STRATIGRAPHIC STUDY OF ATTOCK-CHERAT RANGE

BY
SHAH FAHAD ALAM
BS-Geology(2nd semester)

Report Submitted To Muhammad Awais Lecturer Geology

Department, University Of Swabi.

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Introduction
The Attock-Cherat Range is divided into three east-west trending blocks that are bounded
by thrust faults. From north to south these are listed as Northern Block with unfossiliferous
argillite, slate, phyllite and limestone of Precambrian age intruded by dolerite sills and dykes; the
central block comprising unfossiliferous flysch of Precambrian age and overlain by Jurassic,
Cretaceous, Paleocene, Eocene, Miocene rocks, and the Southern Block consisting of
unfossiliferous limestone, dolomite, argillite and quartzite overlain by Tertiary sequence similar
to that found in Central Block (Yeats and Hussain). The rock sequence in the southern part of the
mapped area includes an extension of the main Kala-Chitta Range.

Station # 1
Our stop-1 was in Manki Formation present in the Northern foothills of Attock Cherat
Range.

Manki Formation:

Manki Formation is the oldest Formation of the Attock Cherat Ranges. The Manki Formation is
considered to be Precambrian in age based on its lithologic correlation with the Hazara
Formation. Its main lithology isdark gray to black, thin-bedded argilite, sericite bearing slate,
phylite and subordinate lenses of limestone. the Manki Formation has a gradational contact with
the overlying limestone of Shahkot Formation from late Precambrian age while its lower contact
is not exposed. Minimum thickness is 950 meters.

Slates:

Slate is a fine grained, low grade metamorphic rock formed by the low grade metamorphism of
Shale. It can easily be break down at cleavage plane. Some geologic structures like folds were
also present in slates of Manki Formation.

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Fig-1: Slates from Manki Formation

Fig-2: limestone lenses in Slates

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 Fig-3: Anticline fold in slates

Station-2
Our 2nd stop was in the southern block of Attock Cherat Ranges. Here we started our study from
Inzari limestone.

Inzari limestone:
Inzari limestone is light yellowish-gray to light greenish-gray finely crystalline and thin to thick-
bedded. Manganese stainings are also present. The Inzari limestone posses a special type of
weathering phenomenon called butcher-chop weathering. Effervescence occured when Hcl was
poured on it.

Fig-4: Butcher-chop weathering in Inzari limestone.

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 Fig-5:effervescence from Inzari limestone when reacted with Hcl.

Station-3:
Our 3rd stop was at Hisartang Formation.

Hisartang Formation:
The Hisartnag Formation consist of an upper and lower Quartzite and intervening argilite. The
Quartzite is white to light gray in color. The Quartzite present there is fine-grained as compared
to Misri Banda Quartzite.the color of argilite is dark-gray to black. Manganese stainings are also
present in quartzite. It upper contact Is sharp with the Inzari limestone. Minimum thickness is
760 meters.

Fig-6:Quartzite from Hisartang formation.

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 Fig-7: Manganese staining present in Quartzite.

Fig-8: Argilite layers present in between quartzite.

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Station-4:

Darwaza Formation:

It consist of white to cream colored limestone and subordinate dolomite which is overlain by
maroon argelite. The upper contact of Darwaza Formation is gradational with Hisartang while its
lower contact is not exposed.

The limestone and dolomite were differentiated from each other by Hcl test. Limestone did a fast
reaction while dolomite reacted slowly to Hcl.

Coal from Patala formation is also obtained there in Darwaza Formation

Fig-9:upper layer is argilite while lower is of cabonates.

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 Fig-9: hole where coal from patala formation is obtain.

Stop-5:

Shekhai Formation:

Shekhai Formation is dominated by light gray, medium to thick bedded and

massive limestone with subordinate quartzite and argilite at the base. The Shekhai Formation is
faulted against Dakhner Formation and tertiary strata concealing the upper contact. The
formation is of Precambrian age.minimum thickness is 150 meters.

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 Fig-10: Limestone from Shekhai Formation

Shahkot & Utch Khattak Formation:

These two formations are undivided because no sharp contact is present in between them. These
consist of light yellowish-gray to brownish-gray limestone and dark gray argilite overlain by
dark gray rubbly and stromatolitic limestone. Stromatolites show life activity. It has assigned a
tentative Late Precambrian age based on conformable contact with the underlying Manki
Formation.

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Fig-11: stromatolitic limestone from Shahkot & Utch Khatatk Formation

THE END

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