Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Muhammad Siddique, Shahid Ghazi

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.121.130

The present study employs an integrated geospatial framework to delineate placer mineral potential zones along the Indus River corridor in District Attock, Pakistan. Utilizing multi-temporal Landsat 5 and 8 imagery (2000–2024), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, and advanced cloud-based processing via Google Earth Engine, key mineralogical and geomorphological indicators were extracted and analyzed. Spectral band ratio techniques were applied to identify ferrous and ferric minerals, iron oxides, clay assemblages, and hydrothermal alteration zones. Concurrently, Digital Elevation Model (DEM)-derived slope, flow direction, and aspect layers were analyzed to evaluate terrain controls on mineral deposition. Hydrological indices such as the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and vegetation indices (NDVI) were employed to assess surface dynamics and isolate stable zones for mineral concentration. Morphological features including point bars, meanders, and potholes were mapped and buffered to spatially constrain zones favorable for sediment trapping and heavy mineral accumulation. Results reveal distinct placer-enriched zones coinciding with low-gradient floodplains, meander belts, and fluvially reworked terraces. The integration of spectral and terrain-based analyses demonstrates the efficacy of remote sensing and GIS in early-stage mineral exploration, providing a replicable framework for sustainable resource targeting in alluvial environments.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Hasnain Haider, Shamim Akhtar, Enayatollah Emami Meybodi

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.117.120

Granite gneiss is the highest grade of metamorphic rock that exhibits prominent metamorphic structures. Susalgali granite gneiss has a foliated texture and contains small crystals of alkali feldspar (orthoclase or microcline). During field studies in this area few kinds of variations were also observed in granite gneiss i.e. highly porphyritic coarse-grained mica granite gneiss, medium grained micas granite gneiss, and leucocratic tourmaline-bearing granite gneiss. The petrographic studies of the granite gneiss indicate the presence of quartz, feldspar, biotite, hornblende, plagioclase and muscovite. Thin section studies also show fractional crystallization and zoning in plagioclase. In Pakistan, granite gneiss rocks are of diverse colors, mineralogy, textural characteristics, and mechanical properties could be found but limited literature available on the micro structures identification to explain the pressure-temperature conditions of granite gneiss. Microscopic techniques such as polarizing microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) are combined to analyzed mineral composition, rock microstructure, and degree of metamorphism of selected quartz-rich samples. High-temperature recrystallization is indicated by the deformation and recrystallization of quartz. Microstructure identification indicates that feldspar boudins and quartz recrystallization occur at highest temperature and pressure.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Haidar Salim Anan

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.62.68

The diagnostic episode of tectonic activity in combination with sea-level fall after the latest Danian event (around the Danian/Selandian or Danian/Thanetian transition) was recognized and recorded from many parts of the Southern Tethys: Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and United Arab Emirates (UAE). This episode is named here the ‘angulata Event’. This event is represented by glauconitic bed in Sidi Nasseur and Tajérouine of Tunisia, or non-depositional sediments (or eroded after deposition) in Abu Zenima section (Sinai) and Jiran El Ful section, west Cairo of Egypt, and also Tell Burma and Wadi Arab sections of Jordan, or intraformational conglomeratic bed in Malaqet section of UAE. The studied latest Danian event (angulata Event) in the study areas exhibits many lateral and vertical facies changes and regional pattern to the relation between litho- and biostratigraphic boundaries across the Danian/Selandian (D/S) in Tunisia, but Danian/Thanetian (D/T) succession in Egypt, Jordan and UAE. Two new species are added to the recorded assemblage: Morozovella arabiana and Morozovella tunisica. This event is the second Paleogene event of Anan, after the global “pentacamerata Event’ around the Ypresian-Lutetian (Y-L) transition in the world.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Haidar Salim Anan

