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Filed report of salt range

The geological field report of the Salt Range, submitted by Muhammad Ishaq to the Department of Geology, University of Swabi, highlights its significance in geology and paleontology, revealing rock formations ranging from the Precambrian to recent periods. The report details geological structures, fossil finds, and important stratigraphic sequences observed during a field trip from December 17 to 21, 2018, showcasing the area's diverse geological features. The Salt Range serves as a crucial region for studying geological processes and fossil records due to its accessibility and variety of formations.

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Geological Field Report of Salt Range BY Muhammad Ishaq Report submitted to Mr. Muhammad Awais department of geology University of Swabi (KPK) 2018
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the name of Allah the most Beneficent, the most Merciful who gives us the strength to be a part of this informative and knowledgeable field trip which was organized by the Department of Geology University of Swabi (KPK). Thanks to our parents for their constant support and prayer then I would like to thanks Mr. Muhammad Awais, Mr. Bilal Wadood, Mr. Muhammad Ishaq for accompanying us to the field and sharing their knowledge. In the end I would like to thanks all of those who made their contribution to make this field successful especially Dr. Laieq Ahmad the Head of Department of Geology who made all this possible and arranged a five day (from 17th of December 2018 till 21th of December 2018) field trip to salt range.
ABSTRACT The place selected for our field trip was salt range. It is basically located in Punjab province of Pakistan. From Geological and Paleontological prospective this area got so much importance. It contains rocks with age from Precambrian (Salt range formation) to recent (Chorgali and Murree Formation). Some worlds famous geologists also called it as the Museum of geology and paleontology. It was formed as a result of collision between Indian plate and Eurasian plate. The Salt Range is part of the active foreland fold belt and thrust belt of Himalayas of Pakistan. Salt range is divided into three geographical distributions that are Eastern Salt Range with the coordinate ranges from 32°30ʹ-33°N & 71°45ʹ-72°E, Western Salt Range with the coordinate ranges from 32°30ʹ-33°N & 72°-72°45ʹE and Central Salt Range with the coordinate ranges from 32°30ʹ-33°N & 72°45ʹ-73°30ʹE. Eastern salt range consist of Formations like Salt range Formation, Khewra Sandstone, Khussak Formation, Jutana Dolomite, Baghanwala Formation. Western Salt Range consists of Formation like Mianwali Formation, Chhidru Formation, Amb Formation, Dandot Formation, Sakesar Limstone, Warcha Sandstone. Central Salt Range consists of Sardhai Formation, Warcha Sandstone, Wargal Limestone. Salt range structure is very disturbed with faults, folds and erosion. Salt Range is known for its excellent exposures and fossiliferous horizons which consist of different fossils for example Brachiopods, Nummulites, Trilobites and Cephalopods. There are many unconformities also present in this Range for example the boundary between Paleozoic and Mesozoic (P-T boundary) can be studied at excellently exposed sections this boundary exist between Chhidru Formation and Mianwali Formation. The unconformity also exists between Baghanwala Formation and Tobra Formation (dis-conformity). Some structures like cross bedding, ripple marks, salt-pseudo morphs also can be seen in this particular area.
INTRODUCTION There are two major basins in Pakistan, Indus basin and Balochistan basin. Indus basin is divided in to upper Indus basin and lower Indus basin. The upper Indus basin is further divided in to Kohat plateau and Potwar plateau while lower Indus basin is divided in to central lower Indus basin and southern lower Indus basin. Salt range is located in the upper Indus basin, (Potwar plateau). The name salt range was first used by Elphiston in 1808. The name is derived from the fact that this area contains large deposits of common salt. The Salt Range is essentially an East-West trending elongated narrow trough bounded on the east by the River Jhelum and on the west by the River Indus. Beyond the River Indus at Kalabagh, it takes a sharp turn to run almost in a North-South direction. The entire mountainous belt has, therefore, previously been differentiated into the Cis- Indus Salt Range and Trans-Indus Salt Range now known as The Salt Range and Trans-Indus Range, respectively. The Salt Range is one of the most important geological regions in Pakistan. It is easily accessible and displays a wide variety of geological features and paleontological remains. It has, therefore, been rightly called a field museum of geology and paleontology. Some important geologic structures are also present like fold (anticline, syncline), fault, ripple marks, ball and pillow structures, and cleavages etc. Salt range also act as a source of different minerals like Gypsum, Coal, Halite and fire clay etc. Important fossils like gastropods, Ostracodes, Bivalves, Foraminifers, Brachiopods etc. are also present in this area. Salt range is situated to the south of Potwar plateau (region of north Punjab). Salt range is further divided in to Eastern salt range, Cenrtal salt range and Western salt rang.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY OF SALT RANGE: One of the greatest geological provinces of the world is salt range which has almost a complete rock succession from Pre-Cambrian to Recent except for the few ages. On the southern margin of Himalayan collision, an active foreland fold-thrust belt is present which is formed in response to sub-ducting of Cratonic India beneath its own Phanerozoic sedimentary cover, in the late Cenozoic time, this fault is called salt range thrust fault. Due to salt range thrust fault, the rocks which are present in this area were subjected under stresses and as a result very gentle and open folds were developed. These folds and faults represent the ductile and brittle deformation in these rocks and sediments. The stratigraphic sequence of Phanerozoic age is exposed in salt range. It is also well known for its P-T boundary, Pre-Cambrian, Cambrian strata sequences and abundance of Permian, Triassic fauna i.e. vertebral fossils (khan et al.,1986). Stratigraphic column of Salt Range Group Formation Thickness Lithology Fossils Age Environment Lei conglomerate 150-900m conglomerate No fossils Pleistocene fluvial Soan 120-450m Conglomerate with subordinate interbeds of sandstone siltstone/clay Clay and sandstone intercalated Vertebrate poorly fossiliferous. Late Pliocene - early Pleistocene Terrestrial Dhok pathan 1330m Monotonous cyclic alteration of sandstone and clay. vertebrate Middle Pliocene Terrestrial Nagri formation 300- 1200m Sandstone with subordinate clay and conglomerate. Vertebrate, crocodile Early Pliocene Terrestrial Chinji formation 750m Red clay and subordinate brown grey sandstone (argillaceous facies) Vertebrate crocodile turtle lizard aquatic birds water dears Late Miocene Terrestrial siwalikgroup
Kamlial formation 90m Purple gray & dark brick red sandstone & interbeds of hard purple shale and purple intraformational conglomerate. Spheroidal mineral and heavy mineral (tourmaline) Mammalian fossils Middle- late Miocene Fluvial Murree formation 180-600m Dark red & purple clay and purple gray & greenish gray sandstone with subordinate and intraformational conglomerate. Plant remains fish remains frog bone Early Eocene Fluvial Major unconformity Chorgali formation 150m Shale and limestone Foraminifera mollusks ostracods nummulites gastropods. Early- middle Eocene Shallow marine Sakesar limestone 70- 150m Nodular limestone with chert in upper part and subordinate marl. Foraminifera mollusks echinoids Early Eocene Shallow marine Nammal formation 100m Shale, marl and limestone. Foraminifera mollusks Early Eocene Shallow marine Patala formation 90m Shale and with marl with subordinate limestone & sandstone. Forams, mollusks & ostracods. Late Paleocene Deep marine Lockhart formation 60m Medium to massive bedded nodular limestone. Foraminifera mollusks corals algae echinoids. Middle Paleocene Shallow marine Hangu formation 90m Fine to coarse grain sandstone with gray shale intercalation in upper part. Also coal seams locally. Forams, corals, gastropods and bivalves. Early Paleocene Marine RawalpindigroupChharatgroupMakarwalgroup
