Panjal Volcanics Fm

[Original Publication: Middlemiss, C.S. 1910. A revision of Silurian-Trias sequence in Kashmir. Record Geological Survey of India, 40(3): 206-260.]

Synonyms: Panjal Traps

Basalt. It includes volcanic and volcanogenic rocks (Srikantia and Bhargava, 1983). It’s basal part besides the volcanogenic rocks, contains moderately thick layered, light greenish gray, non-porphyritic to glomeroporphyritic compact basalt-andesite flows; the upper part has thick layered dark green-gray, fine to medium grained non-porphyritic, epidotized basal-andesite flows with sporadic volcanic breccias, it’s top part is amygdaloidal (Singh, 1996). Locally trachyte, keratophyre, rhyolite and acid tuffs are also present. Bhat and Zainuddin (1978) considered volcanics to be tholeiitic with least differentiation. Sharma et al. (1988) also advocated tholeiitic lineage and recorded submarine eruption in Baramulla area. Singh, I., (1996) regarded the Panjal Volcanics as tholeiite erupted in terrestrial and subaqueous environments. Extensive spread and low pyroclastic nature of the volcanics suggest a fissure type of eruption associated with subsiding central vent (Singh, I, 1996). Chauvet et al., (2008) concluded that the Panjal Volcanics are syn- to post passive rifting, which originated from rapid effusion of tholeiitic melts during opening of the Neotethys Ocean.

Vihi Bed: The Vihi Bed is a 90 m thick sequence made up of novaculite, limestone, siliceous shale and gritty limestone. Except for the calcareous and arenaceous units in the upper part, the entire sequence is rich in plant and animal fossils.

Invertebrates: Prognoblattina columbiana, Gondwanablatta, Kashmiroblatta marahomensis, ?Estheria risiensis, Cypridina. Vertebrates: Amblypterus kashmirensis, A. symmetricus, ?A, eupeterygus, Palaeoniscus sp, Phyctaenichithys pectinatus, Archaegosaurus ornatus, Actinodon risiensis, A. kasmirensis, Lysipterigium deterrai, Chelydosaurus marahomensis. Plant fossils are Gangamopteris kashmirensis, Psygmophyllum haydeni, P. hollandi, P. kidstoni, P. sahnii, Cordaites hislopi, Vertebraria sp, cones and stems of lycopods. The Vihi Bed possibly represents Middle Permian age.

Marahoma Beds: The Marahoma Bed is constituted of tuffs, siliceous shale and chert layers. A volcanic flow separates it from the underlying Vihi Bed. Plant Fossils are Glossopteris communis, G. conspicua, Gangaopteris cyclopteroides, G. kashmirensis, Sphenophyllum sp, Sphenopteris sp, Schioneura gondwanensis, Psygmophyllum haydeni, Vertebraria sp. It represents Middle Permian age.

Munda Bed: It is best exposed near Qazigund. It is 50 m thick succession consisting of sandy shale, sandstone and tuff. Plant Fossils are Glossopteris communis, Gangaopteris kashmirensis, Cordaites hislopi, Psygmophyllum haydeni, Vertebraria indica, Pecopteris sp, Rhaebdotina kashmirensis

Volcanism