Introduction Chap

8/14/2019 Introduction Chap

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Chapter 1 Introduction

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Salt Range

The Salt Range is a hill system in the Punjab province ofPakistan, deriving its

name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the

Jhelum Riverto the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. It

bounds the Potwar plateau in the south.

The Salt Range is the most important locality in India for the study of physical as

well stratigraphical geology. Since very earlier time it has attracted the attention

of geologists, not only because it contains a very large portion of fossiliferous

stratified record of Indian region, but because off the easily accessible nature of

the deposits and the clearness with various geological formations are exposed in

its hills. So, it can fitly be called as field museum of geology (Wadia, 1975).

1.2 Introduction to the Project Area

The mapped area has sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Late

Neoproterozoic to Late Miocene and is located in the east Central Salt Range.

Khewra, Choa-Saiden Shah, Dandot, Pidh, Tobar and Ratucha are the mainlocalities within the mapped area (Figure 1.1). The area under investigation

occurs about 80 km from Chakwal and 78 km from Jhelum. The famous Khewra

Gorge marks the eastern boundary while Makrach lies just in the west. Choa-

Saiden Shah-Kallar Kahar road bounds the project area from north and it extends

up to the Salt Range Thrust in the south. The lithostructural map covers an area

of 84 km2 and is administratively lies in the domains of Chakwal and Jhelum

districts. The project area is located in between longitude: 72o5500E to

73o0030E and latitude: 32o3700N to 32o4350N, of the Toposheet No. 43 D/14

of the Survey of Pakistan.

1.3 Accessibility of the Project Area

Easily accessible both from Lahore and Islamabad, by Express Bus Service of

Badami Bagh and GTS, respectively, the Salt Range is about 2-3 hours distance

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from both cities. GTS operating out of Islamabad terminates at Chakwal on the

north western periphery while Express Bus Service terminates at Pind Dadan

Khan on the eastern periphery of the Salt Range. Traveling between towns in the

Salt Range on public transport is rather unreliable due to an absolute absence oftime tables. Transport is mainly confined to the main towns of Choa-Saiden

Shah, Khewra, and Kallar Kahar.

Accessibility within the project area is very poor. There is only one metalled road

that joins Khewra to Choa-Saiden Shah. A bifurcation of this at Pidh leads to the

Dandot. All other tracks and paths are made for trucks that transport coal from

mines (Figure 1.2).

1.4 Inhabitants of the Project Area

The study area falls in Chakwal and Jhelum districts and most of its population

live in small towns. Khewra, Tobar, Dandot, Alamabad, Choa-Saiden Shah and

Ratucha are the major localities where most of the population of mapped area

habitats (Figure 1.2). Khewra and Choa-Saiden Shah are more populated.

1.5 Socioeconomic Setup

The literacy rate is very poor. Most of the population of the area is poor and

spend a hard life due to lack of sources of income. They earn their living by

working in coal mines, cement factories and grazing cattle. They also cultivate

small quantity of crops on the terraces and depressions filled by alluvium, where

soil is suitable for cultivation of different crops. Many people are involved in

government jobs such as in army. The people are very kind and loving. In the

project area, the medical facilities are fairly good. Khewra and Choa-Saiden

Shah are the main developed towns having the facilities of schools, colleges,

hospitals, metalled roads and markets.

1.6 Working Conditions

During the fieldwork the working conditions were quite normal otherwise it is very

hard due to hot and dry climate of the area during summer season. Snakes and

other insects are common in that season. We stayed at Dandot village, in the

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centre of the map area, which provided us easy access within the area. During

daytime temperature normally remained at 20-24oC, which is very suitable for

field work. In the working area there was a problem of finding drinking water.

1.7 Objectives

The main objectives of this research work were:

1. Lithostructural mapping of the Choa-Saiden Shah, Dandot and Khewra area,

east Central Salt Range, District Chakwal and Jhelum.

2. Sedimentology and microfacies analysis of Khewra Sandstone, Khewra

Gorge.

Several traverses were made across and along the strike of the formations

exposed, to ascertain the stratigraphic and structural details. The oriented

samples were collected with precise measurement from the measured sections

of Khewra Sandstone for microfacies analysis and reservoir characterization.

1.8 Methodology

1.8.1 Methodology Adopted for preparation of Lithostructural Map

1. Toposheet No. 43 D/14, after photographic five times enlargement, used as

base map, at a scale of 1:10,000.

2. Traverses were carried out along and across the strike of exposed rocks.

3. A Brunton compass was used to take dip and strike readings of the strata

exposed in the project area.

4. About 126 reading of the dip/strike were taken during the survey and were

plotted on the map.

5. For locating in the field, hand held GPS (GARMIN, USA) and conventionalmethods of bearing (Compton, 1985), were used.

6. The geological contacts were marked on the base map.

7. Standard colors and symbols were assigned to the geological formations and

structures, respectively.

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8. For final development of lithostructural map, the map was scanned and

digitized by using ArcView GIS Version 3.1.

1.8.2 Methodology adopted for preparation of Geological Cross-Sections

1. Five cross sections, using Busk or Arc Method, were prepared after selection

of suitable section lines, along AA, BB, CC, DD and EE.

2. Graph papers, having scale in cm, were used as base for preparation of cross

section.

3. After making a physiographic profile from topographic base map, the surface

geological informations from lithostructural map were transferred on the section.

These were then projected to the subsurface using Arc Method.

4. The conventional method of drawing was adopted.

5. Later on, these were scanned and digitized on ArcView GIS Version 3.1

software.

1.8.3 Methodology adopted for Section Measurement

1. A stratigraphic section of Early Cambrian Khewra Sandstone was measured

from Khewra Gorge (lat. 324030N; long. 730005E).

2. Jacobs Staff was used to measure the individual beds thickness as well as

whole formation thickness.

3. Munsell Soil Color Chart (Folk, 1969) was used to describe the fresh and

weather color to the rocks.

4. A grain size chart (Lindholm, 1987) was also used to describe the textural

properties of the rock (size, roundness, sphericity and sorting).

5. Other characteristic features like sedimentary structures, bedforms,weathering styles were also noted carefully.

6. Hand lens and 10% HCl were also used for description of hand specimens.

7. Oriented samples were taken from each bed.

8. All the characteristics observed in the field were recorded systematically.

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9. Each bed was photographed, along with the features it contained, to prepare

final lithological log.

1.8.4 Methodology adopted for Microfacies Analysis

1. Selected rock samples were cut and thin sections were prepared for

microscopic study.

2. Thin sections were stained with solution of Alizarin Red-S and Potassium

Ferricyanide for the identification of carbonate cements.

3. The petrographic studies of sandstone were completed by using Adams et al.,

1988.

4. Percentage of major and minor minerals was found by using comparison chart

for visual percentage estimation (Terry and Chilingar, 1955).

5. Folks (1980) and Pettijohns (1975) classifications of sandstone were used to

name each sample.

6. Photomicrographs were taken for illustration in this report.

Field description were also compared with microscopic observations in order to

study the depositional fabric, which include mineralogy, composition, grain

morphology, their orientation and size and diagenesis. The above factors are

very important in the determination of microfacies association.

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Introduction Chap