The eastern Karakoram lies to the north of the Shyok ophiolite melange belt (commonly known as the Shyok Suture). Metamorphic rocks are limited in occurrence and mainly confined to the either side of the batholith. Sedimentation history of the Karakoram Basin or the Karakoram Tethys spans from Carboniferous to post-Cretaceous and was confined to the north of the Karakoram Batholith. To the north and east, this basin was not confined to the Karakoram Range but extends beyond its limits. Lower part of the sedimentary sequence is dominated by argillites, siliciclastics and carbonates of Carboniferous to Permian. Basic to intermediate lava flows, sometimes with large pillows, are commonly associated with these sediments particularly in the eastern part of the area. Upper part of the basin, exposed to the north of Chhungtash and extending beyond the Karakoram Pass, is dominated by the carbonates. The end phase of deposition in the Karakoram Tethys is marked by coarse elastic deposits of molassic nature during the post-Cretaceous period.