Major unconformity Lamshiwal formation 80- 220m Thick bedded to massive badded sand with silty snady glauconitic shale. Brachiopods, gastropods, ammonoids. Early- middle cretaceous Shallow marine Chechali formation 55- 70m Glauconitic sandstone and glauconitic shale at lower part. Brachiopods, belemnoids ammonoids. Late Jurassic- early cretaceous Shallow- deep marine Samana suk formation 186m Medium to thin bedded limestone with subordinate marl. Middle Jurassic Shallow marine Shinawari formation 400m Thin to well bedded limestone with nodular marl, calcareous and non-calcareous shale and quartz. Corals, bivalves, brachiopods Early- middle Jurassic Marine Datta formation 212m Sandstone, siltstone, shale and mudstone. No fossils Early Jurassic Deltaic Kingriali formation 76- 106m Thin to thick dolomite and dolomitic limestone with dolomitic shale and marl. (upper part) Crinoids, bivalves, gastropod, benthic fossils. Late Triassic Tidal flats Tredian formation 76m 1.Khatkiara member: it contains massive thick bedded white sand stone. 2.Landa member consist of sandstone and shale. Pollen and spores. Middle Triassic Fluvial Mianwali formation 121m 1.Narmia member consist limestone with interbeds of shale. 2.Mittiwali member contain fine grain limestone minor shale & sandstone. 3.Narmia member consist of limestone and dolomite. Ammonoids, brachiopods, conodonts, fish teeth. Early Triassic Marine (open deltaic) MusaKhelgroupSurghargroup
Chhidru formation 64m Shale which contain phosphatic nodules, calcareous sandstone and sandy limestone. Brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves and ammonoids Late Permian Shallow marine Wargal formation 180m Limestone and dolomite. Bryozoans, trilobites, pollen and spores Late Permian Shallow marine Amb formation 80m Sandstone, limestone, shale. Bryozoans, pollen and spores, Brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves. Late Permian Shelfal (marine) Sardai formation 65m Lavender clay with minor sandstone & siltstone beds. Plant remains & fish scales Middle Permian Delta Warcha sandstone 26- 180m Medium to coarse grain sandstone, conglomeratic at places, interbeds of shale are present. Root casts Permian Fluvial Dandot formation 50m Sandstone with occasionally thin pebble beds with subordinate shale. Brachiopods, brayozoa, ostracods. Early- middle Permian Deltaic Tobra formation 113m 1.Tillitic facies with marine sandstone. 2.Fresh water facies with few or no boulders. Also alternating siltstone & shale. 3.Complex facies contain sandstone with pebble boulder beds pollen and spores. Early Permian Glacio- fluvial Major unconformity Baghanwala formation 100- 116m Red shale and clay with alternate beds of flaggy sandstone. Unfossiliferous, some trace fossils of present. Middle to late Cambrian Lagoonal environment (arid condition). NelawahangroupZaluchgroup
Jutana formation 80m Dirty white massive dolomite. Light green hard massive sandy dolomite. Trilobite, brachiopods, gastropods. Middle Cambrian Shallow marine Kussak formation 70m Greenish grey, glauconitic micaceous sandstone. Siltstone interbedded with some dolomite. Neobolus, redlichida, lingullela Early Cambrian Shallow- deep marine Khewra sandstone 150m Purple sandstone and different shades of red sand stone. Top massive sandstone bottom contain shale. No fossils few trilobite Early Cambrian Shallow marine salt range 3- 100m 80m 650m 1.Sahiwal marl member: Bright red marl with gypsum dolomite and khewra trap. Dull red marl with some salt seams. 2.Bandar khas gypsum member have massive gypsum with minor amount of dolomite and clay. 3.Billianwala salt member has Fe red marl with thick seams of salt. No fossils Precambrian Shallow marine Field: A field trip was arranged by Geology department, university of Swabi. We left for trip at 09:00 am on Monday ,17 December 2018 from university of Swabi and arrived back to Swabi on Friday, 21 December 2018. We visited only; Jhelumgroup
Eastern salt range (Choa Saidhan shah “Katas” and Khewra Gorge) Central salt range (Nelawahan). Western salt range (Zaluch Nala and Nammal Gorge). Stop 1: Our first stop was in Choa Saidhan Shah (near Katas raj temple) in Eastern salt range where two members of Chharat group of early Eocene age were exposed along road side; Sakesar Limestone and Chorgali Formation are present. Sakesar limestone: Sakesar limestone is the second member of Chharat group. Nomenclature: GEE in 1935 called this formation “SAKESAR LIMESTONE” accepted by stratigraphic committee of Pakistan. Lithology: This formation is majorly composed of limestone, but marl is also present in the upper most part. LIMESTONE: cream to light gray in colour, massive, nodular and highly fossiliferous. MARL: (Argillaceous limestone or dirty limestone is known as marl). Chert nodularity is the diagnostic feature of this formation. Along road side only sakesar limestone is exposed having clear chert nodules and calcite vein. At some places due to oxidation its color changes to red, green or black. Chert means cryptocrystalline silica. Fossils: Fossils like foraminifers, molluscs, Brachiopod and echinoids are found in this formation. Age: Due to the presence of these fossils the age assigned to this formation is Early Eocene.
Contacts: The lower contact at stop 1 is not exposed while the upper contact is transitional and conformable with Chorgali Formation. Sakesar formation (pen is for scale) Chert nodules in sakesar formation (pen is for scale). Chorgali formation: Chorgali Formation is the third member of CHHARAT GROUP in sequence of older to younger.
Nomenclature: PASCOE in 1920 named this formation Chorgali Beds which has been formalized by Chorgali Formation by Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan. Lithology: Chorgali Formation is majorly composed of limestone, marl, shale and dolostone. Limestone is pale yellowish in color and shale is dark in color whose thickness is less than 1 cm. The diagnostic feature of this formation is that it always overlain Sakesar limestone. Fossils: Fossils including foraminifers, molluscs and ostracodes has been reported from this formation. The age assigned to this formation is Early Eocene. Contacts: Its lower contact is conformable with sakesar limestone. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine to lagoonal environment. Chorgali formation (pen is for scale). Stop 2: At Stop 2 along road side on way from Choa Saidhan Shah to Khewra gorge in the eastern salt range, Tobra Formation is exposed. Tobra formation: This is the first member of Nilawahan Group.
Nomenclature: Talchir boulder beds by GEE and Talchir stage by Pascoe in 1959 was named as Tobra formation by stratigraphic committee of Pakistan. Lithology: This formation is majorly composed of conglomeratic sandstone and shales. Conglomerate of this formation is polymictic which means that clasts of this formation are derived from various sources. Pink colored Granite clasts are very common in these conglomerates which are the part of the “Nager Parker granite” in Sindh. Age: Age assigned to this formation is lower Permian. Thickness: The elevation of the formation is 677meter. Fossils: Gangamopteris and glossopteris fossils are reported. Contact: The upper contact of this formation is with Dandot Formation and conformable. The lower contact of this formation in Zaluch Nala is with Lei conglomerate which is an unconformable contact. Environment: Environment of this formation is Glacio-fluvial. Tobra formation (pen is for scale).
