Peshawar Basin

Stratigraphy of Peshawar Basin
Location
Stratigraphy
Age Formation
Carboniferous Jaffar Kandao Formation
Unconformity
Devonian Nowshehra Formation
Devonian Panjpir Formation
Unconformity
Devonian Missri Banda Quartzite
unconformity
Cambrian Ambar Formation
Unconformity
Pre-Cambrian Tanawal Formation
1. Ambar Formation
 Pogue and Hussain 1986, introduce the name
 Stauffer 1968, include these rocks in Nowshehra Formation
 Martin et al 1962, Kala Limestone and Dolomite
Type Locality/Section
 Pogue and Hussain 1986, suggest Ambar village at (340 03’ 02’’ N; 720 24’ 46’’ E) as
type locality/section
Lithology
 Predominantly Dolomite, dolomitic limestone, calcareous quartzite and subordinate
argillite and conglomerate
 Chert in the form of veinlets, nodules and stringers is found at few places.
 Dolomite contains algal lamination and poorly developed stromatolites
 Chingalai area, however,base represents by conglomerate containing pebbles and cobbles
of quartzite and dolomite in quartzitic matrix
Thickness/Distribution
 Well distributed in Peshawar and Swabi areas
 Thickness at type locality/section 425m
 Between Turlandai and Mian Dheri 165m
Fossils
 Unfossiliferous except for microscopic shell debris
Age
 Given by Pogue and Hussain as Cambrian by law of superposition
Contact
 Lower: at swabi area, unconformable with Tanawal Formation, at Peshawar covered
by Alluvium
 Upper: unconformable with Missir Banda Quartzite
2. Missir Banda Quartzite
 Stauffer 1968, introduces the term
 Martin et al 1962, Swabi Quartzite and Chamla Quartzite in respected areas
Type Locality
 Missri Banda (340 01’ 02’’ N; 720 06’ 05’’ E), 10km NE of Nowshehra town
Lithology
 Pogue and Hussain 1986, define lithology as
 quartzite; light grey to pinkish grey, fine to medium grained, quartz and feldspar in
siliceous and calcareous matrix, cross bedding, ripple marks, gradded bedding are common
features of the formation
 In some parts; worm burrows are present
 A dark grey, thinnly laminated argillite is commonly assocaited in the upper part of the
formation
 At the base there is a conglomeratic bed; having rounded to subrounded cobbles and
pebbles of quartzite and dolomite in calcareous quartzitic matrix
 Well distributed in Turlandai and Swabi areas
 Thickness measures 300m
Fossils
 Conodonts, corals has been found
Age
 Early-Middle Ordovician
Contact
 Lower: unconformable with Ambar Formation
 Upper: unconformable with Panjpir Formation
3. Panjpir Formation
 Pogue and Hussain 1986, introduces the term Panjpir Formation
 Stauffer 1968, Kandar Phyllite
 Martin et al 1962, Swabi Shale and Chamla Shale
Type Locality
 Pogue and Hussain 1986, suggested type locality near Panjpir Village (340 05’ 32’’ N;
720 29’ 49’’ E), 4km SE of Swabi town
Lithology
 Pogue and Hussain 1986, suggested that formation dominantly contains, argillite and
phyllite with interbeds of limestone, meta siltstone as well as calcareous quartzite
 Rocks are generally dark grey to greenish grey, silty, fissile and chloritic
 Upper part of formation is characterized by interbedded argillite and limestone
Fossils
 Crinoids, conodonts etc
Age
 Early-Middle Silurian
Contact
 Lower: unconformable with Missri Banda Quartzite
 Upper: conformable with Nowshehra Formation
4. Nowshehra Formation
 Teichert and Stauffer 1965, introduces the term, to describe
first reef in Pakistan near Nowshehra
 Nowshehra formation also include Pirsabaq Formation
Type Locality
 Stauffer 1965, designated the type locality 5km east of
Nowshehra on Nowshehra-Risalpur Road
Lithology
 Mainly composed of limestone and dolomite, has been divided
into three units;
 1. Reef Core
 2. Carbonate containing reef breccia or fossil debris
 3. Carbonate containing few or no fossils
 1. Reef Core
 Highly fossiliferous at type locality, contains 40% fevostid corals, other
includes brachiopods, cephalopods, the fossils decreases towards
western extent, reef core has been dominated by pink dolomite
 2. Carbonate containing reef breccia or fossil debris
 Stauffer 1968, divides it into
 a. crinoidal banks; composed of crinoids ossicles, in part of
stem section contains 10 ossicles, few brachiopods,
cephalopods are associated
 b. carbonate with dominant reef breccia or fossil debris;

composed of limestone, dolomite, commonly interbedded
and lenticular, the most common fossils are crinoidal
ossicles, with stromatoporides, gastropods, brachipods, and
rugose
 c. carbonate with subordinate reef breccia or fossil debris;

as above but fossils content are less than 1/4th by volume,
carbonate consists of pale red, light grey, fine to medium
grained dolomite with pockets of breccia, lenses of fossils
fragments
 3. Carbonate containing few or no fossils
 Consists of pale red, light grey, fine to medium grained dolomite and
contain few corals (favosited), brachiopods, crinoids
 E-W striking ridges, 20km scattered outcrops within the
peshawar basin
Fossils
 Brachiopods, cephalopods, corals; rugose, favosite, gastropods
Age
 Early Devonian
Contact
 Lower: conformable with Panjpir Formation
 Upper: unconformable with Jafar Kandao Formation

5. Jafar Kandao Formation
 Hussain et al 1991, introduces the name
 Martin et al 1962, upper part of Swabi Shale
Type Locality
 Jafar Kandao section, designated as type locality, along Machai Canal; 5km
SE of Rustam at (340 18’ 40’’ N; 720 17’ 56’’ E)
Lithology
 Pogue et al 1992, define the lithology as; argillite with subordinate interbeds
of limestone, argillaceous quartzite and conglomerate
 Based on distinct lithology formation is divided into
 1. lower unit; argillite with lenses of limestone, argillaceous quartzite and
conglomerate
 2. middle unit; interbedded by argillite, calcareous quartzite and sandy limestone
 3. upper unit; argillite with lenses of argillaceous quartzite and conglomerate
Fossils
Age
 Carboniferous
Contact
 Lower: unoconformable with Nowshehra Formation
 Upper: unconformable with green schists of Peshawar Plain Alkaline Igneous
Complex

Peshawar Basin

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Peshawar Basin

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Peshawar Basin

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stratigraphy of Peshawar Basin

 b. carbonate with dominant reef breccia or fossil debris;

 c. carbonate with subordinate reef breccia or fossil debris;

 Upper: unconformable with Jafar Kandao Formation

You might also like