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Joints as fingerprints of stress in the quaternary carbonate deposits along coastal Saurashtra, Western India

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Coastal cliffs and shore platforms are important geomorphic features of coastal areas of Saurashtra. These features are composed of medium to coarse grained carbonate sand and are designated as “Miliolitic limestones” that range in age from Middle to Late Pleistocene. Significant jointing has been observed in the Middle Pleistocene Miliolite Formation as well as in the younger shell limestone that comprises Chaya Formation of Late Pleistocene. Along with NE-SW trend which is the direction of maximum horizontal compressive stress [SHmax] for Indian sub-continent, other trends recorded are NNE-SSW, N-S, NW-SE and E-W. When compared with other regional studies, neotectonic episode in Saurashtra peninsula appears to be younger than at least 125ky. The present study on joint sets also indicates that they are important to understand stresses associated with anticlockwise rotation of the Indian plate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Seismological Research, Raisan, Gandhinagar, 382 009, India

    Uday Bhonde

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, 390 002, India

    Nilesh Bhatt

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  1. Uday Bhonde
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  2. Nilesh Bhatt
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Bhonde, U., Bhatt, N. Joints as fingerprints of stress in the quaternary carbonate deposits along coastal Saurashtra, Western India. J Geol Soc India 74, 703–710 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0187-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0187-5

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