full salt range field report

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SALT RANGE FIELD REPORT
PREPARED BY:
MUHAMMAD IHTISHAM UL HAQ
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF SWABI
SUBMITTED TO:
SIR, AWAIS AHMAD
DATED: MAY,15,2017.

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Introduction to Salt Range:
Salt range is a series of mountais between the Indus river and Jehlum
river trending East West.It is present in the north of Punjab.It has
potwar basin in its north,Punjab Plains in its south, Indus river in its
west and Jehlum river in its east. It derives its name from its
extensive deposits of rock salt.
General map of Saltrange
Formation right from the Precambrian upto recent has been
exposed in salt range.It is also marked by several uncomformities.
All the formations exposed in the saltrange are also present beneath
the potwar basin. Saltrange is one of the most important localities in
the world for its structural,stratigraphic and paleontological record.
That is why it is called The museum of Geology.

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STOP NO.1:
At this stop we studied two formations
 Baghanwala formation
 Tobra formation
Baghanwala Formation:
The name Baghanwala Formation is now given to the rock of the
Pseudomorph Salt Crystal zone of Wynne(1878). This Formation is
exposed to the left of road side going from Choa Saidan Shah to
Khewra Goarge. Salt Pseudomorph means crystal shape of the salt in
these , which are formed due to the dissolution of salt crystals due to
which its cavity remains in these rocks , when these cavities fill with
sand size material then Salt pseudomorh crystals are formed.
The formation contain red shale,clay and alternate bed of maroon
color flaggy sandstone.
Salt Pseudomorph is only the characteristic feature of Baghanwala
Fomation, which is helpfull to identify this Formation.
Near Baghanwala its thickness ranges from 100 to 116m. The
Formation contains only Trace Fossils.
Age is Cambrian.The casts of pseudomorphs represent the lagoon
environment.

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salt pseudoorph
Tobra Formation:
Tobra Frmation is one of the formation of Nilawahan group having
age of Early Permian.
This formation is exposed to the left side of the road from Choa
Saidan Shah to Kewra Gorge.The locality s located near Tobre village
in the Eastern Salt Range. It composed mainly of Sandstone with

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Pinkish color Granite.This pink color granit is part of Nagarparkar
grThe matrix of the conglomeratic bed is generally clay, sandy and at
some places calcareous.The environment for the Tobra Formation is
consider to be GlacioFluvial which means that this formation is
formed due to Water and Glaciers.Pollen and spores are reported
from tobra formation.
Tobra formation having pinkish color granite
Major Unconformity:
There is Unconformity between Tobra Formation and Baghanwala
Formation, It is a Unconformity because there is a large difference in
their ages, The Tobra is Early Permian and The Baghanwala is Middle
and early Cambrian, which shows that the late Cambrian is missed.
 TWO POSSIBILITIES OF UNCONFIRMITY:
 Due to erosion

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 due to sudden uplifting of Cambrian so non deposition occur.
major unconformity between tobra and baghanwala formation
STOP NO.2:
1 :Chharat Group:
The chharat series of Pinfold (1918) has been formalized by
stratigraphic committed of Pakistan as Chharat group after the
Chharat village in Attock District, Punjab Province.
The group is comprised of the following formations:
Nammal Formation,
Sakesar Formation,
Chorgali Formation.
But at our stop there are only the following two formations exposed
the Sakesar and Chorgali while the Nammal is not exposed here. The
upper is Chorgali while below the contact is Sakesar Formation.

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Contact between sakessar and chorgali formation
Sakesar Formation:
The term Sakesar limestone was introduce by Gee (in fermor, 1935)
fr the most prominent Eocene limestone unit in the Salt and Trans-
Indus ranges. Sakesar Peak(Lat N32˚, 31ʹ : Long, E71˚, 56ʹ) in the Salt
range has been designated the type locality,which is the GPS(Global
Positioning System). The unit consists dominantly of limestone with
subordinate marl. The limestone throughout it extent , is greyish
white in color, nodular, usually massive, with considerable
development of chert in the upper part.The diagnostic feature of this
formation is chert limestone which is dark in color.
The is widely distributed in the Salt range and the Surghar range. In
the Salt Range its thickness is varies between 70m and 150m.

