CHAPTER 2

GEOLOGY OF THE AREA

2.1 Regional Geology of the Shillong Plateau

The Shillong plateau of NE India may be considered as a natural museum where

different rock sequences from Archean (?)-Proterozoic to Plestocene-Recent sediments

are observed. The plateau is clearly confined by surrounding tectonic discontinuities /

lineaments such as Garo Rajmahal tectonic graben to the west, Brahmaputra lineament

to the north, Dauki fault to the south and towards east belt of Schuppen. The E-W

trending Dauki fault (tear fault of Evans, 1964) separates Surma valley / Bangladesh

from the Precambrian plateau and sets the southern International boundary. The Dauki

tear fault with 250 km movement is a dextral strike-slip fault. According to Auden

(1934) and Desikachar (1974), Malda-Dinajpur ridge under alluvial cover of

approximately 300 meter links Precambrian rocks of Shillong Plateau with that of

Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex. ONGC also agrees the above finding. Towards east the

Shillong plateau is separated from Indo-Myanmar Mobile belt by NE-SW trending belt

of Schuppen. Garo-Rajmahal tectonic graben marks the western delinked margin from

Indian shield. Towards north, the basement of the Shillong plateau is buried under

Brahmaputra alluvium and basement is noted at a depth of 4 to 6 km in the northern

bank of river Brahmaputra and probably appears in the Himalayan belt.

Within the Shillong plateau an intracratonic depression took place in the central

and eastern part of Meghalaya during Proterozoic time where dominantly pelitic and

arenaceous sediments were deposited along with basic igneous intrusions in the form of
sills and dykes. These rocks were subsequently transformed into metavolcanic and

metasedimentary rock units. The high to medium grade Paleo-Proterozoic gneissic

complex acts as a basement of Shillong plateau of Hercynian character (Mazumder,

1976), overlain by Mesoproterozoic metasediment and metavolcanics of Shillong Group

and associated metadolerite (locally named as Khasi Greenstone). The plateau as a

whole, at a later stage uplifted and folded, experiencing low to medium grade

metamorphism. The grade of metamorphism of Basement Gneissic Complex (BGG) is

amphibolite to granulite facies. The latter facies is mainly found towards Garo hills. On

the other hand, Shillong Group of rocks experience metamorphism mostly under

greenschist to lower amphibolite facies (Devi and Sarma, 2006, 2010). According to

Choudhury and Rao (1975) basement gneissic complex is designated as Older

Metamorphic Group (OMG). Quartzofeldspathic gneiss with light and dark colour

bands, amphibolites, calc granulites, migmatite, metapelites, calcsilicate rock, pegmatite

and vein rocks are the main components of BGG and they are well exposed in

Nongkhya, Kyrdemkulai and Manai / Nongbri mainly to the north and western part of

the Shillong basin. The interface between BGG and the overlying Shillong Group is

marked by a distinct angular unconformity well exposed in Nongbri area as well as in

Nongkhya area where a persistent horizon marked as basal conglomerate is observed.

Shillong Group of rocks is mainly divided into two broad formations namely

pelitic and psammitic. The lower clay or argillaceous units are metamorphosed and

classed as Lower Metapelite Formation (Manai Formation of Bhattacharjee & Rahman,

1985; Barapani Formation by Ahmed, 1981; Tyrsad Formation by Barooah and

Goswami, 1972) and the upper araneceous units with interlayer of thin clay layers are

classed as Upper Quartzitic Formation (Mawphlong Formation by Bhattacharjee &

27
Rahman, 1985; Shillong Formation by Ahmed, 1981 and Barooah and Goswami, 1972).

Due to the dominance of Shillong Group of rocks in and around Shillong, Medlicott

(1869) first used the term Shillong Series (later on series was replaced by Group).

The Upper Quartzitic Formation (UQF) and the Lower Metapelite Formation

(LMF) are separated from each other by an interformational conglomerate well exposed

near Sumer area of RiBhoi district and Mawmaram area of West Khasi Hills district

named as Sumer-Mawmaram conglomerate (Sarma et al. 1998a, Devi and Sarma, 2006,

2010). In Smit, Mawpen, Naumile, Barapani and in Mawphlong areas, intraformational

conglomerates are observed within quartzite formation of the basin.

Mafic dolerite dykes and sills are intruded in the Shillong Group and they are

partially metamorphosed under green schist facies. Because of the presence of dominant

green coloured minerals like hornblende and chlorite, they are known as greenstone and

later on due to the dominant concentration in and around Khasi hills area it was

renamed as Khasi greenstone by Medlicot (1869). The generalized NE-SW structural

trend of the basin coincides with the lithotrends of the basin and all basic influx of

Precambrian age follow NE-SW trend excepting a few dykes which make low angle to

litholayerings.

The acidic intrusive bodies of the plateau are of Neoproterozoic to Permo-

Cambrian age such as Mylliem granite (607±13 Ma), Nongpoh granite within basement

(550±26 Ma), South Khasi Pluton (690±19 Ma) and Kyrdem granite (479±26 Ma).

Some of them such as Mylliem, South Khasi and Kyrdem are confined within the

Shillong Basin while Nongpoh, Mawthaliang, Singluli granite etc. have intruded into

BGG. They are unmetamorphosed, but affected by mild deformation.

28
 Acidic volcanic near Smit area of nearby Shillong is a classic example of

Cretaceous period (115 Ma) calculated from palaeomagnatic study (Venkateshwarlu et

al., 2012). Similarly alkaline magmatic reflux (Sung valley alkaline Complex of

Cretaceous period) is also reported from eastern margin of Shillong basin at the district

boundary between East Khasi Hills and Jantia Hills.

Jurassic-Cretaceous volcanism represented by the Sylhet Trap occurs along the

southern margin of the plateau through E-W trending Dauki fault and Raibah fault.

Along these faults after eruption of the volcanism, the southern block subsided and the

northern block upheaved in the central part of the plateau (Murthy 1970, GSI, 1974).