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.57.61

Ten phylogenetic lineages were produced by gradualistic evolutionary trends which observed within many planktic and benthic foraminiferal genera or species throughout the Campanian to Recent forms in the Tethys. These trends are: 1) Praemurica inconstans (Subbotina) ˃ P. arabica Anan ˃ P. uncinata (Bolli). 2) Turborotalia cerroazulensis (Cole) ˃ T. semicunialensis Anan ˃ T. cunialensis (Toumarkine and Bolli), 3) Gaudryina arabica Anan ˃ G. salimi Anan, ˃ G. ameeri Anan, 4) Clavulina misrensis Anan, n. sp. ˃ C. pseudoparisensis Anan ˃ C. angularis d’Orbigny, 5) Annulofrondicularia bignoti Anan ˃ A. tunisica Anan ˃ A. annularis d’Orbigny, 6) Tristix liasina (Berthelin) ˃ T. aubertae Anan ˃ T. sztrakosae Anan, 7) Orthokarstenia higazyi (Nakkady) ˃ O. nakkadyi Anan ˃ O. eleganta (Plummer), 8) Bolivinoides miliaris Hiltermann and Koch ˃ B. draco (Marsson) ˃ B. aegyptiaca Anan, 9) Uvigerina jacksonensis Cushman ˃ Uvigerinita hispida (Schwager) ˃ Uvigerinatella peregrina (Cushman), 10) Ornatanomalina pakistanica Anan ˃ Ornatodella pustulosa (Haque) ˃ Saudella ornata Hasson. One of the recorded species is treated here as new: P. arabica and Clavulina misrensis. These lineages help, not only to define the major faunal changes at Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T), Paleocene/Eocene (P/E), and Eocene/Miocene (E/M) boundaries, but also to emphasis the stratigraphic importance of them in different Tethyan localities.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: S. I. H. Jafri

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.113.116

Twenty-one small Paleocene-Pliocene Rotaliid benthic foraminiferal species of the genus Angulogerina are distributed in some localities in the Northern Tethys (USA, Atlantic Ocean, England, Spain, France, Belgian, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungaria, Slovenia), and also Southern Tethys (Pakistan, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile). The modern taxonomic consideration of the recorded species are presented. These species are: Angulogerina abuzeidi Anan n. sp., A. angulosa, A. byramensis , A. cooperensis, A. cuneata, A. dubia, A. elongata, A. europaea, A. germanica, A. globosa, A. japonica, A. muralis, A. oligocenica, A. pulchella, A. reussi, A. rugoplicata, A. sagriniformis, A. tenuistriata, A. tortuosa, A. vicksburgensis and A. wilcoxensis. One of these illustrated species re believed to be new: Angulogerina abuzeidi Anan n. sp. The prominent environment of the genus Angulogerina and its members most probably in an open outer shelf-upper-middle slop marine environment during the Paleogene-Neogene.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Khlieeq Ul Zaman, Mahmood Iqbal, Enayatallah Emami Meybodi, Hasnain Haider, Muhammad Awais Khan, Shaharyar

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.49.56

Because of limited accessibility and the phantom nature of mineral occurrences, northern regions of Pakistan have no or very little understanding of the area’s mineral potential. Still, these regions are known to be rich in mineral resources. This research aimed to apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing technology for the identification and examination of different mineral deposits in the northern areas of Pakistan. The subject study area was analyzed for its mineral potential through ArcMap 10.5 and the ENVI software. ENVI software also includes satellite image processing capabilities, so it was used to apply the band ratio methods which contained relevant mineralogical information. The study area selection done previously was based on known deposits with unexplored extension region. The processing of the satellite images was done in the hopes of discovering certain minerals that signify the presence of valuable deposits. To achieve this, the band ratio technique was used separately for each spectral signature of various minerals. The b2/b1 ratio was used for detecting ferric iron, while the b1/b3 ratio was used in connection with clay mineral identification. Detection of sulphates was accomplished with the use of b1/b2, and identification of quartz was done with b13/b10 ratios. The b1/b14 ratio determined carbonates, while kaolinite was identified with b11/b12. Together, these data enabled the differentiation of various mineral compositions of the study area. This research demonstrates that eastern Hunza Valley contain major zones enriched in carbonated minerals and ferric iron, especially in Region A and Region B, which both showed high values for concentration of these resources. Furthermore, significant amount of clay minerals was also found to exist in these regions. These areas with rich mineral content can further investigated for mining purposes and developmental projects to boost the economy of the region while aiding future mineral exploration work.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: S. I. H. Jafri

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.110.112

A fossil sea cucumber, Mesothuria karachiensis sp. nov. is being reported from Karachi, Pakistan. It is from the Cretaceous age, about 200 million years old.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Anwana, U. E., Akpabio, Idara O.

