Abstract:
This study mainly covers the mineralogical and petrographical characteristics of lithofacies of the Hangu Formation. The Hangu Formation in the Salt Range has unconformable contact with underlying formations of Permian to Cretaceous age. There are five lithofacies of this formation named as lithofacies-1, lithofacies-2, lithofacies-3 / 3a, lithofacies-4 and lithofacies-5. These lithofacies were identified by petrographic and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. In lithofacies-1 (laterite / bauxite / kaolinite) the goethite, kaolinite, boehmite, gibbsite and dickite minerals may owe to insitu leaching of older rocks. The minor minerals like glauconite, chamosite, chlorite and nacrite could be due to the influx of shallow marine water. The lithofacies-2 was formed due to the deposition of shale / clays along with chamosite in fresh water lagoon or delta front basin. The lithofacies-3 & 4 were rich in sandstone (upto 90%). The sand grains with muscovite flakes, feldspar grains and rock fragments were possibly derived from Sargodha Karana Highs of Indian shield. The lithofacies-5 is dominantly rich in micrite with subordinate dolomite, quartz, kaolinite microbioclasts and shell fragments.
Page(s):
142-149
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Science, Volume: 65, Issue: 1, Year: 2013