Cretaceous-Eocene stable shelf sediments were deposited in the southern and eastern

periphery of the plateau whereas the northern part remained as elevated landmass. Later

on the Cretaceous- Eocene sediments were also uplifted. As a whole major upliftment of

the plateau began at the end of Miocene, and gave rise to the present geomorphic

landform (GSI, 1974). Generalised geological map of the Shillong plateau is shown in

figure 2.1. General stratigraphic succession of the Shillong Plateau is given for ready

reference (Table 2.1)

29
Fig: 2.1 Geological Map of Shillong Plateau (=Assam-Meghalaya Plateau) showing
intracratonic Shillong basin (modified after S.K.Mazumdar, 1976 &R.K.Verma,
1991)

Table 2.1 GENERAL STRATIGRAPHIC SUCCESSION OF SHILLONG

PLATEAU

Age Group Name Formation Lithology

Older Alluvium Sand, clay, pebble,
Pleistocene (Thickness not Unclassified gravel and boulder
known) deposit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dupi Tila Mottled clay,
Mio-Pliocene Formation feldspathic sandstone
(1050m) and conglomerate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity/Disconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30
 Chengapara
Coarse sandstone,
Formation
siltstone, clay and marl
(700m)
Coarse, feldpathic
sandstone, pebble,
Baghmara
conglomerate, clay,
Formation
Oligo-Miocene Garo Group silty clay with a
(530m)
fossiliferous limestone
horizon at the top
Siltstone and fine
Simsang
sandstone and
Formation
alternations of
(1150m)
siltstone-mudstone
Coarse sandstone,
Eocene-Oligocene
shale, carbonaceous
Barail Group -----------
shale with streaks and
minor lenses of coal
Kopili Formation Shale, sandstone, marl
(50m) and coal
Alternation of
Palaeocene- Shella Formation
Jaintia Group sandstone, marl and
Eocene (600m)
coal
Langer Formation Calcareous shale,
(100m) sandstone, limestone
Mahadek Arkosic sandstone
Formation (often Glauconitic &
(150m) Uraniferous)
Conglomerate
Upper Cretaceous Khasi Group Conglomerate
(25m)
Jadukata
Conglomerate/
Formation
sandstone
(140m)

31
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pyroxene- Serpentinite
Alkaline- with abundant
Ultramafic- development of
Cretaceous -----------
Carbonatite melilite pyroxene rock,
Complex of Sung ijolite, syenite and
carbonatite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sylhet Trap Basalt, alkali basalt,
Cretaceous
(600m) rhyolite and acid tuff
Very coarse to coarse
grained sandstone with
Carboniferous to Karharbari conglomerate lenses,
Lower Gondwana
Permian Formation siltstone, shale,
carbonaceous shale
and coal
Basalt tillite, with
Telchir formation sandstone bands,
siltstone and shale
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Granite Plutos:
Porphyritic coarse
Kyrdem Granite
grain, pegmatite,
Pluton
* Neo Proterozoic- aplite/quartz vein
Nongpoh Granite
Early Palaeozoic traversed by epidiorite,
Mylliem Granite
dolerite and basalt
South Khasi
dykes.
Granite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Intrusive contact ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Khasi Basalt- Epidiorite, dolerite
Ultrabasic amphibolite and
* Proterozoic -----------
intrusives (Khasi pyroxene dykes and
greenstone) sills

32
 Quartzite, phyllite,
* Palaeo-Meso-
Shillong Group ----------- quartz-sericite schist,
Proterozoic
conglomerate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Biotite gneiss, biotite
hornblende gneiss,
granite gneiss, mica
Achaean (?)- Meghalaya
schist, biotite-
Proterozoic Gneissic Complex
granulite-amphibolite,
pyroxene granulite,
gabbro and diorite

(After Geological Survey of India, Miscellaneous Publication, No.30, Part IV, Vol: 2(ii)

Meghalaya).

The present study area belongs to the age group shown by asterisks.

2.2 Distribution of rock types and their field relationships

Microstructural analyses of metapelites of Shillong Group and basement-cover

relationship is the basic motto of the present study. A generalized lithological map of

the Shillong Basin is presented in Fig. 2.2.

To evaluate the microstructural architectures exhibited by foliation and folding and

their corresponding lineations, their relationship with porphyroblasts, lower metapelitic

formation is mainly choosen as they are the store house of microstructures.

The type areas where metapelitic formations are available in the Shillong basin are

classified into four sectors. They are namely,

33
 1. Sumer Sector of the RiBhoi district representing northern part of the Shillong

basin.

2. Mawmaram Sector of the West Khasi Hills district towards western part of the

basin.

3. Tyrsad Sector of the East Khasi Hills district of South western part of the basin.

4. Southern boundary zone of Mylliem granite and Shillong Group on the way to

Cherrapunjee.

Fig 2.2 Generalised lithological map of the Shillong basin showing 4 different
sectors for present study. 1. Sumer sector; 2. Mawmaram sector; 3. Tyrsad sector and
4. Southern boundary of Mylliem granite (Shillong plateau shown as inset map).

34
2.3 Sector wise descriptions of the lithounits are given below

2.3.1 Sumer Sector

The Sumer town is situated on the right side of Guwahati-Shillong Road, (NH-40) after

crossing Umsning towards Shillong. The area covers on both the sides of the Guwahati-

Shillong Road. A brief description of the BGG is given here to set idea how basement

cover relationship could be traceable in this sector. From Nongpoh to Umsning,

quartzofeldspathic gneisses (QFG) with rare alternation of dark coloured metabasites

(amphibolites), pegmatite vein rocks are seen. In some quarries on either side of the

road, QFG also found in the form of layering, thickness being measured in meter scale

and they are intimately associated with metabasites of less than a meter across

litholayering. Infrequent association of pegmatites and other vein rocks are met with

and they are parallel to the regional litholayering. The trend of the litholayering is NE-

SW with dip either towards NW or SE at low to moderate angle. The strike varies from

NNE-SSW. Folding of different generations is traceable on small to meter scale and

wherever migmatitic affect are seen flow folding is noted. Highly penetrative regional

foliation is observed in both the different components of QFG and metabasites. But such

regional foliation is absent in pegmatites or other vein rocks of both concordant and

discordant types, which indicates that they may be post kinematic to the development of

regional foliation in QFG. These rocks belong to BGG of the Shillong plateau.

