Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of the Early Eocene Nammal Formation and Sakesar Limestone from eastern and western Salt Range, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

Abstract

Two sections from the eastern and western Salt Range were 
selected for the detailed study of microfossils, depositional 
environment and paleoecology of Eocene carbonates i.e., Nammal 
Formation and Sakesar Limestone. Sections were measured and 
more than 40 samples were collected. The systematic 
micropaleontology of the current study suggested that many 
genera of larger benthic Foraminifers such as Nummulites, 
Alveolina, Assilina, Textularia, Nodosaria, Miliolids, Lockhartia 
and green algae were heterogeneously distributed in targeted 
formations. Our results indicate shallow to the deep marine 
depositional environment for Nammal Formation, whereas the 
Sakesar Limestone represents the shallow marine depositional 
environment. Based on the identified benthic genera, an Early 
Eocene age has been assigned to both formations.