The Neogene in Pakistan
23 – 2.58 Ma
From about 23 to 2.58 million years ago — grasslands spread, many modern mammal groups appeared, and the Himalaya and its foreland basins grew rapidly.
In Pakistan
The Neogene is dominated by the Siwalik Group — the immense molasse shed off the rising Himalaya across the Potwar and the sub-Himalayan ranges, world-famous for its Miocene–Pliocene fossil mammals (elephants, giraffes, rhinos and the ape Sivapithecus). Offshore to the west, the Makran accretionary wedge and the Chagai magmatic arc were building at the same time.
This reference records 35 units assigned to the Neogene across 7 basins, most commonly conglomerate, sandstone, shale/mudstone.
At a glance
- 35
- units
- 7
- basins
- 12
- provinces
- 17
- georeferenced
- 16
- with fossils
- 32
- type localities
- 10,000 m
- max thickness
- 47
- sources
Rock types
- conglomerate (14)
- sandstone (14)
- shale/mudstone (3)
- igneous rocks (2)
- limestone (1)
Based on the primary lithology recorded for each unit; some units span more than one rock type.
Fossils recorded
- Very rich vertebrate fauna ('Bugti Beds')
- Sivapithecus
- Giraffokeryx
- Lower Siwalik ('Chinji') mammal fauna
- Foraminifera
- Molluscs
- Marine vertebrates
- Assilina mamilla
- Fasciolites borealis
- Discocyclina undulata
- Lepidocyclina blanfordi
- Lepidocyclina dilatata
- Nummulites atacicus
- Nummulites fichteli
- Nummulites intermedius
- Spiroclypeus sp.
- Planktonic foraminifera
- Trace fossils
- Trilophodon cf. angustidens
- Dinotherium indicum
- Amphicyon cf. shahbazi
- Hyaenaelurus lahirii
- Anthracotherium sp.
- Hemimeryx blanfordi
+20 more across the Neogene units.
Units of the Neogene
- Bahlol Nika Formation Pishin–Katawaz Basin
- Baltoro Granite Early Miocene
- Bugti Formation Oligocene to Miocene
- Bunthang Sequence Skardu intermontane basin
- Chatti Formation Balochistan Basin
- Chaudhwan Formation Sulaiman Basin
- Chinji Formation Miocene
- Dasht Murgha Group Pishin–Katawaz Basin
- Dhok Pathan Formation Miocene-Pliocene
- Gaj Formation Early–Middle Miocene
- Hinglaj Formation Late Oligocene to Pliocene
- Hoshab Formation Late Oligocene to Early Miocene
- Kamlial Formation Middle to Late Miocene
- Kargocha Formation Bannu Basin
- Khuzhobai Formation Pishin–Katawaz Basin
- Koh-i-Sultan Volcanic Group Late Pliocene–Pleistocene
- Lei Conglomerate Pliocene-Pleistocene
- Litra Formation Sulaiman Basin
- Malthanai Formation Pishin–Katawaz Basin
- Manchar Formation Kirthar Basin
- Marwat Formation Bannu Basin
- Murree Formation Miocene
- Nagri Formation Miocene
- Ormara Formation Middle Pleistocene
- Panjgur Formation Middle Miocene
- Parkini Formation Late Miocene
- Shaigalu Member Pishin–Katawaz Basin
- Sheri Gasha Formation Bannu Basin
- Siwalik Group Miocene–Pleistocene
- Soan Formation Pliocene-Pleistocene
- Sra Khula Formation Pishin–Katawaz Basin
- Talar Formation Balochistan Basin
- Urak Formation Pishin Basin
- Vihowa Formation Sulaiman Basin
- Vihowa Group Balochistan Basin
Provinces — Azad Kashmir · Chagai Hills · Hazara Basin · Karakoram · Kirthar Range · Kohat Basin · Makran Coast · Potwar Basin · Salt Range · Sindh Province · Sulaiman Fold Belt · Zhob-Muslim Bagh.