At 6 km before Nongpoh the northern contact between the Neoproterozoic

granite (Nongpoh granite) and BGG (QFG) is marked at 25°57´24.5˝N and

91°51´56.1˝E. Sharp contact is visible because of road widening process but not

everywhere and it is due to forest cover and vegetation. The valley towards right hand

35
side of GS road (NH-40) on way to Shillong probably marks the contact at lower

structural high. The valley is trending NE-SW (060°) and hence the contact zone

between BGG and granite is marked showing trend line at NE-SW. Nongpoh granite is

characterized by the development of feldspar porphyries and named accordingly as

porphyritic granite. Growth of pineapple on Nongpoh granite is a notable feature. K-

bearing clay, kaolin clay is helpful for the growth of pineapple derived from the

porphyritic granite. The gneissic foliation trend in this area is N-S gradually changing to

NNE-SSW, dipping towards East (N-S/60º). Gneissosity of the BGG is dipping towards

the porphyritic granite. After crossing 14.5 km (approx.), the southern contact between

Nongpoh granite and BGG is observed. Here also gneissic foliation is dipping towards

porphyritic granite such as, 240/55NW and varies upto 280/55NW.

At both the northern and southern boundaries of the Nongpoh granite, gneissic

foliation is dipping towards the pluton. So, there is a probability that the emplacement

of the Nongpoh pluton is structure controlled. Approximately 10 meters from the

southern boundary, the gneissic rocks are highly migmatised showing alternate thin dark

and white bands and traversed by intensive small quartz vein at high angle. Quartz vein

mimic isoclinal (root less) folds and display enechelon vein pattern. Average orientation

of the vein is N60E. Fracture planes along which striation develop may be surfacial.

Striations are marked by ferrugeneous minerals. Fracture shows 72º down dip.

Trend of the gneissic rocks near Umsamlem on the Umran river bed is NE-SW

(strike being 050 to 060 showing dip at 60º to 65º due NW). After Hotel Breezland and

Umran Tourist lodge the river Umran crosses the NH-40. 3 km before Umsning and 33

km to Shillong, the same BGG is well exposed. Umsning Bazar (91°53´13.3˝E and

36
25°44´55.3˝N) is situated at the valley between Nongkhya conglomerate and BGG.

After crossing Umsning bazar, Sumer area starts with beginning of the separate litho-

structural extension of Shillong basin.

The rock units of the Sumer sector can be broadly classified into three groups –

the gneissic group, the metasediments of Shillong Group and basic intrusives.

The gneissic group of rocks is observed in the NW, northern and NE edge of the

area near Nongkhya. The rocks are mainly biotite bearing quartzofeldspathic gneisses

and amphibolites. The gneissic rocks show migmatisation at some places. These rocks

are also seen at Zeropoint which is about 10 km west of Nayabunglow, at Mawkhrong

village about 5 km north of Kyrdemkulai and at north and north-east of Umsning bazar.

In Zeropoint area, the gneissic rocks are exposed along the roadside which leads to the

4th stage powerhouse of the Umiam UmTrew hydel project, and along the UmTrew

river bed. The gneissic group forms a belt extending for about 15 km. The generalized

trend of the gneissic rock is almost E-W and occasionally varies to N-S and NE-SW,

with local variation to NW-SE with a moderate dip towards north-east and south-east.

The Shillong Group of rocks are dominantly exposed in this sector compared to

the other rock groups. A lithological map of the Sumer sector is given (Fig.2.3). These

are represented by a pelitic division of the lower part of the Shillong Group comprising

quartz sericite schist and phyllitic rocks with thin psammitic rocks in the upper part

consisting of mainly quartzites and conglomerates (Figs. 2.4 – 2.7). Low grade

metapelites are mainly exposed at Sumer, UmSumer, Zeropoint, Kyrdemkulai,

Nayabunglow and at Umsning areas. Metapelites are also exposed at Sumer

Nayabunglow road section and at places between Umsning and Raitong. Metapelites

37
exposed at Sumer-UmSumer area are mainly quartz-sericite schist, quartz-mica schist

with occasional thin beds of phyllite (Fig. 2.5). Unmappable units of biotite schist and

garnetiferous biotite schist are met with at Nayabunglow and Sumer areas respectively.

These metapelites are foliated and along the foliation plane, stretching lineation with

lots of quartz ribbons or lenses are observed and they are folded and / or rotated (Figs.

2.6; 2.7). The trend of the foliation is NW-SE with dip direction mostly towards NE.

There is a marked variation in the trend of the foliation from NW-SE to NE-SW with

dip direction towards SE. Dolerite intrusion at Sumer (Sumer Guest House) is located

with a trend of NW-SE. Metapelites of Kyrdemkulai and Nayabunglow area trending

mostly in NW-SE direction with a dip direction towards SW. These metapelites

maintain discordance with the Sumer conglomerate at a high angle between 40° to 45°.

Fig. 2.3 Lithological map of Sumer sector.

38
 A very persistent and thick conglomerate bed overlying the basement gneisses is

observed at Nongkhya. The Nongkhya conglomerates extend over 4 km in the E-W

direction and meet the Shillong-Guwahati National Highway at Umsning Bazar area. It

further extends towards west and ends abruptly. The conglomerate is highly stressed

with lots of metapelitic clasts, quartz pebbles, metadolerite clasts and characterized by

psamopelitic matrix (Fig. 2.4). A few other conglomeratic horizons are also noted from

the Umsning-Jagirod road section but they are intraformational and the matrix materials

are highly ferruginous. One such conglomerate is associated with Khasi greenstone at

Naumile. Sumer conglomerate is an interformational conglomerate between the Lower

and the Upper Shillong Group and extends over 12 km from Sumer to Mawlendep area.

Figs. 2.4 – 2.7: 2.4 Nongkhya conglomerate tectonically placed over BGG. Pen
length: 14 cm. 2.5 Quartz sericite schist from Sumer area showing high dip due SE.
Brunton size: 15 cm. 2.6 MF2 asymmetric folds with discrete crenulation cleavage in
metapelites of Sumer area. Canon lens cover diameter 5 cm. 2.7 Highly sheared
quartz ribbons folded by asymmetric to overturned MF3 folds. Location Sumer area.

39
The thickness of the conglomerate bed is about 70 to 380m thick (locally varies up to

300m), with a generalized trend of NE-SW (080-260) and dipping 40° to 80° towards

SE. At a distance of about 7 km from Umsaw near Mairang basti, the discordant

relationship between the Lower Shillong Group with the conglomerate bed is observed.

