ERS-6A

Field Report of Kaghan & Neelum Valley

Group Members:Aleena Saeed (FA09-ERS-006) Amanullah Khan (FA09-ERS-007) Feroz Khan (FA09-ERS-015) Hammad Khan (FA09-ERS-016) Samreen Nada (FA09-ERS-111) Dates: April 15-21 2012 Field Team: Sir Amjad Bukhari, Sir Tallataf, Sir Azeem Shah and Maam Umbreen Umber

Acknowledgements

All the praises an thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists) Who has bestowed us with His countless bounties, granted us infinite opportunities s as to benefit from His creation, given man the authority to set a mark for himself in a world created by Him solely for mankind and for giving man the ability to understand an differ between good and evil. And praise is to Muhammad (s.a.w.) whose teachings have led us to the path of Allah, for guiding us towards an expanse of understanding from the shadowy forests of ignorance and jahilya. We present our heartfelt gratitude towards COMSATS Abbottabad for providing us a very creative, cooperative and unique studying environment. Firstly we would like to thank Dr. Ishtiaq Jadoon for his sincere dedication towards teaching and permission for the trip, Secondly our heartfelt gratitude to Sir Amjad Bukhari for an outstanding sense of responsibility and management of the entire field trip. We owe him for this field, which would not have been possible without him for a man with such a great caliber has given us the honor of learning from him in a land full of treasures of the geological world which we would not have been able to understand if he were not to accompany us. Our great appreciation and thanks to the entire faculty that was a part of the field team including Mr. Tallataf Hussain, Mr. Azeem Shah and Ms. Umber Umbreen for their never ending efforts on the field and for providing us with open opportunities to ask from them whenever we wished to regarding any ambiguities on the field.

Abstract
The field trip was allocated to the northern parts of the KPK province with these localities at focus; Hazara (Mansehra particularly), Kaghan valley, Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley. The study of rocks included all three types i.e. igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. The span of geological time covered ranged from Precambrian era to the Miocene age thereby enveloping a variety of geological sequences. The tectonic of the areas is complex owing to the association with the Main Boundary Thrust and proximity to the Indus Suture Zone. Along with this many other faults as the Batal thrust, Bagh Balakot thrust further added to the complexity of the region. Of the various things observed at the field, the most important include (a) the study of the Precambrian to Hazara Crystalline zone of slates, granites and quartzites, (b) The observation of features of The Kashmir Sequence ranging from Balakot to Kaghan ranging from Silurian to Miocene, (c)The active fault MBT- main boundary thrust, whose existence has imparted immense geological importance to this area as well as has posed threats of earthquakes and landslides for the inhabitants, (d) Study of the Yadgar section and the exposed sedimentary sequence of Cambrian and Paleocene to Eocene and Miocene and (e) The study of the Neelum section including the Jura granite and the Salkhala formation. The field trip was a mean of study as well as enjoyment. The geology of the entire region was a treat to us for we were in search of the wonders which that land withheld- guiding us through the realms of its formation and deformation, unraveling the mysteries and telling its tale of millions of years in its own manner by portraying it on the canvas of sediments and rocks that withheld the very proof of every phenomenon that occurred.

Table of Contents
Page number
Chapter 1: The Hazara Crystalline Zone Hazara Slates Mansehra Granite & Tanawal Quartzite Figures for The Hazara Crystalline Zone Chapter 2: The Kashmir Sequence Murree Formation Paras Limestone Panjal Volcanics Chusshal Formation Jared Quartzites Figures for The Kashmir Sequence Chapter 3: The Kaghan Group Mahandri Formation Kaghan Pelites Rajwal Formation Figures for the Kaghan Group Chapter 4: Yadgar Section & Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis Yadgar Section Abbottabad Formation Hangu Formation Lockhart Formation Patala Formation Margalla Limestone Chor Gali Formation Kuldana Formation Figures for Yadgar section& HKS Lithostratigraphic Column of Yadgar Section Chapter 5: Neelum Section Jura Granite Salkhala Formation Figures for the Neelum Section References 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 6 6 7-9 10 11 12 12 13-14 15 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 18-20 21 22 23 23 24 25

Location: Hazara (Mansehra) Dates covered: April 15, 2012

Hazara Slate
At Hashtinger fish point as moving towards Mansehra we observed The Hazara slates. The Hazara slates belong to the Precambrian era of the geological time scale. The dominant lithology was slates with clay minerals in them. The color of the formation was dull purple to indigo-ish gray. No fossil content was observed. Foliation of slates was observed (slaty cleavage), an indicative of the metamorphism of shale, exposed as sheets as well as crumbled flakes and the strata was incompetent. See fig 1.1 for the foliation in Hazara slate.

