Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A detailed gravity picture of Nallamalai Fold Belt–Nellore Schist Belt (NSB) of Eastern Dharwar Craton with marginal Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt in Krishna Region, South India with special reference to Late Archaean NSB evolution

  • Published:
Journal of Earth System Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Krishna region of south India comprises Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB), Nellore Schist Belt (NSB) of Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) margin and Nallamalai Fold Belt (NFB) including Cuddapah Basin (CB) from east to west. The gravity surveys are carried out across it, so as to delineate the different litho-tectonic belts and salient structural features. The gravity data is processed to generate regional, residual and derivative maps along with three 2D gravity models. Two major gravity highs over the EGMB and NSB and a wide gravity low across the NFB, along with a linear gravity low representing as Transitional Zone (TZ) between these two highs are delineated. Two curvilinear steep gravity gradients between the NFB-NSB and NSB-EGMB are differentiated as Cuddapah Eastern Margin Thrust and Eastern Ghats Boundary Thrust along with a low angle Malakondasatram Thrust in the central part. The NSB comprises Eastern (EA) and Western (WA) arms of coeval different environmental facies of foreland and back-arc setups. The EA with intense gravity high due to a high-density layer at a depth of ~10 km is evidenced from 2D gravity model. The thickness of high-density layer (EA) gradually decreases towards westerly and wedges out below the WA suggesting the entire NSB as a single Late Archaean segment. The major linear gravity high of covered eastern part in Kavali–Nellore–Gudur region indicates the southern continuation of EGMB. The occurrence of thin unconformable high-grade schists in two doubly plunging structures and as tectonic lenses, including a major E–W folded erosional remnants in the low-medium grade late Archaean NSB domain are found as eastern continuation of Mesoproterozoic upper Cuddapah extensions at the EGMB front. These erosional remnants are reflected as isolated residual gravity lows in the west and as residual highs in overall EA of NSB in the east. The isolated relative highs and lows within the major low zone of NFB are linked to differential basement configuration due to superposed effects with the N–S non-cylindrical fold.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Babu V R R M 2001 Plate tectonic history of the Indian Plate Nellore–Khammam Schist belt; Indian Academy of Geoscience, Geology Department, Osmania University, 183p.

  • Burhanuddin M 2017 Deformed Mesoproterozoic Pakhal sequence in south-eastern Pranhitha–Godavari basin along eastern margin of Eastern Dharwar Craton: Interpreted as an outcome of Eastern Ghat orogeny during India–East Antarctica amalgamation; Ind. J. Geosci. 70(3&4) and 71(1) 227–246.

  • Burhanuddin M 2022 A critical study on the tectonic evolution of late Archaean Chitradurga and Nellore Schist belts in Dharwar Craton, South India; J. Geol. Soc. India 98 441–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burhanuddin M and Mohakul J P 2020 Litho-stratigraphic analysis of Dharwar Supergroup in Chitradurga schist belt, Karnataka: A re-appraisal; Ind. J. Geosci. 74(4) 447–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burhanuddin M and Ravi Kumar B 2019 A Mesoproterozoic clastic metasedimentary sequence occurrence over the Nellore Schist Belt, beyond the limit of Cuddapah Eastern Margin Thrust and at the Easternghat front: A critical study from Eastern margin of Eastern Dharwar Craton; Ind. J. Geosci. 74(3) 197–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burhanuddin M and Ravi Kumar B 2022 Tectonic evolution of Nellore Schist Belt along the southeastern margin of Eastern Dharwar Craton, South India: A critical study with geological and geophysical approach; J. Earth Sci. Syst. 131 35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick B, Vasudev V N and Hegde G V 2000 The Dharwar Craton, southern India, interpreted as the result of Late Archaean oblique convergence; Precamb. Res. 99(1–2) 91–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalapathi Rao N V, Atiullah Kumar A, Sahoo S, Nanda P, Chahong N, Lehmann B and Rao K V S 2016 Petrogenesis of Mesoproterozoic lamproite dykes from the Garledinne (Banganapalle) cluster, southwestern Cuddapah Basin, southern India; Mineral. Petrol. 110 247–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrakala K, Pandey O P, Sesha Sai V V, Vasanthi A and Satish Kumar K 2017 Seismically derived Gondwana and Proterozoic sediments east of Cuddapah basin, south Indian shield and its possible geotectonic implications; Pure Appl. Geophys. 174 2601–2619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrasekhar E, Ramesh D and Biswal T K 2018 Magnetotelluric evidence on the southward extension of the Eastern Ghats mobile belt from Ongole, India; J. Asian Earth Sci. 164 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cloos M 1982 Flow melanges: Numerical modeling and geological constraints on their origin in the Franciscan subduction complex, California; Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 93 330–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta S and Sengupta P 2003 Indo-Antarctic correlation: A perspective from the Eastern Ghats Granulite Belt, India, In: Proterozoic East Gondwana: Supercontinent assembly and Breakup (eds) Yoshida M, Windley B F and Dasgupta S, Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ. 206 131–143.

