Geological research on Pakistan DIR BALA area with my talented team mates. This research is on meta volcanic sequence rocks along the spot of Eurasian plate and to the end of Indian plate.
1. FIELD REPORT ON DIR
SUBMITTED BY:
MUJTABA AKHTAR 01-161162-021
FAWAD AHSAN 01-161162-011
UBEER AHMAD 01-161161-095
TAYYAB MAQSOOD BUTT 01-161162-025
ABDUL MANNAN 01-161162-003
BS GEOLOGY 7A
DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BAHRIA UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD
2019
2. i
ABSTRACT
Department of Earth and Environmental science Bahria university Islamabad had arranged a
four-day field trip to Dir to study its geological and tectonically features. The trip was planed
from 5th to 8th December 2019. The purpose of the field was to let the inexperienced student
to become more comfortable with the diverse geological field strategies and prepare to work
in the field and learn about how it all works. We departed for the field on 5th of December and
10:30 am. During our field we stayed at Shelton hotel Timargara. Our study area was a part of
KIA, that was situated in the northern area of Pakistan. KIA which is sandwiched between
MMT and MKT. The area is highly deformed and showed complex and diverse tectonic feature
along with different minerals and rock unit. The are of KIA was composed of different groups
named as Dir group, Utror volcanic, kamila amphibolite, Yasin group, Gilgit complex and
chilas complex respectively. Diversity of the area is because of thrusting. The area contains
metamorphic and igneous rocks of different origin and types.
3. ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am thankful to Bahria University Islamabad due to which our field trip was conducted under
the supervision of respectable professors Sir Saqib Mehmood and Dr Zafar. It was great
opportunity for us to clarify our theoretical knowledge. Our field was conducted on 5th
of
December till 8th
of December 2019. Moreover, facility of transport, accommodation,
equipment’s were such that every individual got the equal rights. From the very first day both
of our professors were so cooperated that they helped us out in every way as they can. During
our field we not only examine the things related to our course, but we also avail the golden
opportunity to classify different kinds of minerals that were originated from different parts of
Pakistan, under the supervision of minerals traders and our respected teachers. Overall it was
a great experience and it was only possible only due the efforts of our respected and honorable
teachers.
7. vi
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Map showing route to Dir. KPK, Pakistan ................................................................. 1
Figure 2 (a) Nowshera Reef Complex (b) Trace fossil of Trilobite ........................................ 6
Figure 3 (a) Contact between KP and Nowshera Reef (b) Text demarcation of the contact .... 8
Figure 4 (a) Sedimentary dyke in Jalala lake complex (b) Caliche deposits ........................... 9
Figure 5 Kamila Amphibolite.............................................................................................. 11
Figure 6 (a) Xenolith in the granite (b) Garnet in Granite (c) Quartz veins in Granite .......... 12
Figure 7 Hornblendite/ Pyroxenoid in Chilas Complex........................................................ 13
Figure 8 Rhyolite in Chilas Complex................................................................................... 14
Figure 9 (a) Magmatic structure and Augen Gneiss (b) Epidotization (c) Andesite .............. 15
Figure 10 Kink folds and quartz veins in Gilgit Complex .................................................... 16
Figure 11 Xenolith in Diorite .............................................................................................. 19
Figure 12 Meta-Volcanic in Dir Group................................................................................ 20
Figure 13 Gulabad flourospar mine ..................................................................................... 21
Figure 14 Malakand Granite................................................................................................ 22
8. 1
CHAPTER # 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Location and Accessibility:
Dir which is a small town in District of upper Dir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, Pakistan
at a rise of 1420 m. It is some of the time known as Dir Khas to recognize it from the area. It
lies at the foot of the Lowarai Pass, the fundamental engine street to Chitral, on the Dir River,
a tributary of the Panjkora River.
Dir was established in the seventeenth century. It was the capital of the previous royal
territory of Dir, until its cancelation in 1969. The previous regal castle is on a slope over the
town. Dir was then the capital of Dir District, however, was supplanted as capital by Timergara,
before the area was partitioned in 1996.
