See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306099516

Closure of Tethys Sea and Paleo Vitakri River

systems, and the birth of Paleo Indus River
systems in Pakistan; Geodynamic and...

Article · January 2015

CITATIONS READS

0 65

6 authors, including:

M. Sadiq Malkani Muhammad Aslam buzdar

Geological Survey of Pakistan Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Ma…
147 PUBLICATIONS 549 CITATIONS 20 PUBLICATIONS 78 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Occurrence and Diversity of Marine Yeast in the Mangrove Ecosystem of Lasbela Coast View project

All content following this page was uploaded by M. Sadiq Malkani on 15 August 2016.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document
and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
Lasbela, U. J.Sci. Techl., vol.IV , pp. 41-48, 2015 ISSN 2306-8256

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Closure of Tethys Sea and Paleo Vitakri River systems,
and the birth of Paleo Indus River systems in Pakistan;
Geodynamic and Geobiological Evolution of Indo-Pak
subcontinent (South Asia)
Muhammad Sadiq Malkani1*, Muhammad Aslam Buzdar2, Mureed Hussain Khosa2, 4, Ahmed
Shah Kakar3, Faisal Saeed2 and Muhammad Imran Alyani5
1
Geological Survey of Pakistan, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
2
Faculty of Marine Sciences, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal,
Balochistan, Pakistan
3
Center of Excellence in Mineralogy, University of Balochistan
4
China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
5
Geological Survey of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract:- The Indo-Pak plate came to the contact with Kohistan-Ladakh belt at Latest Cretaceous and
started subduction under Kohistan-Ladakh belt and formed the magmatic arc. Due to this collision the uplift of
western Indus suture, Hinterland like Kohistan-Ladakh and Hindukush-Karakoram started. This uplift is responsible
for the birth of Paleo Indus River systems and end of Paleo Vitakri River systems. The closure of Neotethys/Tethys
Sea from Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan started at the end of Cretaceous. During Early Eocene the deposition
of Chamalang (=Ghazij) Group in Sulaiman/middle Indus and Kuldana Group in eastern Kohat-Potwar/upper Indus
and Khyber-Hazara-Kashmir/uppermost Indus started by Paleo Indus River systems. During Early Eocene at the
time of deposition of terrestrial Kingri Formation (overbank red muds alternated with meandering river channel
sandstones) of Chamalang (=Ghazij) Group in Sulaiman and coeval Kuldana in eastern Kohat-Potwar and Hazara-
Kashmir, the Tethys significantly retreated further back/southward. During Middle Eocene sea transgressed and at
Late Eocene the Tethys retreated further back in Pakistan and Afghanistan but also retreated from India and
adjoining areas. During Miocene-Pliocene it retreated further south just close to present position. India was the only
source of information for Indo-Pak Peninsula on dinosaurs until 2000. Since 2000 Pakistan appeared first time in
the world dinosaur map. The dominant vertebrates are titanosaurian sauropods, theropods and mesoeucrocodiles
with some pterosaur evidences. The titanosaurian sauropods, abelisaurian and noasaurian theropods show relative
close resemblance to Gondwanalands than Laurasia may be due to close early seed dispersal at the Earliest
Cretaceous. Indo-Pak subcontinent is now a Peninsula but in the past (Jurassic) it was a part of Gondwanalands, in
the Cretaceous (135 to 67Ma) it remained on northward voyage mostly as a big island/subcontinent, experienced
many joining and departures, and in the Latest Cretaceous (67Ma) it docked and collided first time with Asia and
closure of Tethys started.

Keywords: Tethys closure, Paleo Vitakri River systems closure, birth of Paleo Indus River systems, Pakistan,
Geodynamic and Geobiological evolution, Indo-Pak subcontinent.

INTRODUCTION Gondwanaland, the Tertiary Type Sections

The Indo-Pakistan Plate has a unified
geological history from the time of its separation
with Madagascar to its feeble collision with Asia
at terminal Cretaceous and is best understood as
an integrated geodynamic system of the
Subcontinent. This planetary event has far
reaching biotic consequences:
Corresponding author Email: malkanims@yahoo.com
which are mostly in Pakistan, the Indo-Pakistani
a common inherited biota when the subcontinent
was attached to Madagascar and was part
oforigin of whales and their consequent spread
throughout the globe, the withdrawal of the
Neotethys, the India-Asia collision process and
the development of Neogene foreland sediments
(Sahni 2001; Malkani and Sahni 2015; Malkani
et al. 2015). India and Pakistan holds common
geological heritage.