  • Dasgupta S, Bose S and Das K 2013 Tectonic evolution of the Eastern Ghat Belt, India; Precamb. Res. 227 247–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dharma Rao C V, Santosh M and Yuan-Dao W 2011 Mesoproterozoic ophiolite mélange from SE periphery of the Indian plate: U-Pb zircon ages & tectonic implications; Gondwana Res. 19 384–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobmeier C J and Raith M M 2003 Crustal architecture & evolution of the Eastern Ghat Belt & adjacent regions of India; In: Proterozoic East Gondwana: Supercontinent Assembly and Breakup (eds) Yoshida M, Windley B F and Dasgupta S, Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ. 206 145–168.

  • Ghosh G and Saha D 2003 Deformation of the Proterozoic Somanapalli Group, Pranahita-Godavari valley, South India – Implications for a Mesoproterozoic basin inversion; J. Asian Earth Sci. 21 579–594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson B, Collins A, Paye J, Forbes C and Saha D 2014 Geologically constraining India in Columbia: The age, isotopic provenance and geochemistry of the protoliths of the Ongole domain, southern Eastern Ghats, India; Gondwana Res. 26 888–906.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hrushikesh H, Singh P C, Prabhakar N, Thakur S K and Dey B 2020 Tectonothermal evolution of a collisional orogen in the Khammam region, southeastern India: Insights from structures, phase equilibria modeling and U-Th–(total) Pb monazite geochronology; Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 175 112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen B H 1987 A case for upward continuation as a standard separation filter for potential-field maps; Geophysics 52(8) 1138–1148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaila K L and Tewari H C 1985 Structural trends in the Cuddapah basin from deep seismic soundings (DSS) and their tectonic implications; Tectonophys. 115 69–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaila K L, Chowdhury R K, Reddy P R, Krishna V G, Narain H, Subbotin S I, Sollogub V B, Chekunov A V, Kharetchko G E, Lazarenko M A and Ilchenko T V 1979 Crustal structure along Kavali–Udipi profile in the Indian peninsular shield from deep seismic sounding; J. Geol. Soc. India 20 307–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaila K L, Tewari H C, Roy Chowdhury K, Rao V K, Sridhar A R and Mall D M 1987 Crustal structure of the northern part of the Proterozoic Cuddapah basin of India from deep seismic soundings and gravity data; Tectonophys. 140 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna Brahmam N 1989 Gravity and seismicity of the Cuddapah basin and surrounding places; J. Geol. Soc. India 34 373–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krogsted E J, Balakrishnan D, Mukhopadhyay D K, Rajamani V and Hanson G N 1989 Plate tectonics 2.5 Billion years ago: Evidence at Kolar, south India; Science 243 1337–1340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leelanandam C 1989 Prakasam Alkaline Province in A.P.; J. Geol. Soc. India 53 41–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leelanandam C 1990 The Kandra volcanics in Andhra Pradesh, possible ophiolites; Curr. Sci. 59 785–788.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathin A 2015 Tectonics of the Cuddapah Basin and a model of its evolution: A review; In: Precambrian Basins of India: Stratigraphic and tectonic context (eds) Mazumder R and Eriksson P G, Geol. Soc. London Memoir 43 231–254.

  • Mezger K and Cosca M A 1999 The thermal history of the Eastern Ghat Belt (India) as revealed by U-Pb & 40Ar/39Ar dating metamorphic & magmatic minerals: Implications for SWEAT correlation; Precamb. Res. 94 251–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra D C and Ravi Kumar M 2014 Proterozoic orogenic belts and rifting of Indian Cratons: Geophysical constraints; Geosci. Front. 5 25–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra D C, Babu Rao V, Laxman G, Rao M B S V and Venkatrayudu M 1987 Three dimensional structural model of Cuddapah basin and adjacent eastern part from geophysical studies; Memoir Geol. Soc. India 6 313–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moeen S 1998 P-T estimates from the Nellore schist belt (India) and evidence for superimposed metamorphic events; Geol. J. 33 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukhopadhyay D and Basak K 2009 Eastern Ghat belt-polycyclic granulite terrane; J. Geol. Soc. India 73 489–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagaraju J and Chetty T R K 2014 Imprints of tectonics and magmatism in the southern part of the Indian shield: Satellite image interpretation; J. Ind. Geophys. Union 18(2) 165–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagarajarao B K, Rajurkar S T, Ramalinga Swamy G and Ravindra Babu B 1987 Stratigraphy and structure and evolution of the Cuddapah basin; In: Purana Basins of Peninsular India (ed.) B P Radhakrishna, Geol. Soc. India Memoir 6 33–86.

