Stratigraphy

Introduction:
The areas including Sikki area, Rawal, Ara, Basharat Area, Baghanwala Village and Sidhandi
district Chakwal, Punjab were observed during our field work. The study areas lie in the
easternmost extension of the Salt Range-Potwar Plateau. Normal faults are common in the
study area. We observed detailed lithologies, structures and sedimentology of the Different
formations including Khewra Sandstone, Kussak Formation, Jutana Formation, Baghanwala
Formation, Hangu Formation, Patala Formation, Nammal Formation and Sakesar Formation.
The oldest formation in the study area is Salt Range Formation and the younger formation is
Kamlial Formation (Ali, 2009).

Era Period Epoch Formation

Miocene Kamlial
Tertiary
Cenozoic

Eocene Sakesar
Nammal
Paleocene Patala
Hangu
Permian Warchha

Carboniferous
Paleozoic

Devonian Unconformity
Silurian
Ordovician
Baghanwala
Cambrian Jutana
Kussak
Khewra

Precambrian Salt Range

Table 1: Observed column of Stratigraphy of Eastern Salt Range.

 Table 2: Generalized Stratigraphy column of Salt Range (Shah (1977) and Fatmi et al.
(1984)).
Salt Range Formation
History:
 Wynne (1878) named and described the formation as ' Saline series '.
 Gee (1945) called the same unit as the ' Punjab saline series '.
 The present name, the Salt Range Formation, has been given by Asrarullah
(1967) after the Salt Range, Punjab. Khewra Gorge in the eastern Salt
Range has been designated as the type section.

Lithology:
 The lower part of the Salt Range Formation is composed of red-coloured
gypseous marl with thick seams of salt.
 While the beds of gypsum, dolomite, greenish clay and shale are the
constituents of the upper part.
 A highly weathered igneous body known as "Khewra Trap" has been reported
from the upper part of the formation. The "Khewra Trap ", also known as
"Khewraite" proposed by Mosebach(1956), is six metres thick and is purple to
green in colour. It consists of highly decomposed radiating needles of a light-
coloured mineral, probably pyroxene.
 The red-coloured marl consists chiefly of clay, gypsum and dolomite with occasional
grains and crystals of quartz of variable size. Thick-bedded salt shows various shades
of pink colour and well-developed laminations and colour bandings upto a metre
thick.
 The gypsum is white to light grey in colour. It is about 45 in thick, massive and
is associated with bluish grey, clayey gypsum and earthy, friable gypseous clay
(Ibrahim, 1977).

Members of Salt Range:

Asrarullah made a detailed study of the Salt Range Formation and divided the formation
into three members in the following succession:

1. Sahwal Marl Member

(a) Bright red marl beds with irregular gypsum, dolomite beds and Khewra
Trap; (3-100 in).
(b) Dull red marl beds with some salt seams and 10 m thick gypsum bed on
top; (more than 40 in).
2. Bhandar Kas Gypsum Member
 Massive gypsum with minor beds of dolomite and clay; (more than 80 m).
3. Billianwala Salt Member
Red marl with thick seams of salt; (more than 650 m). The formation represents
evaporite sedimentation which took place in an enclosed basin in arid conditions.
Exposure and thickness:
The Salt Range Formation is exposed along the southern flank of the Salt Range, from
Kussak in the east to Kalabagh in the west. The thickness of the Salt Range Formation in the
type section at Khewra Gorge is more than 830 m.
Contact:
The base of the Salt Range Formation is only known from the Karampur well where the
formation overlies the metamorphic rocks, of Precambrian age. The contact with the
overlying Khewra. Sandstone is generally normal and conformable.

Age:
The overlying Khewra Sandstone is probably of Early Cambrian age as observed by
Gee (1940-1945) and Schindewolf and Seilacher (1955).

Khewra Sandstone:
Synonym:
 The name was originally proposed by Neotling (1894) as ‘Khewra Group’.
 Prior to that Wynne (1887) called the formation ‘’Purple Sandstone Series’’ and
this name was continued until recently when the name of the formation was
formalized as ‘’Khewra Sandstone’’ by Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan.
Type Locality:
The type locality is in Khewra Gorge near Khewra Town, Salt Range.
Age:
The age of Khewra Sandstone is early Cambrian,
Lithology:
The formation contains predominantly of purple to brown and yellowish-brown fine-grained
sandstone. The lowermost part of the formation is red flaggy shale. The sandstone is mostly
thick bedded to massive. The Khewra sandstone is widely distributed throughout the Salt
Range(Malkani, 2017).
Fossils:
The formation contains only a few trace fossils in the salt range which have been interpreted
as trilobites.
Contacts:
The formation has upper contact with Kussak Formation which is gradational and lower
contact with Salt Range Formation.
Depositional Environment:
This formation seems to be deposited in deltaic environment.
Field Observation:

 Here we observed very small quantity of red shale in lower part of certain localities.
 Bedding behavior was thick to massive.
 The Formation was highly fractured due to tectonic stress.
 Sedimentary features like Ripple marks, Cross bedding, Mud cracks are present.

