Available on: www.bahria.edu.pk/bukc/burjes2016
2, Issue 1, June 2017
Geology and Petrography of Peridotites (Mantle Section) from
Bela Ophiolite, Balochistan, Pakistan
Mehrab Khan, Muhammad Jahangir Khan
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences Bahria University Karachi Campus, Pakistan
Corresponding Author Email: mehrab.bukc@bahria.edu.pk
Abstract – The peridotite rocks (ultramafic rocks) well
exposed between Sunaro village and Ornach cross, Balochistan.
The present study provides substantial information about the
peridotite of Bela Ophiolite based on extensive field observation
and laboratory work. The peridotities (harzburgites and
dunites) in the study area are usually serpentinized. Relatively
fresh peridotites are exposed in the Sunaro and Lak Baran area,
where it is harzburgite in composition. The dunite bodies
(transition zone) are common below the Moho characterized
with serpentinization process. In the north of Lak Baran area,
the outcrops show a spectacular harzburgite dunite banding or
layering, varies in thickness from centimeter to meter, and
follow the foliation pattern in peridotites. The width of the
dunite bands increases toward north but no systematic
distrubtion is observed. The mantle section consists up of
harzburgite, depleted harzburgite, dunite and serpentinites.
Economical valuable mineral chromite deposits are common in
mantle section. In this present study the veins and dikes are
classified into four groups such as 1) Dunite veins 2) Pyroxenite
dikes 3) Gabbro dikes and 4) Doleritic dikes.
Keywords – Ophioloites, Peridotites, Bela, Serpentinization.
INTRODUCTION
The ophiolites are oceanic lithosphere exposed in
western and south western Pakistan at places such as Bela,
Muslim Bagh, Zhob, Khost and Waziristan. The ophiolite
signifies the closure of Tethys sea prior to Indian and
Eurasian continental lithospheric collision (70 Ma ago, Gnos
et al., 1998). This study focuses on Bela ophiolites which are
comprises of thick and segmented rocks along the
westernmost part of the Indian plate, forming a narrow belt
oriented north to south, covering an area 380 kilometer long
and 10-60 kilometer wide. The outcrops of “Bela ophiolite”
is the largest piece of oceanic lithosphere erected from
northwest of modern Karachi to Khuzdar (figure 1 & 2). The
field study witnessed that the peridotite rocks are also found
at Nal-Wad- Kanar –Darakal and Hazargangi areas of
Balochistan. In tectonic settings the “Bela ophioltes” marks
the western collision boundary (between Indian and Eurasian
continental plates). As a matter of fact the western collision
margin is relatively least studied than northern collision
margin (Himalayas) thereby needs more work.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
The interpretation of geophysical data (magnetic field
data) exhume that the northern part of the ophiolite is offset
along sinistral fault (Ornach-Nal fault) exhibiting the tectonic
influence and the Bela ophiolite continues southward near the
coast of the Arabian Sea covered by alluvium, Zaigham
(1991). The Neothethys ocean floor was present between two
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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol.
continental plates (Indain to east and Afghan block to the
west). The initial subduction of oceanic floor (Neo-Tethys
sea) was started 70 million years ago, Gnos et al. (1998). Bela
ophiolite is composed of thick rock units which are
tectonically subdivided into two units: the lower unit –
represents the piece of oceanic lithosphere placed of
subducting plate and the upper unit – represents the piece of
oceanic lithosphere of overriding plate (Gnos et al. (1998)
and Khan et al. (1998). The lower unit constitutes the
southern part of Bela ophiolite and is mainly consisting of 3–
5 km thick lava flows and sedimentary rocks (Hunting Survey
Corporation (1960), Sarwar (1992), Gnos (1998) and Khan,
(1998).The upper unit is located in the northern part of Bela
ophiolite, and consists of metamorphic sole, peridotite
(Harzburgite, dunite, pyroxenite) gabbro and a sheeted dike
complex and pillow lavas. The metamorphic sole
characterized the thrust sheet differentiating two tectonic
units (Gnos et al. (1998) and Khan et al. (1998). The mantle
rocks are well exposed between Sunaro Village and Ornach
cross. Moreover, the mantle rocks are also exposed at places
like Nal, Wad, Kanar Darakal and Hazargangi areas as shown
in figure 2. During the emplacement of ophiolite on the
continental margin sediments the sediments are highly
deformed and development of thrust faults and folding
signifies the tectonic activity. These structures and associated
tectonic activity may lead in development of Hydrocarbon
structural traps in underlying as well as overlying sediments.
METHODOLOGY
The present study emphasized on extensive field work of
Bela ophiolite for collection of spatially distributed field
samples (nearly 200 samples) of various rock units of Bela
ophiolite. The results in this paper provide substantial
information about the Peridotite (Ultramafic rocks) of Bela
Ophiolite. Thin sections of the selected field samples were
prepared for petro-graphical analysis. The polarizing
microscope was used to distinguish the mineral composition
of the understudy rocks. The Bela ophiolite is sandwiched
between thick sedimentary rock units. The underlying and
overlying rocks of the Bela ophiolite are summarized in
Table-1.
RESULTS
The results are based on field work, mineralogical and
textural study, and study of dikes and veins in the mantle
section. The petrographical results reveals that the rocks of
the peridotite (ultramafic rocks) can be divided into
harzburgite, depleted harzburgite, dunite, serpentinite, dikes
and veins. The findings are sum-up in the following.
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Fig. 1 Location of Bela ophiolite shown on Landsat image. The northern white box on Bela ophiolite
shows the location of the local geologic maps prepared by
Gnos et al. (1998) given in figure 2.

