Tour Report

Geological Excursion to Higher Himalayas, Garhwal

region and adjacent area
––

Supervised by
Professor D.S. Bagri

Submitted by:-
Anshika Rai
M.Sc IInd sem
21150335001
 CONTENT
 Acknowledgement
 Abstract

Chapter :1 Introduction

1.1 The Himalaya….

1.2 Stratigraphy of the area..

Chapter :2 Description of Instruments..

2.1 Brunton compass

2.2 Hammer

2.3 Hand lens

2.4 Field notebook

Chapter:3 Detailed description of field word…

 Day 1

Field work between Chamba to Uttarkashi

 Day 2

Field work between Uttarkashi to Gangotri to Uttarkashi

 Day 3

Field work between Uttarkashi to Barkot

 Day 4

Field work between Barkot to Hanuman Chatti

 Day 5

Field work between Barkot to Mussoorie

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This tour report has been made possible through the direct and indirect cooperation of
various persons for whom I wish to express my appreciation and gratitude The study of
geology can't be completed without field excursion or observation. The field work has
been conducted in the area of Chamba, Uttarkashi, Harsil, Mussoorie.

First of all my sincere thanks to Professor D.S. Bagri (H.O.D) who kindly ensured
and accompanied us on the field excursion of our class and his able supervision under
which the tour has been conducted. My special thanks to Dr. Raman Patel sir under
who also accompanied and supported us with his supervision on the tour.

I am also thankful to all my classmates without whom the tour would not be as
memorable and interesting. At last I wanted to thanks my parents and family members
who encouraged and supported me consistently to complete the project.

Name: Anshika Rai

Roll No:22150335001

Class: M.Sc.2 semester

 ABSTRACT

Uttarakhand is one of the Himalayan state of the northern India. It is the 27th of India
11th in the view of Himalayan state and 18th in the view of geographically area. Various
types of rocks are present in this state, such as Gneiss, Schiest, Quartzite. Phyllite,
sandstone, Limestone, Granitic domes and basaltic migmatites. The rocks of
Uttarakhand are of middle to neo proterozoic age. Main boundary thrust, Main central
thrust and North Almora thrust are present. Tehri dam, 2nd highest dam of asia and 4th
highest of world is also present in this state Uttarakhand has a total area of 53,483 km of
which 86% is mountainous and 65% is covered by forest. Most of the northern part of
the state is covered by high Himalayan peaks and glaciers .Uttarakhand lies on the
southern slope of the Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary greatly with
elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower
elevations.

The highest elevations are covered by ice and bare rock. Geology and mining
Unit, Directorate of Industries, Uttrakhand is an individual unit under the
administrative control of the Department of the Industrial Development, Government
of Uttarakhand. Its headquarter is situated in the State Capital Dehradun. Main
functions of the Geology and Mining Unit are Geotechnical Studies and works for
development and management of mineral resources, which are essential for the
economic development of the State.

Geotechnical Studies are of critical importance in the hill state of Uttarakhand

which has a very fragile ecosystem. The hill region is particularly prone to natural
hazards like earthquakes. landslides and flash flood etc.

Main rivers are Ganga. Yamuna, Alaknanda, Kali, Saraswati and Tons. The district is
important from religious point as the two holy rivers namely Ganga and Yamuna have
their emerging points in this district and Char-Dham such as Kedarnath, Gangotri and
Yamnotri temple are placed.
 CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION
Uttarakhand lies on the latitude 30°33'N and longitude 78°706’E, the north-eastern
boundary of which is China and the eastern boundary is Nepal

Uttarakhand occupies a total area of 53, 483 km³, of which 86% is mountainous and 65%
is covered by forest. Most of the northern part of the state is covered by high Himalayan
peaks and glaciers. Two of India's largest rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna, originate
in the glaciers of Uttarakhand, where they are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts and
streams.

It includes all the subdivisions of Himalayan ranges which are of great geological
importance being even so small state, it holds all the major features pertaining to
geology.

 THE HIMALAYAS

The Himalayan Mountains are the youngest folded mountains chain of the world rise in
Tertiary period in tethyan geosynclines, by the collision of India and Eurasian plates

