Structure Investigation, Economics and Stratigraphy of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence in the Vicinity Eastern and Western side of the Salt Range, Punjab Pakistan

Abstract

The Salt Range is a hill arrangement in the Punjab in Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the most important geologic and paleontological localities in Pakistan, and it is one of the best field areas in world. The Salt Range contains the great mines which yield vast supplies of salt and coal of medium quality In the Salt Range various richly fossiliferous stratified rocks are very well exposed. These include the Permian carbonate succession with its outstanding brachiopod fauna, Lower Triassic ammonoid beds (the Mianwali Formation, formerly known as "Ceratite Beds"), and Lower Tertiary marine strata with age diagnostic foraminifera. These rocks also provide an excellent opportunity for studying of tectonics in the field. In addition to the easily available roadside geology, some prominent gorges provide fantastic Structure Investigation, Economics and Stratigraphy of the Paleozoic locations to study the sedimentary succession. Older strata are exposed in the eastern Salt Range between the Khewra-Choa Saidan Shah and Fort Kussak including the famous Khewra Gorge. In the west, beyond Kallar Kahar, younger stratasuch as in the Nammal Gorgenear Mianwali, the Chichali Gorge near Kalabagh, and further west the Lumshiwal Nala at Makerwal. This succession has been rightly called a Field Museum of Geology and Paleontology and can be classified as one of the great paleontological areas of the world ,fully worthy of conservation and protection efforts.