Mansehra Granites & Tanawal Quartzites

In the Hazara Paleozoic sequence, the Tanawal formation overlies the Hazara slates and underlies the Abbottabad formation. It is unfossiliferous. We stopped at the place of Chitta Batta in Mansehra. The Mansehra granites date back to the Cambrian period (less than 545 Million years old). These formed as a result of the intrusion of granitic magma in the pre-existing Tanawal Quartzite formation (see fig 1.2 & 1.3). The intruding magma cooled and crystallized leading to the formation of coarse gray to blackish white granites. Granites form a part of continental lithosphere. Thus, this intrusion is a proof of pre Himalayan orogeny. The major composition of Mansehra granite is muscovite, Biotite, Alkali feldspar, plagioclase feldspar and quartz. The granite also consisted of phenocryts majorly of Quartz (see fig 1.4). Veins of Albite were also formed in the granites (see fig 1.5), crystallized coarsely. Apart from this, xenoliths of the surrounding quartzite were also observed in the granites (see fig 1.6).

Figure 2.2 Contact between the Mansehra Granite and Tanawal Quartzite

Figure 2.1 Hazara slates showing the slaty cleavage

Figure 2.3 Phenocrysts of Quartz in Mansehra Granite

Figure 2.5 Xenoliths of Quartzite in Mansehra Granite

Figure 1.4 Albite Vein in Mansehra Granite

Locality: Balakot to Kaghan Dates covered: April 15 2012

Kashmir Sequence:
The sequence of formations extending between Paras and Jared in the Kaghan Valley is referred to as the Kashmir Sequence. It has developed south of the Kaghan Valley, is absent in surrounding areas as Muzaffarabad and Hazara because of its turning around the Hazara Kashmir syntaxis. The rocks exposed range from Carboniferous to Eocene and are inverted i.e become older towards the north.

Murree Formation:
The Murree formation which occurs at Paras and further downstream forms monotonous and extensive sequence in core of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis. It mainly consists of maroon shales, siltstones and coarse grained, light greyish green sandstones with veins of both quartz and calcite. Age of Murree formation is Miocene. Field Observation: At the road side of Balakot city we observed Maroon and light green shale s a general view of which has been shown in the fig 2.1. The area was highly disturbed due to passing of MBT from the area particularly the Bagh Balakot Fault. Due to Bagh Balakot Thrust, The Abbottabad formation has thrusted against the Murree formation at the roadside, see fig 2.2. The Abbottabad formation is a dolomitic limestone with filling of calcite in the joints. Acid test was negative on the dolomitic limestone. The age of Abbottabad formation is Cambrian. At Paras, The Murree formation offered three major varying colors in its shales; maroon, grey and olive greens, see fig 2.3. It consisted of reworked fossils among the sandstone beds of grey to dark grey color as shown in fig 2.4 along with veins of quartz, calcite and gypsum in the shales and sandstones shown in fig 2.5.

Paras Limestone:
Paras limestone formation occurs at the road side in the form of bands. It mainly consists of Limestone (marls) and also some Shale. The horizon has been dated Eocene in the Kashmir Sequence. Field Observations: Dominant lithology if the Paras formation is Limestone with fossils of Nummulites. Limestone was confirmed by positive acid test with effervescence. Color changes were also observed in the limestone while walking along the road; see fig 2.6 as well as fracturing and calcitic veins. The presence of shale was observed.

Panjal Formation (Panjal Volcanics):

The Panjal formation in Kaghan valley consists of three bands at least several thousand feet thick. These bands alternate with three thick bands of low grade marble/limestone. The Panjal Volcanics extend westwards from Muzaffarabad to Kaghan. These are a subdivision of the Panjal formation whose other major division is the agglomeratic slates. The rocks of Panjal volcanics are well exposed along the roadside in Kaghan. The volcanics comprise dark grey to dark green and greenish colored, fine grained, hard, massive but distinctly well bedded lava flows. Vesicles are common with Epidote, Chlorite, cherty material and calcite. Quartz veins are also present. Crossing the river Kunhar,

another band of Panjal volcanics with similar characteristics is interbedded with limestone, having the same characteristics has been exposed along the roadside. The volcanics are basalts which have suffered low grade metamorphism (greenschist facies) and show development of chlorite. They can be distinguished by green color. The marble/limestone is fine to medium grained generally thinly bedded and light grey. In Kaghan Panjal formation is 15 to 60 meter thick, white compact, well bedded unfossiliferous limestone. Age of Panjal Volcanics is Upper Carboniferous. Field Observations: The rocks of Panjal Volcanics were exposed along the road side. Dark grey to dark green colored and fine grained beds of lava flows were present. Greenschist facies and chlorite mica schist were observed (see fig 2.7) and the color of the schist appeared green because of the presence of chlorite, developed as a result of the metamorphism of basalts. Micro faulting (fig 2.8) and schistocity were observed in the samples collected. Thin inter bedded bands of limestone were also observed. The Panjal Metabasalts also exposed along the road have been shown in the fig 2.9 with the presence of greenschists and greenstones due to the metamorphism of basalts.

