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NANNOFOSSIL
BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND
PALEOENVIRONMENTS OF THE
PALEOGENE PATALA FORMATION
AND NAMMAL FORMATION,
KOHAT-...
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Upper Paleocene Foraminiferal Biost rat igraphy and Paleoenvironment s of t he Salt Range, Pu…
hafiz umer

BIOST RAT IGRAPHY OF PATALA FORMAT ION OF SALT RANGE AND HAZARA AREA, PAKISTAN
IAEME Publicat ion

Revised st rat igraphy of t he lower Cenozoic succession of t he Great er Indus Basin in Pakist an
Jamil Afzal
International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET)
Volume 12, Issue 4, April 2021, pp. 511-517, Article ID: IJARET_12_04_049
Available online at https://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=12&Issue=4
ISSN Print: 0976-6480 and ISSN Online: 0976-6499
https://doi.org/10.34218/IJARET.12.4.2021.049

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

NANNOFOSSIL BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND

PALEOENVIRONMENTS OF THE PALEOGENE
PATALA FORMATION AND NAMMAL
FORMATION, KOHAT-POTWAR AREA,
PAKISTAN
Sara Sikander Khan1*, Dr. Kamran Mirza2, Rabia Imtiaz3, Laraib Riaz4,
Jabir Nazir5, Beenish Ali6
*1
Institute of Geology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
2
Institute of Geology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
3
Institute of Geology, University of Punjab, Lahore. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Pakistan
4
Government Post Graduate College for Women, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
5
G-SAG Lab, National Center of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.
6
Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT
Nannofossils are extensively dispersed in marine rocks from Jurassic to Recent time.
They are primary biostratigraphic age indicators of marine sedimentary rocks.
Calcareous nannofossils provide outstanding mapping tools for both surface and
subsurface rock units especially in the areas where complex facies patterns are
displayed in lithological units and are important tools in determining depositional
paleoenvironments. In Pakistan few scientists had worked on nannofossils of this area.
Haq (1971) examined Paleogene Calcareous Nannofossils from the Salt Range and the
Sulaiman Range in Pakistan. Köthe et.al. (1988) examined calcareous nannofossils
from the Salt Range, the Surghar Range and the Sulaiman Range. Paleogene rocks are
well exposed throughout the Kohat-Potwar province of Pakistan, except in the Khisor
Marwat Ranges, South Western part of the basin. In Kohat-Potwar area of Pakistan,
the Patala Formation and the Nammal Formation of Paleogene age are rich in
nannofossils and both rocks have a good potential for hydrocarbon resources. The
Patala Formation acts as source rock and Nammal formation acts as reservoir rock for
hydrocarbons. These formations are widely distributed in the Salt Range and Trans
Indus ranges in the south, in Hazara (except Nammal formation). These areas are easily
accessible, lithologic sections were measured and samples were collected for detailed
nannofossil biostratigraphy.

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 Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments of the Paleogene Patala Formation and
Nammal Formation, Kohat-Potwar Area, Pakistan

Key words: Lithologic sections, nannofossils, biostratigraphic age.

Cite this Article: Sara Sikander Khan, Kamran Mirza, Rabia Imtiaz, Laraib Riaz, Jabir
Nazir, Beenish Ali, Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments of the
Paleogene Patala Formation and Nammal Formation, Kohat-Potwar Area, Pakistan,
International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology, 12(4),
2021, pp. 511-517.
https://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=12&Issue=4

