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Introduction The study area lies in western Salt Range near Mianwali (Chidru Nala Lat. 3233'19"N Long.

7147'17.6 E, Nammal Gorge Lat. 3239'17.4N" Long 7147'38.1 and E Zaluch Nala Lat. 3247'06.27N Long. 7138'49.0 E). (Fig.1).The earlier investigations of the Wargal Limestone were hampered by a lack of integration of the outcrop based Facies architecture and Microfacies analysis for a Sequence Stratigraphic modeling. Therefore present study is aimed at devising a useful tool for the analysis of petroleum system in the sequence Stratigraphic context. The study area is easily accessible from the Mianwali. From the village Paikhel it lies along Mianwali-Kalabagh road at 10 Km dirt track leads to the mouth of Zaluch Nala. Nammal Gorge section and Chidru section are located approximately 30km northeast of Mianwali along Mianwali- Musakhel road.

Nammal

DeraIsmailKhan

Scale

0 0

10 16

20 32

30 48 Kilometers

Z a u (Refrencesection) Nala SaltRange Studyarea

Fig.1.LocationmapofthestudyareaSaltrangeofPakistan. ModifiedafterGee1980,1989.

General Geology of the area During the Permian, a sedimentary platform developed on Gondwana continental crust in front of the Indian Shield (P.J.R.G., 1985). Active rifting in the southern Tethyan Basin is represented by Permian deposits in the Peshawar Basin and in Swat. In the Hazara (Pakistan) and the Zanskar areas (India) Permian rift basalts (Panjal Trap) are overlain by Uppermost Permian and Lower Triassic metasediments (Gaetani et al., 1990). North of the Kohistan Island Arc, Permian rocks are faunistically related to the Pamir province and to present-day northern Afghanistan. The field area is located in the Salt Range, Pakistan (Fig) (Wardlaw and Pogue, 1995a). Zaluch section, Nammal section and Chidru

section because of its easy accessibility and the abundant exposures of highly fossiliferous sedimentary sequences, has attracted the geologists since long time. The controversial Permo-Triassic boundary and occurrence of petroleum in nearby areas has further added to the attraction. A few more Paleozoic species were described by De ernevil term Productus Limestone. Salt Range can further be subdivided into Eastern, Central and Western parts. Salt Range with its Trans-Indus extension exposes the complete section from Precambrian to Quaternary. The Zaluch section, Nammal section and Chidru section are the bestexposed sections for the study of Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary (K/T boundary) in Pakistan. Moreover the Triassic rock exposures are excellently developed and well exposed by stream cuts. The Lower contact of the Triassic sequence i.e. the contact of Mianwali Formation with the underlying Chhidru Formation (Permian) is marked by Paraconformity. The Tredian Formation conformably overlies the Mianwali Formation, which in turn is overlain by the Kingriali Formation. The upper contact with the Datta Formation is marked by an unconformity being marked by a conglomerate bed at the top of the Kingriali Formation. Stratigraphy The rocks exposed in the Salt Range are exclusively sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Eocene. Details of stratigraphic sequence are as: The Paleozoic rocks of the Salt Range include Jehlum Group of Cambrian age including continental to shallow marine sandstone. Also include limestone and dolomite. The younger Paleozoic rocks include Nilawahan and Zaluch Groups of Permian age rocks of continental origin mostly composed of sandstone and marine limestone respectively. The Mesozoic rocks of the Salt Range include Musakhel Group (Mianwali, Tredian & Kingriali Formations) of Triassic age, the Jurassic (Surghar Group) Datta, Shinawari and Samanasuk Formations and Chichali, Lumshiwal and Kawagarh Formations of Cretaceous age These rocks belong to a wide variety of environment including fluvial, deltaic, shallow marine and deep marine. Stratigraphy of Nammal Gorge Nammal Gorge has the best exposures of the Upper Permian, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic rocks. The oldest rocks exposed in Nammal Gorge belong to the Permian Zaluch Group.

