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Pakistan Stratigraphy

Karakoram-Hindukush Basin (Laurasia)

Karakoram

Northern Gilgit-Baltistan · Active collision zone, Asian plate margin

Southern margin of the Asian plate with Paleozoic-Mesozoic sediments and Karakoram Batholith. Contains the world's highest peaks including K2. Famous for gemstones (rubies, sapphires).

Units

56

Tectonic setting

Active collision zone, Asian plate margin

This reference records 56 units in the Karakoram spanning 4 geological eras, most commonly metamorphic rocks, limestone, conglomerate.

Correlate with other provinces → Explore the basin → Filter all units →

At a glance

56
units
4
eras
32
georeferenced
26
with fossils
54
type localities
10,000 m
max thickness
33
sources

Rock types

  • metamorphic rocks (20)
  • limestone (14)
  • conglomerate (11)
  • igneous rocks (5)
  • sandstone (2)
  • shale/mudstone (1)

Based on the primary lithology recorded for each unit; some units span more than one rock type.

Fossils recorded

  • Brachiopods (spiriferids, productoids)
  • Conodonts
  • Receptaculites
  • Brachiopod moulds (poorly preserved)
  • Conodonts (in beds transitional to the Shogrâm Formation)
  • Rugose corals
  • Brachiopods
  • Trilobites (Neocalmonia chitralensis, N. batillifera orientalis)
  • Tabulate corals (Thamnopora, Pachycanalicula)
  • Calcareous alga (Pseudopalaeoporella)
  • Stromatoporoids
  • Conodonts (Gnathodus, Siphonodella lobata)
  • Crinoids
  • Bryozoans
  • Fenestella
  • Productids
  • Corals
  • Trigonotreta stokesi
  • Spirelytha petaliformis
  • Punctospirifer afghanus
  • Eurydesma sp.
  • Conodonts (Lopingian: Clarkina, Iranognathus)
  • Conodonts (Late Permian: Gondolella)
  • Radiolaria

+43 more across the Karakoram units.

Units in this province

56 units

Line these up against other basins on the correlation panel →

Era colours
  • Quaternary
  • Cenozoic
  • Mesozoic
  • Paleozoic
  • Precambrian
Karakoram
  1. Bunthang SequenceNeogene–Quaternary
  2. Baltoro GraniteNeogene
  3. Shanoz ConglomeratePaleogene
  4. Bauma Harel FormationFossils recordedCretaceous–Paleogene
  5. Savoia FormationCretaceous–Paleogene
  6. Darband FormationFossils recordedCretaceous
  7. Hunza Plutonic UnitCretaceous
  8. Khalkhal FormationCretaceous
  9. Krinj LimestoneCretaceous
  10. Shittinbar FormationCretaceous
  11. Ashtigar FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  12. Dark LimestoneJurassic
  13. Yashkuk FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  14. Bdongo-La FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  15. Marpo SandstoneJurassic
  16. Reshit FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  17. Tekri FormationFossils recordedJurassic
  18. Aghil LimestoneFossils recordedTriassic–Jurassic
  19. Borom FormationFossils recordedTriassic
  20. Chikchi-ri ShaleFossils recordedTriassic
  21. Wirokhun FormationFossils recordedTriassic
  22. Ailak FormationFossils recordedTriassic
  23. Guhjal DolomiteFossils recordedTriassic
  24. Arkari FormationPermian–Jurassic
  25. Chapursan GroupPermian–Triassic
  26. Gircha FormationFossils recordedPermian
  27. Lupghar FormationPermian
  28. Singhie ShalesPermian
  29. Kundil FormationFossils recordedPermian
  30. Staghar Cherty LimestoneFossils recordedPermian
  31. Atark FormationFossils recordedPermian
  32. Gum FormationPermian
  33. Pak-China Friendship FormationPermian
  34. Panjshah FormationFossils recordedPermian
  35. Passu SlatePermian
  36. Rawat FormationFossils recordedPermian
  37. Shaksgam FormationFossils recordedPermian
  38. Chalt FormationFossils recordedCarboniferous–Permian
  39. Dumordo FormationCarboniferous–Permian
  40. Ribat FormationFossils recordedCarboniferous
  41. Lupsuk FormationCarboniferous
  42. Ganchen FormationDevonian–Permian
  43. Margach FormationFossils recordedDevonian–Carboniferous
  44. Barum FormationPaleozoic (undifferentiated)
  45. Daltumbore Formation
  46. Charun QuartziteFossils recordedDevonian
  47. Shogram FormationFossils recordedDevonian
  48. Chilmarabad FormationFossils recordedDevonian
  49. Vidiakot FormationOrdovician
  50. Thalle LimestoneOrdovician
  51. Misgar SlateNeoproterozoic-Cambrian
  52. Baltit GroupPrecambrian
MixedIgneousConglomerateMetamorphicLimestoneSandstoneMarlShale / mudFossils recordedContact not recordedUnconformity

Band colour = period; texture = dominant rock type. Lines between bands mark the contact type (wavy = unconformity inferred from a missing period); dotted = no contact recorded in the sources (not a claim of conformity). True scale makes height ∝ recorded thickness; hatched = thickness not recorded. Ages approximate, for ordering.

Unordered units (4 — no assigned age)