Depositional Environments of the Hissartang Formation Attock-Cherat Range, Peshawar
Abstract
Hissartang Formation forms the middle part of Silurian-Devonian stratigraphic sequence exposed in the Attock-Cherat Range. Detailed petrographic, textural and structural studies reveal that this formation consists of two facies described as follows.
- Argillite facies:
- Lower Argillite (99.12m) thin bedded, grey in colour.
- Upper Argillite (72.73m) thin bedded variegated in colour.
- Quartzose Sandstone facies:
- Lower Quartzose Sandstone: (88.80m) thin to thick bedded, white to light grey in colour.
- Upper Quartzose Sandstone: (105.99m), medium to thick bedded, white to light grey in colour.
Only a few stratigraphic horizons of the upper quartzose sandstone show cross beds. Whereas thin to thick strata and thin laminae are commonly present in both, argillites and quartzose sandstone facies. Lack of various sedimentary and biogenic structures, fine grain size of quartzose sandstone and association of argillites suggest the Supratidal to subtidal environments. Fine grain size of quartz and absence of barrier ridge sandstone suggest the large distance of transport of quartz particles and lesser amount of terrigenous material available.
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