Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

B. S. Kotlia ¹, M. S. Bhalla ², Nalin Shah ¹, G. Rajagopalan ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital-263 002, IN
2 National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad-500 007, IN
3 Birbal Salmi Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, IN

Abstract

Palaeomagnetic studies were carried out in the fluvio-Iacustrine sediments of Bhimtal and Bhowali basins (Kumaun Himalaya) and of Lamayuru basin (Ladakh Himalaya). The results were supplemented by radiocarbon dating. For the first time in the terrestrial sediments of the Quaternary-Holocene age in the Indian subcontinent, three minor reversal polarity events have been recorded at Lamayuru (ca. 35.5 ± 0.6 ka BP), Bhimtal (29.8-25.6 ka BP), and Bhowali (ca. 7.7 ± 0.13 ka BP). Since the upper most portion of the Lamayuru section indicated a reversal event, it may be significant to correlate it with the Indian Ocean event estimated as 40 ka BP. It is suggested that the Bhimtal event may be correlated with the widely known Mono Lake excursion which is fixed at 28-26 ka BP. Among the Holocene events, only a few are known, e.g., an event in the Solberga sediments (Sweden) estimated at ca. 10 ka BP; an event from Central Asia, dated at about 9 ka BP; the Erieau excursion, upper part of which has been estimated at about 7.6 ka BP; and the youngest event known as the Starno event (2.8 ka BP). The initial reports of the palaeomagnetic events, described in this paper, may be highly significant for examining several more sections as the events should he found repeatedly in sediments of same age in a given sedimentary environment.

Keywords

Magnetostratigraphy, Quaternary-Holocene, Reversal events, Fluvio-Iacustrine Deposits, Kumaun, Ladakh Himalaya.

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B. S. Kotlia ¹

Affiliations
1 Institute fur Palaeontologie, Nussalle-8, D-5300, Bonn,, DE

Abstract

The earliest as well as the first Episoriculus (Tribe Soriculini; Subfamily, Soricinae) in Asia is described from the Pliocene sediments of the Karewas of Kashmir, India. Based on the examination of nearly all lower and upper dental elements, a new species, Episoriculus repenningi sp. nov. is proposed. In addition; the only record of tribe Beremendiini in Southern Asia is discussed based on limited material. The presence ofhoih tribes in India offers evidence of faunal similarity between Europe and Southern Asia during Late Cenozoic. The age of the sediments yielding fossil shrews is about 2.4 Ma.

Keywords

Pliocene, Soricidae, Kashmir, Himalaya, Mammalia.

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L. S. Chamyal ¹, B. S. Kotlia ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, M.S. Univ. of Baroda, Baroda-390002, IN
2 Department of Geology, Kumaun Univ. Nainital-263001, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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B. S. Kotlia ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital-263 002, IN

Abstract

The first Upper Pleistocene micromammalian assemblage consisting of Soricidae and Muridae in the Indian sub-continent is described from the fluvio-lacustrine sediments of Bhimtal-Bilaspur area of the Kumaun region. North India. Two new species, Sorex reumeri sp. nov. and Mus dhailai sp. nov. are proposed. Considering nearly all the soricid characters, Sorex reumeri sp. nov. is found to be more derived than the Lower Pleistocene Sorex. It is suggested that Mus dhailai sp. nov. does not have any phylogenetic connection with the Plio-Pleistocene Mus so far reported from the subcontinent. The age of the fossil horizon is 730-40 ka.

Keywords

Micromammalian Fauna, Verterbrate Palaeontology, Pleistocene, Kumaun Himalaya.

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M. S. Bhalla ¹, B. S. Kotlia ², K. Subrahmanyam ¹

Affiliations
1 National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, IN
2 Kumaon University, Nainital, IN

Abstract

Magnetostratigraphy of fluviolacustrine sediments from a 10 m thick section of a palaeolake near Wadda, Pithoragarh district, Uttar Pradesh bas been studied. The results indicate a prominent change in inclination of the remanent field in the age span 24 to 25 Ka, correlating with the widely known Mono lake excursion. Higher susceptibility values for the sediments of a part of the section are inferred to be due to rapid erosion rate associated with the transport of magnetite-rich sediments from the catchment area.

Keywords

Magnetostratigraphy, Fluviolacustrine, Uttar Pradesh.

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K. S. Rawat ¹, B. S. Kotlia ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital - 263 003, IN

Abstract

Soft sediment deformation structures are observed between elevations of 89-102 m in the laminated sediments of the Garbyang palaeolake located in the Kumaun Tethys Himalaya. Deformation of the laminated sediments has resulted in the development of flame structures. The deformation took place in a syndepositional stage as evidenced by occurrence of the deformed units between undeformed and planar sediments. The flame structures observed are flamed load cast and convolute flame structures. These structures were developed as a result of liquefaction process resulting in density inversion between the fine grained sediment such as mud overlain by coarse grained sediment such as clayey sand silty sand or sands. In some instances of deformation where coarse grained sediment are overlain by fine grained sediment, differential porosity and permeability contrast between the sediment has resulted in flamed convolute structures in the coarser sediment. In extreme case of flame development, the pseudonodule and clay diapir structures have formed.

Keywords

Kurnaun Tethys Himalaya, Garbyang Pataeolake, Flame And Convolute Structures, Soft Sediment Deformation Grabyang Lake, Kumaun Himalaya, Uttaranchal.