The area of study covers about 900 Sq. Km and is situated between latitude 34° 47 N
to 35° N and longitude 71° 34 E to 71° 55 E in Dir district, northern Pakistan. It covers most
parts of the lower and the upper Dir and Timergara. Timergara is the area and is located about
190 Km north of Peshawar and 85 Km southwest of Dir. The main access to the area is along
Peshawar- Chitral, and Peshawar -Bajaur roads. Several metalled and unmetalled roads connect
various localities of the Timargara area.
Figure 1 Map showing route to Dir. KPK, Pakistan
1.2 Objectives:
The primary objective of the field was to learn and study about geology outside classroom.
(i) To enhance our knowledge of geology of Dir and surrounding area.
9. 2
(ii) To get familiar with different kinds of field tools and equipment.
(iii) To learn how to measure dip and strike.
(iv) To learn how to distinguish between rocks types.
(v) To learn how to study outcrops.
(vi) To learn about geological mapping.
(vii) To learn about fossil and facie analysis.
(viii) To learn how to distinguish between igneous and metamorphic rocks.
(ix) To enhance our knowledge about metamorphic facies.
(x) To get know how about minerals and gemstones.
1.3 Instrumentation and methodology:
Different instruments and methods were used during a four-day field.
(i). Maps were used to plot the location using Latitudes and Longitudes
(ii). Hammer was used to chip out the rock samples and to check hardness of different
rocks.
(iii). Hand lens was used to identify the different minerals.
(iv). HCL was used to identify different calcite veins and carbonates rocks
10. 3
CHAPTER # 2
GEOLOGY AND TECTONICS OF DIR
2.1 Geology and Tectonics of Kohistan arc terrane:
The Kohistan arc terrane of northern Pakistan occupies an area of about 36000 Km^2
between the higher Himalayas in the south and Karakoram-Hindukush in the north. It is a part
of the Kohistan-Ladakh island arc, which represents a cross-section through an intra-oceanic
island arc sequence which developed as a part of the northward subduction of Neotethyan
oceanic lithosphere during late Jurassic and Cretaceous times (Honegger et al., 1982;
Tahirkheli and Jan 1979; Searle et al., 1987). This arc mainly comprises a diverse suite of
volcanic, plutonic, and subordinate sedimentary rocks which are variably deformed and
metamorphosed. The Kohistan arc is separated from the Ladakh arc by the N-S trending Nanga
Parbat Haramosh dome (Zeitler, 1985). The Kohistan island arc is bounded by major fault
structures from all sides; it is separated from the Karakoram plate in the north by Northern or
Shyoke suture or Main Karakoram Thrust (MKT), from Indian plate in the south by the Indus
suture or Main Mantle Thrust (MMT) and from the Nanga Parbat- massif in the east by the
Ranikot fault.The Karakoram plate consists of Palaeozoic and subordinate Mesozoic sediments
into which the Khunjarab- Wakhan- Tirichmir granodiorites of the Jurassic to Cretaceous and
the Karakoram batholiths of Cretaceous to Tertiary age are emplaced (Debon et al., 1987). The
Indian plate is made up of Precambrian to Cambrian basement and Palaeozoic to Mesozoic and
Tertiary cover. Several episodes of plutonic activity ranging from Precambrian to Perm-
Triassic and even Himalayan age have been recorded in the Indian plate margin in northern
Pakistan (for detail see Chamberlain et al., 1991; Jan and Karim, 1990; LeFort et al., 1980;
Shams, 1983).
