GEOLOGY OF NAMMAL GORGE, THE SALT RANGE, PAKISTAN

BY
MUHAMMAD HAMMAD MALIK
INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB
LAHORE

Abstract: Area north of Punjab plains is occupied by a major Thrust known as Himalayan Frontal
Thrust (HFT) along which lies Salt Range which occurs on the northern slopes of the Indian Shield.
Nammal Gorge is located on the western part of Salt range. In Nammal gorge the strata from late
Permian Wargal Limestone to Eocene Murree Formation are exposed. The area is structurally
characterized by features like cross bedding, ripple marks; plumose structures, flute casts, burrows and
some joints and fractures are present.
INTRODUCTION
On 28th October, 2008 a field
excursion program was organized by
Institute of Geology, University of the
Punjab, Lahore to Nammal Gorge present in
the western part of the Salt range.
The Nammal Gorge is located in the
western Salt range situated south of
Islamabad at a distance of about 200km.
from Lahore it is present northward at a
distance of 300km. the exact coordinates for
Nammal gorge are 323954 North and
714807 East.
The area is easily accessible as it is
located on the Grand Trunk Road from
Peshawar to Karachi. It took about 5 hours
to reach Nammal from Lahore and
approximately same from Islamabad. The
path in the gorge is rocky, bushy, and
unsteady and is along the water channel
that comes from the spill of the Nammal
Dam.

Climate of the area is hot and dry

with very low precipitation; average rainfall
is about 70-80mm per annum. Maximum
rains fall in Monsoon months of July and
August. In winter months of December,
January and February there is minimum
rainfall which makes it best time to visit the
Nammal gorge.
In Nammal gorge we find mix
lithologies. The Late Permian Zaluch Group
is mainly limestone having abundant fossils
of brachiopods. The famous Permo-Triassic
Boundary (P-T Boundary) separates the
Chiddru Formation of Zaluch group from
Mianwali Formation of Triassic. Tredian
Formation is of sandstone while Kingriali
Formation largely consists of Dolomitized
limestone. The variegated Datta Formation
underlies the Shinawari Formation above
which Samana Suk Formation is present
which comprises of limestone. After the
unconformity Hangu Formation is present.
The sandstone of Hangu Formation
underlies the nodular limestone of Lockhart

Formation. Shales of Patala Formation are

present above which Nammal Formation
and Sakesar Limestone are present.
Economically Nammal gorge is very
important. Large quantities of limestone,
sandstone and silica sand are being
extracted from the gorge. The quarries of
limestone present here are fulfilling the
needs of cement factories as well as
construction purposes.
TECTONIC AND STRUCTURE:
The Salt range is the active frontal
thrust zone of the Himalayas in Pakistan.
About 1km offset of the basement normal
faults acted as a buttress that caused the
central Salt range-Potwar plateau thrust
sheets to ramp to the surface, exposing
Mesozoic and Paleozoic strata. The frontal
part of the thrust sheet was folded passively
as it overrode the sub-thrust surface on a
ductile layer of Eocambrain salt. Lack of
internal deformation of the rare part of the
thrust sheet is due to decoupling of
sediments from the basement along this salt
layer. Cross-section balancing demonstrate
at least 20 to 23 km of shortening across the
ramp. The rate of Himalayan convergence
that can be attributed to under-thrusting of
Indian basement beneath sediments in the
Pakistan foreland is therefore at least 914mm/year about 20%-35% of the total
plate convergence rate.
The salt range is the surface
expression of the leading edge of the
decollement thrust that resulted from
sediment decoupling from the northward
drifting basement of Indian shield and
essentially a complex salt anticlinorium

with a series of salt anticlines. The youngest

Salt range thrust appears 1.6 to 3.2 million
years ago. This collision changes the
sedimentation style from shallow neritic
environment to fluvial system.
The evaporites sequence is an
effective zone of decoupling allowing
thrusting to extend more than 100km south
of MBT without involving basement. The
salt layer permitted the rapid propagation
of the basal detachment frontal ramp at the
southern termination of the basin.
Deformation produce horizontal shortening
by folding and faulting, diapiric
emplacement of evaporites and uplifting of
the Salt range. The Salt range is terminated
by the Jhelum strike-slip fault in the east
and its western boundary is marked by
Kalabagh strike-slip fault. The monocline
structure of the Salt range represents rocks
belonging from the Cambrian to recent in
age.
STRATIGRAPHY:
14. Sakesar Limestone
13. Nammal Formation
12. Patala Formation
11. Lockhart Limestone
10. Hangu Formation
9. Chichali Formation
8. Samana Suk Formation
7. Shinawari Formation
6. Datta Formation
5. Kingriali Formation

