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Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema

intermontane basin and Quaternary deformation in
the schuppen belt, Nagaland....

Article  in  Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie · June 2011

DOI: 10.1127/0372-8854/2011/0055-0048

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 Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie Vol. 55,2, 247–265 Article
Stuttgart, June 2011

Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema

intermontane basin and Quaternary deformation
in the schuppen belt, Nagaland, NE India

Imtiwapang Aier, Khayingshing Luirei, S. S. Bhakuni, Glenn T. Thong,

and Girish C. Kothyari

with 7 figures and 1 table

Summary. The Medziphema intermontane basin developed in the schuppen belt of Naga-
land, Northeast India, has been studied to understand its tectonic and geomorphic evolution on
the basis of field evidence and morphometric parameters. Major part of the basin is covered
with aggradational landforms such as fan and terrace deposits. The development of this linear
basin within the schuppen belt is the result of initiation of displacement of Paleogene rocks
over the Neogene rocks along the Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust during Late Miocene and later
displacement of Neogene over the Sub-Recent to Recent sediments along the Naga Thrust after
the deposition of the Dihing sediments during the Lower Pleistocene. The schuppen belt is a
distinct tectono-geomorphic unit, 20–25 km in width and ~ 400 km in length that is truncated
at the northeast by the Mishmi Thrust and in the southwest by the Dauki Fault. The Med-
ziphema intermontane basin, 16.5 km in length and 11 km in width, is one of the most acces-
sible valleys of the Naga-Patkai-Mizo Hills. Late stage tectonic activities are imprinted in the
Quaternary fluvial deposits in the form of truncation of terraces and tilting of fan and terrace
deposits. Most of the rivers and streams draining into the Neogene hills are structurally con-
trolled. Lateral displacement of rivers has been attributed to active strike-slip faults resulting
in the formation of shutter ridges. Thrusting of the Surma sediments over the Quaternary
Brahmaputra alluvium has resulted in narrowing of river channels at their exits from moun-
tains. Strath terraces, suggesting tectonic uplift in the region, are observed along river sections
within the intermontane basin.

1 Introduction

The tectonic framework of Northeast India and the adjoining regions evolved due to
convergence of the Indian, Eurasian and Sunda plates (Le Fort 1975, Molnar &
Tapponnier 1975, Tapponnier et al. 1986), which began during the Alpine orogen-
esis. The convergence of three plates is responsible for the development of a tectoni-
cally complicated structural framework. The N-S compression of the Indian-
Eurasian plates and anti-clockwise rotation of the Indian plate affect the western
segment of the Indo-Myanmar Ranges (IMR) resulting in subduction of the Indian
lithosphere below the Myanmar plate (Mitchell & Mckerrow 1975, Verma et al.
1976, Gupta et al. 1984, Mukhopadhyay & Dasgupta 1988, Ni et al. 1989). The
subduction of Indian lithosphere is still continuing (Nandy 1976, Verma 1985,
© 2011 Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, Germany www.borntraeger-cramer.de
DOI: 10.1127/0372-8854/2011/0055-0048 0372-8854/11/0055-0048 $ 4.75
248 I. Aier et al.