The Kohistan arc contains complete island arc crust including rocks from the top
sedimentary cover to those at the Moho (Tahirkheli et al., 1979; Jan 1980; Bard et al., 1980;
Coward et al., 1985; Miller and Cristenson, 1994). Broad aspects of the tectonic evolution of
the terrane are now reasonably well constrained as a result of reconnaissance mapping,
structural analyses and radiometric dating in the last decade or so. Recent tectonic models for
the development of north-western Himalayas suggest that the initial separation of the Indian
plate from the Gondwanian continent occur at about 120 Ma ago in Early Cretaceous (Powell,
1979). Its rapid movement relative to Australia/Antarctica, with the average rate of 15 cm/year,
took place within 80 Ma to approximately 53 Ma (Powell, 1979) until it collided with Eurasia
11. 4
during the Early Tertiary (LeFort, 1975; Molnar and Tapponnier, 1977; Powell, 1979;
Klootwijk et al., 1992;).
The Indus-Zangpo Suture (ISZ) which represent the collisional boundary in the
southern Tibet, bifurcate further west into MKT (Northern or Shyoke suture) and MMT (Indus
suture) in the Pakistan domain.
These two sutures have been regarded to enclose the Kohistan island arc. This arc
became a continental Andean type margin in front of the Asiatic plate after the closure of a
small back-arc basin along the Northern suture or MKT in the period between 100 and 73 Ma.
Further northward subduction of the Tethyan lithosphere resulted in the final closure of the
Tethys ocean and under thrusting of the Indo-Pakistan plate beneath the Asiatic plate during
50 to 40 Ma along the MMT on the southern side of the Kohistan-Ladakh arc (Powell, 1979;
Searle, 1983; Tahirkheli, 1983; Searle et al., 1987; Petterson and Windley, 1985; Pudsey, 1986;
Pudsey et al., 1985; Coward et al., 1986; Treloar, 1989; Klootwijk et al., 1992). Both the sutures
are characterized by discontinuous outcrops of ophiolites and melanges and in the case of
MMT, blueschist and high-pressure granulite’s (Jan and Howie, 1982; Jan 1991).
In a north-south section, between MKT and MMT, across the Kohistan arc terrane, the
following major lithologies are reported.
2.2 Kohistan-Ladakh granitic belt (Kohistan Batholith):
The presence of Major belt of granitic rocks in the northern part of Kohistan terrane
was identified by Tahirkheli and Jan 1979 and Jan et al. (1981) which was later termed as the
Kohistan batholith by Petterson and Windley (1985) and Coward et al. (1986). This belt
comprises undeformed or mildly deformed intermediate to felsic plutonic rocks.
2.3 Chilas Complex:
Chilas complex is a larger mafic to ultramafic body occupying the middle pail of the
Kohistan terrane for about 300 Km between Dir in the west and Nanga Parbat in the east (Jan
et al., 1984; Khan et al., 1989). The body is internally coherent and attains a maximum width
of about 40 Km in the central parts of the terrane. More than 85% of the Chilas complex is
made up of gabbro-norites, with some hypersthene quartz diorites, gabbro and troctolites (Jan
et al., 1984; Khan et al 1989; 1993)) In the Chilas area the pyroxene quartz-diorite are the
dominant rock types intruding the amphibolites in the north and south of
12. 5
CHAPTER # 3
RISALPUR ROAD SECTION
DAY 1
Nowshera Reef was only station in which we see Precambrian rocks. Phyllites were found in
thunder village. Malakand Granite was in contact with schist which was situated at the roadside
and their age was late cretaceous. It contains minerals like quartz, feldspar and fluorite of green
colour.
Station 1
3.1 Nowshera Reef Complex
3.1.1 Latitude: 34°01'46''N
3.1.2 Longitude: 71°59'52''E
3.1.3 Observation:
Limestone was a major lithology. Siluro-Devonian belt was composed of limestone and
quartzite. It also contains alluvium plain of recent age. Unconformity can be marked with
respect to age. With respect to sedimentary terms Station 1 was a bed. With respect to igneous
terms we can call it a flow. Age of this complex is Siluro-Devonian, it means that rocks found
here are ranging from Silurian to Devonian Age.
