TECTONIC EVOLUTION AND STRUCTURAL MODELING OF BANDA DAUD SHAH-SURGHAR AND MARDAN KHEL-SOOR DAG TRANSECTS, KOHAT BASIN, PAKISTAN
Keywords:
Kohat Basin; Thrust tectonics; Manzalai Anticlinorium; Structural transectsAbstract
The Kohat basin in the northwestern Pakistan is a sedimentary basin and a Fold-Thrust belt bounded by
the Main Boundary Thrust in the north and the Surghar ranges in the south. Geological mapping, structural
modelling and restoration have been conducted in central and southern Kohat basin to understand the
evolution of the Fold and Thrust belt and its hydrocarbon potential. Surface geology of the area reveals the
dominancy of thrust tectonics. Manzalai Anticlinorium, Karak fault zone and Surghar ranges are the
prominent structural features of the area under discussion. Synclines are generally wide while anticlines are
sharp, possibly due to the isostatic adjustment of ductile and incompetent Eocene evaporites, under the post
Eocene stratigraphic column. This part of the Kohat basin is in the stage of initial deformation of the presently
developed tectonic model in the northern Kohat basin, where it is believed to have formed by double
decollement. The subsurface contour on top of the Paleocene shows promising traps in Manzalai anticline,
Karak anticline, and Karak fault zone for the well-developed and proven petroleum system of the Kohat
basin. The eastern and western structural transects (A-B and C-D) show crustal shortening of 15.19% and
6.63% respectively. Major crustal shortening and stress release is concentrated in the uplift of Manzalai
structure and Karak fault zone. The un-mapable intra-formational en-echelon folding at the western part of
the basin, toward the Kurram fault, represents transpressional tectonics.
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