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Abstract. The 5000 krn long Peri-Indian Suture Zone has doubled in the western Himalaya and the
northern branch forms the division hetween the Himalaya and the K a r a l m m .
The northward directed Nanga Parbat-Haramosh crystalline spur controls structure and petrology
of both the Suture Zones. It divides the over 2000 km long Transhimalayan batholith into the eastern
Ladakh and the western Swat batholith.
Geology and petrology of the Karakorurn north of the Northern Suture Zone strongly contrast
with the Himalaya to the south of it.
tion between the Karakorurn in the north andc the I n the Ladalch area two suture zones exist. They
Himalaya in the south is, however, still somewhat are separated by the large Ladakh batholith, the west- *
controversial. We have realized that from the eastern ern equivalent of the ZOO0 krn long Transhimalayan
Ladakh region to the west, the suture zone has doub- batholith. While the southern suture zone along the
led, one running along the Indus valley (southern Indus valley is well known - actually it is the best
branch) the other along the Shyok and Nubra rivers known part of the total belt - the northern branch,
in the north (Gansser, 1977). It is difficult to decide long suspected by earlier reports and the study of
if this doubling is due to tectonic causes only, or if satellite pictures, has only recently been investigated
two different belts existed originally with a different (Sharma and Gupta, 1978). Surprisingly thick (up to 8
composition and possibly in a different age (Stocklin, ltm reported) volcanics and volcano-clastics follow
1977). north of the Ladakh batholith. They were first men-
tioned by Stoliclwa (3.874), who compared them to the
Compared to the central and eastern Himalaya, Panjal traps. 'l'hey :?re well developed north of Khar-
the western Himalaya within Palcistan is further corn- , dung and range from basalts to trachytes together with
plicated by the remarkable north-northeast directed . rhyolites showing ignimbritic flow features. They
basement spur of the Nanga Parbat-Haramosh, which ! seem to be different from the well Irnown Dras vol-
is truncated in the north by the wide arch of the Kara- ' canics of the southern suture along the Indus. Further
korum range, and which may be related to the western eastwards, north of Chang-La, which crosses the Lad-
Himalayan syntaxis. Desio (1979) regards his "upper akh batholith, De Terra (1932) has observed "dia2-
Indus Suture line" east of the Nanga Parbat-Hara- lagites" with amphibolites as well as porphyroids with
mosh Spur and his "Kohistan line" (both correspond- diabases and well bedded tuffites. Along a sharp thrust
ing to my southern suture zone) west of the massif (the Nubra-Shyolc thrust of Sharma and Gupta) gneisses
as the main division, while I take the northern suture and granites of the Karakorum are thrust over the voE
zone as the actual structural divide. Apparently the canics. Small sheared relics of serpentine suggest the
geological and the geographical Karakorum do not actual trace of the northern suture zone. The thrust
completely coincide. hades with about 40" to 50" to the north and is fol-
lowed by a conspicuous row of hot springs. I t contra-
During summer 1977 and fall 1978, I visited the ,
sts with the steep south hade of the thrusts along the
suture zone of the wesfern Himalaya (Pakistan) and southern suture zone. It is most significant that ultra-
surrounding areas between the lower Shyok river in mafic rocks occur only as thin, highly sheared relics
the east and the Chitral area in the west. In the fol- al-nq this northern suture zone, a fact well established
lowing observations I present the preliminary results ' further to the west.
of the reconnaissance, which is an extension of similsr
investigations carried out in the Ladakh region (Frank Still unknown is the region between the Nubra
et al., 1977). and the western Shyok on the Pakistan side. Possible
P m . Intern. Commit. Geodynamics, Grp. 6 , Mtg. Pesh awar, Nov. 23-29, 1979: Spec. Issue, G d . Bull. Univ.
Peshawar, Vol. 13, 1980.
