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S. K. Shah ¹, B. K. Raina ², M. L. Razdan ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu 180001, IN
2 Nilofar, Rajbagh, Srinagar 190001, IN

Abstract

The redlichid fauna from the Lower Cambrian of northwestern Kashmir is described. In addition to Redlichia noetlingi (Redlich), it includes R. cf. knjazevi Repina and Tungllsella obesa Repina, not recorded from India so far. Inarticulate brachiopods, Botsfordia granulata (Redlich) and? Neobolus are also described from the same zone. The fauna corresponds to Botomian and represents upper middle part of Lower Cambrian.

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S. V. Srikantia ¹, M. L. Razdan ¹

Affiliations
1 'Nilofar', Rajbagh, Srinagar-190008, IN

Abstract

In the Central Ladakh Himalaya, the Ladakh Granitic Complex with Kharbu Group, the Indus Tectonic Zone and the Spiti-Zanskar and Kashmir Precambrian Phanerozoic belts constitute the chief geological units. The Ladakh Granitic Complex comprises a heterogeneous association of granitoids, gabbroids and basic rocks. The Spiti-Zanskar and Kashmir belts comprise Precambrian-Eocambrian crystallines and Late Palaeozoic-Mesozoic sediments.The Indus Tectonic Zone, a name adopted in preference to the Indus Suture Zone consists of two parallel and almost homotaxial sedimentary belts viz., the non-ophiolitic Indus Group in the north and the ophiolitic sedimentary volcanic belt of the Sangeluma Group in the south. The Indus Group unconformably overlies the Ladakh Granitic Complex, and the Sangeluma Group tectonically overlies the former. The Indus Group is divisible into the Skinding, the Kuksho, the Maklishun and the Karit Formations in the ascending order, and the Sangeluma into the Khalsi, the Dras Volcanic, the Nindam and the Shergol Formations with ophiolite association in all the formations excepting the Nindam.

The Indus Group cycle of sedimentation comprises, shallow diamictite, flyschoid, lagoonal and molassic stages, whereas the Sangeluma comprises the platform, submarine volcanic, flyschoid and unstable shelf type sedimentation.

Tectonically, the area can be divided into: Ladakh Granitic Complex-Indus Group autochthon, the Sangeluma parautochthon, the Kuling-Lilang schuppen belt, the parautochthon of Spiti-Zanskar and Kashmir Precambrian-Phaneroxoic belts and Shilakong ophiolite nappe.

The Indus Tectonic Zone was an original mega lineament which later became a site of opening of sea and sedimentation for the Indus and the Sangeluma. A sequence of stages of sea-floor spreading subduction and closing is envisaged.

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S. V. Srikantia ¹, M. L. Razdan ²

Affiliations
1 29, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Calcutta 700016, IN
2 B-ll, H. Road, Lucknow 226006, IN

Abstract

The Shilakong ophiolite nappe occurs along the crest of the Zanskar Mountains in Ladakh, tectonically resting over the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments of the Spiti-Zanskar basin. It comprises two sub-nappe units. The lower Photang sub-nappe is made of pillow lava, basalt, volcanogenic sediments, purple chert and carbonate rocks with slivers of serpentinite. The Spong sub-nappe comprises mainly harzburgite, dunite and lherzolite in different stages of serpentinisation. The Shilakong ophiolite nappe is comparable with the Kiogar-Amlang La ophiolite nappe complex south of Kailas in South Tibet-North Kumaun region. These ophiolite nappes represent squeezed up material from the deep sea regime along the Inclus Tectonic Zone and are now obducted onto the continental zone as the highest allochthon in the Himalaya.

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M. L. Razdan ¹, N. K. Dhir ²

Affiliations
1 Malapora, Srinagar, Kashmir, IN
2 Faridabad, Haryana, IN

Abstract

The section along the National Highway-IA between Batote and Qazigund, in the Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya exposes a succession of rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Tertiary which fall under three tectonic divisions viz, the Murree Structural Belt, the Lesser Himalayan Belt of J and K and the Kashmir Tethyan Belt, separated from each other by major tectonic discontinuities designated as the Murree Thrust and the Panjal Thrust.

Keywords

Stratigraphy, Himalayan Geology, National Highway Geology, Kashmir.

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