13. 6
Figure 2 (a) Nowshera Reef Complex (b) Trace fossil of Trilobite
Station 2
3.2 Nowshera Reef Complex
3.2.1 Latitude: 34°01'46''N
3.2.2 Longitude: 71°59'52''E
3.2.3 Observation:
Lower contact was with KandharPhyllite after it named as Panjpir Rocks. It was a
unconformable layer. Its environment of deposition was a marine. Nowshera Reef complex
consists of following three parts:
(i). Carbonate Rocks
(ii). Reef cores
(iii). Reef breccias
Missiri Banda Quartzite consist of limestone and quartzite. Main difference between phyllite
and quartzite is that phyllite is foliated and non foliated. Rocks of Siluro-Devonian age were
found here.
14. 7
Carbonate Rocks
Carbonate rocks were found of yellowish pink in colour. It shows queering
phenomenon. Fossil record cannot be found due to dolomitization. These were low scattered
hills. Khandarphyllite is of oldest unit, it is pre-Silurian due to its unconformable contact.
Therefore, its age is doubtful.
Economic Importance
It can be used in calcinations process.
Coral Reefs
Its environment of deposition is shallow marine. Reefs were started from bottom. The
reef was a product of organism that precipitates. Bind or retain carbonate and shows upward
growth potential towards the surface of sea.
Economic Importance
Calcium Carbonate can be as cement. Limestone is used for road aggregates. Reef
Breccia was found in angular parts. The term coral means lines in form of colonies.
Fossils
Cephalopods, Brachiopods, Trilobites and Forums were found. All these fossils were
trace fossils means that there remains were not preserved. Its shows butcher chop weathering
in dolomite.
Dip Direction
It is dipping towards north-west direction. It shows the direction of main tectonic force
which is from south to north.
15. 8
Figure 3 (a) Contact between Khanderphyllite and Nowshera Reef (b) Text demarcation of the contact
Station 3
3.3 Jalala Lake Deposits
3.3.1 Latitude: 34°19'53'' N
3.3.2 Longitude: 71°54'30'' E
3.3.3 Observation:
It has horizontal layering. It has very fine-grained silt and clay deposits. Ripple marks
were observed. Graded bedding was found. Sedimentary dikes were following the law of cross
cutting relationship. As we move forward, we see structures showing the difference between
silt and clay. After few steps we saw calcite deposits which were angular, loose and non
cemented, this type of lamination is called varve lamination. Age of the rocks found here was
Siluro-Devonian. Caliche was of due to running water and lake action.
16. 9
Figure 4 (a) Sedimentary dike in Jalala lake complex (b) Caliche deposits in Jalala lake complex
17. 10
CHAPTER # 4
UPPER DIR ROAD SECTION
DAY 2
Station # 1
4.1 Kamila Amphibolite
4.1.1 Latitude 34°51'8''N
4.1.2 Longitude 71°52'2''E
4.1.3 Observations
Kamila Amphibolite Unit crops out along the south-eastern periphery of Kohistan
Island arc, bounded between Main Mantle Thrust and Chilas complex, in south and north,
respectively. Kamila Amphibolite unit is further subdivided into four linear belts: Babusar
amphibolites, Niat amphibolites, Jal amphibolites and Sumal amphibolites confined within
Niat and Jal amphibolites. In this sequence of Kamila amphibolites we can also observe weakly
metamorphosed rocks these are non foliated; salt and pepper textures are present. Dark
pyroxene, amphibole and double silicate. Quartz veins are also present, and the shearing
phenomenon is also occurring. Mylonite is also present where shearing is present, abundant
intrusion in the form of dykes related to mafic and ultramafic origin. Granodiorite and granite
are also common.
18. 11
Figure 5 Kamila Amphibolite
Station # 2
4.2 Garnet-Granulite Facies
4.2.1 Latitude 34°51'41''N
4.2.2 Longitude 71°56'2''E
4.2.3 Observations:
Granite is present in which garnet and tourmaline mineral are present. The colour of
garnet is brown. Xenoliths in the granite are present. The rock was heavily fractured, and the
veins was filled with quartz.
