6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
ARCHAEAN OF SINGHBHUM CRATON
• Singhbhum craton covers a triangular area of 50,000km2 and consists of a core of
Singhbhum granite, rimmed by supra- crustal of varied character and age.
• Singhbhum craton is also known as Singhbhum- Orissa craton, or Singhbhum Iron Ore
craton
• Copper Belt shear zone
occurs in the northern
margin of Singhbhum
granite
• The craton is bounded
further in the north by the
Chhotanagpur Gneiss,
forming the eastern
extension of the Satpura
mobile belt or Central Indian
Tectonic Zone (CITZ)
• The craton is separated from
the Satpura mobile belt by
the Tamar- Poropahar shear
zone
• In the south, the craton is
bounded by the Eastern
Ghats mobile belt with a
tectonic contact marked by the Sukinda shear zone
Age:-
• Age: 3300- 3400 Ma
Succession:-
Older Metamorphic Group (OMG): It occurs as a series of enclaves, the larger ones having
dimensions of a few km2. The type area of OMG is Champua, where the enclaves cover an area of
200 km2. The main rock types of OMG are biotite- muscovite schist, quartzite and fuchsite
quartzite, ortho- amphibolite, banded para- amphibolite and schistose iron formation. Pelitic
schists rich in quartz (~50%), biotite, muscovite and rare garnet and sillimanite, with accessory
zircon, sphene and rutile are fairly common. The accessory mineral indicate a sialic provenance.
Sm- Nd (WR) isochron of OMG amphibolite yields an age of 3300Ma, corresponding to 40Ar/ 39Ar
plateau ages. Pb- Pb WR age is 3380 Ma and Rb- Sr age is 3280 Ma.
Older Metamorphic Tonalite Gneiss (OMTG): The OMTG occupies an area of about 900 sq.km
and occurs as mega-xenoliths within the vast Singhbhum granite, near Champua, Seraikala,
Onlajodi, Rairangpur and Takurmunda, where they extensively intrude the OMG. The OMTG is
predominantly of tonalite- trondhjemite- granodiorite (TTG) composition, with subordinate
granodiorite, quartz diorite and monzodiorite. The gneisses are well foliated and locally banded,
and contain plagioclase, quartz, biotite and subordinate K- feldspar, with accessory zircon, sphene
and apatite. The age of gneisses is between 3300 and 3450 Ma.
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
Iron Ore Group: The rock succession exposed in
the southern Singhbhum and Keonjhar and lying
unconformably over the OMG was named as Iron
Ore Series by H.C. Jones (1934). The stratigraphic
succession of the Iron Ore Group begins with a
locally developed basal sandstone and
conglomerate. The basal beds are successively
overlain by Lower Lava, Lower Phyllite, Banded
Iron Ore, Upper Phyllite and Upper Lava
Formations. The Banded Iron Ore Formation (BIF)
crops up in ridges arranged in sharply bent horse-
shoe patterns. The Formation has preserved
primary depositional features such as current
bedding ripple marks scour- and- fill structures,
etc. indicating shallow water environment of
deposition in a region proximal to the shore line.
The BIF has provided some of the richest iron- ore
deposits of India.
Singhbhum Granite: The Singhbhum Granite is a
great batholithic mass occupying an elongated
tract of about 10,000 sq.km in Singhbhum,
Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. The batholith
consists of several domed up intrusions varying in
composition from biotite granodiorite to adamalite, biotite trondhjemite and leuco- granite. At
margins of the batholith, chloritic or epidotic granodiorite and pyroxene diorite have developed.
The main mass shows a distinct N-S or NNE- SSW foliation in parallism with the foliation of the
host rocks of the Iron- Ore Group. Pb- Pb, Sm- Nd and Rb- Sr isotopic systematics indicate that
Singhbhum Granite is about 3000- 3400 Ma.
Lithology:-
• Singhbhum granite with enclaves of Older Metamorphic Tonalite Gneiss (OMTG) and
Older Metamorphic Group (OMG) of sediments and volcanics
• Basins of banded iron formation (BIF) fringing the Singhbhum granite
• Volcanic basins, termed as greenstone belts
• Flysch- like sediments and volcanics of North Singhbhum orogen
• Mafic dyke swarms: Dykes of Newer Dolerite traverse the entire craton and mark major
episodes of cratonic stabilisation.
