CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The isolated hill outcrops dispersed around Sargodha, chiniot, shahkot and
shaheenabad are considered to be the part of the world’s largest felsic volcanic belts
known as ‘malani volcanics’. These are considered to be the part of the formation that is
mainly exposed along the northwestern flank of Aravalli mountain ranges India. These
are considered to be the representatives of the widespread tectonic magmatic events in
the late Proterozoic period. The extensive shearing and jointing in outcrops is an evidence
for this belief.

However these meta-sedimentary rocks named as Kirana complex that occur in upper
Indus basin. The complex is majorly composed of meta-sedimentary rocks, grey slate, red
and grey quartzite, conglomerates and volcanics igneous rocks.

Economically these are very important as extensive mineralization of metallic

minerals present i.e. hematite.

1.2 PREVIOUS LITERATURE

The area was previously explored by Abdul Mateen, Syed Alim Ahmed, and
Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhary and others.

The authors established that the exposed formations were not part of Indian shield
rocks as previously believed (Chaudhary et al., 1999) rather they are distinctive
assemblages of cratonic rift. The kirana hill in the area is considered to be the largest
outcrop with a general northwest strike. Overall geology of the area is mafic suits of
theolitic basalts, basaltic andesite and minor andesite, while felsic rocks are rhyolite and
minor dacites.

The concept of Indian shield encapsulated the purely cratonic crystalline rocks that
had been a relatively stable part of the earth’s crust over a long period of time and has
only undergone gentle wrapping. However according to the petro genetic interpretations

1
of kirana volacanics, it has been suggested that bimodal suites may be produced in
extensional environments, hence shedding doubt on it being part of Indian shield.

1.3 PURPOSE OF FIELD

The primary purpose of this field was to enhance the knowledge of students and
make them able to identify and analyze different rock types and structures in the field. To
enable the students how to measure dip and strike with brunton compass in the field and
how to make rough sketches of out crops with proper lithology and structures.

1.4 LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

Sargodha (the city of eagles) is the administrative center of Sargodha division of

Punjab province Pakistan. Sargodha is the 11th in the List of most populated
metropolitan areas in Pakistan and 5th largest in Punjab.

Sargodha itself is located 206 km (128 miles) from Lahore the second largest city
in Pakistan and 244 km (152 miles) from the capital Islamabad.

Map1.1. Satellite image of Sargodha

The coordinates of Sargodha are 32.0836° N and 72.6711° E. The city is easily
accessible from Islamabad via Islamabad motorway. The route map from Islamabad to
Sargodha is shown below in map 1.2.

2
Map 1.2. Route map from Bahria University Islamabad to Sargodha

Chiniot city is administration headquarter of Chiniot District, in the state

of Punjab, Pakistan.

City is located at the bank of river Chenab with the heads of small rocky hills, it is
known for its wooden furniture architecture which has a great attraction in all over the
world.The coordinates of chiniot city are 31°43′12″N 72°58′44″E. Chiniot is located
55km from Sargodha and is easily accessible.

3
Map1.3 Satellite image of Chinniot.

1.5 CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Extreme weather conditions of the area. The maximum temperature reaches 50 °C

(122 °F) in the summer while the minimum temperature recorded is as low as freezing
point in the winter. Rainfall in the area varies from 12.0 to 381.0 (mm/month). Vast land
of the area is allowed to farmers for plantation. Main crop is citrus and others include
wheat, rice and sugar cane. Area mountains are mostly barren which indication of low
nutrition is, hence it’s not sedimentary rocks.

1.6 METHODOLOGY

The methodology by which we studied Stratigraphy is:

Observe the formation members, outcrops, lithology and contacts between different
lithology.

Identify minerals by physical properties i.e. hardness with streak plate, acid test, and
magnetism with magnet.

Measure dip and strike with brunton compass and make cross sections of out crops.

Collect samples and cross match them to observe similarities and differences.