4. Tridian Formation
3. Mianwali Formation
2. Chiddru Formation
1. Wargal Limestone
Wargal Limestone:
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). Its type section is
Wargal village in the central salt range.
Lithologicaly the formation is
composed of limestone and dolomite of
light grey to medium grey, brownish grey
and olive green colors. In Zaluch nala the
formations lithology is divided into 10 parts
which shows alternate beds of sandstone,
limestone and dolomite.
The formation is 183m thick in
Zaluch nala while in Marwat and Khisor
ranges it is about 174m.
The contact of Wargal limestone
with underlying Amb formation is
confirmable while upper contact with
Chiddru formation is transitional.
Chiddru Formation:
The name Chiddru formation was
introduced by Dunbar (1932) to the
Chiddru beds of Waagen (1891) and
Chiddru group of Noetling (1901).
The formation at the base is
composed of shale unit of yellowish grey to
medium dark grey color with small

phosphatic nodules. Above shale beds of

calcareous sandstone with few sandy
limestones are present. The top most part is
a white sandstone bed which is medium to
fine grained with subordinate shale
partings and contains abundant fossils.
The formation has a transitional
contact with underlying Wargal formation
while its upper contact is marked by a
major unconformity the P-T boundary
above which is the Mianwali formation of
Triassic age.
Mianwali Formation:
Gee (in Pascoe, 1959) used the
name Mianwali Series which was later
modified by Kummel (1966) into Mianwali
Formation.
The formation represents a great
wedge of varied facies consisting of marl,
limestone, sandstone, siltstone and dolomite
which is thickest in the west and wedges
out towards the east. The formation was
divided into three members in the Salt
range and Trans Indus ranges by Waagen
which were also recognized by Kummel
(1966). These members are not recognized
in Kala Chitta area.
The formation is 121m thick in
Zaluch nala while in Tappan Wahan section
it ranges from 135m to 187m.
Lower contact of the formation is
marked by the P-T boundary wile its upper
contact with Tredian formation is sharp and
well defined.

Tredian Formation:
The name Tridian formation was
introduced by Gee (in Kummel, 1966) to
replace his earlier name Kingriali
sandstones. The Tredian formation is
generally non-marine unit that succeeds the
Mianwali formation.
The formation consists of two
members the lower Landa member and
the upper Khatkiara member. The Landa
member consists of sandstone and shale.
The sandstone is micaceous and varies in
color from pinkish, reddish grey to greenish
grey and is thin to medium bedded. The
Khatkiara member is massive, thick bedded
white sandstone with inclusions of some
dolomite in the upper part.
The formation is 1560m in Tappan
Wahan section of the Khisor range and 76m
in Zaluch sections of salt range.
The contact with underlying
Mianwali formation is sharp while with
overlying Kingriali formation is
gradational.
Kingriali Formation:
The name Kingriali formation was
given to the Kingriali Dolomite of Gee
(1945). The name originates from the
Kingriali Peak of the Khisor range.
The formation consists of thin to
thick bedded, massive, fine to coarse
textured, light grey to brown dolomite and
dolomitic limestone with interbeds of
greenish dolomitic shale and marl in the
upper part. The formation is widely
developed in the Salt range, Trans Indus

