http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/10351 2026-10-12T21:59:15Z 2026-10-12T21:59:15Z Ch Fahad Waheed, 09-262242-014 http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/21770 2026-10-06T12:38:45Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geochemical Assessment of Mansehra Granite and Associated Pegmatite Veins, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Ch Fahad Waheed, 09-262242-014 The Mansehra Granite of the Lesser Himalaya, northern Pakistan, represents a peraluminous S-type granitoid emplaced during Cambro-Ordovician crustal magmatism and is spatially associated with pegmatite veins formed during late-stage magmatic evolution. Despite its well-established petrogenetic framework, the wholerock geochemistry and distribution of critical and associated trace elements within the granite-pegmatite system have not been systematically evaluated. This study assesses the geochemical composition and critical mineral potential of the Mansehra Granite and associated pegmatite veins using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Twenty representative samples, comprising fourteen granite (MG-1 to MG-12) and six pegmatite samples (P-1 to P-6), were collected from Mansehra area. The samples were prepared using aqua regia digestion, and analyzed for major, trace, critical, and rare earth elements. The results are interpreted as aqua-regia extractable concentrations rather than total-rock abundances because aqua regia does not completely dissolve refractory silicate minerals and resistant accessory phases. The results indicate that critical-element enrichment is heterogeneous and primarily concentrated within pegmatites (P-4 to P-6). Pegmatite samples exhibit comparatively higher concentrations of Li, Be, Nb, Ge, Sn, W, Sb, U, and rare earth elements than the host granite. Correlation patterns and normalized geochemical signatures further indicate that accessory mineral fractionation and incompatible-element concentration exerted the primary control on trace-element distribution. Although several pegmatite samples display localized enrichment relative to the host granite, the analytical dataset does not demonstrate the presence of an economically viable rare-metal deposit, and the inferred occurrence of accessory minerals is based solely on geochemical signatures rather than direct mineralogical evidence. Future investigations integrating petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), or laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) are recommended to verify the mineral hosts of critical elements and further constrain the metallogenic potential of the Mansehra Granite and its associated pegmatite veins Supervised by Dr. Adil Naseer

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Zeeshan Ahmed, 01-262232-027 http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/21771 2026-10-06T12:56:55Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Hydrocarbon Potential Of Moomba Field, Cooper Basin, South Australia Zeeshan Ahmed, 01-262232-027 Moomba Field lies in the Cooper Basin of southern part of Australia. Cooper Basin is an intracratonic sedimentary basin that formed during the late carboniferous to Early Permian as a result of lithospheric extension followed by differential subsidence, resulting in the formation of interconnected troughs and structural lows. Subsequent thermal sag and moderate compression during the Triassic and Jurassic formed anticlinal and fault-bounded structures that serve as the primary hydrocarbon traps within the basin. The study combines seismic interpretation, petrophysical analysis, 3D reservoir property modeling and geothermal assessment to characterize the geological framework, facies distribution reservoir properties and geothermal regime of the Moomba Field. This study used 3D seismic cube and well log data of Moomba-01, Moomba-50, Moomba-131, Moomba-191, Moomba-225 and Moomba-262. In addition, three-dimensional reservoir models of porosity, water saturation and seismic facies were generated to characterize the spatial distribution of reservoir properties, identify potential reservoir zones and improve subsurface understanding. Detailed seismic interpretation followed by time and depth structure maps all indicate a large, low relief anticlinal feature with in Moomba Field with vertically coherent closures in the Cadnaowie, Toolachee and Patchawarra Formations. This stacked trap geometry is the main way of hydrocarbon concentration in the field. Furthermore, a geothermal evaluation was conducted by creating a three-dimensional model temperature model using well temperature data and combining geothermal gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flow analyses to describe the subsurface thermal conditions and evaluate the geothermal potential of the Moomba Field Supervised by Dr. Muhsan Ehsan