1. INTRODUCTION
The Cretaceous- Paleogene boundary (K-Pg or K/T boundary) separates two Eras of Earth
history. The boundary represents one of the greatest mass extinction. At least 75% of the species
on our planet both in seas and continents were extinguished including most families of
calcareous nannoplankton. The Cenozoic Era in Pakistan was the era of mountain building and
gradual withdrawal of sea. It resulted in the accumulation of continental deposits and regression
of Mesozoic sea in various parts of Pakistan and this regression continued through Paleogene
times. Calcareous nannoplanktons have distinguished biostratigraphic resolution potential due
to their rapid species evolution and continuous geological record.
The dinoflagellates and calcareous nannofossils from Salt Range, Surghar, and Sulaiman
Range were studied by Köthe, Ashraf and Asrar (1988). Different authors established the
standard zonations for study of high grade deep sea (many ocean basins) and land sections in
order to make better biostratigraphic resolution The biostratigraphy designed by Wie (1993) on
the basis of qualitative abundance of data and the presence or absence of indicator species was
applied partially with high resolution sampling on stratigraphic sequences.
Nannoplankton specialists strongly emphasize the global extinction of numerous members
of the group simultaneously at the K/ T boundary but there is no evidence of mass extinction
event. The structure and magnitude of calcareous nannoplankton extinction at both high and
low-latitudes appears identical Pospechal (1996a) and geologically it is regarded as a sudden
episode. (Fig 3)

2. OBSERVATIONS
Paleocene-Eocene Rocks are well exposed in the Salt Range. For the current research work,
sections were selected from different area of Salt Range and Hazara area (fig. 1) In order to
deal with the detailed nannofossil biostratigraphy of Patala and Nammal formation are studied
with respect to the Modern Shallow Benthic Biozones (SBZ). Foraminifera biozonation
techniques are used for refining the Permian stratigraphy of the area and global correlation of
Paleogene (Paleocene, Eocene) rocks. Lateral and vertical facies variation showed the Paleo-
environment and interpreting the paleoecological changes during the Paleocene period (from
65.5ma to 55.8ma).
The samples can be very small, the amount of a few rice grains is sufficient to prepare
several slides and to prepare slides from centrifuged samples. For routine biostratigraphic work,
the sample is cleaned by removing the outermost layer of material with a knife before the
sample is broken up. Hard samples can be gently crushed in a mortar. The sample can be
smeared onto the cover glass. When sediment is dry, the mounting medium (Canada balsam) is
best applied to the surface that does not have the dried smear after which the two surfaces are
pressed together. The slide may be then cooked on a hot plate for half a minute to make the
slide more durable and easier to store. The Patala Formation is one of the Paleogene rocks in
Pakistan having abundant nannofossils. In the Kohat-Potwar area of Pakistan, Patala Formation
and Nammal Formation of Paleocene-Eocene age are rich in nannofossils and both rocks have

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 Sara Sikander Khan, Kamran Mirza, Rabia Imtiaz, Laraib Riaz, Jabir Nazir, Beenish Ali

a high potential for hydrocarbon exploration. For detailed observations, under electron
microscope (EM), samples are treated ultrasonically for a few seconds and centrifuged for 30
seconds at 2000 r.p.m. to remove clay particles which are less than 2µm in diameter. This
process is repeated many times and is known to break delicate forms and very small forms may
be lost but robust marker species get concentrated. For observation with SEM a round cover
glass or a broken piece of cover glass is mounted with glue or double tape on SEM stub and a
drop of water with the cleaned sample left to dry on cover glass.
The recorded species of calcareous nannofosiils (Fig 2) are as follows:
• Coccolithus pelagicus.
• Campylosphaera dela.
• Discoaster sp.
• Discoaster multiradiatus.
• Discoaster salisburgensis.
• Hornibrookina sp.
• Toweius sp.
• Transversopontis pulcher.
• Campylosphaera dela.

Figure 1. Tectonic map of Pakistan, black color square boxes represents sections of research study

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 Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments of the Paleogene Patala Formation and
Nammal Formation, Kohat-Potwar Area, Pakistan

Figure 2 Represents biostratigphic information (a) Coccolithus pelagicus. (b) Campylosphaera dela.
(c) Hornibrookina sp. (d) Discoaster multiradiatus. ( e ) Discoaster salisburgensis.(f) Toweius sp

Figure 3 Representing the NPZ (Nannoplanktonic zone) in Paleocene-Eocene strata in Kohat Potwar area.

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 Sara Sikander Khan, Kamran Mirza, Rabia Imtiaz, Laraib Riaz, Jabir Nazir, Beenish Ali

Coccolithus
Coccolithus is highly variable in the Neogene although only C. miopelagicus is regularly
regarded as a discrete species. Forms with well-developed bridges only occur in the Late
Pliocene and Quaternary. C. pelagicus largely disappears from low latitude waters in the Early
Pleistocene. Elliptical placolith coccolith with central area open or spanned by a disjoint bar on
the proximal surface.