Stop 3: Near to stop 2, at stop 3 along road side Baghanwala formation is exposed. Baghanwala formation: Baghanwala formation is the last member of the Jhelum group of Cambrian age in order of older to younger. Lithology: Baghanwala formation is majorly composed of sandstone and shale. Sandstone is reddish in color and flaggy while shale is dark color and thin bedded. The diagnostic feature of this formation is salt pseudomorphs (pseudo means false and morph means form). Salt crystals dissolves in water leaving behind its shape (cavity) which is later on filled by sandstone. Geological structures like ripple marks and cross bedding are also found in this formation. Thickness/distribution: Well developed in eastern salt range and disappears as we move toward west, it reappears at different localities at central salt range. Thickness in subsurface at Karampur village, near Baghanwalan is 100-116m, at Khewra Gorge by erosion reduces to 40m. Fossils: Unfossiliferous, some trace fossils present. Age: Middle to Late Cambrian; can be correlated with Khisor Formation at Khisor Rnage. Contact: The upper contact of the Baghanwala Formation with the overlying Tobra Formation is unconformable which can be easily seen on Khewra-Choa Saidan Shah road whereas the lower contact with the Jutana Formation is conformable. Environment of deposition: Casts of salt Pseudomorphs represent the lagoonal environment (Arid Condition).
Baghanawala formation (pen is for scale). White line in this Figure show contact b/w tobra and baghanawala formation. Dandot formation: Dandot formation (also called conularia beds) is the second member of Nilawahan group of Early Permian age. Lithology: This formation is composed of sandstone which is olive green to gray in color and carbonaceous shale. Tobra formation Baghanawala formation Contact
Fossils: Brachiopods, bryozoa, ostracodes. Age: Early Permian to Middle Permian. Contact: Its lower contact is gradational and conformable with Tobra formation at stop 3. Its upper contact is conformable with Warchha sandstone. Environment: The environment of deposition of Dandot formation is deltaic. Dandot formation (pen is for scale). Stop 4: Khewra Gorge in the eastern salt range is our fourth stop. In this stop we observe Salt range formation, Khewra formation, Kussak formation and Jutana formation Salt range formation: This is the oldest formation of salt range and its age is Precambrian (Eocambrian). Exposed because of regional structure known as salt range thrust. Lithology: This formation is predominantly composed of gypseous marl of red color, Halite (Rock salt), beds of gypsum (white color), dolomite and shale. And highly weathered igneous body known as Khewra trap (also called Khewrite) is reported from this formation, which have
mineral mostly pyroxene in needle like shape. Its color is purple to black. There are three members of this formation. a) Sahiwal marl member: This member is further divided in to two parts: It consists of dull red marl beds with some salt seems. Thick beds of Gypsum are also found. Thickness of this part is > 40m. It consists of the bright red marl beds with irregular gypsum. KHEWRA TRAP is present in this part. Thickness of this part is 3-100m. b) Bandarkhas Gypsum member: It is mainly massive gypsum with some salt seems. Minor beds of dolomite and clay are also present. Its thickness is > 80m. c) Billianwala Salt member: It consists of Ferruginous red marl with thick seems of salt. Its thickness is > 650m. Conjugate fractures are present in all the members. Thickness: Thickness at type section is 830meter. Fossils: Devoid of fossils. Age: Precambrian due to law of superposition. Contact: At stop 4 its lower contact is not exposed, and upper contact is normal and conformable with Khewra formation. Environment: Evaporitic environment of deposition.
Salt range formation (pen is for scale). Khewra formation: Khewra formation is the first member of Jhelum group of early to middle Cambrian in age, in order of older to younger. Lithology: This formation is predominantly composed of sandstone and red flaggy shale in the lower most part. Sandstone is purple to brown or yellowish to brown in color, fine grained, thick bedded and massive. Sedimentary structure: Sedimentary features like ripple marks, climbing ripple marks, cross bedding, ball and pillow structures, mud cracks and folds (Anticline) are common in this formation. Fossils: Trace fossils of “Trilobites” Age: Early Cambrian due to Trace of Trilobites Contacts: Its lower contacts are conformable with salt range formation and the upper contact is conformable with Kussak formation.
Environment: Fluvial-deltaic. Khewra sandstone (pen for scale). Cross bedding in khewra sandstone. Ball and pillow structure. Kussak formation: Kussak formation is predominantly composed of sandstone, shale and marl. Sandstone is greenish-gray in color due to glauconite and micaceous. Layers of intraformational conglomerate and pink gypsum lenses are also present at the top of the formation. Fossils: This formation is fossiliferous and yielded many fossils. Age: Early-mid Cambrian. Environment: Its environment of deposition is marine-deltaic.
Contacts: The lower contact is conformable with khewra formation and upper contact is conformable with Jutana formation. Kussak formation. Jutana formation: Jutana formation is the member of Jhelum group and as “Magnesian sandstone”. Lithology: Jutana formation is majorly composed of sandy dolomite at lower part. Its color is light green and is hard and massive, while the upper part is composed of light green to dirty white massive dolomite. Age: The age of jutana formation is middle Cambrian. Contacts: Its lower contact is conformable with kussak formation and upper contact is also conformable with baghanwala formation. Environment: Its environment of deposition is marine to lagoon.
Jutana formation. Stop 5: Central salt range: It was day 3rd when we move from choa saidan to Mianwali we also observe some formation of nelawahan group along road side also observe some formation of Eocene age makarwal group. Sardhai formation: Also known as sardhai clays or lavender clays. It is the last member of nilawahan group. Lithology: This formation is composed of variety of clays having different colors like blue, green, yellow and grey. some carbonaceous shale is present. Clay contains some copper minerals like chalcopyrite, minor amount of Jarosite, chert and gypsum Some minor sandstone and siltstone beds are also present. Age: Early to Middle Permian. Contacts: Lower contact is transitional with warchha sandstone and the upper contact is conformable with Amb formation. Environment: Fluvial dominated delta.
Sardai formation (pen is for scale). Warcha sandstone: Warchha sandstone is the third member of nilawahan group in sequence of older to younger. The age of nilawahan group (warchha sandstone) is early Permian. Lithology: This formation consists of sandstone with interbeds of shale. Sandstone is medium to coarse grained, gritty, cross bedded and conglomeratic in places. The color of sandstone is reddish to purplish or show lighter shades of pink. Age: The age of warcha sandstone is Permian. Contacts: In central salt range the upper contact of warcha sand stone is with sardai clay and lower with hangu formation in pail katha section. Environment: Environment of deposition of Warchha sandstone is fluvial.
Warcha sandstone (pen is for scale). Makerwal group: In central salt range in pail katha section makerwal group formation is also exposed. Makerwal group contain three formation. 3. Patala formation. 2. Lockhart limestone. 1. Hangu formation. Lockhart formation: This formation is the second member of the Makarwal Group. Lithology: Grey to dark gray, medium to thick massive bedded, brecciated limestone. The limestone displays very well-developed nodularity. The nodularity may be caused by any of the following four reasons. (1) Organic activity (2) Differential compaction (3) Pressure solution (4) Stretching Age: The age of this formation is Paleocene to Eocene Contacts: Both contacts, upper and lower are transitional and conformable with patala and hangu formation.
Environment of deposition: Shallow Marine. Lockhart limestone (Sunglass is for scale). Lockhart limestone (Pen is for scale). Hangu formation: When we move toward west on road from lockhart limestone in pail katha section we observe hangu formation. This formation is the first member of the Makarwal group in sequence of older to younger. Lithology: This formation consists of dark grey, rarely variegated sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale, and some nodular argillaceous limestone. The sandstone is white, light gray, and reddish brown, weathers dark rusty brown, fine to coarse grained and medium to thick bedded. Age: Early Paleocene. Contact: Lower contact is not exposed here and upper is conformable with Lockhart limestone.