9
n o r t h e r n p l a t f o r m s e d i m e n t s (N Karakorum Babusar Pass
S Pamir) Besham
Baltit
southern platform sediments (Zanskar, Chalt
Kashrnir.) Chilas
Dras
Karakorum c e n t r a l b a t h o l i t h Gilgit
Jijal
Kargil
s o u t h Karakorum s c h i s t , m a r b l e a n d g n e i s s Kalam
z o n e (Dumordo o r B a l t i t G r o u p ) Nomal
Patan
S u t u r Zone: v o l c a n i c s + p e l a g i c s e d i m e n t s , Skardu
u l t r a r n a f i c s and melanges p a r t , metamorphosed Yasin
T r a n s h i m a l a y a n P l u t o n : Ladakh a n d S w a t b a t h o l i t h ,
i n c l u d e d Large e n c l a v e s o f "basement" and s e d i m e n t s Braldo
Gilgit
Basement type c r y s t a l l i n e (Precambrian t o Hushe
Lower P a l e o z o i c ) Hunza
Indus
Kandia
Leucogranites, mostly Tertiary
Nubra
Shyok.
Suru
Za n s k a r
Ladakh M o l a s s e ( K a i l a s M o l a s s e ) i n E , Haramosh
J a l i p u r "Molasse" i n W Nanga P a r b a t
Rakaposhi
T e r t i a r y to r e c e n t s e d i m e n t s ( i n S y n t a x i s b e l t , Chogo Lungma
Kashrnir a n d D e o s a d b a s i n s )
NSZ N o r t h e r n Suture Zone
M a i n S u t u r e L i n e s a l o n g S u t u r Zones SSZ S o u t h e r n Suture Z o n e
l i n e a m e n t s w i t h f a u l t zones A g h i l Line
S p o n g t a n g ' Nappe
Fig. 2. Khaplu-Machulu section (Shyok river) and lower Hushe valley.
1 tonalita with aplita pnd metadolerite dykes, the latter often intruding the aplitic d y k e forming a b i c mrc
2 gabbros cut by tonalites with same dykes as in 1
2a microgabbros to meta-dolerites and diabases
3 biotite schists and finegrainde gneisses with chlorite schists
4 epidote chlorite schists, partly prasinitic (mylonitid
5 phyllites, quartzites and schists
6 white marbles
T biotite augengneisses
8 biotite granite, often with large alkalifeldspar phenocrysts
the lower Shyok river as well as along the Indus. I . longing to an enclave of metamorphic rocks. This
followed the Shyok river for about 70 km upstream section also exposes the complicated relations of the
to beyond Pion and the Indus river for about various plutonic roclcr and the dyke intrusions (Fig. 4).
40 kth towards Khurmang. The outline of the
plutonic rocks is much more complex in this western Westwards, the continuation of the northern suture
extension of the Ladakh batholith; particularly by the zone can be traced from Hushe over the Thalle pass
frequent enclaves of metamorphic, volcanic and sedi- into the Shigar valley (see Fig. 1). Ebblin (1976), who
mentary rocks. The batholithic rocks composed of investigted this section on structural grounds distin-
pyroxenites, norites, tonalites and younger granite in- guishes n volcanic and a sedimentary sequence, with
trusions are cut by numerous dykes, with a predomi- some conglomerates in contact with ccgabbrudiorites"
nance of meta-dolerites clearly cutting aplites and peg- of the main pluton in the south. The suture zone enters
matite~, the Shigar valley just west of Shigar and disappears
below the alluvial flats. Apart from chlorite schists and
I observed the following enclaves: Intensely fold- f coarse prasinites, lenticular marbles, locally with an
ed old biotite gneisses and schists, which are locally ) intense flow-folding, are of particular interest, together
migmatized. They frequently st rile in a northerly with smaller fragments of serpentine, which outline
direction. Sediments are well exposed near Tolti in ', the character of the suture zone. Along the western
the Indus, where they form an impressive antiforrn ' end of the Shigar valley, near the confluence with
with an a&al plunge t i the north. he sediments con- the Braldo river coming from the Baltoro region, thc
sist of limestones and dolomites altered to marble and northern suture zone is again well displayed in the
tremolite marble and black slates. Locally they expose western mountain ranges. The imbricated section is
badly sorted and streched (north-south) pebbles of rich in sediments with various volcanic intercalations
quartzites, dolomites and slate fragments, - not unlike (Fig. 5 ) . The contact against the crystalline of the
some agglomeratic slates. youngest-dolerite dylces cut Karnkorum is sharp and outlined by hot springs. Biotite
through the sediments, and both flanks are intruded granite gneisses form a large antiform with miglnntites
by plutonic rocks, gabbros on the north flank and in the core (Dassu antiform (see also Zanettin, 1964) ).