19. 12
Figure 6 (a) Xenolith in the granite (b) Garnet in Granite (c) Quartz veins in Granite
Station # 3
4.3 Chilas Complex
4.3.1 Latitude 34°55'2''N
4.3.2 Longitude 72°0'48''E
4.3.3 Observation
At chilas complex we observed boulders of cretaceous age approximately of 85
million of years. Their appearance was darker in color. Hornblendite or pyroxenoid were the
minerals that were found of mafic origin. Outcrop at the observed area extended up to 50m.
Silica content is less than 45% which marks ultramafic origin of magma. Quartz veins were
also be observed.
20. 13
Figure 7 Hornblendite/ Pyroxenoid in Chilas Complex.
Station # 4
4.4.1 Latitude 34°56'30''N
4.4.2 Longitude 72°1'20''E
Station # 5
4.5 Kohistan Batholith
4.5.1 Latitude 34°59'5''N
4.5.2 Longitude 72°1'58''E
4.5.3 Observation
At this observing point we had observed outcrops consist of Kohistan batholith which
also consist of many type of minerals in which some were as following: quartz, feldspar, mica
(biotite). Phaneritic textures were also present and ccould be seen with naked eye. Grains are
visible without the help of hand lens. Granitic rocks were also found which comprised of
minerals enriched in silica feldspar, quartz and mica. Black sheeted biotite mica and shiny
appearance muscovite mica were found. Hornblende had shown glassy appearance which
21. 14
looked like sugar while milky appearance had shown by feldspar. Rocks those were present
there mainly consist of plutonic igneous rocks.
Figure 8 Rhyolite in Chilas Complex
Station # 6
4.6 Kamila Amphibolites
4.6.1 Latitude 35°07'37''N
4.6.2 Longitude 71°56'2''E
4.6.3 Observations
At this station kamila amphibolites were present while garnet mineral had flaky
appearance. Epidote was green in colour and the pphenomenon of epidotization were also
observed.Extensive veins of quartz were found along with andesite or meta-sedimentary
intermediate rocks. Augen gneiss were also present. Metamorphic activity flow structure along
with bands could also be observed.
22. 15
Figure 9 (a) Magmatic structure and Augen Gneiss (b) Epidotization (c) Andesite
Station#7
4.7 Gilgit Complex (GM)
4.7.1 Latitude 35°08'23.8''N
4.7.2 Longitude 71°54'25''E
4.7.3 Observation
At the Gilgit complex station foliation were observed in metamorphosed rocks. Green
schist facies were present along with leucogranite,concordant bodies and meta-sedimentary
rocks like slate.Texture of the rocks present here was mainly of porphyritic. Rocks had shown
extensive folding known as kink folding in which rocks were extensively sandwiched between
each other.
23. 16
Figure 10 Kink folds and quartz veins in Gilgit Complex
Station # 8
4.8 Baraul Banda Slates.
4.8.1 Latitude 35°10'16''N
4.8.2 Longitude 71°54'4''E
4.8.3 Observations
Dip 60°NW
Strike N90°E
Baraul Banda in Dir is the type section of the pelitic sequence of Dir Group. Other
accessible sections where Baraul Banda Slates are extensively exposed are north of Kalam on
the western bank of Gabral river in upper Swat and another upstream of Shringal-Panjkora
confluence along Dir road. These two sections run across the strike of slates. Shringal and
Baraul Banda streams running in east-west direction expose the lower contact of the slates with
the Shou Quartzites. Baraul Banda Slates are light grey to greenish grey, thin- bedded, fine
textured and occasionally silty. Light grey, thin- bedded limestone occurs as thin bands in the
24. 17
slates, which are sparingly fossiliferous. The level of metamorphism in the slate’s ranges to
chlorite and sericite grade.
