Shah fahad report(Salt range)

GEOLOGICAL FIELD REPORT:
A STUDY OF THE SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES AND
STRATIGRAPHY OF SALT RANGE AREA.

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GEOLOGICAL FIELD REPORT OF SEDIMENTARY
STRUCTURES AND STRAITIGRAPHY OF SALT RANGE AREA.
Written & Prepared BY:
Shah Fahad
ROLL NO;41
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
4TH
SEMESTER
BACHA KHAN UNIVERSITY CHARSADDA

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SUBMITTED TO:
Mr.TAQWEEM UL HAQ ALI SB
LECTURER DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
BACHA KHAN UNIVERSITY CHARSADDA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. ACKNOWLEGDEMENT
2. ABSTRACT
I.CHAPTER #01
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OBJECTIVES
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE
1.3 METHODOLOGY
1.4 SIWALIK GROUP
1.5 KHEWRA GORGE
1.6 ZALUCH NALA
1.7 NAMMAL GORGE
II.CHAPTER#02
STRAITIGRAPHY
2.1 STRAITIGRAPHY OF SIWALIK GROUP
2.2 STRAITIGRAPHY OF KHEWRA GORGE
2.3 STRAITIGRAPHY OF ZALUCH NALA
2.4 STRAITIGRAPHY OF NAMMAL GORGE

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III.CHAPTER #03
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
3.1 FIRST DAY OBSERVATIONS
3.2 SECOND DAY OBSERVATIONS
3.3 THIRD DAY OBSERVATIONS
3.4 FOURTH DAY OBSERVATIONS
IV.CHAPTER#04
CONCLUSION

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT;
Firstly, I would like toexpress my sincere gratitude to Almighty Allah for giving me the
sense and strength to be a part of this field trip which was organized by the Department
of Geology Bacha Khan University Charsadda. In performing this field, Ihad to take
the help and guideline of some respected persons, who deserve my greatest gratitude.
The completion of this field gives us much Pleasure. I would like to show my gratitude
to Honourable Sir,Mr Taqweem ul Haq Alifor giving us a good guideline & a lot of
knowledge Before& after the field. I am also thankful to sir, Mr.MOHSIN RAZA SB,
who despite having other commitments joined us in the field and shared his knowledge
with us. I would also liketo expand my deepest gratitude to all those who have directly
and indirectly guided me in writing this . Once again a thank you to Honourables Mr
Taqweem Ul Haq Ali& Mr Mohsin Raza Sb who introduced us to the Methodology of
work, and whose passion for the “underlying structures” had lasting effect. I am also
thankful to the Department of Geology Bacha khan university Charsadda,For
arranging the field for us.Many people, especially our classmates and team members
itself, have made valuable comments suggestions on this proposal which gave me an
inspiration to improve my field report . I am thankful to all the people for their help
directly and indirectly in the completion of my work. Lastly, I would like to thank my
parents who raised me with a love of science and supported me in all my pursuits..
ABSTRACT

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This field report describes the litho-stratigraphy as well as structure of the Nammal Gorge,Khewra
Gorge,Zaluch Nala and Siwalik Group. All these areas contain important geological and
plateontogical localities with having outstanding field areas.In fact these areas present open book of
Geology where various richy fossiliferous stratified rocks are very well exposed due to lack of
vegetation sedimentary and trees . In Nammal gorge the strata from late Permian Wargal Limestone to
Eocene Murree Formation are exposed. The area is structurally characterized by features like cross
bedding, ripple marks; plumose structures, flute casts, burrows and some joints and fractures are
present.In Khewra gorge The overlying Khewra sandstone is of early Cambrian age, therefore the salt
range formation is assigned an Early Cambrian to Late Precambrian age Sedimentary features such as
ripple marks and mud cracks are common in the formation . The age of Zaluch group is range from
the early Permian to late Permian.The zaluch group is further divided in to three formations which
include Amb formation,Wargal limestone and Chhidru formation.Siwalik group is composed of
molasse sediments, which were derived from the rising Himalaya in the north. The group along the
Kankai River section is lithologically divided into the Lower, Middle and Upper Siwaliks, in ascending
order based on increasing grain size and lithology . In our trip we focused on the geological study of
sedimentary structure , stratigraphy, tectonic and others geomorphological features of Nammal
Gorge,Khewra Gorge,Zaluch Nala and Siwalik Group.
CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION

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1.1Objectives:
A field trip was arranged by the department of Geology Bacha Khan University on 10th
July, 2018. It
was a five days field trip to Khewra Gorge,Nammal Gorge,Zaluch Nala and Siwalik group . which is
approximately120-150 km from Islamabad. We left for trip on 10th
July , 2018 at 9:00am and arrived
back to Bacha Khan University Charsadda on 14 July , 2018 at 6:15 pm. The main objectives of the
trip was to study the sedimentary Structures, stratigraphy, tectonic, regional geology and
geomorphological features of those areas.
1.2 Significance:
The basic purpose of the field was to complete the degree requirement of three credit hours field work
under the instructions of our visionary and hardworking course instructor honorable Mr.Taqweem Ul
Haq Ali . This was our second field, first we did in the Malakand,Swabi and Nezampur areas.In this
present field the main objectives were to get familiar ourselves with the faults, folded areas ,trusted
shields and complex lithologies due to deformation and to get some idea about the complex
paleotectonic mechanisms and salt diapers which acted in the area, making complex structures and
lithologic contacts.
1.3 Methodology
We applied different methods in our field to recognize the lithology , dipping directions and our
position etc. so these methods are given below:
.i.Silva Compass was used for measuring the dip and strike of the rocks
.ii.Geological Hammer was used for collecting samples and differentiating between fresh and
weathered surface of rocks. It is also used a scale .
iii.Hand lens were used for study of fossils and grain sizes.

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iv.Photography
All variations and changes were noted from bed to bed and photographs of different characteristics,
including fossils, nodules, formation contacts, bed and other sedimentary features, were taken
v.Sampling
Well sized samples were collected, oriented and an arrow was marked perpendicular to bedding
surface, and head of arrow was denoting the top of the bed. The identification numbers were given to
each and every sample at the time of collection in the field. The locations of samples were recorded in
field note book, systematically. All samples were placed individually in appropriate bags which were
strong and seal able plastic bags