• Kolhan basin, unconformably overlies Singhbhum granite.
Economic importance:-
• Apatite-Magnetite
• Uranium
• Copper, Nickel, Sulphide & Chlorite
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
PROTEROZOIC OF SON VALLEY
• Vindhyan Super Group is the largest Proterozoic basin of India.
• Sickle shape, ENE
trending Basement-
Bundelkhand Craton
Concealed area-
1,62,000 km², Exposed-
62,000km² Covered by
Indo- Gangetic plain &
Deccan traps.
• Son-Narmada fault
bounds the basin in the
south & by the Great
Boundary Fault in the
NW.
• Age: Meso Proterozoic
to Neo Proterozoic.
• The Vindhyan strata are exposed in three sectors: (1) Rajasthan sector (2) Bundelkhand
sector and (3) Son valley sector
Age: 1600- 1000 Ma (Meso- Proterozoic)
Succession & Lithology:
Semri Group: It derives its name from Semri river near Bijawar and, the rocks are best exposed
in the eastern Son valley near Sidhi and around Chittorgarh in Rajasthan. The measured
stratigraphic thickness near Sidhi is 3430m, whereas elsewhere estimates vary from 20 to
4345m. Generally, the sediments tend to thin to the
Kaimur Group Sasaram Sandstone
west and north, and the variable thickness
(400m)
indicates an irregular basin floor. Semri Group Suket Shale
rests with non- conformably on Bundelkhand and Rohtas Limestone
Berach granites as well as Banded Gneissic Chorhat Sandstone
Bargawan Limestone
Complex (BGC), and with angular unconformably Semri Group
(3000-4000m) Kheinjua Shale
on Bijawar Group. Chopan Porcellanite
Kajrahat Limestone
The basal succession in Son valley consists
Arangi Shale
of sandstone (Deoland Sandstone) overlain by Deoland Sandstone
shale (Arangi Shale). The sandstone is glauconitic --Angular Unconformity/ Non Conformity--
Granite and Supracrustals
with lenses of chert and limestone suggesting
transgressive marine environment. The overlying stromatolitic limestone and dolomite (Kajrahat
Limestone) containing illite and kaolinite suggest a continental shelf setting. The basal succession
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
is overlain by felsic volcanics (Chopan Porcellanite), consisting of rhyolitic crystal- and pumic-
tuff, agglomerate, breccia and bedded chert. The overlying Olive Shale (Kheinjua Shale), Fawn
Limestone (Bargawan Limestone) and glauconitic siltstone (Chorhat Sandstone) suggest a
composite environment. Similar environments or lagoonal environment also suggest after
overling Rohtas Limestone and Suket Shale.
Kaimur Group: Named after the Kaimur scarp, has conformable contact with Semri Group in Son
Valley and Chittorgarh, but has angular unconformable contact at Kalinjer Fort. The presence of
clasts of Semri sandstone and shale in the basal conglomerate suggests significant time gap.
Kaimur Group is essentially a sandstone- shale association. The basal Sasaram Sanstone overlain
by Markundi Sandstone and intervening silicified shale (Ghurma Shale) are interpreted as
products of either high velocity coastal streams or barrier beach dune or tidal flat. The
carbonaceous Bijaigarh Shale is interpreted as a swamp deposit, but the pyritiferous shale with
pyrite beds near Amjhor suggests quiet water or lagoonal deposit. The overlying Dhandraul
Quartzite consisting of arkosic sandstone, with associated pebble beds and shale (Mangesar
Formation), is visualised as a braided ephemeral stream deposit or as sandy intertidal flat or tidal
channel deposit.
Fossil:
Stromatolites, trace fossils, Chuaria, Tawuia and microbial mat feature.