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The formation has yielded a rich assemblage of
foraminifers(numulities), mollusks, and echinoids.
Sakesar Limestone Having Chert And Nodularity
Chorgali Formation:
The term chorgali beds of Pascoe (1920) has been formalized as
chorgali formation by the stratigraphic committee of Pakistan.

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The section exposed at chorgali pass is(Lat N33˚, 26ʹ, 30ʺ : Long,
E72˚, 41ʹ).
The upper part of the formation is composed predominantly of
shale,dolostone, unconsolidated bed of marl with one thin bed of
dark grey limestone and a bed of nodular argillaceous limestone near
the top.
The Formation is distributed in the eastern Salt Range, Kala Chitta
Range, khair-e-murat Range and in the Hazara area. It is 150m thick
at Chorgali pass, 30m at Tarki,15m at bahadarkhel and about 45m in
Southern Hazara.
A rich fossil assemblage including foraminifers, mollusks, and
ostracodes has reported by Davies and Pinfold (1937).
Age is early-middle Eocene and environment of deposition is Shallow
marine.
chorgali formation

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STOP NO.3: KHEWRA GORGE:
At this stop we studied the formations of khewra gorge.the
following formations present in khewra gorge.
Salt Range Formation:
Wynne (1878) named and described the Formation based Saline
Series. The present name Salt Range Formation is given by Asrarullah
(1967). Khewra Gorge in the Eastern Salt Range has been designated
as the type section.
The Lower Part of the Salt Range Formation is composed of Red
colored Gypscous Marl with seams of salt , beds of Gypsum, White
Dolomite , ,Orange color Salt, Greenish clay and low grade oil shale.
The highly weathered igneous body known as Khewra Trap has been
reprted from the upper part of the formation. The Khewra Trap also
known as Khewrite.
This Formation is Late Pre-Cambrian in age due to law of
superposition.The environment of deposition is lagoon.
This formation is devoid of fossils.
This formation has the following three members.
 The Bandarkas Gypsum member
 The Sahiwal marl member
 The Billanwala member

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salt range formation
Khewra Formation:
The name Khewra Formation was formalized as Khewra Sandstone
by the Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan, Fatmi (1973). A type
locality is in Khewra Gorge near Khewra Town, Salt Range.
The Formation consists pre –dominantly of purple to brown fine
grained sandstone. The lower most part of Formation is red flaggy
shale. Sedimentary features like ripple marks, mud cracks,ball and
pillow structures are common in the Formation.
The characteristic feature of this Formation is Ball and Pillow shape
structures of rocks. The upper contact of this formation is
conformable with Kussak Formation and lower unconformable with
Salt Range Formation.
Trace fossils of Trilobites are present in this formation.Age of
this formation is early Cambrian due to trace of trilobites.
Environment of deposition is Deltaic.

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Khewra sandstone
w
Ball and pillow structures in khewra

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Khussak formation:
The stratigraphic committee of Pakistan formalized the name of the
unit as Kussak Formation.(Fatmi, 1973). The type locality lies near
Kussak fort in the Eastern part of the Salt Range.
At the type locality is the Formation is composed of greenis grey,
Glauconitic micacious sandstone, greenish grey siltstone,
interbedded with light grey dolomite and some oolitic arenaceous
dolomite, pink gypsum lenses are present near the top. Numerous
layers intraformational conglomerate are also present. Environment
of deposition is marine.
Thickness at type locality is 70m, but 55m at Khisor range.
The Formation contain Brachiopods(Neobolus), Trilobites(Redlichida,
Linguelella). Age is early-mid Cambrian. Upper contact is
conformable with khera formation and lower is confirmable with
Jutana formation.
khussak formation