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.41.48

Investigation of the change in grain size distribution, pore fluid and lithologic association with respect to the influence of depositional environment was adopted to ascertain its imperativeness to hydrocarbon recovery. Suite of well logs (resistivity, gamma ray, density and neutron) from three wells, SB1, SB2 and SB3 were used to delineate lithologies and grain size distributions; identify fluid contact and volume of shale. Lithology and litho-fluid cross-plots show variability in lithofacies, while the two porosity logs (density and neutron) were used to compute porosity. In the three wells, the identified facies (funnel, cylindrical and bell shape trends)and litho-fluid cross-plot show gamma ray values ranging from 30 to 60 API; high resistivity values up to1123 Ω-m; mean porosity value of 22% to 32%; mean shale volume of 0.06 to 0.24. The results show a good to excellent reservoir properties capable of supporting hydrocarbon exploration and production. The intermittent variability in lithofacies of coarsening upward and downward and lithologies is not unconnected with the discrete velocities of different grain sizes during transportation and subsequent differential drag forces during deposition. The wells correlation and the results obtained have deepened the sedimentological and stratigraphic knowledge of reservoir quality and continuity as a proof of good prospect.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Ojeaga, Kenneth, and Ehinlaye, Charles

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.102.109

The study investigated and assessed groundwater quality and sources of dissolved geochemical constituents in groundwater within Iyuku and Ikpeshi, Edo State. A total of 32 groundwater samples were obtained from selected boreholes in Ikpeshi and Iyuku and environs. The physico-chemical parameters of the groundwater samples were analyzed using Atomic absorption spectrophometer (AAS) Bulk scientific. The result show that pH ranged from 4.7 to 7.6, EC ranged from 12.24, TDS ranging from 15.40 to 744 mg/l and was classified as fresh water with TDS<1000mg/l. The concentration of the major cation was in the following order Mg2+ > K+ > Ca2+ > Na+. The order of anions dominance/ abundance in groundwater was Cl- >SO42- > HCO3- > NO3- > PO4-. The mean result indicated that the hydrogeochemical constituents in the groundwater were within WHO (2015) standard except Mg2+and K+. The result of Results of correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis suggests that the major variations of hydrochemical constituents in the groundwater could be influenced geogenic sources which includes; mineral dissolution of carbonate and silicate rocks, reverse cation exchange and sea water intrusion. However, the presence of NO3-, PO43-, and SO42- also suggest anthropogenic influences linked to poor well depletion, improper waste disposal and surface run off due to application of fertilizers. The result of spatial distribution of cations, designated the southwestern part of the study area as major hotspots of Mg, K, Ca, and Na. The coliform count ranged from 11-20 cfu/ml and with a mean value of 14.03 cfu/ml, exceeded the Nigerian Standard Drinking Water Quality guideline. This indicates that some of the groundwater wells may have be contaminated with faecal coliform due nitrogenous wastes and poor septic conditions. It is therefore recommended that water, particularly those obtained from hand dug wells should be treated before domestic consumption. Further research on groundwater sources should be carried out by delineation of the prevalent hydrochemical facies using various ionic plots, piper, gibbs and schoeller models. Also health risk assessment studies should be carried out in the study area. Information about geochemical processes responsible for the dominance of some of these cations in groundwater be evaluated.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Kuma Joshua Ayua, John Mkohol Uzer, Hadiza El-Nur Dongel

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.96.101

This study examines the geoelectric characteristics of topsoil in Lokoja, Nigeria, using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) to assess soil competence for engineering structures. Resistivity sounding conducted in the study area identified three main curve types: three-layer (A and K type), four-layer (HA, QH and KH), and five-layer (HAK, HKH and QHA). The top layer resistivity within the study area ranges from 11.7 to 2702.7 ohm-m with thickness ranging from 0.15 to 3.85 m. The depth to basement in the study area ranges from 0.6 m to 49.1m with a mean depth of 15.1 m. The analysis classifies the study area into four competency zones based on resistivity values: incompetent (<100 ohm-m), moderately competent (101–350 ohm-m), competent (351–750 ohm-m), and highly competent (>750 ohm-m). The results indicate that the eastern and northeastern regions, which are dominated by clay, have lower resistivity and present geotechnical difficulties such as differential settlement and soil deformation, while the central and western regions, which are underlain by lateritic and sandy formations, have higher resistivity and are appropriate for construction. Areas with thin overburden and shallow basement rock are further identified by depth-to-bedrock data, which correlates with reduced soil competence. The study provides useful suggestions for reducing geotechnical risks and improving infrastructure resilience in Lokoja, while highlighting the significance of geophysical techniques in urban planning and foundation design.