There are evidences of showing gradational habit of the pebbles and gradually the top of

the conglomerate grades into quartzitic further towards south (Upper Shillong

Formation). Some pebble free zones of conglomerate which show pure quartzitic in

composition and lack of any sharp contacts between such zones clearly indicate that

they are gradational. Pebbles are mostly quartz but metapelitic and shaly pebbles

showing evidences of multi-deformational imprints are also observed. Pebbles and

cobbles of different sizes are available. There are enough evidences of shearing along

rough foliation planes of conglomerates and they are showing dextral shearing habit.

Such sheared planes are transected by another set of shear planes showing network

fabric and are of enechelon pattern. The entire conglomeratic horizon is faulted at

several places. There is a variation in the strain rate not only across the horizon but also

along the length of the layer and finally might be tectonically emplaced over the

basement gneisses as tectonic melange.

Massive quartzites are exposed extensively on the south of Sumer hill above the

Sumer conglomerate. The generalised strike of the bed is mostly NE-SW with a

moderate to high dip towards SE. Quartzites are massive but at places foliated. Current

bedding and ripple marks are observed. Gradational and sharp contact between the

quartzites and the Sumer conglomerate is observed at 2 km NE of Umbir village.

Quartzite beds are well exposed along Umsning Jagiroad road. Pelitic intercalations are

common. Sometimes quartzite beds trend in NW-SE direction with moderate to high dip

40
towards NE. From Nongkhya to Raitong the trend is NE to SW and dip is towards SE.

Dolerite intrusions into the quartzites are met with at Raitong with a concordant

relationship.

Rest of the quartzites are exposed from Sopetbneng hill on the left side of the

G.S. road upto Syad and Syadrit village at the south of Nongkhya. The generalised trend

of the beds are mostly from NW to SE with high dip towards NE. These rocks are

highly jointed and sheared. Metapelitic intercalations are very common in these beds.

Khonglah et al. (2008) have mapped the Sung-Umsning area of Ribhoi district and

established multi-deformational history with the new proposal of three formations

namely, Mawlyndep Formation, Umiam Formation and Nongpiur Formation in place of

earlier Manai and Mawphlang Formation. The above three formations are grouped

under Shillong Group; underlain by Umsning Schist belt. Umsning Schist belt is

equated with schistose belt of BGG of Mazumdar (1976).

Based on the rock types of the Sumer area, the stratigraphic succession that can

be inferred is shown in the Table 2.2.

Table 2.2 GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE SUMER SECTOR

Nongpoh granite

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Intrusive Contact zone ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Igneous intrusions Aplitic, pegmatitic veins, Khasi greenstones

(metadolerites)

41
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tectonic contact ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Upper arenaceous division Quartzite (white) with thin beds of phyllite,

carbonaceous quartzite, ferrugeneous

quartzite, conglomerate.

Shillong Group ~~~~~Sumer Conglomerate (Angular unconformity)~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lower argillaceous division Quartz-sericite schist, quartz mica schist,

biotite schist, phyllite garnetiferous mica

schist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Angular Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Basement Gneissic Complex Quartzofeldspathic gneiss and amphibolites.

2.3.2 Mawmaram Sector

From Shillong to Mawphlong the bearing traverse is of NE-SW followed by NW-SE

trending Mawphlong-Mawmaram-Nongbri traverse. At 12 km post from Shillong, a

conglomerate is seen in Elephanta falls (towards downstream). The area is hardly

approachable for mapping due to thick forest cover but recently, for tourism, the area is

developed and the conglomerate is traceable where water flow hits the bed. Lovely

waterfalls at Elephanta occur due to steep dip of the quartzite beds against current

direction. Beautification of the Elephanta falls is therefore structure controlled. The

conglomerate is composed of coarse pebbles and matrix-pebble ratio will be nearly

50:50. Pebbles are mostly quartz pebble. Bhattacharjee and Rahman (1985), Devi and

Sarma (2006) have identified this conglomerate as interformational and mapped as a

continuation of Mawmaram-Sumer conglomerate. The Shillong-Cherra Road is

bifurcated at 12 km post where from another road is proceeding towards Mawphlang

42
and the other to Cherrapunjee. Up to Mawphalang very good exposures of quartzites are

observed. Numerous open quarries are found.

Locally and regionally people uses quartz sands (a weathering product of

Fig. 2.8 Lithological map of Mawmaram Sector

43
quartzite) for construction purposes. The generalized dip of the highly weathered

quartzite layers is steep to occasionally vertical; showing opposite dip, which indicates

the presence of outcrop scale folds. Near Mawmaram (at 27 km post from Shillong on

the way to Nongbri), a conglomerate is exposed, which separates Upper Quartzitic

Formation from Lower Metapelitic Formation and is delineated on the left hand side of

the road (south-western side) (Figs. 2.9, 2.12). The conglomerate is very coarse,

compact and characterized by mostly quartz and quartzite pebbles. This conglomerate is

extending towards NE direction. Again near Krang on way to Mawmaram-Umium road

section another conglomerate is seen. Thickly bedded quartzites are massive, gray to

light brown in colour while the thinly bedded quartzites are micaceous and friable.

Weathered product of quartzites gives loose brown coloured sands, which are easily

mined for road and building purposes. Folding effects are more common in metapelites

(Figs. 2.10, 2.11). Small-scale shearing evidences are observed. Thinly bedded phylitic

rocks are seen. They are well cleaved and crenulated. The different components of the

metapelites of Mawmaram – Manai area are quartz mica schist, quartz sericite schist,

phyllites and biotite schist as shown in the lithological map (Fig. 2.8). The generalized

strike of the rock association of the LMF is NE-SW with a slight deviation on both sides

(N or E) and dip amount varies from moderate to high (40° to 75°). Near Mania,

metapelites are showing numerous small lens like fibrolite but such fibrolites are no

way related to regional metamorphic product rather they may be a product of

metasomatism (Fig. 2.10). Biotite schist is essentially confined around Manai area

where Basement Gneissic Group separates the Shillong basin. An autoclastic

conglomerate named as Nongbri conglomerate separates BGG from Lower Metapelitic

Formation of Shillong Group. Feldspars are highly stretched and augen shaped. Matrix

44
is mylonitic, partly psammopelitic and fibrolitic silimanite is embedded over the

feldspar. Lineation and foliation of the BGG is continuous over the autoclastic

conglomerate but they make angular relationship with the typical biotite schist of the

SG. Pebble lineation is down dip towards SE. Pebble-matrix ratio is 50:50. Two

prominent outcrops of metadolerite in the form of sill and dyke are seen around Manai.

