Mekhtar Formation (or Mekhtar Sandstone)

This unit (highlighted) within its province column; faded ends continue above and below. Line style marks the contact type.

A Cretaceous sandstone of the Loralai-Mekhtar area.

Mekhtar Formation (or Mekhtar Sandstone) Mekhtar Formation (or Mekhtar Sandstone or it is commonly called as lower Goru sandstone) is upgraded by Malkani and Mahmood (2016b) as formation (from previous Mekhtar member) due to its wide occurrence and lateral extension in the Eastern Sulaiman and also Eastern Kirthar basins (subsurface). It is not exposed in the Kirthar basin but found in subsurface, however it is exposed in Mekhtar and Murgha Kibzai areas of Sulaiman basin. Malkani (2010a) established three members of Sembar formation. But here the Middle Sandstone and upper shale and marl are considered as Mekhtar Formation. Its type locality is near the Mekhtar town just south of Mekhtar on Chamalang Mekhtar road (39F/7). At type locality it is round about 100m thick lensoid shape. This sandstone is oil producing/reservoir rocks in Kirthar basin commonly called Lower Goru Sandstone. Actually it is a Mekhtar Formation. It mostly consists of sandstone (Pab like) with some shale and marl. The lower contact with Sembar is gradational and sharp marked on Sandstone facies variation from Shale facies of Sembar. The upper contact with Goru Formation is also sharp. According to law of superposition its age can be considered as Early Cretaceous.

Significance. A Cretaceous sandstone unit of the Loralai–Mekhtar area of the eastern Balochistan fold belt.

Provinces

• Malkani, M.S. & Mahmood, Z. (2017). Stratigraphy of Pakistan. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Memoir Vol. 24.

Reviewer confidence: medium