Rift and Drift Episodes of Western India since the Mesozoic Era

A lot of research has been done on the architecture and tectonics of volcanic passive margin of the Indian west coast, as well as on the Deccan Large Igneous Province. Most of these studies interpret gravity and seismic data from offshore of Western India. In comparison, outcrop-based meso-scale tectonic studies of the Deccan trap along the coastal margin and interior of the state Maharashtra, India, is limited. Detailed understanding of tectonic evolution and stress regimes of western Indian basins therefore, remains necessary to research. As such, this book aims to provide tectonic framework, structural history and paleostress regimes of the following rift basins of Indian western margin based on outcrop-study: (i) Jaisalmer, (ii) Bikaner- Nagaur, (iii) Barmer, (iv) Cambay and (v) Kutch. The tectonic linkage amongst these basins and with the Indian west coast will also be covered. The Mesozoic and Tertiary basins of western Indian margin have special importance in terms of their genesis and tectonic evolution. Mesozoic stratigraphy has been identified in Jaisalmer, Kutch and Barmer basins. These basins initiated as intra-cratonic rift basins during Gondwana. Episodic rifting of Africa and India resulting in separation and drifting of the Indian plate during Late Gondwana (Jurassic to Early Cretaceous), developed these basins. Inheritance of pre-existing structures played a key role in basin evolution. The Cambay and the Tertiary rifting of Barmer basin was a consequence of oblique rifting between the Seychelles micro-continent and the Indian plate, having extension direction trending ~NE. The Barmer and the Cambay basins are two of the major Indian hydrocarbon producing basins. Promising hydrocarbon potentiality has been tested in the other western margin basins as well. Thus considering their economic importance and varied tectonic history we have planned to undertake structural fieldwork in these basins, which will further enhance our understanding to their genesis and paleostress regimes. The other objective of the (field) work is to understand the basin tectonics and to investigate the tectonic inheritance. Such unique outcrop-based studies of several rift basins in western margin of India have hardly been carried out from structural geological perspective. The proposed book would be immensely helpful for oil industry professionals and academics. In detail, this book will also address: (i) brittle deformation of rift basins, (ii) role of pre-existing structures in rift-related fault propagation, (iii) tectonic linkage between the different basins, and (iv) fault reactivation and neotectonic activity and their probable causes. Role of pre-existing structures in rift-related fault propagation Understanding of paleostress regime during different tectonic phases Tectonic linkage between different basins