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1.4 Siwalik Group:
The Siwalik Group was deposited in the Himalayan foreland basin system during the Middle Miocene
to Early Pleistocene ,and now occupies the southern frontal part of the Himalayan fold thrust belt.It
consists of a 4-6 km thickness of fluvial sediments laid down in the pale-foreland basin situated above
the downwardly Indian plate in a basin formed by the rising Himalaya. The Siwalik Group is bounded
to the north by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and to the south by the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT),
which over thrusts Quaternary deposits. The Siwalik Group has been the focus of numerous
lithostratigraphic, sedimentologic and chronostratigraphic studies because of its great potential for
elucidating the tectonic, climatic and erosional histories of the Himalayaand the surrounding area.
The faunal zones correspond to lithofacies. The tripartite division consists of the Lower Siwaliks
(Kamlial and Chinji Formations), Middle Siwaliks (Nagri and Dhok Pathan Formations), and the
Upper Siwaliks , Lithostratigraphy of the Siwalik Group, Karnali River section, far-west Nepal
Himalaya. Other work established a lithostratigraphy based on proportions of mudstone, sandstone
and conglomerateand defined the Kamlial, Chinji, Nagri, Dhok Pathan, Tatrot,Pinjor and Boulder
Conglomerate Formations, along with several magnetostratigraphic studies . These divisions are now
used as the standard stratigraphic nomenclature in Pakistan. In India, the classification from the
Potwar Basin has been broadly applied. Several studies have, however, defined different stratigraphy
for some areas of the Indian Siwaliks. The Geologists divided the succession into the Arung Khola,
Binai Khola, Chitwan, and Deorali Formations, in ascending order. The upper siwalik was divided into
two formations.
1.5 KHEWRA SANDSTONE:
Wynne (1878) uses the name “Purple sandstone series” and Noetling(1894) called “Khewra group” to
the rocks of this formation. Now the name “Khewra sandstone” is formalized by stratigraphic
Committee of Pakistan. The type locality is near Khewra village in Khewra Gorge in eastern Salt
Range. The thickness of the formation in the Khewra gorge is more than 830 m. The upper contact of
the formation with Khewra sand stone is normal and conformable. The base of the formation is almost
unknown and is only known from karampur well where the formation overlies metamorphic rocks. The
age of the formation has long been a controversial topic. The overlying Khewra sandstone is of early
Cambrian age, therefore the saltrange formation is assigned an Early Cambrian to Late Precambrian
age The formation consists predominantly of purple to brown,yellowish brown, fine grained sandstone.
The lower most part of theformation contains red flaggy shale. Sedimentary features such asripple
marks and mud cracks are common in the formation. The thickness at the type locality is 150 meters
and in western saltrangeits thickness is 200 meters. It is distributed throughout salt range. Thecontact
of Khewra Sandstone with underlying Salt Range formation iscontroversial due to which problem of
age aroused. Sahni (1947) regardedage of formation Tertiary and postulated a thrust at the
contactbetween Salt Range formation and Khewra sandstone. Gee (1945)mapped the entire salt range
and concluded that the contact betweenKhewra sandstone with underlying formation is sedimentary.
The upper contact with Kussak formation is conformable.Khewra Sandstone has been observed in
Khewra Gorge during ourfield work. Sand grains of medium size have been observed at thetype
locality. Sedimentary features such as cross bedding are observed in Khewra gorge. The lower contacts
with sahwal marl member of salt range formation have been observed gradational. The formation
contains only few trace fossils which has been interpreted astrilobite trails by Schindewolf and
Seilacher (1955) and are not indicative of particular age. Sahni (1947)regarded age of the formation

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Tertiary but the age of Khewra sandstone is early Cambrian because overlying Kussak formation is not
older than late early Cambrian.
1.6 Zaluch Group
The name of the zaluch group is drived from the zaluch nala which are present in the western of the
salt range which was proposed by Teichert in 1966.
The age of the group is range from the early Permian to late Permian.
The zaluch group is further divided in to three formations
1. Amb Formation
2. Wargal Limestone
3. Chhidru Formation
The Tobra Formation contains ostracizes, and fresh water bivalves, pollen, spores,microplanktons as
well as flora remains including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris . On the basis of fauna the age is
considered as Early Permian Warchha sandstone Formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The
sandstone is red,purple or lightershades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly,
friable and arkosic. Thepebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is
thick bedded. Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled. The Chiddru formation at the base is composed
of shale unit of yellowish grey to medium dark grey color with small phosphatic nodules. Above shale
beds of calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestones are present. The top most part is a white
sandstone bed which is medium to fine grained with subordinate shale partings and contains abundant
fossils.The formation has a transitional contact with underlying Wargal formation while its upper
contact is marked by a major unconformity the P-T boundary above which is the Mianwali formation
of Triassic age.
1.7 Nammal Gorge

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The Nammal Gorge is located in the western Salt range situated south of Islamabad at a distance of
about 200km. from Charsadda it is present at a distance of approximately 300km. the exact coordinates
for Nammal gorge are 3239’54” North and 7148’07” East.
The area is easily accessible as it is located on the Grand Trunk Road from Peshawar to Karachi. It
took about 5 hours to reach Nammal from Charsadda . The path in the gorge is rocky, bushy, and
unsteady and is along the water channel that comes from the spill of the Nammal Dam.
Climate of the area is hot and dry with very low precipitation; average rainfall is about 70-80mm per
annum. Maximum rains fall in Monsoon months of July and August. In winter months of December,
January and February there is minimum rainfall which makes it best time to visit the Nammal gorge.
In Nammal gorge we find mix lithologies. The Late Permian Zaluch Group is mainly limestone having
abundant fossils of brachiopods. The famous Permo-Triassic Boundary (P-T Boundary) separates the
Chiddru Formation of Zaluch group from Mianwali Formation of Triassic. Tredian Formation is of
sandstone while Kingriali Formation largely consists of Dolomitized limestone. The variegated Datta
Formation underlies the Shinawari Formation above which Samana Suk Formation is present which
comprises of limestone. After the unconformity Hangu Formation is present. The sandstone of Hangu
Formation underlies the nodular limestone of Lockhart Formation. Shales of Patala Formation are
present above which Nammal Formation and Sakesar Limestone are present. Economically Nammal
gorge is very important. Large quantities of limestone, sandstone and silica sand are being extracted
from the gorge. The quarries of limestone present here are fulfilling the needs of cement factories as
well as construction purposes.
CHAPTER-2
STRATIGRAPHY:

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STRATIGRAPHY OF SIWALIK GROUP:
Medlicott (1864) was the first who introduced the term Siwaliks for the fresh water deposits of Late
Tertiary age from Siwalik Hills in the Indian held Kashmir. Later on Wynne (1879) extended it to
similar rocks of the Potwar Plateau, North-West Frontier Province, Kashmir, Baluchistan and Sindh
areas of Pakistan.
The constituent sediments were produced as a result of the high uplift rates of the Himalayan orogenic
belt during Miocene time (Zeitler, 1985) that exposed different types of rocks for denudation, and
transported by the Himalayan drainage system analogous to the present day river systems of Indus,
Ganges andthe mentioned belt into their respective basins.(Abid et al., 1983; Abbasi and Friend, 2000).
Brahmaputra that started flowing axially through The Siwalik Hills consisting of sandstones,
mudstone and conglomerates, form the sub-Himalayan lithotectonic unit of the Himalayan tectonic
system and extend for over 2000 km from Kohat Plateau (northern Pakistan).
The Siwalik Group of rocks consists of 5000 to 5500 m thick clastic sediments, The Siwalik Group
clastic sediments are assumed to have been eroded from the metamorphic rocks of the Himalayan
orogen (Najman et al., 1997; DeCelles et al., 2001).

