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Seismic properties of naturally deformed quartzites of the Alaknanda valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India

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Abstract

The present contribution summarizes the results of a study focusing on the influence of quartz microstructures on the seismic wave velocities in the quartzites of the Garhwal Himalaya. Quartzites being monomineralic were chosen for the present study so as to nullify the effect of other mineral constituents on the seismic velocity. Samples were collected from different tectonic settings of the Higher and Lesser Himalayas which are separated from one another by the major tectonic zone ‘Main Central Thrust’ (MCT). These are mainly Pandukeshwar quartzite, Tapovan quartzite and Berinag quartzite. The samples of Berinag quartzite were collected from near the klippen and the thrust, termed as Alaknanda Thrust. The vast differences in microstructures and associated seismic wave velocities have been noted in different quartzites. It has also been observed that quartzites of the MCT zone and Alaknanda Thrust have higher seismic velocities. This is because of their coarse-grained nature of the rocks as evidenced by the strong positive relation between seismic velocities and grain area. The coarsening is either due to the operation of grain boundary migration and grain area reduction process or high aspect ratio/shape preferred orientation. The quartzites located around Nandprayag Klippen have undergone static recrystallization and exhibit the lowest seismic wave velocities.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun for providing all the necessary facilities to carry out the work. The Project Director, National Geotechnical Facility, Dehradun NGF is also thanked for the encouragement and support. Thanks are due to Dr Stipp for his valuable suggestions that improved significantly an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Geotechnical Facility, 11-C, Circular Road, Dehradun, 248 001, India.

    Ruchika Sharma Tandon

  2. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 248 001, India.

    Vikram Gupta & Koushik Sen

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  1. Ruchika Sharma Tandon
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  2. Vikram Gupta
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  3. Koushik Sen
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Correspondence to Ruchika Sharma Tandon.

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Tandon, R.S., Gupta, V. & Sen, K. Seismic properties of naturally deformed quartzites of the Alaknanda valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Earth Syst Sci 124, 1159–1175 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-015-0605-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-015-0605-6

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