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MODAL COMPOSITION AND PROVENANCE OF SHAIGALU SANDSTONES,

PISHIN-KATAWAZ BASIN, NORTHERN BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences BURJES
Vol. 4, Issue 2, June 2019 Open Access

MODAL COMPOSITION AND PROVENANCE OF SHAIGALU SANDSTONES,

PISHIN-KATAWAZ BASIN, NORTHERN BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN
WAQASS YASEEN1, ABDUL SALAM KHAN1, KHAWAR SOHAIL2, UMAR FAROOQ2,
MUHAMMAD USMAN2 MUKHTIAR GHANI2
1
Centre of Excellence in Mineralogy, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
2
Geological Survey of Pakistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan
Corresponding Author E-mail: asalamk_cem@yahoo.com
Received: 8 January 2019 Revised /Accepted: 29 May 2019

ABSTRACT
The Oligocene Shaigalu member of the Khojak formation (Oligocene – Miocene), exposed in the Pishin basin, is dominated by
sandstone with minor interbedded shale. Detailed petrographic analysis of the sandstones was carried out in order to determine mineral
composition and provenance. Petrographic studies based on modal analysis of detrital modes revealed that the sandstones of the
Shaigalu member of the Khojak formation in the study area are mostly composed of lithic fragments, quartz and minor proportion of
feldspar. Among the main detrital modes, the quartz constitutes 5-50 %, feldspar 1-2 % and lithic fragments 23-75 %. These sandstones
can be classified as lithic arenites with only one sample from Nisai section (Eocene) as quartz arenite having 94 % quartz. These
sandstones are mostly fine grained, subrounded and moderately to well sorted, however a few samples are medium to coarse grained.
These sandstones are compositionally immature and can be classified as lithic arenite. The QFL ternary plots show that the sandstones
of the Shaigalu member of the Khojak formation were derived from recycled orogen, which probably derived from the early Himalaya
highlands and Sulaiman thrust fold belt.

KEYWORDS: Petrography, Modal analysis, Provenance, Detrital modes, Shaigalu sandstones.

INTRODUCTION and Indian Plate in the southeast (Kazmi and Jan, 1997; Iqbal,
2004).
Texture and framework mineral composition with the help of
modal analysis can be used for classification, origin,
provenance and tectonic setting of the source area of the
sandstone (Pettijohn et, al., 1977, Dickinson and Suczek, 1979,
Dickinson et, al., 1983; Dickinson, 1985; Garzanti, 1991;
Haughton and Morton, 1991; Folk, 1980). Detrital mineral
composition of sandstone is controlled by parent lithology,
climate of source terrain, mechanism of transportation,
diagenesis and characteristics of the depositional basin
(Dickinson, 1985; McBride, 1985; Suttner and Dutta, 1986;
Critelli et, al., 1997; Garzanti et, al., 2014). Addition of intra-
basinal sediment like bioclasts, glauconite, further changes the
composition of sediment at the deposition site (Zuffa, 1985;
Garzanti, 1991). Recycling, mixing from multiple sources and
diagenesis further modify the character and composition of the
sediments.

The main aim of this study was to determine mineral

composition of the sandstones and interpret provenance of the
Shaigalu member of the Khojak formation, exposed to the north
of Qilla Saifullah, Pishin basin, Balochistan. The study area lies
in the northern part of the Pishin-Katawaz basin, located north
of Quetta in the western Pakistan (Fig.1)