Higher(Greater) Himalayas

The Higher Himalayas are also known as the Central Crystalline zone, comprised of
ductily deformed metamorphic rocks and mark the axis of orogenic oplift. Mics schist,
quartzite, paragneis, migmatite, and leucogranite bodies characterize this uppermost
Himalaya zone. They represent a multiphase deformation event, the first being
Barovian type, or normal geothermal gradient conditions. There was then a shift to
Buchan-type metamorphism, low pressure and high temperature conditions, with
temperatures greatly exceeding normal gradient temperatures (Sorkhabi 1999). Local
retrograde events have also been noted. Analyses show that peak orogenic
temperatures and pressures were 475-825 degrees Celsius and 500-800 megapascals.
Corresponding minerals assemblages are dominated by biotite to sillimanite
representing greenschist to amphibolite facies deformation. Deformation seems to have
occured in a north to south direction and is associated with the Main Central Thrust
Fault (MCT), which brings the higher Himalayas on top of the lower Himalayas
(Sorkhabi 1999) Initially, it was thought that approximately 350km of shortening had
occured in the Greater Himalayan sequence of rocks However, through studies by
DeCellesetal (1998), a major thrust fasilt within the zone was discovered As a result, it is
now estimated that between 600 and 650km of shortening occured here. There was all a
question of provenance for Great Himalayan rocks. Previons work suggested that lower
Indian crust comprised this area, New interpretations of rocks there indicate that the
higher Himalayas are actually made of supercrustal rock. This idea states that upper
catal material of India accreted nonthward onto the Asian continent and that cristal
material was origantly an appendage of India that was, itself, acercted to India during
Paleozoic time. This study implies that India probably had significantly more
continental crust than pervimusly thought, much more crust to be shortened in the
formation of the Greater Himalayas

Lesser(Lower) Himalayas

The Lesser Himalayan zone is bounded the Main Central Thrust(MCT) in the north and
Main Boundary Thrust(MBT) to the south. Unlike the higher Himalayas, the lessers
only experienced up to greenschist facies metamorphism. The rock types present here
are also different. They are primarily sedimentary rocks from the Indian platform. Rock
units here also show a series of anticlines and synclines that are in many cases quite
sheared. Fossils have been documented in this zone, but they do not occur at the same
frequency as Tehtyan zone fossils
 Main Central Thurst (MCT)

This thrust fault was first described by Heim and Ganisser (1939) when they noted a
contact between terrigenous carbonate rocks and thick overlying metamorphic rocks,
mica schists and gneiss (Sinha 1987). The Main Central fault marks the boundary
between the higher and lesser Himalayan mountains. It is a longitudinal thrust fault,
and in many places is marked by a several kilometer thick zone of deformed rocks with
varying degrees of shearing and imbrications (Sorkhabi 1999). Mylonitization and
retrograde metamorphic assemblages also occur here. The MCT is the actual suture
between Gondwanaland (India) and the Proto-Tehtys micro continent to the north
(Spikantia 1987), Movement along the fault has brought crystalline rock from the
Higher Himalayan zone on top of Lesser Paleozoic sediments in the form of klippen in
synclines (Windley 1995). These units are called the Outer Crystalline, as noted above
on the map. Outer crystalline rocks, garnet and kyanite-bearing, were exposed by slip
along the MCT followed by uplift and erosion of 10km of overlying rock (Molnar 1986).
 North Almora Thrust (NAT)

This thrust has been named as the Dharkot Thrust by Saklani(1972), Dharasu Thrust by
Jain (1971) and Saryu Thrust by Valdiya(1962) in the neighboring Tehri, Uttarakshi and
Pithoragarh districts. The Srinagar phyllite due to the effect of NAT are often found as
highly crushed and at places the rocks become as a powdery mass. The rocks hear to the
thrust are characterized by slickenside surfaces. Water seepages, shearing and crushing
effects, mylonitization, preferential weathering and erosion, schistose surfaces etc. are
some of the evidences establish presence of the thrust.
CHAPT
 ER-2

FIELD EQUIPMENTS

 Brunton Compass
 Hammer
 Hand Lens
 Field Notebook

The equipment that are commonly required for doing a geological field work are as
follows:

 Compass
A magnetic compass is used for finding directions, taking traverses and locating one's
own position on the map. The magnetic needle of the compass always points towards
the magnetic north. The chief compasses used by geologists for the field work are:

(a) Clinometer compass

(b) Brunton compass.

These compasses have some additional arrangements for measuring dips of bedding
planes. Brunton is superior to clinometer as it can also be used as a hand level.

