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Chapter # 4 Stratigraphy 1 STRATIGRAPHY 4.1 Introduction The mapped area is the western part of the Central Salt Range. All the rocks exposed in the area are of sedimentary in origin. They range in age from Eocambrian (Salt Range Formation) to Eocene (Sakesar Limestone). There are two major Unconformities in mapped area that is: 1. Base Permian 2. Base Tertiary The rock units exposed in the mapped area are as follow: ` Recent to Sub Recent alluvium Early Eocene Sakesar Limestone Early Eocene Nammal Formation Late Paleocene Patala Formation Early to late Paleocene Lokhart Formation Early Paleocene Hangu Formation Unconformity Early Triassic Mianwali Formation Paraconformity Late Permian Chhidru Formation Late Permian Wargal Limestone Late Permian Amb Formation Early Permian Sardhai Formation Early Permian Warchha Sandstone Early Permian Dandot Formation Early Permian Tobra Formation Unconformity Early Cambrian Khewra Sandstone Eocambrian Salt Range Formation The formations exposed in the mapped area are given in the stratigraphic table (Figure 4.2).

Transcript of Chapter 4 Stratigraphy

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STRATIGRAPHY

4.1 Introduction

The mapped area is the western part of the Central Salt Range. All the

rocks exposed in the area are of sedimentary in origin. They range in age from

Eocambrian (Salt Range Formation) to Eocene (Sakesar Limestone). There are

two major Unconformities in mapped area that is:

1. Base Permian

2. Base Tertiary

The rock units exposed in the mapped area are as follow: `

Recent to Sub Recent alluvium

Early Eocene Sakesar Limestone

Early Eocene Nammal Formation

Late Paleocene Patala Formation

Early to late Paleocene Lokhart Formation

Early Paleocene Hangu Formation

Unconformity

Early Triassic Mianwali Formation

Paraconformity

Late Permian Chhidru Formation

Late Permian Wargal Limestone

Late Permian Amb Formation

Early Permian Sardhai Formation

Early Permian Warchha Sandstone

Early Permian Dandot Formation

Early Permian Tobra Formation

Unconformity

Early Cambrian Khewra Sandstone

Eocambrian Salt Range Formation

The formations exposed in the mapped area are given in the stratigraphic

table (Figure 4.2).

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The location of the project area in the Salt Range is shown in figure 4.2.

Figure 4.1 Diagrammatic sketch showing stratigraphic settings and major

unconformities exposed in the Salt Range and the project area (from

(Gee, 1989 and Kazmi and Jan, 1997).

4.2.1 Salt Range Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The term “Salt Range Formation” has been introduced by Asrarullah

(1962) after the Salt Range in the Punjab Province. Previously it was named as

"Saline Series” by Wynne (1878) and “Punjab Saline Series” by Gee (1945).

Khewra Gorge (lat. 32°40’N; long. 73°00’30” E) in the Eastern Salt Range,

Jhelum district, Punjab Province, has been designated as the type section (Shah,

1977).

Lithology

In the project area the Formation is composed of gypseous marl in the

lower part (Plate 4.1). The marl is massive and includes gypsum, dolomite and

clay. Quartz crystals of variable sizes are also present in this marl. It is white to

light grey in color. It is massive and is associated with bluish grey clay. The

dolomite is light in color. It is flaggy and cherty in nature. It is associated with

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dolomitic shales, bituminous shales (Plate 4.2). The oil shales when freshly

broken give off oily smell. Oil shales are of dark brown color and weathering color

is very dark. There are elongated nodules containing bituminous material. They

show cavities filled with calcite. They are very hard and compact.

Distribution and Thickness

Khewra Sandstone is widely distributed in the southern parts of the area,

but it is only restricted in the nalas. Its thickness was not measured because

base of the formation is not exposed.

Topographic Expression

It forms steep slopes in the nalas.

Contacts

Base of the formation is not exposed anywhere including the study area.

The upper contact with the Khewra Sandstone is transitional.

Age

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. (Kazmi and Jan,

1997).