Geology of the Area

Figure 1. Generalized geological map of the study area
The NE-SW oriented, about 825 km long and 40-200 km wide (modified after Hunting Survey Corporation, 1961).
Pishin-Katawaz basin is bounded by the Chaman transform
fault in the west and Zhob thrust in the east, sandwiched
between Afghan Block of the Eurasian plate in the northwest
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 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 4 (1), 2019
It is comparatively young sedimentary basin formed since
early Tertiary times and filled with more than 8000m thick
syn-orogenic sediments derived from the early Himalaya
orogenic belt and preserved as molasse and flysch sequences,
composed of carbonate to siliciclastic sedimentary rocks
representing fluvial-deltaic to deep marine environment
(Qayyum et al., 1996b, 1997b; Shah, 2009). The stratigraphic
succession of the Pishin-Katawaz basin is comprised of, from
older to younger, Eocene Nisai formation, Oligocene to early
Miocene Khojak formation (consist of Murgha Faqirzai
member and Shaigalu member), middle-late Miocene Dasht
Murgha Group, late Miocene to Pliocene Malthanai
formation and Pleistocene Bostan formation (Table 1).
Table 1. Stratigraphy of the study area (Pishin-Katawaz
Basin), modified after Hunting Survey Corporation (1961)
and Kasi et al., 2015
Muslimbagh-Zhob ophiolites occur at the base of the Pishin-
Katawaz sedimentary succession. It represents the remnant of
the Neo-Tethys ocean, emplaced on the western passive
margin sediment of the Indian Plate in late Cretaceous time
(Allemann, 1979; Kazmi and Jan, 1997; Lawrence et. el,
1981). The Eocene Nisai formation unconformably overlies
the Muslimbagh ophiolite, is composed of shallow to deep
marine carbonate, marl and shale (Qayyum, et al., 1997a).
The Nisai formation is conformably overlain by 6300m thick
Khojak formation, deposited in fluvial-deltaic environments
(Qayyum et al., 1997a). The formation is subdivided into
lower Murgha Faqirzai member and upper Shaigalu member
(Hunting Survey Corporation, 1961). The Murgha Faqirzai
member is composed of dominantly greenish shales
interbedded with sandstones, deposited in lower shelf to deep
marine environments (Qayyum, et al.,1997a). The overlying
Shaigalu member is composed of dominantly sandstone with
minor shale, deposited in fluvial to deltaic environments
(Qayyum, et al., 19976a, 1997a).
Lawrence (1991) identified a new stratigraphic unit named
Shrankar formation (early to middle Pliocene) that overlies
the Khojak formation. It is composed of sandstones and
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variegated shales representing fluvial to shallow marine
environments. Kasi at el., (2012) divided the succession of
Pishin-Katawaz basin into six tectono-stratigraphic zones.
These are, Zone I- Muslimbagh and Zhob ophiolite, Zone II-
Nisai Formation and Khojak formation, Zone III-Dasht
Murgha Group, Zone IV- Multanai Formation, Zone V-
Bostan Formation and Zone VII- Zhob valley deposits.
Structurally the study area is highly folded with thrust faults.
The folds are characterized by tight, narrow anticlines and
broad synclines (Qayyum et al., 1997a).,
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Three stratigraphic sections (i.e. Ashewat section 2250m
thick, Kamkhand section 2500m thick and Nisai section
2350m thick) of the Shaigalu member of the Khojak
formation were measured and described in detail, noting their
texture and other sedimentary features. A total of seventy-two
(72) samples, including 19 samples from Ashewat section, 25
samples from Kamkhand section and 28 samples from Nisai
section were collected from different stratigraphic positions.
Sixty-nine (69) samples were selected for thin section and
studied under the petrographic microscope equipped with
digital camera for detail petrographic analysis. The
comparative proportion of mineral composition was
determined by counting a minimum of 300 points in each thin
section, using the method of Gazzi-Dickinson, to minimize
the effect of grain size (Dickinson and Suczek, 1979;
Dickinson et, al., 1983; Ingersoll et al., 1984). The grid was
equally spaced and grains under the grid node were counted.
Framework grains were determined using the nomenclature
of Dickinson and Suczek (1979), Dickinson et, al., (1983) for
siliciclastic sandstones and those of Zuffa (1980; 1985) and
Garzanti (1991) for hybrid sandstones (Table 2).
Table 2. Definition of framework grains used for modal point
count and ternary plots (after Dickinson, 1983 and Zuffar,
1980).
The modal framework grains were recalculated to 100 %
(Table 3) and plotted in ternary diagrams of Pettijohn (1975),
Folk (1980), Zuffa (1980, 1985) for classification of
sandstone (Fig 3), and in ternary diagrams of Dickinson et al.
(1983) and Dickinson (1985) for provenance determination
and tectonic setting of the Shaigalu sandstones of the study
area (Fig. 4).
RESULTS
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 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 4 (1), 2019
i) Texture and Petrography
Three sections of the Shaigalu member of the Khojak
formation were studied and measured. Field observations
with the help of detailed petrographic analysis reveal that the
Shaigalu member is dominantly composed of sandstones in
Ashewat and Kamkhand sections, whereas limestone is
interbedded with sandstone in the basal part of Nasai section.
The sandstone is dominantly fine grained with minor
amount of medium grained, moderately to well sorted. The
sandstone, in several intervals of the Ashewat section, is
pebbly and poorly sorted. The sandstone is matrix free,
grain-supported with calcite cement ranging from 10-45 %,
25-49 %, and 1-43 %, and ferruginous cement ranging from
2-5 %, 1-10 % and 1-5 % in Ashewat, Kamkhand, and Nasi
sections respectively.
Generally, the grains are sub-rounded to sub-angular with
medium to high sphericity. Framework grains of these
sandstones are dominantly composed of lithic fragments and
quartz with minor proportion of feldspar (Tables 2 & 3, Fig.
2). Opaque minerals, brown biotite, green biotite and
muscovite are present in accessory to trace amounts. Green
tourmaline, brown tourmaline, rutile, epidote, chlorite,
glauconite, and sphene are also present in trace amounts.
Figure 2. Thin section microphotographs of Shaigalu
sandstone showing different framework grains (Qtz-Quartz,
Lf-Lithic fragment, Fk-Potassium feldspar, P-Plagioclase,
Bit-Biotite, Musc-Muscovite, Cc-Calcite cement, Cm-
Carbonate micrite, Opq-Opaque minerals)
ii) Lithic Fragments
Lithic fragments are dominant, ranging from 23% to 46 % in
Ashewat section, and 60 % to 75 % in samples containing
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granule-pebble sized grains. In Kamkhand and Nasai
sections, its proportion ranges from 17-46 % and 25-50 %
respectively. Only one sample (SN-3), from Nasai section,
contains 2 % lithic fragments and represents a quartz rich
sandstone. Felsic volcanic and micritized carbonate
fragments are predominant among lithic fragments with
relatively minor amount of very fine-grained metamorphic
fragments. The model proportion of felsic igneous fragments
are 5-23 %, 10-35 %, and 10-30 % in Ashewat, Kamkhand,
and Nasai sections respectively, showing no systematic
variation from base to top in the studied sections. Similar
pattern was also noticed in the model proportion of all other
detrital grains. Sedimentary fragments are mostly micritized
carbonates with minor sandy/silty carbonates, and their
model proportion in Ashewat section, ranges from 10-30 %,
50-70 % in the samples that contain granule to pebble sized
grains. In Kamkhand and Nisai sections, it ranges from 5-20
% and 5-40 % respectively.
The metamorphic rock fragments are relatively less abundant
and their model proportion ranges from 0.5 to 2 % in Ashewat
and Kamkhand sections, and 0.5 to 7 % in Nasai section.
Quartz-mica schist is the most common among metamorphic
fragments with minor amount of green schist. Quartz is the
second most abundant detrital constituent in the studied
samples, however, in few samples, its amount exceeds the
model proportion of rock fragments. It occurs as non-
undulatory monocrystalline grains and its model proportion
ranges from 5-27 %, 12-25 %, 4-35 % in Ashewat,
Kamkhand, and Nasai sections respectively. Only one sample
(SN-3), from basal part of Nasai section, contains 73 %
normal quartz. Undulatory (strained) quartz is relatively less
abundant than normal quartz. Its modal proportion ranges
from 1-8 %, 2-10 %, and 1-15 % in Ashewat, Kamkhand, and
Nasai sections respectively. However, in sample SN-3 it is up
to 21 %. Few tiny inclusions of zircon/monazite were
observed in quartz grains. Polycrystalline quartz grains are
very rare in most of the studied samples. Feldspar is least
common detrital grain in the studied samples. Its proportion
ranges from 0.5 - 2 %, in all the three studied sections. It
includes plagioclase, microcline and a small amount of other
potash feldspar. Partial alteration to clay minerals was
observed in a few grains.
iii) Carbonate
Carbonates are mostly matrix supported, seems to be
micritized from the calcareous cements in later stages.
Ferruginous cement is also present with few original fabrics
of calcareous cement. Allochems are mostly fossils and
bioclasts.
iv) Accessory Minerals
Opaque minerals are present in trace to accessory amounts in
most of the studied samples. Its model proportion ranges from
0.5 to 3-5 % in all the three sections. Reddish brown leaching
around these grains suggests the presence of iron oxides.
Biotite and muscovite are present in trace to accessory
amount, and their model proportion does not exceed 1 % in
most of the studied samples, however, in few samples of the
Nisai section, biotite is up to 2-5 %. Brown biotite
occasionally, shows iron leaching. Green biotite is present in
very minor amount in some samples. Green and brown
tourmaline, rutile, chlorite, and epidote are present in trace
amounts i.e. less than 1 %. Zoning is common in most of the
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 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 4 (1), 2019