41

MATERIAL AND METHOD
The materials belong to compiled data
from previous work and new discoveries and
Fig.1. Study area
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Closure of Paleo Vitakri River Systems and
The Birth Of Paleo Indus River Systems In
Indus Basin, Pakistan
The Super Indus Basin is subdivided in
to Khyber-Hazara-Kashmir / Uppermost/
northernmost Indus, Kohat-Potwar/upper/north
Indus, Sulaiman/middle Indus and
Kirthar/lower/south Indus basins. The closure
of Tethys and birth of Himalaya here has been
discussed on the basis of clastic materials
derived and also Cainozoic correlation of strata
of Sulaiman and northern Balochistan/Kakar-
Khorasan basins. There are two main source of,
42
also field data collected by senior author during
many field seasons (Fig.1). The methods applied
here are many discipline of purely geological
description. clastic in Indus Basin, the first is
from east/Indo-Pak shield area by Paleo Vitakri
river systems
and other is from north/northern Indus suture
and northwest/western Indus suture by Paleo
Indus river systems. The Paleo Vitakri River
Systems generally flows from east to west and
carry the clastic/terrigenous materials from
Indo-Pakistan shield like Nagar Parker, Kirana
and adjoining areas. The Paleo Indus River
Systems generally flows from north to south
and northwest to southeast and carry the
clastic/terrigenous materials from fore land and
hinterland regions around the Western and
northern Indus Suture of Indo-Pakistan
subcontinental plate. The Paleo Vitakri River
systems deposited the Mesozoic and also
Paleocene clastic materials in the Sulaiman
basin. The main clastic rocks formations are
Triassic Wulgai, Jurassic Spingwar, Cretaceous
Sembar, Mughal Kot, Pab and Vitakri, and
Paleocene Rakhi Gaj and Dungan. The feeble
contact of Indo-Pak plate with Asia occurred at
the Latest Cretaceous. In this way the Latest
Cretaceous Vitakri Formation deposited by
Vitakri River systems (source from Indo-Pak
shield) which contains the pure terrestrial
alluvial overbank red muds (which is the host
of first ever dinosaurs and associated
vertebrates from Pakistan) alternated with
meandering river stream deposits sandstone
unit. These continental environments resulted
in the form of first collision of Indo-Pak plate
with Asia. Due to this collision the Indus
Suture and adjoining areas became uplifted.
This uplift resulted in the birth of Paleo Indus
River systems and the closure of Paleo Vitakri
River Systems. These Paleo Indus River
systems started and deposited the Early Eocene
Chamalang/Ghazij Group, and Early-Middle
Eocene Kahan Group, Oligocene-Pliocene
Vihowa Group and Pleistocene-Holocene Sakhi
Sarwar Group and subrecent and recent alluvial
and eolian surficial deposits. The
lithostratigraphy deposited by Paleo Indus
River systems in Sulaiman basin are as follows.
Early Eocene Chamalang (Ghazij) group
represents Shaheed Ghat (shale), Toi
(sandstone, shale, rubbly limestone and coal),
Kingri (red beds like red shale/mud, grey and
white sandstone), Drug (rubbly limestone, marl
and shale), and Baska (gypsum beds and shale)
formations, and Late Early-Middle Eocene
Kahan group represents Habib Rahi (limestone,
marl and shale), Domanda (shale with one bed
of gypsum), Pir Koh (limestone, marl and
shale) and Drazinda (shale with subordinate
marl) formations, Oligocene-Pliocene Vihowa
Group represents Chitarwata (ferruginous
sandstone, conglomerate, mud), Vihowa (red
ferruginous mud, sandstone and conglomerate),
Litra ( greenish grey sandstone with
subordinate conglomerate and mud), and
Chaudhwan (mud, conglomerate and
sandstone) formations, and Pleistocene-
Holocene Sakhi Sarwar group represents Dada
(conglomerate with some mud and sandstone)
and Sakhi Sarwar (mud, sandstone and
conglomerate) formations concealed at places
especially in the valleys and plain areas by the
Subrecent and Recent fluvial and eolian
deposits.
43
Tethys/Neotethys Closure From Pakistan;
Geodynamic And Geobiological Evolution of
Indo-Pak Subcontinent (South Asia)
The Indo-Pak subcontinental plate collided
with Afghan block of Asia at Latest Cretaceous
(70-67Ma). As a result the Vitakri-Ziarat Land
Bridge appeared which bifurcated the Tethys
Sea in Pakistan. After the end of the
Cretaceous, both the Balochistan and Indus