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Fig. 2 Overview map of the Bela oceanic lithosphere assemblage based onHunting Survey
Corporation (1960) Ahsan et al. (1980) andGnos et al. (1998).

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Peridotite
(Ultramafic rocks)

(a) (b)
Fig. 3 (a) A geologic map for the upper unit of Bela ophiolite (after Gnos et al. 1998).
(b) Landsat image distinguishes the upper unit with lithological boundaries.

Fig. 4 Field photograph showing bands of dunite (light) harzburgite (dark)

near Ornach cross, Bela, Balochistan

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Table 1. Rock under lying and overlying rock unit of
Bela ophiolite.
A) Mineralogical Study
Harzburgite
The harzburgite are mainly exposed in the upper unit
(northern unit) of Bela ophiolite between Sunaro village and
Ornach cross (Balochistan) shows a transition towards dunite
(further north). It forms massive bodies the peridotite
(mantle section) in the study area (Figure 5). The
morphology of the harzburgite in the study area resembles
“hob-nail” structure. The thin section study shows that the
harzburgite are highly serpentinized. The weathered color of
the harzburgite is greenish black but the fresh sample color
varies from dark brown to brownish, covered by sparse
seasonal vegetation. They are medium to coarse grained and
prophyroclastic to mylonitic in texture. The mineralogical
composition of harzburgite consists up of orthopyroxene,
spinel, and olivine with clinopyroxene as a minor constituent
and does not exceeds more than 2%. The percentage of the
mineral constituents are mentioned in table-2.
Fig. 5 Field photograph showing close-up view of the
normal Harzburgite in the Baran Lak area, Khuzdar District
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Bahria University Research Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 2, Issue 1, June 2017
Depleted Harzburgite
The term depleted harzburgite characterized those
harzburgite enriched in dunite. During field work of Bela
ophiolite, a section before reaching the dunite rich zone
(transition zone) we observed the depleted harzburgite in
north of the main massif of harzburgite. Figure 6 depicts the
out crop view of depleted harzburgite in the study area.
Depleted harzburgite mainly consist up of orthopyroxene,
spinel, and olivine. Sometimes few grains of clinopyroxenes
were also observed. The percentage of mineralogical
assemblages are given in table-2
Fig. 6 Field photograph of the mantle section showing
depleted harzburgite (dunite rich)
Dunites
Further moving north, 1 kilometer thick massive dunite
bodies lying below the Moho boundary in the study area. The
dunite bodies represents a transition between crust and
mantle. Figure 7 illustrates the dunite in the transition zone
north of Lak Baran area. Many outcrops of dunites have the
concentration of chromites which are being mined locally in
the areas. The structures in these mineable chromite bodies
are concordant to discordant with the foliation of host rock
(dunite) such as chromite deposits in semail ophiolite, Oman
(Ali & Khan, (2014) and Muslim Bagh ophiolite of Pakistan.
The chromite deposits in Bela ophiolite are common in the
Lak Baran area and Sunaro area. Dunites are mainly
composed of olivine (More than 90%) and spinel minerals.
The percentage of mineralogical assemblages are given in
table-2
Fig. 7 Field photograph showing the dunite in the
transition zone north of Lak Baran area
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The transition zone is well exposed in the north of Lak because average grain size is smaller than 0.1 mm. In thin
Baran and Ornach cross as shown in figure 7. In the study section the olivine grains are largely recrystallized (figure 8).
area the width of transition zone is one kilometer thick. The
transition zone separates the depleted harzburgite and the Porphyroclastic Texture
base of the continuous layered gabbro. Field study witnessed Porphyroclastic texture is typically developed in the
that the transition zone is rich in dunites, however, basal peridotites and is frequent in the massif of Sunaro area.
southwards, the dunite bodies are penetrated into the In study area the porphyroclastic texture is identified with
depleted harzburgite whereas northward, alternate bands of bimodal grain size distribution of orthopyroxene mineral
harzburgite and dunites are found. (millimeter-sized). Porphyroclasts are fine grained and
dominated with olivine matrix (figure 9)
Serpentinites
The study area is characterized with 50 – 80% of the
peridotites (ultramafic rocks) which are highly serpentinized.
Sepentanization signifies the process of hydrothermal
metamorphism in which serpentine minerals replaced the
pre-existing minerals of harzburgite and dunite and thus form
serpentinite rocks. The serpentinite rocks are massive and
vary in color from light green to brownish green in the study
area. The serpentines are primarily composed of serpentine
minerals (chrysotile and lizardite) whereas accessary
minerals are opaque (spinel and magnetite) and olivine. The Fig. 9 Photomicrograph of basal peridotite illustrating
massive serpentinization had affected principally the dunites. mylonitic texture

