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Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2003 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 256-265
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2003.256.265
Sedimentology of Chitarwata Formation, Rakhi Nala, Sulaiman Range, Pakistan
Muhammad Naseem, Shamim Ahmed Sheikh and Shahid Naseem

Abstract: The Oligocene-Miocene molasse have been developed throughout Potwar, Sulaiman and Kirthar provinces due to uplifting caused by Himalayan Orogeny. In Sulaiman region the molasse is stratigraphically designated as Chitarwata Formation. The formation is exposed as north-south trending strip in the eastern margin of Sulaiman Range. Thirteen samples of the formation were collected from Rakhi Nala and analyzed sedimentologically. Chitarwata Formation (Oligocene-Miocene) is grayish-white, medium to fine grained, mesokurtic, fine skewed quartz arenite. Grains are subrounded to subangular. It consists of mainly quartz bonded by calcareous and ferruginous cement. The data plotted on Visher graph, show that Chitarwata Formation was deposited in fluvio-deltaic to near shore environment. Similar observation was also made on the basis of grain size pattern and plots of median diameter versus skewness and phi deviation. High Fe and low Mg further confirmed freshwater to near shore deposition. The plots of SiO2 versus log (K2O/ Na2O) suggest that Chitarwata Formation have tectonic affiliation with passive continental margin. These sediments have been deposited by recycling of older rocks due to Himalayan orogeny, also revealed from quartz-feldspar-lithic fragments triangular variation diagram.

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How to cite this article
Muhammad Naseem, Shamim Ahmed Sheikh and Shahid Naseem, 2003. Sedimentology of Chitarwata Formation, Rakhi Nala, Sulaiman Range, Pakistan. Journal of Applied Sciences, 3: 256-265.

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