Petrography and Provenance of Sandstone and Studies of Shale of Kuldana Formation, Kalamula and Khursheedabad Area, Kahuta, Azad Kashmir

Abstract

Rocks exposed in the study area are Kuldana Formation which is comprised of variegated color shale and sandstone. The model data of Kuldana sandstone exhibit average quartz 35%, feldspars 3%, rock fragments 20% and heavy minerals. The quartz grains are of igneous and metamorphic origin. Mineral quartz, feldspar, and rock fragments in the sandstone suggested an acidic plutonic and metamorphic provenance. Rock fragments are of sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic rocks. The sedimentary grains include limestone, dolomite, quartzite, sandstone and siltstone. The volcanic rock fragments are of fine grained basalts. The metamorphic rock fragments are of slates and schists.