Structural and stratigraphic studies of Hazara-Kashmir Syntaxis, northwestern Himalaya, Pakistan

The study area lies in the southern part of the Hazara Kashmir syntaxis, which is an antiformal structure, located in the Northwestern part of the Himalaya. It is a major tectonic feature controlling the tectonic setting at the western termination of Himalaya. The Tertiary molasse sequence lies in the core of the syntaxis, and the erosional processes of Himalaya feds the detritus in the adjoining Foreland Basin. This molasses sequence is further divided into Chinji, Nagri, Dhok Pathan and, Soan formations, and Mirpur conglomerate. The molasse sequence is folded and imbricated being a part of an active fold and thrust belt in the sub-Himalaya of Pakistan. The folds are northeast-southwest trending, northwest-southeast vergent, close fold geometry and northeast or southwest plunge. The Chinji Formation lies in the core and Nagri Formation on the south-eastern limb, whereas, Malikpur-Diljaba fault truncates the northwestern limb of Tamliahn anticline. The Malikpur-Diljaba, Tanyam and Makhlot faults are reverse faults, whereas, Jhelum fault is a left-lateral strike-slip fault, are major structures in the study area. The Jhelum fault is the youngest and an active tectonic feature in the syntaxial zone. The tectonic history reveals a north-south compressional related deformation. Keywords: Structure and stratigraphy, Hazara-Kashmir Syntaxis, Northwestern Himalaya, Jhelum Fault, Himalayan Foreland Basi