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Ali Naqi, 09-262242-012 http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/21675 2026-09-03T09:15:30Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geochemical Assessment and Resource Potential of the Critical Minerals in Salt Range Formation, Punjab, Pakistan: An Integrated Approach Using AI and Ml for Renewable Energy Resources Ali Naqi, 09-262242-012 The increasing demand for critical minerals required in renewable-energy technologies has encouraged the reassessment of underexplored sedimentary and evaporitic successions. This study evaluates the reconnaissance-level critical-element potential of the Salt Range Formation, Punjab, Pakistan, with emphasis on lithium and associated strategic elements in the Billianwala Salt, Sahwal Marl, and Bandarkas Gypsum members. A total of 23 representative samples were collected from salt, marl, and gypsum lithologies and analyzed through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). The results are interpreted as aqua-regia-extractable geochemical concentrations where aqua regia digestion was used, rather than total-rock abundances, because this method mainly dissolves soluble salts, carbonates, sulfides, oxides, organic matter, claybound fractions, and weakly adsorbed phases, but may not completely dissolve resistant silicate minerals. The geochemical dataset was assessed through lithology-wise comparison, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, K-Means clustering, Isolation Forest anomaly detection, and integrated exploration-priority ranking. The results show that critical-element enrichment is not uniformly distributed across the evaporitic succession. Instead, enrichment is mainly controlled by lithology. Marl samples show the strongest relative enrichment in lithium, boron, rare earth elements, uranium, vanadium, and zinc, whereas rock salt and gypsum display more selective evaporite-related signatures, particularly for strontium, barium, and potassium. The highest aqua-regia-extractable lithium value is recorded in Marl-7, followed by other marl-dominated samples, indicating localized enrichment within fine-grained reactive facies rather than broad enrichment throughout the formation. The AI/ML component was used as an exploratory decision-support tool, not as definitive proof of mineralization. Because the dataset is limited and lacks independent mineralization labels, supervised model accuracy is not emphasized. Instead, multivariate and anomalydetection methods are used to recognize geochemical patterns and identify priority samples for follow-up work. The results do not establish an economically viable criticalmineral deposit. Future work should include denser sampling, total digestion, XRD, SEM-EDS, petrography, and mineral-host validation to assess the true resource significance of the identified anomalies Supervised by Dr. Mumtaz Ali Khan

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Umar Zaman, 09-262242-021 http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/21674 2026-09-03T08:58:16Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geochemical Assessment and Resource Potential of the Critical Minerals in Sardhai Formation, Punjab, Pakistan Umar Zaman, 09-262242-021 This study presents a geochemical characterization and mineral potential of the Sardhai Formation, an Early Permian clay dominated unit of the Nilawahan Group exposed within the Salt Range fold and thrust belt of Pakistan. Twenty-two clay samples collected from two outcrop localities near Kallar Kahar were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to evaluate the formation's critical mineral inventory. Because the unit is lithologically uniform, the dataset offers a controlled framework in which elemental variability can be attributed primarily to post depositional processes rather than primary depositional differences. Results show mean values of; lithium (0.26398 ppm), vanadium (1.06501 ppm), manganese (2.19484 ppm), beryllium (0.04840 ppm), gallium (0.12050 ppm), niobium (0.07946 ppm), nickel (0.11183 ppm), chromium (0.34034 ppm), zirconium (0.03512 ppm), hafnium (0.00723 ppm), titanium (0.35212 ppm), the light rare earth elements (0.56496 ppm), and lastly uranium at (0.28650 ppm), they occur at the highest and are most consistently quantifiable concentrations. Non oxidized samples consistently retain higher concentrations of these elements than their oxidized counterparts, indicating that oxidative weathering, structurally driven fluid rock interaction, and the formation's position within the fold and thrust belt, rather than original sedimentary composition, govern present day critical mineral distribution. One sample constitutes a distinct multi element, rare earth enriched anomaly. Despite these detectable patterns, absolute concentrations remain below economic threshold throughout, and the dataset is best characterized as reconnaissance level rather than indicative of economic mineralization. The findings nonetheless demonstrate that fine grained clay successions in the Salt Range can act as meaningful repositories of critical elements and establish a baseline for future investigation. Recommended follow up work includes denser, non-oxidized patch focused sampling, clay phase identification, sequential extraction, fluid inclusion and isotopic studies, and structural mapping, all of which are necessary before any assessment of resource potential can be responsibly made Supervised by Dr. Mumtaz Ali Khan

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z