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The siwalik hill ranges
Division of the siwalik group :
Siwalik group is divide in to the three division
a. Lower siwalik:
The Kamlial and Chinji formations form the lower Siwaliks consists of a sequence of sandstone-
mudstone couplets with a marked dominance of the mudstones over the sandstones. The paleosol
horizons are also fairly frequent in their developments. The Lower Siwaliks have height approximately
4,000 feet with life span about 18 to 11.2 million years.
it is further divide in two formations
1. Kamlail formation
2. Chinji formation
b. Middle siwalk:
The middle siwalik has also two formations
1. Nagri formation
2. Dhokh pathan formation
c. Upper siwalik:
The upper siwalik is only one formation
1. Soan formation
But wewill only study chinji formation , nagri formation and dokpathan .
1.Chinji formation
The terms “Chinji Zone” of Pilgrim (1913) and “Chinji Stage” of Pascoe (1963) for stratigraphic units
consisting of interbedded sandstone, silty clay and siltstone were later on reformed as “Chinji
Formation”. The type section is exposed near the Chinji village.
Lithology:

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Bright red clays, interbedded with grey, soft sandstones. Sandstones are medium to coarse grained and
thick bedded to massive.
Contact:
Pilgrim recognized two divisions of the Chinji, namely a lower and an upper division. At type locality
the lower contact of the Chinji Formation is gradational with Kamlial Formation, while the upper
contact is conformable with the Nagri Formation. Fossils range is pretty well throughout the thickness
of the Chinji deposits, and the upper and lower horizons recognized by Pilgrim really represent levels
of unusual abundance of fossils rather than zones of faunal differences. An unconformity, the only
specific break in the Siwalik series, separates the Chinji from the lowest of the siwalik zone.
Age
Early to middle Pleistocene age.
Fossil:
Abundant of vertebrate fossils crocodile, lizard, turtle, and aquatic birds
Environment of deposition:
Fluvial with pond condition due to presence of crocodile.

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2. Nagri formation:
The “Nagri Zone” of Pilgrim (1913) was formalized as “Nagri Formation” by Lewis (1937). The
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan accepted the term “Nagri Formation” for the middle part of the
Siwalik Group. The type section of the formation is the village of Dhok Sethi Nagri.
PILGRIM (1913) identified Nagri zone which was formalized by LEWIS (1937) as Nagri Formation,
which is known from the type section “the village Sethi Nagri”. The Nagri Formation is conformable
with the underlying Chinji Formation and overlying Dhok Pathan Formation.
Lithology:
The Formation is composed of tens of meters of bluish grey, massive and coarse sandstones
with purple and orange clays and thick brown multistoried sandstone layers, forming normal
to paleoflow channels which have lengths for kilometers. The Nagri Formation have
approximately age about 8.5-11 million years with the thickness of 650m is characteristics of
both salt and pepper texture, in which grey sandstones are mainly deposited in braided
channels of paleoflow.
Age :
Middle Miocene
Fossil :
Richly vertebrate Assemblage , crocodile, chelonian.
Environment of deposition :
Fluvial.

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3.Dhok Pathan Formation:
The formation consist of sand stone and clay interbeds with conglomerates.
Lower contact is confirmable with Naugri formation and upper contact is confermable with Soan
formation.
Its age is “late Miocene”
4.Soan Formation:
Not exposed.
Age: All are the recent deposit which is respectively Miocene late and early.
Fig .showing Chinji Nagri And Dokpathan formation.

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After Covering a distance of about 7-8 kilometers we reached to Chorgalli formation.
CHORGALLI FORMATION:
Term used by Pascoe 1920, Chorgali beds
Formalized by Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan
Pinfold 1918, in Attock area, Passage beds
Gee and Evans (in Davies and Pinfold 1937), Badhrar beds
Latif 1970, Lora Formation in Hazara area
Type Locality/Section
Chorgali Pass (lat. 330 26’ 30’’ N and long. 720 41’ E)
Khair-e-Murat Range has been a type section
Lithology
Salt Range
Divided into two units
Lower: shale; greenish grey/buff and calcareous limestone; light grey and argillaceous
Upper: limestone; white & cream, well bedded
Hazara
Limestone+marl
Thinly bedded, light pale grey, on weather surface yellow to cream
Kala Chitta
limestone+marl
Thin-medium bedded, grey limestone with subordinate marl
Limestone slightly nodular and contains chert

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Hand made sketch of Chorgalli formation
FigShowing Alternate beds of Limestone and shale.

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Stratigraphy of Khewra Gorge
Khewra gorge is divide in to two ages
A. Pre-Cambrian stratigraphy of salts range
B. Cambrian stratigraphy of salts range
Pre Cambrian Stratigraphy Of Salt Range
A. Pre-Cambrian age rocks
1. Salt range formation
A. Pre Cambrian Age Rock:
Salt range formation is the oldest in the world which is expose in the pakistan at khewra. The Salt
Range is a hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits
of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the
Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Khewra, Kalabagh and Warcha which
yield vast supplies of salt. Coal of a medium quality is also found. The term “Salt Range Formation”
has been introduced by Asrarullah (1962) after theSalt Range in the Punjab Province. Previously it
was named as "Saline Series” by Wynne(1878) and “Punjab Saline Series” by Gee (1945). Khewra
Gorge in the Eastern Salt Rane, Jhelum district, Punjab Province, has beendesignated as the type
section (Shah,1977).
Division of salt range formation
1. Billianwala salt member
2. Bhandar khas gypsum member
3. Sahiwal marl member

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Thickness and distribution:
Salt Range Formation is widely distributed in the southern parts of the area, but it is onlyrestricted in
the nalas. Its thickness was not measured because base of the Formation isnot exposed.
Contact :
Base of the Formation is not exposed anywhere including the study area. The uppercontact with the
Khewra Sandstone is transitional
upper Contact of salt range with khewra sandstone
Age and Fossil:
The Salt Range Formation is devoid of fossils. Due to its position below Lower Cambrian sediments
and above the metamorphic Precambrian basement, it is considered as Late Neoproterozoic. This is in
accordance with the results of sulphur-isotope measurements carried out on gypsum samples from the
top of Salt Range Formation which indicate an age of about 600 m.y. (H.A. RAZA).
Evaporitic environment .
B. Cambrian stratigraphy of salt range:

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Cambrian sequence is collectively known as the Jhelum group.
Jhelum series, Pascoe in 1959. Because it is expose in district Jhelum so it is called Jhelum.
Jhelum group is further divided in to the following formations.
1. Khewra sandstone
2. Kussak formation
3. Jutana formation
4. Baghanwala Formation
5. Khisor formation
Khisor Formation is not present in study area.
Khewra Sandstone:

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The “Khewra Group” of Noetling (1894) was formalized as Khewra sandstone afterits main type
section of the Khewra town in the Punjab Province. Khewra Gorge
having latitude 32°40’N and longitude 73°00’E in the Eastern Salt Range Punjab
Province, was designated as the type locality.
Lithology :
The basal part consists of thin-bedded, fine to medium-grained sandstone, partly shaly, passing upward
into massive, thick-bedded, purple, occasionally buff-colored, jointed sandstone with thin bands of
clay. Upper part is dominantly reddish brown and yellowish brown sandstone, becoming pale towards
the top. The sandstone is well sorted, cross bedded and has abundant ripple marks and mud cracks and
also shows convolute bedding in the lower part .The Khewra Sandstone can be divided into 4 units:
(Saqib et. al 2009)
1. The lower unit, often called the “Maroon Shale Group”, consists of thin bedded, dark red to brown,
argillaceous siltstone, with intercalations of dark purple shales. Occasionally argillaceous sandstones
are present
2. The middle unit is a thin bedded to flaggy, purple to brick red sandstone. It is generally micaceous,
fine grained and silty at the base; the grain size increases towards the top. Sedimentary structures like
ball and pillow, climbing ripples, parting lineation, tabular and trough cross bedding are present.
3. The upper unit consists of light red to yellowish white sandstone which is medium hard to friable. It
gets coarser towards the top. Wedge planar cross bedding, large scale trough cross bedding, honey
comb weathering are prominent feature of this.
4. The topmost unit of the Khewra sandstone is yellowish white, friable, medium grained, sandstone
which shows high percentage of quartz. The sandstone is ferruginous; cross bedded and contains
calcareous lenses.
Distribution and Thickness:
Khewra Sandstone is widely distributed in the southern parts of the area, but it is only restricted in the
nalas. More than 200 m in Khewra gorge.
Contacts:
The contact of Khewra Sandstone with the underlying Salt Range Formation is conformableand
gradational. Its upper contact with Kussak Formation is sharp.

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Age and fossil :
The Khewra Sandstone does not contain well-preserved fossils but possesses evidence of organic
remains and trace fossils which have been interpreted as “diggings of trilobites” (Schindewolf and
Seilacher, 1955). Because of its position between the Late Proterozoic Salt Range Formation and the
fossiliferous Early Cambrian Kussak Formation,in the Eastern Salt Range the Khewra Sandstone is
thought to represent the basal part of the Lower Cambrian.(Schmdewalf and seilachaclass
Major features of Khewra Sandstone ( Ball & Pillow, Pinch out, Cross bed, Ripple Marks.)

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Khussak Formation
It is the second formation of Jhelum group.
The "Kussak Group" ofNoetling (1894) is formalized as Kussak Formation after Kussak Fortin
Eastern Salt Range. Obolus or Siphonotreta Beds of Wynne (1878), Neobolus Beds of Waagan (1884)
and Kussak Stage of Pascoe (1959).Kussak Fort eastern Salt Range, DistrictJhelum, Punjab.
Lithology:
Kussak Formation contains shale with thin bands of glauconitic sandstone. Shale 1sgrey, greenish
grey and purplish in color. Sandstone is micaceous.
In the Mapped Area were found greenish grey shales and thinly bedded micaceous sandstone. In the
upper part sandstone becomes calcareous. Ripple marks worm tracks were observed.

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Thickness and Contacts:
At type locality it is thick while in Mapped Area its thickness is 10 feet. It is outcroppedalong west
facing scarp in Khewra gorge.It has sharp, conformable contact with Khewra Sandstone while upper
contact with JutanaFormation is transitional.
Fossils and Age:
The Formation is fossiliferous, especially in the upper part. Schindewolf, Seilacher (1955)and Pascoe
reported following fossils. Neobolus Warthi, Lingulella wanniecka, HyolithesWynni and Redlichia
noetlingi. Age of the Formation is Early Cambrian.(Schindewolf and seilacher 1955)
Jutana Formation or Jutana Dolomite
The Jutana Group of Noetling (1894) is formalized as Jutana Formation after Jutana Villagein eastern
Salt Range.Magnesium Sandstone of Fleming (1852) "Jutana Group" ofNoetling(1894)".Jutana village,
District Jhelum Eastern Salt Range, Punjab Province.

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Lithology:
Jutana Formation is composed of dolomite, shale and sandstone. In the Mapped Area thisFormation can
be divided into three units, lower sandy dolomite, middle shaly portion(similar to Kussak) and upper pure
dolomite characterized by chop board weathering.
The Formation is widely distributed in southern part ofthe Mapped Area. Typical cliffs of Jutana
Formation can be seen in Khewra gorge.At type locality the thickness is 240 ft whereas it is 300 feet thick
while in Mapped Area it isabout 60 m thick.The contact with underlying Kussak Formation is transitional
and with overlyingBaghanwa!a Formation is sharp.
Fossils and Age:
The Formation contains tracks and burrows of Trilobite. Early Cambrian or Early MiddleCambrian age
is assigned to the Formation on the basis of faunal record.(Techert 1964).
Baghanwala Formation
Baghanwala Group of Noetling (1894) is formalized as Baghanwala Formation after
thevillageBaghanwala, Jhelum districPunjab Province.Wynne (1878) named asPseudomorphic Salt
Crystal Zone. Holland (1926) called it Salt Pseudomorphic Beds.Pascoe (1959) "Baghanwala Stage".
Baghanwala village Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum District.

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Lithology:
It is composed of claystone,. Mud stone , Siltstone and thin bedded flaggy sandstone. Theflags are purple,
grey or blue green. Primary sedimentary structures such as wave ripplemarks and mud cracks are
present. Mud stone to silt stone (Upper lower part) are in bloodred color and characterized by
pseudomorphic casts of salt crystals along the beddingplanes.
Presence of salt pseudomorphs, wave ripple marks mud cracks etc. indicate that Formationwas deposited
under lagoonal envirorunent and arid climatic condition.
The Formation is mainly developed in Eastern Salt Range. Good exposures of BaghanwalaFormation can
be seen in the Mapped Area.At type locality the Formation is 300-350
feet thick. In the Mapped Area, the thickness is20 feet due to erosion. The upper contact with Tobra
Formation is unconformablewhereas lower contact is conformable with Jutana Formation.
Fossils and Age:
No fossil record and Formation is Middle Cambrian in age.

