Study Area Details
2.3 Geology and Physiography
Nagpur district is a geologist’s paradise as almost all the major geological
formations starting from ancient crystalline rocks in the north and east to
volcanic flows of Deccan trap in the west and south, are represented in the
district. Beside these, there are later sedimentary rocks, which are coal bearing.
The Archean rocks of the district have a very complex structural pattern comprising
of two distinct litho logical groups, viz; Saucer and Sakoli series. Layers
of doleritic and basaltic lava, commonly known as “traps”, cover
the western part of the district.
Name of the formation |
Age |
Alluvium
Deccan basalt flows (Traps) with associated
intratrappean sediments
Lameta beds
Gondwana group: Kamthi stage
Barakar stage
Talchir stage
Granite and Gneisses
Dharwar System: Sausar and Sakoli series of Metasediments |
Recent
Lower Eocene to upper
Cretaceous, Cretaceous
Cretaceous
PermianCarboniferous
Archeans |
Hills and Ridges:
Ranging in elevation from 300 to 600 m, above the mean seal level (msl) the
hills and ridges stand out prominently in Ramtek and Parseoni tehsils. There
are highly folded and faulted and associated with strikes generally extending
east west, or WNW-ESE. The rocks of these hills are arranged in parallel
bands, which are continuous and extend for miles at places. They consist
of mica schist’s, quartzites, limestone, pyroxenic gneisses, manganese
ore etc. Dharwar formations have also been observed in centraleast part of
the district in addition to those in Ramtek tehsil. These are almost devoid
of vegetation, because of human inference.
Intervening Valley:
The area, drained by the river Sur and enclosed by the Ramtek hills on the
south, Satpura hill range in the north and northwest and Ambagarh range in
the east, is delineated as intervening valley with Ramtek tank in the center.
The Sur cuts through the Ramtek hills and forms a gorge separating the Ambegarh
hills in the east. Ludhia River, a tributary of Bavanthari, creates a separate
intervening valley in the remote N.E. part of the district. It is mostly
cultivated to rice.
Upper Plateau (gently to moderately sloping):
This is the area abruptly rising above the surrounding landscape ranging in
elevation from 400 to 518 msl. The most conspicuous of the upper plateau
is the basaltic plateau of Malegaon (near Katol), extending from east to
west and rising 473 to 518 m. above msl. Covering an area of 197sq.km,
the plateau suffers from erosion and drought problems. Numerous streams emanating
from the plateau have caused and boulders.
Lower Plateau (Moderately to highly undulating):
The plateau landform ranging from 300 to 400 m. above msl has been mapped as
the lower plateau of basaltic formation. Numerous stream courses originating
over the plateau have caused surface variations due to severe erosion. Highly
undulating relief has aggravated the process of degradation. Scattered weathered
material, mainly consisting of boulders at plateau has created a rugged topography
in these areas.