Reinterpretation of source of Miocene molasse during the Himalayan orogeny

Abstract This study re-examines the provenance of the Miocene Murree Formation through detailed analysis of field exposures and sedimentary trends. Previous interpretations have commonly attributed the primary sediment source of the Murree Formation to the rising Himalayas in northern Pakistan. However, our field observations, coupled with petrographic and stratigraphic evidence, challenge this assumption. The results suggest that the northern Himalayas played only a limited role in sediment supply. Instead, the western margin of the Indian plate, particularly the Spinghar crystalline complex (geographically known as the Kohi-Sufaid ranges) emerges as the dominant provenance region. This reinterpretation not only refines the depositional history of the Murree Formation but also provides new insights into regional tectono-sedimentary evolution during the Miocene, with broader implications for understanding foreland basin development along the India–Eurasia collision zone.