Isaac Scientific Publishing

Geosciences Research

Geomorphology of Mandvi to Mundra Coast, Kachchh, Western India

Download PDF (801.2 KB) PP. 24 - 38 Pub. Date: November 28, 2016

DOI: 10.22606/gr.2016.11003

Author(s)

  • Heman V. Majethiya*
    Geology Department, M.G. Science Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad – 380009. India
  • Nishith Y. Bhatt
    Geology Department, M.G. Science Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad – 380009. India
  • Paras M. Solanki
    Geology Department, M.G. Science Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad – 380009. India

Abstract

Landforms of coast between Mandvi and Mundra in Kachchh and their origin are described here. Various micro-geomorphic features such as delta, beaches (ridge & runnel), coastal dunes, tidal flat, tidal creek, mangrove, backwater, river estuary, bar, spit, saltpan etc. are explained. The delta sediment of Phot River is superimposed by tidal flat sediments deposited later during uplift in last 2000 years. Raise-beach, raise-tidal flat, firm sub-tidal mud pockets on beach, delta and parabolic dune remnants and palaeo-fore dune (Mundra dune) - all these features projects 3 to 4 m high palaeo-sea level than the present day. All these features are superimposed by present day active beach, dune, tidal flat, creek, spit, bar, lagoon, estuary and mangroves. All these are depositional features.

Keywords

Coastal Geomorphology, mandvi, mundra, kachchh, landforms.

References

[1] S. K. Biswas, “Note on the Geology of Kutch,” Quarterly Journal of the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Society of India, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 223-236. 1971.

[2] S. K. Biswas, “Landscape of Kutch,” A Morphotectonic Analysis, Indian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 177-190.1974.

[3] S. K. Biswas, “Regional tectonic framework, structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India”. Tectonophysics, vol. 135, pp. 307-327.1987.

[4] S. K. Biswas and S. V. Deshpande, “Geological and Tectonic maps of Kutch,” Bull. O. N. G. C., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 115-123. 1970.

[5] S. K. Biswas and K N. Khattri “A geological study of earthquakes In Kutch, Gujarat,” India Jour Geol Soc India, vol. 60 (2), pp. 131-142. 2002.

[6] O.S. Chauhan, “Influence of macro tidal environment on shelf sedimentation, Gulf of Kachchh, India.” Continental Shelf Research, 14 (13/14):1477-1493. 1994.

[7] Onkar S. Chauhan, F. Almeida and Jangam Suneethi, “Influence of Sedimentation on the Geomorphology of the Northwestern Continental Margin of India”. Marine Geodesy, vol. 23, pp.259–265, 2000.

[8] O.S. Chauhan , S. Jayakumar, A.A.A. Menezes, A.S. Rajawat, and S. R. Nayak, “Anomalous inland influx of the River Indus, Gulf of Kachchh, India”, Mar. Geol., vol. 229 (1–2), 91–100, 2006. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2005.12.003.

[9] Avijit Gupta, Tropical Geomorphology, Cambridge University Press, 1975.

[10] R. G. Fairbanks, “A 17,000 year glacio-eustatic sea level record: Influence of glacial melting rates on the Younger Dryas event and deep-ocean circulation.” Nature, 342, pp. 637–642. 1989.

[11] Purnachandra V. Rao; G. Rajagopalan; K.H. Vora and F. Almeida, ‘Late Quarternary sea level and environmental changes from relic carbonate deposits of the western margin of India’. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Science (Earth and Planetary Sciences), 112 (1), 1–25, 2003.

[12] Amal Kar, “Kachchh, India: Evidence of physiographic evolution.” Continental Shelf Research, 1988.

[13] N. H. Hashimi, R. R. Nair, and R. M. Kidwai, “Sediments of the Gulf of Kachchh, A high energy tide dominated environment,” Indian J. Mar. Sci., 71, pp.7. 1978.

[14] Amal Kar, “Neotectonic Influence on morphological variation along the coastline of Kachchh, India.” Elsevier Science Publisher, Amsterdam. pp. 199-219.1993.

[15] D. M. Maurya, M. G. Thakkar , A. K. Patidar, S. Bhandari, B. Goyal and L. S. Chamyal “Late Quaternary geomorphic evolution of the coastal zone of Kachchh, western India,” J. Coastal Res. 24 pp. 746–758. 2008.

[16] National Wetland Atlas, Gujarat, Sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India As a part of the project on National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad and Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad and Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG), Gandhinaga. Project Director: Dr. Sushma Panigrahy.2010.

[17] S. P. Prizomwala, S. B. Shukla and N. Bhatt “Geomorphic Assemblage of the Gulf of Kachchh coast, Western India: Implication in understanding the pathways of Coastal sediments,” Zeitshcrift Fur Geomorphology, v.54, 1, pp. 31-46. 2010.

[18] J. T. Wells and J. M. Coleman, “Deltaic morphology and sedimentology with special reference to the Indus River Delta, Marine Geology and Oceanography of the Arabian Sea and Coastal Pakistan,” New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, pp. 85-100. 1984.

[19] A. K. Patidar, D. M. Maurya M. G. Thakkar and L. S. Chamyal, “ Fluvial geomorphology and neotectonic activity based on field and GPR data, Katrol Hill Range, Kachchh, Western India.” Quaternary International 159: 74-92. 2007.

[20] D.M. Maurya, M.G. Thakkar and L.S. Chamyal, “Quaternary Geology of the arid zones of Kachchh: Terra incognita.” Proceedings Indian Nati. Sci. Aca. vol. 69, pp. 123-135, 2003.