ranges, part of Kala Chitta, Kohat and

southern Hazara.
The upper contact with Datta
formation is disconfirmable and shows
development of Ferruginous dolomite and
uneven surface at the contact. The lower
contact with Tridian formation is
confirmable.
Datta Formation:
The name Datta formation was
introduced by Danilchick and Shah (1967)
for the variegated stage of Gee (1945).
The formation is mainly of
continental origin and consists of variegated
colored sandstone, shale, siltstone and
mudstone with irregularly distributed
calcareous dolomitic, carbonaceous,
ferruginous glass sand and fireclay
horizons. The fireclay is present mainly in
the lower part.
At type locality the formation is
212m thick but increases to 230m in Punnu
nala to the west and over 400m in Sheikh
Badin Hills. In Nammal gorge area the
thickness is 150m which reduces further as
we move towards east.
The formation overlies
unconfirmably on the Kingriali formation in
Salt range and Trans Indus ranges while in
Hazara it rests unconfirmably over the
Precambrian Hazara formation. The upper
contact with Shinawari formation is
gradational.
Shinawari Formation:
The term Shinawari formation
was introduced by Fatmi and Khan (1966)

to the Lowest Samana Beds of Davies

(1930), and lower part of Kioto limestone
of Cotter (1933) after the village of this
name in western part of Samana Range in
Kohat.
At the type locality the formation
consists of thin to well bedded limestone
with nodular marl, calcareous and noncalcareous shale and quartzose, ferruginous
sandstone. The limestone is grey, brownish
grey, fine to coarse textured and contains
sandy, oolitic and ferruginous beds. The
shale is grey to dark grey, splintery,
calcareous and non-calcareous.
The formation has a transitional
contact with the underlying Datta formation
and overlying Samana Suk formation.
Samana Suk Formation:
Davies (1930) introduced name
Samana Suk for the Jurassic limestone in
Samana range formerly named as kioto
Limestone of Middle miss (1896) and
Cotter (1933) and Daulatmar Limestone
of Calkins and Matin (1968). The name
Samana Suk is derived from the peak of this
name in Samana Range.
In the type locality the formation
consists of grey, medium to thick bedded
limestone with subordinate marl and shale
intercalations. The limestone is oolitic and
in Hazara and Kala Chitta it includes some
dolomitic and ferruginous sandy, oolitic
beds but these are absent here in Nammal
area.
The formation is widely distributed
in western salt range, Kohat, Trans Indus
ranges, Hazara and Kala Chitta. At the type

locality thickness is 186m while in Bagnotar

section Hazara it is 366m.
The lower contact is transitional
with Shinawari formation while upper
contact with Chichali formation is
disconfirmable.
Chichali formation:
This formation was established by
Danilchick and Shah (1967) for rocks
previously described as the Belemnite
beds from the salt range and Trans Indus
ranges. The type section is Chichali pass in
Surgar range.
At the type locality the formation
consists of dark green, grey, weathering
rusty brown glauconitic sandstone with
dark grey sandy, silty glauconitic shale in
the lower part. In western salt range it has
three members. Lower member with
glauconitic shale with some phosphatic
nodules passing upward into dark green
glauconitic sandstone with abundant
Belemnites. The upper member is
glauconitic chamositic, generally
unfossiliferous sandstone.
In Chichali area the thickness is 55m
to 70m while in southern Hazara on Haro
River it is 33m.
The lower contact with the Samana
Suk formation is disconfirmable. The upper
contact with Lumshiwal formation appears
gradational.
Hangu formation:
The Hangu Shale and Hangu
sandstone of Davies (1930) from Kohat
area have been formalized by the

Stratigraphic Committee of Pakistan. A

section south of Fort Lockhart is designated
as its type section.
The Hangu formation consists of
sandstone with grey shale intercalations in
upper part. The sandstone is white, light
grey and reddish brown, weathers dark
rusty brown, fine to coarse grained and
medium to thick bedded. In Nammal area
the sandstone is dark colored and
variegated rarely, shale, carbonaceous shale
and some nodular argillaceous limestone.
The formation is 90m thick at the
type section, 50m at Hangu and about 35m
in Mandeha Banni in Hazara.
There is an unconformity and is
underlain by Chichali formation in Nammal
while is conformably overlain by Lockhart
Limestone.
Lockhart Limestone:
Davies (1930a) introduced the term
Lockhart Limestone for Paleocene
limestone unit in Kohat area formerly
known as Nummulitic Series of Middle
miss (1896). A section near Fort Lockhart in
Samana range is designated as a type
section.
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 Nammal 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 he lower part.