4
 CHAPTER 2

GENERAL GEOLOGY

2.1 TOPOGRAPHY OF KIRANA HILLS

The Kirana Hills is a small mountain range in Pakistan's Punjab province. It spans
approximately 40 miles across the districts of Sargodha and Jhang. The highest peak in
the Kirana Hills is Koh-e-Kirana, which is about 980 feet high. The region is also known
as "Black Mountains" by locals because of the dark brown colors of the range.

2.2 STRATIGRAPHY:

Table 2.1 shows the various formations of the Kirana area.

Group Formation Description

Sharaban formation Conglomerates with slate

intercalations.
Hadda formation Calcareous quartzite
Asianwala Formation Mainly quartzite with sub ordinate
Machh Super quartz wackes / arenaceous slates,
Group gritty quartzite and slates, often
showing cross bedding and ripple
marks
Tuguwali Formation Slates, fine grained quartz wackes /
arenaceous slates
Chak 112 Conglomerates Polymict conglomerate with clasts
of dolerite and acid volcanics.

Volcanogenic slates Often interbedded with rhyolite /

Hachi volcanics rhyolite tuff and dolerite

Volcanics Dolerites, andesite, dacites, dacitic

tuff, rhyolites and rhyolitic tuff.

5
2.2.1 Sharaban Conglomerates

Named after the type locality at Sharaban hill, about 18 km SE of Sargodha the
formation is characterized by a 120 m thick sequence of conglomerates with minor lenses
of fine-grained quartzite. The conglomerate is thick bedded (5-10 m) and contains
flattened and elongated pebbles and cobbles (1-10cm) of quartzite and slate, apparently
derived from the older sequences in this region. The conglomerate also contains
limestone pebbles that must have come from distant source since there are no limestone
outcrops in this region. No fossil have been found in this formation. Upper contact is with
alluvium while lower contact of conglomerates pass into the Hadda quartzite. Based upon
stratigraphic position, it is considered as youngest formation in the area.

2.2.2 Hadda quartzite

The formation has been named after the hadda canal rest house, 20 km from
Sargodha. It is largely comprised of quartzite, slates conglomerates and lava flows. At the
type locality it is about 372 m thick .The quartzite is the dominant rock type .They are
rusty brown, fine-grained and at places cross-bedded. Slumping of beds is also evident at
some locations. Upper part of the formation is comprised of conglomerates, inter bedded
with quartzite ranging in thickness from 1 to 2.5 m. The middle part of formation is
composed of quartzite, light grey to brownish grey in color. Lower part is highly
ferruginous and being mined for hematite. No fossil is reported. The formation is exposed
in isolated hillocks without any connection with older sequences. According to Alam et al
(1992), it is conformably overlain by the Sharaban formation.

2.2.3 Asianwala Quartzite

The formation drives its name from the Asianwala canal rest house which lies
between latitude 31° 59' 38''N and 72° 43' 42''E. Type locality is kirana hills. The
formation is predominantly quartzite with minor intercalations of slate. The quartzite is
cross bedded and ripple marked. Quartzite is thickly bedded and off white to light grey in
color. The interbedded slates are grey in color and occur in thin layers. Joints and

6
fractures are filled with hematite mineralization. Upper part is covered with alluvium
while gradational contact with underlying Taguwali formation. No fossils have been
reported yet.

2.2.4 Taguwali Formation

This formation is named after the Taguwali Village which lies between the
latitude 31° 56'N and longitude 72° 42'E and the type section is south of Kirana Hill,
located at the coordinates 31° 58' 3''N and 72° 42' 0''E. In upper part of the rock phyllite
is dominant with minor slates. Lower part is comprised of phyllite and slates with fine
grain quartzite. Phyllite is light grey, fine grained, thinly bedded and partially thickly
bedded at places, also show cross bedding. The formation is about 1189 m thick. The
lower contact of this formation with the underlying Hachi formation is obscure. Its upper
contact with the Asianwala formation is gradational.

