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DOI: 10.5923/j.geo.20120206.02
Abstract Dense mineral assemblage of the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene Pinjo r Formation of the type area is of
immense significance in determin ing the provenance of the sediments their correlation and understanding the diagenetic
changes. Heavy liquid separation technique has been used to isolate the heavies. 82 representative samples showing
significant variat ion in grain size and lithology were selected for incident and reflected light petrography. The heavy mineral
assemblage of the Pin jor Format ion in the type area co mprises zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, staurolite, kyanite,
silliman ite, epidote, chlorite/ chloritoid, b iotite and zoisite amongst the non-opaque minerals while the opaque minerals
include ilmenite, magnetite, hematite and limon ite. Garnet is the most abundant heavy mineral followed by biotite and zoisite
and others among the non opaque minerals, while ilmenite, magnetite and hematite do minate the non-opaque heavies.
Percentage frequency of the various minerals in the measured sections of the Pinjor Format ion has been worked out. It is
concluded that the sediments co mprising the Pinjor Formation are immature, were derived fro m the lithostratigraphic units
exposed to the North of the foredeep and exhib it little affects of intrastratal solutions.
Keywords Heavy Minerals, Pin jor, Himalaya, Provenance, Siwalik
Figure 1. Geological Map of the Pinjor Formation in the type area Pinjor and surrounding regions
2. Analytical Techniques samples and total count was made in each case. The
frequency distribution of the various minerals in different
About 82 representative samples fro m the three measured sections is represented by pie diagrams (Fig.2) and bar
sections and some random samp les were selected for their diagrams (Figs. 3 and 4).
heavy mineral analysis. About 100 g m of each of the selected
samples was crushed to (80) mesh ASTM sieve size by
rubber pestle and mortar. The friab le rocks were 3. Mineralogy and Distribution
disaggregated into individual grains by fingers. Care was
taken to ensure that the last grain in the sample passed The non-opaque heavy mineral assemblage of the rocks of
through the sieve. The crushed sample was reduced to about the Pinjor Format ion in the type area Pinjor and surrounding
20 g m by coning and quartering. After weighing the samples regions comprises zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet,
in an electronic balance, these were transferred to nu mbered staurolite, kyanite, sillimanite, ep idote, chlorite/ chloritoid,
china dishes. The clay fraction was removed by repeated biotite, zoisite and the opaque minerals include ilmen ite,
washing with water and subsequent decantation. The sand magnetite, hemat ite and limonite. The important characters
sized fract ion was treated with mild acetic acid to remove of the various minerals, as seen in rocks of the Pinjor
carbonate and ferruginous coating. The samples were then Formation, are summarized herein.
boiled with distilled water and dried in an oven at low Zircon
temperature. The cleaned and dried samples were put in a It constitutes 5.41% to 5.93% of the heavy mineral
150 ml. conical separating funnel half filled with bro moform assemblage and occupies the third position in order of
which is being used as a heavy liquid for mineral separation. abundance. The colorless to light pink, pyramidal, rounded
The separation of heavy minerals was carried out by gravity and broken frag ments of subangular to subrounded zircon
separation method. The mixture was stirred at regular (Plate I, a) do not show much variation in the Berwala
intervals of t ime so as to ensure complete separation of heavy Mandhna section (Fig. 3a), Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah
and light fractions and heavy minerals were allowed to settle section (Fig. 3b), Kona - Karaundanwala section (Fig. 4a) and
for 72 hours. The heavy fractions were removed onWhatma the random samp les (Fig. 4b).
n filter paper No. 4. These were washed with absolute Tourmaline
alcohol and dried in an oven at low temperature. Tourmaline constitutes 3.23% to 3.95% of the heavies.
Permanent mounts were prepared for all the heavy mineral The honey-yellow to light brown and pale green to dark g rey,
Geosciences 2012, 2(6): 157-163 159
pyramidal, angular to sub-angular prismat ic grains (Plate I, b) percentage of the mineral reaches a high 19.16% in the
vary fro m 1.66% to 6.66 in the three measured sections and Berwala - Mandhna section (Fig. 3a), wh ile it is 2.50% in the
the random samp les (Figs. 3 and 4). Kona - Karaundanwala section (Fig. 3b) and 3.33% in the
Rutile Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah section (Fig. 4a).
It constitutes 2.50% to 5.00% of the heavy mineral Biotite
assemblage. The deep brick-red to honey-yellow, subangular It constitutes 5.00% to 14.16% o f the heavy mineral
to subrounded, weakly p leochroic (Plate I, c) rutile grains do assemblage and occupies the second position in order of
not show much variation in the Berwala - Mandhna, the abundance. The flaky b iotite grains are pale -yellow to
Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah and the Kona - Karaundanwala reddish-brown in co lour (Plate II, d). In the Berwala -
Sections and the random samples (Figs. 3 and 4). Mandhna section the biotite grain vary fro m 5.00% to 14.16%
Garnet (Fig. 3a), wh ile in other two sections these vary fro m 5.00%
Garnet is the most dominant heavy mineral constituting to 10.83% (Figs. 3b and 4a).