Calc-silicate rock is found on the river bed near Manai.

Based on the rock types of the Mawmaram area, the stratigraphic succession that

can be inferred is shown in the Table 2.3.

Table 2.3 GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE MAWMARAM SECTOR

Igneous intrusions Khasi greenstones (metadolerites), aplitic,

pegmatitic veins,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tectonic contact ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upper arenaceous division Massive quartzite (Grey), quartzite with thin
beds of phyllite, ferrugeneous quartzite,
conglomerate.
Shillong Group~~~~~Mawmaram Conglomerate (Angular unconformity)~~~~~~~
Lower argillaceous division Quartz-sericite schist, quartz mica schist,
biotite schist, phyllite garnetiferous mica
schist, calc silicate rocks.
~~~~~~~~~~~Nongbri Basal Conglomerate (Angular Unconformity) ~~~~~~~~~~~
Basement Gneissic Complex Quartzofeldspathic gneiss, migmatites and
amphibolites.

45
 Figs. 2.9-2.12: 2.9 Mawmaram conglomerate showing lots of quartz, metapelitic,
khasi greenstone pebble; matrix is pelitic to psamopelitic; coin diameter 2.2cm. 2.10
Fibrolite developed in metapelites under metasomatic condition; growth of fibrolite
mimic tight F1 fold from Mawmaram area; pen length 14cm. 2.11 Highly crenulated
F2 folding in metapelites; fold axis is near horizontal and axial plane is also near
horizontal; Mawmaram area; coin diameter 2.2cm. 2.12 A huge quartzite layer of
UQF showing moderate dip towards SE. Quartzite is associated with conglomerate.

2.3.3 Tyrsad Sector

Precambrian to Tertiary sequence is observed excepting Paleozoic rocks in this sector.

Roughly it is a NE-SW traverse parallel to the litholayering on the large scale. It is

possible to study the area across the generalized lithosettings of the Precambrian. From

Mawphlang to 10 km post, on way to Tyrsad village, the dominant rock type is quartzite

and Khasi greenstone with minor thinly bedded phyllitic layers consistently associated

46
with each other (Fig. 2.13). Quartzites are massive, almost devoid of foliation and light

grey to light brown in colour with variable thickness, varies from a few cm to meter

scale. Thinly bedded quartzites are flaggy and feebly foliated due to micas showing

evidences of cross stratification and ripple marks. Cross stratification is not obliterated.

Folding on outcrop scale is common. Fractures and joints are more systematic and less

often non-systematic joints are also seen. Shearing evidences are often observed in

different scales.

Huge exposure of Khasi greenstone parallel to the litholayering is seen at 5.5 km

on the Mawphlang-Mawsynram road. The rock is highly jointed and along joint planes

leaching of iron is seen. A number of quarries are located around the area and all along

the strike direction (NE-SW) and rocks are used as building and road materials. The

Fig. 2.13 Lithological map of Tyrsad sector

47
rock is dark in colour, massive, compact and hard. The above two rock types are the

main components of the Quartzitic Formation of the Shillong Group.

Along Mawmaram-Krang road, huge exposures of quartz sericite schist and

phylite are seen. The litholayers are showing steep dip towards SE (Fig. 2.14). Small

quartz veins are asymmetrically folded with dextral motion and maintain enechelon

geometry (Fig. 2.15). On the way to Tyrsad, around 6 km before Tyrsad, quartzitic

formation disappears and carbonaceous shale (200m width) appears which mark the

zonal boundary between quartzitic formation and metapelitic formation of the Shillong

Group. Right from Tyrsad in the south-west to Nongumlong in the northeast the

carbonaceous shale occurring below the younger sedimentary cover at some places.

Mawmaram conglomerate is probably continued further SW but on the road section it is

not exposed probably due to soil cover. Mawphlang conglomerate is exposed in the

river section near Iron Bridge (Bora, 1983, Bhattacharjee and Rahman, 1985). The

thickness of this conglomerate is less here as compared to Mawmaram conglomerate

and Sumer conglomerate. The rocks are highly jointed, dark gray in colour, thinly

laminated almost devoid of any secondary foliation in hand specimen. The rocks are

dipping towards SE at moderate angle and transected by NE-SW sinistral shear and

NW-SE trending dextral shear. Pyrite mineralization on the bedding plane is seen. The

rocks are overlain by Cretaceous / Tertiary unclassified pebble bed (Fig. 2.16). Rock

clasts are quartzites and vein quartz only and size is highly variable from pebbles to

cobbles. Matrix is highly arenaceous. The rocks are comparatively loose and friable.

They occur mostly south of Mawngap. Within the Cretaceous-Tertiary (C-T) pebble

bed, pebble free zones are seen. The interface between the conglomerate and the

carbonaceous shale or slate is angular (30°-60°) (Figs. 2.16; 2.17) and minor

48
asymmetric kink folds are observed (Fig. 2.18). The carbonaceous shale is flaggy and

highly jointed. Gradational behaviour of the conglomerate is seen. At places, the

conglomerate is overlain by Tertiary sandstone layer on way to Welloi after Tyrsad and

all the nearby flat-topped hills are made up of Tertiary rocks. Near Tyrsad village, the

carbonaceous shale is transected by a small graphite vein and a pegmatite vein of cm

scale, the latter may be genetically related to nearby emplaced South Khasi Pluton.

Similar pegmatite veins are also seen in a number of places on way to Tyrsad.

Neoproterozoic South Khasi porphyritic granite is exposed in this sector all

along the north-west, south and north of the pelitic belt of Lower Metapelite Formation.

The granite is coarse grained, hard and compact showing feldspar porphyries set in a

matrix of quartzofeldspathic materials. Flow characters of the porphyries are seen.

Porphyries are pink to gray in colour and show typical Carlsbad twin. Contact

metamorphic effect is insignificant in this sector when compared with Mylliem granite.

A shear zone across the river (nalla) near the Iron Bridge is observed where

pseudotachylite is developed (Rahman and Bora, 1983). Schistose rocks, khasi

greenstone and conglomerate are often seen to occur as xenolith in this pluton and

exposed on the river Umsohshur.

49
 Cretaceous/Tertiary pebble bed

Carbonaceous shale

Cretaceous/Tertiary pebble bed

Shillong Group

South Khasi Pluton

Figs.2.14-2.19: 2.14 Quartz sericite schist showing near vertical bed near Krang
area. 2.15 Enechelon fold shown by quartz vein in dextral motion. Location. Krang,
ring diameter 2 cm. 2.16 and 2.17 Cretaceous Tertiary pebble bed overlain Shillong
Group of rocks near Tyrsad village. 2.18 Similar to above but at the interface
between the two groups is highly crenulated; pen length 14 cm. 2.19 Triangular
contact zone between Shillong Group, South Khasi pluton and Cretaceous Tertiary
pebble bed near Wolai.

At 18 km post on Mawphalang Mawsyndrum road a triple junction between

granite pluton, LMF and C-T pebble bed is seen before Welloi on the right hand side of

the road (Fig. 2.19). Near Welloi village, the basement gneissic group is partially

50
exposed bordering Shillong Group of rocks. Metapellitic rocks around Welloi are highly

weathered and pink in colour. Presence of pink garnet is seen. Therefore, Tyrsad and

Welloi areas may be geologically belongs to metapelitic formation of the Shillong

Group while the Mawphlang area under quartzitic formation. Hence the deeper part of

the basin may be inferred towards Tyrsad area.

Table 2.4 GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE TYRSAD SECTOR

Recent Sediments
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tertiary/Cretaceous (?) Sandstone, shale, clay, limestone and
conglomerate in the southwest of Tyrsad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Conglomerate) Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Acidic igneous intrusions Veins & pegmatites
(Neoproterozoic) South khasi granite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Intrusive Contact zone ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Basic igneous intrusions Khasi greenstone (metadolerite)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tectonic contact ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upper arenaceous division (UQF) Quartzite (dark grey) with thin beds of
phyllite, ferrugeneous quartzite, phyllitic
quartzite.
~~~~~Shillong Group ~~ Mawmaram Conglomerate (Angular unconformity) ~~~~~
Lower argillaceous division (LMF) Carbonaceous shale, phyllite, Quartz-sericite
(Mesoproterozoic) schist, quartz mica schist, phyllite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Conglomerate) Unconformity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Basement Gneissic Complex Quartzofeldspathic gneiss and amphibolites.
(Palaeoproterozoic) (Partially exposed in the present area).

