BS-II LIB (Kirthar).ppt Palaeocene Strata

Palaeocene Stratigraphy
Ranikot Group
Blandford 1896, introduces the term Ranikot Group
After Ranikot Fortress
Group consists of the following formations;
3. khadro Formation
2. Bara Formation
1. Lakhra Formation

1. Khadro Formation
Williams 1959, uses the term Khadro Formation

Type Locality/Section
Khadro Nala, north of Bara Nai is type locality
Williams 1959, designated Bara Nai (260 07’ 06’’ N; 670 53’ 12’’ E) in north Laki Range as type section

Lithology
Sandstone+shale+limestone
Sandstone: olive, yellowish brown, grey and green, soft, medium grained, ferruginous and calcareous at places
Shale: olive, pale bluish grey having thin interbeds of limestone; grey to brown are present at lower unit

1. Age Group/Formation
Cretaceous Moro Formation
Pab Sandstone
Fort Munro Formation
Mona Jhal
Group
Mughal Kot Formation
Parh Limestone
Goru Formation
Sember Formation
Jurasic Mazar Drik Formation
Takatu Formation (Chiltan Formation)
Alozai
Group
Loralai Formation
Spingwar Formation
Ferozabad
Group
Anjira Formation
Shirinab Formation
Triassic Khanozai
Group
Wulgai Formation
Age Group/Formation
Pleistocene Lei Conglomerate
Pliocene Siwalik
Group
Nagri to Soan Formation
Miocene Momani
Group
Gaj Formation
Oligocene Nari Formation
Eocene Kirthar Formation
Laki Formation
Paleocene Ranikot
Group
Lakhra Formation
Bara Formation
Khadro Formation
Lower Indus Basin Stratigraphy
(Kirthar Sub-basin)

2. Palaeocene Stratigraphy
Ranikot Group
Blandford 1896, introduces the term Ranikot Group
After Ranikot Fortress
Group consists of the following formations;
3. khadro Formation
2. Bara Formation
1. Lakhra Formation
1. Khadro Formation
Williams 1959, uses the term Khadro Formation
Type Locality/Section
Khadro Nala, north of Bara Nai is type locality
Williams 1959, designated Bara Nai (26
0
07’ 06’’ N; 67
0
53’ 12’’ E) in north
Laki Range as type section
Lithology
Sandstone+shale+limestone
Sandstone: olive, yellowish brown, grey and green, soft, medium grained,
ferruginous and calcareous at places
Shale: olive, pale bluish grey having thin interbeds of limestone; grey to brown
are present at lower unit

3. Thickness/Distribution
Widely distributed in Kirthar Province;
At type locality 67m
Subsurface 140m at Lakhra, Dabba Creek 180m
Fossils
Forams
Age
Palaeocene (Early)
Contact
Lower: unconformable with Pab Sandstone
Upper: conformable with Bara Formation
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2. Bara Formation
Ahmad and Ghani 1971, uses the term
Eames 1952, Gorge Beds
Williams 1959, Ranikot Formation
Type Locality/Section
Bara Nai (26 07 06 N; 67
0
53’ 12’’ E), nothern Laki Range is type locality
Rani kot (25 54 24 N; 67
0
54’ 35’’ E) as type section

4. Lithology
Sandstone, with shales and volcanic debris
Sandstone; vary in colour, fine to coarse grained, soft, thick bedded, calareous
and ferruginous at places, having cross stratification and ripple marks
Shales; has dark shades, soft, gypsiferous, at places carbonaceous and having
coal seams
Volcanic debris; on weathering greenish grey to black has been reported from
the lower part
Thickness/Distribution
Can be found in Kirthar Province
450m at type locality
600m at Ranikot
Fossils
Forams, algaes, Mollusks etc
Age
Middle Palaeocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Khadro Formation
Upper: conformable with Lakhra Formation

