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Structural and magnetic fabric studies of recess structures in the western Himalaya: Implications for 1905 Kangra earthquake

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Kinematic information from deformation structures and magnetic fabrics are used to infer recent tectonics around Kangra and Dehradun recesses, western Himalaya. Three types of magnetic fabrics (Type I & II, III, and IV) are identified based on the angle between K3 axis and bedding pole. It was observed that Kangra recess shows more mature fabric type IV as compared to Dehradun recess, where orientation of K3 axes and tectonic fabric reveals dominance of superposed deformation. In the vicinity of Dehradun recess, normal faults occur in un-indurated Quaternary fan deposits confirming their recent formation. The observations are in conformity with earlier studies that during the 1905 Kangra earthquake, the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) (or one of its subsidiary thrusts) near Kangra showed thrusting whereas the MBT near Dehradun underwent either normal faulting or post seismic adjustments characteristic of normal faulting. The thrusting could be a result of subsurface processes whereas the normal faulting was a result of prevailing surface strains.

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  1. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 248 001, India

    R. Jayangondaperumal, A. K. Dubey & K. Sen

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  1. R. Jayangondaperumal
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  2. A. K. Dubey
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Jayangondaperumal, R., Dubey, A.K. & Sen, K. Structural and magnetic fabric studies of recess structures in the western Himalaya: Implications for 1905 Kangra earthquake. J Geol Soc India 75, 225–238 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-010-0010-3

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