THE MODAL ANALYSIS OF ROCKS IN THE DWELLING OF POONCH AND SUDHUNHOTI, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN

The aim of current research is to confirm early findings of geologists regarding the abundance of frame work mineralogy such as major minerals, rock fragments, accessory minerals, matrix minerals and cement minerals inside rocks by studying their modal analysis in the dwelling of Poonch and Sudhunhoti, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. For this purpose, the samples were first soaked, etched and stained using different chemicals during thin section preparation. Then, the percentage of frame work minerals was counted under petrographic microscope using visual acuity technique. The study indicates that the varieties of quartz (23% to 45%) and feldspar (3% to 13%) minerals are in profusion and their plethora inside the rock declared them major minerals. The rock fragments (29% to 56%) of igneous (Basalts, granite), sedimentary (limestone, dolomite, mudstone, siltstone, sandstone) and metamorphic (marble, schists and other pelites as well as quartzite) origin also exist in prodigious amount and abound inside rocks. The accessory minerals such as biotite (1% to 3%), muscovite (up to 2%), tourmaline (few traces), zircon (1%), chlorite, hornblende, rutile, hematite and pyrite (each with 1% to few traces) with exiguous amount form accessories. The clay minerals and mica (0 to 16%) due to their fine size form the matrix of rocks. The calcite (6% to 18%) and silica (2% to 3%) binds matrix and cementing material inside rocks. Furthermore, stratigraphic sections prepared in the area were helpful in understanding the geology of outcrops.