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ZALUCH NALA:
Nilawahan Group
The name “ Nilawahan series” was proposed by Gee . the rock is conformable underlying with zaluch
group but disconformably underlying Cambrian salt range.
It is divided in the following formation
1. Tobra formation
2. Dandot formation
3. Warccha limestone
4. Sardai formation
Tobra Formation
The term Tobra Formation has been introduced by Gee (written communication, 1964), for the lowest
unit of the Nilawahan Group. "Talchir Series" of Blanford (1856),"Talchir Conglomerate", "Talchir
Stage" of Gee (in Pascoe, 1959), "Talchir Boulder Beds" of Pascoe (1959), "Salt Range Boulder Bed" of
Teichert (1967) were known in previousliterature. Tobra village Eastern Salt Range, Jhelum
district,Punjab Province.
Lithology:
The Formation includes following units from base to top
• Boulders which are mainly pink granites and grayish quartzite.
• Red pebble bedded sandstone.
• Grayish cross bedded siltstone
• White massive sandstone.
• Black shale with grit lenses
It is only present in the southern part of the Mapped Area, along nalas. The Formation hasa thickness of
10m
Contacts:
The lower contact of the Tobra Formation is a widespread unconformity with baghanwala Formation
while The upper contact with the Dandot Formation is (gradational)conformable. The contact can be
recognized with change in lithology from black anddark brown shale to greenish sandstone of Dandot
Formation

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Age and Fossil:
The Tobra Formation contains ostracizes, and fresh water bivalves, pollen, spores,microplanktons as
well as flora remains including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris (Reed1936). On the basis of fauna the
age is considered as Early Permian (Shah, 1977).
Warchha Sandstone
The name “Warchha Sandstone“ was coined by Hussain (1967), prior to this other terms were“Warchha
Group“ by Noetling (1901) after the Warchha Gorge in the Salt Range in Mianwalidistrict, Punjab
Province. "Middle Speckled Sandstone" of Waagen (1889-91) and "SpeckledSandstone" of Gee (1945)
were also prevalent in literature. The type section of WarchhaSandstone is Warchha Gorge (lat. 32°27’N;
long. 71°58’E), in Central Salt Range, PunjabProvince.
Lithology:
This Formation consists predominantly of sandstone. The sandstone is red,purple or lightershades of pink
color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly, friable and arkosic. Thepebbles are of mostly of pink
granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is thick bedded. Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled.
The Formation is widely distributed in the southern and south western part of the mappedarea. It is
mainly present along the nalas; Khewra gorge upper portion of the Khewra scarp..It is57m thick in the
Mapped Area.

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Contacts:
The lower contact with Dandot Formation is conformable and sharp. The upper contact withthe Sardhai
Formation is transitional which is placed at the top of the highest massivesandstone.
Fossils:
No diagnostic fossils are known from this Formation except from worm- casts and petrifiedwood (Fatmi,
1973).
Age:
On the basis of stratigraphic position, Early Permian age has been assigned to thisFormation.(Hussain
1967)
Sardai formation
This is the fourth and last member of the nilawahan group.
History :

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“The upper part of the warccha by “ Noelting (1901) is named as “levander clay” or sardai formation by
Gee and Pascoe in 1959.
Lithology:
This formation is mainly is composed of bluish to greenish colored clay minor gray sandstone and
gypsum , and calcareous beds in the upper part
Environment of deposition of this formation is shallow reducing marine to estuarine environment
Thickness:
This The formation is 50m in Khisor Range, 65m in W. Salt Range, at type locality i.e.,
eastern salt range 42m.
Fossil :
Plants remains and fish scales have been reported
Limestone beds well developed at Khisor Range having brachiopods and bryozoans

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Nammal Gorge
Nammal gorge is present in the western salt range. It is located close to the main wali – rawalipindi
highway. There is a small village nearby so it is called nammal gorge.
In this gorge we will studied the following groups
1. Zaluch group
2. Musa khel group
3. Makarwal group
1. Zaluch Group
The name of the zaluch group is drived from the zaluch nala which are present in the western of the salt
range which was proposed by Teichert in 1966.
The zaluch group is further divided in to then formations
1. Amb Formation
2. Wargal Limestone
3. Chiddru Formation

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1.Amb formation:
Name:
Teichert 1966 as AMB Fm
Type locality:
Amb village
Lithology:
Sand stone: brownish grey in color. Medium grained in grain size calcareous in nature having
cementing material of caco3. Medium to thick bedded in senses of deposition and is represent in the
lower part of the fm
Limestone: limestone is sandy and brownish grey in color , medium bedded , richly fossiliferous and
huge amount of product’s species’
Shale: grey to dark grey in color it poses some flora i.e. Glossopteris and gangamopeteriss.
FIG: sand stone and limestone
Age: middle Permian
Thickness: 80 m
Fossil: brachiopods, bryozoans, gastropods, pollen and spores
Contact: upper confirmable with wargal and lower with sardhai fm

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Wargal formation:
Name: teichert 1966 as wargal fm
Type locality: wargal village
Lithology:
The wargal fm is composed of limestone having beds of thin, medium and thick and massive beds. The
dolomite is composed of thick and massive beds with the thin beds of gypsums. The wargal is also
composed of sand stone .
Fig: limestone and gypsum
Thickness: 174m
Age: upper Permian
Fossil: brachiopods, gastropods, crinoids and ammonites.
FIG: FOSSIL OF CRINOID
Contact: lower confirmable with amb fm and upper confirmable with chhidru fm

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Chidru formation:
Name: Dunbar 1933 chhidru fm
Type locality: chhidru village
Lithology:
Kummel and teichert 1970 said that chhidru fm is composed of:
Shale unit having pale yellowish color , 6 to 13 m thick beds contain small phosphate nodules
Calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestone beds. One limestone bed is very fossilferous called
tempsite bed.
Top most part contain white sandstone beds with occasional ripple marks
FIG:Shale unit AND Calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestone beds
Age: late Permian
Contact: upper unconformable with mianwali fm and lower is with wargal fm
Mussakhel group:
Name: shah et al 1980 as musakhel group
Age: Triassic age
The boundary between zaluch and musakhel is permo trasssic boundary.
Age: 288 m

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Mianwali formation:
Name: kummel 1966 as mianwali fm
Type locality: mianwali town
Lithology:
This formation is mainly composed of limestone, siltstone, dolomite, shale and sandstone. This
formation is divided into three members:
Kathwai member: It is the lower most part of the Mianwali formation and mainly consist of crystalline
dolomite and interbedding of Shale.
Mittiwala member: It is the middle part of the Mianwali formation and consists of green shale beds
with sandstone and limestone interbedded.
Narmia member: It is the lower most member of the Mianwali formation and mainly consists of sandy
dolomite, and dark gray to brown
Contact: The lower contact with Chidru formation is marked by Paraconformity and the upper
contact with overlying Tredian formation is sharp, well defined and conformable.
Age: early Triassic
Fossil: crinoids, conodonts, pollen and spores.
Thickness: 3.7m

