Balauchistan Basin
Introduction
Arc Trench System
Age of the basin is dated to be Cretaceous
Location
North: Afghan Block/Eurasia
South: Arabian Sea
West: Iran
East: Chaman Transform Fault
Can be divided from North to South as;
1. Chaghai Arc/Hills
2. Intra arc basin (Mijawa-Dalbandin Through)
3. Ras Koh Arc/Hills
4. Kharan Fore Arc basin (Hamun-i-Mashkhel)
5. Panjgur Wrench Zone (Makran Accretionary Prism)
6. Makran Subduction Complex
Stratigraphy of Balauchistan Basin
Age Group/Formation
Pleistocene Gawadar / Jawani / Haro / Bostan
Miocene-Pliocene Hinglaj Formation
Oligocene Amalaf (Eruptive Zone) / Khojak Formations
Eocene Sanidak / Kharan / Nisai Formations
Palaeocene Rakhshani Formation / Ispikan Conglomerate Eruptive Zone
Cretaceous Humai Formation
Sinjarani Volcanic Group (Sinjarani Formation)
Eruptive Zone of Balauchistan Basin
Cretaceous Stratigraphy
1. Sinjirani Volcani Group
Name was introduced by HSC 1961
Vredenburg 1901, Flysch
Similar rocks are also found in Raskoh Belt, called as “Kuchakki Volcanic Group” by
HSC 1961 in Raskoh area
Type Locality
After the tribal district in Chaghai area
Lithology
At type locality;
Fatmi 1977, formation contains, agglomerate, volcanic conglomerate, tuff and
lava with subordinate shale, sandstone and limestone
Agglomerate and conglomerate are the dominant rock type and are green to black
Varigated fine ash and tuff are interlayered with agglomerate (volcanic breccia)
Tuffaceous shale and gritty green sandstone are locally abundant
Lenticular layers of limestone and calcareous shales are also associated particularly
upper part of this group, south of Chaghai hills (Similar to Parh Limestone)
Thickness/Distribution
Distributed in Chaghai Hills and Raskoh Belt of Eruptive zone
900-1200m Raskoh Belt
Fossils
Poorly preserved some algaes, forams, corals are reported
Age
Cretaceous
Contact
Lower: not exposed
Upper: conformable with Humai Formation at Chaghai area
2. Humai Formation
HSC 1961, introduces the term
Vredenburg 1901, Hippuritic limestone
Type Locality
After Koh-e-Humai Hills (of Koh-e-Sultan) in Eruptive zone
Lithology
Fatmi 1977, suggested that formation has great variation
Koh-e-Humai
Lower part of formation contains; greenish grey, purplish shale, calcareous
sandstone, siltstone and thin bedded limestone and volcanic conglomerate
Upper part of formation contains; massive, dense, reefoid limestone with abundant
Hippurites
Manzenen Rud
The dense and reefoidal limestone passes laterally into grey, thick bedded
arenaceous limestone
Kacha Anticline (Eastern Flank)
Westerly Exposures;
Formation consists of conglomerate (boulders of limestone + Volcanic rocks), with gritty
and tuffaceous beds and grey, thin bedded limestone. Massive limestone predominant at
Kacha Rud, 6km NE of Kacha
Easterly Exposures;
Purplish, grey, white at places, thin to thick bedded limestone predominates at Siah Koh
Thickness/Distribution
Humai Formation restricted to part of Eruptive zone between Kacha and Siah
Koh in Northern Chaghai division
HSC 1961, reported thickness;
91m Koh-e-Humai
306m Mazenen Rud
Fossils
Forams, algaes, coelentrates, Mollusks
Age
Cretaceous
Contact
Lower: conformable with Sinjrani Volcanic Group, but unconformable with
Sinjrani Volcanic Group at Southern Margin in Chaghai area
Upper: conformable with Rakhshani Formation
Tertiary Stratigraphy
Palaeocene Stratigraphy
3. Rakhshani Formation
Term proposed by HSC 1961
Hetrogenous sedimentary unit, Vredenburg 1901
Present definition includes the “Juzzak Formation”, Lower half of “Gidar Dhor Group”,
basal part of “Pishi Group” of HSC 1961 and “Bunap Formation” of Ahmad 1951
Type Locality
Tribal belt, Rakhshani, eastern end of Dalbandin Valley, Chaghai District
Lithology
Sandstone+limestone+conglomerate
Sandstone; light to dark grey, medium to coarse grained
Limestone; grey to black, argillaceous common in lower part
Conglomerate; lava flows of basaltic and andesitic composition, tuff and volcanic
breccia is present in formation
Thickness/Distribution
Well distributed in the eruptive zone also developed in Gidar Dhor Valley
Variable in thickness 150-1600m
Thickest south of Rabat 2400m
Fossils
