Geological Field Report on Salt Range, Hazara area and Visit to Museum of Natural History

Islamabad.

Submitted by:

Sharjeel, Shah Huzaifa & Rasib Ali.

Submitted to : Professor Dr Syed Haroon Ali Shah

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Special thanks to Sir Haroon

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ABSTRACT INFO :

Field Trip was arranged by Earth Sciences Department, Sargodha University to

Khewra Gorge, Namal Gorge and surrounding areas of Abbottabad for practical
implementation of theoretical knowledge and for the observations of vital and key
geological features in the field. These areas were selected due to the immense
importance and exposure of Salt Range Formation, Khewra Gorge, Namal Gorge and
different areas of Abbottabad. Different types of mineral deposits are found here i.e.
Mica, Calcite, Quartzite etc. Observations of different formations, tectonics, structure
features and geological setup of the area were the key objectives of this field.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful who gives us the
strength to be part of this informative and knowledgeable field trip which was
organized by the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha
city. Thanks to our parents for their constant support and prayers then we would like
to thanks Prof. Dr. Syed Haroon Ali Shah (UOS) accompanying us to the field and
sharing their knowledge. In the end I would like to thanks all of those who made their
contribution to make this field successful and arranged the eight days field trip to
Katas, Namal, Mianwali and Abbottabad.

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LIST OF CONTENTS

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DAY 1
STOP 1:

(Figure: Motorway Stop)

 Tectonic map of Pakistan

 Field briefing
 Objectives
 Methodology
 Field equipments

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 MKT: Main Karakoram Thrust
 MBT: Main Boundary Thrust
 MCT: Main Central Thrust
 MMT: Main Mantle Thrust
Field Briefing: Department of Earth Sciences (University of Sargodha) planed a field tour
of 8 days starting from 27th October 2021 for BS GEOLOGY 3RD Semester. At first day, we
visited Khewra Salt mine and then Khewra Gorge. There we saw different formations and
different geological structures. Next day, we visited Namal Gorge and observed different
formations and geological structures. We visited other places also but we studied them
further in detail. This field tour helps us to understand terms like stratigraphy,
geomorphology, sedimentology of salt range. After getting some samples and photos of

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different rock types, fossils and different geological features, we came back safely to
Sargodha by the grace of Almighty Allah.
Objectives: Main objectives of this field are:

 Discovery of different rocks.

 Analyzing different formations.
 Observe different geological structures.
 To make strong grip on stratigraphy.
Methodology:

 Discovery of fossils.
 Samples collection.
 Photos.
 Using geological hammer.

Field equipment:

 Geological hammer.
 Brunton compass.
 Lens.
 Camera.
 Grain size chart.

Geological Hammer Brunton Compass

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Topic 1: Salt range
Introduction:
The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab Province. These hill ranges
covers southern boundary of Potwar Plateau which is lying between River Indus in the west
and River Jhelum in the east. It is also known as Kohistan-e-Namak. The main area
according to most important geologic and paleontologic localities is Khewra Salt Mine.
That’s why it is known as the most outstanding field areas in the world and it is an open
book of geology.
In Salt Mine, we only saw how mining is going to happen. But after this easy work, we saw
a lot of formations and tectonic changes in Khewra Gorge. Some of the gorges gives us a
lot of information about the sedimentary successions. Actually. The Salt Range is famous
for the rock exposed from 600 million years old to recent i.e from age of Cambrian to
recent in the absence of Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian.
Actually it can into being around 2000 years ago, when evaporation of a shallow sea
followed by under thrusting of Indian plate formed a range that stretched for about 300
kilometers. It starts from Jhelum Fault and ends at Kalabagh Fault. The Salt Range
Formations are formed by tectonic forces.
Alexander came there. Salt range was discovered by the horses of Alexander army when
horses started licking the stones of salt range.
Later on, in 1849, British were the first who started mining the Khewra Salt Range.
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In 1947, after the partition of Sub-continent, Pakistan took control over the Salt Range and
started mining.
Salt range is divided into three parts:

 EASTERN SALT RANGE is from Jhelum to Chakwal.

 CENTRAL SALT RANGE is from Chakwal to Khushab.
 WESTERN SALT RANGE is from Khushab to Mianwali.

(Geological map of salt range of Pakistan)

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Figure- Stratigraphic sequence of Salt Range, (Ghazi et al., 2015)

First destination: Sargodha to Katas

Stop 1: Motorway Stop
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This is the beginning of Salt Range, this is also called welcome point of salt range due to
high intrusion of salt in these mountains.
Start of salt mountains start in way of Jhelum. It is historically important place. Salt range
thrust increases in North and we all know that it is the process in which younger rocks takes
over older rocks.
We crossed Jehlum river. This thrust increases from south to north so height of mountains
also increases.
Here one member of salt range is present not whole formation.
Day 2
We started our journey from Qila Kattas towards Khewra Salt Mine which is the second
largest salt mine in the world. The Khewra Salt Mine is in Khewra, north of Pind Dadan
Khan and administrative subdivision of Jhelum district, Punjab region Pakistan. The mine is
in Salt Range, Potwar Plateau, which rises from Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is the first place to
start geology.
Stop 1:
We were standing at the eastern side of salt range. This is the first place to start geology.
Salt range is found in Potwar basin.
Members of Salt Range Formation:
1- Billianwala Salt Member
2- Bandarkus Gypsum Member
3- Sahwal Marl Member
Khewra Salt Mine is the type locality of Salt Range Thrust.
When Pakistan took control of Salt mine, the mine was about 2.5km, now it is about 6km.
Khewra salt mine has 17 levels which consists of above 1500 chambers.
We don’t use dynamite, we use gun powder and a safety fuse for the mining of salt.
Out of 6km, we visited about 0.5km.
Types of salts:
We found three types of salts in khewra mine, which are as follow:
1- White salt.
2- Pink salt.
3- Red salt.
[While black salt is artificial]
Different colors of salt are found due to the impurities in salt, basically 98% Sodium
Chloride is present in every type of salt.
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(Figure: Salt types and its colour)

Room Pillar Method:

In Khewra Salt Mine we saw Room Pillar method through which salt is extracted. It
means that we extract 50% salt and then left the 50% area of room un-extracted as a
pillar so that mine doesn’t collapse.
After blasting, the lose boulders of salt are extracted by using 4 feet long verma.
Khewra salt mine has 17 levels and the inside temperature of salt mine 18 degree
centigrade, which is maintained throughout the year.
We also saw many ponds in the salt mine, which vary in depth about 20 to 100 feet.
There are 12 ventilators in the salt range which are used for the ventilation in salt mine.

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Visiting places:
Since 2002, the main tunnel of Khewra Salt Mine is converted into tourist attraction.
Some of the websites and surveys ensures us that every year 35000-40000 people visit
Khewra mine. A lot of decorative light work helps people to walk through it and see
beauty of this place. Translucent crystals are present here, which means that it absorbs
and reflects some light. It depends upon its thickness, the salt glows in different shades.
There are a lot of tourist attraction places here:

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Pul saraat:
There is a salt bridge over here which is named as “Pul saraat”. There are no pillars here
to support it. It is just a narrow strip of pure rock salt 20-25 feet in length with 5 feet
thick. It has 80 feet deep ponds of brine (Salty water) on both sides. Those people were
enjoying it a lot who knows the real pul saraat.

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 Indoor brine ponds:
Inside the Khewra Salt Mine, there are saturated brine solution ponds which are also
known as death ponds. The salty water seeps through the mine walls and collects them
into these

chambers overtime. There are alot of ponds present there but for tourists there are only two
ponds which people can see because it is difficult to see them in dark.

Badshahi Mosque:
We all know about Badshahi Mosque of Lahore, but there is also a monument of
Badshahi mosque present in Khewra Salt Mine. It is present in the main tunnel of mine.
To make it more beautiful, different colors of salt bricks are used to build it such as
pink, red and white. Between the salt bricks space has been made to lighten it with
electric bulbs which makes it more beautiful.

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Sheesh Mahal:
The word Sheesh Mahal means “Palace of Mirrors”. There is an area called as Sheesh
Mahal named such for the beautiful and colorful reflecting salt bricks. The salt used
here is light pink and glows in many different shades under light.

Narrow Gauge Electric Railway:

Since 1930, small train wagons are used to extract the salt from the tunnel. But there is
also a train present in mine which is only for the visitors who want to take a small ride
of 500m in mine.
Pakistan Post Office, Khewra Salt Mine:
There is a fully functional Post Office made of salt bricks inside the Mine. One can send
postal mail all over the world from here.
Salt Crystal Formations:
Crystal formations are present in big amount in the mine and it is the beautiful tourist
attraction. Some of them hanging from the roof and some of them seems to grow up
from the ground. One such formations takes a lot of time to form and grow up.
Therefore, it is important to know not to touch it because it is not so hard and if
someone touch it, it will be torned into pieces.

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 Stop 2:
Khewra gorge:
After visiting the Khewra Salt Mine, we went towards the Khewra Gorge. Khewra
Gorge is the place where we saw a lot of formations with a lot of minerals.
Now we talk about the formations in khewra gorge.

 Salt Range Formation.

 Khewra Sandstone
 Kussak Formation
 Jutana Formation
 Baghanwala Formation

Salt Range Formation:

Locality:
Khewra gorge
Synonym:
Wynne (1878) named the formation as “Saline series” while Gee (1945) called it as
“Punjab saline series”. The present name “Salt range formation” is given by Asrarullah
in (1967).
Lithology:
It is composed of gypseous marl, thick seems of salts, dolomite, clay, and shale.
Khewarite is also present there. On the basis of lithology, Asrarullah divide the
formation into three basic members.

 Billianwala Salt Member

 Bandarkus Gypsum Member
 Sahwal Marl Member

1. Billianwala Salt Member: This member consists of salt with vary gypsum and Marl is
also observed here but in lesser amount than salt.
2. Bandarkus Gypsum Member: This member consists of white beds of gypsum, grey
shales and marl of brick red colour.
3. Sahwal Marl Member: This member is rich in marl. It has fresh brick red colour of
marl, weathered colour grey irregular gypsum, dolomite and also an igneous body
khewarite.

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Khewra sandstone:

Locality:
Khewra gorge.

Synonomy:
Firstly, Wynne (1878) named it as “Purple sandstone series”. But after it, Noetling
(1894) named it as “Khewra Sandstone”. It was given according to Stratigrahic
Committee of Pakistan.

Lithology:

The formation consists predominantly of purple to brown, yellowish-brown, fine

grained sandstone. The sandstone is mostly thick-bedded to massive. Sedimentary
features like ripple marks, mud cracks, cross bedding, weathering are common in the
formation. It is widely distributed to the throughout the Salt Range.

Contacts:
Its lower conformable contact is with the Salt Range Formation and upper conformable
contact is with the Kussak formation.

Fossils:
The formation contains only a few trace fossils in the Salt Range which have been
interpreted as trilobite trails by Schindewolf and Seilacher (1995) and are not
indicative of any particular age.

Age:
As the overlying Kussak Formation, is not older than Late Early Cambrian, the age of
the Khewra Sandstone is almost certainly Early Cambrian.

Kussak formation:

Locality:
The type locality of the formation lies near the Kussak Fort in the eastern part of the
Salt Range.

Synonomy:
Wynne (1878) ………….. Obolus beds or Siphonotrata beds
Noetling (1894)……….. Kussak Group
Waagen (1895) ………… Neobolus beds
SCP……… Kussak Formation

Lithology:
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 Greenish grey glauconitic sandstone.
 Numerous layers of infraformational conglomerates are present.
 Siltstone interbedded with light grey dolomite.
 Pink gypsum lense at top and 5.25cm thin lenses of fossils

Contacts:
 The formation is conformably underlain by Kussak formation
 Conformably overlain by the Baghanwala Formation.

