The geology of the Potwar Basin in Pakistan has been extensively studied in terms of sedimentology by various researchers in the past (Kadri, 1995; Kazmi and Jan, 1997, Jaswal et al., 1997; Shah, 2009). The basin's tectonics are complex and include features such as salt domes, mostly salt-cored anticlines, duplexes, steep faults, reverse and thrust faults systems. Various scholars have carried out detailed research on the basin's evolution, including Fazeelat et al. (2010) and Shah et al. (2022). The basin encompasses two-thirds of eastern Pakistan, and its major characteristics include the fore-deep comprising depressions, inner and outer folded zones, and Platform (Memon and Siddiqui, 2005; Shah, 2021). Most of Pakistan's major hydrocarbon fields are located in the Potwar Basin (Kadri, 1995).
The surface geology of the Potwar Basin does not accurately reflect subsurface structures due to the presence of younger molasses on the surface that shows anticlines with gently dipping limbs. However, seismic data reveals that in the subsurface, there are triangular zones, duplexes, and salt-cored anticlines bounded by steep faults (Kadri, 1995; Shah and Abdullah, 2017; Shah et al., 2019; Warwick and Wardlaw, 2007). The large structural patterns of the Potwar Basin vary from eastern patterns in the western part to northeastern structural patterns in the eastern part of the area. The Potwar Basin is made up of sedimentary structures from the Late Cambrian period to the present day (Shah and Abdullah, 2017). Superimposed on these marine sequences, which range in age from the Miocene to Pleistocene, are alluvial sediments that are 10,000 meters thick (Aadil et al., 2014; Baker et al., 1988; Gee, 1947, Gee 1945). In the southern boundary of the Kishore Ranges and Salt Ranges, rocks from the Mesozoic period and earlier are commonly found. In the eastern Salt Range, Late-Cambrian rocks are visible and in the western Salt Range, the Mesozoic sequence is exposed and is over 1000 meters thick. The formation of the Himalayan Mountains has had a significant impact on the entire sedimentary succession between the Eurasian and Indian Plate's northern periphery since approximately 50 million years ago (Davis and Lillie, 1994; Hasany and Saleem, 2012; Kazmi and Jan, 1997; Gansser. 1979, 1980; Molnar and Tapponnier, 1981; Molar, 1990; Mohadjer et al., 2010).
2.1 Stratigraphy
In the study area, the exposed stratigraphy ranges from Miocene to Precambrian age. The oldest sequence exposed is the Salt Range Formation, and the youngest one is the Kamlial Formation of Miocene age. The detailed stratigraphy of the study area, from older to younger succession, is illustrated in Figure 2.