Pakistan J ournal of Science (Vol. 65 No.

1 March, 2013)
63
GEOLOGY, SEISMICITY AND SEISMIC RISKS ASSESSMENT OF EASTERN SALT
RANGE, PUNJAB PAKISTAN.
A. U.Haq,M.N.Choudhary,J. P. Burg
*
and Ch. M.Majid.
College of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
*
Department ofEarth Sciences, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland.
Corresponding Author E-mail: aulhaq83@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Lithology, neotectonics and seismic behavior of the Eastern Salt Range was studied.
For this purpose, the field analysis of complemented Geological, historical and instrumental
earthquake data was carried out. The continuing collision between the Eurasian and Indian plates
resulted in compressional forces in the North West Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt. The Eastern Salt
Range experienced 190 earthquakes of magnitude 1 to 3.9, 13 earthquakes of magnitude 4.00 to 4.9
and only four events of magnitude from 5.00 to 5.9. On the basis of historical and instrumental records,
the area has not experienced moderate to large earthquakes. The seismogenic sources and active faults
of this zone are Salt Range Thrust, ChoaSayyaidan Shah Fault,KallarKahar Fault and Jhelum Fault.
Keywords:Seismicity, Seismogenic sources, Neotectonics, Antiseismic.

INTRODUCTION
This study examines neotectonics,
seismotectonics and seismic risks on the basis of
historical and instrumentally recorded earthquakes in
order to help in mitigation of earthquake risk as well as
post-earthquake disaster management in the
EasternSaltRange. This study is also meantto
assessantiseismic parameters.
Based upon seismotectonic setting, several
countries have established guidelines, standards and code
of practice for important civil structures (Khalid et. al.
2002). In addition, presence of vertical cliffs in
tectonically fragile zone (Khan et. al. 2011) located in the
Eastern Salt Range may cause permanent ground
displacement duringearthquakes. The international
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) developed an inclusive
safety guide by combining and consulting
recommendations from different countries for nuclear,
chemical and important civil structures. The methodology
adopted for the present study is in accordance with IAEA
Safety Guide 50SG.S1-Rev 1.
An effort has been made, for the first time, to
identify the seismic behavior and the seismogenic sources
of the Eastern Salt Range with the help of available
historical, instrumental seismic records and neotectonic
data. For this purpose, available earthquake data (1904 to
2008) from international seismological networks and
seismic observatories have been collected.
Stratigraphy: Seismic wave propagation is considerably
influenced by lithological variations (Duroy, 1986).
Regional and semi regional stratigraphy play a significant
role in the attenuation of the seismic waves because
different rocks behave differently when subjected to
wave transmission. For this reason lithological units are
very carefully described in Table-1.
The lithological units of Eastern Salt Range are
composed of sandstone, limestone, marl and shale (Gee,
1989).Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian rocks are mainly
composed of sandstone, marl, shale and dolomite,
Permian rocks mainly comprise sandstone and shale
while Eocene rocks are limestone and shale. Pliocene to
Recent sediments are comprised of alternative layers of
sandstone and shale while Miocene to Recent fluvial
sandstone, shale and conglomerates (Siwalik Group)
dominate the local stratigraphic sequence.
Tectonics: Continuing convergence between India and
Asia produced the Himalayas. The Indus suture is the
northern boundary of the Indian continent in the Western
Himalaya of Pakistan (Figure 1).
The Tethys Ocean was closed about 50 M.a ago
when India collided with Eurasia (Burg et. al. 2005). The
oblique collision in the west, along the Chaman-Ornach-
Nal Transform Fault zone, connects the collision zone
with the MakranSubduction Zone, where the Arabian
Plate is being subducted beneath the Eurasia (Figure 3).
In the offshore region, the Murray Ridge and the Owen
Fracture Zone mark the boundary of the Indian and
Arabian plates.
The northward movement of Indian Plate with respect to
stable Asia is still going on at a rate of 42mm/year
(Leathers, 1987).Shortening is manifested by stacking of
thrust sheets (Figure 4), which progressively shifted from
north to south.
The Indus Suture (Figure 2 and Figure 4) is a north
dipping fault that was mostly active before about 11Ma
ago (Bilham, 2006). The deformation progressively
shifted to the Main Central Thrust and then to Main
Boundary Thrust (MBT). The MBT is a zone of north-
Pakistan J ournal of Science (Vol. 65 No. 1 March, 2013)
64
dipping thrusts (Figure 4).Fault plane solutions of
earthquakes reported to the MBT indicate that the Indian
plate is under-thrusting the Himalayas. The E-W striking
MBT in India extends into Pakistan as a narrow fault
zone that takes a sharp bend in Kaghan to coalesce with
the NNW striking sinistral Jhelum strike slip fault. The
MBT in Hazara area consists of imbricate thrusts (Figure
4) that rejoin in SufaidKoh to form a narrow fault zone
again. The Punjal Thrust located to the north of the MBT
runs parallel to it.