Fossils:
The formation is fossiliferous.

Age:
It is Early Middle Cambrian.

Jutana Formation:

Synonyms:
Fleming (1853) ……. Magnesian sandstone
Noetling (1894)…… Jutana stage
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan…… Jutana Formation

Age:
The age of the formation is described as Late Early Cambrian to Early Middle Cambrian.

Locality:
It lies near Jutana village in the Eastern Salt Range.

Lithology:
The lower part of the formation is composed of light green, hard, massive, partialy sandy
dolomite. While the upper part of the formation is composed of light green to dirty white
massive dolomite. The formation is thickest in the Eastern Salt Range, whereas at the type
locality it is 80m thick.

Contact:
Jutana formation is on top of Kussak formation and above the Baghanwala formation.

Fossil:
Fossils are present but we found nothing. Such as Lingulella Fuchsia, Botsfordia Granulate,
Redlichia etc.

Baghanwala formation:

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Synonyms:
Wynne (1878)……… Pseudomorph Salt Crystal Zone
Noetling (1894)……. Baghanwala Group
Holland (1926)……. Salt Pseudomorph beds
Pascoe (1959)……. Baghanwala stage
…….. Baghanwala Formation

Age:
The age of Baghanwala Formation lies in Early Middle Cambrian.

Locality:
The type section is located near Baghanwala village in the Eastern Salt Range.

Lithology:
The formation is composed of red shale and clay with alternate beds of flaggy sandstone.
The flaggy sandstone exhibits several colours including pink, grey, or blue green, especially
in the lower half of the formation. Sedimentary structures such as ripple marks, mud cracks.

Contact:
Lower contact is conformable with Jutana Formation
Upper contact of the formation with the underlying Tobra Formation is unconformable.

Fossil:
The formation contains only trace fossils.

DAY 3
Nammal Gorge:
On 29 of October, our 3rd day of field started. Our journey started at the time of
7:00 am. We started traveling from Killa Qatas towards Mianwali, to reach the
type locality of Namal Gorge. There our field supervisor led us to different
formations and he told us the spot where Amb Formation was absent and not
exposed. Namal Gorge has dome like structure of formations. Namal Gorge is an excellent
place for studying geology of rocks of Salt Range, ranging in age from upper Permian,
Triassic, Jurassic, Paleocene and Eocene. Namal dam situated at the beginning of the gorge
is built on Nammal Limestone. Excellent and accessible exposures of Datta Formation
(Jurassic oil reservoir) are available.In Namal Gorge we also mark the Permo-Triassic
Boundary, which is the international boundary of high stand system tract.
The formation in front of us was Wargal Limestone. We saw sulfur water passing
from gorge and it had pungent odor too. There are a lot of formations there.

Accessibilty:

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The area was easily accessible through a well carpeted road. The journey was
pleasant and smooth. The field which we visited was unsteady; rocky along the
mountains. The drive to the area is approximately 3:00 hours from Sargodha.
STRATIGRAPHY:
1:Amb Formation.
2:Wargal Limestone.
3:Chiddru Limestone.
4:Mianwali Formation.
5:Tredian Formation.
6:Kingriali Formation.
7:Datta Formation.
8:Samana Suk Formation.
9:Hangu Formation.
10:Lockhart Formation.
11:Patala Formation.
12:Namal Formation.
13:Sakesar Formation

Amb Formation:
In the past, Amb Formation was present. But after blasting, it doesnot exist more.

Wargal Limestone:
Firstly, we observed the Wargal Limestone and saw chemical weathering in
dolomite present in the formation. On the right side of path there were broken
pieces of dolomite and limestone of Wargal Limestone.
We collected fossils of Brachiopods, Pectin and some other from Phylum
Mollusca.
Synonyms:

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The name “Wargal Limestone” was approved by the Stratigraphic
Committee of Pakistan proposed by Teichert (1966) to the unit formerly known as
“Middle Products Limestone” of Waagen (1879) and “Wargal group of Noetling
(1901).
Locality:
The type section is near Wargal village in the Central Salt Range.
Lithology:
The key lithology of this area is dolomite and limestone. They have almost light
grey to medium grey, brownish grey and olive green colors.
According to Teichert (1966), The formation is 183M thick in Zaluch nala while in
Marwat and Khisor ranges it is about 174m. The whole thickness which is 130 m is
divided into ten parts having variation of color, beddings and texture of Limestone and
Dolomite.
From the bottom its light brown, Limestone has different colors throughout the whole
thickness, like light grey to olive grey and some time it is yellowish grey. Similarly
Dolomite is pinkish-grey and a minor bed of Sandstone is greyish-orange.

Contact Relationship:
The contact of Wargal limestone with underlying Amb Formation is confirmable
while upper contact with Chiddru Formation is transitional.
Fossils:
The fauna consists of abundant Brachiopodes, Bivalves, Gastropods, Nautiloids,
Ammonoids, Trilobites,

Age:
Late Permian.

Chiddru Formation:
Synonyms:
Waagen (1891)……… Chiddru beds
Noetling (1901)……… Chiddru Group
Dumbar (1933)……… Chiddru Formation
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 Age:
The age on the basis of the Ammonoids is considered to be Late Permian.
Locality:
Namal Gorge.
Lithology:
This formation has a shale unit of pale-yellowish grey to medium dark grey in colour. It
contains rare small phosphatic nodules. Overlying this unit are the beds of calcareous
sandstone with few sandy limestone. The total thickness of the formation is about 64m.
Contact:
Upper contact of the Chiddru Formation is paraconformable with Mianwali Formation.
Lower contact of Chiddru Formation is with Wargal Formation.
Fossils:
Brachiopods are present in this formation.

Mianwali formation:
Synonomy:
Gee …….. Mianwali series
Kummel(1966)…….. Mianwali formation
Age:
The age of Mianwali formation is Early Triassic.
Locality:
Nammal gorge.
Divisions of Mianwali formation:
1. Kathwai Member
2. Mittwali Member
3. Narmia Member
Fossils:
Ammonoids.
Lithology:
Sandstone, limestone and shale are observed in the Mianwali Formation.
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Contacts:
Lower contact of the Mianwali Formation is with the Chiddru Formation. The upper contact
of the Mianwali Formation is with the Tredian Formation.

Tredian Formation:
Synonyms:
Gee (1945)……….. Kingriali Sandstone
Gee (1966)……….. Tredian Formation
Age:
The age of the Tredian Formation is Mid-Triassic.
Locality:
Western Salt Range
Lithology:
It consists of two members.
Lower member is Landa Member consists of sandstone and shale.
Upper member is Khatkiara Member consists of white sandstone and thick bedded withy
inclusion of some dolomite beds in upper parts.
Contact:
Upper contact of the Tredain Formation is with Kingriali Formation is conformable.
Fossils:
The formation contains plant micro-fossils.
The lower Landa Member contains Acritarchs.
The upper Khatkiara Member yielded only spores, pollen grains and wood fragments.
Kingriali Formation:
Synonyms:
Gee (1945)……….. Kingriali Dolomite
And later Gee named this formation as “Kingriali Formation”, because several lithological
facies are represented. The name mainly given because of the Kingriali Peak in the Khisor
Range.

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Age:
The age of Kingriali Formation is Mid-Triassic probably.
Locality:
Good sections of the Kingriali Formation occur in Zaluch Nala in the Western Salt Range,
Landa Nala in Surghar Range and in Tapan Wahan and Gori Tang Nala in Khisor Range.
Lithology:
Kingriali Formation mainly consists of thick bedded, massive, fine to coarse textured,
light grey brown dolomite and dolomitic limestone with interbeds of greenish dolomite
shale and marl in the upper part. This upper part which is consisted of these things is well
developed, 12m thick in Gori Tang Nala. The thickness of the formation starts from 76 to
106m.
Contact:
Lower contact of the Kingriali Formation is with the Tredian Formation and is
conformable. While the upper contact of Kingriali Formation is with the Datta Formation
and is dis-conformity.

Fossils:
Fossils of the Kingriali Formation are rarely and poorly preserved in formation such as
Brachiopodes, Crinoidals, and Bivalves remains are reported.

Datta Formation:
Synonyms:
Danilchik (1961)…….. Datta Formation
Danilchik and Shah (1967) ……. Variegated stage of Gee
Age:
The age of Datta Formation is Early Jurassic.
Locality:
Datta Nala in the Surghar Range is locality of Datta Formation.
Lithology:

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This formation consists of variegated red, maroon, grey, green and white sandstone, shale,
siltstone and mudstone with irregularly distributed calcareous, dolomitic, carbonaceous,
ferruginous glass sand and fireclay horizons. The thickness is 212m.
Contact:
The upper contact is with the Shinawari Formation is gradational.
The lower contact has disconformable lower contact throughout its distribution.
Fossils:
No diagnostic fossils have been reported from the formation except some carbonaceous
remains.

Samana Suk Formation:

Synonyms:
Davies (1930)…… Samana Range
Middlemis (1896)……. Kioto Limestone
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan…….. Samana Suk Formation
Age:
Middle Jurassic is the age of Samana Suk Formation.
Locality:
Locality of the Samana Suk Formation is Western Samana Range.
Lithology:
Grey to dark grey, medium to thick bedded limestone with subordinate marl and calcareous
shale intercalations. The limestone is oolitic and has shally beds. The thickness of the
Samana Suk Formation is 186m in type locality.
Contact:
The lower contact with the Shinawari Formation is Transitional.
The upper contact with the Chichali Formation is disconformity.
Fossils:
Brachiopods, Bivalves, Gastropods and Ammonoids.

Hangu Formation:
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Synonyms:
Davies (1930)…….. The Hangu Shale
Davies (1930)…….. Hangu Sandstone
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan (1973)…..Hangu Formation.
Age:
The age of Hangu Formation according to Foraminifers is Early Paleocene.
Locality:
The type section of Hangu Formation is Fort Lockhart.
Lithology:
Lithologically, the Hangu Formation in Kohat Area consists of sandstone with grey shale
intercalations in upper part. The sandstone is white, light grey and reddish brown,
weathering dark rusty brown, fine to coarse grained, and medium to thick bedded. In the
Salt Range and Trans-Indus Ranges, the formation consists of dark grey, rarely variegated
sandstone, shale, carboniferous shale and some nodular, argillaceous limestone. It is 90m
thick in the Fort Lockhart Section, 50m at Hangu and 150m in Kohat Pass area.
Contact:
The formation disconformably overlies the Kawagarh Formation in Kohat, Kala Chitta and
Hazara areas and unconformably overlies various Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations.
Hangu Formation is conformably overlain by the Lockhart Formation.

Fossils:
Foraminifers with some Corals, Gastropods, and Bivalves have been reported by Cox in
Hangu Formation.

LOCKHART LIMESTONE FORMATION:

Synonyms:
Davies (1930)……. Lockhart Limestone
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan…….. Lockhart Formation (used name given by
Davies).
Age:
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It’s almost from the Middle Epoch of Paleocene Period.
Lithology:
At type locality the limestone is grey, medium to thick
bedded, massive, rubbly and brecciated at places and flaggy at basal part. In Salt
Range Namal area the limestone is grey to light grey, medium to thick bedded,
nodular with minor amounts of grey marl and dark bluish grey calcareous shale in
the lower part. The limestone is well developed and 60m thick at type locality. It is
about 70m thick in Namal gorge and 242m in Hazara area.
Contact Relationship;
This formation is conformable and transitional with upper and lower contacts at all
localities. The upper contact of Lockhart Limestone Formation is conformable and
transitional with the Patala Formation and the lower contact with Hungu Formation
is also conformable and transition.
Fossils:
The limestone of Lockhart contains abundant of
Foraminifera, Corals, Mollusks, Echinoids and Algae.

Patala Formation:
Synonyms:
Davies and Pinfold (1937)…….. Patala Formation
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan…… Patala Formation
Age:
The Patala Formation has been assigned a Late Paleocene age throughout its extent, except
for the Hazara area, where it extends into the Early Eocene.
Locality:
Namal Gorge.
Lithology:
In the Salt Range the Formation consists of shale and marl with subordinate limestone and
sandstone. The shale is dark greenish grey selenite-bearing in places carbonaceous and
calcareous and also contains marcastic nodules. The limestone is white to light grey and
nodular. It occurs as interbeds. Subordinate interbeds of yellowish brown and calcareous
sandstone are present in the upper part. In kalla Chitta Range, the formation is represented
by light brown and grey marl with thin interbeds of limestone. It is 27m thick at Khewra
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and 90m at Patala Nala. The thickness varies between 30 to 75m in Surghar Range, 30 to
180m in kohat area and 20m thick in Kala Chitta Range.
Contact:
Throughout its extent the Patala Formation conformably overlies the Lockhart Limestone.
The Patala formation is conformably and transitionally overlain by the Nammal formation
in the Salt Range.
Fossils:
The formation is fossiliferous and contain abundant Foraminifers, Molluscs and Ostracodes.

Namal Formation:
Synonyms:
Stratigraphic unit of Pakistan (1935 by Gee)…… Namal Limestone and Shale
Danilchik and Shah (1967)…….. Namal Marl
Age:
It is from Early Epoch of Eocene Period.
Locality:
Namal gorge
Lithology:
The section exposed in the Namal Gorge is the type section. The formation, throughout
to its extent comprises shale, marl and limestone. In the Salt Range, these rocks occur as
alternation. The shale is grey to olive green, while the limestone and marl are light grey
to bluish grey. The limestone is argillaceous in places. The formation is 100m thick at
Namal Gorge and thins out westward to 60m at Khairabad. It is 30m thick in Khewra-
Choa Saiden Shah Road section in Eastern Salt Range.
0

Contact:
In lower contact with the Patala Formation and upper contact with the Sakesar Limestone.

Fossils:
Brachiopods, Coral Fingers are the fossils which we observed and saw here.

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Sakesar Formation:
Synonyms:
Gee (1935)……… Sakesar Limestone
Age:
The Foraminifers predict that Early Eocene is the age of Sakesar Formation .

Locality:
Namal Gorge.
Lithology:
The unit consists mainly of limestone with subordinate marl. The limestone, throughout its
extent is cream coloured to light grey, nodular, usually massive, with considerable
development of chert in upper part. In the Surghar Range, the chert lenses increase in
number. In Salt Range, its thickness varies between 70m and 150m. It is 220m at Chichali
Pass and about 300m in other parts of Surghar Range.
Contact:
The lower contact of Sakesar Formation with Namal Formation is conformable.
The upper contact with the Chorgali Formation is conformable, whereas in the CENTRAL
AND WESTERN Salt Range and in the Surghar Range, unconformably overlies the
formation.
Fossils:
The formation has yielded a rich assemblages of foraminifers, molluscs and echinoids.

Day 4

Overview: On 4th day, we take 4 stops on different formations. We take different samples
and observe the geological structures and biological weathering etc.
Stop 1: Hazara Formation.
Synonyms:
Waagen and Wynne (1879)……….. Attock Slates
32
Middlemis (1896)…….. Hazara Slates Formation
Marks and Ali (1961)……. Slate series of Hazara
Calkins (1969)……. Hazara Formation
Latif (1970) ……. “Hazara group” included Tanawal Formation
Age:
950±20 Ma. This age determination places the formation in Precambrian.
Locality:
The locality of Hazara Formation is Hazara Basin.
Lithology:
The Hazara Formation consists of slate, phyllite and shale with minor occurrance of
limestone and graphite layers. slate and phyllite are green to dark green and black but are
rusty brown and dark green on weathered surface. some thick-bedded, fine to medium-
grained sand stone is also present. Limestone beds with maximum thickness of 150 m and a
sequence of calcareous phyllite and gypsum ranging from 30 to 120 m thick are found in
Southern-most Hazara and Azad Kashmir.
Contact:
The upper contact of Hazara Formation has Tanawal Formation while lower contact will
not exposed.
Fossil:
The fossils not exposed in Hazara Formation.
2nd stop:
Tanawal Formation
Synonyms:
Wynne(1879) …………….Tanol group
Middlemiss(1896)……………Tanol quartzite
Marks and Ali(1962),and Latif(1970)……..Tanol Formation
Calkins(1969)…………Tanawal Formation
Age:
The age of Tanawal Formation is 752±20 Ma.The Tanawal Formation appears to be Late
Precambrians.

33
Locality:
The locality of Tanawal Formation is Abbottabad Formation .
Lithology:
The Tanawal Formation consists mainly of quartzose schist, quartzite and schistose
conglomerates. To the South of Mansehra Granite, the Tanawal Formation mainly consists
of medium grained quartzite and fine grained mica,quartz,schist. In the area of Mansehra
Granite and northward, the grade of metamorphism in tanawal formation is higher than in
the south. In these areas, granite, biotite-muscovite-quartz schist and andalusite-staurolite
schist constitute the greater part of Tanawal Formation.
In Tanawal Formation, we observed different situations such as faults, fractures, sheer
joints and algal lamination in fractures.
We also observed two types of unconformity (angular unconformity and Non-conformity).
Contact:
The lower contact of Tanawal Formation is not exposed in the studied area while the upper
contact with the Abbottabad Formation is unconformable marked by conglomerate beds.
Fossils:
The Tanawal Formation is devoid of the fossils.

Stop 3:
Oghi Khaki Road Section
Thirdly, we head towards Manshehra. On the way to Mansehra, we stopped at the Oghi
Khaki Road. It belongs to Tanawal Formation. Oghi Khaki is hill top so this area is totally
comprised along the strike because of which granite, are repeated respectively. Here we see
the process of metamorphism increases, quartz and weak planes are also present which
result in the mineral breakage. When move towards Mansehra, we also see that schist
moved to gnesis. It is a wide V-shaped valley. V- shaped valley came into existence
because of the movement of soil. Faulting was present there which were indicated by the
trunkish. Foliation(repetitive layering of metamorphic rocks) are also present here.

Stop 4:
Sussal Galli section
After observing of the Oghi Khaki, we move further towards Sussal Galli. Rocks present
here are metamorphic and igneous. White and black layers are present here just like salt and
pepper. They may be cores or fine granite gnesis and foliation. A type of granite gnesis

34
present here has larger crystal size. White layers of quartz veins are present in granite just
like the vein of granite. Biotites are also present here and these are also known as two mica
granite in dark black colour. As the temperature increase, the size of granite also increases.
They have abundant mineralization.

DAY 5

35
We started our day from Abbottabad traveling towards Shah Maqsood from
Lora Road.

We went towards the south of Punjal Thrust and north of Nathia Galli Thrust.

At our first stop, the rocks that we observed, had algal growth in them.
Mostly we observed carbonate rocks in that area.

Lora Shah Maqsood Chowk:

Argillites:
We also observed argillite rocks there.

It is a sedimentary rock composed of fine silt and sand-sized particles mixed

with finer volcanic ash.it is a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed
predominantly of clay particles.

It can be identified by it's smooth, black exterior. The natural stone is a soft
greyish black, and reveals a striking, shiny black finish when worked by
carvers.

Plumose Structure:
We also examined plumose structure on the rocks of that
area.

It is a feather like structure, it forms when a rock fractures rapidly

under tension; the core of the structure forms where the fracture originates
and the surrounding bands form as the fracture expands.

Symmetrical Ripple Marks:

As we moved forward, we also saw some kind of ripple marks on a
inclined rock, these were symmetrical ripple marks and the rock was inclined
due to tectonic forces.

These are also called bidirectional ripple marks, they indicate an

environment with weak currents where water motion is

PAGE 1
dominated by wave oscillations.. their shape and symmetry depends upon the
sedimentary processes.

We also found different types of veins in this Hazara Region which are as follow,

Quartz Vein:
It can be defined as a vein filled with quartz either of igneous origin or
deposited from solution.

The simplest type of a quartz vein is the filling of an already present crack in
rocks.

These are mostly found in Calcite Rocks.

Stress or Dip Direction:

Veins are the fillings in rocks.

Veins direction also shows us the stress or dip direction.

Travertine:
We found some travertine deposits in these carbonate rocks.

These are found in those areas where limestone is common and where
circulating ground water contains calcium carbonate and then later it deposits.
Rock formations called stalactites and stalagmites, which are found in caves, consist
primarily of travertine

STOP # 2

Langriall Village Area

KAWAGARH FORMATION:
After few kilometers we stopped at Kawagarh Formation.
Mostly bedding was crushed at that area.

PAGE 2
 The name Kawagarh Limestone was first coined by A.E. Day (Attock Oil
Co.,) for the Upper Cretaceous limestone exposed in the Kawagarh Hills and other
parts of the Potwar-Kala Chitta Hills Area.

Lithology:

Formation contains micritic limestone and shale. Micritic limestone was very
smooth while touching. The limestone was mostly grey, dark grey and light
grey.

The kawagarh Limestone is about 350 feet thick in the mapped area.

Contact Relationship:
This Kawagarh Formation comfortably lies over the
Lumshiwal Sandstone of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age.

Fauna:
It contains a distinctive Foraminifera which is
Globotruncana , visible in the hand specimen(but we didn’t found it there).

Age:
The Kawagarh Formation is of Upper Cretaceous Age.

Stylolite:
We also found some stylolite structures, it is secondary
(chemical) sedimentary structure consisting of a series of relatively small,
alternating, interlocked, toothlike columns of stone; it is common in
limestone, marble, and similar rock.

Conchoidal Fracture:
The term concoidal is used to describe fracture with smooth,
curved surfaces that resemble the interior of a seashell.

PAGE 3
Brittle and fine -grained materials are more likely to show the concoidal
fracturing. Concoidal fracture is the Calcitic Character of Kawagarh Limestone.

STOP # 3

Krakki
As we moved forward towards the South of Punjal Thrust of
Hazara basin, we saw Shale with limestone beds with some overturned folds.
Some dark colour shows the carbon abundance here. If carbon content increases in
this shale then this shale will be converted into coal.

Overturned Folds:
An overturned fold, or overfold, has the axial plane inclined
to such an extent that the strata on one limb are overturned.

Law of superposition does not apply here.

Patala Formation:
Above the dark shale, khaki colour shows Patala Formation
of Hazata Basin.

The term Patala Formation was formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee of

Pakistan for the "Patala Shale" of Davies and Pinfold (1937) and its usage was
extended to otherparts of the Kohat-Potwar and Hazara areas.

Lithology:
The section exposed in Patala Nala, in the Salt Range has been designated
as type section. Cheema et al. (1977) stated that in the Salt Range the formation
consists of shale and marl with subordinate limestone and sandstone. The shale
is dark greenish grey selenite-

PAGE 4
bearing, in places carbonaceous and calcareous and also contains
marcasite nodules.

Contact Relationship:
The Patala Formation conformably overlies the Lockhart Limestone. The
Patala Formation is conformably and transitionally overlain by the Namal
Formation in the Salt Range, the Panoba Shale in the Kohat area and the Margala
Hill Limestone in the Hazara and Kala Chitta areas.

Fossils:
The formation is richly fossiliferous and contains abundant
foraminifcrs, molluscs and ostracodes.

Age:
The Patala Formation has been assigned a Late Palcocenc age
throughout its extent, except for the Hazara area, where it extends into the
Early Eocene.

Next Stop:

Samana Suk Formation:

After one 1 km we find ooids in limestone which was Samana Suk Formation.

Davies (1930) introduced the name "Samana", "Suk" for the Jurassic limestone in
Samana Range. The name is extended to include similar limestone sequence in
the Salt Range and Trans-Indus ranges.

Lithology:
Lithologically, as described by Fatmi (1977) in the type locality the
formation consists of grey to dark grey, medium to thick-bedded limestone with
subordinate marl and calcareous shale intercalations. The limestone is oolitic and
has some shelly beds. In the Salt Range and Trans-Indus ranges (Surghar Range,
Sheikh Budin Hill) the

PAGE 5
limestone is lighter in colour, medium to thin- bedded and is marly and shaly in
the lower part.

Contact Relationship:
The lower contact is transitional with the Shinawai Formation and is placed at
the top of the last sandstone unit of the Shinawai Formation. The upper contact with
the Chichali Formation is disconformable.

Fossil:
Among the Brachiopods Somalirhynchia Nobelis is quite abundant. Vertebrate
fossils have never been reported Samana Suk Formation but in July 1987 news flashed
in the " Hydrocarbon News" in a Quarterly House Journal of Hydrocarbon
Development Institute of Pakistan indicating "First Dinosaur Footprints Found in
Pakistan".

Age:
The age of Samana Suk Formation is described as Middle
Jurassic, 160-170 Ma years old. STOP #

Hurro River:
After Samana Suk Formation, we goes towards Hurro River, its water goes
to Raval Dam.

We saw thick beds of Lamshiwal Formation there

We found Bellaminites in Chchali Formation. These are Jurasic to Triassic age.

PAGE 6
Day: 6
In day 6 we traveled from Abbottabad to Nathia Gali toward Galliyat Region which are the
Southern part of Hazara Formation
Stop no 1:
Our stop 1: Nathia Gali Thrust
Age:
It brings Samana Suk Formation of Jurassic age
Contact:g
Nathia Gali Thrust is direct contact with Margala Hill Limestone of Eocene age.
Lithology:
Nathia Gali Thrust occurs to the south of Hazara Thrust. This Thrust is also roughly east-west
oriented with a dip of 60.Sadran segments are found. Rocks differ by bedding, fossils and grain
size. Marl is present which is soft rock type, carbonaceous rocks are also present which are in
dark black colour . These colours are due to weathering.
Locality:
 It is located in the Abbottabad district  of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is located at
the centre of the Galyat Range, where several hill stations are situated.
Things we observed:

 Rocks Dark colour

 Uplifting of sediments is continuously occurring
 Recrystallization of calcite which appears dull

Stop No 2
Dor River
After visiting the Nathia Gali Thrust we want to Dor River.
Locality:

PAGE 7
 It is a stream in Northwest Pakistan and has an elevation of 446 metres. Dor River is
situated west of Basira, southwest of Soka Nala.
Lithology:
In Dor River Conglomerates are present which are round and hard, their grain size
are different thus this place is uplifted due to erosion or collision of tectonic plates.
Variety of sediments are present. Tobra Formation was also conglomerates. It was glacial
deposition
Things we observed:
 Sedimentary structure
 Cross bedding, ripple marks
 Cyclic deposition, gradient bedding
 In this area Tobra Formation conglomerate are also present
 River deposition are also present
 After few meter we saw mud rocks. It was conglomerates beds
Stop no: 3
Nathia Gali 24 Km
Things we observed:
 Bedded system of conglomerate.
 Valley deposition.
 Angular and disconferty layer and 20% mud conglomerate
 Margla Hills limestone are present
 Carbonaceous shale are present
 Flactural slip folding in rocks
 Sinkline over turned fold
Stop no:4
At Nathia Gali 6km
Things we observed:
 Internal structure
 Aggregate grains
 Black colour with sponges, borrow belemnites of organic
 These rocks are of Jurassic units
 There ooids depend upon diagenesis
 Palites and slamites are present
 Two generation of folding streams anticline are present
 Monocline( a effect formed by tectonic collision)
Stop no:5
After visiting the Nathia Gali we went to our last destination of day 6 which is Kalabagh.
Locality:
Kalabagh is present near Nathia Gali
Lithology:
 In Kalabagh there is end of Hazara Formation.
 Nathia Gali thrust exist in Hazara Formation.
 Metamorphism boried ends.Next is carbonate structure.
 In Lesser Himalayes hazara formation regional faults are present.
Limestone Metamorphism Marble
Sandstone Metamorphism Quartaze
Shale Metamorphism Slate

PAGE 8
PAGE 9
 DAY 7

Pakistan museum of natural history established in 1976.

It is known as natural history museum.

It has exhibits and galleries which display and provide information about the ecology of the
geology and palentology country.

Currently, the museum houses a collection of over 60000 objects.

EXHIBIT AND GALLERIES

 Biological Gallery – display and discuss and wild flora fauna, portrayed in their
respective habitats.
 Ecological Gallery – an educational section where ecological cycles, habitats and
environmental problems are discussed through visuals and audios.
 Gemstones Gallery – shows a variety of gems in the raw as well as cut and polished
forms.
 Paleontology Gallery – Displays fossils along with their studies. Anthrology is also
discussed through painting and writings, including a skull of Australopithecus. Wall
paintings depict the pre historic era.
 Tethys Gallery – provides information about oceanology, petrology, pedology, and
mineralogy of Pakistan. It displays a three-dimensional diaroma of seascapes as well s a
skeleton of Whale. Different aspects of Salt range.

ss

Day 8

We started our journey from Qilla katas towards Choa Saidan Shah (District Chakwal). On the
way to Choa Saiden Shah, we saw Karangal fault. Under Salt Range Formation, we saw a
sequence of Miocene which shows Kamlial Formation. We also saw second largest height of Salt
Range which is named as “Chehal Abdal”. Stromatolites are present here which belong to the
Jutana Formation.

Stop 1:

Aara Besharat:

Kamlial Formation:

PAGE
10
Synonyms:

Pinfold (1918)………… Kamlial beds

Pascoe (1963)………… Kamlial stage

Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan………. Kamlial Formation

Age:

Fossils which are present here indicates Middle to Late Miocene age for the Kamlial Formation.

Locality:

Attock district has been designated as the type locality of Kamlial Formation.

Lithology:

The formation consists of purple grey and dark brick red sandstone which is medium to coarse
grained and contains inter-beds of hard purple shale and yellow and purple intraformational
conglomerate. It is 90 meters thick at Kamlial.

Contact:

The formation overlies the Murree Formation and overlain by the Chinji Formation.

Fossils:

A number of fossil (fossil mammals) are present. e.g: Trilophodons cf. angustidens,
Anthracotherium sp, etc.

Chinji Formation:

After Kamlial Formation we observed Chinji Formation. Here we saw pink granite due to
erosion.

Synonyms:

Pilgrim (1913)……… Chinji Zone

Lewis (1937)……… Chinji Formation

Age:

The age of Chinji Formation is considered to be Late Miocene.

PAGE
11
 Locality:

The type locality of this formation is Attock district.

Lithology:

The formation consists of red clay with subordinate ash grey or brownish grey sandstone. The
sandstone is fine to medium grained, occassionally gritty, cross-bedded and soft. Scattered
pebbles of quartzite and thin lenses of intraformational conglomerate are found at different
horizons throughout the formation. The formation is 750 meters thick in the type area.

Contact:

The formation is underlain by the Kamlial Formation in Kohat-Potwar Province with a sharp and
conformable contact. It is conformably overlain by the Nagri Formation.

Fossils:

The formation has yielded abundant vertebrate fossils. The pre dominant groups in Chinji Fauna
are innumerable crocodiles, turtles, lizards etc.

Nagri Formation:

Synonomy:

The “Nagri Formation” of Lewis (1937) has been accepted as such by the Stratigraphic
Committee of Pakistan.

Age:

In the Lower Indus Basin and Quetta region, the Nagri Formation ranges from Late Middle to
Late Miocene in age, whereas in the Kohat-Potwar Province, it is Early Pliocene.

Locality:

The locality of Nagri Formation is village of the Nagri in Attock district.

Lithology:

The Nagri Formation consists of sandstone with subordinate clay and conglomerate. The
sandstone is greenish grey medium to coarse grained, cross bedded and massive. The clay is

PAGE
12
sandy or silly chocolate brown or reddish grey and pale orange, the proportion of which varies
from section to section. The conglomerate beds have highly varied thickness and composition in
different areas. They consist of some pebbles of igneous rocks and Eocene limestone in the
Kohat-Potwar Province.

The thickness is generally ranges from 300m to as much as 2000m.

Contact:

The Nagri Formation conformably overlies the Chinji Formationin the Kohat-Potwar Province
and parts of the Eastern Suleman Range.

In the Lower Indus Basin, it usually conformably overlies the Momani Group.

Fossils:

The Nagri Formation has yielded fairly rich assemblage of vertebrate remains as recorded by
Pilgrim and others.

Dhok Pathan Formation:

Synonomy:

Pilgrim (1913)……… Dhok Pathan

Cotter (1933)………. Dhok Pathan Formation (SCP also adopt this name).

Age:

The Dhok Pathan Formation is indicated as Early to Middle Pliocene by the fauna.

However, in Kohat-Potwar Province, it is assumed to be in the Middle Pliocene age.

Locality:

In the Lower Indus Basin and Quetta region, the lower contact is gradational.

But the upper contact of Dhok Pathan Formation with the Lie Conglomerate is marked by an
angular unconformity.

Lithology:

The Dhok Pathan Formation is represented by monotonous alternations cyclic alternations of

sandstone and clay beds. The sandstone is commonly grey, light grey, gleaming white or reddish
brown and occasionally brownish grey, greenish grey brown or buff coloured, calcareous,
moderately cemented, soft and cross bedded. Conglomerates is in the form of lenses and a layer
is an essential character of the upper part. The thickness of one sandstone-clay-cycle varies from
6 to 60m.

Contact:

PAGE
13
The Dhok Pathan Formation has transitional contact with the underlying Nagri Formation. The
upper contact with the Soan Formation is reported to be disconformable in Kohat-Potwar
Province but is gradational in Lower Indus Basin and Quetta.

Fossils:

In Dhok Pathan Formation, a very rich vertebrate fauna has been recorded in the Kohat-Potwar
Province. The formation is fossiliferous in the Lower Indus Basin and Quetta region.

Stop 2:

Wahali village:

As we moved forward from Arra Besharat to Wahali village. We saw Warchha Sandstone and
we saw that the size of cross bedding and thickness increases. There is a place near to the Wahali
village, where we saw very thick bedding which indicates. Kussak Formation is also present
here.

Observations:

 In this area, medium to coarse grained cross bedded sandstone are present.
 In this area, conglomerates of the formation Warchha Sandstone are also present.
 Interbeds of shale were also observed in this area.
 The pebbles of conglomerates are mostly of graphite of pink colour and of quartzose.
 Mammals fossils are also present in this area.

Stop 3:
Sikki place:
First of all, the main observation about this place is that it is the start of the Potwar Region and
the end of Salt Range.
Then we observed that bedding is thick massive and it shows that Baghanwal Formation is also
present here.

Observations:
 In this area, thin bedded and greenish colour shales are present.
 Thick bedding massive such as mud-stone is also present in this area.
 This place is fossiliferous. Mammal fossils are observed here.
 Hills are like dome shaped.
 There is mineral named as pyrite is also present there.

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14