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Tredian formation:
Name: kummel 1966
Type locality: tredian village
Lithology:
Main lithology of this formation is sandstone, which is medium to thick bedded and upper part is
massive. Few beds of shale, siltstone and sandy limestone are also found.
Two members:
Landa member: shale and sandstone
Khatkiara member: massive thick bedded sand stone
Age: early Triassic
Thickness: 19 to 29 m
Contact: lower with mianwali fm and upper with kingraili fm
Fossil: plant micro fossil, pollen and spores

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Kingriali fm:
Name: given by SCP
Type locality: Kingraili village
Lithology:
The bulk of lithology is dolomite, dolomite limestone with interbeds of dolomitic shale. The bulk of
lithology is dolomite, dolomite limestone with interbeds of dolomitic shale. The dolomite is thin to
medium bedded, fine grained with inter beds of shale and marl. Cross beds are also present in this
formation.
Two members:
Doya member: sand stone and dolomite with minor shale
and limestone
Vangri member: dolomite in upper and lower part
FIG: SHALE AND SANDSTONE WITH MINOR DOLOMITE
Thickness: 58 m
Contact: upper is with datta fm and lower is with tredian fm
Fossil: brachiopods and crinoids
Baroch group:
Name: fatami et al 1986
Age: Jurassic

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Datta formation:
Name: danilchik and shah 1967 as datta fm
Type locality: datta village
Lithology:
Variegated beds of sandstone, siltstone and shale of different colors are present in this formation.
Sandstone is red to maroon, grey, green, yellow and white in color. Shale, siltstone and mudstone are
irregularly distributed. In the upper part thick beds of maroon shale are also present. Sulpher is mostly
present in this formation indicating swamp or deltaic environment.
FIG: SAND STONE SHALE UNIT
Contact: lower disconfirmable in Indus basin and upper shinawari fm
Age: early Jurassic
Shinawari Fm:
Name: fatmi and khan 1966 as shinawai fm
Type locality: shinawari village
Lithology:
The shinawari fm is composed of alternating limestone, shale and silt stone and sand stone at the top

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FIG:alternating limestone, shale and silt stone and sand stone at the top
Fossil: gastropods and brachiopods
Contact: lower with datta fm and upper with samana suk
Age: middle Jurassic
Samana suk fm:
Name: Davies 1930
Type locality: samana suk village
Lithology:
The fm is composed of grey and purple bedded limestone with shale interbeds

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FIG:GREY LIMESTONE
Age: middle Jurassic
Contact: upper with hangu fm and lower with shinawari fm
Makarwal group:
Age: Paleocene
Hangu formation:
Name: The “Hangu Shale” and “Hangu Sandstone” by Davies (1930) have been formalized by the
stratigraphic committee of Pakistan as Hangu formation.
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.
THICKNESS:

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In the Salt range area this formation is 40 to 45m thick.
CONTACTS:
The upper contact of this formation is with Lockhart formation and this contact is transitional and
conformable. The upper contact of this formation is with Samana Suk formation and this contact is
unconformable.
FOSSILS AND AGE:
The various fossils found in this formation are foraminifera with some corals, gastropods and bivalves.
Due to the presence of these fossils, the age assigned to this formation is Paleocene.
LOCKHART FM
TYPE LOCALITY
Exposed near fort lockhart in the samana range.
LITHOLOGY
Contains limestone shale/marl.
Replacement of calcite and silica.
Nodules; chert nodules are present. They are formed by the replacement of silica.
THICKNESS;
At type locality is 60m.
At namal gorge is 70m.
FOSSILS;
Forams, corals, mollusks, echinites, algaes etc.
Age; Middle palaeocene.
Contact;
Lower; confirmable with Hangu formation.
Upper; confirmable with patala formation.
Environment of Deposition;
Shallow marine

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Patala fm:
Name:
This formation is the third member of Makarwal group.
NAME:
Davies Pinfold (1937) named it as Patiala shale which later was renamed as the Patiala Formation by
the Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan.
LITHOLOGY:
Alternate beds of Shale, Clay and limestone. Thin bedded sandstone and some interbedded marl and
conglomerate are also present.
FIG:MARL AND CLAY IN MIDDLE
THICKNESS:
Type locality is in Patiala nala located in the salt range area, where the thickness of the formation is 90
meters.
CONTACTS:
The upper contact with overlying Nammal formation is transitional and conformable. The lower
contact is with Lockhart formation and it is also transitional and conformable.
FOSSILS AND AGE:

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The formation is richly fossiliferrous and contains abundant foraminifera and mollusks. On the basis
of the above mentioned fauna, the age assigned to this formation is Late Paleocene.
Cherat group:
Name: SCP 1977
Type locality: cherat village
Age: Eocene
Nammal fm:
Name: “Nammal limestone and shale” by Gee (1935), “Nammal Shale” by Danilchik and Shah
(1967), is named as Nammal formation by Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan.
LITHOLOGY:
Main lithology of this formation is shale, marl and limestone alterations. Shale is gray to green and
fossiliferrous. Lime stone is gray to bluish, argillaceous and highly fossiliferrous. Marl is light gray to
bluish gray and is also fossil ferrous
.
FIG: shale, marl and limestone alterations
THICKNESS:
Thickness of this formation at its type locality is 100m.
CONTACTS:
The upper contact of this formation is with overlying Sakessar formation and is transitional and
conformable. The lower contact of this formation is with underlying Patala formation and this contact
is also conformable.

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FOSSILS AND AGE:
Various fossils found in this formation are Foraminifera and mollusks. Due to the presence of these
fossils, age assigned to this formation is Early Eocene.
Sakesar fm:
Name: “Sakessar Limestone” by Gee in 1935 was accepted by the Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan.
LITHOLOGY:
Bulk of lithology of this formation is limestone which is cream to light gray in color, nodular, and
massive in the upper part and also highly fossiliferrous. Light gray colored Marl is also found in the
top most part and having Chert nodules.
FIG: LIMESTONE AND CHERT NODUL
THICKNESS:
Thickness of this formation in Salt range is from70-150m.
CONTACTS:
The upper contact is with Chorgali formation and this contact is transitional and conformable. The
lower contact is with Nammal formation and it is also conformable.
FOSSILS AND AGE:
Various fossils found in this formation are Foraminifera, Mollusks and Echinoids. Due to the
presence of these fossils, the age assigned to this formation is Early Eocene.

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Chorgali fm:
Name: SCP
Type locality: chor gali pass
Lithology: the lithology of the chor gali fm is composed of two parts:
Lower part: composed of dolomite , lime stone and shale
Upper part: composed of shale with thick bed of limestone
Contact: upper with murree fm and lower with sakesar fm
Fossil and age: mollusks and ostrocods and the age is Eocene.