The various parts of a Brunton compass are:

(a) a clinometer, used for measuring dip angles,

(b) a compass, used for measuring

(c) a sighting device, used in taking bearing and in hand levelling

While measuring dip, not only angle but direction of dip must also be noted. The sides
of the body of Brunton are made plane and parallel. One of these sides is placed on an
inclined bedding plane in the direction of dip. In this position the dial of the instrument
lies in the vertical plane The tube bubble of the clinometer is then centred by rotating a
lever. The amount of dip is read on the inner wcale in degrees
The compass direction of the horizontal line on in inclined plane is called "strike". In
order to measure a compass direction, the Brunton is held face up. It is then levelled by
osing the circular lev bubble. The hinged mirror and sight help in taking bearing of
selecting points. The readings of diction are taken on the outer circular scale

 Hammer

A hammer is essential for chipping the rocks and collecting rock samples. Geological
hammers generally have chisel end and another flat end. The flat end is used for
breaking rocks while the chisel end is used for trimming and sizing the specimens. The
common field hammers may weigh 0.5 to 1.0 kg.
  Hand Lens (Folding Pocket Magnifier)

A folding magnifier lenses a 10x pocket magnifier with a durable metal case. When
not in use the lens folds into a protected position. This protects the lens from breakage
and scratches. It has a metal loop for attaching a lanyard or you can thread a cord
through the case below the pivot hinge and tie a loop A hand lens provides a quick and
easy way to closely examine rocks, sediments, soils and other fine grained materials.
For basic geology studies, the hand lens is part of a simple system for quick mineral
identification for geology, and most outdoor field uses, a hand lens of around 13 mm to
20 mm diameter is a reasonable choice.

 Field Notebook

A field notebook is used for keeping a record of observations made in the field. Fieldies
should be brief but clear. It must contain the following information:

1. The exact location of an outcrop.

2. Nature of the rock as seen in the outcrop
3. Dip and strike of rock beds and other structural features like ripple marks,
current bedding etc.
4. Location of samples collected.
5. Relation between different rock types.
 6. Any other special information.

CHAPTER- 3
DAY-1
CHAMBA TO UTTARKASHI
LOCATION-1 (Near Dharkot)
Lat-N30°23.211”
Long-E78°23.504”
Elevation- 1321mts.

The lithology of the area is composed of Phyllite, Quartzite, and Slate respectively from
top to bottom. Rocks are nearly horizontal, and highly deformed and jointed.
 LOCATION-2
Lat.- N30°,23.819”

Long.- E078°,23.884”

Elevation- 1395mts.
We encountered boulting of unstable rocs along the Chamba-Uttarkashi road. The rocks
were highly deformed and weathered.
 LOCATION-3
Lat-N30°24.841”
Long-E78°24.980”
Elevation-1466 mts
Alternate beds of Quartzite and slate. There were also recumbent folds found in this
formation.
 LOCATION-4 (Ratna Ghat)
Lat-N30°26.723”

Long-E78°23.543”

Elevation-1466 mts

Glacial Deposits, Contains boulders in clay matrix. U-shaped valley.

 LOCATION-5 (Kotisera Kaman)
Lat-N30°28.457”

Long-E78°20.891”

Elevation-974 mts

Two streams are meeting and forming a confluence point.

 LOCATION-6(Near Dhara Gaon)
Lat-N30°29.102”

Long-E78°21.809”

Elevation-1068 mts

Dip - It is the angle made by the inclined plane with the horizontal plane.

Strike – It is the line made by the intersection of inclined plain and horizontal plane.

Reading :-

Dip direction : N70°-250°

Dip amount : 45°

Strike : NW330°-SE160°
 LOCATION-7 (Near Kumrada)
Lat-N30°31.090”

Long-E78°21.616”

Elevation-970 mts

River terraces along the river Bhagirathi.

River terrace: Bench or step that extends along the side of a valley and represents the
former level of the valley floor.
 LOCATION-9 (Near Dharasu)
Lat- N30°36.739”

Long-E78°18.939”

Elevation- 831 mts

Nallu pani (North Almora) Thrust :

The NAT is a low angle south dipping thrust marking the Northern boundary of the
large Almora Jajarkot Nappe it separates outer lesser Himalayas from inner lesser
Himalayas.
 DAY-2
UTTARKASHI TO HARSHIL
LOCATION-1 (Maneri Reservoir & Dam)
Lat.- N30°44.311”

Long.-E78°31.917”

Elevation- 1327 mts.

The Quartzite of this area is known as Gamli quartzite, with Tale mineral.

Type of dam- Gravity

Impounds - Bhagirathi

Height- 39m(128ft)

Length- 127m (417 ft)

Dam volume -13,700m²

Spill way capacity- 5000 m³/sec

Reservoir capacity -600,000 m³

Active capacity-510,000 m³

Tunnel length-8.6 Km

Tunnel diameter-4.75
 LOCATION-2 (Sainj/Pilot Baba Ashram)
Lat-N30°45.987”

Long-E78°35.497”

Elevation-1449 mts

Main central Thrust (MCT) is passing through Kumalti ghat in sainj. The trend of MCT
is NW-SE, MCT divides lesser Himalayas from Higher Himalayas. Towards the North
of the MCT crystalline rocks like schist, kyanite, silliminite, staurolite etc are found.
 LOCATION-3(Near Bhatwari)
Lat-N30°50.757”

Long-E78°37.907”

Elevation-1677 mts

Augen gneisses and migmatites are well exposed.

