Limestone Deposits of Gratabal and Saderkote, Kashmir, India

Abstract

The Gratabal and Saderkote limestone belt falling under the administrative control of District Ganderbal and Bandipora, Kashmir, India was taken up for the reconnaissance mapping during the Annual Geological Field Programme 2023-2024 over an area of 50 square kilometers on 1:50000 scale with collection of 50 numbers of Bedrock samples for assaying purposes. The main objective of the present investigation was to delineate different limestone bands, for determination of grade and their suitable use in allied industry. The Gratabal and Saderkote limestone outcrop, forms the northeastern part of Kashmir Basin wherein Palaeozoic to Quaternary rocks of diverse origin are exposed. The main stratigraphic units constituting the bedrock and the surrounding mountains ranges include the Panjal Volcanics of Late Carboniferous age and Limestone of Late Triassic age, which are exposed eastwardly all along the hilly tract and constitutes the eastern slope of the study area running in north northwest to south southeast direction, dipping gently towards northwest. The Gratabal and Saderkote limestone outcrop is unconformably overlain by the alluvium of Recent to Sub-Recent age. The Saderkote Limestone outcrop, lies in the interior part of Dudh Nar and Gujar Nar valley which is about 3 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide valley, whereas, the Gratabal Limestone outcrop, lies in the interior part of Bod Nar valley which is about 3 kilometers long and 1.2 kilometers wide valley. The principle rock of the study area is comprising of limestone, with occasionally interbedded dolomitic/magnesia bands observed at Gratabal, Ganderbal. The limestone is generally dark grey to bluish grey in colour, massive and thick bedded. Structurally, the limestone deposit strike north east – south west with dip amount ranging between 25 to 43 degrees due northwest. In order to assess the qualitative nature of the Gratabal and Saderkote limestone deposits for its suitability in the industrial sector, 50 numbers of bedrocks samples, i.e., 20 no’s from Gratabal and 30 no’s from Saderkote were collected from different lithological units along the dip direction of the deposit for assaying purposes. From the perusal of geochemical analysis of bedrock samples of Saderkote limestone outcrop, it is revealed that the Saderkote limestone is of cement grade, however, the Gratabal limestone reveals high content of Magnesia.