Location no.

L2
The next field visit was conducted on right bank of Malekhu River. It
is located far from the Malekhu Bridge which is upstream about
400m from the Prithvi Highway. phyllite was found at this location.
S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 02

2 Color Silver white

3 Texture Crystalline

4 Attitude N 80 ° E/77 ° SE

5 Structures/cleavage Foliation plane/slaty

6 Grain size Medium to coarse

7 Sp. Gravity Low to medium

8 Acid test No reaction

9 Origin/rock type Low garde-Metamorphic

10 Engineering Low strength

properties

11 Identification Phyllite

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Location no.L3:
The outcrop was located at the left bank of Malekhu river
about 300m upstream of previous location. Amphibolite was found
at this location.
S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 03

2 Color Dark green

3 Texture Crystalline

4 Attitude N 23 ° W/ 85 ° SE

5 Structures/cleavage Foliation plane/slaty

6 Sp. Gravity High

7 Mineral comp. 90 % amphibole

8 Origin/rock type Igneous (plutonic rock)

9 Engineering High strength

properties

10 Identification Amphibolite

 Magma intrusion into the robang phyllite.

 Hard, gave metallic sound when hammered.
 Massive rock, couldn’t found any exact orientation.

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Location no.L4
The outcrop was located on the left bank of Malekhu river about
200m upstream of the river.
S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 04

2 Color Dirty white

3 Texture Crystaline

4 Attitude N 80 ° E/ 77 ° SE

4 Structures/cleavage Folliation plane/slaty

5 Grain size Medium

7 Acid test No reaction

8 Mineral comp. Quartz

9 Origin/rock type Low grade-Metamorphic

10 Engineering High strength, durable

properties

11 Identification Quartzite

12 Uses For making reeling in home

applications,building stone, road
metal, concrete aggregates

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 Location no.L5
The outcrop was located on the right bank of Malekhu river about
100m from the previous location upstream of the river.
Schist was found in this location.
S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 05

2 Color Shiny green

3 Texture Crystalline

4 Attitude N 70 ° E/ 45 ° SE

5 Structures Schistosity

6 Grain size Medium

7 Sp. Gravity Low to medium

8 Acid test No reaction

9 Origin/rock type High Grade-Metamorphic

10 Identification Garnate Schist

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Location no.L6
The outcrop was located on the left bank of Malekhu river
about 200m from previous location. It was far from the broken
bridge about 1100 upstream from the Malekhu river .
Folds were studied on that area . Folds are the deformational
structure on the rock strata formed due to compressional forces.
Folds are created when high pressure is applied on rocks. When
compressional force is applied , ptygmatic fold is found and when
tensional force is applied boundinage is found.
Typical fold had observed in this location and is described later.

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 Location no.L7:
The outcrop was located about 500-600m from the previous
location upstream of the Malekhu river on the left bank of the river.

S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 07

2 Color White

3 Texture Crystalline

4 Structures Foliation plane

5 Grain size Coarse

6 Acid test Vigorous

7 Mineral comp. Calcite

8 Scratch test Scratched by hammer

9 Origin/rock type Metamorphic

10 Engineering High strength, less porous, has rust

properties due to iron of pyrite

11 Identification Marble

12 Uses As face works like flooring, wall

panels, statue making, tabletops and
other decorative works

Location no.L8:

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 The next field study was carried on the right side of the river near
Malekhu-Dhading road on uphill side and on the appeal side of the
road.
S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 08

2 Color White/light grey

3 Pattern G I sheets

4 Attitude : N 87 ° E / 36 ° NW

5 Grain size Fine

6 Acid test No reaction

7 Origin/rock type Metamorphic

8 Identification Quartzite rock

9 Description It produces metallic sound. It is a

primary rock.

Location no.L9:
The next field study was carried near Malekhu-Dhading road on the
left side of the barhi khola.

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S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 09

2 Origin/rock type Metamorphic

3 Identification Meta-sandstone

4 Structure Cross Lamination

5 Description Layer’s separated by color contrast

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 Location no.L10
The next field study was carried along the Malekhu-Dhading
road.