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Juttana Dolomite:
The stratigraphic committee of Pakistan formalized the name as
jutana Formation. The type locality near Jutana Village in the Eastern
Salt Range.
At type locality, the lower part of the formation consist of light
green, hard, massive partly sandy dolomite, while the upper part
consist of light green to dirty white massive dolomite, In the upper
part, Brecciated dolomite is also present.Environment of deposition
iis arine to laggonal (peritidal envt.). The formation contains fossils
like Trilobites, Brachiopods, Gastropods. Age is middle Cambrian.
In Eastern Salt Range the formation is conformably underline by
Kussak Formation and overline by Baghanwaka Formation. In the
Western Salt Range it is not present.
The Formation is thick 80m at type locality whre at Khisor range it is
50m. This Formation is also called Mg-Sandstone or Sandy dolomite.
Jutana dolomite

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STOP NO.4: NUMMEL GORGE:
At this stop we studied the following formations which I am going to
describe below.
Wargal Limestone:
The name Wargal limestone, as approved by stratigraphic committee
of Pakistan was introduce by Teichert (1966). The type section is near
Wargal village in the Central Salt Range. Zalluch nala in the Western
Salt Range.
The lithology comprises of limestone and dolomite of light medium
grey to brownish grey and olive grey in color.Limestone at some
places sandy,having chert nodules at upper part. Dolomite pinkish
grey, bracciated and massive. Sandstonne is greyish orange,fine
grained.
The majorly Fossils which are present is in Wargal Limestone are
Brachiopods, Trilobites, Bryozoans,crinoids,conodonts,bivalve also
pollen and spores are present. Age is late Permian.
Lower part of formation is conformable with Amb formation and
upper is transitional with Chidru formation. Amb formation is not
exposed in Nummel Gorge. Environment of deposition is Shallow
Shelfal Marine.

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wargal limestone
Mianwali Formation:
It is belong to Mussakhel group of Triassic in age.
The name Mianwali formation was used by Kumel in 1966. It
includes the following three members..
• Kathwai member: Lower part consist of finely crystalline
dolomite which include fossils fragments mainly
of(ammonoids,echinoderms) and quartz grains. Upper
partcontains grey to brown glauconitic limestone.Thickness is
124.7m at type section.
• Mittiwali member: Lower part of member consist of grey,fine
grained and nanglauconatic limestone with abundant of
amonoids. Upper part contains greenish to greenish grey shale
with some sandstone,limestone along with some fossils.
Thickness is 98m at type section.
• Narmia member: Lower part contains dark grey to brown
limestone. Upper part coprises of grey to black shale with

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sandstone and limestone interbeds.Topmostbed is
dolomite.Thickness is 23m at type section.
The formation contains fossils like ammonoids,
brachiopods,conodonts,fish teeth etc. Age is early Triassic.
The lower contact is unconformable, paraconformity marking the
P-T boundary with Chidru formation, while the upper contact is
conformable with Tredian formation. Environent of deposition is
marine.
mianwali formation
Tredian Formation:
The name Tredian Formation was introduce by Gee(in Kummel
(1966). Fatmi divides the formation into two members in 1977.
 Landa Member: This contain micaceous, pinkish to reddish
grey to greenish grey Sandstone, thock bedded havind ripple
marks and slumps structures.Also contain shale.
 Khatkiara Member: It contains massive thick bedded white
sandstone.

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The Formation contains plant microfossils(pollen and spores). This
Formation is having its Lowe contact conformable with Mianwali
while Upper contact is conformable with Kingriali Formations.
The formation is well distributed in Salt range and Khisor range. Age
is middle Triassic. Environment of deposition is fluvial(non marine).
Kingriali Formation:
The name Kingriali dolomite was used by Gee (1945)and later
amended as Kingriali Formation bu SCP, because of several
lithological facies are represented.
The formation contains Sandstone, Dolomite, Limestone, Shale.
Anwar in 1992 divided the formation into two members.
 Doya Member
 Vanjari Member
The formation is well exposed at Salt range, Trans Indus Ranges, Kala
Chatta, Kohat and SE Hazara.The thickness of formation varies
from76 to 106m.
Fossils Spirefera, Crinoids, Echinoiids,Gastropods,
Brachiopods,Bivalves and other Benthic fossils are reported.Age is
late Triassic. Environment of deposition is Tidal flats.
Lower contact is conformable with Tridian formation and upper is
disconfoermable with Datta formation.
Datta Formation:
The name Datta Formation was introduce by Danilchik (1961).The
Formation is best develop in Trans-Indus Ranges and Salt Range. In
Datta Frmation we identify Sulphur and the Formation is mainly

