Tectonic setting and provenance study of lower jurassic datta formation potwar basin, pakistan

Abstract

The tectonic setting and provenance study of the sandstone of the Datta formation, Early Jurassic of age, has been established under the current research work. The project area located in western part of Salt Range famously known as Nammal Gorge in the district Mianwali. During the field work fourteen samples were collected for the purpose of petrography as well as XRF analysis. Fourteen thin-sections were prepared and studied under microscope. The frame work grains such as quartz, feldspar and rock fragments alongside with accessory minerals were observed under microscope. All the obtained data presented in tabular form for further utilization. QFL triangular plots were plotted to classify sandstone of the Datta Formation by using Folk’s (1974) classification. Nine samples of the sandstone were geochemically analyzed (major elements) by Geo Advanced Research Lab (GARL), Islamabad. On the basis of the results, the discrimination diagrams are plotted to find out the provenance study of the Datta Formation. The petrographic studies reveal that the source area lies “Craton Interior” as well as in the “Recycled Orogen”. The geochemical studies reinforce the petrographic results. The Aravalli Range or Indian Cratonic rocks of Precambrian age was source area that was weathered as well as eroded to deposit as the Datta Formation. This research is further reinforce by paleo-current analysis which show that the direction of sediment transportation was from ESE to WNW during the Jurassic time.