Economic significance:
• Diamond: The Panna diamond field of M.P. in Rewa rock formation
• Limestone:
• Pyrite: at Kaimur group
• Building stone: Vindhyan sandstone and limestone, excellent building stone
• Glass sand: Allahabad Vindhyan sands
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
DELHI SUPERGROUP
• The rocks of Delhi Supergroup are exposed in the main Aravalli mountain chain from Delhi
in SW through parts of Haryana and Rajasthan to the parts of Gujarat.
• About 7kms thick comprise of quartzite-slate succession. The lower part of the succession
known as Alwar Group consists of predominantly arenaceous facies. The upper part of the
succession known as Ajabgarh Group is composed of argillaceous- calcareous slates and
schists. In Alwar area, the two groups of rock formations are separated by an intervening
calcareous succession known as Kushalgarh Limestone. The rock succession of the Delhi
Supergroup has been intruded by Erinpura Granite exposed in the south- central parts of the
Aravalli mountains. Trace fossils observed.
Succession and Lithology:
Economic significance:
Copper: Copper ore deposits of the Khetri area of Rajasthan occur in the slates, and
amphibolites of the Delhi Supergroup
Talc: Ultrabasic rocks of the Delhi Supergroup are converted into talc- schists
Building stone: Slates, limestones and grits are used
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
SIMLA GROUP (FORMATION)
Succession and Lithology:
Formation Lithology Thickness in m
Sanjauli Formation Upper: Conglomerate, arkoses sandstone, shale 1600
Lower: Greywacke, shale & siltstone, ortho-
quartzite
Chaosa Formation Shale, siltstone, greywacke, ortho-quartzite 1300
Kunihar Formation Shale, siltstone with limestone interbeds 450
Basantpur Formation Bedded & massive limestone, shale and 1000
siltstone and a basal greyish white quartzite and
conglomerate
Disconformity
SHALI GROUP
The Simla Group is disconformably overlain by a rock succession consisting predominantly of
shales, siltstones, sandstones, greywackes and orthoquartzites. The lowermost Basantpur
Formation contains a significant proportion of carbonate rocks. Lithofacies of Kunihar, Chaosa
and Sanjauli Formations suggest a gradual regression of the marine conditions in the Lesser
Himalaya of Himachal Pradesh.
Age of the Simla Group is as yet uncertain. The succession is unconformably overlain by Upper
Palaeozoic Formations which places the upper age limit of the succession. The Simla Group is
underlain by the Shali Group of Early to Middle Riphean age. The carbonate rocks of the
Basantpur Formation have yielded stromatolites of Jurusania Group representing an Upper
Riphean to Vendian age. The upper formations of the Simla Group probably extend in time to
Lower Palaeozoic. There is no fossil record to support this contention.
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
CHATTISGARH SUPERGROUP
The Chattisgarh Basin is a major Purana basin within the Bastar Craton, an
Archaeancrystalline block
bounded by Godavari and
Mahanadi rifts to the southwest
and northeast,and by Central
Indian Suture Zone (CITZ) and
Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt
(EGMB) to thenorthwest and
southeast respectively.
The basin consists of about
2500 m thick assemblage of
unmetamorphosed, flat
lyingand mildly deformed
rocks, designated as
Chattisgarh Supergroup.
The basement rocks of Chhattisgarh Supergroup are ranges from Archaean to
Middle Proterozoic age.
The Chattisgarh Depression covering an area of about 30,000 sq. km. extends over
a large portion of Durg, Raipur and Bilaspur districts of Madhya Pradesh and parts
of Sambalpur district of Odisha.
Succession and Lithology:
The depression consists of about 1600m thick succession of sandstones, shales
and limestones. The Chattisgarh Group resting unconformably over the Lower
Precambrian rocks has been divided into two formations. The lower formation,
known as Chandrapur Sandstone, comprises about 500m thick quartzite
succession. The upper formation known as Raipur Formation disconformably
overlies the lower formation.
The Raipur Formation consists of about 1000m thick sediments of variable
characters. The succession of the upper formation was deposited in five cyclic
phases of sedimentation. Each cyclic phase begins with dark limestone or light
sandstone and extends upwards in the succession into red beds comprising clay-
stones and red shales. The carbonate rocks contain certain well preserved
stromatolites.
6th Semester: Department of Geology, Pachhunga University College
Economic significance:
