Petrography and Provenance of the Sub-Himalayan Kuldana Formation: Implications for Tectonic Setting and Palaeoclimatic Conditions

In this paper, the depositional environment, age, and tectonic context of Sub-Himalayan Kuldana Formation are discussed in detail. To determine Formation’s setting, sedimentological, palaeontological, petrographic investigations have been conducted accordingly. The lithologically consists both siliciclastic carbonate rocks. Petrographically, sandstone is divided into litharenite feldspathic petrofacies. plots on QtFL QmFLt suggest that derived from a recycled orogen provenance field developed during collision Indian Eurasian plates Lesser Higher Himalayas. diamond diagram further demonstrate detritus was low middle-to-upper rank metamorphic rocks Throughout deposition sandstone, paleo-climate conditions were semi-humid to semiarid. Dolostone limestone two main types found Formation. According Dunham’s Classification, classified as mudstone, wackstone, packstone. These petrofacies deposited an inner-outer ramp setting. bioclasts include bivalves, brachiopods, crinoid, gastropods, Globigerinoides spp., Lockhartia pustulosa, miliolids, Nummulites atacicus, discorbina, mamillatus, djodjokartae, vascus, ostracods suggesting age Middle Eocene-early Oligocene. initial stages Himalayan Orogeny result Ceno-Tethys Ocean’s regression transgression, revealed by succession non-clastic