Table 2. Mineralogical composition Equigranular or Coarse Grained Texture

Figure 10 provides a record of equigranular texture
Minerals Harzburgite Depleted Dunite studied under microscope. The equigranular texture is
Harzburgite characterized with a unimodal grain size distribution about
orthopyroxene 15 %, 5% - 4-5 mm. Its boundaries are sharp, often slightly curved, and
clinpyroxene, 2 – 3% - meeting in triple points at 120 degree angle in XY-plane. The
spinel 2% 2% 1-2 % grains are slightly flattened and elongated. Most of them lack
olivine 75 % >90 % 90 % optically distinguishable substructures. This texture is
common in the upper level of the mantle section in the
B) Textural Study studied area.
Observations have been carried out on more than 50 thin
sections. By considering the behavior of the olivine,
orthopyroxene and spinel the following textural types have
recognized.

Mylonitic Texture
The geological conditions associated with movement
along the fault planes engender grinding, crushing and
recrystallization of minerals in host rocks and form mylonitic
texture. The said texture is unique characteristic of basal
Fig. 10 Photomicrograph of harzburgite illustrating
equigranular texture

C) Study of Dikes And Veins In The Mantle Section

Fig. 8 Photomicrograph of basal peridotite illustrating
mylonitic texture
peridotites which are present just above the metamorphic
sole in Sunaro area (figure1 & 2). During field work, the
mylonitic rocks found in few meters above the amphibolite
which are fine grained, very hard and compacted. It is very
difficult to distinguish the grains with the help of hand lens
During field work dikes and vein are found ranging from
few centimeters to decameters in the mantle section of Bela
ophiolite. In present study we classified the veins and dikes
into four groups such as 1) Dunite veins, 2) Pyroxenite dikes,
3) Gabbro dikes, 4) Doleritic dikes.
Dunite “Veins”
The dunite veins are made up of forsterite and spinel
minerals and the spinel minerals are parallel to wall rock
reveals the plastic flow of the mantle in the study area. The
veins are forming either sharp or diffuse contact with the host

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rocks (dunite, harzburgite). Most of the veins are less than 20
cm thick, however narrow vein (2 to 5 cm) are common.
Pyroxenite Dikes
The pyroxenite dikes are enriched with orthopyroxenites
and clinopyroxenites minerals. They are centimeter to
decimeter thick and abdundant in the upper part of the mantle
section in study area. The said veins are forming symmetrical
screens of depleted dunites on both sides of the dikes. The
orthopyroxenite occur in the lower level whereas the
clinopyroxenites have observed in the upper level of the
mantle section, showing general orientation 130 0 N and 350
N.
Gabbro Dikes
The gabbro dikes are commonly just below the Moho
boundary in the study area which abundant in upper most
part of the peridotite (ultramafic rocks). The thickness of
gabbroic dikes vary from few centimeter to meter in the
study area. The average orientation of these dikes is 25 0 N.
Doleritic Dikes
Few doleritic dikes are observed in the mantle section of
the studied area which are discordant the peridotite
structures. The dolerites dikes are identified in field by dark
grey to greenish grey color. The serpentinization along the
contact of dike with the host rock signifies the contact
metamorphism in the study area. The thickness of doleritic
dikes vary from meter to decameters. The general trend of
these dikes is 1200 N and 400 N. In the field these dikes can
be recognized as fine and coarse-grained doleritic dikes.
These dikes are more resistant to weathering than the
harzburgite.The plagioclase phenocrysts and laths, and
crystals of pyroxene can be easily seen with the help of hands
lens embedded in the aphanitic ground-mass. These dikes are
mainly composed of plagioclase 55-60%, clinopyroxene
(augite) 15-28%, orthopyroxene (hypersthenes) 3-5% as
essential minerals, and the rest as alteration products.
Epidote is found as accessory mineral in these rocks. The
alteration minerals are hornblende, epidote etc. Under the
microscope they show doleritic texture.
CONCLUSIONS
 The peridotite rocks are well exposed between Sunaro
village and Ornach cross.
 The peridotites are mainly consist of harzburgite and
dunite.
 The lherzolitic rocks are not found in the Bela ophiolite.
 The peridotite of Bela opholite are mainly
serpenitinized.
 Four group of dikes and veins have been distinguished
in the area.
 Podiforms choromite deposits are found in the mantle
section in Bela ophiolite and being mined on large scale.
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_____________________________________________________
Received : 5th May, 2017
Revised : 25th May, 2017
Accepted : 5th June, 2017
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