2.2.5 Hachi Group

Named after the type Locality at Hachi Hill lies between latitude 31° 54' 09" N
and longitude 72° 41' 59" E. It can be divided into volcanic (tuffs, dolerites, andesite, and
rhyolite) and as volcanogenic slates. The unit is composed of mixed clastic sedimentary
pyroclastic material and it is difficult to demarcate clear stratigraphic units. It also has
light to medium grey quartzite layers. At type locality it is 404 m thick. Tuff is light grey
and interlayers with lava and meta-sediments. The lavas are largely rhyolite to dacitic
with minor andesite. No pillow structure is found and generally bedding is also not clear
but at some places it is distinct.

7
 CHAPTER 3

Day 1 March 13, 2014

Area

Killa Hills – Chak#100

3.1 Station 1

Geographic co-ordinates of the station was 31, 58’’, 19,623’ N latitude and 72,
38’’, 14.142’ E longitude. Observed outcrop was grey to greenish in color with neither
bedding planes nor foliation planes. It was medium grained dolerite, the hypabassel
igneous rock equalent to volcanic basalt. Dolerite had amphibole and plagioclase
minerals in it with no schistosity. Greenish looking was due to feldspar. Outcrop has
deformed zones and quartz veins were present confirmed with acid.

Figure 3.1. Light greenish colored dolerite

3.2 Station 2

As move further to station 2 we observed another outcrop that was part of shear
zone because rocks were extensively deformed. This outcrop was rugged, non-foliated
and greenish to dark grey in color. At some places changing in color was observed that

8
might be due to mineralogical change. Deformation in the outcrop was visible as
anticlinal structure appeared in outcrop as shown in fig below. The pattern and inclination
of folded beds suggested that it had been formed via dragging effect.

Figure 3.2. Anticlinal Structure

The absence of layering and shistosity in the outcrop led to the conclusion that it
was neither sedimentary nor metamorphic. But the presence of cryptocrystalline chert and
the absence of porphyritic texture concluded that it was not igneous body. So it was
deduced that this massive shear zone consisted majorly of quartzite, a meta-sedimentary
rock because the convolution banding was also visible at some places.

Measured dip and strike was 68NE and N70W.

Another noticeable feature of this station was intrusion in quartzite. This intrusion
was medium grained dyke having an ophitic texture. Medium grained suggested that it
took place at medium depth so it could be hypabasal intrusion.

Intruded dyke had light and dark color minerals thus show color variations.
Quartz veins were also present in the dyke and dark color was due to presence of
amphibole and light color due to presence of plagioclase minerals. Hence it was deduced

9
that it was a dolerite dyke bearing NS and younger than quartzite on the basis of cross
cutting relationship principle.

Figure 3.3. Dolerite dyke intrusion

10
 CHAPTER 4

Day 2 March, 14 2014.

Area

Sharaban Area/ Chak # 102

4.1 Station 1

The area has geographical location of 31, 56’, 9.292’’ N latitude and 72, 47’, 05’’
E longitude. Initial observations we made that the out crop was light greyish-brown to
brown in color. Relics ripple marks and relics convolution banding were present.
Noticeable feature was pothole structures that were formed by the physical weathering
via action of whirling water.

The formation deduced to be quartzite and body show massive lineation. Original
texture was silt dominant and others different sizes grains i.e. sand, silt and clay suggested
that the quartzite had argillaceous turbidities. Dip and Strike values were measured of
quartzite bed. Dip was 85SE and strike was N80E.

Figure 4.1.A.Pothole structure B. Layering in quartzite

Noticeable feature was pinch out of calcareous schist between quartzite beds.
Acid test confirmed the presence of calcite as bubble was produced. The calcareous schist
had a width of 12 feet and length of 200 feet approximately.

11
 Intra-formational conglomerates were the prominent feature in quartzite showing
gradational contact with quartzite.

Another noticeable feature was the sedimentary intrusion into meta-sedimentary

quartzite at the base of the out crop. Intrusion was sedimentary dyke as it composed of
conglomerates and matrix so sedimentary in origin and oriented almost perpendicular
quartzite lineation. Because it was cross cutting the quartzite hence younger intrusion on
cross cutting principle. Sedimentary dyke was 14 feet long and 8 inches thick
approximately.