S.N. Physical Properties

1 Sample number 10

2 Color Black

3 Texture Non crystalline

4 Attitude N 153 ° E/ 32 ° SE

4 Structures Foliation plane/slaty cleavage

5 Grain size Fine

6 Sp. Gravity Low to medium

7 Acid test No reaction

9 Origin/rock type Low-Grade metamorphic

10 Engineering properties Low strength, slightly

weathered, slaty cleavage and
soapy feel

11 Identification Slate

12 Uses Roofing, in electrical industry

as switch board, bases and
various turned or shaped parts
due to its insulating property

Location no.L11:

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 The outcrop was located about 500-600m from the previous
location upstream of the Malekhu river on the left bank of the river.
S.N Physical Properties
.

1 Sample number 11

2 Color Light Grey

3 Texture Crystalline

4 Attitude N 80 ° E / 35 ° SE

6 Description It had a metallic sound

8 Acid test Vigorous

11 Origin/rock type Igneous Rock

12 Engineering High strength

properties

13 Identification Granite

13 Uses As aggregates, foundations in the construction

and as slab

Thus all three types of rock we had found at our field area. Mostly
there were metamorphic rock and then sedimentary and lastly
igneous. For civil engineers, only identification of rock is not
sufficient. He or she should have an idea about the engineering
significance of specific rock type. We all had learnt on this basis and
partially we got it too.
PHOTOGRAPHS
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5.0 RECOGNITION OF GEOLOGICAL UNITS:
Nepal lies at active tectonic region. Indian plate has been
penetrating the Asian plate continuously. Due to this several
thrusts were formed and forming till today .the Himalayas also
formed due to tectonic activity.

5.1 Geological structures

Geological structure is the study of the permanent deformation and
rock failure created by the changes in stress through geologic time. It
is by far the most important aspect of geology for the engineer to
understand. Tectonic processes are responsible for the many
discontinuity planes (fractures, faults, joints) that permeate rock
masses controlling their strength, stressstrain characteristics and the
transmission and storage of fluids. The stress due to various
geological processes such as tectonic activities, earthquake, volcanic
activities, etc tends to displace and distort the rocks within the earth.

5.2 Phenomenon of geological structures

Phenomenon of structures may be conveniently subdivided into two
groups:
 Brittle structures - recording the brittle-elastic failure of rocks in
the past. Faults and joints fall in this broad category.
 Ductile structures - preserving the permanent viscoplastic
deformation of rock throughout geologic time. Folds and
metamorphic foliations are the expression of this type of
structure.

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5.3 Classification of Geological Structure
5.3.1 Primary Structures
Primary Structures are those which are formed at the time of
rock formation. It often allows us to determine the original facing
direction of strata and are also useful in age determination. Some
major primary structures are as follows : a) Bedding
b) Mudcrack
c) Ripple Mark
d) Cross Lamination
a. Bedding
Beds refer to the layers of sedimentary rock that posses
almost planar top and bottom surfaces. These layers are often easily
distinguished on the basis of variation in color, composition and grain
size.
Beddings are planar top and bottom surface of the beds.
These are the planes of weakness.
Beds are classified according to their thickness such as
very thick bedded (above 100cm) , thick bedded (30com –
100cm),medium bedded (10cm30cm) and thin bedded (1cm-10cm).
b. Mudcrack
Mudcrack are sedimentary structures which are formed as
sediment dries and contracts .These primary structure are concave in
shape . They are concave toward original direction of bed. c. Ripple
Mark
These are the sedimentary structures in which the sediments
are deposited in the form of wave by the action of flowing water .

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The shallow slope faces of source of flow create ripple marks. There
are two types of ripple marks :
a) Oscillation Ripple Marks
b) Current Ripple Marks
d. Cross Lamination
Deposition of sediments in different sets that make an angle
with each other is known as cross lamination . Truncation occurs on
upper portion of bed. Younging direction is on concave side of cross
lamination.
5.3.2 Secondary Structures
Secondary structures are those which are formed after the
time of rock formation. Secondary structures mainly consists of
metamorphic rocks . Some of the secondary structures are as
follows : a) Fold
b) Fault
c) Thrust
a. Folds:
Folds are ductile deformation on the structure. They are the
strata permanently deformed either by buckling or fracturing, if
subjected to stress in a rock mass, and they cannot resist. Type of
deformation depends upon mechanical properties of rocks and the
nature of stress when applied slowly deep on the earth.
Folds are the ductile deformation which does not rupture or
fracture the rock but instead caused them to permanently bend.
Ductile deformation most often occurs well below the earth’s

