Stratigraphy and Structure of Kerala Tertiary Basin

The NW-SE to WNW-ESE trending faults, having an oblique trend to the Western Ghats have played a significant role in the structural evolution of the basin and have also controlled the facies distribution and stratigraphy of the different units. The recent reactivation of the NNW-SSE to N-S trending faults which are presumbly associated with the uplift of the Western Ghats, appear to be responsible for the foundering of the greater part of the offshore basin and for shaping the present day coastline with lateritic terraces. Evidences also indicate that the NE-SW trending fractures have been reactivated recently, affecting even the Quaternary sedimentary cover.