Petrography and Geochemistry of the Sandstones of Murree Group Around Laren, Udhampur, Jammu Himalaya

The importance of the sandstones of Murree Group is becoming more and more due to the possibilities of occurrence of hydrocarbons. It is evident from the petrographic and geochemical studies that these sandstones are of sublitharenite type. Probably low to medium grade metamorphic, intermediate to acid igneous and preexisting sedimentary rocks were sources for these rocks. A cratonic near-shore depositional environment is suggested for these sediments. The palaeoclimatic conditions were mild as indicated by their mineralogy.