Figure 2: Fractured Sandstones of Khewra Sandstone Formation, near Baghanwala Village,

Eastern Salt Range.

Kussak Formation:

Synonmy:

Wynne (1878) Obolus beds or Siphonotrata beds

Waagen (1895) Neobolus beds

Noetling (1894) Kussak group

Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan Kussak Formation

Type Locality:

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

Lithology:

The formation is composed of greenish-grey, glauconitic micaceous sandstone, greenish-grey

siltstone, interbedded with light grey dolomite and some oolitic, arenaceous dolomite.

Numerous layers of intraformational conglomerate are also present. Pink gypsum lenses are
present near the top (Malkani, 2016).

Age:

The age of formation is late early or early Middle Cambrian.

Depositional Environment:

The Kussak formation is the shallow marine deposition over delta which shows
the transgression of the sea level and transgressive system tract.

Contact: Upper contact is Jutana Formation which is conformable and Lower Contact with
Khewra Sandstone Which is gradational.

Thickness:

Thickness at the type locality of Eastern salt Range is 70 m

Fossils:

The formation is fossiliferous and has yielded the following fauna: Neoboluswathi,
Botsfordiagranulata, Lingulcllawanniecki etc.
Figure 3: Contact of the Kussak Formation with Khewra Sandstone and Jutana formation,
near Baghanwala village, Eastern Salt Range.

Figure 4: Burrows in Kussak Formation.

Jutana Formation

Synonym:

Fleming named this unit “Magnesian sandstone”. The Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan
named the unit as “Jutana Formation”.

Type Locality and Thickness:

The type locality lies near Jutana Village in the eastern Salt Range. Thickness at the type
locality is about 75 meters which is the maximum recorded thickness. It thins towards west
about 60 m near Khewra Gorge and about 45 meters in the Khisor Range.

Lithology:

 The Jutana Formation is composed of thick bedded to massive sandy dolomite and
dolomitic sandstone with interbedded shales and sandstone.
 The dolomites are dirty white, light green, hard, micaceous, sandy and glauconitic
towards the base.
 The sandstones are whitish grey, fine grained, well sorted, dolomitic, silty and
glauconitic. The shales are greenish grey, glauconitic and highly micaceous (Ahmad
et al, 2013).

Depositional environment:

The Jutana Formation was deposited in the tidal environments. The dolomite of the
formation form cliffs and it is very difficult to measure a stratigraphic section due to
over steeping of the slopes.
 Figure 5: Cliffs of Jutana Formation

Contact:
The lower and upper contact with Kussak and the overlying Baghanwala Formation is
conformable. In areas where the Tobra Formation unconformably overlies the Jutana.

Field observation:

 The Sedimentary structures observed in Field include tool marks in lower part of
Jutana Formation and also found bedding parallel stylolite.
 Vuggy and fenestral porosity observed in upper part of the formation.
Figure 6: Tool Marks in Jutana Formation.

Figure 7: Vuggy Porosity in the Jutana Formation.

Figure 8: Stylolite in Dolomite of Jutana Formation.

 The Jutana Formation is composed of thick bedded to massive sandy dolomite and
dolomitic sandstone with interbedded shales and sandstone which is fine grained and
well sorted and its Fresh color vary from yellowish-white to light grey. Above the
shale interval, there is dolomite which becomes fine grained and then gradually
changes to dolomitic sandstone.
 Dolomites are dirty white, light green, hard, micaceous, sandy and glauconitic
towards the base.
 The sandstones are whitish grey, fine grained, well sorted and silty.

Baghanwala Formation:

Synonmy:

Wynne (1878) Pseudomorph Salt Crystal Zone

Noetling (1894) Baghanwala Group

Holland (1926) Salt Pseudomorph beds

Pascoe (1959) Baghanwala Stage.

Type Locality:

The type section is located near Baghanwala Village in the eastern Salt Range.

Lithology:

It 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 and mud cracks are
common. Numerous pseudomorph casts of salt crystals, which are found along the bedding
planes, are the diagnostic feature of this formation(Ali et al, 2021).

Figure 9: The contact of shale and sandstone in Baghanwala formation.

Age:

The age of Baghanwala Formation is Late Cambrian.

Depositional Environment:

Environment of deposition of Baghanwala Formation is seems to be areas of tidal flats or

lagoons.
Contact:

The upper contact of the Baghanwala Formation with the overlying Tobra Formation is
unconformable, whereas the lower contact with the Jutana Formation is conformable.

