TITLE:
A Glance on the Mineral Deposits and Stratigraphic Sequential Variations and Structures in Different Sections of Indus Basin (Pakistan): New Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaurs from the Latest Maastrichtian Vitakri Formation of Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Muhammad Sadiq Malkani
KEYWORDS:
Mineral Deposits, Stratigraphic Sequences, Structures, Multiple Sections, Indus Super Basin, New Titanosaurs, Latest Maastrichtian, Vitakri Formation, Pakistan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.13 No.10,
October
26,
2023
ABSTRACT: Indus basin hosts many significant mineral deposits
like gypsum and cement raw materials, gemstones, iron, coal, marble, dimension
and construction stones, petroleum and water resources, world class pink salt
and other many minerals in different regions which need further exploitation
and development. The construction of new water dams in different regions are
vital (for availability of cheap electricity), because of available barren and
fertile lands and wastage of water as flood. Further the installation of more
cement industries in different regions of Indus Basin especially in middle
Indus (Sulaiman Range where gypsum, clays and limestones can be available via
belt) can increase export to receive more foreign exchange and make local
cement cheap for the sustainable development of Pakistan. 31 stratigraphic
sequential sections at different sections of Indus basins are presented to know
the variation and local stratigraphy. Further here three new titanosaur taxa are being described. Saraikimasoom is based on snout; Gspsaurus, (Maojandino), Nicksaurus and Khanazeem are based on cranial,
vertebral and appendicular elements; Balochisaurus, Marisaurus, Pakisaurus, and
3 new genera and species Imrankhanhero
zilefatmi, Qaikshaheen masoomniazi and Ikqaumishan
smqureshi based on vertebral and
appendicular elements; and Sulaimanisaurus and Khetranisaurus based on only
caudal vertebrae. Although Pakistani Titanosaurians seem to be proliferated
found from one horizon of Vitakri Formation just below the K-Pg boundary they
have a wide range of diagnostic features and key elements among titanosaurs
which can be used for comparison and phylogenetic analyses with broad updated
character data set of titanosaurs.