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Recognition of Shyok Ophiolites of NW Ladakh Trans-Himalaya as a Geoheritage: Importance to Himalayan Orogeny and Remnant of Tethyan Oceanic Lithosphere

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Abstract

Himalayan region has been gifted with diverse geology, manifested as longitudinal zones and hosts many national geoheritage sites. Trans-Himalaya is characterized by several parallel ophiolitic belts occurring along Indus Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ) and Shyok Suture Zone (SSZ). These suture zones in Ladakh Himalaya are very significant and crucial to understand the subduction of Tethys Ocean and subsequent collision of Indian and Eurasian plates. The Shyok Ophiolite and Ophiolitic mélange exposed in the Nubra-Shyok Valley represent the remnants of Tethyan oceanic lithosphere existed during Mesozoic Era. Shyok Ophiolite is constituted of all the lithounits of a typical ophiolitic sequence, viz., ultramafics (peridotite, serpentinite), gabbro (both non-cumulate and cumulate), norite, dolerite, plagiogranite, basalt, diabase, pillow lavas, and pelagic sediments, i.e., radiolarian chert. Ophiolites provide indispensable information on the mechanics of mountain building, as their integration into continental margins involve major tectonic events in orogenesis. The picturesque outcrops are easily accessible by well-connected roads in Nubra-Shyok Valley. The lithologies of ophiolite and ophiolitic mélange provide valuable evidences regarding mantle sources, magma types, petrogenetic processes and plate interactions. Along with providing significant information, Nubra Valley is known for its archaeological importance, numerous sociocultural heritage sites and is home to several tribes since Neolithic Period. SWOT and TOWS analysis for the proposed geoheritage sites indicate immense potential for geotourism, development, and conservation. We propose spectacular geoheritage site—Shyok Ophiolite may be recognized and preserved for understanding of geodynamic evolution of Himalaya and interaction of Indian and Eurasian plates.

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Acknowledgements

IL is thankful to IGNOU, New Delhi, for supporting thin section preparation and petrography. At Delhi University and IGNOU, thin section preparation and studies were carried out. ST thanks all the members of the Archaeological Survey of India with whom he got the opportunity to conduct archaeological survey of Shyok valley in 2011, 2014, and 2015.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, -110068, India

    Ihsan Ullah Lone & Meenal Mishra

  2. Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Sachin Kr. Tiwary

  3. Department of Geology, University of Ladakh, UT of Ladakh, Leh, 194 101, India

    Rakesh Chandra

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  1. Ihsan Ullah Lone
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  2. Meenal Mishra
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MM conceptualized the idea and supervised the writing of the manuscript with support from IL and RC. SKT contributed on the aspects of socio cultural heritage. All authors contributed and approved the submitted manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rakesh Chandra.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Indian Geoheritage: From the Precambrian to the Present.

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Lone, I.U., Mishra, M., Tiwary, S.K. et al. Recognition of Shyok Ophiolites of NW Ladakh Trans-Himalaya as a Geoheritage: Importance to Himalayan Orogeny and Remnant of Tethyan Oceanic Lithosphere. Geoheritage 15, 3 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-022-00763-z

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