tourmaline grains. Glauconite is present in trace amount in a
few samples of the Ashewat section. Calcite occurs as
cementing material in most of the studied samples. Mostly it
is present in the form of micrite however spar is also not
uncommon. Dolomite rhombs are also observed in some
samples. Ferruginous material, also, act as cementing
medium in some samples.
v) Classification
Recalculated modal mineral composition of the studied
samples, from the three sections of the Shaigalu sandstone is
given in Table 3 and the values are plotted into ternary
diagram of Pettijohn (1975), Folk (1980) and Zuffa (1980)
for sandstones classification (Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C). As per
Pettijohn (1975) and Folk (1980) classification schemes, the
Shaigalu sandstones are lithic arenites, indicating that they
are compositional immature, except one sample (SN-3) from
Nasai section, which falls in the field of quartz arenite. For
Zuffa (1980) classification scheme the modal composition
was recalculated into non-carbonate extra-basinal (NCE),
carbonate-extra-basinal (CE) and carbonate intra-basinal (CI)
components because these sandstones contain good amount
of carbonate fragments (10-40 %), however two samples
(NS-9 and NS-10) from the Nisai section contain (21-63 %)
intra basin carbonate. The studied samples are rich in non-
carbonate and carbonate fragments derived from extra-
basinal settings (Fig. 3C).