Forams, mollusks, coelentrates
Age
Palaeocene
Contact
Lower: conformable by Humai Formation at Chaghai, Dalbandin areas
whereas in Raskoh range unconformable with Sinjrani Volcanic group
Upper: saindak/Kharan Formation in Eruptive zone conformable
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4. Ispikan Conglomerate
HSC 1961, introduces the term
Type Locality
3km NE of Ispikan (20km NE of Mand North of Makran)
Lithology
Thickness/Distribution
Only distributed, on the north side of Kulbar Kaur (localized occurrence)
Where hill is about 0.8km long and 60-90m high
Age
Palaeocene
Contact
Lower: unconformable with sinjrani volcanics
Upper: upper not exposed
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Eocene Stratigraphy
5. Saindak Formation
Term introduced by HSC 1961
Vredenburg 1901, Kirthar Stage
Type Locality
Large syncline near Saindak Fort have been designated type locality
Lithology
Interbedded shale+sandstone+shale+limestone+volcanic rocks
Shale: green, yellowish brown, calcareous and sandy
Sandstone: fine to coarse grained, gritty, dark green, greenish grey and calcareous
Limestone: dark grey, yellowish brown weathering light grey
Volcanic rocks: agglomerates+conglomerates
Thickness/Distribution
Western part of Eruptive zone
Major exposures;
Mirjawa synclinorium between Saindak and hill west of Alamereg
Also exposed along Pak-Iran boarder near Gwalishtap
Max. thickness not less than 1500m
At Gwalishtap 60m
Age
Eocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Rakhshani Formation
Upper: conformable with Amalaf Formation,
unconformable with Bostan Formation
(at Gwalishtap)
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6. Kharan Formation
HSC 1961, Kharan Formation
Ahmad (in Bakr 1968), Eriklag Limestone
Type Locality
Name originates from district town Kharan
HSC 1961, designated type section at Jalwar
Lithology
Limestone; thin-thick bedded, fine grained, argillaceous, medium to dark
grey, highly fossiliferous at places
Shale; calcareous shales interclations of grey, green and brown
Raskoh Range/Dalbandin
Shale is dominate lithology, associated with sandstone; light grey-greenish
brown, fine-medium grained and calcareous
Thickness/Distribution
Restricted to the eruptive zone
Thickness variable
NW of eruptive zone (Sheik Hussain, southern edge of Raskoh) 90m
Fossils
Forams, algaes
Age
Eocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Rakhshani Formation, at most of the localities
Upper: conformable with Khojak Formation,
at Robat the upper contact is not exposed
7. Nisai Formation
HSC 1961, proposed the name, Nisai Group
Vredenburg 1906, Khojak shales
Davis 1930, Ghazij Shale and Older Nummulitic beds
Type Locality/Section
HSC 1961, 12km north of Nisai Railway Station is type locality
Kasria Jhur, tributary of Hab River flowing east from Pab Range, is type
section
Lithology
Limestone, marl, shale with subordinate sandstone and conglomerate
Lithologies varies at different places but dominancy of limestone is there
Limestone; grey, greenish brown, massive, brecciated, reefoid (Wakai/Wakabi),
at places argillaceous, well bedded
At wad area: limestone is well bedded and oolitic
At Wakai: limestone has fetid smell
Axial belt (Jumburo Area): marl becomes prominent constitute, well bedded,
grades into limestone, rarely exhibits breccia like structure
Shale: grey, green, maroon, yellow, at places; calcareous, lateritic, carbonaceous, soft,
earthy, flaky and fissile
Sandstone; green, grey, brown and white, weathering to dark brown or rusty, fine to
coarse grained, poorly sorted, at places cross stratified and commonly calcareous
conglomerate; angular to rounded, pebble and boulders of limestone, marl,
sandstone and various igneous rocks
Thickness/Distribution
Nisai well developed in Axial belt, Pishin basin
Two small occurences are reported from;
Near iranian boarder (Koh-i-Wakai) and Sheraz Peak
and Siahan Range of Balauchistan basin
Thickness at; Sheraz Peak 30m, Type section 300-750m, Wad 600m, Ghazaband
Pass and Gidar Dhor River 3-10m
Fossils
Forams (Eocene and Oligocene), gastropods
Age
Eocene-Oligocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Khojak Formation