Thickness:

Near Baghanwala, its thickness ranges from 100 to 116 m.

Fossils:

This Formation is unfossiliferous but trace fossils are present in it.

Field Observations:

 We observed Sandstone, shales and mudstone in this Formation.

 Flaggy bedding
 We observed Ripple marks and Salt Pseudomorphs in this Formation

Figure 10: Ripple Marks in the Baghanwala Formation.

Figure 11: Salt Pseudomorph in Baghanwala Formation.

Hangu Formation:

Synonymy:

Davies (1930a) Hangu Sandstone

Stratigraphic committee of Pakistan (1973) Hangu Formation

Type section:

Dhak Pass, Fort Lockhart

Lithology:

In Salt Range and Trans Indus Range the Formation is consist of dark grey rarely variegated
sandstone, shale and carbonaceous shale. In western Kala chitta and Hazara area the
formation has pisolitic sandstone, silt stone and clay.
Figure 12: Fracture Sandstone of Hangu Formation.

Figure 13: Shale of Hangu Formation.

Distribution:

The formation is distributed through Salt Range. Trans Indus Ranges, Parachinar, Kala Chita
and Khyber agency.

Contact:

In Ara Basharat section the upper contact is with Patala Limestone.

• Lower contact with Lumshiwal Formation which are unconformable

• Upper contact with Lockhart Formation

Figure 14: Contact of Hangu Formation with Patala Formation.

Environment of Deposition

Shallow marine and deltaic.

Fossils:

Foraminifers with some corals, gastropods and bivalves are reported.

Age:

Early Paleocene

Industrial importance:

Coal and laterite and other hydrocarbons are characterized by good to very good quality.

In Hazara area the coal is associated with Hangu Formation.

Patala Formation:

Synonymy:
The name “Patala formation” was accepted for Patala shales by stratigraphic committee of
Pakistan in 1952. The formation also comprises of “Tarkhobi shales”.
Type Locality:
Patala Nala, Salt Range
Thickness:
Thickness of Patala formation is 90m at Patala nala and 27m thick at Khewra. Thickness of
Patala formation varies from 30-75m in Surghar Range, 60-182m in Hazara area, 30-180m in
Kohat area and is reduced to 20m in Kala Chitta Range.
Age:
Age of Patala formation is Late Paleocene.
Lithology:
In the Salt Range, formation comprises of shale and marl with subordinate limestone and
sandstone. Shale is dark greenish grey along with marcasite nodules. Interbedded limestone is
white to light grey and nodular. Subordinate interbeds of yellowish brown and calcareous
sandstone are present in the upper part. In Dandot area coal seams of economic importance
are also present (Gee, 1989).
Contact:
The upper contact of Patala formation with Nammal formation is conformable in Salt Range,
Panoba Shale in Kohat area and Margalla Hill Limestone in Hazara and Kala Chitta areas.
While the lower contact is with Lockhart formation is conformable.
Depositional environment:
The Depositional environment is shallow marine.
Fossils:
The Patala Formation is rich in fossils and comprises abundant foraminiferas, ostracodes and
molluses.
Field Observations:
 In Patala formation we observed thin to medium bedding of limestone with
interbedded shales. We observed Bioturbation in Patala Formation.

Figure 15: Patala Shale

Figure 16: Contact between Nammal formation and Patala formation.

Figure 17: Shale and limestone of Patala Formation.

Nammal Formation:

Synonymy:

 Gee Nammal Limestone and Shale

 Danilchick and Shah Nammal Marl
 Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan Nammal Formation

Type section:

Nammal Gorge is the type section.

Lithology:

The main lithology of the formation is shale, marl and limestone.

In Salt Range these occur as alternations. The shale is grey to olive green, while the limestone
and marl are light grey to bluish grey (Ghazi, 2020).

Thickness:

 It is 100m thick in the Nammal Gorge and thins out westward to 60m at Khairabad.
 It is 40m thick Khewra-Choa Saiden Shah Road section, eastern salt range.
 It is 130m thick in the Chichali Pass and 35m in the Baroch Nala of the Surghar
range.

Contact:

The lower contact is with the Patala Formation and Upper contact with Sakesar Limestone
are transitional.

Environment of Deposition

Shallow marine and deltaic.

Fossils:

Abundant fossils Foraminifers and molluscs are reported from this formation. The larger
foraminifers include: Nummulities atacicus, lockhartia tipper, L. Conditi, L.hunti and
operculina.

