its the field report of salt range submitted by Muhammad Ishaq to Muhammad Awais department of geology university of Swabi

1. Geological Field Report of Salt Range
BY
Muhammad Ishaq
Report submitted to Mr. Muhammad Awais department of geology
University of Swabi (KPK)
2018

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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 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.

12. 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.

13. 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).

14. 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).

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

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 (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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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.

30. 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.

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, 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.