Geology of Surma Basin

Northeastern part of India is known for its well developed Tertiary

petroliferous sedimentary basin covering most part of the easternmost states. In

Mizoram the Neogene rocks are well developed (±7 km) which forms Surma Basin is

considered as a sub-basin or northeastern extension of Greater Bengal Basin. The

Surma Basin is also formed in response of collision between Indian and Burma Plate

similar to as Bengal Basin. Sedimentation is generally controlled by the collision and

the southwestern regression of the sea as a result of suture closing event. Surma Basin

is bounded by Himalayan and Naga hill ranges in the north, Shillong plateau in the

northwest and IBR in the east direction which contributed sediments since its

development. Sedimentary cover of the basin included shallow marine to deltaic

complexes with repetitive transgressive-regressive sequences. During late Oligocene

the Surma basin started its development with the deposition of Barail sediments which

forms a base for the deposition of Miocene Surma Group. The Barail sediments were

thrusted over the Surma Group of rocks near the Indo-Burma international border. The

fluviatile molasse facies known as Tipam Formation was deposited along the western

margin of the basin. The Surma sediments were laid down in a shallow basin which

were folded and faulted during the end of Oligocene because of collision between

Indian and Burma Plate. This stress forces deformed the sediments by layer parallel

compressive stress and by shortening then by brittle failure through long strike slip

faults. It forms a convex arc towards west which is normally wider in the central part

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with compare to the southern part and complexity is also increasing towards the

margin orogen. The rock layers have been cut by a number of parallel and sub-parallel

transverse faults trending NE-SW, ENE-WSW and NW-SE direction. The most

prominent transverse fault outcropped between Aizawl and Lunglei, Mizoram is the

NW-SE trending ‘Mat River Fault’ which has dextral slip motion.

The Tertiary succession of Surma Basin is divided into the Oligocene Barail

Group, the Miocene Surma Group (Lower to Middle Miocene) and the Tipam Groups

(Upper Miocene to Lower Pliocene) in the ascending order. Paleogene rocks of Barail

Group is primarily consisting of marine sandstone, shale and siltstones which are best

developed in a N-S trending strip along the easterly located Indo-Burmese region. The

Surma Group of rocks which have been subdivided into Bhuban and Bokabil

Formation which is best developed lithounit of Surma Basin attaining a thickness of

more than 5000 meter. This Formation is further subdivided into Lower, Middle and

Upper Bhuban units. The sedimentary column of the Bhuban Formation comprises a

repetitive sedimentary succession of arenaceous and argillaceous rocks of shallow

marine to deltaic origin. The lithological association included sandstone, siltstone,

shale, mudstone and their admixtures in various proportions. Sporadic occurrence of

fuviatile Tipam Group of rocks consisting primarily of sandstones are exposed along

the western proximity of Surma Basin.

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 Table: Stratigraphic succession of Mizoram (after Karunakaran, 1974 and
Ganju, 1975)

Age Group Formation Unit Generalized Lithology

Recent Alluvium Silt, clay and gravel
-----------------------------------------------Unconformity---------------------------------------

Early Pliocene
Tipam Friable sandstone with occasional
to
(+900 m) clay bands
Late Miocene

---------------------------------Conformable and transitional contact-------------------------

Bokabil
Shale, siltstone and sandstone
(+950 m)
-----------Conformable and transitional contact-------------
Upper
Arenaceous predominating with
S U R M A

Bhuban
sandstone, shale and siltstone
(+5950 m)

Miocene
B H U B A N

(1100m)
to -------Conformable and transitional contact--
(5000 m)

Upper Middle Argillaceous predominating with

Oligocene Bhuban shale, siltstone-shale alternations
(3000m) and sandstone
-------Conformable and transitional contact--
Lower
Arenaceous predominating with
Bhuban
sandstone and silty-shale
(900m)
--------------------------------Unconformity obliterated by faults------------------------------
Barail
Oligocene (+3000 Shale, siltstone and sandstone
m)
----------------------------------------Lower contact not seen---------------------------------

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Figure: Geological map of Mizoram (after Geological Survey of India, 1998)

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