FIELD REPORT: SALT RANGE FIELD

Submitted By: OWAIS ALI

USMAN NASIR
MUHAMMAD NOUMAN FAISAL
MUHAMMAD DANISH RASHEED
MUHAMMAD USMAN ZAFAR
MUHAMMAD SUMAIR
MUHAMMAD JHANZEB

BS- GEOPHYSICS 6A
Date: 13 Dec 2016

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

BAHRIA UNIVERSTIY ISLAMABAD

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF SALT RANGE

A four day Fieldwork was organized by Bahria Universitys Earth and Environmental Sciences
department from 17th Nov to 20th Nov, 2016. Our focus on the place was KallarKahar. We left for
kallar kahar around 10am by vehicles arranged by our department and stayed at Kooper View Inn at
kallar kahar. The main objective of the field was to study Geological and Stratigraphic
characteristics of Eastern and central salt range.

1.2 INSTRUMENTS
(i) Hand lens
(ii) Geological Hammer
(iii) Brunton Compass
(iv) Measuring Tape

1.3 METHEDOLOGY
Following methodology was applied.
Location
Coordinates
& North
Direction

Measure
dip & strike
and
thickness

Observing
colour,sorti
ng,
Grain size
etc

Identify
sedimentar
y &
structural
features

Taking
Samples

1.4 LOCATION
2

The Salt range is located 130km SE from Islamabad, Capital of Pakistan and lies between latitude
32-33 northwards and longitude 70-72eastwards. The place around the area of the Kallar Kahar
from eastern Salt range to central Salt range is our area of field work. It is readily available by
motorway (M-2) from the Islamabad and other places like Sargodha and Lahore.

Figure 1.1
Map
showing location and division of salt range (Sajjad et al., 2005)

1.5 OBJECTIVES
The field work had the following objectives:

To gain knowledge of geology and stratigraphy of the Salt Range area.

To enable students to learn how to distinguish between different types of rock and
stratigraphic units.

Understanding stratigraphic relationship and sequence.

To become familiar with the use of different field equipments.

To learn measuring dip and strike of the beds.

To closely observe the physical characteristics of each rock unit exposed and

.
.

interpreting it.

To observe different structural elements in the field and thus understanding the
general tectonic setting of the area.

CHAPTER 2
3

GEOLOGY AND TECTONICS OF AREA

2.1 Regional Tectonics
1. The most important work is by E.R. GEE (1935, 1945), who devoted almost his
whole geological profession to the research of the Salt range. His preliminary
work is relevant to the fixing of debate regarding the age of the "Saline Series",
and he created an excellent response by generating a geological map (more
lately six linens on a range 1:50,000 have been released by the Geological
Study of Pakistan not including the Trans-Indus Surghar Range).
2. Wadia (1931) described the syntaxis of the North West Himalaya on the reasons
for geosynclines| number of deposits laid down on the bed of Tethys against the
north shoreline of Gondwana area.
3. Kummel and Teichert (1966, 1970) shown Permian brachiopods and described
the specific Stratigraphy of the Permian stones while Grant (1966) explained
trilobites.
4. Afzal (1997) finished his doctorate dissertation on the planktonic foraminifera
of the Palaeogene and recognized a planktonic biostratigraphy for the Patala
formation of the Salt range and Surghar range (Afzal and von Daniels 1991;
Afzal and Butt 2000).

Fig 2.1: Regional Tectonic Map (Kadri, 1975)

CHAPTER 3
STRATIGRAPHY OF AREA
4

3.1 Stratigraphy of the Area

Wynne (1878) named it as Saline Series. Punjab Saline series was given by Gee (1975)
and Asrarullah (1967) named as Salt Range Formation.

Fig 3.1: Column sections of sedimentary sequences in salt range (Fatmi, 1984)

CHAPTER 4
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
4.1

Day 1
5

Stop 1:
Location: Road Side, Kallar Kahar Central Salt Range.
Latitude: 324626.4N
Longitude: 724257.6E
We reached our first stop around 2:30pm. A brief introduction was given to us about the field tour
and what things we needed to record of the respective formations by Sir Saleem Shahzad. The
things that needed to be recoded are following:

Location (GPS co-ordinates)

Locating the North

Colour

Type of bedding

Types of Sedimentary Structures present

Structural Features

Fossil Content

Dip and Strike

Stop 2
Stratigraphy:
1. Nagri Formation:
Thickness of the formation is 890 m (Alam et al, 2005 and Alam 2008). The upper contact
with the Dhok Pathan Formation is transitional whereas the lower contact with the Kingriali
formations of Triassic age in the Saiyiduwali section of the Khisor Range is unconformable.
The Hunting Survey Corporation (1961) considered the age of the formation as Pliocene.