Chusshal Formation:
This unit represented by a sequence of graphitic schist, metaconglomerates, occasional thinly bedded marble bands, calc-schist and a few quartzo-feldspathic mylonites zones. It represents the agglomeratic slate unit of Kashmir. The age of Chusshal formation is Carboniferous. Field Observations: While observing the out crop in Kaghan we found graphitic schist.

Jared Quartzite:
The rocks in Jared on the road side are thinly interbedded sequence of quartzite and quartz mica schist. There is a marked absence of calc and graphitic material. Towards contact with Chusshal graphitic schist, the unit contains thin pegmatite veins with quartz, feldspar, muscovite and tourmaline. The contact of the Jared unit with Mahandri formation is faulted throughout the area. Age of Jared formation is Precambrian. Field Observation: The sequence is thinly bedded. Interbedded quartzite and quartz mica schist were found. Quartzite is formed due to the metamorphism of Sandstone and schist forms due to the metamorphism of shale which may have been previously interbedded. See figure 2.10

Figure 2.1 General view of the Murree Formation at Balakot

Figure 2.2 Abbottabad formation thrusted against the Bagh Balakot Fault in front of Murree formation Figure 2.2 Abbottabad Formation thrusted against Murree formation along the Bagh Balakot Fault

Figure 2.3 Murree formation in Paras with its varying colors

Figure 2.4 Reworked fossils in Sandstone of Murree formation

Figure 2.5 Veins of gypsum in Murree formation

Figure 2.6 Paras Limestone exposed along the roadside

Figure 2.7 Mica chlorite schist in Panjal Volcanics

Figure 2.8 Microfaulting in Panjal Volcanics- schist

Figure 2.9 A general view of the formation

Figure 2.10 Jared Quartzite and quartz mica schist

Location: Muzaffarabad Dates covered: April 17, 2012

Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis

In the northeastern corner o Pakistan, between Mirpur and Muzaffarabad and farther to the north and Northeast, the geological structures of the Himalayas make an abrupt HAIRPIN BEND as if they were bent round a pivotal point of obstructing them (Wadia 1931). The Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis (HKS) is a complex tectonic zone. It is diff icult to define an outer limit for it although a stack of thrust faults form a loop around its axis. In its vicinity, Precambrian to Neogene sedimentary, metamorphic rocks and Cambrian or earlier granitic rocks are exposed. The axial zone of the syntaxis has a NNW orientation & is largely covered by Murree formation (Oligocene to Miocene- reddish brown shales). Near Muzaffarabad, Precambrian to Cambrian and Paleocene sedimentary rocks are exposed in an anticline which is cross folded, overturned and thrust southwestward along the Muzaffarabad Fault. The major Thrust fault along which the syntaxis has formed is the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). Along with this, a hairpin shaped system of faults truncates the Murree formation on the east, north and west. West and north of this fault zone, within a distance of 1-5km, there is a parallel thrust fault along which the Precambrian sequence has been pushed over the Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks. These two faults are named as Murree thrust and Panjal thrust by Wadia (1931), see fig 4.1

Yadgar Section
The Yadgar section lies in the apex of the eastern limb of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis (see fig 4.1), comprising mostly of sedimentary rocks that range in age from Cambrian to Miocene. The Stratigraphic sequence of the Yadgar section has been presented in the table below with the Lithostratigraphic column at the end of the chapter. Age Formation Middle Eocene Kuldana formation Early Eocene Chor Gali Formation Early Eocene Margalla Formation Late Paleocene Patala Formation Late Paleocene Lockhart Formation Early Paleocene Hangu Formation -----------------------------------------------------------Unconformity----------------------------------------------------------Cambrian Abbottabad Formation
Table 4.1 Stratigraphic Succession of Yadgar section

Abbottabad Formation
The Abbottabad formation belongs to the Cambrian age and is comprised of Dolomite, Dolomitic limestone with the characteristic feature stromatolites. Sole marks were observed within the formation (fig 4.2) along with intraclasts of limestone and stromatolites (fig 4.3). The Abbottabad formation has thrusted along the MBT and exposed here, its upper contact with the Hangu formation is unconformable while the lower is faulted. It lies in the core of the HKS.