Augen gneisses- A medium- to coarse-grained, banded, regional metamorphic rock

composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with hornblende and mica also present in
variable quantities, and characterized by large ovoidal megacrysts of feldspar known as
"augens" (derived from the German for "eyes").
 LOCATION-2
Lat-N30°57.209”

Long-E78°40.318”

Elevation-1876 mts

Banded gneisses with schist patches

Increase in biotite content in schist

Granetiferous mica schist exposed.

LOCATION-3 (Gagnani)

Gagnani Hot spring

Hot spring : Hot spring, also called thermal spring, spring with water at temperatures
substantially higher than the air temperature of the surrounding region. Most hot
springs discharge groundwater that is heated by shallow intrusions of magma (molten
rock) in volcanic areas.

Water was foul smelling because of Sulphur.

 DAY-2
GANGOTRI TO BARKOT
LOCATION-3 (Gangotri Dham)
Lat-N31°00.575”

Long-78°53.100”

Elevation-3100 mts

Bhagirathi River originates from the Gangotri glacier at Gomukh which is around 18km
trek from Gangotri dham. Velocity of river is very high.
 LOCATION-2 (Near Bramhakhal)
Lat-N30°43.466”

Long-E78°16.960”

Elevation-1442 mts

Limestone caves belonging to Shylna formation.

Limestone caves are formed by the dissolution of limestone. Rainwater dissolves carbon dioxide
from air and it percolates through the soil, which turns into weak acid. This slowly dissolve out
the limestone along the joints, bedding planes and fractures, some of which becomes enlarged
enough to form caves.
 LOCATION-3 (Radi top)
Lat-N30°46.266”

Long-E78°15.295”

Elevation-2251 mts

Radi top divides the drainage basin of Bhagirathi and Yamuna river.

A river catchment area ia an area of land where water collects when it rains, often bounded by
hills, and feeds to river.

Bhagirathi catchment area

 DAY-4

BARKOT TO JANKI CHATTI

LOCATION-1 (Palighat)

Here we found formations of Palighat quartzite of white in color.

 LOCATION-2 (Wazri)

We found low grade metamorphism in rocks as it was composed of chlorite schist.

The rocks were dipping in NW-SE direction. Here we also crossed the MCT.

LOCATION-3 (2km ahead of Bajni)

Here YAMUNA river bends around a block of mountain unable to cut or erode
through it comparatively to other places which indicates that there is an intrusive
body like dykes which cause the river to bend around it.
 LOCATION-4

(BETWEEN SIANA CHATTI AND RANA CHATTI)

Here we found metamorphosed granitic rocks.

 LOCATION-5 (Hanuman Chatti)

Here the river Hanuman Ganga meets the Yamuna river at right angle. The river
hanuman ganga flows through a normal fault. In the nearby villages there are
galena deposits found and at hanuman chatti we found amphibolite deposition.
 LOCATION-6 (BANASH)

Here the river Rishi Ganga meets the Yamuna river at right angle which again
indicates that the river Rishi Ganga is flowing through a normal fault. Here we also
found hot springs just by the river .
 DAY-5

BARKOT TO TEHRI

LOCATION-3 (Kempty falls)

Kempty falls Mussoorie, a geological complex which lies about 10 kilometres from Mussoorie,
Uttarakhand towards Yamuna river. The fusion of various geological, ecological, climatic and
geographical factors has resulted in the portrayal of this geologic marvel. Geology and soil are
the controlling factors in the local distribution of vegetation. The Kempty Range of Mussoorie
Forest Division lies at 30027’29” to 31003’24” N latitude and 78005’08” E longitude at an
altitude of about 800 to 1900 mts.
 LOCATION-2

Here we could see point bar deposits.

 Conclusion

It has been a great tour and we have gained a lot of knowledge in this tour and also enjoyed
too. The tour was successful and we have added a lot to our knowledge about Himalaya and
field work of Geology. It was a great experience. In this tour we come to know the importance
of Himalaya and its vast geology. The whole place we have visited in the tour have shown that
how important is geology in development of any country and how much necessary it is to
understand the geological aspect of any area. We have studied about rock type, lithology and
geology of Garhwal Valley , Uttarkashi, Harshil, Barkot and Mussoorie.

The entire tour was successful and able to bring the lots of knowledge about the
geology and importance of field excursion in the geology.

At last I would like to thank our teachers Prof. D. S. Bagri (HOD) & Dr. Raman
Patel, and all my classmates for making this tour memorable.