4.2.2 Khewra Sandstone

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The “Khewra Group” of Noetling (1894) is formalized as Khewra

Sandstone after the Khewra town in the Punjab Province. Other terms were

"Purple Sandstone Series” of Wynne (1878), "Khewra Group” of Noetling (1894)

and “Purple Sandstone” of most subsequent authors. Khewra Gorge (lat.

32°40’N; long. 73°00’E) in the Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum district, Punjab

Province, is designated as the type locality.

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Lithology

Khewra Sandstone dominantly consists of sandstone with minor amount

of shale. 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

(Plate 4.3, 4.4).

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. It is 98m thick in the Nanj Nala.

Topographic Expression

It forms broken cliffs above the Salt Range Formation.

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Contacts

The contact of Khewra Sandstone with the underlying Salt Range

Formation is conformable and gradational (Plate 4.5). Its upper contact with

Tobra Formation is Unconformable and sharp (Plate 4.6).

Age

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” (Schindewolf 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.

4.2.3 Tobra Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

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 previous literature. Tobra village (lat.

32°40’N; long. 72°50’E) Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum district, Punjab Province

Lithology

The formation includes following units from base to top (Plate 4.7).

• Boulders which are mainly pink granites and grayish quartzite.

• Red pebble bedded sandstone.

• Grayish cross bedded siltstone (Plate 4.8).

• White massive sandstone.

• Black shale with grit lenses (Plate 4.9).

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Distribution and Thickness

It is only present in the southern part of the project area, along nalas. The

formation has a thickness of 10m.

Topographic Expression

It tends to form steep slopes.

Contacts

The lower contact of the Tobra Formation is a widespread unconformity

with Khewra Sandstone. 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

The Tobra Formation contains ostracodes, and fresh water bivalves,

pollen, spores, microplanktons as well as flora remains including Glossopteris

and Gangamopteris (Reed 1936). On the basis of fauna the age is considered as

Early Permian (Shah, 1977).

4.2.4 Dandot Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The “Dandot Group” of Noetling (1901 a, b) is formalized as Dandot

Formation after the village Dandot in Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum district, Punjab

Province. "Olive Series", "Conularia Beds", "Erydesma Beds” of Wynne (1878),

"Speckled Sandstone" of Waagen (1879), and "Dandot Group" of Noetling (1901)

were different names assigned for this formation. East of Dandot (lat. 32°39’N;

long. 72°58’E) Jhelum district, Punjab Province. The Khewra-Choa Saiden Shah

road section is designated as the principal reference section.

Lithology

In the project area the lithology consists of light-grey to olive green

sandstone with occasional pebbly beds and subordinate dark grey and greenish

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splintery shales.

Distribution and Thickness

The formation is well exposed toward the Kund village, in the project area

it is not well exposed due to the presence of Colluvial matter. The thickness of

this formation in the mapped area is 12m.

Topographic Expression

It forms the poorly exposed slopes below the cliffs of Warchha Sandstone.

Contacts

The Dandot Formation has a gradational contact with the underlying Tobra

Formation. The upper contact with Warchha Sandstone is conformable and

sharp

Fossils

The Formation contains rich fauna of brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods,

pteropods, bryozoans and ostracodes, as well as spores (Kadri, 1995).

Age

On the basis of the stratigraphic position of the formation above the Tobra

Formation, and the presence of fauna in the formation, Early Permian age has

been assigned.

4.2.5 Warchha Sandstone

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The name “Warchha Sandstone“ was coined by Hussain (1967), prior to

this other terms were “Warchha Group“ by Noetling (1901) after the Warchha

Gorge in the Salt Range in Mianwali district, Punjab Province. "Middle Speckled

Sandstone" of Waagen (1889-91) and "Speckled Sandstone" of Gee (1945) were

also prevalent in literature. The type section of Warchha Sandstone is Warchha

Gorge (lat. 32°27’N; long. 71°58’E), in Central Salt Range, Punjab Province.

Lithology

This formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The sandstone is red,

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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. It is highly jointed and is locally

speckled (Plate 4.10).

Distribution and Thickness

The formation is widely distributed in the southern part of the mapped

area. It is mainly present along the nalas; it is also present in the northern part

near Kathwai. It is 57m thick in the project area.