The limestone is well developed and

60m thick at type locality. It is about 70m
thick in Nammal gorge and 242m in Hazara
area.
The formation conformably and
transitionally overlies and underlies the
Hangu formation and the Patala formation
respectively.
Patala Formation:
The term Patala formation was
formalized by the Stratigraphic Committee
of Pakistan for the Patala shale of Davies
and Pinfold (1937) and Nummulitic
formation of Waagen and Wynne (1872).
Patala nala in Salt range is its type section.
In 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 acd also
contains marcasite nodules. The limestone
is white to grey and nodular and occurs as
interbeds. Subordinate interbeds of
yellowish brown sandstone are present in
the upper part. Coal seams of economic
importance are present locally.
Thickness of Patala formation at
type locality is 90m while at Khewra it is
27m thick.
Patala formation conformably
overlies the Lockhart limestone and is
conformably and transitionally overlain by
Nammal formation in Salt range.
Nammal Formation:
The term Nammal formation has
been formally accepted by the Stratigraphic

Committee of Pakistan for the Nammal

limestone and shale of Gee (1935) and
Nammal Marl of Danilchick and Shah
(1967). The section exposed in Nammal
gorge is its type section.
The formation comprises of shale,
marl and limestone. In salt range these
rocks occurs as alternations. The shale is
grey to olive green while the limestone is
light grey to bluish grey. The limestone Is
argillaceous in places. The marl is also light
grey to bluish grey. In Surgar range lower
part consists of marl and shale with minor
limestone. The upper part has dominantly
limestone.
The formation is 100m thick at
Nammal gorge and thins out westward to
60m at Khairabad. It is 30m thick in
Khewra-Choa Saiden Shah road section in
eastern Salt range.
The lower contact with Patala
formation and upper with Sakesar
limestone are transitional.
Sakesar Limestone:
The term Sakesar limestone was
introduced by Gee (in Fermor, 1935) for the
most prominent Eocene limestone in the salt
range and Trans indus ranges. Sakesar peak
in the Salt range has been designated as its
type locality.
The unit consists dominantly of
limestone with subordinate marl. The
limestone throughout its extent is cream
colored to light grey, nodular, usually
massive with considerable development of
chert in the upper part. The marl is cream
colored and forms a persistent horizon near

the top. Near Daud Khail in western salt

range the limestone grades into white to
grey massive gypsum.
The formation is widely distributed
in salt range where the thickness ranges
from 70m to 150m.
The lower contact with Nammal
formation is confirmable. In eastern salt
range upper contact with Chorgali
formation is confirmable while in central
and western part, Rawalpindi group
overlies it conformably.
Economic Importance:
The Nammal area in the western Salt
range is important for economic point of
view. It acts as a source for various
economically important minerals which are
used in different industries.
As we enter the gorge we see big
quarries where limestone is being extracted
from Wargal Limestone and Chiddru
formation. This limestone not only feeds the
cement and construction industries but also
has very important use as aggregate in
roads and highways. Silica sand from Datta
formation is widely used in glass and
ceramic industry.
The Eocene succession also has its
own significance as it fulfills all the basic
requirements of a complete Petroleum Play
system. Shale, marl and limestone may act
as source, reservoir and seal within the
formation. Shale and marl of Nammal
formation is used in cement industry but its
limestone is not good. So Sakesar limestone
is used for this purpose.

REFERENCES
Cotter.G.de P., 1933, The geology of the part of Attock District, west of Longitude 7245 E: India
Geol. Surv., Mem.,v.55,pp.63.
Danilchik, W., 1961, The Iron formation of the Surgar and western Salt Range, Mianwali Distt,
West Pakistan: U.S Geol. Surv., Prof. Paper 424-D, pp.228-231.
Davies, 1930a, The fossil fauna of the Samana Range and some neighbouring areas: Part 6, The
Paleocene Foraminifera, An Introductory note: India Geol. Surv., Mem., Paleont. Indica, New
Series, v.15, 15p.
Davies, and Pinfold, E.S., 1937, The Eocene beds of the Punjab Salt range: India Geol. Surv.,
Mem., Paleont. Indica, New Series, v.24, no.1, 79p.
Gee, E.R., 1935, Recent observations on the Cambrian sequence of the Punjab Salt Range: India
Geol. Surv., Ress., v. 68, pt.1, pp.115-120.