The Potential of Biotic and Abiotic Hydrocarbons in Karakoram, Pakistan.

The Karakoram is a zone of Alpine -Karakoram Folded System and covers area between Eastern Hindu Kush, Pamir, Qiangtang Terrane and Kohistan-Ladakh Arc. Karakoram composed of sedimentary and crystalline complex from Precambrian to Pliocene age. The assessment of formation indicates the presence of geosyncline in Ordovician. Where occur weak Hurricane orogeny and develop rift in the Carboniferous - Permian time. This rift converts into Cimmerian Folded System which move towards Kirthar --Suleiman geosyncline. Therefore, Karakoram linked with Alpine-Himalayan folded Belt and experienced block fault tectonic processes. The presence of the coal, carboniferous shale, carbonate and clastic rocks in Northern Sedimentary Zone and crystallization and recrystallization processes in the Axial and the Southern zone allows to envisage potential of biotic and abiotic hydrocarbon in Karakoram. The palaeotectonic condition of development of Karakoram illustrates presence favourable environment of biotic and abiotic hydrocarbons in Karakoram. The sedimentary layers are source of biotic hydrocarbons. The abiotic hydrocarbons are result of geodynamic processes in upper mantle and upper crust. The semi --graben and graben structures can be a potential Oil and Gas Reservoirs. However geochemical studies will determine the total organic carbon, a factor to evaluate the volume of biotic hydrocarbons. The survey of zones of the crystalline and recrystallize rocks will elucidate the volume of the abiotic hydrocarbons in Karakoram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]