PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF METAMORPHIC ROCKS NEAR MALAKAND PASS, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The research covers about half kilometer area near Malakand pass. We have collected 15 samples and were selected for thin sections. The petrographic analyses were carried out with the help of polarizing microscope .The main purpose of this research is to carry out petrographic analyses to identify different rock types on the basis of mineral abundance in thin sections and to investigate the major as well as trace minerals respectively. The major minerals in the investigated samples are quartz, hornblende, biotite, muscovite, chlorite while the trace minerals include epidote, opaque and some ore minerals. There is also present iron (Fe) mineralization along the fractures. The overall texture of the rocks ranges from medium to coarse grain. Some biotite and muscovite birds eye extinction. Some samples of quartz mica schist show crenulation cleavage.