Age:

Early Eocene
Field observations:

Facies Analysis:
1) Section-1is 11m thick. It contains massive limestone argillaceous nodular limestone. It
also contains faintly laminated marl. The limestone is rich in foraminifera.
2) Section-2is of 2.6m. This section consists of yellowish marl. It is faintly laminated
siliceous marl.
3) Section-3 is 4.7m thick. This section contains nodular limestone with massive
argillaceous marl. It also contains laminated to massive bedding of Limestone.

4) Section-4is 3m thick. The color of limestone is creamy to whitish grey.The limestone

is highly nodular and richly fossiliferous.

5) Section-5 is 6.6m thick. The limestone is nodular light yellowish to creamy in color
thin to medium bedded. It contains abundant fossils of Foraminifera, Nummulites and
Assilina with small intercalations of light yellowish marl.

Figure 18: The Limestone and Marl of Nammal Formation.

 Figure 19: The Nodular limestone of Nammal Formation.

Sakesar Formation:

Synonyms:

The term Sakesar limestone was introduced by Gee (in Fermor, 1935). For the most
Prominent Eocene limestone unit in the Salt Range and trans-Indus Salt Range.

Age:

Sakesar limestone is of early Eocene age.

Lithology:

Lithology consists of massive and nodular limestone with marls and chert in the upper part.

Fossils:

Fossils found in the Sakesar formation are Foraminifera, molluses and echnoids.

Contact:

 Lower contact of Sakesar formation is with Nammal formation which is conformable.

  While in eastern Salt Range upper contact of Sakesar formation is with Chorgali
formation that’s also conformable.
 In central, western Salt Range and in Surghar Range its upper contact is with Siwalik
groups.

Field Observation:

 We observed nodular limestone in Sakesar formation.

 In upper part we observed chert nodules.
 We also observed open and closed fractures in Sakesar formation.

Figure 20: Fractures in limestone of Sakesar Formation.

 Figure 21: Chert nodules in upper part of Sakesar Formation

Kamlial Formation

Synonymy:
The name “Kamlial Formation” was used for the rocks exposed near the Kamlial village.
The name “Kamlial Formation” was suggested by Lewis (1937) later accepted by the
Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan (1964).

Type Locality:

Southwest of Kamlial village, Attock district.

Thickness:

 Thickness of Kamlial Formation at type locality is 90m.

 Thickness of Kamlial Formation at Shakardarra is 580m and 120-300m at western
Kohat.
Age:
Age of Kamlial Formation is middle to late Miocene.

Lithology:
Formation comprises of purple grey and dark brick red sandstone which is medium to coarse
grained and has interbeds of shale/mudstone is brownish grey to maroon red while interbeds
of hard purple shale along with yellow and purple conglomerate.

Figure 22: Sandstone of Kamlial Formation.

Contact:

The Kamlial formation has lower contact with Murree formation, is transitional. While in
Kohat Plateau, it has unconformable overlying contact with Kohat formation. It has upper
conformable contact with Chinji formation.

Depositional environment:

The depositional environment of Kamlial formation is Fluvial.

Fossils:
Numerous fossils have been found from Kamlial formation including;
Trilophodon cf. angustidents, dinotheriumindicum, amphicyoncf.shahbazj.

Field Observation:

 In Kamlial Formation we observed epidote mineral.

 We also observed the friable purple grey and brick red color sandstone.
 Figure 23: Sandstone of Kamlial Formation.

Figure 24: Contact between Nammal Formation and Kamlial Formation.

References:

Ahmad, N., Ahsan, N., Sameeni, S. J., Mirag, M. A. F., & Khan, B. (2013). Sedimentology of
The Early Middle Cambrian Jutana Formation of Khewra Area, Eastern Salt Range, District
Chakwal, Pakistan. Science International, 25(3).
Ali, S. H. (2009). Lithostructural mapping and sedimentology of Ara-Besharat Area Eastern
Salt Range, District Chakwal with special emphasize on Bioturbations of Kussak Formation,
MSc Thesis, University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Ali, S. H., Shoukat, N., Bashir, Y., Qadri, S. M. T., Wahid, A., & Iqbal, M. A. (2021).
Lithofacies and Sedimentology of Baghanwala Formation (Early-Middle Cambrian), Eastern
Salt Range, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research (PJSIR),
(Accepted).
Gee, E. R., & Gee, D. G. (1989). Overview of the geology and structure of the Salt Range,
with observations on related areas of northern Pakistan. Geological Society of America
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Fatmi, A.N. (1973) Lithostratigraphic units of the Kohat-Pot- war Province, Indus Basin,
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Ghazi, S., Sharif, S., Zafar, T., Riaz, M., Haider, R., & Hanif, T. (2020). Sedimentology and
Stratigraphic Evolution of the Early Eocene Nammal Formation, Salt Range,
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Malkani, M. S., & Mahmood, Z. (2016). Revised stratigraphy of Pakistan. Geological Survey
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