25. 18
CHAPTER # 5
LOWARI ROAD SECTION
DAY 3
5.1 Introduction:
5.1.1 Latitude: 35°04'34''N
5.1.2 Longitude: 71°59'34''E
Epidote has low metamorphic grade and it is often associated with amphiboles,
feldspar. It occurs as a replacement of mineral grains. Weather colour is yellowish green to
green and fresh colour is brownish green to black. We saw perched aquifer in granodiorite
rocks and its recharging phenomenon was controlled by snow. Gabbro and Basalt cannot
transmit and store water. Best igneous reservoir rock is granite due to large size of crystals,
but rock must be in fracture form.
Station 1
5.2 Kohistan Batholith
5.2.1 Latitude: 35°18'93''N
5.2.2 Longitude: 71°50'07''E
5.2.3 Observations:
We named it as Kohistan Batholith by comparing its latitude and longitude on map and
viewing its structural features and lithology. Its lithology include granite, gniess. Minerals are
quartz, feldspar, biotite. It also contains schist and diorite. Diorite has xenoliths and it is
medium grained.
26. 19
Figure 11 Xenolith in Diorite
Station 2
5.3 Dir Group
5.3.1 Latitude: 35°14'19''N
5.3.2 Longitude: 71°51'21''E
5.3.3 Observations:
It was Dir group (Utror volcanic). It was meta-volcanic having basalt and andesitic
composition. Quartz veins were also dominant. It was a fore thrust. Major rock composition
was leuco-granite.
28. 21
CHAPTER #6
MALAKAND ROAD SECTION
DAY 4
In Day 2 and 3 we observed the area comprised of Kohistan Batholith but day 4 was done on
the area consist of Indian Plate.In that days’ field we come across mine in Gulabad village
containing fluorite mainly. Moving forward we also observed Malakand granite.
Station # 1
6.1 Suprano Gulabad Fluorite Mine
6.1.1 Latitude: 34°42'21''N
6.1.2 Longitude: 72°01'20''E
6.1.3 Observations:
It was a fluorite mine in Gulabad which contains schist and granite. These mines were
named as Suprano Gulabad Fluorite mines.
Figure 13 Gulabad fluorspar mine
29. 22
Station # 2
6.2 Malakand Granite
6.2.1 Latitude: 34°34'07''N
6.2.2 Longitude: 71°55'46''E
6.2.3 Observations:
It was the top of Malakand Pass / Malakand Top. It was situated in Swat District. Colour
was leucocratic that shows it is from felsic composition. Quartz veins were also present. It was
Malakand granite and contains grained size particles. Some quantity of schist was also present
on another side of Malakand Granite. Minerals present were Muscovite, Biotite mica and quartz
and feldspar. It also contains Plutonic / Pegmatite veins. Schist contain quartz veins.
Figure 14 Malakand Granite
30. 23
CONCLUSION:
From Nowshera reef complex to Lowari tunnel, we observed different kinds of igneous
and metamorphic structures and rocks. Our knowledge regarding mineralogy was tested
throughout the field because of abundant amount of minerals observed during the field. It really
enables us to easily differentiate between different minerals. Our area of study has shown
complex structures because of the thrusting. It was an outstanding journey of examining and
understanding the geology and tectonic of the area between MMT and MKT mainly Kohistan
island arc.
31. 24
REFERENCE:
Khan, M.A., 1969. Siluro-Devonian reef complex of Ghundai Sar and vicinity. Jamrud,
Khyber Agency: Peshawar Univetsity Geological Bulletin, 4, pp.79-82
Shah, M.T. and Shervais, J.W., 1999. The Dir-Utror metavolcanic sequence, Kohistan arc
terrane, northern Pakistan. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 17(4), pp.459-475.
Petterson, M.G., 1984. The structure, petrology and geochemistry of the Kohistan batholith,
Gilgit, Kashmir, N. Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation, University of Leicester).
Stauffer, K.W., 1968. Silurian-devonian reef complex near Nowshera, west
Pakistan. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 79(10), pp.1331-1350.
Cornwell, K., 1998. Quaternary break-out flood sediments in the Peshawar basin of northern
Pakistan. Geomorphology, 25(3-4), pp.225-248.