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Rawalpindi group:
Name: SCP
Age: Miocene
Murree fm:
Name: SCP
Lithology: the murree fm is composed of massive sandstone, dark red and purplish clay shale with
basal conglomerates’. The environment is terrestrial
Thickness: 3030m
Age: Miocene
Fossil: fish bones and gills
Kamlial fm:
Name: SCP
Lithology: the kamail fm is simply composed of massive red and brown sandstone dark red clays.the
environment is terrestrial environment.
Thickness: 650m
Age: Miocen Fossil: fish bones and gills

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CHAPTER-3
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
STATION 01:
CHOWA SAIDAN SHAH ROAD:
Siwalike group was our 1st
stop or station where we observed the lithology, color and the stratigraphy
features of the three formations ( chinji, nagri and dhoke phatan ) of the the siwalike group because at
that area these three formations are exposed. First we observed the chinji formation where we study
the lithology color and the upper and lower contacts of the chinji formation.
In chinji we observe beds of pseudo-conglomerates with typical Lower Siwalik fauna and bright red
clays, interbedded with grey, soft sandstones and unconsolidated. Sandstones are medium to coarse
grained and thick bedded to massive. Its color is different due to the presence of impurities. It has
different fossils. we can also study that the lower contact of the Chinji Formation is gradational with
Kamlial Formation, while the upper contact is conformable with the Nagri Formation.
Chinji, nagri and dhokphatan formaton picture at field

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After the study of chinji formation we observe the nagri formation and dhok ephatan in which we also
studied the color, lithology and contacts.
In lithology we observe The Nagri Formation is conformable with the underlying Chinji Formation
and overlying Dhok Pathan Formation.
The Formation is composed of tens of meters of bluish grey, massive and coarse sandstones with
purple and orange clays and thick brown multistoried sandstone layers, forming normal to paleoflow
channels which have lengths for kilometers. The Nagri Formation have approximately age about 8.5-
11 million years with the thickness of 650m is characteristics of both salt and pepper texture, in which
grey sandstones are mainly deposited in braided channels of paleoflow.
We also studied the Dhoke phatan formation. In dhoke phatan formation the lithology composed of
sand stone and silt stone with minor clay of redish and myronish color.
After the observation of siwalik group we stay in youth hostel katas Raj for one night.
Station-02
On second day our first stop was salt range formation where we observed the pre-Cambrian age of salt
range formation and its members.
1. Billianwala salt member
2. Bhandar khas gypsum
3. Sahiwal marl member
In the khewra gorge first we study the billianwalan salt member which is largely composed of
hematitic, dull red, gypsiferous marly beds with thick seams of salt.
Billianwalan Salt Member
Not exposed in khewra gorge.
Bhandar khas Gypsum
In khewra gorge we studied Bander khas gypsum we observed the massive gypsum with minor amount of
dolomite and clay.

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Sahiwal marl member
Bright red marl with irregular gypsum
Dull red marl with some salt seems.
Bright Red Marl
Dull Red Marl
JEHLUM GROUP

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In jehlum group we studied four formations.
1. Khewra sand stone
2. Khussak
3. Jutana dolomite
4. Baghanwala
Khewra Sandstone
Khewra Sandstone has been observed in Khewra Gorge during our field work. Sand grains of medium
size have been observed at the type locality. Sedimentary features such as cross bedding are observed in
Khewra gorge. The lower contacts with sahiwal marl member of salt range formation have been observed
gradational.
We also observed some sedimentary structure like Ripple marks, pinch out, Ball and pillow structure and
some cross bedding.
Khewra sandstone
The sedimentary structure formation in khewra sandstone.

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Sedimentary structure Ball and Pillow
Ripple Marks
Pinch out

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Cross Bedding
Khussak Formation
Gluconitic Sandstone:
Glauconite is a green-colored mineral. It is structurally similar to micas and is sometimes
considered to be one of the mica minerals. Despite that it appears usually in rounded will-
formed platelets which are not at all similar to typical flakes of common micas like muscovite
and biotite. However, it still possesses perfect cleavage like other micas, we just don’t see it.
Sometimes it is included in the clay mineral group. Whatever the case, glauconite is definitely a
sheet silicate. These confusing nuances only show that our classification principles are imperfect
and we shouldn’t take them too seriously. They are there only to guide us.

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Gluconitic Sandstone
Jutana Dolomite; In this thin to medium little bit fossils are present.
4, BAGHANWALA FM
In this formation we studied pseudo morphs of salt. The dolomite of Baghanwala is primary Dolomite.
Pale yellow in color.

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Baghawalanwala Formation
Station-03
At first stop we observed Tobra formation in zaluch nala.
Boulders which are mainly pink granites and grayish quartzite.
Red pebble bedded sandstone
Grayish cross bedded siltstone
White massive sandstone.
Black shale with grit lenses
We also studied the tobra formation at the khewra gorge.
Tobra Formation
After that we observed the warccha sandstone in which we studied
The sandstone is red, purple or lighter shades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is pebbly,
friable and arkosic. The pebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The sandstone is
thick bedded.
We observed two type of sandstone
1. Mature sandstone: which is round in shape
2. Immature sandstone: those which is irregular in shape

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Warccha Sandstone
SARDAI FM;
Then we observed the sardai formation in which we studied
The bluish to greenish colored clay minor gray sandstone and gypsum , and calcareous beds in the upper
part. Lavender clay
Sardai Formation
Station-4
On 4th
day we observe the Amb wargal and chiddru formations in Namal Gorge central part of salt range
in which we studied Limestone, dolomite of light to medium grey, brownish grey and olive grey colors.
Calcarious sand stone and sandy lime stone. The unit was observed in Nammal gorge. Fossils of
Trilobites, Gastropods and Bivalves we are observed. The fauna consist of abundant bryozoans,
brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, nautiloids, Ammonoids, trilobites and crinoids.

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Wargal Limestone
Fossil of the Wargal Limestone

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CHIDDRU FM;
In this we studied impure limestone and interbedded shale. Chiddru lime stone is nearer to marine
environment.
After the study of chiddru limestone we observed the Mainwali formation in which we studied the three
members;
1. Kathwai Member
In this member we observe the dolostone in the lower part and limestone in upper part. The dolomite
isfinely crystalline and includes fossil fragments and quartz grains. The upper unit is grey tobrownish
glauconitic limestone.
2. Mittiwali Member
We studied at this member the grey, fine grained, non-glauconitic limestone with abundant ammonites.
3. Narmia Member
grey to black shale with interbeds of sandstone and lenticular limestone and dolomite. The top most bed
is a grey to brown, massive dolomite.