Hangu formation (pen is for scale). Lateroids beds in hangu formation. Patala formation: The youngest formation of makerwal group is patala formation. We cannot observe patala formation in central salt range in pail katha section. Stop 6: Zaluch Nala (Western Salt Range): Lei conglomerate: Lei conglomerates are quaternary deposits. The name lei conglomerate was Introduced by GILL in 1952. This conglomerate consists of poorly sorted pebbles and boulders of mostly Eocene rocks, with a small pro portion of older sedimentary rocks, quartzite and igneous rocks. The conglomerate is intercalated with beds of soft sandstone and siltstone of pale brown to dark brown color. This conglomerate is different from the conglomerate of tobra formation because there are no bedding planes in lei conglomerate, but they are present in tobra formation. Tobra formation: Discussed earlier. The difference from same formation of eastern salt range is that this conglomerate is mud supported, boulders are of larger size. Color is also different.
Tobra formation (pen is for scale). Warcha sandstone: Discussed earlier the difference from same formation of central salt range is that here a diagnostic feature know as paleocole are present. Warcha sandstone paleocole. Warcha sandstone (pen is for sale). Sardai formation: Discussed earlier the difference from same formation of central salt range is that here a diagnostic feature known as paleocole are present. paleocole
Sardai formation contain paleocole. Stop 7: NAMMAL GORGE (Western Salt Range): ZALUCH GROUP: Amb formation: Amb formation is the first member of zaluch group of late Permian age in older of older to younger and is also known as lower products. Lithology: Amb formation is consist of sandstone, limestone and shale. Sandstone is brownish grey medium grained calcareous and medium to thick bedded. Limestone is brownish grey sandy medium bedded and richly fossiliferous. Shale is grey to dark grey and contains some flora. Fossils: Fossils reported are fusilinids, bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves and gastropods. Contacts: Lower contact is transitional with sardhai clays and upper contact is conformable with wargal limestone. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is Shallow marine.
Amb formation (pen is for scale). Wargal limestone: Wargal limestone is the second member of zaluch group and known as middle productus. Lithology: Lithology comprises of limestone, dolomite and small amount of sandstone. Limestone is light olive grey to yellowish grey, thin to medium bedded, dolomitic in lower part while in upper part chert nodules are present. Dolomite is pinkish grey in color and massive. Sandstone is grayish orange in color and fine grained. This formation is richly fossiliferous and contain many fossils like bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, ammonoids and crinoids. Age: Late Permian. Contacts: Lower contact is conformable with Amb formation and upper contact with chhidru formation is transitional. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine (shelfal). Chhidru formation: Chhidru formation is the last member of zaluch group and known as up productus. Lithology: Main lithology of this formation included limestone, sandstone, and limy sandstone. At the base of the formation, Shale unit of grey to dark grey color is also present. The upper most part
has well marked Sandstone bed, which is the marker horizon and distinguishing character of this formation. Age: Late Permian. Contacts: Lower contact is conformable with wargal limestone while at upper contact there is a permo-triassic boundary between chhidru formation and mianwali formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine. Permo-Triassic boundary: Boundary between chhidru formation of late Permian age and mianwali formation of early Triassic is known as permo-triassic boundary. At this boundary Paleozoic era (Permian period) ends and Mesozoic era (Triassic period) starts. Permo-triassic boundry is marked by the property that there is abrupt change in the lithology at the boundry of two systems i.e. white sandstone of upper Permian and dolomite at the base of Triassic. Musakhel group: Musakhel group of salt range consist of three members 1: Mianwali Formation 2: Tredian Formation 3: Kingriali Formation Age assigned to Musakhel Group is early to late Triassic. Mianwali formation: It is the first member of Musakhel group in sequence of older to younger. Lithology: This formation is mainly composed of limestone, siltstone, dolomite, shale and sandstone. This formation is divided in to three members: a) Kathwai member: It is the lower most part of the Mianwali formation and mainly consist of crystalline dolomite and inter bedding of Shale.
b) Mittiwala member: It is the middle part of the Mianwali formation and consists of green shale beds with sandstone and limestone interbedded. c) Narmia member: It is the lower most member of the Mianwali formation and mainly consists of sandy dolomite, and dark gray to brown color limestone. Sandstone interbeds are also found in this part. Contacts: Lower contact with chhidru formation is marked by Para conformity while the upper contact is sharp and conformable with tredian formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is open marine to deltaic. Mianwali formation. Tredian formation: It is the second member of Musakhel group. Lithology: Main lithology of this formation is sandstone, shale. It has two members. 1. Landa member: (sandstone+shale) Sandstone: micaceous, varies in color from pinkish to reddish grey to greenish grey, thick bedded having ripple marks & Slump structures.
2. khatkiara member: Sandstone, massive, thick bedded, white sandstone. Fossils: Palynomorphs (Pollen and Spores). Age: Middle Triassic Contacts: Lower contact of tredian formation is sharp and conformable with mianwali formation while the upper contact is gradational and conformable with kingriali formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine to deltaic. Tredian formation (high lighter is for scale). Kingriali formation: It is the third member of Musakhel group and also known as kingriali dolomite. Lithology: The bulk of lithology is dolomite, dolomitic limestone with interbeds of dolomitic shales. The dolomite is thin to medium bedded, fine grained with inter beds of shale and marl. Crossbeds are also present in this formation.
Fossils: Crinoids, echinoids, gastropods and other benthic fossils. Age: Late Triassic. Contacts: Lower contact with Tredian formation is conformable with tredian formation while the upper contact is unconformable with Datta formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is Fluvial environment. Kingriali formation (pen is for scale). Lateroids beds in kingriali formation. Broach group: Broach group represents the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of the Salt Range. Only two members of this group were exposed in Nammal Gorge. Datta formation: It is the first member of broach group in sequence of older to younger.
Lithology: Variegated beds of sandstone, siltstone and shale of different colors are present in this formation. Sandstone is red to maroon, grey, green and white in color. Shale, siltstone and mud stone are irregularly distributed. Laterite beds are also present. Age: The age of this formation is Jurassic. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is very shallow marine to deltaic. Datta formation (geologic hammer is for scale). Datta formation (oil seep). Makarwal group: Hangu formation, lockhart Limestone and Patala Shale are the three formations in Makarwal group which are present also in western salt range. Age of Makarwal group is Paleocene. Hangu formation: This formation is the first member of the Makarwal group in sequence of older to younger. It is discussed earlier in central salt rang of pail katha section.
Hangu formation (pen is for scale). Lockhart formation: This formation is the second member of the Makarwal Group. It is also discussed earlier in central salt range of pail katha section. Lockhart limestone (pen is for scale). Patala formation: The term Patala Formation was formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan for the "Patala Shale" of Davies and Pinfold. Lithology: Formation consists of shale and marl with subordinate limestone and sandstone. The shale is dark greenish grey selenite-bearing, in places carbonaceous and calcareous and contains marcasite nodules. The limestone is white to light grey and nodular. It occurs as interbeds.
Age: The age of this formation middle Paleocene. Contact: Lower contact is conformable with lockhart limestone and upper contact is with nammal formation of cherat group of Eocene age. Reference: stratigraphy of Pakistan written by Ibrahim shah.

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Filed report of salt range

  • 1.
