Status of Research in Structural Geology; the Indian Scene During the Last Five Years

Abstract

During the last five years, research in Structural Geology has seen multifarious developments. Experimental and numerical
simulations extended our knowledge on deformation pattern of the Earth’s crust, especially on various types of folding
mechanisms and strain distribution in shear zones. Experiments on fluid mechanics provided an understanding of the ascent
of diamond-bearing kimberlitic magma, the ascent path and geometry of plumes. Study of Anisotropy of Magnetic
Susceptibility has come out as a powerful tool to explain strain pattern and quantitative vorticity in deformed rocks,
structural control on gold mineralization and in microfracture geometry of impact crators as applied to the Lonar Crator in
western India. Regional studies on the Himalaya, Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, South India, Central India, Rajasthan, and
Eastern India advanced our knowledge on crustal deformation pattern, tectonics and assembly of continents, basement
structures, fold growth kinematics, thrust-sheet movement and shearing mechanism. Radiometric dates have been estimated
from a number of rocks especially to understand the timings of deformation and mineral formation. Palaeostress estimation
unravels the stress regime of some geologically significant areas and basins across the country.