Table 3. Recalculated modal point-count data of the Shaigalu sandstone. See table 3 for explanation of framework grains.
Ashewat section

NCE-CE-CI (%) Qm-F-L (%) PtMt-Av-Bv (%) Qm-P-K (%) Lm-Lv-Ls (%) Qt-F-L (%)
S.No NCE CI CE Qm F L PtMt Av Bv Qm P K Lm Lv Ls Qt F L
SA-1 84 0 16 42 0 58 4 96 0 100 0 0 3 68 29 42 0 58
SA-2 73 0 27 57 1 42 0 100 0 98 2 0 0 35 65 57 1 42
SA-3 74 0 26 45 1 54 4 96 0 98 2 0 2 49 49 45 1 54
SA-4 68 0 32 30 1 69 0 100 0 96 4 0 0 53 47 30 1 69
SA-5 25 0 75 14 2 84 0 96 4 90 10 0 0 10 89 14 2 84
SA-6 63 0 37 39 1 60 0 100 0 97 3 0 0 35 65 39 1 60
SA-7 79 0 21 42 1 56 0 100 0 97 3 0 0 63 38 42 1 56
SA-8 71 0 29 36 1 63 0 100 0 97 3 0 0 53 47 36 1 63
SA-9 68 0 32 41 1 58 3 97 0 98 2 0 1 42 56 41 1 58
SA-10 35 0 65 20 1 79 0 100 0 97 3 0 0 17 83 20 1 79
SA-11 55 0 45 31 0 69 6 94 0 100 0 0 2 33 65 31 0 69
SA-12 75 0 25 48 2 50 0 100 0 97 2 2 0 50 50 48 2 50
SA-13 74 0 26 46 0 54 0 100 0 100 0 0 0 50 50 46 0 54
SA-14 74 0 26 48 2 51 6 94 0 97 2 2 3 45 52 48 2 51
SA-15 19 0 81 12 1 87 0 100 0 91 5 5 0 7 93 12 1 87
SA-16 74 0 26 32 1 67 9 91 0 97 2 2 5 54 41 32 1 67
SA-17 74 0 26 50 1 49 4 96 0 97 2 1 2 44 55 50 1 49
SA-18 64 0 36 38 1 61 17 83 0 98 2 0 6 31 63 38 1 61
SA-19 64 0 36 39 1 60 9 91 0 98 2 0 3 32 65 39 1 60
Kamkhand Section
S.No NCE CI CE Qm F L PtMt Av Bv Qm P K Lm Lv Ls Qt F L
SK-1 66 0 34 44 3 53 0 100 0 94 6 0 0 33 67 44 3 53
SK-2 76 0 24 49 2 49 0 100 0 96 4 0 0 50 50 49 2 49
SK-3 83 0 17 45 1 54 0 100 0 98 2 0 0 67 33 45 1 54
SK-4 87 0 13 42 2 56 3 97 0 95 5 0 3 72 25 42 2 56
SK-5 90 0 10 59 1 40 0 100 0 98 1 1 0 75 25 59 1 40
SK-6 79 0 21 38 3 59 3 97 0 93 5 2 2 59 39 38 3 59
SK-7 79 0 21 29 2 69 2 97 1 94 3 3 1 67 32 29 2 69
SK-8 69 0 31 40 2 58 6 94 0 96 4 0 3 42 56 40 2 58
SK-9 83 0 17 42 2 56 5 95 0 96 4 0 3 65 32 42 2 56
SK-10 74 0 26 33 2 65 5 95 0 93 5 2 3 56 42 33 2 65
SK-11 83 0 17 36 2 62 2 98 0 95 5 0 1 70 29 36 2 62
SK-12 78 0 22 36 1 63 2 95 2 96 4 0 2 62 36 36 1 63
SK-13 84 0 16 24 2 74 1 97 2 94 6 0 1 77 22 24 2 74
SK-14 84 0 16 36 2 62 0 98 2 94 4 2 0 72 28 36 2 62