basins connected with each other and
represented same stratigraphy during Cainozoic
era. The Cainozoic of Balochistan (especially
Kakar-Khorasan range on the west of Western
Indus suture) and Sulaiman/Middle Indus basin
(in the east of Western Indus Suture) correlate
well. During Early Paleocene the sea
transgressed on this bridge and Paleocene
Dungan Limestone was deposited in the Indus
and Balochistan basins especially near the
western Indus Suture. During Late Paleocene
the regression of sea started and the Paleo Indus
River system (generally flows from north to
south) originated from the Western Indus
Suture (Fig.1B) which deposited the Late
Paleocene to Early Eocene Shaheed Ghat
Formation (distal delta mainly shale with some
sand lenses) of Chamalang (=Ghazij) Group in
Indus Basin and Murgha Faqirzai shale of
Balochistan Basin. The Late Paleocene to Early
Eocene Chamalang Group consists of Shaheed
Ghat, Toi, Kingri, Drug and Baska formations.
At the deposition of deltaic Toi (sandstone,
shale, coquina beds, rubbly marl and coal) in
Indus Basin and Mina Formation (sandstone
alternated with green muds) in Balochistan
Basin, the Tethys sea line further retreated
southward / back. After the deposition of Toi
and Mina Formations, the terrestrial Kingri
(sandstone alternated red and maroon muds)
Formation in Sulaiman and Shagala (sandstone
alternated red and maroon muds; fossils of land
baluchithere-Pakitherium shagalai Malkani et
al. 2013) Formation in northern Balochistan/
Kakar-Khorasan Basin, while in southern
Balochistan the deposition of marine/deltaic
Mina/Panjgur Formation were continue. After
the deposition of terrestrial Kingri and Shagala
formations, a transgression of sea occurred
which deposited the marine Drug and
evaporitic Baska, marine Late Early Eocene-
Middle Eocene Kahan Group (Habib Rahi marl
and limestone, Domanda shale, Pirkoh marl and
limestone and Drazinda shale) in Sulaiman
basin while in southern Balochistan the
deposition of Mina/Panjgur Formation were
continue. In this way in the eastern upper Indus
(Kohat-Potwar) and uppermost Indus (Khyber-
Hazara-Kashmir) basin, the Chorgali and
Kuldana formations were deposited by the
clasts derived from north (fore land, hinterland
and northern Indus suture), carried by Paleo
Indus River systems generally flows from north
to south. Further in the east (in India) the
Subathu Formation hosting vertebrate (Sahni et
al. 1983) was deposited under the Paleo Indus
River systems. Raza (2001) mentioned the red
Eocene red beds of Kala Chitta Range and their
implications on fore deep basin. Kuldana
formation is the host of many vertebrates
especially whales like Pakicetus inachus
Gingerich and Russell 1981. Pivnik and Wells
(1996) mentioned the downward deflection of
Indo-Pak plate, under Kohistan at Paleocene
but the formation of Kohistan magmatic arc at
Cretaceous reveals the downward deflection of
Indo-Pak plate under Kohistan at Late
Cretaceous just after the first collision. At Late
Eocene a major collision of Indo-Pak
Subcontinent with Asia occurred. As a result
the Tethys Sea retreated further southward just
close to northern margin of Kirthar/Lower
Indus Basin. During Oligocene the Chitarwata
Formation was deposited under terrestrial
conditions in Sulaiman basin but their coeval
Nari and Gaj formations deposited under
Tethys in Lower Indus/Kirthar basin. During
Oligocene the Kohat-Potwar and Khyber-
Hazara-Kashmir has no record of deposition, it
may be eroded or there may be no deposition.
The Miocene-Pliocene Siwalik group in India,
Potwar group in Kohat-Potwar and Khyber-
Hazara-Kashmir basins of Pakistan deposited
under terrestrial conditions. Due to further
uplift at Kirthar/Lower Indus basin, during
Early Miocene the Tethys sea retreated further
back/south and consequently Manchar group in
Kirthar basin deposited as terrestrial. During
Pleistocene-Holocene Sea further retreated
south (Malkani 2015a; Malkani and Mahmood
2016a,b) just close to present positions.
44
The fauna, paleobiogeography and
geodynamics of Indo-Pakistan is very
significant due to its present regional contact
with Asia but past is related to Gondwanan
landmasses like Madagascar, South America
and Africa. Further the isolation, voyage and
docking of Indo-Pak plate with Asia. India was