51
2.3.4 Southern boundary zone of Mylliem granite sector and Shillong Group on the

way to Cherrapunjee

Mylliem granite pluton is observed on the Shillong-Cherrapunjee road traverse. Along

this road traverse quartzite, Mylliem granite, contact metamorphic rocks and Khasi

greenstone are mainly exposed and towards the southern part of the Shillong basin,

conglomerate, Cretaceous-Tertiary pebble beds and capping C-T formations are

observed (Fig. 2.20). Quartzite is massive grey colour and dipping towards Mylliem

granite pluton. Mylliem granite is of porphyritic in nature with numerous feldspar

phenocrysts (Fig. 2.21). Interlayering of thinly bedded metapelite with quartzite of

varied layered thickness is well exposed along the road side. The folding effect of

Fig. 2.20 Lithological map of the Mylliem granite showing contact metamorphic
rock at the southern boundary.

52
quartzite is seen (Fig. 2.23). The acidic intrusive body of Neoproterozoic age is exposed

covering an area of 90 sq.km. (Rahman, 1996) and bounded by 91°45´to 91°53´E

longitude and 25°31´to 25°27´N latitude. Hornfelsic rock bearing andalusite and/or

sillimanite are observed at the contact zone of the pluton (Fig. 2.22). The occurrence of

such contact aureoles is very limited and their thickness hardly exceeds 200m. The

contact effect is more effective in interbedded thin metapelite layer of Upper Quartzite

Formation. Near the southern contact of Mylliem granite huge exposers of quartzite

with steep dip towards north is seen. About 250 to 300m away from the contact, one

Khasi greenstone is noticed at Laitkorh (5km post from Umtynger Bridge). This

intrusive metadolerite mass makes discordant relation (20°) to the litholayering of

quartzite. The development of this hornfelsic rock is not only related to Mylliem granite

but also probably related to Khasi greenstone. Shillong Group of rocks are characterised

by fold drag fault near the stream bed around Umdienpoh village. Half km post from

this village thinly foliated quartzite and thin sheared quartzite are interlayered with

massive quartzite and shows folding on outcrop scale. Kink bands are observed in thinly

bedded metapelite. At 37 km post from Shillong, on the right side of Shillong-

Cherrapunjee road, Leitsopliah conglomerate, Cretaceous-Tertiary pebble beds and

covered Tertiary sedimentary formations are observed (Figs.2.25; 2.26).

53
Figs. 2.21-2.26: 2.21 Mylliem granite showing haphazardly oriented feldspar
phenocryst, sharpener length 3 cm. 2.22 numerous andalusite crystals in hornfelsic
rock at the contact between Mylliem granite and Shillong Group. Coin diameter 2.2
cm. 2.23 F2 asymmetric fold in quartzite from southern boundary of Mylliem
granite. 2.24 Discordant pegmatite in Shillong Group at the contact zone, length of
hammer 35 cm. 2.25 Unclassified pebble bed overlying Shillong Group on way to
Cherapunjee. 2.26 Compact sandstone layer overlying conglomerates above the
Shillong Group from 37 km post on way to Cherapunjee.

54
2.4 Previous literatures

Literatures relating to different aspects on regional geology, structure, petrology,

geochemistry, palaeomagnetism and stratigraphy are available on the Shillong plateau

but nobody has done any detail works relating to microstructures specially

porphyroblast- matrix relationship and the mechanism of development of planar fabric

in specific from any part of the basin nor elsewhere from the plateau. Some aspects of

microstructural studies have been carrying out by the workers of the Department of

Geological sciences, Gauhati University in the form of unpublished Ph.D thesis and

M.Sc. dissertations. GSI has prepared many geological reports on different aspects of

lithological mapping to gear up engineering works relating to construction of dam sites,

road communication, etc.