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 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 4 (1), 2019

SK-15 78 0 22 39 2 59 5 92 3 95 5 0 3 60 37 38 2 60
SK-16 79 0 21 43 1 56 6 94 0 97 3 0 4 58 38 43 1 56
SK-17 82 0 18 33 2 65 4 96 0 94 6 0 3 68 29 33 2 65
SK-18 85 0 15 42 2 56 5 95 0 96 4 0 3 69 28 42 2 56
SK-19 86 0 14 42 2 56 3 97 0 95 5 0 2 72 26 42 2 56
SK-20 89 0 11 60 2 38 2 98 0 96 4 0 2 69 29 60 2 38
SK-21 59 0 41 33 2 65 0 91 9 94 6 0 0 35 65 32 2 66
SK-22 70 0 30 40 2 57 17 83 0 95 5 0 7 37 56 40 2 57
SK-23 69 0 31 33 2 65 0 100 0 94 6 0 0 50 50 33 2 65
SK-24 81 0 19 39 2 59 3 97 0 95 5 0 2 65 33 39 2 59
SK-25 72 0 28 31 2 67 0 98 2 94 6 0 0 55 45 30 2 68
Nisai section
S.No NCE CI CE Qm F L PtMt Av Bv Qm P K Lm Lv Ls Qt F L
SN-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-3 0 0 0 98 0 2 0 100 0 100 0 0 0 100 0 98 0 2
SN-4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SN-9 73 21 7 52 4 45 0 99 1 94 6 0 0 80 20 52 4 45
SN-10 29 63 8 32 3 65 23 77 0 91 9 0 15 50 35 32 3 65
SN-11 87 0 13 27 1 72 14 86 0 97 3 0 12 70 19 27 1 72
SN-12 78 0 22 55 2 43 8 92 0 97 3 0 4 43 54 55 2 43
SN-13 76 0 24 56 1 43 0 100 0 99 0 0 0 44 56 56 1 43
SN-14 43 0 57 27 1 72 0 100 0 97 3 0 0 20 80 27 1 72
SN-15 75 0 25 75 0 25 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 0 100 75 0 25
SN-16 86 0 14 37 2 61 9 91 0 95 5 0 7 69 24 37 2 61
SN-17 93 0 7 60 2 38 5 95 0 96 4 0 4 77 19 60 2 38
SN-18 92 0 8 64 1 35 4 90 6 98 2 0 3 73 24 64 1 35
SN-19 92 0 8 37 2 61 0 98 2 95 5 0 0 85 15 37 2 61
SN-20 81 0 19 38 0 62 2 98 0 100 0 0 2 68 31 38 0 62
SN-21 92 0 8 56 2 42 0 100 0 97 3 0 0 80 20 56 2 42
SN-22 88 0 12 50 1 50 22 78 0 99 1 0 17 60 24 50 1 50
SN-23 82 0 18 46 1 52 0 100 0 98 2 0 0 65 35 46 1 52
SN-24 89 0 11 49 1 49 7 93 0 97 3 0 6 71 23 49 1 49
SN-25 84 0 16 44 1 56 17 83 0 98 2 0 12 59 29 44 1 56

