Isotopic and Chemical Characteristics of Khewra George Rocks (P-0858) (MFN 3010)

Abstract

Khewra Gorge is present in the Eastern Salt Range. It is located about a distance of 1km from the Khewra town, after this town it is named as Khewra Gorge. “Khewra Gorge is known as the Museum of Geology.” In this Gorge, Salt range formation which is of Pre- Cambrian age, Jehlum group rocks which are of Cambrian age, it includes Khewra Sandstone, Kussak formation, Jutana formation and Baghanwala formation. Ten rock samples collected from Khewra George were analysed for major ion, metal and stable carbon and oxygen isotope with the objective to; (i) to determine major cation in Khewra rock, (ii) to determine and to find correlation among selectee metals in the rocks of the area and (iii) to find stable carbon and isotope composition of rocks in the area. Major cations analyzed were Ca, Mg, K Na, while metals analyzed were Al, B, Cd, Co Cr, Cu Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn. Stable isotope analyzed were C-13 and O-18. Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Sodium in Khewra rock samples were in the range of 19752.0 μ g/g to 319322.5 μg/g, 95.8 μ g/g to 47774.4 μ g/g, 121.1 μ g/g to 63117.7 μ g/g, and 211.2 μg/g to 42982 μg/g. respectively. Al concentration in these samples varied from 17.4 μg/g to 108843.5 μg/g with a mean value of 18962 μg/g. Sample of marl at gypsiferrous bed was very rich in Al with almost 10% Aluminum contents. Boron contents of Khewra george rocks ranges from 8.7 μg/g to 157.1 μg/g with a mean value of 50.37 μg/g. Maximum concentration is found in samples of Khewra George Marl which is 157.1 μg/g. Cadmium of Khewra george rocks ranges from 1.3 μg/g to 108 μg/g with a mean value of 33.78 μg/g. Co was found in narrow range of 1.2 μg/g to 10 μg/g with a mean value of 3.8 μg/g. Cr is found in narrow range 6.9 μg/g to 55.6 μg/g with a mean value of 21.47 μg/g. Cu was also found in narrow range of 2.8 μg/g to 9.4 μg/g with a mean value of 5.2 μg/g. Whereas Iron concentration in Khewra george rocks varied considerably, from 30.9 μg/g to 26620.7 μg/g with mean value of 7091.11 μg/g. Lithium concentration in Khewra George Rocks is not widely distributed, it ranged from 2.9 μg/g to 69.6 μg/g with a mean value of 22.8 μg/g. Mn concentration was widely distributed, it ranged from 3.1 μg/g to 806.9 μg/g with a mean value of 228.07 μg/g. Sr has a range of 38.2 μg/g to 574.5 μg/g and mean concentration in rock samples is 329.4 μg/g. while Zn concentration in Khewra