Abstract An article by A. C. Kerr and coworkers published in 2010 in Mineralogical Magazine (74, 1027–1036), reviewed an event that was interpreted as the eruption of a basaltic flow on 27th January 2010, at Tor Zawar, Ziarat, Pakistan. The regional and local geology, volcanological aspects, petrography and major-element and trace-element analyses of two samples were presented. On the basis of these data it was proposed that this was a magmatic event and that the lava was derived from the mantle. On the basis of our extensive field work in the this area, and observations at the site of another similar incident that happened almost a year later (in January 2011) ∼300 m north of the first locality, we wish to clarify the geological context and propose an alternative origin. Our field observations suggest that both events were the result of localized surface melting at the base of metal electricity pylons, and their associated steel cable supports. The metal pylons and cable supports provided a path to earth for lightning discharges into the volcanic conglomerate of the Late Cretaceous Bibai Formation. We propose that this transmitted sufficient energy to melt the outcrop. We disagree with the proposal that the 'lava flows' at Tor Zawar were magmatic events and that the rocks formed are derived from the mantle. Alternatively, we propose that these 'lavas' were produced in a manner similar to fulgurites.
Abstract Abstract The lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and depositional environments of the Cretaceous successions Pakistan were investigated to reveal the major geological events, including local, regional and global scale tectonics, phases of volcanism, basin condensation, emergence of structural highs and episodes of non-deposition. The succession is entirely missing at Salt Range, but were excellently exposed in Kirthar-Sulaiman Fold-Thrust belts. Such deviating nature (e.g., Hazara, Kalla Chitta, Surghar & Kohat) suggesting episodical tectonic activities were associated with inter-intra rifting and drifting of the India-Madagascar-Seychelles and Antarctica-Australian Plates during Cretaceous time. Correspondingly, several unconformities within the Cretaceous succession at numerous stratigraphic intervals consistently attest the effect of tectonics throughout the period. The recognized unconformities over Kawagarh, Lumshiwal, Parh and Fort Munro formations testify episodic uplifts on local and/or regional scales during the Coniacian-Santonian, Coniacian-Maastrichtian, Campanian and Maastrichtian in response to the separation of Madagascar from the India-Seychelles plate. In contrast, there was continuous sedimentation of carbonate, clastic and/or submarine volcanics in the Kirthar and Indian-Eurasian suture zone. Significant geological events in the restricted regions e.g., local scale submarine volcanism (Bibai Formation), ironstone deposition (Dilband Formation) and basin condensation (Khuzdar) were also associated with such rifting-drifting phases along the WNW margin of the Indian Plate.
This study proposes a methodology for the oil and gas businesses to keep their production plant productive with a minimum investment in carrying maintenance, repair, and operating inventory planning. The goal is to assist the exploration and production companies in minimizing the investment in keeping maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) inventory for improving production plant uptime. The MRO inventory is the most expensive asset and it requires substantial investment. It helps in keeping the oil and gas production plant productive by performing planned and unplanned maintenance activities. A (Q, r) model with a stock-out and backorder cost approach is combined with a continuous inventory review policy for the analysis of class A items of oil and gas production plant MRO inventory. The class A items are identified through popular ABC analysis based on annual dollar volume. The demand for the inventory is modeled through Poisson distribution with consideration of constant lead time. The (Q, r) model in both stock-out cost and backorder cost approaches assigned higher order frequency and lower service level to low annual demand and highly expensive items. The stock-out cost approach shows an 8.88% increase in the average service level and a 56.9% decrease in the company average inventory investment. The backorder cost approach results in a 7.77% increase in average service level and a 57% decrease in average inventory investment in contrast to the company’s existing inventory management system. The results have a direct impact on increasing plant uptime and productivity and reducing company maintenance cost through properly managing maintenance stock. The analysis is carried out on the oil and gas production plant’s MRO inventory data, but it can be applied to other companies’ inventory data as well. All the results reflected in this research are based on the inventory ordering policy of two orders per year. The inventory ordering frequency per year may be other than two orders per year depending on the type of organization.
Abstract The Oligocene-Early Miocene Nari Formation is widely distributed in the Kirthar thrust-fold belt. The formation in the study area is mainly consist of sandstone and shale. Field observations and detailed petrographic study reveal that these sandstones are mostly fine to medium grained, subangular to subrounded and poorly to moderately sorted. Detrital grains are dominantly quartz ranging in proportion 36-76%, feldspar 7-17% and lithic grains 1-13%, reflecting that these sandstones are compositionally submature. Quartz is mostly monocrystalline with some polycrystalline grains. Feldspar is dominantly plagioclase (albite) with some alkali feldspar (orthoclase and microcline). Lithic fragments are siltstone, mudstone and chert. Biotite and muscovite are present as accessory minerals. Heavy minerals such as apatite, tourmaline, and zircon are present in trace amount. The QFL diagrams show that the sandstones of the Nari formation are subarkose and lithic subarkose. The QtFL, QmFLt ternary diagrams and paleocurrent direction suggest that the sediments were transported from the Indian shield exposed to the northeast of the Nari Basin.
Abstract The lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and depositional environments of the Cretaceous successions in Pakistan were investigated to reveal the major geological events, including local, regional and global-scale tectonics, phases of volcanism, basin condensation, emergence of structural highs and episodes of non-deposition. The succession is entirely missing at Salt Range but is excellently exposed in the Kirthar–Sulaiman Fold-Thrust belts. Such deviating nature (e.g. Hazara, Kala Chitta, Surghar and Kohat), suggesting episodical tectonic activities, is associated with inter–intra rifting and drifting of the India–Madagascar–Seychelles and Antarctica–Australian plates during the Cretaceous. Correspondingly, several unconformities within the Cretaceous succession at numerous stratigraphic intervals consistently attest to the effect of tectonics throughout the period. The recognized unconformities over Kawagarh, Lumshiwal, Parh and Fort Munro formations testify to episodic uplifts on local and/or regional scales during the Coniacian–Santonian, Coniacian–Maastrichtian, Campanian and Maastrichtian in response to the separation of Madagascar from the India–Seychelles Plate. In contrast, there was continuous sedimentation of carbonate, clastic and/or submarine volcanics in the Kirthar and Indian–Eurasian suture zone. Significant geological events in the restricted regions, e.g. local-scale submarine volcanism (Bibai Formation), ironstone deposition (Dilband Formation) and basin condensation (Khuzdar), were also associated with such rifting–drifting phases along the WNW margin of the Indian Plate.
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