Hangu Formation
The Hangu formation belongs to Early Paleocene and comprised of Bauxite (fig 4.4), laterite and coal seams deposited in the Yadgar section. The total thickness of this formation is 25.9m.

Lockhart Formation
The Lockhart formation overlies the Hangu formation (Paleocene age) and is majorly composed of limestone that is both nodular and fossiliferous, see fig 4.5. There are partings of shale present in between thin beds of limestone of dark grey color as well as subordinate calcic shales present. The microfossils in the Lockhart formation include; lockhartia, Ranikothalia and Miscellanea. The total thickness of Lockhart measured was 111.63m

Patala Shale
The Patala formation in the Yadgar section was eroded because of the construction n bulldozing activities; however a patch of 1.3-2m was traced with a dominant lithology of shales.

Margalla Limestone
The Margalla formation belongs to the Eocene age with its indicative features being the li ght grey colored limestone (dominant lithology), presence of Nummulites (indicatives of Eocene) and medium to thick bedding, see fig 4.6 .The thickness measured was 36m.

Chor Gali Formation

The Chor Gali formation lies over the Margalla formation and comprises of a major Limestone with subordinate shale. No nodules are present. The total thickness measured at the field was about 67.1m, see fig 4.7.

Kuldana Formation
The Kuldana formation (Eocene) offered a variety of shales; olive green, maroon, reddish bro wn and purple see fig 4.8. Along with the major shales, subordinates limestone was present as patches (almost a meter thick) showing bioterbation, see fig 4.9. The fossil content of Kuldana includes Assilines andNummulites.

Figure 4.1 Map showing the Hazara Kashmir syntaxis with associated faults

Figure 4.2 Sole marks in the Abbottabad Formation

Figure 4.3 Intraclasts of Limestone

Figure 4.4 Hangu Formation - Bauxite and Laterite

Figure 4.5 Nodular limestone of Lockhart Formation

Figure 4.6 Nodular limestone of Margalla formation

Figure 4.7 Chor Gali formation

Figure 4.8 Shales of various colors in Kuldana formation

Figure 4.9 Bioterbation in the limestone of Kuldana formation

Locality: Neelum Valley Dates Covered: April 18, 2012

Jura / Neelum Granite

Field Observations
Age: Late Pre-Cambrian Jura/Neelum granite is un-xenolithic and finely crystalline granitic formation that had been uplifted due to pressure release factor. Its un-xenolithic nature shows absence of country rock in which it was intruded. Minerals found are grey transparent quartz, milky feldspar, creamy muscovite and blackish biotite. Developing a contrast between the Jura Granite and the Mansehra Granite:Jura Granite Mansehra Granite Finely Crystalline Granite, no phenocrysts present. Coarsely crystalline, phenocrysts of quartz present. Biotite is present in visible amounts as black flakes. Biotite is absent; albite is visibly present as veins. No xenoliths present. Xenoliths of the Tanawal Quartzite are present.

Salkhala Formation
The oldest known rocks in Neelum Valley are the metamorphic rocks of Salkhala Formation of PreCambrian age. These rocks were originally named Salkhala Series by Wadia after Salkhala vi llage on the Kishanganga river. The formation consists largely of quartz schist, graphite schist, and marble. Quartz schist that makes up large proportion of the formation is mainly fine grained mica chlorite quartz schist. Chlorite and muscovite make up 20-40 percent of the schist and the remainder is quartz. Minor amount of garnet, magnetite and biotite are present in places. The Salkhala formation is further composed of three major units:Augen gneisses Garnet-schist with talc, Quartz-mica-schist Granite

Field Observations:
The very first unit of the Salkhala formation that we observed was the Quartz-mica-schist. We observed shining mica flakes within the schist along with grey transparent quartz minerals. Following this was an andesitic intrusion in to the schist with flow structures on its weathered surface, as shown the figure 5.2. Talc was also found at some portions with the quartz-mica-schist that has been possibly formed as a weathering product, see fig 5.3.

Moving farther north, the second unit of the Salkhala formation were exposed i.e. the garnet-schist. The appearance of garnet minerals in schist shows a high grade of metamorphism. The garnets were of visible size in a reddish-brown appearance found along the shinning mica flakes within the schist, as shown in fig 5.4.

Figure 5.1 Jura Granite

Figure 5.3 Talc in the quartz-mica-schist of Salkhala formation

Figure 5.2 Andesitic intrusion in the Salkhala formation

Figure 5.4 Garnet-schist with garnets developed along the foliation in Salkhala formation