Bhattacharjee 1991). This has led to major seismic events in this region and its sur-
roundings. The region has experienced more than 1,600 earthquakes of magnitude
greater than 4.5 since 1968 (Kent & Dasgupta 2004). The Shillong earthquake of
1897 and the Great Assam earthquake of 1950 (Oldham 1898, Khattri et al. 1983)
are classic examples of major earthquakes. Present day tectonic activity of the IMR is
manifested in the major earthquake of 26th December, 2006 (M 9.3), which occurred
at the interface of the Indian and Myanmar plates (Banerjee et al. 2005, Pollitz et
al. 2008). The seismic hazard map of India (Bureau of Indian Standards 2002) cat-
egorizes this region at the highest level of seismic hazard potential while the Global
Seismic Hazard Assessment Programme (Bhatia et al. 1999) classifies the northeast-
ern region at high seismic risk.
The western limit of the IMR, defined by closely spaced imbricate thrust slices,
has been designated the ‘Belt of Schuppen’ (Mathur & Evans 1964). This is a pro-
minent narrow NE-SW trending morphotectonic unit, about 20–25 km wide and
400 km long comprising two major thrusts, viz., the Haflong/Naga Thrust and the
Disang Thrust and two minor thrusts, namely the Sanis-Chongliyimsen and Piphe-
ma thrusts. With the help of aerial photographs and seismic data, Srinivasan (2007)
prepared a photo-geological map of this schuppen belt showing three SE-dipping
intra-schuppen belt sub-thrusts and proposed a seismic gap within the schuppen belt
in which he identified probable areas of future major shocks parallel to the trend of
the belt. Seismological studies carried out by Thingbaijam et al. (2008) and Ange-
lier & Baruah (2009) also suggest that the region is tectonically active. GPS meas-
urements along some fault planes in this region have indicated movements of as
much as 36 mm/year (Sahu et al. 2006). To understand such a geologically complex
terrain seismological, paleoseimological and morphotectonic investigations have
been carried out in the Shillong Plateau and Arunachal Himalaya (Kayal 1987,
Kayal & De 1991, Sukhija et al. 1999, Rajendran et al. 2004, Bilham & England
2001, Jade et al. 2007, Yin et al. 2010). Various site-specific morphometric parame-
ters have been dealt with in different parts of the world to understand the evolution
of landforms, soils and deposits formed by active tectonics (Bull & Mcfadden
1977, Yeats 1986, Schumm 1986, Keller 1986, Cox 1994, Azor et al. 2002) while
such approaches are lacking from the study area. Various aspects of geology of the
region have been dealt with by workers of the Geological Survey of India, Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (Mallet 1876, Evans 1964, Acharyya et al. 1986, Nandy
1986, Awasthi & Mehrotra 1993, Kayal 2003), Directorate of Geology and Min-
ing, Nagaland and universities and institutions of the region, but a morphotectonic
approach to understand the tectono-geomorphological evolution of the schuppen
belt and Medziphema intermontane basin is lacking. The present study is carried out
to identify active faults and folds and their implication on the development of land-
forms and drainage pattern through detailed fieldwork, drainage analysis and
calculation of geomorphic indices.

2 Methods

IRS-1D (PAN+LISS 3 merged) data acquired on 16th November 2002, Survey of

India (SoI) toposheets (1:50,000 scale) and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) have
been used to demarcate lineaments and determine drainage patterns and morpho-
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 249

metric features. The data generated are substantiated by extensive fieldwork in the
identified thrust zones. Morphometric parameters such as mountain front sinuosi-
ty index (Bull 1977, Bull & Mcfadden 1977 and Bull 1978), transverse topo-
graphic symmetry factors after Cox (1994), and valley floor width to height ratio
(Keller & Pinter 1996) have been calculated from the SoI toposheets. Mountain
front sinuosity is an index that reflects the balance between erosional forces that
tend to cut the embayments along mountain fronts and neotectonic forces trying to
create straight mountain fronts coinciding with active range bounding faults (Bull
1978). Transverse topographic symmetry factors have been used to detect tectonic
tilting transverse to flow at drainage basin. Ratio of valley floor width to valley
height is calculated after Keller & Pinter (1996) to determine the relative uplift-
ment of the area which has broad-floored canyons and V-shaped valleys.

3 Geology

The region surrounding the study area may be broadly divided into the Paleogene
and Neogene lithotectonic units (table 1) located at the SE and NW, respectively
(fig. 1A). These major units are affected by a number of structural features includ-
ing SE dipping thrust sheets. From west to east the Naga, Sanis-Chongliyimsen,
Piphema and Disang thrusts are encountered. The Neogene rocks making up high
linear ridges are thrust over the Brahmaputra alluvium along the NE-SW trending
frontal Naga Thrust, whereas Paleogene rocks are thrust over the Neogene along
the NE-SW trending Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust. The hinterland Disang Thrust
separates the schuppen belt from the intermediate hills of the Inner Fold Belt of
Nagaland. The Oligocene unconformity between Paleogene and Neogene may be
related to the early stages of the Himalayan uplift or coincident with the Mid-
Oligocene global-eustatic lowstand, or both (Vail et al. 1977, Kent & Dasgupta
2004).
The schuppen belt is bounded by two major thrusts viz., the Naga and Disang
thrusts. The NE-SW trending Naga Thrust separates the upthrusted Neogene
sandstones from the horizontally stratified Quaternary alluvium. As a result of imbri-
cations, tectonic blocks of older rocks are found enmeshed within incompetent
crushed rocks in the thrust zone. This suggests that the thrust is steep-angled and
deep seated as it has brought up older rocks. Srinivasan (2007) described these sliv-
ers of rocks as tectonic mélange. The Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust marks the bound-
ary between the Paleogene and Neogene rocks. The Disang Thrust, bearing the same
trend as that of the Naga Thrust, delimits the hanging wall of the Disang (Upper
Cretaceous-Eocene) from the footwall of the Barail (Oligocene). East of the schup-
pen belt, gravity faults have developed between Peducha and Zubza villages in the
hanging wall of the hinterland Disang Thrust (fig. 1B). This thrust is responsible for
a large landslide zone with repeated generation of debris along the National
Highway 39 between the two villages (Bhattacharjee et al. 1998), suggesting
reactivation of imbricate thrusts at the base of the hanging wall of the Disang Thrust.
During the Plio-Pleistocene, fault bounding normal faults were reactivated and in-
verted by compression associated with the formation of imbricate structures propa-
gating from the southeast (Kent & Dasgupta 2004).
250 I. Aier et al.