29.38% to 31.77% of the heavy mineral assemblage. It Zoisite
occupies the first position in order of abundance. The grains Zoisite constitutes 0.83% to 9.16% of the heavy mineral
are colorless to pale brown in appearance and sub-angular to assemblage. It occurs as sub-angular to sub-rounded grains
sub-rounded in outline (Plate I, d). In the Kona - having brown to dark brown colour. The mineral is
Karaundanwala section, the percentage of garnet varies from non-pleochroic and has moderate to high relief. In the
24.22% to 40.05% (Fig. 4a), wh ile in other two sections it Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah section the zoisite grain vary
varies fro m 23.38% to 36.16% (Figs. 3b and 4a). fro m 1.66% to 6.66%, wh ile in other two sections these vary
Staurolite fro m 0.83% to 9.16% .
It constitutes 1.66% to 6.66% of the heavies. Staurolite The opaque mineral fraction includes ilmenite, magnetite,
grains exhib it various tints of golden yello w and b rown hematite and limon ite.
colour and occur as sub-angular to sub-rounded broken Il menite
frag ments (Plate I, e). In the Berwala - Mandhna section (Fig. Ilmen ite is the most dominant opaque mineral. Its
3a) the staurolite grains vary from1.66% to 5.00%, while in percentage varies from 5.00% to 15.83%. Under reflected
other two sections these vary from 2.50% to 5.83% (Figs. 3b light, the sub-angular to sub-rounded opaque grains exhib it
and 4a). purple to purplish-brown colour with white spots (Plate II, e).
Kyanite The mineral percentage varies from 6.66% to 10.83% in the
Kyanite constitutes 0.83% to 4.16% of the heavy mineral Berwala Mandhna section to 15.83% in the Ghaggar River -
assemblage. It occurs as elongated, colourless grains with Chauki Nadah section and the Kona - Karaundanwala section
rectangular outline (Plate I, f). It does not show much and the random samp les (Figs. 3 and 4).
variation in the Berwala Mandhna, the Ghaggar River - Magnetite
Chauki Nadah and the Kona - Karaundanwala sections and the It constitutes 5.00% to 11.66% of the heavies. The
random samples (Figs. 3 and 4). sub-angular to sub-rounded grains exhibit bluish-black
Sillimani te colour under reflected light (Plate II, f). The mineral grain do
Sillimanite constitutes 0.83% to 2.50% of the heavies. It not show much variation in the Berwala Mandhna, the
occurs as irregular to short prismat ic g rains wh ich are Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah and the Kona -
marked by longitudinal splitting and striations parallel to the Karaundanwala sections and the random samp les (Figs. 3
length of the grains (Plate II, a). The heavy mineral does not and 4).
show much variation in the Berwala Mandhna, the Ghaggar Hematite
River - Chauki Nadah and the Kona - Karaundanwala sections The hematite grains show deep red to cherry red colour in
and the random samp les (Figs. 3 and 4). strong incident light (Plate II, g). The mineral constitutes
Epi dote 5.00% to 10.83% of the heavy mineral assemblage. The
The percentage of epidote varies fro m 2.50% to 6.66%. percentage of hematite varies fro m 5.83% to 10.83% in the
The sub-angular to sub-rounded grains of epidote are pale Berwala - Mandhna section and the Ghaggar River - Chauki
greenish-yellow to lemon-yello w and non-pleochroic (Plate Nadah section and 5.00% to 7.50% in the Kona-Karaundanw
II, b). In the Berwala - Mandhna Section the epidote grains ala section and the random samples (Figs. 3 and 4).
vary fro m 2.50% to 6.66% (Fig. 3a), wh ile in other two Li monite
sections these vary from 3.33% to 5.83% (Figs. 3b and 4a). It constitutes 5.00% to 9.16% of the heavies. The
Chlorite / Chloritoi d ocher-yellow colored mineral represents a group of hydrated
Chlorite constitutes 0.83% to 19.16% of the heavy mineral iron o xide minerals. The subangular to subrounded grains of
assemblage. The mineral grains are sub-angular to limon ite form 5.00% to 7.50% of the heavies in the Kona -
sub-rounded in outline. The cleavage flakes of chlorite Karaundanwala section and 5.00% to 6.16% in the Berwala -
exhibit bluish-green to green colour (Plate II, c). Chlorite Mandhna section and Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah section
shows considerable variation in three sections. The and the random samples (Figs. 3 and 4).
160 M ahavir Singh: Heavy M ineral Assemblage of the Pinjor Formation of the Northwestern Himalaya
and its Significance in Deciphering the Provenance of the Sediments
Figure 2. Pie diagrams showing the average percentage frequency distribution of the heavy minerals in the type area Pinjor. (a) Berwala - Mandhna Section
(b) Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah Section (c) Kona Karaundanwala Section
Figure 3. Bar diagrams showing the average percentage frequency distribution of the heavy minerals in the type area Pinjor. (a) Berwala - Mandhna Section
(b) Ghaggar River - Chauki Nadah Section
Geosciences 2012, 2(6): 157-163 161
Figure 4. Bar diagrams showing the average percentage frequency distribution of the heavy minerals in the type area Pinjor. (a) Kona - Karaundanwala
Section (b) Random Samples
Plate I. Photomicrographs of dense minerals in Pinjor Formation of the Plate II. Photomicrographs of dense minerals in Pinjor Formation of the
type area Pinjor. (a) Zircon (b) Tourmaline (c) Rutile (d) Garnet (e) type area Pinjor. (a) Sillimanite (b) Epidote (c) Chlorite (d) Biotite (e*)
Staurolite (f) Kyanite Ilmenite (f*) Magnetite (g*) Hematite* Under reflected light
162 M ahavir Singh: Heavy M ineral Assemblage of the Pinjor Formation of the Northwestern Himalaya
and its Significance in Deciphering the Provenance of the Sediments
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