    Geological Field Reportof Salt Range BY Muhammad Ishaq Report submitted to Mr. Muhammad Awais department of geology University of Swabi (KPK) 2018
  • 2.
    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the nameof Allah the most Beneficent, the most Merciful who gives us the strength to be a part of this informative and knowledgeable field trip which was organized by the Department of Geology University of Swabi (KPK). Thanks to our parents for their constant support and prayer then I would like to thanks Mr. Muhammad Awais, Mr. Bilal Wadood, Mr. Muhammad Ishaq for accompanying us to the field and sharing their knowledge. In the end I would like to thanks all of those who made their contribution to make this field successful especially Dr. Laieq Ahmad the Head of Department of Geology who made all this possible and arranged a five day (from 17th of December 2018 till 21th of December 2018) field trip to salt range.
  • 3.
    ABSTRACT The place selectedfor our field trip was salt range. It is basically located in Punjab province of Pakistan. From Geological and Paleontological prospective this area got so much importance. It contains rocks with age from Precambrian (Salt range formation) to recent (Chorgali and Murree Formation). Some worlds famous geologists also called it as the Museum of geology and paleontology. It was formed as a result of collision between Indian plate and Eurasian plate. The Salt Range is part of the active foreland fold belt and thrust belt of Himalayas of Pakistan. Salt range is divided into three geographical distributions that are Eastern Salt Range with the coordinate ranges from 32°30ʹ-33°N & 71°45ʹ-72°E, Western Salt Range with the coordinate ranges from 32°30ʹ-33°N & 72°-72°45ʹE and Central Salt Range with the coordinate ranges from 32°30ʹ-33°N & 72°45ʹ-73°30ʹE. Eastern salt range consist of Formations like Salt range Formation, Khewra Sandstone, Khussak Formation, Jutana Dolomite, Baghanwala Formation. Western Salt Range consists of Formation like Mianwali Formation, Chhidru Formation, Amb Formation, Dandot Formation, Sakesar Limstone, Warcha Sandstone. Central Salt Range consists of Sardhai Formation, Warcha Sandstone, Wargal Limestone. Salt range structure is very disturbed with faults, folds and erosion. Salt Range is known for its excellent exposures and fossiliferous horizons which consist of different fossils for example Brachiopods, Nummulites, Trilobites and Cephalopods. There are many unconformities also present in this Range for example the boundary between Paleozoic and Mesozoic (P-T boundary) can be studied at excellently exposed sections this boundary exist between Chhidru Formation and Mianwali Formation. The unconformity also exists between Baghanwala Formation and Tobra Formation (dis-conformity). Some structures like cross bedding, ripple marks, salt-pseudo morphs also can be seen in this particular area.
  • 4.
    INTRODUCTION There are twomajor basins in Pakistan, Indus basin and Balochistan basin. Indus basin is divided in to upper Indus basin and lower Indus basin. The upper Indus basin is further divided in to Kohat plateau and Potwar plateau while lower Indus basin is divided in to central lower Indus basin and southern lower Indus basin. Salt range is located in the upper Indus basin, (Potwar plateau). The name salt range was first used by Elphiston in 1808. The name is derived from the fact that this area contains large deposits of common salt. The Salt Range is essentially an East-West trending elongated narrow trough bounded on the east by the River Jhelum and on the west by the River Indus. Beyond the River Indus at Kalabagh, it takes a sharp turn to run almost in a North-South direction. The entire mountainous belt has, therefore, previously been differentiated into the Cis- Indus Salt Range and Trans-Indus Salt Range now known as The Salt Range and Trans-Indus Range, respectively. The Salt Range is one of the most important geological regions in Pakistan. It is easily accessible and displays a wide variety of geological features and paleontological remains. It has, therefore, been rightly called a field museum of geology and paleontology. Some important geologic structures are also present like fold (anticline, syncline), fault, ripple marks, ball and pillow structures, and cleavages etc. Salt range also act as a source of different minerals like Gypsum, Coal, Halite and fire clay etc. Important fossils like gastropods, Ostracodes, Bivalves, Foraminifers, Brachiopods etc. are also present in this area. Salt range is situated to the south of Potwar plateau (region of north Punjab). Salt range is further divided in to Eastern salt range, Cenrtal salt range and Western salt rang.
  • 5.
    REGIONAL GEOLOGY OFSALT RANGE: One of the greatest geological provinces of the world is salt range which has almost a complete rock succession from Pre-Cambrian to Recent except for the few ages. On the southern margin of Himalayan collision, an active foreland fold-thrust belt is present which is formed in response to sub-ducting of Cratonic India beneath its own Phanerozoic sedimentary cover, in the late Cenozoic time, this fault is called salt range thrust fault. Due to salt range thrust fault, the rocks which are present in this area were subjected under stresses and as a result very gentle and open folds were developed. These folds and faults represent the ductile and brittle deformation in these rocks and sediments. The stratigraphic sequence of Phanerozoic age is exposed in salt range. It is also well known for its P-T boundary, Pre-Cambrian, Cambrian strata sequences and abundance of Permian, Triassic fauna i.e. vertebral fossils (khan et al.,1986). Stratigraphic column of Salt Range Group Formation Thickness Lithology Fossils Age Environment Lei conglomerate 150-900m conglomerate No fossils Pleistocene fluvial Soan 120-450m Conglomerate with subordinate interbeds of sandstone siltstone/clay Clay and sandstone intercalated Vertebrate poorly fossiliferous. Late Pliocene - early Pleistocene Terrestrial Dhok pathan 1330m Monotonous cyclic alteration of sandstone and clay. vertebrate Middle Pliocene Terrestrial Nagri formation 300- 1200m Sandstone with subordinate clay and conglomerate. Vertebrate, crocodile Early Pliocene Terrestrial Chinji formation 750m Red clay and subordinate brown grey sandstone (argillaceous facies) Vertebrate crocodile turtle lizard aquatic birds water dears Late Miocene Terrestrial siwalikgroup
  • 6.
    Kamlial formation 90m Purple gray & darkbrick red sandstone & interbeds of hard purple shale and purple intraformational conglomerate. Spheroidal mineral and heavy mineral (tourmaline) Mammalian fossils Middle- late Miocene Fluvial Murree formation 180-600m Dark red & purple clay and purple gray & greenish gray sandstone with subordinate and intraformational conglomerate. Plant remains fish remains frog bone Early Eocene Fluvial Major unconformity Chorgali formation 150m Shale and limestone Foraminifera mollusks ostracods nummulites gastropods. Early- middle Eocene Shallow marine Sakesar limestone 70- 150m Nodular limestone with chert in upper part and subordinate marl. Foraminifera mollusks echinoids Early Eocene Shallow marine Nammal formation 100m Shale, marl and limestone. Foraminifera mollusks Early Eocene Shallow marine Patala formation 90m Shale and with marl with subordinate limestone & sandstone. Forams, mollusks & ostracods. Late Paleocene Deep marine Lockhart formation 60m Medium to massive bedded nodular limestone. Foraminifera mollusks corals algae echinoids. Middle Paleocene Shallow marine Hangu formation 90m Fine to coarse grain sandstone with gray shale intercalation in upper part. Also coal seams locally. Forams, corals, gastropods and bivalves. Early Paleocene Marine RawalpindigroupChharatgroupMakarwalgroup
  • 7.
