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Evaluation and Characteristics of Himalayas


Time PeriodEvent / ProcessGeological EvidenceKey Terms & Concepts
Late Precambrian – Palaeozoic (>541 Ma – ~250 Ma)India part of Gondwana, north bordered by Cimmerian Superterranes, separated from Eurasia by Paleo-Tethys Ocean.Pan-African granitic intrusions (~500 Ma), unconformity between Ordovician conglomerates & Cambrian sediments.Gondwana, Paleo-Tethys Ocean, Pan-African orogeny, unconformity, granitic intrusions, Cimmerian Superterranes.
Early Carboniferous – Early Permian (~359 – 272 Ma)Rifting between India & Cimmerian Superterranes → Neotethys Ocean formation.Rift-related sediments, passive margin sequences.Rifting, Neotethys Ocean, passive continental margin.
Norian (210 Ma) – Callovian (160–155 Ma)Gondwana split into East & West; India part of East Gondwana with Australia & Antarctica.Rift basins, oceanic crust formation.Continental breakup, East Gondwana, West Gondwana, oceanic crust.
Early Cretaceous (130–125 Ma)India broke from Australia & Antarctica → opening of South Indian Ocean.Magnetic anomaly patterns in oceanic crust.Seafloor spreading, plate separation.
Late Cretaceous (~84–65 Ma)India's rapid northward drift (~18–19.5 cm/yr, ~6000 km). Oceanic–oceanic subduction until closure.Ophiolite obduction onto Indian margin.Plate convergence, ophiolite, obduction, subduction.
Paleocene – Eocene (~65–55 Ma)Onset of India–Eurasia collision, slowdown to ~4.5 cm/yr.Structural shortening (~2500 km), rotation of India (45° NW Himalaya, 10–15° Nepal).Orogeny, continental collision, thrusting, folding, extrusion tectonics.
Miocene – Present (~23 Ma – now)Himalayan uplift, highest peaks (Mt. Everest 8848 m), Nanga Parbat uplift 10 mm/yr, erosion rates 2–12 mm/yr.Glacial deposits, sediment flux (25% global).Active orogen, syntax, erosion, sediment budget, tectonic underplating, duplexing.
Historical Earthquakes (1905–1999)High seismicity due to ongoing convergence (~17 mm/yr).1905 Kangra, 1975 Kinnaur, 1991 Uttarkashi, 1999 Chamoli (Mw ≥ 6.6).Seismic hazard, Coulomb Stress Transfer (CST), fault rupture, mid-crustal ramp.

Major Tectonostratigraphic Zones (South → North)

ZoneAge / CompositionMajor FaultNotes
Sub-Himalaya (Sivalik)Miocene–Pleistocene molasse (Murree & Sivalik Formations)Main Frontal Thrust (MFT)Foothills; rivers from Himalayas deposit alluvium.
Lesser Himalaya (LH)Upper Proterozoic–Lower Cambrian sediments, granites, volcanicsMain Boundary Thrust (MBT)Appears in tectonic windows.
Higher Himalaya / HHCSMedium–high grade metamorphic rocks + Ordovician & Miocene granitesMain Central Thrust (MCT)Backbone of Himalaya, high peaks.
Tethys Himalaya (TH)Weakly metamorphosed sediments, complete stratigraphySouth Tibetan Detachment System (STDS)Preserves Gondwanan to Eocene record.
Indus–Tsangpo Suture Zone (ISZ)Ophiolites, Dras Volcanics, Indus Molasse–Marks India–Eurasia collision boundary.


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