DEPOSITIONAL SETTINGS OF SAMANA SUK FORMATION TOWNSHIP SECTION, ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Understanding the Samana Suk Formation will help in understanding the Pakistani Jurassic carbonates, which is the goal of this study. The Samana Suk Formation revealed in this region is mostly made up of hard, compact, fine- to coarsegrained dolomitic limestones, with dolomite developing as a secondary diagenetic characteristic in some areas. The limestone on the outcrop appears light grey on the new surface and light brown on the aged surface. The limestone is enormous in certain areas, planar, thin through medium to thick-bedded, and fossiliferous. We have investigated and noted several features in the field, including stylolite fractures, calcite veins, calcite patches, and dolomite beds and patches. A detailed depositional model of the microfacies has been established based on the photomicrographs which shows that these microfacies are deposited on the inner part of homoclinal ramp from lagoon to carbonate shoal setting.