Geochemistry of Baska Formation (Early Eocene) in the Vicinity of Zindapir Anticlinorium, Eastern Sulaiman Range, Middle Indus Basin, Pakistan

Geochemistry of Baska Formation in Pakistan

Abstract

The early eocene Baska formation hosts the gypsum deposits in several parts of the Eastern Sulaiman Range (ESR) of middle Indus Basin. This study is aimed at evaluating its geology and geochemistry at different localities like Rakhi Nala (RN), Vidor Nala (VN), Zindapir (ZP), Barthi (BR) and Mangrotha (MG), which are located within the Zindapir Anticlinorium. X-ray mineralogy reveals that these deposits are mainly composed of gypsum, anhydrite, magnesite and dolomite, while XRF results of gypsum samples acquired from five different locations of ESR and correlated with other areas of Indus Basin of Pakistan and with Zagros Basin (Zeloi oil field, Iran), Siirt Basin (Turkey) and Morata de Tajuna (Madrid, Spain). From the XRF analysis, the major oxides in the selected samples vary in descending order as S03> Ca0> Mg0 > Si02 > Fe203> Al203>K20. The major cation oxide is Ca0 present up to 33.08, whereas major  anion is S03 forming up to 41.47 wt. %. The average value of Silica (Si02), Alumina (Al203), Iron (Fe203) and Magnesium (Mg0) contents of gypsum are 0.27, 0.14, 0.23 and 0.7 wt. %, respectively. Geochemically, the Baska Gypsum deposits of ESR have relatively lower Si02, Al203, Fe203, Mg0 and lower K20 relative to other parts of Indus Basin and with Zagros Basin (Zeloi oil field, Iran), Siirt Basin (Turkey) and Morata de Tajuna (Madrid, Spain). Based on geochemical studies gypsum mineralization of eastern Suliman Foldbelt are more suitable for the production of cement, plaster of Paris, solid wallboard, ceramics and ammonium sulphate fertilizer.