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The Salt Range contains the most important geologic and paleontologic localities in Pakistan, and is one of the outstanding field areas in the entire world. Despite its easy accessibility, it has a wealth of geological and paleontological features. In fact, it represents an open book of geology where various richly fossiliferous stratified rocks are very well exposed due to lack of vegetation. These include the Permian carbonate succession with its outstanding brachiopod fauna, Lower Triassic ammonoid beds (the Mianwali Formation, formerly known as \Ceratite Beds\), and Lower Tertiary marine strata with age diagnostic foraminifera. These rocks also provide an excellent opportunity for appreciation of tectonics in the field. In addition to the easily available roadside geology, some prominent gorges provide fantastic locations to study the sedimentary succession. Older strata are exposed in the eastern Salt Range between the Khewra-Choa Saidan Shah and Fort Kussak including the famous Khewra Gorge. In the west, beyond Kallar Kahar, are younger strata such as in the Nilawahan Gorge at Nurpur, the Nammal Gorge near Mianwali, the Chichali Gorge near Kalabagh, and further west the Lumshiwal Nala at Makerwal. This succession has been rightly called a Field Museum of Geology and Paleontology.
PhotoID734

The Salt Range contains the most important geologic and paleontologic localities in Pakistan, and is one of the outstanding field areas in the entire world. Despite its easy accessibility, it has a wealth of geological and paleontological features. In fact, it represents an open book of geology where various richly fossiliferous stratified rocks are very well exposed due to lack of vegetation. These include the Permian carbonate succession with its outstanding brachiopod fauna, Lower Triassic ammonoid beds (the Mianwali Formation, formerly known as \Ceratite Beds\), and Lower Tertiary marine strata with age diagnostic foraminifera. These rocks also provide an excellent opportunity for appreciation of tectonics in the field. In addition to the easily available roadside geology, some prominent gorges provide fantastic locations to study the sedimentary succession. Older strata are exposed in the eastern Salt Range between the Khewra-Choa Saidan Shah and Fort Kussak including the famous Khewra Gorge. In the west, beyond Kallar Kahar, are younger strata such as in the Nilawahan Gorge at Nurpur, the Nammal Gorge near Mianwali, the Chichali Gorge near Kalabagh, and further west the Lumshiwal Nala at Makerwal. This succession has been rightly called a Field Museum of Geology and Paleontology.
PhotoID734

Photograph: Muhammad Waqas

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