Stratigraphy and Structure of the Southern Gandghar Range, Pakistan
Abstract
The southern Gandghar Range is composed of a succession of marine strata of probable Proterozoic age, consisting of a thick basal argillaceous sequence (Manki Formation) overlain by algal limestone and shale (Shahkot, Utch Khattak, and Shekhai Formations). These rocks are thrust southeastward over the Kherimar Hills succession along the Panjal fault. The Gandghar Range and Kherimar Hills successions correlate with the northern and central blocks of the Attock-Cherat Range, respectively, indicating that the combined Panjal-Khairabad fault juxtaposes two major, laterally continuous structural blocks.
The rocks of the southern Gandghar Range occur in two structural blocks juxtaposed along the Baghdarra fault. The hanging wall consists entirely of isoclinally-folded Manki Formation, while the footwall consists of the complete Manki-Shekhai succession which has been deformed into tight, northeast-plunging, generally southeast-verging disharmonic folds. The Baghdarra fault is apparently deformed along with the footwall strata, indicating that it is older than, and is being carried piggy-back style on, the Panjal fault. Phyllite near the Baghdarra fault displays asymmetric deformation of foliation around garnet porphyroblasts, kink bands, and a poorly-developed s-c fabric. These features are consistent with conditions of dextral shear, indicating reverse slip displacement along the fault.
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