ATTOCK CHIRAT RANGE

FIELD REPORT

Submitted by= Ahmed

Jehanzeb
Submitted to=Mr.Naveed
Anjum
Date=

Introduction
The field work was arranged by the Geology
Department,University of Peshawar on from
students of part 1st.The field was supervised by our
teacher Mr.Fayyaz Ali and Mr.Naveed Anjum
Abstraction
The first and the main objective of the field work
was to strong our grip on the stratigraphy of
Pakistan. The second objective was to enjoy the
students and awareness about the beautiful area of
Pakistan. The objective of the field work was to
introduce the student of different kinds of rocks to
study the regional geological setup of this area. We
were expose to different lithological features. We
studied the types of rock and their features like
anticline, syncline fault, fold, nature of bedding and
folliation. We also observed different features of
river and the rocks present there. We also studied
folliation and layering in rocks. As folliation were in
metamorphic rocks and layering were in
sedimentary rocks. We travelled from west to east
and this whole area is included in the Peshawar
basin. This basin is a geological unit which is
bounded by mountains on all four sides. This range
is called as Attock-Chirat range. At first stop in
Nizampur .We studied the slates and fillights in
Manki formation with sub-ordinate amount of
originate and limestone. As we further move on in
Manki formation, we see a change in lithology and
observe the limestone deposits in this area. We
studied the limestone in Och-Khattak area. The
fourth stop was at Dakhners formation where we
tested the rock by HCL drops and it was not pure
limestone. There were also traces of quartz upto
95%, so there were quartzoite. The lithology
changes from quartzoite to slate. This was the range
of Metamorphic rocks. On further movement we
saw some cleavage patterns which was called as
Gate or Darwaza formation. We observed this area
and after some distance we observed low grade
metamorphic rocks. And further goes to Attock
bridge and river to see two different river Attock
and Kabul to see some different colour of water.
And also see that Kabul river water is muddy and
Attock river water is fresh and goes to river side to
see rocks.
Following is the detail of the whole field work
that we observed and learned at different stops
First stop;

Location;
Manki formation in Nizampur ,Attock district
standing at the southern boundary of Peshawar
basin in Attock-Chirat range.

Slates and Fillights;

This is present in the Manki formation. This
formation mainly consist of fillights and slates with
sub-ordinate amount of originate and limestone
slates are formed by metamorphism of shale. This
clay have structure same to Mica. They have clay
size mineral.
Effect of temperature and
pressure
When pressure and temperature are applied to
rocks. The pressure of slates indicates this area is
less metamorphosed (low grade) due to low
temperature and pressure they have to arrange
themselves it will cause the layers to arrange
themselves in direction perpendicular to the
applied pressure. They have some effect of
temperature and pressure on slates and fillights.

Characteristics of slates
They are five grained with foliation
1) The fresh color indicates that these rocks are non
oxidized. While weather surface will be yellowish to
brownish in color. This weathered color is because
of oxidation due to iron rich mineral present the
rocks. If there is no water iron and oxygen then they
will formed limonite but if water is less then iron
and oxygen will form hematite if this rock is further
oxidized then it will form magnetite.
2)They are thinly foliated and hence it is
metamorphic rock.
3) The weather surface appear as brown to dark
brown while its original surface appear gray.

Characteristics of Fillights
In between formation of shale from slates we see
re-crystallization of Mica. On further development
of Mica, we see some shine in the rocks which
indicates the presence of fillights formed from
Mica.
Second Stop
Limestone:
These are algal meats formed by calcite deposition
of algae for calcite we do not the term foliation. It is
economically important rocks. These look fine grand
having smooth surface with gray color. The
following picture shows the layering of by calcite.
This rock is finally grand having smooth surface
Third Stop
Och-Khattak limestone
At this site we observed that the rock is finally
grained into powder form. This can possibly be
formed by some share stresses to the expose of
rocks there cataclastic metamorphism has taken
place in which the grain size is reduced . It is named
as bracciated limestone. This powdered structure in
picture is called Fault Braccia. Yellow color is
limonatic oxidation while the reddish color is
hematitic oxidation. The broken fragments show
that the limestone was first deposited and later on
re-deposition of limestone took place that caused
the rough texture of this limestone.

Fourth stop
We observed on change in lithology as we move on
in the part of Och-Khattak Limestone. It appears to
be the same limestone as checked by the HCL
drops.
Fifth Stop
This area seems to be met siltstone area. The
southern part where we were standing was the
festival it is called central block due to the reason
that this part is at the center of the Khairabad fault
which separate the northern mountain range form
southern range. We standing at the major fault
called the Khairabad fault. The block that separate
northern part from southern part . It is a part of
Dakhner formation. The northern part is the
hanging wall of the fault and was dipping toward
the north.
Sixth Stop
It is also part of Dakhner formation. These entirely
consist of quartz(more than 95%) that’s why there
are not limestone and are called quartzite. During
study of these rocks when HCL drops were put in
them so they didn’t give any effervescence which
proved that there are not limestone. They can be o
rocks were oxidized along cleavage surface and we
also studied iron in it. The grains are not easily
identified we also don’t find grain boundaries.
Characteristics of
Quartzite
The color of these rocks more between yellowish
and Darkish brown make up granite and less
competent then that of quartzite or we can say
hard then quartz.
Seventh Stop
Magma and iron are also present in these range
here the Dakhner formation finished and other unit
southern started.
Basically in this range the rocks are schist and we
can easily see Mica Grains with ice. These are called
as Fellite slates there are metamorphosed.
Hence the lithology again change from quartzite to
slates and the whole range is metamorphic.
Dakhner is hanging wall while southern unit is the
foot wall.

Southern Unit
The Dakhner finishes and then starts the southern
unit called as Gate formation. We can see cleavags.
There are low grade metamorphic rocks relatively
soft and are greenish color consisting of mineral
apitote chlorite and glacorite.
On further movement we see some conformity

Eight Stop

Gulshanabad
It is a part of same Darwaza formation and are
southern part. There color is greenish on fresh
surface while brownish on mud surface.
There are carbonate rocks mainly Limestone.
They are not that hard so that as that of Quartzite.
Now Starts River
Last Stop
River(Kabul and Indus)
Manki Formation
Slates and pyllites are present at Attock river bank.
There are holes (depression) in slates holes are
called Pot Holes.

Reason Of Pot Holes

Pot Holes are form in rocks because of the weaker
parts of the rocks scouring of sand particles hit the
bad rocks and rounding is because of the movement
of sand and due to circulation of sand, holes are
formed.
Gold and Magnetite are also formed in Pot Holes.
The polished surface of rock is due to the erosion by
water.

Conglomerate
In river there is conglomerate that has round
particles (granite, quartzite, diorite etc.) which are
cemented by matrix (cemented material are calcite
and silica)
When clast is more in conglomerate this is called
clast support conglomerate.
When matrix is more in conglomerate this is called
Matrix Support Conglomerate.
In Attock river we see clast support conglomerate
because of the presence of more clast in it.
The river built is exposed as water is not present
while in summer it is still (water on high land).
The rocks present on river bed are basically slates.
Sandstones is also present in the river side.