the only source of information on Jurassic and
Cretaceous dinosaurs until 2000. Since 2000
Pakistan appeared first time in the world map
(dinosaur wise). In Lower Indus (Kirthar)
basin, a few and poorly recognized body fossils
of titanosaurian sauropod (Brohisaurus
kirthari) were found from the Late Jurassic
Sembar Formation of Karkh area, Khuzdar
District, Balochistan, Pakistan (Malkani
2003a). In Upper Indus (Kohat and Potwar)
basin, trackways of a herd of more wide gauge
titanosaurian sauropods (Malakhelisaurus
mianwali) confronted by a running narrow
gauge theropod (Samanadrinda surghari)
reported from the Middle Jurassic Samanasuk
Limestone of Baroch ichno type, Malakhel
area, Mianwali District, Punjab, Pakistan
(Malkani 2008a,2015b,c). In Middle Indus
(Sulaiman) basin, about 3000 fossils (Malkani
2006a,2013d) collected from more than 30
localities in fluvial two red mud horizons
alternated by two sandstone horizons of Vitakri
Formation (Malkani 2006b) include
Khetranisaurus barkhani (Malkani
2004,2006a,2009), Sulaimanisaurus gingerichi
(Malkani 2004,2006a,2008a,2009,2010c) and
Pakisaurus balochistani (Malkani
2004,2006a,2008a,2010c) of herbivorous
Pakisauridae (slender) and Marisaurus jeffi
(Malkani 2004,2006a,2008a,b,2010c;Wilson et
al. 2005) and Balochisaurus malkani (Malkani
2004,2006a,2008a,2009,2010c) of herbivorous
Balochisauridae (stocky), Gspsaurus Pakistani
(Malkani 2014a,2015a,h), Saraikimasoom
Vitakri (Malkani 2014a,2015a,h), Maojandino
alami (Malkani 2014d,2015a,h), and
Nicksaurus razashahi (Malkani
2014a,d,2015a,h) titanosaurian sauropods,
large bodied Vitakridrinda sulaimani (Malkani
2004,2006a,2014b,2015f) of abelisaurian, and
Vitakrisaurus saraiki (Malkani 2010b,2015f,h)
of Vitakrisauridae noasaurian theropods, and
Sulaimanisuchus kinwai (Malkani
2010b,2015g,h) of Sulaimanisuchidae,
Pabwehshi pakistanensis (Wilson et al. 2001)
and Induszalim bala (Malkani 2014b,2015g,h)
of Induszalimidae, and Khuzdarcroco zahri
(Malkani 2015g,h) mesoeucrocodiles, and
Saraikisaurus minhui (Malkani
2013a,2014b,2015f,h) of pterosaur. The
footprints and trackways of Pashtosaurus zhobi
titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs are found on
the thick sandstone bed of Latest Cretaceous
Vitakri Formation of Sor Muzghai locality
(Western Indus Suture), Zhob District,
Balochistan, Pakistan and this discovery stands
Pakistan first in Asia (Malkani 2008a,
2015b,c,h). In this way osteoderms of
titanosaurs from Pakistan are also first time
reported in Asia (Malkani 2003b, 2015d, e, h).
Pakistan is a richest graveyard of titanosaurs
and mesoeucrocodiles in Asia (Malkani 2015h).
Further the wide gauge locomotion evidences
from bones (Malkani 2012a) and trackways
(Malkani 2008a,2015b,c), moderately inclined
skull of Gspsaurus pakistani and
Saraikimasoom vitakri (Malkani 2014a), and
trispinous distalmost caudal vertebra (Malkani
2008a,2012b) of Pakistani titanosaurs are
special features found from Pakistan.
The four major bioevents related to major
tectonic events resulted in the shape of
extinctions of terrestrial vertebrates found in
Pakistan. The first major bioevent occurred at
the Permo-Triassic boundary from where the
land vertebrates like the dinosaurs-largest land
animals along with mesoeucrocodiles and
pterosaur-the flying reptiles initiated and ruled
the Mesozoic of Pakistan. The second bioevent
occurred at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary
where these dinosaurs, mesoeucrocodiles and
pterosaur became extinct and the mammals
(also birds) became dominant. After the
Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary disaster the
Baluchithere-largest land mammals ruled the
land in Bugti hills of Balochistan, Buzdar and
Qaisrani hills of Punjab (eastern
Sulaiman/middle Indus foldbelt) and Shagala
hills of Balochistan (Kakar-
Khorasan/Katawaz/northern Balochistan basin)
while Basilosauridae-the king of basal whale
(fossils found from Sulaiman basin) ruled the
eastern Tethys sea. The third bioevent occurred
at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary from
where the Baluchithere became extinct. After
45
this third bioevents the rhinocerotoids,
anthracotherids, proboscideans, carnivores,
chalicotheres, deinotheres, bovids, suids,
Creodonta, ruminantia, amynodontiae, and