Topographic Expression

It tends to form cliffs.

Contacts

The lower contact with Dandot Formation is conformable and sharp. The

upper contact with the Sardhai Formation is transitional which is placed at the top

of the highest massive sandstone.

Fossils

No diagnostic fossils are known from this formation except from worm-

casts and petrified wood (Fatmi, 1973).

Age

On the basis of stratigraphic position, Early Permian age has been

assigned to this formation.

4.2.6 Sardhai Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The name Sardhai Formation as approved by the Stratigraphic Committee

of Pakistan was given by Gee. Prior to Gee (in Pascoe 1959) had called it

“Lavender clay stage”. Wynne (1878) had called it “Lavender clays” and Noetling

(1901) called it the “upper part of Warchha Group”. The type section as

suggested by Gee is in the Sardhai Gorge in the eastern part of the Salt Range.

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Lithology

This formation consists of bluish, lavender, purplish and greenish grey

clay with subordinate bands of sandy limestone. This formation shows variation

in color. Intercalated sandstone is white in color. At some places carbonaceous

shale is also present.

Distribution and Thickness

This formation outcrops in southern part of areas mostly along the road. It

is approximately 7m thick.

Topographic Expressions

It is poorly exposed along the slopes. It is easily eroded due to its soft

nature and forms irregular streams and gullies.

Contacts

It has transitional contact with Warchha Sandstone. The upper contact

with Amb Formation is lithologically well defined (Plate 4.11). Both lower and

upper contacts are conformable

Fossils

Hussain (1960) has reported the following fossils from the sandy

limestone beds: Anastomopora sp., Fenestella sp., Athyris sp. distinct plant

fossils are also reported in carbonaceous bands of the formation.

Age

The age on the basis of above fossils is Early Permian.

4.2.7 Amb Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The name “Amb sandstone beds” was introduced by Waagen (1891) and

Teichert (1965) suggested the name Amb Formation, which was formalized by

the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan. The name has been derived from the

village of Amb in the Central Salt Range, which is designated as the type section

for the formation.

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Lithology

The formation consists of sandstone, sandy limestone, calcareous

sandstone and shales. The sandstone is brownish grey and is medium to thick

bedded. It is fine to medium-grained. The limestone is sandy, brownish grey,

medium bedded. The shales are grey to dark grey, sandy in some beds.

Distribution and Thickness

This formation is widely distributed in the central and northern part of the

project area. In the central part, it outcrops below the Wargal Limestone cliffs

where the nalas start. It is mostly covered with the Wargal Limestone’s scree. In

the project area it is not more than 16 meters.

Topographic Expression

It forms poorly exposed slopes.

Contacts

It conformably overlies the Sardhai Formation and underlies the Wargal

Limestone. The contact with the both formations is gradational in nature.

Fossils

Passcoe (1959) listed about 165 species from the Amb Formation of

which only about 28 are mollusks. The lower part is rich in fusilinids and various

species of brachiopods, bryozoans, bivalves and gastropods has been reported.

Numerous crinoidal stems and algae are seen in thin-section.

Age On the basis of the above fossils the formation is considered to be of Early

Permian age.

4.2.8 Wargal Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The “Wirgal Group” of Noetling (1901) is formalized as Wargal Formation

after the village Wargal in the Central Salt Range, Punjab Province.

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Lithology

The formation consists of grey dolomitic limestone (Plate 4.12). The

limestone is thick bedded to massive and highly fractured. Stylolites and

stromatictic structures are observed in the limestone (Plate 4.13, 4.14). In the

upper part nodular limestone interbedded with marl is present.

Distribution and Thickness

This formation is widely distributed in the mapped area and it forms bold

cliff. Thickness of this formation in the project area is 59 meters.

Topographic Expression

It forms rugged, bold cliffs and prominent steep slopes.

Contacts

The contact of Wargal Limestone with the underlying Amb Formation is

conformable and is not well defined. The upper contact with Chhidru Formation is

transitional.

