Lithofacies properties, biostratigraphy, cyclicity and depositional environment of the Margala Hill Limestone, Hazara Basin, Northern Pakistan

Date
2017-02
Authors
Ullah, Aman
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Publisher
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina
Abstract

The Margala Hill Limestone is a carbonate-dominated unit that occurs in the Kalla-Chitta, Hazara and Potwar basins in north Pakistan. This study addresses the lithofacies attributes, depositional setting, cyclicity, biostratigraphy and, sequence stratigraphy of the Margala Hill Limestone in the Hazara Basin. In the study area, the formation has an average thickness of 80 m; it conformably overlies the Paleocene-Eocene Patala Formation and is conformably overlain by the Early Eocene Chorgali Formation. The Margala Hill Limestone consists of bioclastic limestone lithofacies with subordinate gray to brownish gray, thin marl interbeds. The limestones are commonly grey, weathering pale grey, fine-to medium-grained, nodular, thinly to thickly bedded and rarely massive in nature. Four stratigraphic sections at, Goragali, Bharyan, Nathiagali and Kozagali, were studied in detail. Field data and petrographic analysis were used to create nine lithofacies (Mf1-Mf9) from the studied sections. These lithofacies includes miliolid Mudstone (Mf1), Algal-miliolid wackestone-packstone (Mf2), Bioclastic Packstone (Mf3), Nummulites-Assilina packstone-wackestone (Mf4), Nummulites-Discocyclina wackestone-packstone (Mf5), elongated Benthic Foraminifera wackestone (Mf6), Planktonic Foraminifera mudstone (Mf7), Bioclastic Marl Lithofacies (Mf8) and unfossiliferous Marl Lithofacies (Mf9). The Margala Hill Limestone was deposited in a quiet to moderately agitated ramp setting where lithofacies Mf1, Mf2 & Mf3 represents inner ramp, lithofacies Mf4, Mf5 & Mf8 represents middle ramp and lithofacies Mf6, Mf7 & Mf9 are outer ramp deposits. The vertical arrangements of these lithofacies suggest recurring subtidal shallowing-upward cycles (A, B and-C). Absence of intertidal and supratidal signatures further suggest a subtidal setting. The cycles range from 10-20 meters in thickness. The index fossils Nummulites atacicus, Nummulites globulus and Assilina laminosa indicates a the Middle Ilerdian 2/SBZ8 (54Ma-52.8Ma) age for the formation. Portion of Patala Formation, Margala Hill Limestone and Chorgali Formation were deposited as a single supercycle (the PMC supercycle). The supercycle is comprised of two 3rd-order Transgressive-Regressive depositional sequences (TR-1 & TR-2). The Margala Hill Limestone makes the middle part of the PMC supercycle and is comprised of seven, 4th-5th-order shallowing-upward cycles.

Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geology, University of Regina. xii, 127 p.
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