crocodilians were found in the Indus basin of
Pakistan. The fourth bioevent occurred on the
Pleistocene-Holocene boundary from where the
man civilization seems to be evolved (Malkani
2013b,c). Kohistan magmatic arc accreted to
Asia at 100Ma. Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks
overlie the Proterozoic rocks in Cherat-Attock-
Hazara. Widespread compressional tectonics
related to the obduction of Kohistan island arc
may have began as early as 62Ma and was
underway by 50Ma (Husain 2004).
Indo-Pak subcontinent is a peninsula but in
the past it was a part of Gondwanalands and
during northward journey it was an island
(Fig.1E). Indo-Pakistan separated from
Madagascar at Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary
time and started northward journey at Earliest
Cretaceous (135Ma). Most of Cretaceous
passes as journey and island. It migrated
rapidly covering more than 6000km in about 60
Ma. Its northwestern corner collided first time
with Afghan block of Tethys and Asia at Latest
Cretaceous about 67 Ma. This corner acts as a
pivot point for counterclockwise rotation. This
first collision (67Ma) created the land bridge
(between Indo-Pak Shield and Asia) from
Afghanistan/Hindu Kush-Kurram-Waziristan-
Zhob (Western Indus Suture and adjoining
Afghan land)-Ziarat-Fort Munro (D.G.Khan)
areas, allowed the migration of latest
Cretaceous fauna from Asia to Indo-Pakistan
and vice versa. During Paleocene the sea
transgressed on this land bridge. During Late
Paleocene the sea regressed from the western
Sulaiman basin and northern Balochistan basin
due to further uplift and collision by continued
movements of subcontinent. Consequently
Western Indus Suture, close to Zhob-
Waziristan-Kurram and its adjoining western
areas of Afghan block uplifted more. This uplift
provided the lands for the migration of Eocene
vertebrates like baluchithere-the largest
rhinoceros from Asia to Indo-Pakistan
subcontinent or vice versa. This rising ended
the Paleo Vitakri River systems of Sulaiman
foldbelt flowing from east to west (Indo-
Pakistan shield toward Neotethys) and started
the birth of Paleo Indus River systems flowing
from northwest to southeast and north to south
(Fig.1C,D). It deposited the deltaic and
terrestrial molasse Late Paleocene-Early
Eocene Chamalang (Ghazij) Group in the
Sulaiman basin, Shagala Group of Balochistan
(fore arc or arc-trench gap, arc, back arc) basin.
The middle Eocene is represented by a major
transgression of sea in the westward and also
eastward. As a result the transition period of
this transgression is represented by the
deposition of upper Chamalang Group (Drug
limestone and Baska evaporitic gypsum, and
shale show rhythmic off and on sea water) and
major transgression is represented by the
deposition of Kahan Group (Habib Rahi
limestone, Domanda shale, Pirkoh limestone
and Drazinda shale) in the Sulaiman basin of
Pakistan while the northern Balochistan/Kakar
Khorasan basin was under erosion. At Latest
Eocene (40-35Ma) the northern part of Indo-
Pakistan collided with Karakoram and Tibetans
parts of Asia. This collision resulted in the
uplift, folding and faulting (mainly south
verging thrusts) in the northwestern Foreland
(Hindukush-Karakoram belt and Kohistan-
Ladakh magmatic arc) and its adjoining
northern part of Hinterland now called
Himalaya. Consequently Tethys Sea was
permanently closed by the end Eocene tectonic
episode which is responsible for the birth of
Himalaya. This collision started the
terrestrial/continental fluvial facies and
Neotethys permanently closed from Hindu
Kush-Karakoram belt, Kohistan magmatic arc,
Khyber-Hazara (uppermost Indus), Kohat and
Potwar (northern/upper Indus) and Sulaiman
(Middle Indus) basins, while the Kirthar
(southern/lower Indus) basin was remained
undersea as the Oligocene marine Nari and Gaj
formations were deposited in Kirthar basin.
This episode/uplift increases the gradient of
Indus River generally flowing from north to
south (Fig.1) and also created the birth of
Ganges River systems generally flowing from
west to east and northwest to southeast. This
uplift is responsible for the molase deposition
of Siwalik, Potwar and Vihowa groups in Indo-
Pakistan Subcontinent. Consequently the
Neotethys closed from the area presently called