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consists of variegated red, maroon, grey, green and white Sandstone,
shale, siltstone, and mudstone with irregular distributed calcarious
dolomite. It also contains economic minerals like silica sand,fire
clay,sulphur,coal etc. Oil seeps in this foration indicates that it is
petroleum reservoir.
Thickness at type locality is 212m and at Nammal Nala in Salt range
thickness is 150m.
The formation is Early-Jurrasic in age by law of superposition. Lower
contact is unconformable with Kingriali formation upper is
unconformable with samanasuk in Salt range, because samanasuk is
not present. Environment of deposition is Deltaic.
oil seeps in data formation
Hangu Formation:
The name Hangu Formation have been formalized by Stratigraphic
committee of Pakistan in (1973). Hangu Formation consists of
sandstone with grey shale. The sandstone is white light grey and

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redish brown, shale, carbonaceous shale and some nodular,
argilaceous limestone. The thickness of this formation in the Nammal
Gorge is 90m.
Fossils like Forams,corals,gastropods,bivalves are reported. Age is
early Paleocene.
The formaton is disconformably overlies the Kawagarh formation in
the Kohat, Kallachitta and Hazara areas Upper contact is
conformable with Lockhart fomation. The age of this formation is
Early-Paliocene.
Hangu formation
Lockhat Formation:
Davies (1930) introduce the term Lockhat Limestone for a Paliocene
limestone unet in the Kohat area and SCP applies the term
elsewhere.
Lockhat limestone, in the Kohat area, is grey to medium grey,
medium to thick bedded, massive, rubbly and brecciated in places.
The basal part is dark grey to bluish grey and flaggy. In the lower part

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bluish grey, calcarious shale are also present. Its thickness is 70m at
Nammal Gorge in the Salt Range.
The Formation conformably and Transitionaly overlies the Hangu
Formation and Underlies the Pattala Formation. The Lockhat
limestones contains abundant foraminifers, corals, mollusks and
echinoids.Age is middle Paleocene. Environment of deposition is
Shallow Marine.
Patala Formation:
The term Patala Formation wa formalized by Stratigraphic
committee of Pakistan.In the Salt Range the Formation consists of
Shale and marls with subordinate limestone and sandstone. He shale
is dark greenish grey and limestone is white to grey and nodular
while sandstone is yellowish brown in color which is present in the
upper part.
Thickness is 90m at Patala Nala. Lower contact is conformable with
Lockhart foration, Upper is conformable with Nummel formation at
salt range.

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Fossils like Forums, Mullusks, Ostracods are reported.The formation
has been assigned a Late-Paliocene in age.Environment of deposition
is Shelfsl Marine.
patala formation
Nummel Formation:
Danilchik and Shah give the name as Nummel Marl.Type locality is
Nummel Gorge.The formation contains alternating sequence of
shale,marl and limestone. Shale is grey to bluish grey and limestone
is argillaceous at places.
Thickness is 100m at Nummel gorge and 40m at Kherha-choa saidan
shah road.
Forams and mullusks are reported. Age is early Eocene.Lower
contact is conformable with Patala formation upper is conformable
with Sakkesar limestone.. Environent of deposition is shallow
Marine.

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numel formation
STOP NO.5: ZALUCH NALA:
Our next stop was towards the Zaluch Nala which is western salt
range. The following formations are present at zalluch nala.
Nillawahan Group:
The name Nillawahan group has been formalized be the Gee’s
proposal. Its age varies from Early Permian to late-Permian.
This group include the following Formations, Tobra, Dandot,
Warchha, Sardhai. Wrcha and Sardai formations are exposed at
zalluch nala.
Warchha Sandstone:
The name Warchha sandstone was proposed by Husain in
1967.Formation contains red-purple,medium to coarse,cross bedded
sandstone,conglomeratic at places,interbeds of shales also present.
Sandstone is arkosic which means that the concentration of Feldspar
is also present and this concentration is about 25%.The formation is
locally spekeled.