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B. S. Kotlia ¹, JaiShri Sanwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun Uniersity, Narnital- 263 002, Uttaranchal, IN

Abstract

The first as well as the earliest fossil Soriculus (Insectivoia , Mammalia) In the Indian subcontinent is described from the Pliocene fluvio-lacustrine deposits of the Karewa Intermontane basin in the northwestern Himalaya The new species, Soriculus kashmiriensis sp nov, is morphologically close to all the Asian forms of the Tribe Soriculus and comparatively closer to the present day S leucops and S (E ) caudatus Based on the careful examination of avariable fossil as well as Recent material, we propose to merge fossial and living soriculus of Asia into a single genus Soriculus We also choose to include the Indian Episoriculus in Soriculus for taxonomic reasons.

Keywords

Soriculus, Morphology, Evolution, Pliocene, Kashmir Northwestern Himalaya.

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Binita Phartiyal ¹, B. S. Kotlia ²

Affiliations
1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow - 226 007, U P, IN
2 Departmenotf Geology, Kumaun University, Nianital - 263 002, Uttaranchal, IN

Abstract

Episodic tectonic disturbances during Late Quaternary period in the Kumaun Himalaya have led to the reactivation of the thrusts/faults in the zones of major intracrustal boundary thrusts thereby blocking the ancient drainage and resulting in formation of lakes. Such tectonic lakes were drained out due to further tectonic disturbances leaving behind their sedimentary records. In such two palaeolake profiles, one at Champawat district (Phulara and Chauki sections) and the other at Pithoragarh district (Riyasi section)of the Uttaranchal state in Kumaun Lesser Himalayas, a reversal (geomagnetic excursion) is recorded at 20,900-19,100 yrs BP. The reversal is found at both the places at the same time though being separated by an aerial distance of about 30 km and being parts of two different palaeolake systems placed in two different tectonic setups. Such excursions have been previously reported in the Kumaun Himalayas (Kotlia et al 1998) as well as NW Himalaya (Sangode et al 2002).

Keywords

Quaternary, Palaeolake, Magnetostratigraphy, Magnetic Excursion/Event, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Uttaranchal.

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K. S. Valdiya ¹, B. S. Kotlia ²

Affiliations
1 Geodynamics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore - 560 064, IN
2 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital - 263 002, IN

Abstract

In parts of the Kumaun Lesser Himalayan terrane that is defined by the very active Main Boundary Thrust and Main Central Thrust, tectonic strain is progressively building up due to horizontal compression with resultant crustal shortening. Consequently, the thrust that bounds a synclinal nappe of Precambrian crystalline rocks has been reactivated in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene times. The neotectonic movements along the nappe-bounding thrust and associated faults within the nappe and in the adjacent autochthonous terrane are manifest in the pronounced geomorphic rejuvenation of the landscape, the development of rugged mountain barriers along the active thrusts and the dismemberment and dislocation of Late Quaternary fluvial terraces, lacustrine flats and colluvial cones. The resultant stream ponding culminated in the formation of lakes behind recently uplifted blocks upstream of active faults. Formed within the fluvial regimes and stretching 7 to 11 km upstream of the neotectonic impediments, the lakes are represented by 10 to 13 m thick succession of clays and muds. Radiocarbon dates of the lacustrine clay and mud in eastern Kumaun indicate the timings of the reactivation of these faults of the synclinal Almora Nappe at >35 ka and 9 ka. Several other palaeolakes in the Himalayan province originated in the temporal interval of 35 to 40 ka.

Keywords

Reactivated Thrust, Active Fold, Geomorphology, Palaeolake, Debris Flow, Radiocarbon Dates, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya.

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B. S. Kotlia ¹, K. Nakayama ², M. S. Bhalla ³, B. Phartiyal ¹, T. Kosaka ⁴, Moulishree Joshi ¹, Jaishri Sanwal ¹, R. N. Pande ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital - 263002, IN
2 Department of Geosciences, Shimane University, Matsue - 690-8504, JP
3 National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad - 500007, IN
4 Department of Geology, Shinshu University, Matsurnoto - 390-8621, JP

Abstract

A 2600 m thick succession, exposed between Kathgodam and Ranibagh in the Kumaun Himalaya and belonging to the Lower and Middle Siwalik, was subjected to lithological and palaeomagnetic studies. Lithologically, four units are recognized in the sequence. Units 1-2 are correlated with the upper part of the Lower Siwalik, whereas the Units 3-4 are correlated with the Middle Siwalik. In the absence of the vertebrate fossils and absolute chronology, the lithological boundaries are used to explain the magnetic polarity stratigraphy. We suggest that the lithological boundary between the Lower and Middle Siwalik (e.g., Chinji-Nagri) in the Kathgodam-Ranibagh section lies at ca. 850 m level and is palaeomagnetically estimated as ca. 9.8 Ma. If such a correlation is correct, the section ranges in age from Chron 5 An to Chron 2 Ar (ca. 12.0 to 4.0 Ma).

Keywords

Siwalik, Lithology, Palaeomagnetic Chronology, Kumaun Himalaya.

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P. D. Mathur ¹, B. S. Kotlia ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002, IN

Abstract

The paper reports molluscs (bivalves and gastropods) and ostracods from the Late Quaternary fluvio-lacustrine sediments of the Lamayuru basin, as well as from a present day lake in Leh, Ladakh. Eight fossiliferous horizons were located within the sequence. Out of seven micro-invertebrate taxa recovered. five (Pisidium sp. indet, Pisidium mitchelli, Succinea sp. indet, Gyraulus convexisculus and llyocypris gibba) are reported for the first time from the Ladakh region.

Keywords

Palaeontology, Late Quaternary, Fluvio-Lacustrine Deposits, Molluscs, Ostracods, Ladakh Himalaya.

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