younger granites on the south flank. Note also the
description by Auden (1935) further upstream along From here, westwards to the Hunza area, the
the Indus river. I n the Shyok river near Pion a pos- suture zone passes through the wild and highly glaciated
sible branch of the suture zone contains metavolcanics Chogo Lungma range (Kick 1956). This geologically
thrust steeply to the northwest on biotite gneisses be- practically unknown area is of particular interest, since
Fig. 5. The west end of Shigar valley with the westward continuation of the northern Suture Zone.
1 gabbros and norites, including some tonalites
2 dolomitic limestones and calcschists with fossil traces
3 dark shales and calcschists (2 and 3 probably Mesozoic)
4 meta-volcanics, probably of Dras type (green schists).
5 biotite granite gneiss of Dassu (forms large antiform)
6 migmatGic gneiss in core of antiform
7 Karakorum type granite
8 fluvbglacial terraces
Fig. 10. View from Skardu downstream along Indus valley (range between Indus and Shigar).
1 massive biotite granite with basic and acid dykes (youngest phase)
2 gahbros
3 norites and pymxenites
4 green schists with marbles and some dark slates
5 shistose gabbro, cut by acid dykes
In the Skardu region we note the same complex
composition of the batholithic rocks as already men.
tioned from the Shyok and Indus rivers (Fig. 10). An
outstanding fact is the Deosai plateau, a geological as
well as a morphological anomaly in the middle of the
widest bulge of the Ladakh batho-ith (Desio, 1978).
Already the section along the Satpora valley (S of
Skardu) exposes Dras volcanics, well bedded tuffites
with breccias and algal limestones. They are cut by
younger biotite granites and followed at the northern
rim of the plateau by conspicuous ignimbritic rhyolites.
tuffs, diabases, melaphyrs, reddish porphyrites and medium hornblende facies. Marble and amphibolites are
quartz porphyries. Gneisses, schists and granites are exposed along the flanks. Similar conditions are excel-
missing. The high Nanga Parbat crystalline uplift most lently exposed in the Indus gorge, cutting through the
likely did not exist during the deposition of the conglo- 7400 m high Haramosh uplift (Fig. 14). The profuse
merates, which, from the scanty fossil content, could intrusions of aplite granite and pegmatite dykes clearly
be of Cretaceous age, equivalent to the Minapin, Chalt display several phases of compression and intrusions
and Yasin conglomerates. These conglomerates can be within the old crystalline. The dykes cut through the
followed to the northeast side of the Kumri pass, already tectonized metamorphics and have been refolded
where the Dras volcanics increase considerably towards in a later phase. Along the west flank of this uplift t h e
the southeast (Fig. 12). contact (suture zone) is outlined again by conspicuous
marble bands with amphibolites. The actual trace of the
suture is shown by highly sheared and mylonized r e t r o -
North of Astor, the contact of the suture zone grade chlorite schists. They are faulted against a t h i c k
with the Nanga Parbat-Haramosh spur is again well section of noritic gabbros. Apart from an intrusion o i
exposed along the Astor river and in the Indus gorges a peculiar, biotite rich anorthositic pyroxene gabbro.
north of the confluence of the Indus with the Gilgit the norites expose a steep lineation cut by spectacular.
river. The Astor river cuts through a depression of the mostly parallel acide dyke intrusions. They originate in
crystal1ine spur between the Nanga Parbat high in the the south, near the junction of the Indus and the G i l g i t
south and the Haramosh high in the north. Along this rivers, where irregular lenses and small plugs of an
section one can recognize the antiform, characteristic aplitic leucogranite represent the roof of larger plu tion
for this crystalline uplift (Fig. I f ) . The metamorphism in depth. The granite is unaffected by later movements
has already increased from a greenschist facies to a (Fig. 15).
