. Kiger, Martha, Russel, Jane (Online ed.). Reston, Virginia,
USA: United States Geological Survey. . Retrieved 13 March 2009.

6. Kious, Jacquelyne; Tilling, Robert I. (February 1996). "Understanding Plate Motions". This
Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics. Kiger, Martha, Russel, Jane (Online ed.). Reston,
Virginia, USA: United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
7.

Wegener, A. (1999). Origin of continents and oceans. Courier Corporation..

8. International Commission on Stratigraphy. stratigraphy.org


9.

Amelin, Y. (2002). "Lead Isotopic Ages of Chondrules and Calcium-Aluminum-Rich


Inclusions". Science 297 (5587):
1678
83. Bibcode:2002Sci...297.1678A.doi:10.1126/science.1073950. PMID 12215641.

10. ^ b Patterson, C. (1956). "Age of Meteorites and the Earth". Geochimica et Cosmochimica
Acta 10: 230237. Bibcode:1956GeCoA..10..230P.doi:10.1016/0016-7037(56)90036-9.
11. ^ :a b Dalrymple, G. Brent (1994). The age of the earth. Stanford, California: Stanford Univ.
Press.
12. Reijer Hooykaas, Natural Law and Divine Miracle: The Principle of Uniformity in Geology,
Biology, and Theology, Leiden: EJ Brill, 1963.
13. Levin, Harold L. (2010). The earth through time (9th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley. p. 18.
14. Olsen, Paul E. (2001). "Steno's Principles of Stratigraphy". Dinosaurs and the History of Life.
Columbia University. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
15. Tucker, R. D.; Bradley, D. C.; Ver Straeten, C. A.; Harris, A. G.; Ebert, J. R.; McCutcheon, S.
R. (1998). "New UPb zircon ages and the duration and division of Devonian time". Earth and
Planetary Science Letters 158 (34): 175186.
16. Rollinson, Hugh R. (1996). Using geochemical data evaluation, presentation, interpretation.
Harlow: Longman. .

53
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

FIELD REPORT BKUC 2016


17. Faure, Gunter (1998). Principles and applications of geochemistry: a comprehensive textbook
for geology students. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
18. Compton, Robert R. (1985). Geology in the field. New York: Wiley.
19. Lyell, Charles (1991). Principles of geology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Dalrymple, G.B. (1991). The Age of the Earth. California: Stanford University Press

54
IBRAR B.S 4TH GEOLOGY

You might also like