Figure 4.2. Sedimentary dyke intrusion in meta-sedimentary quartzite

The presence of meta-sedimentary quartzite, calcareous schist and intra-

formational conglomerates in the same out crop with different observed features suggest
that it can be called a “mélange zone”.

4.2 Station 2

We stop at extensively dipping beds area where we practice how to measure

strike, dip and dip direction individually. This was turbidites sequence and its length was
almost 112 feet. Apparently all beds were dipping almost vertical but measured values
were N25W strike and 85SW dip.

12
Figure 4.3.Turbidites sequence

4.3 Station 3

This location had extensive hydro thermal activity leading to the development of
ore mineralization. Adit was already been made to exploit minerals. This hydrothermal
deposit was epigenetic, irregular and discordant vein type deposit having color maroon to
brown. This hydrothermal activity formed many minerals i.e. hematite, stibnite,
illemenite, pyrite etc. However when a sample was taken and checked its streak, it was
reddish brown and magnetic as it attracts towards magnetic plate thus concluded its
micaceous hematite and these veins network can be named as iron bands.

On the left side of veins mineralization we had quartzite while on right side we
had rhyolite body. Rhyolite body is acting as a heat source for mineralization of hematite
and others thus hematite mineralization found in joints and fractures. The presence of
clay alongside of the rhyolite body indicated recent alluvial deposits.

13
Figure 4.4. Hematite mineralization in veins

4.4 Station 4

After Jumma prayer we stop at place where convolution banding was so

prominent and these convolution bands made the Name of Allah Almighty and Prophet
Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon HIM).

Figure 4.5.Convolution banding naming ALLAH Almighty and Muhammad (P.B.U.H)

14
4.5 Station 5

The outcrop was identified as quartzite as sand size gains present and it was
extensively sheared and joints were present. White colored veins were present along
joints and acid test confirmed that it was calcite. The calcite crystals were very developed
like a sharp tooth hence also called calcite dog tooth spar.

Another prominent feature was the presence of lens shaped, red colored thin body
of chert. It was cryptocrystalline chert also called jasper, the red variety of quartz. The
red color was due to iron impurities in silica. Jasper is an important gemstone mineral
having hardness of 6.5 to 7 and occur in almost all mineralization environments.

Figure 4.6.A. Calcite dog tooth spar B. Jasper

4.6 Station 6

We moved to area named Chak 112 south, geographic co-ordinates were 31, 55’,
31.718’’ N latitude and 72, 42’, 21.513’’ E longitude. Here boulders were present and
identified as quartzite and basalt. An outcrop was also visible, that was rhyolite.

Another boulder we observed had porphyritic structure because of the presence of

phenocrysts. Boulder texture was vesicular and porphyritic and concluded that it was
porphyro blast texture.

15
 CHAPTER 5

Day 3 March15, 2014

Area

Shaheenabad / Chak 118South

5.1 Station: 1

Geographic co-ordinates of the location was 31, 54`, 49.244`` N latitude and 72,
39`, 04.346`` E longitude. Color, lithology and structural changes were observed.
Outcrop showed no variation when transverse along strike. Main lithology which
identified and sketched were quartzite, basalt, rhyolite and dolerite.

Dolerite was first lithology observed when transverse across strike of outcrop.
After it basalt was present showing massive columnar jointing which was an indication of
identification of basalt. Basalt show fine grain texture while dolerite had coarser than it.
Quartz veins were also visible in outcrop while basalt was sandwiched between dolerite
at this location.

After basalt dolerite was appeared in outcrop which was in contact with meta-
sedimentary quartzite. Quartzite showed relics of sand stone structures and have very
sharp contact with dolerite.

When transverse further across strike typical featured was appeared which was
deduced as metamorphosed turbidities. Relics of ripple marks and convolution banding
was present showing extensional regime. Mud was textural feature in turbidities.