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Economic importance of western salt range is that, It contains
carbonaceous shale with impersistent coal seam,the only Permian
coal in Pakistan but of poor quality and low production.
Thickness ranges from 26 to 180.
Root casts are reported. Age is early Permian by law of
Superposition. Lower is conformable with Tobra formqtion and
upper is transitionally conformable with Sardai formation.
Environment of deposition is Fluvial(flood plain).
warcha sandstone
Sardhai Formation:
The name Sardhai Formation as approved by stratigraphic committee
of Pakistan was given by Gee. The type section is suggested by Gee in
the Sadhai Gorge in the Eastern Salt Range.
The formation contains purplish,reddish,bluish and greenish grey
clay with minor amount of sand and siltstone. It also contain some

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carbonaceous shale. Clay contain some copper minerals like
chalcopyrite,jarosite,chert and gyosum.
At type locality it 42m thick. The upper contact with the Amb
Formation is conformable Plants remains and fish scales have been
reported. Age is early to middle Permian. Environment of deposition
is fluvial dominated delta.
sardai formation
Zaluch Group:
At zaluch nala two formations of zaluch group are exposed i.e

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 Amb formation
 Chidru formation
Amb Formation:
Teicher (1966) suggested the name Amb Formation to the same unit,
which was formalized by stratigraphic committee or Pakistan.
The Formation consists of Sandstone, Limestone and Shale. The
sandstone brownish grey, medium grained and thick bedded. The
limestone is sandy, Brownish grey, medium bedded and richly
fossiliferous.The Formation is 80m thick in type locality.
Brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves,echinoids etc reported from the
formation.Fussilinoids found in sandstone, Productus in limestone,
Plant foddils like Gamopteris etc found in shales. Age is late Permian
due to the index fossils of Fussilinids. Lower is transitionally
conformable with sardai formation, upper is conformable with sardai
formation. Environment of deposition is shelfal marine.
Chhidru Formation:
The name Chhidru Formation was introduce by Dunbar in 1933.type
locality is chidru nala at western salt range.
The topmost part of Chhidru Formation is a white Sandstone bed
with oscillation ripplemarks. The sandstone is medium to fine-
grained with subordinate dark shales. The basal part contains grey to
mediu dark grey shale contains phosphatic nodules which overlies
with calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestone.
Chidru formation is highly fossileferous contain brachiopods,
ammonoids, bivalves and gastropods. Age is late Permian. Lower
contact is conformable with wargal limestone,upper unconformable

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with mianwali foration marking the P-T boundary. Environment of
deposition is shallow marine.
STOP NO.6: CHICHALI NALA:
Chingji Formation:
Chingji formation was formalised by Lewis in 1937 and accept by SCP.
Type locality is south of chingji village at chichali nala.
The formation consist of clay with intercalation of sandstone and
intraformational conglomerate.
Thickness is 750m at type locality. Abundant of vertebrate
fossils,crocodile,lizards,turtles,aquatic birds etc are reported. Age is
early Pliocene. Lower contact is conformable with kamlial formation,
upper is conformable with nagri formation. Environment of
deposition is Fluvizl with pond condition due to crocodile.
chingji formation

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Chichali Formation:
Chichali term was introduced by Dalnichik in 1961chichali pass is
type locality.
Formation consist of sandstone and shale, which have phosphatic
nodule and pyrite, shale may be also carbonaceous at places.
Thickness is 55-70 at type locality. Abuindant Belemnites are found in
sandstone. Age is early crateceous.Lower is conformable with
samanasuk formation, upper is gradatioal with Lumshiwal formation.
Environment of deposition is shallow shelfal marine.
belemnites in chichali nala