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Pakistan Stratigraphy

Kohat-Potwar Basin (Upper Indus)

Potwar Basin

Northern Punjab, Potwar Plateau between Salt Range and Margalla Hills · Foreland basin with active deformation

Eastern part of Upper Indus Basin with less evaporitic and more molasse-dominated sequences. Does NOT include Bahadurkhel Salt, Jatta Gypsum, Panoba–Chashmai–Gurguri facies, or Kahan Group. Famous for world-class Siwalik mammal fossils including early hominoid primates.

Units

42

Tectonic setting

Foreland basin with active deformation

This reference records 42 units in the Potwar Basin spanning 5 geological eras, most commonly sandstone, limestone, conglomerate.

Correlate with other provinces → Explore the basin → Filter all units →

At a glance

42
units
5
eras
19
georeferenced
33
with fossils
35
type localities
4,500 m
max thickness
58
sources

Rock types

  • sandstone (16)
  • limestone (16)
  • conglomerate (5)
  • evaporite (2)
  • igneous rocks (1)

Based on the primary lithology recorded for each unit; some units span more than one rock type.

Fossils recorded

  • Stromatolites
  • Algal mats
  • Trace fossils
  • Trilobites (rare)
  • Trilobites (Redlichia noetlingi)
  • Brachiopods (Lingulella fuchsia, Botsfordia granulata)
  • Gastropods
  • Trilobite trails (trace fossils)
  • Skolithos burrows
  • Cruziana traces
  • Brachiopods (Neobolus warthi, Lingulella)
  • Hyolithes wynnei
  • Brachiopods (Productus)
  • Crinoids
  • Bryozoans
  • Foraminifera
  • Last Paleozoic brachiopods
  • Ammonoids
  • Diminished fauna near top
  • Acritarchs
  • Tasmanitids
  • Brachiopods
  • Glossopteris
  • Gangamopteris

+79 more across the Potwar Basin units.

Units in this province

42 units

Line these up against other basins on the correlation panel →

Era colours
  • Quaternary
  • Cenozoic
  • Mesozoic
  • Paleozoic
  • Precambrian
Potwar Basin
  1. Lei ConglomerateFossils recordedQuaternary
  2. Soan FormationQuaternary
  3. Kamlial FormationFossils recordedNeogene
  4. Chinji FormationFossils recordedNeogene
  5. Dhok Pathan FormationNeogene
  6. Murree FormationFossils recordedNeogene
  7. Nagri FormationFossils recordedNeogene
  8. Siwalik GroupNeogene
  9. Hangu FormationFossils recordedPaleogene
  10. Kuldana FormationFossils recordedPaleogene
  11. Nammal FormationFossils recordedPaleogene
  12. Chorgali FormationFossils recordedPaleogene
  13. Lockhart LimestoneFossils recordedPaleogene
  14. Margala Hill LimestoneFossils recordedPaleogene
  15. Sakesar FormationFossils recordedPaleogene
  16. Lumshiwal FormationFossils recordedCretaceous
  17. Indus FormationFossils recordedCretaceous
  18. Kawagarh FormationFossils recordedCretaceous
  19. Chichali FormationFossils recordedJurassic-Cretaceous
  20. Datta FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  21. Samana Suk FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  22. Shinawari FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  23. Kathwai MemberTriassic
  24. Mianwali FormationFossils recordedTriassic
  25. Mittiwali MemberTriassic
  26. Narmia MemberTriassic
  27. Tredian FormationFossils recordedTriassic
  28. Kingriali FormationFossils recordedTriassic
  29. Khatkiara Sandstone MemberTriassic
  30. Landa MemberTriassic
  31. Amb FormationFossils recordedPermian
  32. Chhidru FormationFossils recordedPermian
  33. Sardhai FormationFossils recordedPermian
  34. Tobra FormationFossils recordedPermian
  35. Warchha SandstoneFossils recordedPermian
  36. Wargal LimestoneFossils recordedPermian
  37. Baghanwala FormationFossils recordedCambrian
  38. Jutana FormationFossils recordedCambrian
  39. Khewra SandstoneFossils recordedCambrian
  40. Kussak FormationFossils recordedCambrian
  41. Salt Range FormationFossils recordedEdiacaran
  42. Kirana GroupNeoproterozoic
ConglomerateSandstoneShale / mudLimestoneMixedGypsum / evaporiteIgneousFossils recordedConformableUnconformity

Band colour = period; texture = dominant rock type. Lines between bands mark the contact type (wavy = unconformity inferred from a missing period). True scale makes height ∝ recorded thickness; hatched = thickness not recorded. Ages approximate, for ordering.