The Jurassic in Pakistan
201 – 145 Ma
From 201 to 145 million years ago — dinosaurs dominant on land while warm shelf seas laid down thick limestones.
In Pakistan
Jurassic shelf carbonates and clastics are widespread: the coal-bearing Datta Formation, the Shinawari Formation and the thick Samana Suk Limestone of the northern ranges, and the massive Chiltan Limestone of the Sulaiman–Kirthar belt. Ammonites and belemnites are locally common.
This reference records 31 units assigned to the Jurassic across 7 basins, most commonly limestone, metamorphic rocks, sandstone.
At a glance
- 31
- units
- 7
- basins
- 11
- provinces
- 13
- georeferenced
- 17
- with fossils
- 27
- type localities
- 1,288 m
- max thickness
- 43
- sources
Rock types
- limestone (19)
- metamorphic rocks (4)
- sandstone (4)
- conglomerate (2)
- igneous rocks (1)
- shale/mudstone (1)
Based on the primary lithology recorded for each unit; some units span more than one rock type.
Fossils recorded
- Foraminifera
- Algae
- Megalodontidae (bivalves)
- Benthic foraminifera (Aulotortus friedli, Agathammina)
- Trigonia-type bivalves
- Brachiopods
- Crinoids
- Nannofossils
- Corals
- Ammonites
- Large to giant bivalves (pernids, ostreids; Lithiotis-facies)
- Turriculate gastropods
- Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera
- Amijiella amiji
- Pseudocyclammina liasica
- Siphovalvulina variabilis
- Planinvoluta carinata
- Plant fossils
- Coal traces
- Freshwater bivalves
- Choffatia
- Bullatimorphites bullatus
- Clydoniceras
- Brohisaurus kirthari
+12 more across the Jurassic units.
Units of the Jurassic
- Aghil Limestone Middle Triassic–Early Jurassic
- Alozai Group Balochistan Basin
- Anjira Formation Kirthar Basin
- Arkari Formation Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Ashtigar Formation Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Bdongo-La Formation Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Chichali Formation Tithonian-Berriasian
- Chiltan Limestone Middle Jurassic
- Dark Limestone Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Darwaz An Formation Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Datta Formation Early Jurassic
- Deshan Banda Limestone Kohistan-Ladakh Magmatic Arc
- Dilband Formation Kirthar Basin
- Isha Formation Middle to Late Jurassic
- Jaglot Group Kohistan-Ladakh Magmatic Arc
- Kharari Formation Late Triassic (?) to Early Jurassic
- Loralai Formation Late Triassic, may extend up to Middle Jurassic (Bajocian)
- Malikhore Formation Early Jurassic
- Marpo Sandstone Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Mazar Drik Formation Middle Jurassic
- Reshit Formation late Middle Jurassic
- Saidu Formation Northern Indus Suture
- Samana Suk Formation Middle Jurassic
- Sarobi Formation Early to Middle Jurassic
- Shinawari Formation Middle Jurassic
- Shirinab Formation Early Jurassic (Pre-Toarcian); maybe into late Triassic
- Sulaiman Group Sulaiman Basin
- Surghar Group Kohat-Potwar Basin
- Takatu Formation Middle Jurassic (Toarcian to Bathonian)
- Tekri Formation Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
- Yashkuk Formation Karakoram-Hindukush Basin
Provinces — Hazara Basin · Hindukush-Chitral · Karakoram · Kirthar Range · Kohat Basin · Kohistan Arc · Potwar Basin · Salt Range · Sulaiman Fold Belt · Swat–Malakand · Zhob-Muslim Bagh.