Pakistan J ournal of Science (Vol. 65 No. 1 March, 2013)
65
The main deformation front shifted southwards
for the last 2Ma (Yeats, et. al. 1984), resulting in the
emergence of the Salt Range Thrust.
Neotectonics: The Salt Range is a still active fold and
thrust belt (Molnar et. al. 2009). Continuing deformation
is manifested by neotectonic features related to the
Recent and Sub-recent sediments at different places.
These sediments include conglomerates, gravel, sand and
silt lying over the Siwalik Group and older rocks. The
dominant, so-called Potwar Silt deposits in Eastern
Potwar were dated, using the thermo-luminescence
method up to 0.17Ma (Yeats, et. al. 1984).
The Major active tectonic structure of the area is
the Salt Range Thrust (SRT) along which, Palaeozoic
rocks are tectonically emplaced over syn-
orogenicfranglomerates. The Salt Range makes an abrupt
escarpment against the Recent Punjab alluvial deposits
(Figure 5). In EasternSaltRange, near Jalalpur, the
Siwaliks have faulted contact with Recent alluvial
deposits. (Figure 5). The silt and gravel beds are tilted
and offset, indicating that deformation is continuing, even
after the deposition of Recent and Sub-recent sediments.







Pakistan J ournal of Science (Vol. 65 No. 1 March, 2013)
66
Recent gravel and gritty sand are tilted near
Khewra village. The progradation of fans and denudation
deduced from the gravel dispersal suggests that the
Recent and Sub-recent deposits are continually uplifted,
due to deformation along the Salt Range Thrust.
The association of neo-tectonic features with Salt Range
Thrust clearly indicates that Salt Range Thrust is active.
Average slip rate along the Salt Range Thrust is
estimated to be 14 mm/yr (Leathers, 1987). Localization
of brittle neo-tectonic features with the fault traces, tilt of
sandstone and conglomerate without brittle deformation
are the evidences of aseismic creep movement along the
faults.
The sinisteral Jhelum strike slip fault marks the
eastern limb of the Salt Range and Potwar Plateau
(Figure 5). Jhelum River more or less follows the fault
zone. Recent terraces in the northwest of Dina and River
terraces near Mangla are tilted as a consequence of active
movement along the Jehlum fault.
Seismogenic Sources: The Eastern Salt Range is 48 km
long from Jalalpur to ChoaSayyaiden Shah Fault. The
Salt Range Thrust and decollement zone under the
Potwar Plateau are the main tectonic features of the
Eastern Salt Range (Figure 5).
Movement along the Salt Range Thrust and
decollement is usually aseismic (Burbank et. al. 1986)
due to low strength rocks (i.e. Shale, Gypseferiousetc)that
lubricate the decollement and Salt Range Thrust. At
places,microseismic events are associated with the
decollement zone,which is not unusual forweak
detachments with small asperities. Higher average slip
rate (14mm/year) of Salt Range Thrust with contrasting
low frequency of micro-seismicity indicates that mainly
aseismic creep is ongoing along Salt Range Thrust
(Leathers, 1987).
The association of neotectonics with the
ChoaSayyaidan Shah Fault, the existence of micro-
seismic epicenter along the fault and its structural
association with Salt Range Thrustclassify
theChoaSayyaidan Shah Fault as active and capable. It
terminates to the southwest against the Salt Range Thrust.
A number of neotectonic features exist along this
structure; however, only one instrumentally recorded
micro-seismic event is attributed to theChoaSayyaidan
Shah Fault. It can be assumed that generally the
movement along the fault is aseismic due to the
occurrence of Salt Range Formation within fault zone and
at the decollement zone (Coward, et. al.1986).
The KallarKahar Fault is an active and capable
structure. It is constituted by parallel, overlapping faults
and subsidiary transverse faults. Tilted silt, abrupt
truncations and active salt diapirism have been recorded
in close proximity to the fault. Two very shallow
epicenters of micro-seismic events are located along this
fault, which terminates southwards against the active
ChoaSayyaidan Shah Fault.
Jhelum Fault and lineaments parallel to it are
marked by shallow seismic events and neotectonic
features are also associated with the Jhelum Fault.
All these observations suggest that, Salt Range
