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Saltoro Molasse Formation
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Saltoro Molasse Fm base reconstruction

Saltoro Molasse Fm

Period: 
Cretaceous

Age Interval: 
Post-Early Cretaceous


Province: 
NW Himalaya Karakoram-east

Type Locality and Naming

Lower Shyok Valley: Type section is exposed at Charasa village, Lower Shyok Valley, eastern Karakoram, India. [Original Publication: Gergan, J. T. & Pant, P. C., 1983. Geology and stratigraphy of eastern Karakoram, Ladakh. In: Thakur, V. C. and Sharma, K. K., (eds), Geology of Indus Suture Zone of Ladakh, Wadia Institute of Himalaya Geology, Dehra Dun, India, 99-106; Juyal, K.P. 2018. Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Eastern Karakoram, India. WIHG Monograph series, No. 3. 1-126.]


Lithology and Thickness

Conglomerate. The Saltoro Molasse Formation in basal part comprises alternating grey sandstone and shale beds. The very hard, red-colored conglomerate (clasts mainly of volcanic rocks) overlies the Shyok Volcanic Fm. Conglomerate boulders are made up of limestone, quartzite, phyllites and volcanic rocks. Juyal (2009) column: Formation is 660m. Basal Conglomerate. Followed by Shale and grey Sandstone. Upper is Conglomerate.


Lithology Pattern: 
Conglomerate


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

The Saltoro Molasse Fm conglomerate (clasts mainly of volcanic rocks) overlies the Shyok Volcanic Fm. However, regionally, the next older unit is the Saltoro Flysch Fm. [The relationships of these different molasse and flysch facies were not clarified in the source material.]

Upper contact

Not defined.

Regional extent

Lower Shyok Valley: Not defined.


GeoJSON

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Fossils

Orbitolina sp.


Age 

The limestone pebbles of Saltoro Molasse Formation contain Orbitolina sp., implying that this formation was deposited in the post-early Cretaceous (Albian) times. The Saltoro Flysch Fm is late Albian, therefore for graphic purposes, put above that unit.

Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Cenomanian

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.0

    Beginning date (Ma): 
100.50

    Ending stage: 
Turonian

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
1.0

    Ending date (Ma):  
89.39

Depositional setting

This formation indicates the final withdrawal of the Neo-Tethys Sea from the area and deposition of fresh Saltoro Molasse Formation in a foreland basin. " The Saltoro `molasse' is an apron-like, moderately folded association of red-green shales and sandstones that are interbedded with ~ 50 m porphyritic andesite. Desiccation cracks and rain-drop imprints indicate deposition in a subaerial fluvial environment. Rudist fragments from a polygenic conglomerate of the Saltoro `molasse' document a post-Middle Cretaceous age." (from Upadhyay et al., 1999. Tectonic and magmatic evolution of the eastern Karakoram, India. Geodinamica Acta, 12: 341-358; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0985-3111(99)00101-1)


Depositional pattern:  


Additional Information


Compiler:  
:

K.P.Juyal and Birendra P. Singh