Himalaya. The main geoevents occurred at
46
Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary time resulted for
the further retreat of sea from Kirthar
(lower/southern Indus) basin as the terrestrial
Vihowa/Manchar Group deposited. So far the
last major episode occurred at the end
Pleistocene, resulted further retreat of sea in the
south and folding and faulting (Malkani 2011).
The northward movements of Indo-Pak plate
are continuing so far. This tectonic orogeny is
responsible for creating highest peaks and
present morphology. The Neotethys remained
in the east, south and mostly in the west of
Indo-Pak subcontinent but now named as
Indian Ocean. Due to the closure of Neotethys
from north, northwest and some part of west of
Indo-Pak subcontinent, shaped it as Peninsula.
Due to contact and collision of Indo-Pak
subcontinent with the central part of Asia
forming itself southern part of Asia, it is being
called as South Asia. Its Pre Cretaceous
paleontology and geology resembles with
Madagascar and other Gondwanan lands,
Cretaceous show isolation and Cainozoic
mostly resemble with Asia.
REFERENCES
Gingerich, P.D. and Russell, D.B., 1981. Pakicetus
inachus, a new archaeocete (Mammalia,
Cetacea) from the Early-Middle Eocene
Kuldana Formation of Kohat (Pakistan). Contib.
Mus. Paleont. Michigan Univ. vol. 25(11): 235-
246.
Gingerich, P.D., Haq, M., Zalmout, I.S., Khan, I.H.,
Malkani, M.S., 2001. Origin of whales from
early artiodactyls: Hands and feet of Eocene
Protocetidae from Pakistan; Science, 293: 2239-
2242.
Hussain, A., 2004. Tectonics of the Himalayan foothills
region and its Stratigraphic setup, Northern
Pakistan. In abstract volume of Fifth Pakistan
Geological Congress, Islamabad, Pakistan, 66-
68.
Malkani, M.S., 2003a. First Jurassic dinosaur fossils
found from Kirthar range, Khuzdar District,
Balochistan, Pakistan. Geological Bulletin
University of Peshawar 36:73-83.
Malkani, M.S., 2003b. Pakistani Titanosauria; are
armoured dinosaurs?. Geological Bulletin
University of Peshawar 36:85-91.
Malkani, M.S., 2004. Saurischian dinosaurs from Late
Cretaceous of Pakistan. In Hussain SS, and
Akbar HD, eds. Fifth Pakistan Geological
Congress, National Geological Society of
Pakistan, Pakistan Museum of Natural History
 (Pakistan Sci. Foundation), April 14-15,
Islamabad, 71-73.
Malkani, M.S., 2006a. Biodiversity of saurischian
dinosaurs from the latest Cretaceous Park of
Pakistan. Journal of Applied and Emerging
Sciences, 1(3), 108-140.
Malkani, M.S., 2006b. Lithofacies and Lateral
extension of Latest Cretaceous Dinosaur beds
from Sulaiman foldbelt, Pakistan. Sindh
University Research Journal (Science Series) 38
(1):1-32.
Malkani, M.S., 2008a. Marisaurus (Balochisauridae,
Titanosauria) remains from the latest Cretaceous
of Pakistan. Sindh Univ. Res. Journ. (Sci.
Series), 40 (2), 55-78.
Malkani, M.S., 2008b. First articulated Atlas-axis
complex of Titanosauria (Sauropoda,
Dinosauria) uncovered from the latest
Cretaceous Vitakri member (Dinosaur beds) of
upper Pab Formation, Kinwa locality of
Sulaiman Basin, Pakistan. Sindh University
Research Journal (Science Series) 40 (1):55-70.
Malkani, M.S., 2009. New Balochisaurus
(Balochisauridae, Titanosauria,Sauropoda) and
Vitakridrinda (Theropoda) remains from
Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal
(Science Series), 41 (2): 65-92.
Malkani, M.S., 2010a. New Pakisaurus (Pakisauridae,
Titanosauria, Sauropoda) remains, and
Cretaceous Tertiary (K-T) boundary from
Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal
(Science Series) 42 (1): 39-64.
Malkani, M.S., 2010b. Updated Stratigraphy and Mineral
potential of Sulaiman (Middle Indus) basin,
Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal
(Science Series). 42 (2): 39-66.
Malkani, M.S., 2010c. Osteoderms of Pakisauridae and
Balochisauridae (Titanosauria, Sauropoda,
Dinosauria) in Pakistan. Journal of Earth
Science, Vol. 21, Special Issue 3 :198-203. doi:
1007/s12583-010-0212-z.
Malkani, M.S., 2011. Stratigraphy, Mineral Potential,
Geological History and Paleobiogeography of
Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Sindh
University Research Journal (Science Series) 43
(2):269-290.
Malkani, M.S., 2012a. New Styles of locomotion: Less
wide gauge movement in Balochisauridae and
More Wide gauge movement in Pakisauridae