Fig. 14, Section through Nanga-Parbat/I-Iaramosh uplift (western part) along Indus gorge.
thick bedded biotite augengneiss
biotite granite gneiss with subfolded amphibolites and limesilicates intmded by tourmaline granites and cut by metadolerites
biotite augengneiss cut by aplites and pegmatites
similar to 2 with diopside marble layers and cut by acid dykes
well bedded biotite psammite gneiss with biotite rnuscovi te schists and marbles
folded psarnmite gneisses and marble layers
biotite granite gneisses similar to 1 with abnormal strike
marble zone with amphibolites and bio tite schists, near th rist
highly sheared chlorite schists
hornblende pyroxene gabbros cut by acid dylces
WSW
Fig. 15. Western continuation of section along Indus west of Khaltar valley.
11 anorthositic pyroxene biotite gabbros
12 pyroxene gabbros to norites, cut by acid dykes
13 biotite leucogranites and muscovite (biotite) pegmntites intruding gabbros, striking parallel dyke systems
Along the various contacts mentioned above, we "molasse" follows the steep thrust line dividing the
noted the near absence of Dras type volcanics. This is Nanga Parbat crystalline in the south from the basic
tme for the north-south striking contacts along the pluton in the north, the thrust marked by several hot
Nanga Parbat-Haramosh spur. Dras type volcanics may springs (southern suture zone). W e do realize that the
occur again further west, in the wide meta-volcanic structural emplacement of the Jalipur "molasse" is sur-
beln south of the northern suture zone, however, with prisingly similar to that of the Kailas molasse in gene-
a hi& degree of metamorphism and certainly in a ral, though the Jalipur sediments resemble much more
somewhat diilerent fades. Of special interest is further- the Upper Siwaliks. A molasse type sedimentation in
more the fact that from Kargil westwards we miss the such a deeply eroded valley is still surprising, particu-
Ladakh molasse corresponding to the Kailas molasse, larly since Jalipur is the spectacular place, where we
which transgresses the south side of the Transhimalayan find within a short distance, the largest difference j . ~
plution for nerdy 2000 km. In a similar position, elevation known in the world (from the Indus to the
though of much younger age, we note the peculiar Nanga Parbat summit along 21 km 7025 m of eleva-
Jalipur "molasse" outcropping along the middle Indus tion).
river. First described by Misch (1936), it forms a steep
synform following the Indus river for about 20 km and The western continuation of the above mentioned
i q covered by the spectacular Indus terraces (Fig. 16). suture zone is difficult to follow. One branch may run
The badly sorted conglomerates and sands originated towards the ultrarnafic rocks of the Babusar pass, the
p a d y from the Nmga Parbat crystallines and less from other probably continues along the east-vest directed
the basic plution in the north. Foreign to the near sur- h d u s valley through Chilas, with its spectacular dunites
roundings are black and violet porphyrites, porphyries and cumulate norites, I t may end up in the Kandia river,
and trachytes, the latter ophitic and fluidal and not at the south bend of the Indus, with ultrarnafic lenses
unlike the ignimbritic trachytes from the northern and a conspicuous schist belt (see Fig. 1) (Jan? 1970)'
Deosai plateau. The steep, partly vertical belt of south of the Kandia river thrust zone dominates a
Dub=
Acknowledgements: My own investigations were supported by De Terra, I-I , 1932, Geologische Forschungen im westlichen
the Geological Survey of Pakistan and by grant INT 76-22304 K'un Lun und Karnkorum Himalaya: Wiss. Erg. Dr.
of the NSF (SA) Special thanks go to Ghazanfar Abbas from Trinlclerschen Zentralasicn - Exped., 2. Reimer-
the Geological Survey of Pakistan for his very able assistance Vohsen, Berlin, 218 p.
under difficult cmditions.
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