Mazumder (1986) discussed the geology of the Shillong plateau at length

covering as much as 2000 sq.km and exclusively confined within the Precambrian rocks

only.

In mid-19th Century, Oldham (1858) followed by Medlicott (1869), were some

of the pioneer workers on the Shillong plateau and they have carried out initial works on

the plateau. Oldham (1858) was probably the earliest worker who studied the

Precambrian rocks of the Shillong plateau from Khasi Hills, the then undivided Assam

whose capital was at Shillong. He proposed two types of metamorphosed rocks namely

gneisses and schists. The gneissic rocks are older and more metamorphosed (Basement

Gneissic Group, BGG) than the schistose one. The first milestone in geology of the

Shillong plateau was made by Medlicott (1869) and established the older “Gneissic

Series” and younger “Shillong Series”. The Shillong Series has been substituted as

55
Shillong Group as per new lithostratigraphic nomenclature, the latter referred to sub-

metamorphic state of transformation on arenaceous and argillaceous sediments. They

are intruded by epidiorites in the form of sill and dykes and it is partially

metamorphosed to green colour rocks, locally known as Khasi greenstones. Medlicott

stated that the Khasi greenstones (after Khasi tribe) are lithologically very similar to the

epidiorites forming the Dalma Trap of Chotanagpur. He also pointed out that in

composition and stratigraphic successions, Shillong Series is very similar to that of the

Iron Ore Formation of Bihar. He further identified conglomeratic horizon at the base

and above the arenaceous metasediments. In case of granite, which was described as

“Granite of Molim”, he stated, “There can be little doubt that those granite masses are

truly intruded and attributed to it a younger age than the Khasi greenstone”.

Das Gupta (1934) working on Mylliem granite upheld the view that the granite

is intrusive in character and suggested it to be younger than Shillong Group.

Pasco (1950) considered that the Shillong plateau is a discontinuous parts of the

Indian Peninsula and the disconnected zone is marked by Garo-Rajmahal trough fault

(Eremenko, 1969). Pasco stated that Shillong plateau is consisting of highly folded,

faulted and steeply dipping Precambrian rocks. The trend of the Shillong Series of rock

is E-W in the Khasi Hills and the argillaceous division of the said series is thought to be

older than the arenaceous division.

Krishnan (1960) advocated for continuation of the Archean of Bihar to the NE

India and form Shillong plateau.

56
 Ghosh (1950) studied the contact zones between the Shillong Series and the

granite gneiss of the Mairang area (now it is under Mairang subdivision of the West

Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya), the western border of the Shillong basin and defined

the boundary as sharp. The generalised trend is NE-SW. He pointed out that granite

gneiss is intrusive into the schistose rocks of argillaceous facies of Shillong Group. He

also further suggested that the rocks of the Shillong Series show NE-SW litho trend

with a steep dip towards SE and they belong to argillaceous facies. The gneissic rocks

of the area were of both ortho and para types showing high-grade metamorphism.

Ghosh and Saha (1954) reported the occurrence of sapphirine bearing rocks

from Sonapahar area of Assam (at present Meghalaya), which is taken into

consideration as the milestone towards the establishment of granulite facies rocks.

Crawford (1969) dated Mylliem granite, an intrusive into Shillong Series and

found to be 765±10 Ma.

Sarkar (1968) dated muscovite mineral from a sheared quartzite of Jowai area

and found 472 Ma, which is much younger, even younger than the Mylliem granite and

thus suggested that the shearing took place as a post intrusive phenomenon.

Barooah and Goswami (1972) described the Shillong Group of rocks into two

divisions - the Tyrssad Formation (older and argillaceous) and Shillong Formation

(younger and arenaceous), both being separated by a sheared conglomerate well

exposed around Mawphlang.

Murthy et al. (1976) also attempted to integrate the data based on geotectonic

framework of the Meghalaya upland and delineated the basic tectonic NE-SW trend

57
with the help of fundamental lineaments, which corresponds with the long axis of the

Shillong basin. They were of the opinion that the deformation planes of the Shillong

Group as well as the parallel distribution of Khasi greenstones are well explained by

vertical tectonics and tensional fields operating in the basin. These were controlled by

NE lineament. He stated that the Shillong basin appears to correspond to a syncline

(Beloussov, 1962) and folding is intermediate crestal type. According to them, the

oldest trend within the Precambrian is E-W while the NE-SW trend is younger.

Lal et al. (1978) made a detailed mineralogical and petrological investigation on

the sapphirine bearing rocks of the area and estimated the PT conditions as 750±50°C at

5 kilobar pressure for the thermal peak of metamorphism under amphibolite granulite

transitional facies.

In late part of 20th Century, Rahman (1981, 1987, 1988, 1991) has done some

good works on Khasi greenstones of Shillong basin and claims that they were similar to

the common tholeiitic basalt and dolerite. In general, Khasi greenstones are hydrous low

grade metamorphic rocks (lower greenschist facies) derived from the regional

metamorphism of basic igneous rocks (dolerite). He also observed the complex twins in

plagioclases, skeletal structure of pyroxenes and relict ophitic texture in the greenstone.

He (op. cit) has made a detail study on Mylliem granite and claims magmatic origin and

the grey and pink varieties show differences in the content of the trace elements. He also

noticed euhedral zircon, zonally arranged inclusions of early formed minerals within

microcline megacrysts. Triclinicity of k-feldspars of Kyrdem pluton was studied by

Rahman and his group and found that the values were higher or near unity for k-

58
feldspars of the inner zone of the granite pluton and then compared with the k-feldspars

of the outer zone, indicating slow rate of crystallisation of the former.

Rao and Choudhury (1982) attempted to standardise the lithostratigraphic

nomenclature of the Precambrian rocks of the Shillong plateau and suggested

"Sonapahar Group" for the gneissic basement and Shillong Group for the cover rocks,

giving status of Formation to Brahmaputra gneiss of Assam, Khasi greenstone and

Mylleim granite.

Talukdar et al. (1982) carried out fission tract dating on sphene from South

Khasi batholithic mass and gave an age of 931±12 Ma, whereas Bhattacharyya (1998)

stated that the ages of porphyritic granite in the plateau range from 479±26 to 690±19

Ma, all indicating late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic period. This suggests that the

granitic activity in the plateau may be related to Indian Ocean Cycle Orogeny (400-650

Ma) which was widespread in the south Indian shield.

