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Khewra
Khewra
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Acknowledgement
We are thankful to Almighty Allah who gave us strength to attend the field trip.
We acknowledge the support of the Head of Department Dr. M.Zafar who arranged the
trip for B-S V (Geology). We are also thankful to Mr. Anwar Qadir and Mr. Mohsin
Munir for assisting us and providing information throughout the field trip.
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1. Introduction
A field trip was arranged by Bahria University, Department of Earth and
Environmental Sciences on 3rd December 2009 It was a one day field trip to Eastern Salt
Range (Khewra Gorge) which is approximately 160km from Islamabad. We left for trip
at 8.30am and arrived back to University at 9.30pm.
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1.5 Accessibility
The area is accessible through carpeted Highway. The drive to the area is
approximately 3hours from Islamabad.
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2. Regional Geological Settings
Map showing the tectonic settings of the area (Marked with Circle)
This range is essentially a complex salt anticlinorium with a series of salt anticlines. It is
the widest in its central part, between Khewra and Warcha, where it also contains the best
exposure of Paleozoic and Eocambrian sequence. The structure along its northern slope is
comprised of simple broad shallow folds followed by a gentle monocline. Southwards the
folding becomes tighter and the folds are commonly faulted along the southern crap the
structures are more complicated and comprise EAST-WEST trending faults ant over
folds. The Eocambrian evaporates are exposed in some of these over folded and faulted
anticline though the general trend of the folds in the east west in the central salt range, a
few North -South trending and northward plunging anticlines, which are actually “nose”
type structures have also formed
Eastward the salt range loses its stature and bifurcates into two narrow NORTH-EAST
trending ridges, the Diljaba and the Chambal-Jogi Tila. The latter comprises steeply
dipping monoclines, complicated by complex thrust and tear faults, where as the Diljaba
hill steeply dipping anticline traversed by Diljaba –Domeli thrust. Westward the salt
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range takes a North-West bend near Warcha. Its structure remains the same and it is
separated by the Kalabagh fault from the Trans-Indus range. Southward the salt range is
truncated by the salt range thrust.
Jhelum
Kussak formation Glauconitic Shales, siltstone
Group Khewra Formation Sandstone
Billian wala Gypsum
Pre-Cambrian
Member
Bahadurkhel Gypsum
Salt Range Formation
Member
Sahiwal Marl
Member
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3. Systematic Description of Formations
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3.1 General Lithology
Pre-Cambrian
A. Salt Range Formation
Type locality: Khewra gorge, eastern Salt Range, Punjab
Thickness: 80m at type locality
Lithology: Consist of red gypsiferrous claystone (salt marls) in middle
area it consist of an alteration of gypsum, dolomite, shale, siltstone, with
oil shale
This formation is divided into 3 members
• Sahiwal marl
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Photograph 3, showing Sahiwal Marl Member of Slat Range
Formation
Paleozoic
Cambrian
A. Khewra Sandstone
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Photograph 4, showing Khewra Formation
B. Kussak Formation
Type locality: Kussak Fort, eastern Salt Range, Punjab
Lithology: Mainly composed of grey silty and sandy, glauconitic shales
with some sandstone intercalatations and few black shale layers
Thickness: 70m at type locality
Fossils: Brachiopods and trilobites Neobolus warthi and redlichia neotlingi
Age: Early to early middle Cambrian age
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Photograph 5, showing Kussak formation
C. Jutana Formation
Type locality: Jutana Village, eastern Salt Range, Punjab
Lithology: Lower part consist of light green hard massive partly sandy
dolomite and upper part consist of dirty white dolomite
Thickness: 80m at type locality
Contact relationship: Both upper and lower contacts are conformable
Fossils: Lingulella fuchsia, bots fordia granulate, redlichia noetlingi
Age: Early Mid. Cambrian Late Early Cambrian
Jutana
formation
Kussak
formation
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D. Baghanwala formation
Type locality: Baghanwala Village, eastern Salt Range, Punjab
Lithology: Typical features of this formation is salt peudomorph, this
formation is composed of red shale and clay alternating with flaggy
sandstone
Thickness: 100-116m thick
Fossils: Only trace fossils e.g. tracks, trails etc
Age: Mid. Cambrian
Contact relationship: Lower contact with Jutana formation is conformable
Upper contact with tobra formation is unconformable
3.2 Contacts
Following table shows the upper and lower contacts of different formations
exposed in the area
Table showing Contacts
Baghanwala Formation
Jutana Formation
Kussak Formation
Khewra Sandstone
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Salt range Khewra
formation sandstone
Photograph 7, showing contact b/w Salt range formation and Khewra sandstone
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4. Structures
The area mainly contains folds, faults, joints, ripple marks and stalactites
and stalagmites. Folds are generally antiformal in shape while the faults
are minor and reverse in nature.
A. Folds
Fold
Stalactites
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C. Stalagmites
D. Ripple Marks
Ripple marks
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E. Joints
Block joints
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5. Economic Minerals
Economic Minerals which were observed in the field were
i. Gypsum
ii. Rock Salt
i. Gypsum
It is present in the Salt Range formation and its extraction was
done by excavators and it is mainly used in the cement Industry
ii. Salt
It is present in the Salt Range Formation and mined through room and
pillar method. The mines are the largest mines of Salt in Asia and second largest
in the world. The current production from the mine is 325,000 tons salt per
annum.
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6. Conclusion
The area visited is folded and faulted due to compressional forces which
exist in the area. It is a discrete structural zone bounded in the north by the north dipping
Main boundary Thrust (MBT) (sarwar et al 1979, Yeats et al.1984, Coward et al. 1985.)
Southward the Salt Range Thrust, Kala Bagh Fault and the Surghur Thrust form its
Southern Boundary. West and eastward it is terminated by the N-S oriented Kurran Fault
and Jhelum Fault respectively (Kazmi and Rana 1982).
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References
Jan, Q & Kazmi A.J, Geology &Tectonics of Pakistan
Billings. P Marland, Structural Geology, 3rd edition
www.wikipedia.com
Google Earth
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