Thrust, ChoaSayyaidan Shah Fault,KallarKahar Fault and
Jhelum Fault are active and capable faults.
Seismicity: Pakistan has been classified into various
seismic zones. The trend to construct high rise buildings
and important civil structures in Pakistan also demands
that the local ground motion data and ground motion
characteristics should be studied and incorporated in the
structural design (Qazi et. al. 2012).
The magnitude terminology used in this work is
as follows.
Great > 7.80 magnitude
Large 7.00 to 7.80
Moderate 6.00 to 6.90
Small 5.00 to 5.90
Macro 4.00 to 4.90
Micro < 4.00
(Based on U.S Geological Survey Documents)
Historical Seismicity: The record of historical seismicity
in the study area covers only the past 200 to 900 years. It
indicates that the Eastern Salt Range has experienced
rather small earthquakes over thisperiod. Some moderate
events have occurred in the north and east of the
investigated area where intensity IX was suggested in
epicentral area for the biggest known event.
Instrumental Seismicity: The catalogue of seismic
events that occurred in the EasternSaltRange and its
surroundings from 1904 to 2008 was obtained from
various sources such as National Earthquake Information
Centre (NEIC) of United States Geological Survey
(USGS) and Meteorological Department of Pakistan.
The catalogue includes the events of magnitude
> 3. The distribution of epicenters in adjoining area is
given in (Figure 6).
190 earthquakes of magnitude 1.0 to 3.9 have
been recorded,13earthquakes have magnitude 4.0 to 4.9.
Four events are of magnitude ranging from 5.0 to 5.9.
An event of magnitude <3.9 with focal depth of
10 km occurred in the BunhaKas area of Eastern Salt
Range. The event was likely associated with basement
structure as Salt Range Thrust is shallower.
An earthquake of magnitude < 4.9 with focal
depth of 32.3 km originated from deep seated structure of
basement. Two events very shallow of magnitude < 3.99
(focal depths of 1.6 and 1.3 km) are recorded.
A very shallow earthquake is associated with a
lineament along the axis of Pabbi Anticline. The Pabbi
Anticline is a growing blind thrust cored fold. It cannot
Pakistan J ournal of Science (Vol. 65 No. 1 March, 2013)
67
cause surface rupture in the Eastern Salt Range as it is
located on a different tectonic structure.



An epicenter of magnitude < 4.9 with focal
depth of 5 km is located just to the south of MandiBaha-
ud-din.The event probably originated from some
structure within the cover sediments of the shield. It is
located on footwall of the Salt Range Thrust.The slips
along the Salt Range Thrust are generally aseismic,
however, concealed structures of basement can generate
small events.
Results and Conclusion: The lithology of the study area
is mainly composed of limestone, sandstone, marl, shale
and conglomerate / gravel of Eo-Cambrian to Recent age,
which plays a significant role in the attenuation of the
seismic waves.
SaltRange is an active Frontal Fold and Thrust
Belt. Neotectonics are associated with Salt Range Thrust,
KalarKahar Fault, ChoaSayyaidan Shah Fault and Jhelum
Fault. Tilted silt / Gravel beds, abrupt truncations, active
salt diapirism and offset, indicating that deformation is
continuing, even after the deposition of Recent and Sub-
recent sediments. The association of neo-tectonic features
with Salt Range Thrust clearly indicates that Salt Range
Thrust is active. The slips along the Salt Range Thrust are
generally aseismic, however, concealed structures of
basement can generate small events.
The records indicate that the Eastern Salt Range
has experienced small earthquakes with shallow
epicenters. No moderate or large event has been
documented. The area is also sparsely populated. So in
case of earthquake, there is limited chance of big damage
to human life and property. Permanent ground
displacement may occur during earthquake i.e. rock fall,
rock blocks detachments etc. It is suggested that, a
regulatory body should be constituted in the country,
which should define uniform criteria and minimum
requirement for determination of Peak Ground Velocities
and Peak Ground Accelerations for civil structures. The
regulatory body should have legislative powers to enforce
its recommendations.


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