Indian Geological Sequences

Indian Geological Sequences: Salient Features and Major Events focuses on the first ever differentiation of the entire Indian record into a five tier hierarchical succession of geological sequences – five giga to 12 mega to 25 1st order to 68 2nd order to over 100 3rd order ones as its basic skeleton. Using the developed grid of sequence timelines, the diverse inter-disciplinary geological manifestations on the broad tectono-stratigraphically homogeneous supra-region of GTM (Gondwanian Tethyan Margin from Arabia to Australia) have been mutually integrated towards chronicling of events with precision never ever realized earlier. The giga-sequences GS-I to GS-IV comprising eight mega-sequences MS-I to MS-VIII deal with the Precambrian in brief. GS-V (¬ 635 ma onward) MS-IX (¬ 635-444 ma) and MS-XII (¬ 61.6 onward) include orogenies while MS-X (¬ 444-259 ma) and MS-XI (¬ 259-61.6 ma) are dominated by dismemberment tectonics. The prime focus is on the correlation of events across scores of sedimentary basins from outcrop to subsurface, onshore to offshore, marine to non-marine, shallow to deep water, plant to animal, micro to macro-fossils, and Proto-Paleo-Neotethys to Indian Ocean. Among the major Phanerozoic events time precised are the ¬ 500 ma Acantha Zone mega MFS accretion of the then alien TH to the Indian margin, and the ¬ 50 ma P8 Zone mega MFS impingement of India on Asia while the important dismemberment events include the ¬ 159 ma late Middle Oxfordian Orientalis Zone Schilli Subzone 1st order MFS initiation of the Indian Ocean which culminated in steps with oceanic separation of Sri Lanka from Antarctica at the ¬ 107 ma early Middle Albian Dentatus Zone mega MFS, ¬ 90 ma 1st order SB initiation of separation of Madagascar so also of Mascaranes basin, NER, Central Indian basin, Wharton basin, separation of Greater Seychelles from India at the ¬ 64.5 ma intra Danian 2nd order Quadratus Zone MFS and ¬ 24 ma Complanata Zone MFS thrusting due south of Greater Himalaya upon Lesser Himalaya. Indian Geological Sequences: Salient Features and Major Events is a valuable reference for researchers and scientists in the field of Earth Sciences. Relates multi-dimensional geological events of one region to another in a vast supra-region through precisely dated sequence timelines Links macro- and micro-evolutionary advent and extinction events to macro- and micro-geological events Includes multidisciplinary data sources, from sedimentological, geochemical, and geophysical records

This book envisages a multi-proxy approach using stable isotopes, geochemical proxies, magnetic susceptibility and associated biotic events for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental interpretations of the Mesozoic sedimentary record of India. Mesozoic rocks of India record abnormal sea level rise, greenhouse climate, intensified volcanism, hypoxia in seawater, extensive black shale deposition, and hydrocarbon occurrence. The Mesozoic has also witnessed mass extinction events, evolution of dinosaurs, and breakdown of the supercontinent Pangea and the formation of Gondwana. Although the Mesozoic geology of India has witnessed significant progress in the last century, literature survey reveals a huge gap in knowledge regarding sequence stratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and key geological events. A synthesis of sedimentological, paleontological and chemical data is included to presenting a comprehensive understanding of the Indian Mesozoic record to students, researchers and professionals.

The book reviews and summarizes the Indian Mesozoic geological evolution in an innovative alternative perspective of sequence stratigraphy. It mainly focuses on the Jurassic interval, but also concisely discusses the preceding Triassic and Cretaceous geological records. The key to the study is primarily held in the recently developed ammonoid based high resolution scales in the Triassic and Jurassic period. The Indian Jurassic record is thus elevated to a high resolution pedestal. The large intra-Jurassic stratigraphic gap in Kachchh, with increase in duration from margin to basin, has been précised in different sections, along with radical revision of its long held interpretation from sub-aerial to sub-marine all over from Arabia to Australia. Other significant gaps are also differentiated into sub-aerial and sub-marine. The Indian Late Precambrian – Neogene record is organized into five mega-sequences. Among these, the fourth – also the most important one – includes the intra-Permian to Early Eocene interval from the origin to the closure of the Neotethys. Based on multidisciplinary integration of the Indian Mesozoic geological record and comparison with hydrocarbon producing basins on east and west of India, a highly positive scenario of the hydrocarbon source/reservoir sediment perspective is outlined in the book in sequence stratigraphic backdrop as an edifice for future elaborate evaluation.

‘Historical Geology of India’ is a text book for graduate and post-graduate students of geology, geophysics and other earth sciences for Indian Universities. It also caters to the universities of USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada as one or two credit courses on regional studies are included in the curriculum. Besides it can be useful to professional geologists and geophysicists working on various projects in India. The book has been specially designed to cover the course content of major Indian Universities and the approved syllabi of the University Grants Commission. This book has not been written in the classical style of what is where and when was it formed; instead there has been an attempt to base the entire history on the time control as available from latest data on high resolution stratigraphy through fossil content, radiometric dating and palaeomagnetic studies. There is a special focus on the tectonic history of the entire subcontinent through time from Precambrian times to present day.

This books documents the salient characters of the tectonic evolution of the Indian subcontinent. It showcases the well investigated subcontinent of Gondwana. The book is linked to an updated geological and tectonic map of this region on 1:12,000,000 in scale. The Indian subcontinent displays almost uninterrupted and unique the geological history since about Eo-Archean (~3800 Ma) to recent, with the development of many Proterozoic deformed and metamorphosed fold belts around Archean nuclei, and enormously thick undeformed platform deposits. After their stabilization during late Proterozoic, the subcontinent underwent Paleozoic rifting and deposition of coal-bearing thick sequences, followed by enormously-thick outpouring of Deccan volcanics as a consequence of huge mantle plume. The youngest event in its evolution is the Cenozoic Himalayan Orogenic Mountains, spanning the area between Nanga Parbat and Namcha Barwah; a part of which extends both in Pakistan and Myanmar.

This book presents in a concise format a simplified and coherent geological-dynamical history of the Indian subcontinent (including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Southern Tibet and Pakistan). Encompassing a broad array of information related to structure and tectonics, stratigraphy and palaeontology, sedimentation and palaeogeography, petrology and geochemistry, geomorphology and geophysics, it explores the geodynamic developments that took place from the beginning around 3.4 billion years ago to the last about 5,000 years before present. Presented in a distilled form, the observations and deductions of practitioners, this book is meant for teachers, researchers and students of geology, geophysics and geomorphology and practitioners of earth sciences. A comprehensive list of references to original works provides guidance for those seeking further details and who wish to examine selected problems in depth. The book is illustrated with a wealth of maps, cross sections and block diagrams — all simplified and redesigned.

This book presents findings from research into the Precambrian history of the Indian shield obtained using state-of-the-art technology. It demonstrates a paradigm shift towards studying the Precambrian shield regions using petrological, geochemical, structural, metallogenic, sedimentological and paleobiological data from the rocks in the Precambrian shield area, and presents a collection of contributions on these diverse topics that help to reconstruct the Precambrian evolution of the Indian Shield.