vi) Provenance and Tectonic Settings

Provenance studies using petrographic analysis aim to
identify rock types and tectonic setting of different source
areas (Dickinson, 1985; Haughton and Morton, 1991). The
modal mineral composition of sandstone is used to identify
tectonic setting of ancient sedimentary basins and interpret
provenance of sandstones because there is close relationship
between sandstone composition and tectonic setting of
silicicalstic source terrains. Mineral composition of
sandstones depends on plate tectonic setting of the source
area, parent rock lithology, climate, relief of the source area,
mechanism of transportation, diagenesis and nature of the
depositional basin (Dickinson and Suczek, 1979; Folk, 1980;
Dickinson et al., 1983; Dickinson, 1985; Zuffa, 1985).
Different tectonic environments (i.e. craton interior,
basement uplift, magmatic arcs and recycled orogens)
produce sediment with unique mineral composition
(Dickinson and Suczek, 1979; Dickinson et al., 1983;
Dickinson, 1985) Chemical weathering causes depletion of
unstable minerals like feldspar and mafic minerals, whereas
the proportion of stable minerals like quartz increase
(Basu,1985). Various ternary diagrams have been used to
establish relationship between modal detrital mineral
composition and tectonic setting (Dickinson, 1979,
Dickinson et al., 1983; Dickinson 1985).

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 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 4 (1), 2019
Figure 3. Ternary plots (a) NCE-CL-CE (after Zuffa, 1980), (b) QFL (after Pettijohn 1975), (c) QFL (after Folk 1980)
for classification of Shaigalu sandstone.
The modal composition of the Shaigalu sandstone plotted in
the QtFL ternary diagram (Dickinson, 1985) fall in the
recycled orogeny field (Fig.4A). A few samples plotted
within the transitional arc. This indicates that the sediments
of Shaigalu sandstone were derived from the recycled
orogenic source. The low percentage of feldspar and
metasedimentary lithic fragments also support this
interpretation. Sandstones derived from fold thrust belt or
subduction complexes are usually associated with recycled
orogenic provenance (Dickinson et al., 1983). During early
Tertiary, the Himalaya belt was tectonically active and rising
up due to collision of Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate,
providing huge amount of sediment to the Pishin-Katawaz
basin (Critelli et al., 1990; Qayyum et al, 1997a; Qayyum et
al., 2001; Kassi et al., 2015; Kakar et al., 2016). The
sandstone composition and sediment dispersal pattern to the
southwest suggest that Himalaya orogenic belt, present in the
northeast of the study area was the major source of Shaigalu
sandstone. (Qayyum et al., 2001) The older sedimentary lithic
fragments were derived from the sedimentary rocks
dominated in Sulaiman fold thrust belt. To further subdivide
the recycled orogen provenance, the modal composition of
the Shaigalu sandstone was plotted in the Qm-F-Lt ternary
diagram (Dickinson et al., 1983) which also falls within the
field of recycled orogen (Fig. 4B). Most of the samples
plotted close to the transitional recycled orogenic field with
few close to the lithic recycled orogenic field suggesting that
the Shaigalu sandstones were derived from the transitional to
lithic recycled provenance. Modal composition plotted in the
Lm-Lv-Ls ternary diagram (Dickinson et al., 1983) fall in the
field of magmatic arc and Suture belt (Fig. 4C), suggesting
that the sediments of the Shaigalu sandstone were fed by the
Page 75 © BURJES
Himalaya uplifted Suture belt where Kohistan Island Arc and
older sedimentary rocks are exposed. The data of modal
composition of the Shaigalu sandstone plotted in Qm-P-K
ternary diagram (Dickinson et al., 1983) falls along the line
Qm-P, close to the Qm field (Fig. 4D), showing that
monocrystalline quartz (Qm) is much more abundant than the
total amount of both Plagioclase (P) and K-feldspar (K)
confirming that the sediments of the Shaigalu sandstone were
derived from collision orogens, subduction complexes and
foreland uplift areas (Dickinson and Suczek, 1979).
CONCLUSION
The petrographic analysis of Shaigalu sandstone revealed that
they are dominantly lithic arenites, fine to medium grained,
moderate to well sorted and compositional immature. Among
the main detrital modes, the quartz constitutes 5-50 %,
feldspar 1-2 % and lithic fragments 23-75 %. The Qt-F-L and
Qm-F-Lt ternary diagrams revealed that the sandstones were
derived from recycled orogeny, indicating recycling of pre-
existing rocks. The modal composition and sediment
dispersal pattern revealed that the provenance of the
sandstones is early Himalaya orogenic belt and older
sedimentary rocks of the Sulaiman thrust fold belt. The
compositionally immature nature of the sandstones suggests
high relief of the source area, rapid erosion and quick burial
of the sediments.
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 Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 4 (1), 2019
Figure 4. Ternary plots (a) QtFL, (b) QmFLt, (c) LmLvLs, (d) QmPK (after Dickinson and Suczek, 1979; Dickinson,
1983), showing provenance of Shaigalu Sandstone.
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