Fig. 1. A. Geological map of the study area (Modified after Geological Survey of India, 1983).
B. Regional tectonic map.
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 251

Table 1. Stratigraphic Succession of parts of Nagaland.

Age Group Lithoformations

Outer and Intermediate Hills

Recent-Pleistocene Dihing Alluvium and High level terraces

Boulder beds
Unconformity
Mio-Pliocene Dupi Tila Namsang
Unconformity
Tipam Girujan Clay
Miocene Tipam Sandstone
Surma Bhuban
Unconformity
Renji
Oligocene Barail Jenam
Laisong
Upper Cretaceous-Eocene Disang

Modified after Mathur & Evans (1964).

3.1 Geomorphology

Towards the northeast corner of Arunachal Pradesh, the NE-SW trending Hi-
malayan range along the Siang antiform turns NW-SE in the Mishmi Hills and there-
after NE-SW along the IMR. The Patkai-Naga-Manipur-Mizo Hills form the west-
ern limit of the IMR. The area may be divided into the Brahmaputra plains, the frontal
hills of the Patkai-Naga-Manipur-Mizo Hills and the intermontane valleys of the
schuppen belt. These intermontane valleys are distinct geomorphic units bounded by
the Naga Thrust in the NW and the Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust in the SE. An abrupt
rise of ~ 524 m in elevation is noted from the low-lying Brahmaputra plain (~ 184 m)
to the Naga Hills (~ 708 m) across the mountain front defined by the Naga Thrust.
This tectono-geomorphic boundary marks the edge along which Neogene rocks have
been thrust over the Brahmaputra alluvium (fig. 2). Between the Naga and Sanis-
Chongliyimsen thrusts a number of intermontane valleys are developed. These are
similar to those of the Doons developed in the Indian and Nepal Sub-Himalayas
(Medlicott 1864, Karunakaran & Rao 1979, Raiverman et al. 1983). These inter-
montane valleys are discontinuous but are linearly aligned with NE-SW trends. The
Medziphema intermontane basin is the largest in terms of area and the most accessi-
ble. The size of the valley decreases towards the NNE. The maximum length of this
basin is ~ 16.5 km and width is 11.5 km. Fan and terrace deposits that make up the
sediment-filled valley rest over the Neogene rocks. The Medziphema intermontane
basin is separated from the Brahmaputra alluvium by Neogene ridges. These ridges
are highly dissected due to high erodibility of the poorly cemented and ill sorted
252 I. Aier et al.

Fig. 2. Digital Elevation Model and cross-sections along study area.