    Major unconformity Lamshiwal formation 80- 220m Thick beddedto massive badded sand with silty snady glauconitic shale. Brachiopods, gastropods, ammonoids. Early- middle cretaceous Shallow marine Chechali formation 55- 70m Glauconitic sandstone and glauconitic shale at lower part. Brachiopods, belemnoids ammonoids. Late Jurassic- early cretaceous Shallow- deep marine Samana suk formation 186m Medium to thin bedded limestone with subordinate marl. Middle Jurassic Shallow marine Shinawari formation 400m Thin to well bedded limestone with nodular marl, calcareous and non-calcareous shale and quartz. Corals, bivalves, brachiopods Early- middle Jurassic Marine Datta formation 212m Sandstone, siltstone, shale and mudstone. No fossils Early Jurassic Deltaic Kingriali formation 76- 106m Thin to thick dolomite and dolomitic limestone with dolomitic shale and marl. (upper part) Crinoids, bivalves, gastropod, benthic fossils. Late Triassic Tidal flats Tredian formation 76m 1.Khatkiara member: it contains massive thick bedded white sand stone. 2.Landa member consist of sandstone and shale. Pollen and spores. Middle Triassic Fluvial Mianwali formation 121m 1.Narmia member consist limestone with interbeds of shale. 2.Mittiwali member contain fine grain limestone minor shale & sandstone. 3.Narmia member consist of limestone and dolomite. Ammonoids, brachiopods, conodonts, fish teeth. Early Triassic Marine (open deltaic) MusaKhelgroupSurghargroup
  • 8.
    Chhidru formation 64m Shale which contain phosphatic nodules, calcareous sandstone and sandylimestone. Brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves and ammonoids Late Permian Shallow marine Wargal formation 180m Limestone and dolomite. Bryozoans, trilobites, pollen and spores Late Permian Shallow marine Amb formation 80m Sandstone, limestone, shale. Bryozoans, pollen and spores, Brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves. Late Permian Shelfal (marine) Sardai formation 65m Lavender clay with minor sandstone & siltstone beds. Plant remains & fish scales Middle Permian Delta Warcha sandstone 26- 180m Medium to coarse grain sandstone, conglomeratic at places, interbeds of shale are present. Root casts Permian Fluvial Dandot formation 50m Sandstone with occasionally thin pebble beds with subordinate shale. Brachiopods, brayozoa, ostracods. Early- middle Permian Deltaic Tobra formation 113m 1.Tillitic facies with marine sandstone. 2.Fresh water facies with few or no boulders. Also alternating siltstone & shale. 3.Complex facies contain sandstone with pebble boulder beds pollen and spores. Early Permian Glacio- fluvial Major unconformity Baghanwala formation 100- 116m Red shale and clay with alternate beds of flaggy sandstone. Unfossiliferous, some trace fossils of present. Middle to late Cambrian Lagoonal environment (arid condition). NelawahangroupZaluchgroup
  • 9.
    Jutana formation 80m Dirty white massive dolomite. Lightgreen hard massive sandy dolomite. Trilobite, brachiopods, gastropods. Middle Cambrian Shallow marine Kussak formation 70m Greenish grey, glauconitic micaceous sandstone. Siltstone interbedded with some dolomite. Neobolus, redlichida, lingullela Early Cambrian Shallow- deep marine Khewra sandstone 150m Purple sandstone and different shades of red sand stone. Top massive sandstone bottom contain shale. No fossils few trilobite Early Cambrian Shallow marine salt range 3- 100m 80m 650m 1.Sahiwal marl member: Bright red marl with gypsum dolomite and khewra trap. Dull red marl with some salt seams. 2.Bandar khas gypsum member have massive gypsum with minor amount of dolomite and clay. 3.Billianwala salt member has Fe red marl with thick seams of salt. No fossils Precambrian Shallow marine Field: A field trip was arranged by Geology department, university of Swabi. We left for trip at 09:00 am on Monday ,17 December 2018 from university of Swabi and arrived back to Swabi on Friday, 21 December 2018. We visited only; Jhelumgroup
  • 10.
    Eastern salt range(Choa Saidhan shah “Katas” and Khewra Gorge) Central salt range (Nelawahan). Western salt range (Zaluch Nala and Nammal Gorge). Stop 1: Our first stop was in Choa Saidhan Shah (near Katas raj temple) in Eastern salt range where two members of Chharat group of early Eocene age were exposed along road side; Sakesar Limestone and Chorgali Formation are present. Sakesar limestone: Sakesar limestone is the second member of Chharat group. Nomenclature: GEE in 1935 called this formation “SAKESAR LIMESTONE” accepted by stratigraphic committee of Pakistan. Lithology: This formation is majorly composed of limestone, but marl is also present in the upper most part. LIMESTONE: cream to light gray in colour, massive, nodular and highly fossiliferous. MARL: (Argillaceous limestone or dirty limestone is known as marl). Chert nodularity is the diagnostic feature of this formation. Along road side only sakesar limestone is exposed having clear chert nodules and calcite vein. At some places due to oxidation its color changes to red, green or black. Chert means cryptocrystalline silica. Fossils: Fossils like foraminifers, molluscs, Brachiopod and echinoids are found in this formation. Age: Due to the presence of these fossils the age assigned to this formation is Early Eocene.
  • 11.
    Contacts: The lower contactat stop 1 is not exposed while the upper contact is transitional and conformable with Chorgali Formation. Sakesar formation (pen is for scale) Chert nodules in sakesar formation (pen is for scale). Chorgali formation: Chorgali Formation is the third member of CHHARAT GROUP in sequence of older to younger.
  • 12.
    Nomenclature: PASCOE in 1920named this formation Chorgali Beds which has been formalized by Chorgali Formation by Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan. Lithology: Chorgali Formation is majorly composed of limestone, marl, shale and dolostone. Limestone is pale yellowish in color and shale is dark in color whose thickness is less than 1 cm. The diagnostic feature of this formation is that it always overlain Sakesar limestone. Fossils: Fossils including foraminifers, molluscs and ostracodes has been reported from this formation. The age assigned to this formation is Early Eocene. Contacts: Its lower contact is conformable with sakesar limestone. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine to lagoonal environment. Chorgali formation (pen is for scale). Stop 2: At Stop 2 along road side on way from Choa Saidhan Shah to Khewra gorge in the eastern salt range, Tobra Formation is exposed. Tobra formation: This is the first member of Nilawahan Group.
  • 13.
    Nomenclature: Talchir boulder bedsby GEE and Talchir stage by Pascoe in 1959 was named as Tobra formation by stratigraphic committee of Pakistan. Lithology: This formation is majorly composed of conglomeratic sandstone and shales. Conglomerate of this formation is polymictic which means that clasts of this formation are derived from various sources. Pink colored Granite clasts are very common in these conglomerates which are the part of the “Nager Parker granite” in Sindh. Age: Age assigned to this formation is lower Permian. Thickness: The elevation of the formation is 677meter. Fossils: Gangamopteris and glossopteris fossils are reported. Contact: The upper contact of this formation is with Dandot Formation and conformable. The lower contact of this formation in Zaluch Nala is with Lei conglomerate which is an unconformable contact. Environment: Environment of this formation is Glacio-fluvial. Tobra formation (pen is for scale).
  • 14.