The Triassic MusaKhel Group overlies the Permian Zaluch Group. The boundary between the Permian and Triassic is a Paraconformity. On top of the Triassic sequence there is a thick succession of the Jurassic (Surghar Group) Datta Formation. There is a very thin unit of the Samanasuk Formation. Paleocene rocks of the Nammal Gorge include (Makarwal Group) Hangu, Lockhart and Patala Formations. The Eocene rocks include Nammal and Sakesar Formations (Chherat Group) Stratigraphy of Chidru Nala The oldest rocks in Chidru Nala belong to Precambrian to Eocene age. The Precambrian age Salt Range Formation that is the oldest rock sequence in the area. The Tobra Formation of the Nilawahan Group marks the base of the Permian sequence in the study area and grades upward into medium- to coarse-grained Warchha Sandstone, whereas Dandot Formation is missing in the area. The Warcha Sandstone is overlain by the Sardhai Formation with a transitional contact and is placed at the top of the highest massive sandstone bed and grades upward into the Amb Formation, which is composed of sandy limestone, gray in color and medium- to thick-bedded. The Amb Formation having a conformable contact grade upward into the Wargal Formation. It grades into the overlying Chidru Formation which is Para conformably overlain by the Mianwali Formation of early Triassic age. The upper contact of the Mianwali Formation is marked by the Tredian Formation, which consists of sandstone, shale and dolomite. The Tredian Formation is conformably overlain by Kingriali Formation, which is composed of dolomite and dolomitic limestone. The upper contact of the Kingriali Formation with the Data Formation is disconformable. The Data Formation marks the base of the Jurassic sequence and contains red, grey and white sandstone with siltstone, shale and mudstone and fine clay horizons. It grades upward into medium-bedded limestone, marl and sandstone of the Shinawari Formation, which is disconformably overlain by medium-bedded, grey limestone of Samana Suk Formation. Towards top of the Jurassic sequence overlies Chichali, Lumshiwal formations of Cretaceous age. The Cretaceous sequence is in turn overlain by Paleocene age rocks of the Hangu, Lockhart and Patala formations, whereas the youngest rock exposed in the area belongs the Eocene age and is represented by Nammal and Sakessar formations.

Stratigraphy of Zaluch Nala The rocks exposed in the Zaluch section ranges in age from Precambrian to Eocene. Details of Stratigraphic sequence are as:The Paleozoic rocks include Jhelum Group of Cambrian age including continental to shallow marine sandstone. Also include limestone and dolomite (Fatmi, 1973). The younger Paleozoic rocks include Nilawahan and Zaluch Groups of Permian age composed of continental to marine origin mostly sandstones and limestones (Shah, 1977). The Mesozoic rocks include rocks of Musakhel Group (Mianwali, Tredian & Kingriali Formations) of Triassic age, the Jurassic (Surghar Group) Datta, Shinawari and Samanasuk, Chichali, Lumshiwal and Kawagarh Formations of Cretaceous age. These rocks belong to a wide variety of environment including fluvial, deltaic, shallow marine and deep marine (Fatmi, 1973). Permian Stratigraphy of the study area The Permian Stratigraphy of the study area comprises of Nilawahan Group and Zaluch. The Early Permian stratigraphy of the Zaluch Nala comprises Nilawahan Group that includes from bottom to top the following formations. 3. Sardhai Formation 2. Warcha Sandstone 1. Tobra Formation The Late Permian stratigraphy of the study area are represented by Zaluch Group, which includes Amb, Wargal and Chhidru Formations from bottom to top. 3. Chhidru Formation 2. Wargal Formation 1. Amb Formation The Nilawahan group is dominantly composed of clays of variegated color, sandstones, shale and tillites, demonstrating variety of depositional environments. While Zaluch group represent platform carbonate sediments with minor interbedded shales i.e. variety of limestones including massive, thick to medium bedded, nodular and sandy. The Permian sequence exposed in Nammal section is Zaluch Group comprised of Wargal and Chhidru Formations. Rocks units include limestone, sandy limestone, interbedded shale and clays. The lower contact of these rocks is not exposed and the upper contact of Chhidru Formation with the Mianwali Formation of Triassic age is paraconformable.

GROUP Z al u c h G ro u p

FORMATION Chidru Formation Wargal Formation Amb Formation Sardai Formation

AGE Dzulfian/Chhidruan Murgabian Artinskian Sakmarian Sakmarina Asselian Asselian

(Predominantly marine)

Nilawahan

Group

Warcha Formation Dandot Formation Tobra Formatiom

(Predominantly continental)

Table. Stratigraphic Classification of Permian Formation (Slightly modified after P.J.R.G., 1985).

Measured Stratigraphic Sections of Wargal Formation Three stratigraphic sections were measured and sampled (Fig. 1-4). These sections are Zaluch Nala, Nammal Gorge and Chidru Nala. Zaluch Nala Teichert (1966) measured and described the section of Wargal Formation at Zaluch Nala and designated as a temporary standard pending further study of the formation near the village Wargal, which he believed, would be a suitable type locality. Including the uppermost nodular beds, the thickness of the formation is 174m. Teichert (1966) reported 179m of the section. However the difference in thickness is probably due to different

interpretation of the faulted section at approximately 40m above the base. Fossils are very abundant throughout the formation.
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Dolomite 80 140 5 Cherty Limestone 0 Sandy Dolomite

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Fig.2 Columnar section of Wargal Limestone Zaluch Nala Salt Range pakistan.

Nammal Gorge Nammal Gorge contains a well exposed section of the Wargal Formation on the north east list of a faulted anticline. The lowermost few meters in the core of the anticline is not

exposed. Teichert and Kummel (1966, 1970) reported 146 thicknesses in the Nammal Gorge. The thickness of the Formation is 156m.

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Limestone Dolomite Cherty Dolomite

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Dolomitic Limestone

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Sandy Dolomite Shale Cherty Limetone

20 80 140

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Fig.3 Columnar section of Wargal Formation Nammal Gorge Salt Range Pakistan.

Chidru Nala This Nala is for about 6km northeast of Chidru village. The Wargal Formation, including the upper nodular beds is at least 138m at Chidru Nala. This is reached by proceeding east from Mianwali past Musa Khel for about 5 km then turn right on dirt road and proceed 4

km. Turn right and go 1.5 km. The measured section is east of the road. Brachiopods, brozons, mulluscs, crinoids and other groups are abundant through the Formation.

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90 Limestone 20

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Shale
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Dolomitic Limestone

Fig.4 Columnar section of Wargal Formation Chidru Nala Salt Range pakistan

General Lithology of Wargal formation The base of the Wargal formation consists of sandy dolomite and dolomitic limestone (Fig. 2-4), however limestone and subordinate dolomite and marl are characteristic for the entire formation. References Fatmi, 1974, Lithostratigraphic units of the Kohat-Potwar province, Indus Basin, Pakistan. Mem. Geol. Surv. Pakistan Vol. 10, 1-80. Gee, E.R., 1980, Salt Range Maps. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Lahore. Gee, E.R., 1989, Overview of the geology and structure of the Salt Range, with observation on related areas of northern Pakistan. In: Malinconico, L.L., Lillie, R.J. (Eds.), Tectonics of the Western Himalayas: Geological Society of America Special paper, vol. 232, pp. 95112. P.J.R.G (Pakistani Japanese Research Group), 1985. Permian and Triassic system in the Salt Range and the Surghar Range, Pakistan. In: Nakazawa, K., Dickins, J.M. (Eds.), The Tethys, pp. 221-312. Wardlaw and Pogue, 1995, The Permian of Pakistan. In: Scholle, P.A., Peryt, T.M., Ulmer-Scholle, D.S. (Eds.), The Permian of Northern Pangea, Vol. 2, Sedimentary Basins and Economic Resources, Springer, Berlin, pp 215-224.

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