16
Figure 5.1. Turbidities showing replica texture.

5.2 Station 2

Geographic location of the area was 31, 54`, 52.127`` N latitude and 72, 38`,
38.165`` E longitude. Main feature observed in outcrop was lenticular cylinders of fine
grained basalt. These were fresh basalts showing extreme regime.

Figure 5.2. Pillow basalt

17
5.3 Station 3

Geographic location was 31, 55`, 3.125`` N latitude and 72, 38`, 31.463`` E
longitude. Basalt was continued and typical light color dyke intrusion was observed. Dark
color lithology was basalt of fine grained while light color dyke had coarse grained
texture comparatively to basalt. Main color was yellowish and light pink color potassium
feldspar was present. Contact of dyke with country rock basalt was very sharp with
showing neither any alteration nor any veins. Sharp and chilled margin of dyke with
basalt concluded that dyke was formed by low temperature acidic magma having low
temperature minerals, while basalt had high temperature minerals i.e. olivine, pyroxene.
So dyke was not capable to alter the basalt hence no veins were present. After long
observation it was deduced as acidic, micro granite dyke younger than basalt in which it
was intruding. Pieces of basalt also observed in dyke which called xenoliths of basalt.
Dyke had 500 feet length and 20 feet width approximately. Samples were collected for
detailed study.

Figure 5.3.Dyke intrusion in basalt

18
Figure 5.4. Xenolith of basalt in micro-granite dyke

19
 CHAPTER 6

Day 4 March16, 2014

Area

Chinniot

6.1 Station 1

Geographic position at first stop in chinniot was 31, 43’, 34.202’’ N latitude and
72, 58’, 23.60’’E longitude. The observed outcrop was light yellowish to brown in color
and had fine grained texture. Feldspar phenocrysts were present in the outcrop. Extensive
hydrothermal activity observed in out crop along joints which led to the vein type
mineralization of dark to brown color. Black color, metallic luster, reddish brown streak
and magnetism suggested that it was micaceous hematite mineralization. Rhyolite was
heat engine for all these vein mineralization. Dendritic structure was also found in the
outcrop which was formed by manganese concentration.

Figure 6.1.Hematite mineralization

20
6.2 Station 2

Outcrop had rhyolite and quartzite as main lithology and extensive hydrothermal
activity was observed. Vein type deposit of hematite formed pinch and swell structures.
For mineralization a heat source needed which was provided by rhyolite. Dendritic
structure was also found there. This dendritic pattern is was an indicator of the drainage
pattern for the fluid which caused the mineralization. The presence of this dendritic
pattern in rhyolite is an indicator that this rhyolite was acted as heat source for
hydrothermal alteration.

Figure 6.2.A.Dendritic Structure B. Outcrop showing ore mineralization

21
 CONCLUSION

Field excursion concludes that area has pre Cambrian age rocks composed of
meta-sedimentary and igneous rocks. Meta-sedimentary rocks are quartzite, slates and
phyllites while basalt, rhyolite and dolerites represent igneous origin. Area is extensively
sheared, magmatic intrusions can be observed by presence of dykes, fractures and joints
while hematite, calcite and quartz veins represent the hydrothermal mineralization.
Academically area is pretty good for understanding hard rocks, hydrothermal activities
and paleo-environments and economically area has potential of metallic minerals and
building materials.

22
 REFRENCES

Ahmad, S. A., Mateen, A., Khan, Z.K. and Chaudhary, M. N., 2000. Geology and
geochemistry of Neoproterozoic Kirana Volcanics, Sargodha District, Punjab, Pakistan.
Geol. Bull. Punjab Univ. 35, pp., 59 – 71.
Stratigraphy of Pakistan, Ibrahim Shah, 2009.
Alam, G.S (1987). Geology of Kirana Hills, District Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.Geol.
Bull. Surv. Pak. Inf. Release 201,36p.
Heron, A.M. (1913), The Kirana and other hills in the Jech and Rechna Doabs. Recs.
Geol. Surv. India 43, pp. 229-236.

23