Dihing and Namsang sediments similar to the highly dissected Siwalik Hills in the
Himalayan region. Three levels of terraces are developed along the Diphupani and
Dzumha river valleys and two levels of fans deposited at the footwall of the Sanis-
Chongliyimsen Thrust. Most of the fans are high angled (~ 15°) while one is inclined
~ 8°. Erosional surfaces in the form of escarpments of about 15 m are observed along
the channels of Diphupani and Dzumha river valleys. Pedimented Dihing rocks are
exposed along Diphupani and Jharnapani rivers in the form of strath terraces.
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 253

River and stream patterns indicate influence of structures of the underlying

bedrocks. During the early stages stream channel configurations are defined by the
slope of the landscape; at later stages they will be dependent upon the underlying
bedrock structure (Twidale 2004, Stokes et al. 2008). The drainage network of the
Medziphema intermontane basin is derived from SoI toposheets (1:50,000 scale).
Rivers and streams draining in the present area are divided into two domains, those
in the schuppen belt and in the streams of the Kohima-Patkai Synclinoria, which are
separated by the Disang Thrust. In the Kohima-Patkai Synclinoria the drainage pat-
tern is broadly dendritic; structural influence on drainage is not as conspicuous as that
observed in the schuppen belt. In the frontal part of the schuppen belt most streams
are structurally controlled (fig. 3) and show deviation from the regional drainage
pattern of SE-NW to NE-SW. The Der Ker, Kukhipani and smaller tributaries of the
Diphu River and the Zameha, a tributary of the Dzüza River, show trellis patterns
with similar NE-SW trends. Flow patterns of these streams are parallel to the regional
strike of the rock beds and thrust trends. Within the intermontane valley the drainage
pattern is dentritic and anastomizing. The Diphupani and Jharnapani are meandering
streams that are also characteristically braided. Most streams flowing along the strike
ridges are of first to second orders while the main streams follow the trend of the
regional strike. In the intermontane basin and the hanging wall of the Sanis-Chongliy-
imsen Thrust, streams and rivers characterized by higher order, are dentritic in nature.
The hanging wall of the Naga Thrust is characterized by badland topography. Lat-
eral displacement of the Diphupani and Dzüza rivers is observed near Kukidolong
and north of Khabvüma, respectively and has resulted in the formation of shutter
ridges. Between Kukidolong and Chumukedima, the Diphupani valley becomes very
narrow with entrenched meandering before debouching into the wide Brahmaputra
plain. Wind gaps are also observed along the valley of Kukhipani. Entrenched mean-
dering of streams and rivers are observed along the frontal ridges.

3.2 Morphotectonics

Various morphometric analyses have been imparted on sections that have been iden-
tified as thrust areas with the help of DEM, satellite imagery, and toposheet followed
by fieldwork. The frontal part of the NNE-SSW trending Naga Hills takes a local
swing where it becomes almost N-S near Hovishe and the trend continues for about
17 km and then takes its regional NNE-SSW trend. At this locality the schuppen belt
is less than 10 km in width. Mountain front sinuosity (Smf) has been calculated from
southwest of Chumukedima to Muhumi village. It is defined as the ratio of the length
of the mountain front along the foot of the mountain at the pronounced break (Lmf)
to the straight-line length of the mountain front (Ls). The area has been divided into
three sections on the basis of rock/sediments forming the footwall of the Naga Thrust.
In the mid-section the Naga Thrust rides over the Namsang and has a Smf value of 2.04
(B), which is relatively higher than the other two sections where Surma sediments are
thrust over Recent to Sub-Recent alluvium. These sections have S mf values of 1.89 (A)
and 1.65 (C). Ratio of valley floor width to valley height for the Dzüza River, Laluki
Jan, Chonga Jan, Diphu River, and Soja Ker have values of 0.525, 1.75, 0.547, 0.498,
and 0.804, respectively. Drainage basin asymmetry of the Jharnapani and Diphupani
indicates basin migration towards northeast and southwestward, respectively.
254 I. Aier et al.

Fig. 3. Drainage map showing structural control along mountain front.

3.3 Terraces and fans

The Medziphema intermontane valley resulted from faster uplift of the mountain
front along the Naga Thrust than the hinterland causing a depression where sedi-
ments are deposited either in the form of fans or terraces. Recent sediments filling the
valley are derived from the hinterland and reworking of the Dihing Formation. Along
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 255