Bhattacharjee and Rahman (1985) observed that the rocks of the Shillong Group

suffered from multideformational phases of deformation and the Shillong Group was

further divided into a Lower Manai Formation (lower metapelitic formation) and Upper

Mawphlong Formation (upper quartzitic formation). Manai Formation consists of meta-

argillites with calc-silicate rocks and Mawphlong Formation consisting predominately

of meta-arenites with the beds of conglomerates.

Mazumder (1971, 1986) made a summary of the Precambrian geology of the

Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. He stated the gneissic complex as multideformational and

polymetamorphic 'Hercinian' type whereas Shillong Group of rocks are folded in the

59
intermediate 'crest type' style and weakly metamorphosed. He studied the development

of porphyritic granites and the space relationship between the non-porphyritic granitoids

and porphyritic granites. According to him, non-porphyritic granitoids are referred to as

magmatitic and catagorised under gneissic complex. However, porphyritic granites of

the Khasi Hills are late tectonic plutons, intrusive as diapirs, with contact aureoles in

some parts.

Chakravarty (1986) determined the Fission tract ages of the Zircons from the

Umroi granite, which gave age of the plutons as 1043±101 Ma.

Sarma et al. (1998b, 1993) have made a systematic structural study of the

Barapani Tyrsad shear zone for the first time, and established four phases of

deformations within the shear zone, and placed them in a single phase of progressive

deformation. The shear zone is passing through the Shillong Group of rocks and is

characterised by the development of kink bands in mylonite and phyllonite with

increasing strain in a ductile environment bearing the testimony of different generations

of folding and their progressive rotation towards the stretching lineation with sinistral

movement picture for the Barapani shear zone. Microstructural fabric of the shear zone

and strain history of the Sumer conglomerate has been studied by Sarma et al. (1998a).

Mitra (1998a) has made a systematic study on the Shillong Group of rocks

around Sohiong, East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya and established four phases of

deformation in the lower formation of the Shillong Group. He suggested that F1, F2 and

F3 are coaxial in nature whereas F4 is of conjugate type and transect the earlier sets of

axial planes. Mitra (1998b) dated metasediments of the Shillong Group of rocks and

obtained that they are of Mesoproterozoic age (1600 Ma).

60
 Nandy (1998) claims intracratonic Shillong basin as a sag basin. The effusion of

Sylhet Trap volcanism and emplacement of carbonatite ultramafic complex during

Mesozoic and the Early Cretaceous tectonism are discussed in details.

Pyne and Gupta (2001) reported rare occurrences of “sandstone hosted lead

occurrence” from Mawmaram area of Khasi Hills district. They found galena as

principal ore mineral, which occur as small lenses and small bands of discontinuous

nature in white quartzite of Shillong Group. They also reported gold mineralization

between Sohiong and Mawmaram areas and delineating the region as the promising area

of investigation.

Nag et al. (2001) proposed based on the field observation at many places that

the Dauki fault is dipping towards south and it is a normal fault.

Bilham and England (2001), based on the ground based survey suggested that

the Shillong plateau popped up due to vertical upward movement along two reverse

faults namely the exposed Dauki Fault in the south dipping due north and the concealed

Oldham Fault in the north dipping due SSW.

Sarma et al. (2001a) studied the strain history of the Nongkhya conglomerate of

RiBhoi district, Meghalaya using deformed pebbles of conglomerate as strain markers

and stated that the late shearing was responsible for the rotation of the principal axes of

deformed pebbles. They observed that the mean shape of the pebble changes from

flattening to constriction types.

Srinivasan (2003) using ERDAS IMAGINE v.8.4 software carried out digital

image processing of Landsat TM data covering Shillong plateau and analysed the

61
surface expression of the bounding faults of Shillong plateau as well as other related

fractures. According to him the landmass in the east and west of Shillong plateau could

move upwards with respect to the middle part. He observed that this upliftment within

the plateau could be due to vertical movement along NNE-SSW trending deep-seated

faults and granite batholithic emplacement.

Borah and Das (2010), studied structural history and deformation of shillong

group of rocks with special emphasis on Mawryngkneng Area, East Khasi Hill District

and determined penecontemporaneous structures that the land mass was not stable

during the time of deposition of sediments. Based on the convolute laminations they

said that both the lateral and vertical movement might have been associated with that

sediment.

Devi and Sarma (2010) have discussed strain history of the conglomerate of the

Shillong basin and suggested a possible strain variation trend in a systematic manner.

Granite gneiss of BGG from Patharkhandi area of West Khasi Hills district has

been dated as 1714±14 Ma indicating Palaeoproterozoic age (Ghosh et al. 1994).

Similarly Bidyananda and Deomurari (2007) have calculated Zircon age dates

from BGG supporting Archean age (1500 to 2600 Ma, Shillong Group 1400-1900 Ma).

Chatterjee et al. (2007) have calculated the timings of metamorphism of BGG

from chemical ages of metamorphic monazites with age clustering around 1600-1400

Ma, 1000-1300 Ma and 500 Ma.

62
 Mallikharjuna Rao et al. (2009) have studied Precambrian mafic magnetism

(locally named as Khasi greenstone) and worked on palaeomagnetic signature for the

first time.

Similarly Venkateshwarlu et al. (2012) have studied volcanic tuff of Smit area

of Shillong basin from Palaeomagnetic perspectives and apparent time has been

calculated as 115 Ma of Cretaceous age.

The occurrence of the mafic and ultramafic rocks has been worked out by

Srivastava et al. (2004) and correlated them with the Gondwana break up and coeval

formation of the Kergnelen oceanic plateau at 110-120 Ma.

Yin et al. (2010) have given a detail discussion on the Shillong plateau and

worked out systematically three episodes of igneous activity at 1600 Ma, 1100 Ma and

500 Ma and three ductile deformation events at 1100 Ma, 520-500 Ma and during the

Cretaceous period.

Kakati and Sarma (2013) have recently attempted porphyroblast-matrix

relationship and microstructural identities of the metapelites of the Shillong Group for

the first time and deformational phase wise formation of minerals are categorically

established.

63