A Geological Traverse Through Tirah, Khyber Agency, N.W.F.P., Pakistan

Abstract

This short paper presents the results of a geological traverse conducted through the northern part of Tirah in Khyber Agency during the last week of July, 1971. The rocks encountered between Lala China and the Rajgal area are, Lala China Slaty-shales, Chura Kandao Limestone, Walai Limestone, China Limestone, Spinkai Limestone, Mughalbagh Shales, Paleocene Limestone and Murree sandstones and shales; the latter two units are well developed in the Bara and Rajgal valleys, west of Bazar. The Palaeozoic sequences, besides Lala China and Chura Kandao (Khyber Pass), were encountered at two places: in a Khwar about 3 miles upstream of Mughalbagh and in Baraghat nala in the Rajgal area. Four differentiable mappable units from bottom to top are: Lwarai Mela Limestone, Baraghat Slate, Barai Quartzite and Spinkai Limestone, which have been placed as members of the Rajgal Formation. Acid igneous intrusions consisting of granite and granite-gneiss with pegmatite and aplite veins lie in contact with the upper part of Spinkai Limestone. Graphite mineralization occurs in the granite and granite-gneiss near the contact of the Spinkai Limestone.