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surface. The classifications of folds are:a) Based on upward and
downward bend:
• Anticline fold
• Syncline fold
b) Based on the basis of relationship of axial plane to limbs:
• Symmetrical fold
• Assymetrical fold
• Recumbent fold
• Overturned fold
c) Based on the hinge line
• Non-Plunging fold
• Plunging fold
d) Based on the behavior of depth
• Similar fold
• Parallel fold
e) Based on the shape
• Rounded fold
• Angular fold
• Chevron fold
• Box fold
f) Based on the mode of occurrence
• Synclinorium

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 • Anticlinorium
b. Fault
Fault is a rupture plane along which the opposite walls are moved
each other. This movement may vary from a few cm to many km
depending upon the magnitude and nature of the stress and the
resistance offered by the rocks. The faults are also caused due to
earthquake but it is still a complicated geological problem, which
awaits satisfactory solution. Whether the earthquakes are caused
due to faulting or faults are caused due to earthquake. The fault is
occurred due to the plate movements, which creates the shear
stress. The metamorphic form of gauge and breccia is called
mylonite.

The classifications of faults are as: a)

Geometrical classification:
• Strike fault
• Dip fault
• Oblique fault
b) Genetic classification
• Normal fault
• Reverse fault
• Strike slip fault

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c. Thrust
A kind of reversed fault in which the hanging wall has
actually moved relative to the footwall is called thrust. It is also
known as low angle reverse fault.
There are mainly following thrusts.
1) Main central thrust
2) Main boundary thrust
3) Main frontal thrust
The Mahabharat range lies between MFTand MBT. Similarly, siwalik
range lies below MFT. Our Study area lies between Kathmandu
complex and nuwakot complex, both is the member of Mahabharat
synclonyrium.
The study area starts from Maleuku dolomite, robang formation
(robang phyllite with rock quartzite) to raduwa formation
( garnetiferous schist). This is the boundary between nuwakot and
Kathmandu complex and known as Mahabharat thrust.

5.4 Folds Observed

• Ptygmatic Fold
The folds are created when high pressure is applied on rocks.
The pressure is applied due to compression ptygmatic fold is formed
• Boundinage Fold
The fold created due to tensile pressure boundinage fold is
formed.

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5.6 Engineering significance of the geological structures
The most striking features of rocks as engineering materials is that
they are not simple, isotropic, elastic and continuous but very
complex, strongly anisotropic, inelastic discontinuous. It is virtually
impossible to deduce the stress history of rocks from their observed
deformation. There are always many ambiguous deformation paths
that could have been followed to produce what is observed.

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7.0 CONCLUSIONS:
At last we had concluded the malekhu and its surrounding is the
answer for geological curiosity. Actually, the malekhu is small in area
but it has large amount or numbers of the geological phenomenon
and hence it can provide broad knowledge for the learners
Minimum knowledge require for engineers in geology field is fulfilled
in this trip.
Along the Malekhu River, we found sedimentary rock and gradually
metamorphosed from phyllite to crystalline schist and along the way
to Dhading, it gradually metamorphosed to lime stone to phyllite and
then to slate.
Every major bed was dipped in north direction. This proved the
tectonic movement along the way from south to north.
Handling the compass and to measure the attitude of rock outcrop is
now very easy to us.
Finally it will be better to say that if there had not been any
geological trip,we would not have learnt a lot of these information as
theoretical knowledge is not enough for field work. So this geological
field work helped a lot us for study and later on during field works.
.Really ...........beyond expectation! We do salute to our respective
teachers again!!
REFERENCES:
 Data collected during the field visit
 Sketches drawn and photo taken in the field
www.wikipedia.com
 http://www.geology.edu.np  Engineering Geology:
By Prakash Chandra Ghimire
Mahesh Singh Dhar
 A Text Book of Engineering Geology

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 Recent Publications related to the subject matters and
other sites.

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