the valleys of the Jharnapani and Diphupani three levels of terraces are developed.
Fluvial terraces can be observed on either side of the Jharnapani. In Kukidolong and
Jhanapani areas three distinct levels of fluvial terraces are observed (T 1, T2, and T3) at
250 m, 252 m and 258 m, respectively, while the present river bed is at an altitude of
244 m. The terraces comprise mainly of sub-rounded to well rounded clasts of Barail,
Surma, and Tipam sandstones in a matrix of coarse sand; they are devoid of large
boulders. At Razephema three levels of terraces are developed – T1 at 238 m, T2 at
240 m, and T3 at 248 m. These terraces are composed mainly of well rounded Barail
sandstones in a matrix of coarse sand and rock fragments.
Fans are broadly divided into two categories – the older and younger fans. The
older fans are exposed east and southeast of Medziphema where the sediments
are highly oxidized and at elevations of around 410 m. The younger fans around
Khaibung, Zhuikhu, and Tsuma are at lower elevations of about 390 msl; they are
comparatively lesser oxidized than those around Medziphema. Besides the accumu-
lation landforms, erosional landforms in the form of strath terraces are also observed
along the Jharnapani, Diphupani, and Dzümha River. Demarcation of individual fans
and terraces is not possible due to extensive interference of anthropogenic activity
and vegetation. At the Chumukedima section of the Diphu River, Neogene rocks can
be seen overriding Dihing deposits along the Naga Thrust.

3.4 Quaternary deformation

The Quaternary sediments lying within the intermontane valleys have been affected
by recurring neotectonic movements along thrusts and faults. At Kukidolong, along
the northeastern channel of the Jharnapani, T3 is tilted 40° ENE (fig. 4A) while in the
southwestern channel T1 is tilted 30° ENE. Deformation in T2 cannot be ascertained
due to lack of good exposures. Near Razephema along the Diphupani, T1 rests over
inclined Barail sandstone beds. T1 and a strath terrace have been truncated by normal
faulting (fig. 4B). T2 is not affected by faulting but shows warping of sediments
(fig. 4C). At Molvom, clast-rich T1 is tilted 40° ESE. At Sirhima, terrace T1 has been
truncated by normal faulting. Fans developed around Medziphema show almost hor-
izontal to slight back tilting due to the possible presence of a thrust fault at the front.
Blocking of the Diphupani is evident from thick lacustrine deposits at Gaili, near
Molvom where the mud deposit measures about 3 m in thickness (fig. 5A). Strath ter-
races exposed along the Diphupani and Jharnapani indicate neotectonic uplift in the
area. Demarcation of individual fans and terraces is difficult due to extensive inter-
ference of anthropogenic activity and vegetation. However, some traverses were
made with a GPS and some data collected from which boundaries of the fans in the
area have been reconstructed. An active fault scarp is observed (fig. 5B). Right-lateral
movement along this fault has resulted in the development of a 2.5 m high fault scarp
and lateral displacement of Quaternary sediments.

3.5 Tectono-geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin

Initiation of the Disang Thrust began during Late Miocene and appears to have de-
veloped with a lower detachment in the lower part of the Barail Group and an upper
detachment in the Girujan (Kent & Dasgupta 2004). Initiation of displacement along
256 I. Aier et al.

Fig. 4. A. Tilting of fluvial

deposit, B. Terrace and bed-
rock truncated by normal
faulting, C. Warping of Qua-
ternary deposits.
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 257

Fig. 5. A. Mud deposit near Molvom, B. Satellite image showing Quaternary sedi-
ments affected by strike-slip faulting.
258 I. Aier et al.

the Naga Thrust began during Early Pleistocene that coincident with the last phase of
the Himalayan Orogeny in Late Lower Pleistocene when sedimentation in the
Arakan-Assam basin came to an end (Gansser 1964, Nandy 1986). During this ter-
minal phase of the Himalayan orogeny the region was subjected to two sets of com-
pressional forces, one directed N-S and the other SE-NW that resulted in uplift and
folding giving rise to the Arakan-Yoma ranges (Roy & Kacker 1986). Prior to
initiation of the frontal Naga Thrust, the Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust represented the
mountain front where sedimentation of the Dihing Formation took place over the
Namsang or older successions that are derived from the Arakan-Yoma ranges. The
continued SE-NE oriented compressional force propagated the thrusts northwest-
ward that resulted in the formation of the intermontane valleys within the schuppen
belt. At present this relict mountain front, the Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust, represents
the boundary between the Recent to Sub-Recent sediments and the Paleogene rocks
of the Barail Group. Another implication of tectonic activity of the Naga Thrust is the
remobilized hydrocarbons in the oil fields at Digboi (Kent & Dasgupta 2004).