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Contact Between Mianwali formation and Tredian formation
After this we observed the Tredian formation in which we studied two member of the Trendian.
1. Landa Member
We observe in this member the sandstone is micaceous and varies incolour from pinkish, reddish grey to
greenish grey. It is thin to thick bedded with rile marks and slump structures.
2. Khatkiara Member
We studied in this the massive, thick bedded, white sandstone that grades into the overlyingKingriali
formation.
Then we observed the kingriali dolomite which is the secondary dolomite.
After that we studied the Datta formation which compose of shell and limestone
At the last stop we studied three formations;

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1. Hangu formation
In this formation we observed the sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale and some nodular,argillaceous
limeston
Hangu Formation
2. Lockhart formation
In this we studied the limestone and marl, shell
grey to medium grey
medium to thick bedded
lower part being dark grey to bluish grey, flaggy and splintery

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Lockhart Formation
3. Patala formation
In this formation we observed the shale and marl with subordinate limestone andsandstone.
The shale is greenish grey and containing carbonaceous material.
The limestone iswhite to grey and nodular.
Coal seems of economic value are present in upper part.

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PATALA FORMATION
“Rawalpindi Group”
Murree Formation:
Lithology:sandstone +clays+ shale+intraformational.Conglomerates when it is composed of full
conglomerate then it will be called Fateh Jhung member.
Age Miocene.
Contact: Lower contact is not exposed and upper contact is confirmable with Kamlial formation.
fossils:Poorly fossiliferous.
environment : fluvial environment.

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Muree formation
Kamlial Formation:
Lithology:Calcareous sandstone.
age :Early Miocene.
Environment : Fluvial environment.
contact :Lower contact is confirmable with Murree formation while upper contact is not exposed.
Kamlial formation

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CHAPTER 04:
CONCLUSION
In Nammal gorge we find mix lithologies. The Late Permian Zaluch Group is mainly limestone having
abundant fossils of brachiopods.
The famous Permo-Triassic Boundary (P-T Boundary) separates the Chiddru Formation of Zaluch
group from Mianwali Formation of Triassic.
Tredian Formation is of sandstone while Kingriali Formation largely consists of Dolomitized
limestone.
The variegated Datta Formation underlies the Shinawari Formation above which Samana Suk
Formation is present which comprises of limestone. After the unconformity Hangu Formation is
present.
The sandstone of Hangu Formation underlies the nodular limestone of Lockhart Formation. Shales of
Patala Formation are present above which Nammal Formation and Sakesar Limestone are present.
Khewra sandstone is of early Cambrian age, therefore the saltrange formation is assigned an Early
Cambrian to Late Precambrian age.
The formation consists predominantly of purple to brown,yellowish brown, fine grained sandstone. The
lower most part of theformation contains red flaggy shale. Sedimentary features such as ripple marks
and mud cracks are common in the formation.
The thickness at the type locality is 150 meters and in western salt rangeits thickness is 200 meters. It is
distributed throughout salt range.
The contact of Khewra Sandstone with underlying Salt Range formation iscontroversial due to which
problem of age aroused. Sahni (1947) regardedage of formation Tertiary and postulated a thrust at the
contactbetween Salt Range formation and Khewra sandstone. Gee (1945)mapped the entire salt range
and concluded that the contact betweenKhewra sandstone with underlying formation is sedimentary.

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The upper contact with Kussak formation is conformable.Khewra Sandstone has been observed in
Khewra Gorge during ourfield work. Sand grains of medium size have been observed at thetype
locality. Sedimentary features such as cross bedding are observed in Khewra gorge. The lower contacts
with sahwal marl member of salt range formation have been observed gradational. The formation
contains only few trace fossils which has been interpreted astrilobite trails by Schindewolf and
Seilacher (1955) and are not indicative of particular age. Sahni (1947)regarded age of the formation
Tertiary but the age of Khewra sandstone is early Cambrian because overlying Kussak formation is not
older than late early Cambrian.
The Siwalik Group was deposited in the Himalayan foreland basin system during the Middle Miocene
to Early Pleistocene ,and now occupies the southern frontal part of the Himalayan fold thrust belt.It
consists of a 4-6 km thickness of fluvial sediments laid down in the pale-foreland basin situated above
the downwardly Indian plate in a basin formed by the rising Himalaya. The Siwalik Group is bounded
to the north by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and to the south by the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT),
which over thrusts Quaternary deposits. The Siwalik Group has been the focus of numerous
lithostratigraphic, sedimentologic and chronostratigraphic studies because of its great potential for
elucidating the tectonic, climatic and erosional histories of the Himalayaand the surrounding area.
The faunal zones correspond to lithofacies. The tripartite division consists of the Lower Siwaliks
(Kamlial and Chinji Formations), Middle Siwaliks (Nagri and Dhok Pathan Formations), and the
Upper Siwaliks , Lithostratigraphy of the Siwalik Group, Karnali River section, far-west Nepal
Himalaya. Other work established a lithostratigraphy based on proportions of mudstone, sandstone
and conglomerateand defined the Kamlial, Chinji, Nagri, Dhok Pathan, Tatrot,Pinjor and Boulder
Conglomerate Formations, along with several magnetostratigraphic studies . These divisions are now
used as the standard stratigraphic nomenclature in Pakistan.In India, the classification from the
Potwar Basin
has been broadly applied. Several studies have, however, defined different stratigraphy for some areas
of the Indian Siwaliks. The Geologists divided the succession into the Arung Khola, Binai Khola,
Chitwan, and Deorali Formations, in ascending order. The upper siwalik was divided into two
formations.
The name of the zaluch group is drived from the zaluch nala which are present in the western of the
salt range which was proposed by Teichert in 1966.
The zaluch group is further divided in to three formations
1. Amb Formation

Shah Fahad
Page 69
2. Wargal Limestone
3.Chhidru Formation
Tobra Formation contains ostracizes, and fresh water bivalves, pollen, spores,microplanktons as well
as flora remains including Glossopteris and Gangamopteris .
On the basis of fauna the age is considered as Early Permian Warchha sandstone Formation consists
predominantly of sandstone.
The sandstone is red,purple or lightershades of pink color. It is medium to coarse-grained and is
pebbly, friable and arkosic. Thepebbles are of mostly of pink granite, quartzite and feldspar. The
sandstone is thick bedded.
Itis highly jointed and is locally speckled. The Chiddru formation at the base is composed of shale unit
of yellowish grey to medium dark grey color with small phosphatic nodules. Above shale beds of
calcareous sandstone with few sandy limestones are present.
The top most part is a white sandstone bed which is medium to fine grained with subordinate shale
partings and contains abundant fossils.
The formation has a transitional contact with underlying Wargal formation while its upper contact is
marked by a major unconformity the P-T boundary above which is the Mianwali formation of Triassic
age.

Shah Fahad
Page 71
REFERENCES
1.Lectures of Sir Taqweem Ul Haq Ali.
2.field Lecture Work Of Sir Taqweem ul haq and Sir Muhsin Raza.
3. "geology". Online Etymology Dictionary.
4. International Commission on Stratigraphy. stratigraphy.org

Shah fahad report(Salt range)

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