Fossils

Brachiopods, Sponges, Corals, and Crinoids were recognized during the

field excursion. Passcoe (1959) listed about 400 fossils species from this

formation, roughly two-third of them being Brachiopods. Many other fossils are

reported such as bivalves, Gastropods, Trilobites, Otracodes and fishes.

Age

The age of the formation is Late Permian.

4.2.9 Chhidru Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The name “Chhidru beds” was given by Waagen (1891) and

“Chhidru Group” by Noetling to the topmost beds of commonly known “Productus

Limestone” and is derived from Chhidru Nala. The name Chhidru Formation was

introduced by Dunbar (1932) which is now formalized.

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Lithology

In the mapped area the formation begins with pale-yellowish grey to

medium dark grey shales. This underlies a sequence of dirty brown color sandy

limestone and calcareous sandstone, also greenish khaki sandstone with clay

beds. A hardground in Chhidru Formation is exposed near Narwari Garden(Plate

4.15).

Distribution and Thickness

This formation is widely distributed in the mapped area and it forms flat

area above the Wargal Limestone cliffs. Thickness of this formation in the project

area is 30 meters.

Contacts

The lower contact with Wargal Limestone is conformable. The upper

contact is unconformable, near the village Kathwai its upper contact is marked by

a Paraconformity with the Mianwali Formation while in the rest of the area the

upper contact with the Hangu Formation is unconformably (Plate 4.17). It is sharp

and well defined marked by Laterite.

Fossils

The formation is fossiliferous containing brachiopods, ammonoids, and

corals (Plate 4.16). The genus Ammonoids cyclous is restricted to this formation

(Kummel and Teichert, 1970).

Age

The age of the formation is Late Permian.

4.2.10 Mianwali Formation

Nomenclature and type Locality

The name “Mianwali Series” was used by Gee (in Pascoe 1959) and later

modified by Kummel (1966) into a formation. It represents the lower part of Gee’s

“Mianwali Series” and incorporates all of Waagen’s (1879, 1895) facies. Type

locality of the formation is Nammal Gorge Western Salt Range.

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Lithology

The formation mainly consists of limestone, shale, dolomite, sandstone

and marl. The following three members have been recognized by Kummel (1966)

in the Salt Range:

• Narmia Member

• Mittiwali Member and

• Kathwai Member

But in the project area, only two members exposed that is Kathwai and

Mittiwali member.

Kathwai Member

The Kathwai member was used by Kummel and Teichert (1966) after its

type locality near Kathwai. It consists of dolomite in the lower part and limestone

in the upper part. The limestone is cream colored. The dolomite is fine crystalline,

thinly bedded and contains numerous fossils fragment. Ammonite fossils are

abundant. The thickness of this unit at this locality is 3.5 meters.

Mittiwali Member

The Mittiwali Member contains light grey to greenish brown sandy

limestone that grades into calcareous sandstone with marly horizons (Plate

4.18).

Distribution and Thickness

The formation is not well exposed in the project area. It is absent in the

southern part of the area. Kathwai Member was found near Kathwai village and

Mittiwali Member was found on the while going from Dada Golra to Chhapar

Sharif. In both the locations the formation is covered by scree, and hard to

measure the thickness.

Topographic Expression

It generally forms slopes.

Contacts

The lower contact with Chhidru Formation is marked by a Paraconformity

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while the upper contact with the Hangu Formation is unconformably. It is sharp

and well defined marked by Laterite.

Fossils

The formation contains bivalves, brachiopods, ammonoids, nautiloids,

echinoid spines and crinoidal remains (Kummel and Teichert, 1970). Mainly

ceratite are present in the formation.

Age

On the basis of above fossils the age of the formation is Early Triassic.

4.2.11 Hangu Formation

Nomenclature and type Locality

Davies and Pinfold (1973) used the term “Dhak Pass Beds” for the lower

most rocks of Paleozoic age, exposed in Dhak Pass on Mianwali- Talagang road.

Danilchik and Shah (1967) substituted the term “Formation” for the “Beds” in

compliance with the Stratigraphic code of Pakistan. Exposures of these beds is

the Surghar Range were referred as “Makarwal Coal Stage” by E. R Gee in

1938.The Hangu Shale and Hangu Sandstone of Davies (1930) from Kohat area

have been formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan (1973) as

Hangu Formation. Type section of the formation is Fort Lockhart in the Samana

Range.

Lithology

In the project area, the lithology is marked by Laterite which and is

composed of sandstone in the lower part. The sandstone is white in color,

weathers to rusty brown. It is massive and friable. Above this quartz arenite unit

there is ferruginous sandstone. The ferruginous sandstone shows tidal bedding.

It is rusty brown in color (Plate 4.19).

Distribution and Thickness

The formation is well exposed in the mapped area. It is not found along

the nalas but found in the north where nalas start. Its thickness in the project

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area is 8m.

Topographic Expression

It forms gentle slopes on weathering. Contacts

In the southern part of the project area the upper and lower contact of the

formation is with Patala Formation and Chhidru Formation (Plate 4.20), while in

the northern part its upper contact is with Lockhart Limestone and lower contact

is with Mianwali Formation.

Fossils

No fossils evidence was seen in the field survey. However, Davies (1937),

Cox (1933) reported the mollusks and corals from the upper part of Hangu

formation.

Age

On the basis of the above fossil evidence, and stratigraphic position, Early

Paleocene age is assigned to this formation.

4.2.12 Lockhart Limestone

Nomenclature and type Locality

Davies (1930) introduced the term “Lockhart Limestone” for the Paleocene

Limestone in the Kohat area after Fort Kohat in Western Kohat. This name is

extended by the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan for similar units in

neighboring areas.

Lithology

In the mapped area it consists of brown grey nodular limestone which is

well bedded and highly fossiliferous (Plate 4.20).

Distribution and Thickness

This formation is not well exposed in the project area. The only outcrop

present in mapped area was seen along the footpath leading from Dada Golra to

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Chapphar Sharif where it is exposed in a very small area. It is not more than 3m

in the project area.

Contacts

The Lockhart limestone conformably overlies the Hangu Formation and

underlies the Patala Formation.

Fossils

This limestone is highly fossiliferous. It contains the same type of fossils

as Nammal Formation. Lockartia, Assilina, Nummulites was reported in the

formation.

Age

Paleocene age is assigned to this limestone on the basis of the above

fossils.

4.2.13 Patala Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The "Patala Shale" of Davies and Pinfold (1937) is formalized as Patala

Formation after the Patala Nala in the Western Salt Range, Mianwali district,

Punjab Province. "Nummulitic Formation" of Wynne (1878), part of "Hill

Limestone" of Wynne (1873) and Cotter (1933); unit "4" of "Nummulitic Series" of

Middlemiss (1896); “Upper Ranikot Beds and Breccia cap" of Davies (1930);

“Patala Shale" of Davies and Pinfold (1937), "Tarkhobi Shales" of Eames (1952)

and “Kuzagali Shale” of Latif (1970 a) are the various terminology used for Patala

Formation in old literature. Patala Nala (lat. 32°40'N; long. 71°49'E), in Western

Salt Range, Mianwali district, Punjab Province has been designated as type

section.

Lithology

In the mapped area, this formation consists of shales which are dark

greenish grey in color. The carbonaceous shale has selenite crystals. Coal

seams of economic value are present in the carbonaceous shales. Marl is also

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present in this area of dark grey color. Nodular limestone which is grey in color is

also interbedded in shales. Reddish and purplish encrustations are present due

to alteration. Sandstone which is yellow brown is present in the upper part.

Distribution and Thickness

The formation is distributed in the northern part of the project area. The

thickness in the project area is 10m.

Topographic Expression

It forms gentle slopes below the cliff forming Nammal Limestone.

Contacts

The formation overlies unconformably the Hangu Formation except at one

place near Dada Golra Sharif it conformably overlain by Lockhart Limestone. It is

overlain conformably by Nammal Formation. The contact with Nammal Formation

is transitional.

Fossils

The Formation contains abundant foraminifera, mollusks, and ostracodes.

The larger Foraminifera include Assilina dandotica, A. granulosa, Daviesina

khatiyahi, Lockhartia conditi, L. hunti, Operculina canalifera, O. patalensis,

Rotalia dukhani and Sakesaria ornate (Kazmi and Abbasi, 2008). At some

localities ichnofossils are also found (Plate 4.22).

Age

The age of the formation is Late Paleocene.

4.2.14 Nammal Formation

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The "Nammal Limestone and Shale" of Gee is formalized as Nammal

Formation after the Nammal Gorge, in the Western Salt Range, Mianwali district

of Punjab Province. Prior to this other terms were "Nammal Limestone and

Shale" of Gee (1935), and "Nammal Marl" of Danilchik and Shah (1967). Nammal

Gorge, Western Salt Range, Punjab province, is type locality of this formation.

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Lithology

In the mapped area, lithology of this formation consists of limestone in the

upper part and marl below. Limestone and marl is almost is equal parts but marl

becomes dominant in the basal part. The limestone is whitish to medium grey,

argillaceous hard, dense, medium to thick bedded. It is nodular in part. Nodules

are mostly stretched. Crystallization of calcite was noted in the joints.

Foraminifera are seen as small whitish specks on the weathered surface. Marl is

whitish to medium grey calcareous claystone which becomes silty at places.

Distribution and Thickness

This formation is widely distributed in the northern part of the project area.

It forms continuous escarpments. It is 56m thick in the project area.

Topographic Expression

The Nammal Formation as a whole forms escarpments and the steep

slopes. Marl horizon forms slopes while limestone forms edges.

Contacts

The lower contact of Nammal Formation is placed at the top of gentle

slope formed by underlying Patala Formation. The contact is conformable with a

thin transitional zone of grey marl and shales. The upper contact with the

Sakesar Limestone is conformable, sharp and distinct (Plate 4.23).

Fossils

The Formation contains mollusks and foraminifera. Some important

foraminifera include Nummulites atacicus, N. subatacicus, N. mamillatus, N.

irregularis, Assilina granulosa, A. laminosa, A. spinosa, A. subspinosa, A.

daviesi, Lockartia tipperi, L. hunti, L. conditi and Discocyclina ranikotensis (Kazmi

and Abbasi, 2008).

Age

On the basis of the above fauna, Late Paleocene to Eocene age has been

assigned to this formation.

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4.2.15 Sakesar Limestone

Nomenclature and Type Locality

The term "Sakesar Limestone" has been introduced by Gee after the peak

Sakesar in the Central Salt Range. Sakesar Peak (lat. 32°31'30"N; long.

71°36'E), Central Salt Range. Principal reference section is Bhadrar village (lat.

32°41'N; long. 72°31'E) in Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum district, Punjab Province.

Lithology

The formation consists predominantly 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.

In the mapped area, the Sakesar limestone is composed of dense

homogeneous limestone which varies from light grey to dark grey in color. It is

massive to thick bedded and is highly fossiliferous at places.

Distribution and Thickness

It is widely distributed in the northern part of the mapped area. It is not

measured in the project area.

Topographic Expression

It forms high peaks, cliffs and prominent escarpment.

Contacts

The formation conformably overlies the Nammal Formation.

Fossils

The Sakesar Limestone has a sporadic capricious distribution of fossils.

Foraminifers are most abundant followed in numbers by mollusks and echinoids.

Age

On the base of fauna, Early Eocene age has been given to this unit

(Kazmi and Abbasi, 2008).

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Plate 4.1 Facing towards West, marl of Salt Range Formation in Chhibra Nala

(lat. 32° 27�4.43��, long. 72°14�38.89��)

Plate 4.2 Facing towards NW, dolomite and oil shales of Salt Range Formation in

Nanj Nala (lat. 32° 26�20.38��, long. 72°12�24.99��)

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Plate 4.3 Facing towards SE, wedge cross bedding in Khewra Sandstone, Nanj

Nala (lat. 32° 26�40.95��, long. 72°12�58.67��)

Plate 4.4 Facing towards SE, Thin horizon showing load-induced convolute

lamination in silty mudstone sandwiched between fine sandstone beds ( ball and

pillow structure), Khewra Sandstone, Nanj Nala (lat. 32° 26�42.76��, long.