4 Discussion

The Medziphema intermontane basin, bounded by the Naga Thrust in the northwest
and Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust in the southeast is one of many basins formed with-
in the schuppen belt. Trending NNE-SSW, this basin is about 16.5 km in length and
11 km in width; it is drained transversely by two streams, the Diphupani and Jharna-
pani. Structural analysis suggests an origin of the valley similar with the Doons of
Nepal and Western Himalaya. In the Nepal and Western Himalaya the Doons are
bounded in the north and south by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and Himalayan
Frontal Thrust respectively, while in the present area a similar pattern is observed as
the basin is bounded by two thrusts, the Naga and Sanis-Chongliyimsen thrusts.
Roy & Kacker (1986) recognized three phases of deformation including the oldest
syncollisional and two post-collisional. During the last phase of the Himalayan
Orogeny in the late Lower Pleistocene the sediments of the Assam-Arakan were up-
lifted and folded resulting in formation of the Arakan-Yoma ranges. During this
orogeny the compressional force was directed SE which led to the development of im-
bricate thrust sheets designated the ‘schuppen belt’. Kent & Dasgupta (2004) sug-
gested three phases of displacement along the Naga Thrust, the first and second dur-
ing Mid-Pleistocene, resulting in the development of two unconformities. The third
and most recent displacement occurred during the Holocene that caused deformation
of the younger unconformity. This third activity may be related with thrusting of the
Neogene rocks over the Sub-Recent to Recent alluvium of the Brahmaputra plain
along the Naga Thrust. The formation of the Medziphema intermontane basin is re-
lated to the Naga Thrust, which caused the Neogene rocks to be thrust over the Re-
cent alluvium of Upper Assam. The Lower Pleistocene Dihing sediments forming the
core of the valley have gentler dips compared to the older sequences suggesting that
the initiation of the Naga Thrust started prior to deposition of the Dihing sediments.
Development of the Medziphema intermontane basin may be related to the two later
phases of deformation. Roy & Kacker (1986) opine that the last phase of deforma-
tion occurred during Pliocene; the forces of these deformations are adjusted along the
thrusts of the schuppen belt as dextral and sinistral strike-slip faults. Drainage patterns
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 259

along the frontal part of the Neogene hills and the strike-slip movement of the Qua-
ternary deposits southwest of Heningkunglwa are signatures of the Pliocene phase.
In the southeastern and central parts of the Medziphema intermontane basin
there is no indication of structural influence on drainage pattern while the northwest
and frontal parts show structural control of drainage. Strike-slip faults and the Naga
Thrust have reoriented most of the streams and rivers. Lateral displacement of the
Jharnapani and Diphupani are observed near and towards northeast of Kukidolong.
The Kukhipani and Zameha stream flow towards the northeast following a strike-slip
sense and lithological contact of the rock beds. The ratio of valley floor width to val-
ley height for streams and rivers has been calculated just at their exit; values range
from 0.498 to 1.75. Laluki Jan exiting into Namsang terrain has higher values (1.75)
than the others (Dzuza River, Chonga Jan, Diphu River, and Soja Ker) which have
values ⬍ 1.0. In the mid-section of the mountain front, the Naga Thrust overrides
Namsang sediments while in the other two sections this thrust overrides Recent to
Sub-Recent alluvium. The mid-section has a Smf value of 2.04 while the other sections
have 1.89 and 1.65. Smf values fall under three categories; those between 1.0 and 1.6
are categorized as active mountain fronts, 1.4 and 3 as less active and that between 1.8
and ⬎ 5 as inactive (Keller & Pinter 1996). Valley width ratios and Smf values indi-
cate that the bounding Naga Thrust is active. NE and SW migration of the Jharna-
pani and Diphupani respectively, indicate a growing anticline within the Medziphema
intermontane basin. Strath terraces are observed along the Jharnapani and Diphupani
(fig. 6A). Thrusting of the Surma over Recent fluvial deposits is observed near Chu-
mukedima and Molvom (fig. 6B).
In the northeastern Himalayan wedge the geological convergence rate of
16–22 mm/yr is comparable with GPS-derived convergence rates of 15–20 mm/yr
(Mukul 2010). Srinivasan (2007) has marked four NE-SW trending, parallel tectonic
zones along which are aligned major earthquakes (M ⬎ or = 7) (fig. 7). Kayal (2003)
has emphasized the presence of deep-seated, hidden strike-slip transverse seismogenic
faults in the northeastern Himalayan region. Along this zone the present surface traces
of lineaments, the East Boundary Thrust (EBT), Disang Thrust (DT), and hinge line of
the Kohima synclinorium (KS) take a swing and become parallel to one another. The
schuppen belt bounded by the Disang Thrust on the south and Naga Thrust (NT) on
the north is truncated by the NW-SE trending Mishmi Thrust (MT) towards the north-
east in the Arunachal Himalaya. The Disang Thrust is an extension of the Dauki Fault
(DF) along the Indo-Bangladesh border. To the north of the Brahmaputra River valley
lies the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT); the Main Central Thrust (MCT) is noted fur-
ther north, and towards northeast lies the Mishmi Thrust (MT). Therefore the present
authors have added one more transverse N-S trending linear zone indicating a probable
active lineament (fig. 7). Moreover, two major earthquakes fall on this zone. The role
of the active N-S trending Sagaing Fault in the seismicity of the region cannot be ruled
out (Valdiya 1976, Srinivasan 2007). The Manabum anticline (MA) might be a conti-
nuation of the major Siang antiform/window (Surendra Singh 1993, Srinivasan
2007). The rising eastern Himalayan syntaxis is characterized by high denudation rates
estimated to be ~ 10 mm/yr over the last 4 Ma (Burg et al. 1997), and to be 2–5 mm/yr
during late Tertiary-Recent times in and around the core region (Craw et al. 2005).
Thus the Recent upliftment of the core region of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis may
also be continuing in the frontal part of NE Himalaya.
260 I. Aier et al.