5. 3. Lakhra Formation
Ahmad and Ghani 1971, uses the name
Type Locality/Section
The Lakhra-Bholari section on the southern flank of Lakhra anticline, Laki Range
Lithology
Dominant limestone; grey with yellowish staining, thin to thick bedded, nodular, limestone is
sandy, some beds highly fossiliferous
Sandstone; present in lower parts while sandstone, shale interclations present in the upper
part. Sandstone is ferruginous, grey, fine to coarse grained, ill sorted, thin to thick, cross
stratified. Shale is grey weathers to yellow brown
Thickness/Distribution
Developed in Kirthar Province
242m thick at type locality
Fossils
Forams etc
Age
Late Palaeocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Bara Formation
Upper: unconformable with Laki Formation

6. Eocene Stratigraphy
1. Laki Formation
Noetling 1903, Laki series
Blandford 1876, Kirthar series
HSC 1961, Laki Group
Presently SCP formalized the term as Laki Formation, which also include Sui Main Limestone of
Tainsh et al 1959 and Tiyon Formation of HSC 1961
Type Locality/Section
Mari Nai (26
0
06’ N; 67
0
51’ E) SW of Bara Nai, northern Laki Range
Lithology
Part of Kirthar Province, two member identified as
A. basal Sohnari Member
B. upper Chat Member
A. Sohnari Member
Introduced by HSC 1961
Type section Sohnari, SW of Meeting (25
0
12’ N; 68
0
10’ E)
Lithology
Vary colour laterite clay and shale, with locally developed beds of arenaceous limestone pockets
Lenticular beds of vary colour, ferruginous sandstone and white calcareous sandstone are common
in member
B. Chat Member
Type section Sohnari, SW of Meeting (25
0
12’ N; 68
0
10’ E)
Lithology
Cream white nodular limestone in the lower part and interbedded shale and limestone with
subordinate sandstone in the upper part
Shale: is grey, greenish yellow, weathering dark, rusty brown, ferruginous and gypsiferous
Limestone: is thin bedded, arenaceous,whereas sandstone is commonly ferruginous

7. Thickness/Distribution
Laki formation developed in southern part of Kirthar Province and may be developed in Vicinity
of Mari-Bughti hills in suleiman province
240m Type Locality (Mara Nai)
600m Taati (Kirthar Province) in Sui
468m Subsurface
Fossils
Forams, Mollusks, algaes
Age
Early Eocene
Conctact
Lower: unconformable with Ranikot Group
Upper: conformable with Kirthar Formation
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2. Kirthar Formation
Blandford 1876, use the term Kirthar
Oldham 1890, Spintangi Limestone
HSC 1961, Brahui Limestone
Type Locality/Section
The Gaj River section (26
0
56’ 10’’ N; 67
0
09’ 16’’ E), in Kirthar Range

8. Lithology
Interbeds of limestone+shale+marl
Limestone; light grey to brown, thick bedded to massive
Shale is olive grey, brown to dark, grey
Marl is light brown, thinly laminated
Thickness/Distribution
Well distributed in Kirthar Province
1270m at type section
15-30m in west Kirthar Range
Fossils
Forams, Mollusks etc
Age
Eocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Laki Formation
Upper: conformable with Nari Formation

9. Oligocene Stratigraphy
Momani Group
1. Nari Formation
Blandford 1876, Nari series
Blandford 1879, sub divided it into Lower and Upper Nari
William 1959, introduces Nari Formation
HSC 1961, Nal Limestone
Cheema 1977, Nal Member, for lower division of Nari
SCP accept the name Nari Formation with Lower Member Nal
Type Locality
Gaj River Section (26
0
56’ 12’’ N; 67
0
10’ 10’’ E) in Kirthar Range as type section
Nari River in Kirthar Range as type locality
Lithology
The formation include sandstone, shale and subordinate limestone, the lower part of
formation is called as Nal Member
Nal Member: crystalline limestone, white to brown or yellow, nodular, thin to thick bedded.
Shale of dark colour having thin beds interclation with sandstone is also present
Upper Part: predominantly sandstone: greenish grey, grey , yellow and white, fine to
coarse grained, gritty and calcareous, subordinate shale, sandstone and varicolour
claystone
Thickness/Distribution
Well developed in Kirthar, and at some places of Suleiman
Thickness at type section 1400m

10. Fossils
Forams
Age
Oligocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Kirthar Formation
Upper: conformable with Gaj Formation
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