Sedimentology and Economic Significance of Hangu Formation, Northwest Pakistan

Abstract

The Hangu Formation (Paleocene) consists of sandstone, siltstone, carbonaceous shale, coal and laterite. It is well exposed in the Trans Indus Surghar range and the southern Hazara basin. The sandstone is yellowish brown, fine to coarse grained and medium to thick bedded. The sandstone of the Hangu Formation is classified as quartz arenite on the Q-F-L diagram. It is mostly grain supported and are cemented by silica cement. The study of different stratigraphic sections reveal that Hangu Formation can be sub-divided into a number of lithofacies on the basis of sedimentary structures and lithological variations. These include lateritic lithofacies, coal and carbonaceous shale, cross-bedded sandstone, bioclastic limestone and bioturbated sandstone. All these lithofacies are well-developed in the Baroch Nala section of the Surghar range except the lateritic lithofacies which contains a thin bed of ferruginous clay. In the studied sections of the Hazara basin, the lateritic lithofacies is the only well-developed lithofacies present in the area. The coal occurs at two stratigraphic levels in the Baroch Nala section. The lower coal seam is thick and its chemical study indicates higher calorific value and carbon content than the upper coal seam and with low moisture/ash content. On the basis of the calorific value, the coal of the Hangu Formation is characterized as high volatile bituminous. The degree of laterization is strong in the Langrial and Khanpur sections and moderate in Baroch Nala section.