    Stop 3: Near tostop 2, at stop 3 along road side Baghanwala formation is exposed. Baghanwala formation: Baghanwala formation is the last member of the Jhelum group of Cambrian age in order of older to younger. Lithology: Baghanwala formation is majorly composed of sandstone and shale. Sandstone is reddish in color and flaggy while shale is dark color and thin bedded. The diagnostic feature of this formation is salt pseudomorphs (pseudo means false and morph means form). Salt crystals dissolves in water leaving behind its shape (cavity) which is later on filled by sandstone. Geological structures like ripple marks and cross bedding are also found in this formation. Thickness/distribution: Well developed in eastern salt range and disappears as we move toward west, it reappears at different localities at central salt range. Thickness in subsurface at Karampur village, near Baghanwalan is 100-116m, at Khewra Gorge by erosion reduces to 40m. Fossils: Unfossiliferous, some trace fossils present. Age: Middle to Late Cambrian; can be correlated with Khisor Formation at Khisor Rnage. Contact: The upper contact of the Baghanwala Formation with the overlying Tobra Formation is unconformable which can be easily seen on Khewra-Choa Saidan Shah road whereas the lower contact with the Jutana Formation is conformable. Environment of deposition: Casts of salt Pseudomorphs represent the lagoonal environment (Arid Condition).
  • 15.
    Baghanawala formation (penis for scale). White line in this Figure show contact b/w tobra and baghanawala formation. Dandot formation: Dandot formation (also called conularia beds) is the second member of Nilawahan group of Early Permian age. Lithology: This formation is composed of sandstone which is olive green to gray in color and carbonaceous shale. Tobra formation Baghanawala formation Contact
  • 16.
    Fossils: Brachiopods, bryozoa, ostracodes. Age: EarlyPermian to Middle Permian. Contact: Its lower contact is gradational and conformable with Tobra formation at stop 3. Its upper contact is conformable with Warchha sandstone. Environment: The environment of deposition of Dandot formation is deltaic. Dandot formation (pen is for scale). Stop 4: Khewra Gorge in the eastern salt range is our fourth stop. In this stop we observe Salt range formation, Khewra formation, Kussak formation and Jutana formation Salt range formation: This is the oldest formation of salt range and its age is Precambrian (Eocambrian). Exposed because of regional structure known as salt range thrust. Lithology: This formation is predominantly composed of gypseous marl of red color, Halite (Rock salt), beds of gypsum (white color), dolomite and shale. And highly weathered igneous body known as Khewra trap (also called Khewrite) is reported from this formation, which have
  • 17.
    mineral mostly pyroxenein needle like shape. Its color is purple to black. There are three members of this formation. a) Sahiwal marl member: This member is further divided in to two parts: It consists of dull red marl beds with some salt seems. Thick beds of Gypsum are also found. Thickness of this part is > 40m. It consists of the bright red marl beds with irregular gypsum. KHEWRA TRAP is present in this part. Thickness of this part is 3-100m. b) Bandarkhas Gypsum member: It is mainly massive gypsum with some salt seems. Minor beds of dolomite and clay are also present. Its thickness is > 80m. c) Billianwala Salt member: It consists of Ferruginous red marl with thick seems of salt. Its thickness is > 650m. Conjugate fractures are present in all the members. Thickness: Thickness at type section is 830meter. Fossils: Devoid of fossils. Age: Precambrian due to law of superposition. Contact: At stop 4 its lower contact is not exposed, and upper contact is normal and conformable with Khewra formation. Environment: Evaporitic environment of deposition.
  • 18.
    Salt range formation(pen is for scale). Khewra formation: Khewra formation is the first member of Jhelum group of early to middle Cambrian in age, in order of older to younger. Lithology: This formation is predominantly composed of sandstone and red flaggy shale in the lower most part. Sandstone is purple to brown or yellowish to brown in color, fine grained, thick bedded and massive. Sedimentary structure: Sedimentary features like ripple marks, climbing ripple marks, cross bedding, ball and pillow structures, mud cracks and folds (Anticline) are common in this formation. Fossils: Trace fossils of “Trilobites” Age: Early Cambrian due to Trace of Trilobites Contacts: Its lower contacts are conformable with salt range formation and the upper contact is conformable with Kussak formation.
  • 19.
    Environment: Fluvial-deltaic. Khewra sandstone (penfor scale). Cross bedding in khewra sandstone. Ball and pillow structure. Kussak formation: Kussak formation is predominantly composed of sandstone, shale and marl. Sandstone is greenish-gray in color due to glauconite and micaceous. Layers of intraformational conglomerate and pink gypsum lenses are also present at the top of the formation. Fossils: This formation is fossiliferous and yielded many fossils. Age: Early-mid Cambrian. Environment: Its environment of deposition is marine-deltaic.
  • 20.
    Contacts: The lower contactis conformable with khewra formation and upper contact is conformable with Jutana formation. Kussak formation. Jutana formation: Jutana formation is the member of Jhelum group and as “Magnesian sandstone”. Lithology: Jutana formation is majorly composed of sandy dolomite at lower part. Its color is light green and is hard and massive, while the upper part is composed of light green to dirty white massive dolomite. Age: The age of jutana formation is middle Cambrian. Contacts: Its lower contact is conformable with kussak formation and upper contact is also conformable with baghanwala formation. Environment: Its environment of deposition is marine to lagoon.
  • 21.
    Jutana formation. Stop 5: Centralsalt range: It was day 3rd when we move from choa saidan to Mianwali we also observe some formation of nelawahan group along road side also observe some formation of Eocene age makarwal group. Sardhai formation: Also known as sardhai clays or lavender clays. It is the last member of nilawahan group. Lithology: This formation is composed of variety of clays having different colors like blue, green, yellow and grey. some carbonaceous shale is present. Clay contains some copper minerals like chalcopyrite, minor amount of Jarosite, chert and gypsum Some minor sandstone and siltstone beds are also present. Age: Early to Middle Permian. Contacts: Lower contact is transitional with warchha sandstone and the upper contact is conformable with Amb formation. Environment: Fluvial dominated delta.
  • 22.
    Sardai formation (penis for scale). Warcha sandstone: Warchha sandstone is the third member of nilawahan group in sequence of older to younger. The age of nilawahan group (warchha sandstone) is early Permian. Lithology: This formation consists of sandstone with interbeds of shale. Sandstone is medium to coarse grained, gritty, cross bedded and conglomeratic in places. The color of sandstone is reddish to purplish or show lighter shades of pink. Age: The age of warcha sandstone is Permian. Contacts: In central salt range the upper contact of warcha sand stone is with sardai clay and lower with hangu formation in pail katha section. Environment: Environment of deposition of Warchha sandstone is fluvial.
  • 23.
    Warcha sandstone (penis for scale). Makerwal group: In central salt range in pail katha section makerwal group formation is also exposed. Makerwal group contain three formation. 3. Patala formation. 2. Lockhart limestone. 1. Hangu formation. Lockhart formation: This formation is the second member of the Makarwal Group. Lithology: Grey to dark gray, medium to thick massive bedded, brecciated limestone. The limestone displays very well-developed nodularity. The nodularity may be caused by any of the following four reasons. (1) Organic activity (2) Differential compaction (3) Pressure solution (4) Stretching Age: The age of this formation is Paleocene to Eocene Contacts: Both contacts, upper and lower are transitional and conformable with patala and hangu formation.
  • 24.
    Environment of deposition: ShallowMarine. Lockhart limestone (Sunglass is for scale). Lockhart limestone (Pen is for scale). Hangu formation: When we move toward west on road from lockhart limestone in pail katha section we observe hangu formation. This formation is the first member of the Makarwal group in sequence of older to younger. Lithology: This formation consists of dark grey, rarely variegated sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale, and some nodular argillaceous limestone. The sandstone is white, light gray, and reddish brown, weathers dark rusty brown, fine to coarse grained and medium to thick bedded. Age: Early Paleocene. Contact: Lower contact is not exposed here and upper is conformable with Lockhart limestone.