Dip: 21NW
6

Strike: N80E

Sr.No

Thickness

Sorting

Grain

Structures

Colors

Size
Bed 1

Bed 2

40cm

57cm

Medium

Medium

1. Joints

to poor

to Coarse

2. Fractures

Medium

Medium

1.Erosional

to poor

to Coarse

Cavities
2. Joints

Bed 3

65cm

Medium

Coarse

to poor

Litholog

1.Erosional
Cavities
2. Joints

Fresh color
light grey
and light
green
Weathered
color
dark grey
Fresh color
light grey
and green
Weathered
color
dark grey
Fresh color
light grey
Weathered
color
dark grey

Prominent Features:
The formation exposed overall, was constituted of Sandstone, having both coarser and finer
particles along with some gravel too. Sandstone was friable and weak and poorly cemented that
reflects its fluvial environment of deposition.

Fig 4.1.1: Erosional Cavities in Nagri Formation

In addition to cavities fractures were also observed.

Fig 4.1.2: Fractures in Nagri Formation

4.2

Day 2

Stop 1
Stratigraphy:
1. Salt Range Formation
8

Location
Dip
Strike
Lithology
Age

323858"N

725943"

Very Massive Bed so cannot be recorded

NW-SE
Marl & Gypsum
Pre-Cambrian

Grain Size

Medium to fine

Fresh Color

Reddish

Weathered Color
Structures

Greenish Grey
Joints, Fractures, Mud cracks

Fig 4.2.1: Mud cracks in Sahwal marl

Stop 2
Stratigraphy:
1. Khewra Sandstone:
Fine Micaous sandstone with lamination with interbedded shale and banded shale and is
well sorted, rounded fine grained particles. The environment of deposition of this sandstone
is Deltaic.
9

Location

Dip

Strike

Lithology

lat.3240N; long. 7300E

42N

W-E

Compacted sandstone & thin shale beds

Age

Lower Cambrian

Grain Size

Medium to fine

Fresh Color

Reddish

Weathered Color

Structures

Reddish to Greyish

Joints, Fractures, Ripple marks, lamination,

Flame structure
Honey comb stucture

Prominent Features:
The Khewra sandstone has series of structures in it.
1.

10

Fig 4.2.2: Lamination in Khewra sandstone

2.

Fig 4.2.3: Ripple marks in Khewra sandstone

3.

11

Fig 4.2.4 : Honey comb structure in Khewra sandstone

4.

Fig 4.2.5: Cross bedding in Khewra Sandstone

Stop 3
Stratigraphy:
12

1. Khussak Formation:
The sediments of the Kussak Formation are thought to be the result of a marine
transgression. The basal conglomerate represents an unconformity. The formation is 53m
thick in the Saiyiduwali section. Shah (1977) has reported its thickness in the Khisor Range
to be 55 meters. The age of the formation, based on paleontological information in the
eastern part of the Salt Range, is late early Cambrian or early Middle Cambrian (Teichert,
1964).
Location

Lat.3140N; long. 6500E

Dip

N 21W

Strike

NE-SW

Lithology

Soft, green grey and purple,glauconitics

sandstone

Age

Middle Cambrian

Grain Size

Medium to fine

Fresh Color

Greyish Blackish

Weathered Color

Structures

Green -grey

Joints , Fracures

13

Sr.No

Thickness

Sorting

Grain

Structures

Colors

Size
Bed 1

9cm

Poor

Litholog
y

Medium

1. Joints

to fine

2. Fractures

Bed 2

13cm

Poor

Fine

----

Bed 3

7.5cm

Poor

Fine

Farctures

Fresh color
Greenish
Weathered
color
Light
greyish
Fresh color
Greenish
Weathered
color
Light
greyish

Fresh color
Greenish
Basal
Weathered
conglomerat
color
e
Light
greyish

14

Prominent Features:
1.

Fig 4.2.6: Thinly bedded shales of Khussak Formation

2.

Fig 4.2.7: Contact of different Formations

4.3

Day 3
15

Location: Nammal Gorge, Western Salt Range

Stop 1
Stratigraphy:
1. Amb Formation:
The fossil content and the mixture of clastic and carbonate lithologies indicate a shallow
marine environment of deposition.

Location

Dip

Strike

Lithology

Age

Lat. 3239'25.5"; long. 7147'49.6

28SE

N-S

Thick bedded calcareous sandstone, sandy

limestone with few shale intervals
Late Permian

Grain Size

Medium to fine

Fresh Color

Yellow to brown(S.St)
Black (Shale)

Weathered Color

Structures

Yellow to brown and reddish(S.St)

Grey (Shale)
Joints , Fracures

16

Sr.No

Thickness

Sorting

Grain

Structures

Colors

Medium

1. Joints

to fine

2. Fractures

Fresh color
Brown
Weathered
color
Brown

Lithology

Size
Bed 1

33cm

Poor

Bed 2

24cm

Poor

Fine

----

Fresh color
Brown
Weathered
color
Brown+
Reddish
spots

Bed 3

7.5cm

Poor

---

Friable

Fresh color
Black
Weathered
color
Grey

Shale

17

Fig 4.3.1: Alternating Shale & S.stone beds

Fig 4.3.2: Thick bedded calcareous sandstone

18

Stop 2
Stratigraphy:
1. Wargal Formation
It is 151 meters thick in the Saiyiduwali section of the Khisor Range. Shah (1977) has
reported its thickness to be 174 meters from the Khisor Range.It is highly fossiliferous.
Location

Dip

Strike

Lithology

Age

Lat.3143N; long. 6513E

N68E

NE-SW

Whitish Compacated limestone

Late Permian

Grain Size

-------

Fresh Color

Creamcolour

Weathered

Whitish

Color
Structures

Joints , Fracures

Prominent Features
1.
19

Fig 4.3.3: Observed Fault

2.