(Titanosauria) of Pakistan. In: Huh M., Kim
H.J., and Park J.Y., Eds. Abstract volume of 11th
Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial
Ecosystems, August 15-18, Gwanju, Korea,
121-126.
Malkani, M.S., 2012b. New Look of titanosaurs: Tail
Special of Pakisauridae and Balochisauridae,
Titanosauria from Pakistan. In: Huh M., Kim
H.J., and Park J.Y., Eds. Abstract volume of 11th
Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial
Ecosystems, August 15-18, Gwanju, Korea,
113-119.
47
Malkani, M.S., 2013a. New Pterosaur from the Latest
Cretaceous Terrestrial Strata of Pakistan. In;
Abstract Book of 9th International Symposium
on the Cretaceous System, September 1-5, Metu
Congress Center, Middle East Technical
University, Ankara, Turkey, 62.
Malkani, M.S., 2013b. Geodynamics of Indo-Pakistan
Subcontinent (South Asia). In; Abstract Book of
9th International Symposium on the Cretaceous
System, September 1-5, Metu Congress Center,
Middle East Technical University, Ankara,
Turkey, 36.
Malkani, M.S., 2013c. Major Bioevents and extinction of
land vertebrates in Pakistan; Cretaceous-
Tertiary and other boundaries. In; Abstract
Book of 9th International Symposium on the
Cretaceous System, September 1-5, Metu
Congress Center, Ankara, Turkey, 44.
Malkani, M.S., 2013d. Latest Cretaceous land vertebrates
in Pakistan; a paradise and a graveyard. In;
Abstract Book of 9th International Symposium
on the Cretaceous System, September 1-5, Metu
Congress Center, Middle East Technical
University, Ankara, Turkey, 41.
Malkani, M.S., 2014a. Titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs
from the Latest Cretaceous of Pakistan. In
abstract volume; 2nd symposium of International
Geoscience Program 608 (IGCP 608)
“Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific”
September 04-06, 2014, Tokyo, Japan, 108-111.
Malkani, M.S., 2014b. Theropod dinosaurs and
mesoeucrocodiles from the Terminal Cretaceous
of Pakistan. In abstract volume; 2nd Symposium
of International Geoscience Program 608
“Cretac.Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific”
September 04-06, 2014, Tokyo, Japan, 169-172.
Malkani, M.S., 2014c. Records of fauna and flora from
Pakistan; Evolution of Indo-Pakistan Peninsula.
In Abstract Volume of 2nd symposium of
International Geoscience Program 608 (IGCP
608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and
Pacific”, September 04-06, Tokyo, Japan, 165-
168.
Malkani, M.S., 2014d. Dinosaurs from the Jurassic and
Cretaceous Systems of Pakistan: their
Paleobiogeographic link. In Abstract Volume of
First Symposium of IGCP 632 “Jurassic Crises”
and 4th Intern. Palaeontological Congress, Sept
28 to Oct 03, 2014, Mendoza, Argentina, 872.
Malkani, M.S., 2014e. Terrestrial Ecosystem from the
Mesozoic Geopark of Pakistan. In Abstract
Volume of 6th Symposium of UNESCO
Conference on Global Geoparks. September 19-
22, Stonehammer Geopark, Saint John, Canada,
56.
Malkani, M.S., 2015a. Titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs
from Pakistan. In: Zhang Y.,Wu S.Z., Sun G.
eds., abstract volume, 12th Symposium on
“Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12),
and 3rd Symposium of International Geoscience
Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of
Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015,
 Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang
Normal University, Shenyang, China, 93-98
Malkani, M.S., 2015b. Footprints and trackways of
dinosaurs from Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent-
Recent Advances in discoveries from Pakistan.
In: Zhang Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract
volume, 12th Symposium on “Mesozoic
Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd
Symposium of International Geoscience
Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of
Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015,
Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang
Normal University, Shenyang, China, 186-191.
Malkani, M.S., 2015c. First Trackways of Titanosaurian
sauropod dinosaurs from Asia found from the
Latest Cretaceous of Pakistan: Recent Advances
in discoveries of dinosaur trackways from South
Asia. In abstract volume of 2nd Symposium of
IGCP 632 “Geologic and biotic events on the
Continent during Jurassic/Cretaceous transition”
