Uplift and evolution of the Himalayan Orogenic belts, as recorded in the foredeep molasse sediments

More than 6 km of foredeep sediments of the Rawalpindi (Late Oligocene to Early Miocene) and Siwalik (Miocene to Quaternary) Groups rest on Eocene and earlier platform carbonate deposits in the Kohat-Potwar area of northern Pakistan. These sediments provide a detrital record of the evolution of the southern Himalayas during the tectonic collision of central Asia and India. Our work has concentrated on the succession exposed in the Shakardarra area of the Kohat district, where the Rawalpindi Group, composed of Murree Formation (Late Oligocene to Early Miocene) and Kamlial Formation (Miocene); is succeeded by the following Siwalik Formations: 1) Chinki Formation (Miocene); 2) Shakaradarr Formation (late Miocene); 3) Indus Conglomerate Formation (late Miocene-Pliocene). -from Authors