Crustal Structure Along Wular Lake-Gulmarg-Naoshera Profile Across Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas From Deep Seismic Soundings

Deep Seismic Soundings along Wular lake-Gulmarg-Naoshera profile across Pir Panjal range of the Himalaya have delineated the Srinagar and Jammu synclines, each having a maximum sedimentary thickness of about 18 km. In the Srinagar syncline, the thickness of Karewas (velocity 2.8 km/sec) varies bctween 0.5 km to 1.1 km near Babarishi. Karewas are underlain by Triassic limestones (velocity 4.55 km/sec) having a thickness of 2.0km near Muquam, increasing to 3.6 km south of Sopur. Its thickness decreases to 1.2 km near Babarishi. The third layer with velocity 5.8 km/sec is inferred as Panjal Traps having a thickness of 2.5 to 3.0km. A system of 3 high angle faults is also indicated in the Srinagar valley. In the Jammu syncline, the exposed Murrees and Middle and Lower Siwaliks (velocity 3.8 to 4.6 km/sec) indicate a total thickness of about 3 km near Naoshera overlying the Waishnodevi limestones (velocity 5.8 km/sec). A number of low angle faults have been delineated in the Jammu syncline.

The deeper crustal section is divided into three major blocks bounded by deep faults, the northern block being downfaulted with respect to the southern block. In the southern block, Moho is at a depth of 44km near, Main Boundary Fault, 57km under Pir Panjal range, 51 km under Babarishi. Moho is at a depth of 63 to 69km north of Muquam. Under the Great Himalaya, Moho starts rising from 78 km depth in the deepest part to 67 km under the Nangaparbat shot point.