September 12-13, 2015, Shenyang, China, 86-
88.
Malkani, M.S., 2015d. Osteoderms and dermal plates of
titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs found from
Pakistan; Reported first time in Asia. In: Zhang
Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract volume, 12th
Symposium on “Mesozoic Terrestrial
Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd Symposium of
International Geoscience Program (IGCP 608)
“Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific”
August 15-20, 2015, Paleontological Museum
of Liaoning/Shenyang Normal University,
Shenyang, China, 250-254.
Malkani, M.S., 2015e. Titanosaurian (Sauropoda,
dinosaurian) osteoderms: First reports from
Asia. In abstract volume of 2nd Symposium of
IGCP 632 “Geologic and biotic events on the
continent during the Jurassic/Cretaceous
transition” September 12-13, 2015, Shenyang,
China, 86-88.
Malkani, M.S., 2015f. Theropod dinosaurs from Pakistan.
In: Zhang Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract
volume, 12th Symposium on “Mesozoic
Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd
Symposium of International Geoscience
Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of
Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015,
Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang
Normal Univ. Shenyang, China, 237-241.
Malkani, M.S., 2015g. Terrestrial mesoeucrocodiles from
the Cretaceous of Pakistan. In: Zhang Y., Wu
S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract volume, 12th
Symposium on “Mesozoic Terrestrial
Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd Symposium of
International Geoscience Program (IGCP 608)
“Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific”
August 15-20, 2015, Paleontological Museum
of Liaoning/Shenyang Normal University,
Shenyang, China, 242-246.
Malkani, M.S., 2015h. Dinosaurs, mesoeucrocodiles,
pterosaurs, new fauna and flora from Pakistan.
48
View publication stats
Geological Survey of Pakistan, Information
Release No. 823: i-iii,1-32.
Malkani, M.S., Dhanotr, M.S.I., Latif, A., Saeed H.M.,
2013. New remains of Basilosauridae-the giant
basal whale, and baluchithere-the giant
rhinoceros discovered from Balochistan
Province (Pakistan). Sindh University Research
Journal (Science Series), 45 (A-1):177-188.
Malkani, M.S., Mahmood, Z., 2016a. Revised
Stratigraphy of Pakistan. Geological Survey of
Pakistan, Record Volume 127: i-iii,1-87.
Malkani, M.S., Mahmood, Z., 2016b. Mineral Resources
of Pakistan; A Review. Geological Survey of
Pakistan, Record Volume 128: i-iii,1-91.
Malkani, M.S., Sahni, A, Shah, M.R., Arif, J., Dhanotr,
M.S.I., Latif, A., Somro M.N., and Shaikh, S.I.,
2015. Dinosaurian distribution,
Paleobiogeographic link, Plate Tectonic’s
Evolution and Geodynamics of Indo-Pakistan
Subcontinental plate (South Asian Peninsula).
In: Zhang Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract
volume, 12th Symposium on “Mesozoic
Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12) and 3rd
Symposium of International Geoscience
Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of
Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015,
Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang
Normal University, Shenyang, China, 267-272.
Malkani, M.S., and Sahni, A.. 2015. A unified perspective
of terrestrial Jurassic and Cretaceous vertebrates
from the Indian subcontinent: Challenges and
Prospects. In; Abstract volume of International
conference on “Current perspectives and
emerging issues in Gondwana evolution”
Lucknow, India, 11.
Pivnik, D.A., and Wells, N.A., 1996. The transition from
Tethys to the Himalaya as recorded in North
West Pakistan. Geol. Bull. Soc. America 108:
1295-1313.
Raza, S.M., 2001. The Eocene red beds of the Kala Chitta
Range (North Pakistan) and their stratigraphic
implications on Himalayan Foredeep Basin.
Geol. Bull. Univ. Peshawar 34: 83-104.
Sahni, A., 2001. Dinosaurs of India. National book Trust,
Delhi, 110pp.
Sahni , A., Bhatia, S.B., and Kumar, K., 1983. Faunal
evidence for the withdrawal of the Tethys in the
Lesser Himalaya, Northwestern India. Bollettino
delta Sodeta Paleontologicalt aliana 22 (1-2):
77-86.
Received on 25th Jun 2015 Accepted on
29th Aug 2015
Manuscript can be viewed online at
www.luawms.edu.pk