  • Narsimha Reddy M and Leelanandam C 2004 Magmatic and Tectonic structures from the Chimalpahad Layered Complex, Andhra Pradesh, India; Gondwana Res. 7(3) 887–896.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okudaira T, Hari Prasad B and Kumar Rajneesh 2000 Proterozoic Evolution of Nellore, Khammam Schist belts in the Khammam district, SE India; J. Geosci. 43(11) 193–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ram Babu H V 1993 Basement structure of the Cuddapah Basin from gravity anomalies; Tectonophys. 223 411–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishnan M and Vaidyanathan R 2008 Geology of India; vol. 1. Geological Society of India, Bangalore, 556p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishnan M, Nanda J K and Augustine P F 1998 Geological evolution of the Proterozoic Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt; Geol. Surv. India Spec. Publ. 44 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravikant V 2010 Palaeoproterozoic (~1.9 Ga) extension and Breakup along the eastern margin of Eastern Dharwar Craton, SE India: New Sm–Nd isochrone age constraints from anorogenic mafic magmatism in the Neoarchaean Nellore Greenstone Belt; J. Asian Earth Sci. 37(1) 67–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha D 2002 Multi-stage deformation in the Nallamalai fold belt, Cuddapah basin, South India – Implications for Mesoproterozoic tectonism along southeastern margin of India; Gondwana Res. 5 701–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha D, Nandi P, Mazumder R and Kar R 2015 Tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Nellore Schist belt, Southern India, since the Neoarchean; In: Precambrian Basins of India: Stratigraphic and tectonic context, Geol. Soc. London Memoir 43 269–282.

  • Singh A P and Mishra D C 2002 Tectono sedimentary evolution of Cuddapah basin and Eastern Ghats mobile belt (India) as Proterozoic collision: Gravity, seismic and geodynamic constraints; J. Geodyn. 33 249–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh A P, Mishra D C, Gupta S B and Rao M R K P 2004 Crustal structure and domain tectonics of the Dharwar Craton (India): Insight from new gravity data; J. Asian Earth Sci. 23 141–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan K N and Roop Kumar D 1995 Geological map of Nellore schist belt and adjoining areas, A.P., India; Unpublished progress report of Geological Survey of India for F.S. 1992–93.

  • Upadhyay D 2008 Alkaline magmatism along south-eastern margin of Indian Shield: Implication for regional geodynamics and constraints on Craton-Eastern Ghats Belt suturing; Precamb. Res. 162 59–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyay D, Raith M M, Mezger K and Hammerschmidt K 2006 Mesoproterozoic rift-related alkaline magmatism at Elchuru, Prakasam Alkaline Province, SE India; Lithos 89 447–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatakrishnan R and Dotiwala F E 1987 The Cuddapah salient: A tectonic model for the Cuddapah based on Landsat image interpretation; Tectonophys. 136 447–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vijaya Kumar K and Leelanandam C 2008 Evolution of the Eastern Ghats Belt, India: A plate tectonic perspective; J. Geol. Soc. India 72 720–749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida M, Funaki M and Vintage P W 1992 Proterozoic to Mesozoic East Gondwana: The juxtaposition of India, Sri Lanka and Antarctica; Tectonics 11 381–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors place a deep sense of gratitude to the ADG & HOD of Southern Region, GSI, Hyderabad, for his encouragement, kind support and permission to publish this work. The constant support and encouragement of Shri J V Rama Rao, the then DDG, Geophysics Division, during the course of work is highly appreciated. The first author is thankful to S/Sri/Smt. P Divakar Reddy, S Bangaru Babu, S S Ganguli, Abhirup Chaudhuri, Anasuya Das and Faisan Ahmad, officers of the Geophysics Division for their inputs with critical discussions/suggestions, which have become mostly helpful in the preparation of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysics Division, Geological Survey of India, Southern Region, Hyderabad, India

    B Ravi Kumar

  2. Formerly Geological Survey of India, 3-9-250, Saraswathi Nagar, LB Nagar, Hyderabad, India

    M Burhanuddin

  3. Center of Exploration Geophysics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

    G Udaya Laxmi

Authors
  1. B Ravi Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Burhanuddin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G Udaya Laxmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

B Ravi Kumar: Geophysical data generation, compilation and reprocessing and interpretation by incorporating the deep-crustal inferences derived from deep seismic and regional gravity data. M Burhanuddin: Conceptualizing the research work by integration of geological and geophysical data. G Udaya Laxmi: Interpretation of gravity data.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Ravi Kumar.

Additional information

Communicated by Munukutla Radhakrishna

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, B.R., Burhanuddin, M. & Laxmi, G.U. A detailed gravity picture of Nallamalai Fold Belt–Nellore Schist Belt (NSB) of Eastern Dharwar Craton with marginal Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt in Krishna Region, South India with special reference to Late Archaean NSB evolution. J Earth Syst Sci 132, 82 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02096-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02096-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation