Structural and Stratigraphic Investigations along major faults in Poonch division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate prominent geological
structures including faults and folds in Dhirkot, Rangla, Arja,
Thorar, and Mang areas of Poonch division Azad Kashmir. The
area lies along the eastern limb of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis (HKS)
which is the part of the Sub-Himalayas of Pakistan. This
deformation is the result of Indian and Eurasian plates collision in
the Eocene time. The surface and subsurface rock units are also
marked and mapped during detailed field surveys and lab work.
The well-exposed rocks are sedimentary in nature, included Murree
Formation, Kamlial Formation, and Recent Alluvium. In this study,
the researchers marked and scaled some major deformational
structures; these structures include local and regional scaled folds
and faults. Structural analysis shows that the folds are open and
gentle in nature. The major faults of the area are Riasi Thrust (RT)
and Dhirkot Fault (DF). Satellite imageries and remote sensing data
are used to construct hydrological drainage networks and watershed
models to examine linear offsets and topographical changes along
with hanging and footwall blocks. The transpressional movement is
found along Riasi Thrust (RT) and Dhirkot Fault (DF). The area
consists of high slopes with a number of active geological hazards
under substantial compressional stresses and large-scaled structural
deformations.