Fig. 6. A. Strath terrace, B. Surma sediments of Neogene overriding Recent alluvium along
Naga Thrust at Chumukedima.

5 Conclusions

Analyses of data obtained from the field and supplemented by that generated from
satellite imagery, DEM and morphometric parameters suggest that the schuppen belt
is tectonically active. Initiation of imbricate thrusting of the schuppen belt started
during Late Miocene when the Namsang and Dihing sediments were laid over older
 Geomorphic evolution of Medziphema intermontane basin 261

Fig. 7. Simplified seismicity map of northeast India (after Srinivasan 2007); inset showing
probable active lineament.

sequences on the footwall of the Sanis-Chongliyimsen Thrust. Dihing sediments

occupying the core of the Medziphema intermontane basin dip 15° SE, suggesting
major upliftment of the frontal part of the schuppen belt after the Lower Pleistocene
along the Naga Thrust. In the frontal part of the Naga Hills the Surma are thrust over
either the Namsang or Recent to Sub-Recent alluvium along the Naga Thrust. Fault-
ing and tilting of Recent fluvial deposits and lateral displacement of Recent deposits
and rivers and streams indicate that the thrusts and faults of the schuppen belt are tec-
tonically active. Morphometric data corroborate field evidence. Drainage patterns,
particularly along the frontal hills show structural control of their morphology by
the underlying rock beds. Evolution of the Medziphema intermontane basin has been
attributed to the successive activation and abandonment of thrusts in the schuppen
belt. Thrusting of Neogene rocks over the Quaternary Brahmaputra alluvium along
the Naga Thrust has uplifted the frontal range resulting in the development of the
intermontane valley. Upliftment along the Naga Thrust has tilted the Early Pleis-
tocene Dihing rocks occupying the core of the intermontane valley towards the SE.
262 I. Aier et al.

Acknowledgements

GTT is thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India for financial
assistance through grant ESS/16/249(4)/2005. KL and SSB are grateful to the Director, Wadia
Institute of Himalayan Geology Dehradun for kind permission to publish the paper. The
authors are grateful to Dr. N. S. Virdi and Dr. V. Srinivasan for review and constructive criti-
cisms and Dr. Temsulemba Walling (PDF) and Mr. Supongtemjen (SRF), Nagaland University
for help with fieldwork.

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Manuscript received: August 2010; Revised version accepted: December 2010.

Addresses of the authors: Imtiwapang Aier, Glenn T. Thong, Department of Geology, Naga-
land University, Kohima-797001, India; Khayingshing Luirei, S. S. Bhakuni, Wadia Institute of
Himalayan Geology, Dehradun-248001, India; Girish C. Kothyari, Institute of Seismological
Research, Gandhinagar-382009, India. E-Mail: [email protected]

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