Fig 4.3.4: Brachiopod fossils

3.

20

Fig 4.3.5: Bivalves Fossil

4.

Fig 4.3.6: Contact of Chiddru and Wargal Formation

Stop 3
21

Stratigraphy
1. Mianwali Formation:
The name Mianwali Series was used by Gee and later modified by Kummel (1966) into a
formation. The type section of the formation is located in Zaluch Nala in western salt range.
The formation consists of following
3 members:
i.
Kathwai Member: This unit consists of dolostone in the lower part and limestone.
ii.

The upper unit is grey to brownish limestone.

Mittiwali Member: The Lithology consists of grey, fine grained limestone with
abundant ammonites. The basal art consist of limestone which is less than two
meters thick in salt range, but up to 8 meters thick in Khisor range. The rest of
unit consists of greenish to greyish shale, silty shale with some sandstone and

iii.

limestone interbeds.
Narmia Member: Limestone bed of three meters thickness which is basal part of
Narmia member and rest of member consist of grey to black shale with interbeds
of sandstone and lenticular limestone and dolomite

2. Tredian Formation:
The name Tredian was introduced by Gee (1945) & it consists of 2 members.
i.

Landa Member: The Landa member consists of Sandstone and shale. The

sandstone is micaceous and varies in colour from pinkish, reddish grey to

greenish grey. Tredian formation has conformable contact with overlying
Kingriali fm.
ii.

Khatkiara Member: The Khatkiara member is massive, thick bedded, white

sandstone that grades into overlying Kingriali formation.

22

Fig 4.3.7: Members of Tredian Formation

P-T Boundary:

Fig 4.3.8: PT boundary

23

4.4

Day 4

Stop 1
1. Sakessar Limestone:
The Sakessar Formation is developed throughout the Surghar Range and the Salt Range.It
consists of grey, medium to thick bedded limestone. In the middle and upper part of the
formation, chert concretions are common. Its lower contact with Nammal Formation is
conformable whereas its upper contact with Chinji Formation of the Siwalik Group is
unconformable. The Sakesar Formation is reported to have been deposited in open marine
carbonate depositional environment.
Location

Lat.3243N; long. 7556E

Dip

N 46W

Strike

NE-SW

Lithology

Limestone with chert nodules

Age

Early Eocene

Bedding

Medium to thick bedded

Fresh Color

Grey

Weathered Color

Light Grey

Structures

Joints , Fracures , Cavity holes, Honeycomb

structure

24

Prominent Features:
1.

Fig 4.4.1: Chert in sakessar limestone

2.

Fig 4.4.2: Honey comb structure in sakessar limestone

Stop 2
25

1. Kamlial Formation:
Location

Dip

Strike

Lithology

Age

Bedding

Fresh Color

Weathered Color

Structures

Lat 3441N; long. 7678E

N 78W

East -West

Shale + Sandstone

Miocene

Medium to thinly bedded

Maroon

Greenish grey

Friable Shales, Ripple marks

26

Stop 3

Katas Raj Temples:

The last stop of our field tour was a recreational tour to the katas Raj temples. The temples
show the Hindu civilization in relation with old Gandhara civilizations. We were given
about an hour for the tour and we visited different temples. Due to very old age of the
temples there are fossils found in weathered walls of temples.

Fig 4.4.3: Overview of Katas Raj temples

Fig 4.4.5 : Leaf Fossils Preserved in walls of temple

CONCLUSION
After four days of field we had a clear understanding of how to mark lithological units
identify its sedimentary and structural features. We were told about how to take dip and
27

strike of a bed by the brunton compass. In the area of our visit sedimentary features are
mostly exposed e.g. joints, ripple marks, fault, fold etc. The formations dated from
Cambrian to Eocene period. In Cambrian period Kussak formation, Jutana formation and
Baghanwala formation were observed, whereas in Permian period Tobra formation and in
Miocene period Siwaliks Formation was observed.

28

REFRENCES
1. Ali H. Kazmi, H., Ali, and Jan, Qasim, M., 1997 Geology and Tectonics of Pakistan
pg 130-131 187-190
2. Dan M. Baker, Robert J. Lillie, Robert S. Yeats, Gary D. Johnson, Yousuf ,
M., and Sher,Hamid Development of the Himalayan frontal thrust zone: Salt Range,
Pakistan 35-42
3. Ahmad and Waseem, 2004 Taxonomic studies of Grasses of Salt Range of Pakistan
1-5. A., Sajjad, A., Irshad and Khan, M., Irfan 2005. Structure and Stratigraphy of
the Paleozoic and Mesozoic Sequence in the Vicinity of Zaluch Nala, Western Salt
Range, Punjab Pakistan vol 15 4-6.

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