72°12�23.74��)

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Plate 4.5 Facing towards NNW, contact between Salt Range Formation and

Khewra Sandstone, in Sola Nala (lat. 32° 27�27.33��, long. 72°13�5.51��)

Plate 4.6 Facing towards SE, contact between Khewra Sandstone and Tobra

Formation, in Chhibra Nala (lat. 32° 27�5.01��, long. 72°14�37.74��)

Khewra Sandstone

Salt Range Formation

Tobra Formation

Khewra Sandstone

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Plate 4.7 Facing towards NE, different lithologic units of Tobra Formation (lat. 32°

27�5.01��, long. 72°14�37.74��)

Plate 4.8 Facing towards E, tabular cross bedding in the siltstone unit of Tobra

Formation, Chhibra Nala (lat. 32° 27�5.01��, long. 72°14�37.74��)

Red Sandstone

Cross bedded

siltstone

Massive white

Sandstone

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Plate 4.9 Facing towards E, Grit lens in the black Shale of Tobra Formation,

Chhibra Nala (lat. 32° 27�5.01��, long. 72°14�37.74��)

Plate 4.10 Facing towards E, an outcrop of massive bedded Warchha

Sandstone, Chhibra Nala (lat. 32° 26�58.94��, long. 72°13�7.14��)

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Plate 4.11 Facing towards NNW, contact between Sardhai Formation and Amb

Formation along Sakesar-Khushab road (lat. 32° 26�42.75��, long. 72°13�41.34��)

Plate 4.12 Facing towards NNE, an outcrop of Wargal Limestone along Sakesar-

Khushab road (lat. 32° 27�59.04��, long. 72°13�38.77��)

Amb Formation

Sardhai Formation

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Plate 4.13 Facing towards EEN, stromatictic structure in Wargal Limestone (lat.

32° 31�59.49��, long. 72°12�58.47��)

Plate 4.14 Facing towards EEN, tooth like stylolites in Wargal Limestone (lat. 32°

31�59.21��, long. 72°12�58.74��)

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Plate 4.15 Facing towards SSW, a hardground in Chhidru Formation along

Sakesar-Khushab road (lat. 32° 27�59.04��, long. 72°13�38.77��)

Plate 4.16 Facing towards NNW, abundant Productus in Chhidru Formation

along Sakesar-Khushab road (lat. 32° 28�7.44��, long. 72°13�39.58��)

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Plate 4.17 Facing towards SE, contact between Chhidru Formation and Hangu

Formation, near Dada Golra Sharif (lat. 32° 27�35.73��, long. 72°11�20.39��)

Plate 4.18 Facing towards NNW, Mittiwali Member of Mianwali Formation, near

Dada Golra Sharif (lat. 32° 27�44.54��, long. 72°11�43.23��)

Hangu

Formation

Chhidru

Formation

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Plate 4.19 Facing towards N, different units in Hangu Formation, near Dada

Golra Sharif along Sakesar-Khushab road (lat. 32° 28�4.3��, long. 72°12�8.9��)

Plate 4.20 Facing towards NE, contact between Hangu Formation and Patala

Formation along Sakesar-Khushab road (lat. 32° 28�8.61��, long. 72°13�43.10��)

White Quartz

Arenite

Tidal bedded Sandstone

Massive ferruginous Sandstone

Patala Formation

Hangu Formation

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Plate 4.21 Facing towards S, only outcrop of Lockhart Limestone, near Dada

Golra Sharif (lat. 32° 28�51.09��, long. 72°12�24.48��)

Plate 4.22 Facing towards NNE, Ichno fossils in Patala F2ormation, near

Chapphari village (lat. 32° 28�26.��, long. 72°13�10.56��)

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Plate 4.23 Facing towards NE, contact between Nammal Formation and Sakesar

Limestone along Sakesar-Khushab road (lat. 32° 28�47.05��, long. 72°12�36.65��)

Sakesar Limestone

Nammal Formation