  • 25.
    Hangu formation (penis for scale). Lateroids beds in hangu formation. Patala formation: The youngest formation of makerwal group is patala formation. We cannot observe patala formation in central salt range in pail katha section. Stop 6: Zaluch Nala (Western Salt Range): Lei conglomerate: Lei conglomerates are quaternary deposits. The name lei conglomerate was Introduced by GILL in 1952. This conglomerate consists of poorly sorted pebbles and boulders of mostly Eocene rocks, with a small pro portion of older sedimentary rocks, quartzite and igneous rocks. The conglomerate is intercalated with beds of soft sandstone and siltstone of pale brown to dark brown color. This conglomerate is different from the conglomerate of tobra formation because there are no bedding planes in lei conglomerate, but they are present in tobra formation. Tobra formation: Discussed earlier. The difference from same formation of eastern salt range is that this conglomerate is mud supported, boulders are of larger size. Color is also different.
  • 26.
    Tobra formation (penis for scale). Warcha sandstone: Discussed earlier the difference from same formation of central salt range is that here a diagnostic feature know as paleocole are present. Warcha sandstone paleocole. Warcha sandstone (pen is for sale). Sardai formation: Discussed earlier the difference from same formation of central salt range is that here a diagnostic feature known as paleocole are present. paleocole
  • 27.
    Sardai formation containpaleocole. Stop 7: NAMMAL GORGE (Western Salt Range): ZALUCH GROUP: Amb formation: Amb formation is the first member of zaluch group of late Permian age in older of older to younger and is also known as lower products. Lithology: Amb formation is consist of sandstone, limestone and shale. Sandstone is brownish grey medium grained calcareous and medium to thick bedded. Limestone is brownish grey sandy medium bedded and richly fossiliferous. Shale is grey to dark grey and contains some flora. Fossils: Fossils reported are fusilinids, bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves and gastropods. Contacts: Lower contact is transitional with sardhai clays and upper contact is conformable with wargal limestone. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is Shallow marine.
  • 28.
    Amb formation (penis for scale). Wargal limestone: Wargal limestone is the second member of zaluch group and known as middle productus. Lithology: Lithology comprises of limestone, dolomite and small amount of sandstone. Limestone is light olive grey to yellowish grey, thin to medium bedded, dolomitic in lower part while in upper part chert nodules are present. Dolomite is pinkish grey in color and massive. Sandstone is grayish orange in color and fine grained. This formation is richly fossiliferous and contain many fossils like bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, ammonoids and crinoids. Age: Late Permian. Contacts: Lower contact is conformable with Amb formation and upper contact with chhidru formation is transitional. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine (shelfal). Chhidru formation: Chhidru formation is the last member of zaluch group and known as up productus. Lithology: Main lithology of this formation included limestone, sandstone, and limy sandstone. At the base of the formation, Shale unit of grey to dark grey color is also present. The upper most part
  • 29.
    has well markedSandstone bed, which is the marker horizon and distinguishing character of this formation. Age: Late Permian. Contacts: Lower contact is conformable with wargal limestone while at upper contact there is a permo-triassic boundary between chhidru formation and mianwali formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine. Permo-Triassic boundary: Boundary between chhidru formation of late Permian age and mianwali formation of early Triassic is known as permo-triassic boundary. At this boundary Paleozoic era (Permian period) ends and Mesozoic era (Triassic period) starts. Permo-triassic boundry is marked by the property that there is abrupt change in the lithology at the boundry of two systems i.e. white sandstone of upper Permian and dolomite at the base of Triassic. Musakhel group: Musakhel group of salt range consist of three members 1: Mianwali Formation 2: Tredian Formation 3: Kingriali Formation Age assigned to Musakhel Group is early to late Triassic. Mianwali formation: It is the first member of Musakhel group in sequence of older to younger. Lithology: This formation is mainly composed of limestone, siltstone, dolomite, shale and sandstone. This formation is divided in to three members: a) Kathwai member: It is the lower most part of the Mianwali formation and mainly consist of crystalline dolomite and inter bedding of Shale.
  • 30.
    b) Mittiwala member: Itis the middle part of the Mianwali formation and consists of green shale beds with sandstone and limestone interbedded. c) Narmia member: It is the lower most member of the Mianwali formation and mainly consists of sandy dolomite, and dark gray to brown color limestone. Sandstone interbeds are also found in this part. Contacts: Lower contact with chhidru formation is marked by Para conformity while the upper contact is sharp and conformable with tredian formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is open marine to deltaic. Mianwali formation. Tredian formation: It is the second member of Musakhel group. Lithology: Main lithology of this formation is sandstone, shale. It has two members. 1. Landa member: (sandstone+shale) Sandstone: micaceous, varies in color from pinkish to reddish grey to greenish grey, thick bedded having ripple marks & Slump structures.
  • 31.
    2. khatkiara member: Sandstone,massive, thick bedded, white sandstone. Fossils: Palynomorphs (Pollen and Spores). Age: Middle Triassic Contacts: Lower contact of tredian formation is sharp and conformable with mianwali formation while the upper contact is gradational and conformable with kingriali formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow marine to deltaic. Tredian formation (high lighter is for scale). Kingriali formation: It is the third member of Musakhel group and also known as kingriali dolomite. Lithology: The bulk of lithology is dolomite, dolomitic limestone with interbeds of dolomitic shales. The dolomite is thin to medium bedded, fine grained with inter beds of shale and marl. Crossbeds are also present in this formation.
  • 32.
    Fossils: Crinoids, echinoids, gastropodsand other benthic fossils. Age: Late Triassic. Contacts: Lower contact with Tredian formation is conformable with tredian formation while the upper contact is unconformable with Datta formation. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is Fluvial environment. Kingriali formation (pen is for scale). Lateroids beds in kingriali formation. Broach group: Broach group represents the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of the Salt Range. Only two members of this group were exposed in Nammal Gorge. Datta formation: It is the first member of broach group in sequence of older to younger.
  • 33.
    Lithology: Variegated beds ofsandstone, siltstone and shale of different colors are present in this formation. Sandstone is red to maroon, grey, green and white in color. Shale, siltstone and mud stone are irregularly distributed. Laterite beds are also present. Age: The age of this formation is Jurassic. Environment: Environment of deposition of this formation is very shallow marine to deltaic. Datta formation (geologic hammer is for scale). Datta formation (oil seep). Makarwal group: Hangu formation, lockhart Limestone and Patala Shale are the three formations in Makarwal group which are present also in western salt range. Age of Makarwal group is Paleocene. Hangu formation: This formation is the first member of the Makarwal group in sequence of older to younger. It is discussed earlier in central salt rang of pail katha section.
  • 34.
    Hangu formation (penis for scale). Lockhart formation: This formation is the second member of the Makarwal Group. It is also discussed earlier in central salt range of pail katha section. Lockhart limestone (pen is for scale). Patala formation: The term Patala Formation was formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan for the "Patala Shale" of Davies and Pinfold. Lithology: Formation consists of shale and marl with subordinate limestone and sandstone. The shale is dark greenish grey selenite-bearing, in places carbonaceous and calcareous and contains marcasite nodules. The limestone is white to light grey and nodular. It occurs as interbeds.
  • 35.
    Age: The age ofthis formation middle Paleocene. Contact: Lower contact is conformable with lockhart limestone and upper contact is with nammal formation of cherat group of Eocene age. Reference: stratigraphy of Pakistan written by Ibrahim shah.