Discoaster sp.
Citation: Discoaster Tan Sin Hok 1927Rank: GenusType species: Discoaster pentaradiatus Tan
Sin Hok, 1927 (designated by Loeblich and Tappan, 1963, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol.
76, p. 192) Synonyms: Asterolithes, Agalmatoaster, Clavodiscoaster, Discoasteroides,
Eudiscoaster, Gyrodiscoaster, Heliodiscoaster, Hemidiscoaster, Radiodiscoaster,
Truncodiscoaster, Turbodiscoaster.
Remarks: Radiate nannoliths with each ray formed of a discrete crystal-unit, with the c-axes
perpendicular to the nannolith surface.
Campylosphaera dela (Bramlette & Sullivan, 1961) Hay & Mohler, 1967Rank: Species
Remarks: Narrow rimmed, arched placoliths with axial cross-bars. C. pelagicus is a very
widespread, long ranging, and diverse species which could probably be usefully subdivided.

Discoaster multiradiatus.
Discoaster multiradiatus Bramlette & Riedel, 1954Rank: Species Synonyms: Discoaster
perpolitus Martini 1961 Variants: Discoaster multiradiatus peduncolatus Bystricka (1966) -
with thickened centre
Remarks: Large to very large rosette-shaped discoasters; 16-35 rays joined along most of their
length with simple ray tips.

Discoaster salisburgensis.
Discoaster salisburgensis Stradner, 1961Rank: SpeciesVariants: Discoaster circularis
Hoffmann 1970, Discoaster aecus Bronnimann & Stradner 1960, Discoaster praebifax Wei &
Wise 1989 Bralower & Self-Trail (2016) argue that D. salisburgensis intergrades with the
anomalous PETM-associated "malformed" discoaster species D.anartios, D.areneus and D.
acutus.
Remarks: Large to very large rosette-shaped discoasters with a prominent boss on one side
only; 12-24 rays joined along most of their length with simple ray tips.

Hornibrookina sp
Hornibrookina sp.: generic level idSynonyms: Nodosella elegans Perch-Nielsen 1981
Remarks: Specimens which cannot be assigned to any established species

Toweius sp.
Toweius Hay and Mohler, 1967 Rank: GenusType species: Toweius craticulus Hay and Mohler,
1967, a junior synonym of Toweius pertusus (Sullivan, 1965) Romein, 1979Synonyms: Girgisia
Varol 1989 - proposed as separate genus for T. gammation
Remarks: Elliptical to circular prinsiacean placoliths with central areas that are typically
spanned by a proximal net and/or distal conjunct nets or bars. Typically medium
sized.Intergrade with Prinsius but distinguished by wider,better-developed, central area nets.

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 Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments of the Paleogene Patala Formation and
Nammal Formation, Kohat-Potwar Area, Pakistan

Neochiastozygus sp
Neochiastozygus sp.Rank: generic level
Remarks: Specimens which cannot be assigned to any established species

3. CONCLUSION
Although calcareous nannofossils are sporadic in their occurrence in Paleogene strata from the
Salt Range of Pakistan, they are present in sufficient numbers to assign ages to the sections
studied. The Patala Formation, which was deposited near the end of the Paleocene represent the
NP 9 zone.there is an unconformity encountered at the Patala-Nammal boundary, and the
earliest Eocene Zone NP 10 is missing. The lower part of Nammal Formation is early Eocene
in age representing Zone NP 11. The early Eocene Zone NP 12 is also well exposed in the
Nammal formation. The upper part of the Nammal formation that is early Eocene in age
represents Zone NP 13 or NP 14. A doubtful unconformity exists between nammal and sakesar
limestone.
In the western part of Salt Range,The abundance of Calcareous nannofossil represents deep
water deposition and in Eastern part shallowing water deposition observed during the
Paleocene and Eocene age. This research is performed to understand the nannofossil
biostratigraphy of the Patala Formation and the Nammal Formation of Paleocene-Eocene age.

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