Upper: unconformable with Ispikan conglomerate at places
Oligocene Stratigraphy
8. Amalaf Formation
HSC 1961, introduces the term
Vredenburg 1901, Part of Cretaceous-Eocene Flysch
Type Locality/Section
A section, NW of Amalaf in Chaghai district by HSC 1961
Lithology
Volcanic rocks+shale+sandstone
Sandstone and shale; green and brown
Volcanic rocks; consists of ash and agglomerate beds, lava flow also present, but few meters thick
Thickness/Distribution
Restricted distribution and developed only in western part of eruptive zone (Mirjawa-Dalbandin
trough) about 300m
Fossils
Vredenburg reported some fossils
Age
Oligocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Saindak Formation
Upper: not yet exposed and younger Formtion in area
Makran Group
Makran series, Blandford 1872
Makran system, Vredenburg 1906
After Makran, coastal areas
Group contains the following formations;
2. Hinglaj Formation
1. Khojak Formation
1. Khojak Formation
Flysch and Khojak Shales, Vredenburg 1909
Then SCP formalized the name Khojak Formation
Type Locality
Khojak Pass on Quetta-Chaman Road
Lithology
Can be divided into two members;
B. Shaigalu Member; upper sandstone member
A. Murgha Faqirzai Member; lower shale member
A. Murgha Faqirzai Member; type section and locality; Murgha Faqirzai
Rud
Shale is grey to green, brown-maroon, at places calcareous, arenaceous,
fissil and flakey.
At Multana; Locally some beds are carbonaceous with lenses of lignite.
B. Shaigalu Member; type section and locality; 50km SW of Fort Sademan
Sandsotne; grey to green or greenish brown, weathers to grey, brown
rusty brown and maroon, fine to coarse grained at places gritty to pebbly
usually thick bedded
At Amalaf; sandstone is calcareous, micaceous rarely furrigineous or
carbonaceous, show cross-stratification and ripple marks
At Multana; conglomerate is present as subordinate component at
different level but predominates at Multana, indicates, subangular to
rounded pebble, cobbles and boulders (sandstone, limestone, igneous)
embedded in sandy matrix
At certain places; Nushki, Khojak Pass, formation has been
metamorphosed to slate, quartzite due to intense deformation
Thickness/Distribution
Widely exposed in Axial belt, Balauchistan Basin
Thickness 900-1500m type locality
Murgha Faqirzai at type locality 1200m
Shaigalu 600m in Kakar Khorasan Range (type locality) and 1200m at Diz
Fossils
Forams, Mollusks
Age
Oligocene to Miocene, Oligocene: Murgha Faqirzai member,
while Miocene is Shaigalu member
Contact
Lower: conformable with Kharan, Nisai Formations at places
Upper: parts of Makran, North of Zhob (Balauchistan), parts of
Axial belt conformable with Hinglaj Formation
Hinglaj Formation
Vredenburg 1906, Hinglaj Series
Then HSC 1961, called it as formation with exclusion of upper most
conglomerat (Haro Conglomerate)
Asrarullah 1954, sandstone stage
Hinglaj Group, Diz Formation, Talar Sandstone and Greshap Group of HSC
1961
Type Locality/sections
Hinglaj Mountains as type locality
Talar Gorge and Jiwani are designated as type sections
Lithology
Dominate in sandstone with shale, subordinate limestone having Parkini
Mudstone and Chatti Mudstone member and minor amount of
Conglomerate, thus lithology contains two member i.e., Parkini Member and
Chatti Member
Sandstone; grey, greenish grey, pale yellow brown to brown, weathering in
various shades of brown, grey, maroon at places black. Fine to coarse grained,
gritty, pebbly at places
Shale; commonly in lower and upper part and is greenish grey, pale greenish
grey, brown, hard and soft, flaky and grades into mudstone
Limestone; usually present in the lower part and is typically shelly to coquinoid,
argillaceous, sandy and dark grey in colour
Parkini Member; after Parkini Kaur, a tributary of Hinglaj River also a type section by HSC 1961
Mudstone: member is nodular, dark grey in colour with abundant small mud cracks
Chatti Member; after Chatti, as type locality by HSC 1961
Mudstone: mudstone is similar to the Parkini but in some places it is harder due to greater lime content,
which may be called as marl
Subordinate siltstone, fine grained sandstone are also interbedded
Thickness/Distribution
