U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Lithofacies, Depositional Environments, and Regional Stratigraphy of the Lower Eocene Ghazij Formation, Balochistan, Pakistan U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1599 Prepared in cooperation with the Geological Survey of Pakistan A Cover. Exposures of the lower Eocene Ghazij Formation along the northeast flank of the Sor Range, Balochistan, Pakistan. Photograph by Stephen B. Roberts. Lithofacies, Depositional Environments, and Regional Stratigraphy of the Lower Eocene Ghazij Formation, Balochistan, Pakistan By Edward A. Johnson, Peter D. Warwick, Stephen B. Roberts, and Intizar H. Khan U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1599 Prepared in cooperation with the Geological Survey of Pakistan UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1999 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lithofacies, depositional environments, and regional stratigraphy of the lower Eocene Ghazij Formation, Balochistan, Pakistan / by Edward A. Johnson . .[et al.]. p. cm.—(U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1599) "Prepared in cooperation with the Geological Survey of Pakistan." Includes bibliographical references. 1. Geology, Stratigraphic—Eocene. 2. Geology—Pakistan— Balochistan. 3. Coal—Geology—Pakistan—Balochistan. 4. Ghazij Formation (Pakistan). I. Johnson, Edward A. (Edward Allison), 1940- . II. Series. QE692.2.L58 1999 553.2'4'0954915—dc21 98-3305 ISBN=0-607-89365-6 CIP CONTENTS Abstract........................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Location of the Study.............................................................................................. 2 Sponsorship and Purpose of the Report.................................................................. 2 Previous Studies...................................................................................................... 2 Methods of Investigation......................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgments................................................................................................... 3 Geologic Framework of Northeastern Balochistan......................................................... 5 Structural Features.................................................................................................. 5 Areal Distribution of Sedimentary Rocks............................................................... 7 Vertical Distribution of Sedimentary Rocks ........................................................... 8 Pre-Ghazij Geologic History........................................................................................... 8 Pre-Ghazij Plate Tectonics...................................................................................... 8 Pre-Ghazij Deposition............................................................................................. 8 Early Eocene Depositional Setting ................................................................................. 9 Lower Eocene Sedimentary Rocks ................................................................................. 11 History of Stratigraphic Nomenclature ................................................................. 11 Principal Reference Sections........................................................................................... 12 Shin Ghwazha Mine................................................................................................ 14 Abraham Mam Mine.............................................................................................. 15 GishtariNala........................................................................................................... 15 MoghalMine........................................................................................................... 15 Sarawan River......................................................................................................... 15 Vertical Subdivisions and Lithofacies of the Ghazij Formation ..................................... 15 Lower Muddy Marine Part...................................................................................... 15 Lithofacies......................................................................................................... 15 Mudrock.................................................................................................. 15 Sandstone................................................................................................ 17 Lower Contact................................................................................................... 17 Upper Contact.................................................................................................... 19 Middle Coal-Bearing Part....................................................................................... 19 Lithofacies......................................................................................................... 19 Mudrock.................................................................................................. 19 Sandstone................................................................................................ 19 Type I Sandstone Bodies................................................................. 19 Type II Sandstone Bodies................................................................ 21 Type III Sandstone Bodies .............................................................. 21 Carbonaceous Shale................................................................................ 21 Coal......................................................................................................... 22 Limestone................................................................................................ 22 White Claystone...................................................................................... 23 Coquina................................................................................................... 24 Upper Contact................................................................................................... 24 Upper Muddy Nonmarine Part................................................................................ 24 Lithofacies......................................................................................................... 25 Mudrock.................................................................................................. 25 Sandstone................................................................................................ 25 Conglomerate.......................................................................................... 25 Other Lithologies.................................................................................... 26 III IV CONTENTS Upper Contact................................................................................................ 26 Discussion........................................................................................................................... 27 Northwestern Sulaiman Lobe......................................................................... 28 Murree Brewery............................................................................................. 30 Sor Range....................................................................................................... 30 PirlsmailZiarat.............................................................................................. 30 Mach............................................................................................................... 33 RodangiNala.................................................................................................. 34 Johan............................................................................................................... 34 The Alternate Nomenclature of Shah..................................................................... 36 Regional Variations of the Ghazij Formation................................................................. 36 Sulaiman Range..................................................................................................... 36 BalaDhaka-Bahlol-KingriBelt...................................................................... 36 Rakhi Nala and Zinda Pir............................................................................... 37 Moghal Kot and Drazinda.............................................................................. 38 Kirthar Range......................................................................................................... 39 Marap Conglomerate...................................................................................... 39 Harboi Hills.......................................................................................... 39 Surab..................................................................................................... 40 Sibi to the Indus River...........................................................................................