Formation I restricted to Axial belt, Makran, North-Zhob regions and Balauchistan basin
Parkini Mudstone member: developed along westerly coastal region of south Makran and in Haro area of
Axial belt
Chatti Mudstone member: is exposed in western most coastal areas of southern Makran
Thickness of overall formation;
Talar area 4545m
Jiwani 3030m
Hinglaj Mountains 4000m
Fossils
Forams, mollusks
Age
Late Oligocene to Miocene
Contact
Lower: conformable with Khojak Formation, In North of Bela with Nari Formation conformable
Upper: where Chatti Member is developed conformable with Gawadar Formation
Pleistocne Stratigraphy
1. Gawadar Formation
Gawadar Stage, Vredenburg 1921
Redefine to Gawadar Formation; includes Ormara Formation of HSC 1961
Type Locality/Section
Gawadar Peninsula, type locality
Ormara is the type section
Lithology
Cheema et al 1977, documented;
Sandy clay; dark buff colour, weathers into light buff, soft, poorly consolidated and poorly bedded
Sandstone; clay having interbeds of sandstone; light brown, weathering to buff or dark brown and is
medium to coarse grained, poorly cosolidated, thin bedded, sandstone havin fossil shell at top of
formation
Conglomerate; thin beds of well rounded pebbles and cobbles
At Astola Island; sandstone; thin beds, calcareous sandstone containing rounded and hard elongated
concretion are present in lower parts and similar to upper part
Thickness/Distribution
Developed between Jiwani and Hinglaj river along Makran Coast, Astola Island
Thickness 450m in Ormara as Ras Makran
900m in Jiwani
Fossils
Forams, Mollusks
Age
Pleistocene
Contact
lower: unconformable with Hinglaj Formation
Upper: recent so not developed
2. Jiwani Formation
Term introduced by HSC 1961
Type Locality
Coastal Village Jiwani, Makran
Lithology
Shelly limestone, sandstone and conglomerate, characteristically weather to
greyish brown or dark ferrugineous brown
Limestone; composed of shell fragments in sandy matrix
Conglomerate; contains rounded cobbles, pebbles of sandstoen
Sandstone; is well sorted, medium to coarse grained, cross bedded
Thickness/Distribution
Restricted to Makran Coast, east of Ras Makran in Makran-North Zhob
region of Balauchistan basin, also found in Astola Island
Max. thickness 30m at type locality
Fossils
Broken fragement, Molluks
Age
Pleistocene
Contact
Lower: unconformable (angular) with Gawadar Formation, at other places with angular
unconformable with Hinglaj Formtion
Upper: younges so not developed
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3. Haro Conglomerate
HSC 1961, introduces the term
Type Locality
Haro Range
Lithology
Conglomerate with subordinate sandstone, claystone and siltstone, typically weathering dark,
ferrugineous brown
Conglomerate; subrounded to angular pebbles and boulders of siltstone, sandstone, limestone derived
from Makran Group
Thickness/Distribution
Southern Axial Belta and central part of North Zhob-Makran region of Balauchistan
Thickness ranges 600-1500m at places
Fossils
Not found
Age
Pleistocene
Contact
Lower: unconformable (angular) with Hinglaj Formation
Upper: recent not developed
4.Bostan Formation
HSC 1961, introduces the term
Type Locality
After Bostan village, near Quetta
Lithology
Clay, conglomerate and sandstone, siltstone
Clay; white, light grey, brick red, maroon or apple green, soft, poorly consolidated and gypsiferous
Siltstone and sandstone; are brown, reddish, grey with salt and pepper texture, soft and thin bedded
Conglomerate; subrounded pebbles, boulders of limesotne, sandstone and volcanic rocks depending
upon surrounding rocks
Thickness/Distribution
Southern sector of Axial belt, Eruptive zone; Chaghai-Ras Koh Province and Pishin Basin
750m in Pishin Valley, 600m North of Siahan Range
Fossils
Not studied
Age
Pleistocene
Contact
Lower: unconformable (angular) older folded strata such as Shirinab, Loralai, Nisai, Khojak
Formation
Upper: recent not developed
Pishin Basin
Introduction
Location
North of Balauchisntan Basin
North: Kabul Block
South/West: Chaman Fault
East: Fold and Thrust Belts (Kirthar/Suleiman)
Stratigraphy
Age Formations
Pleistocene Bostan Formation
Oligocene/Miocene Khojak Formation
Eocene Nisai Formation
