4/11/23, 10:59 AM Rapid Uplift: Evolution Of The Konkan-Kanara Coastal Plain

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Evolution Of The Konkan-Kanara Coastal Plain
The Konkan coastal plains is a beautiful getaway from west coast city life. Palm SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

fringed beaches, quiet rivers and estuaries, betel nut plantations and forest
tracts. Small villages and settlements dot the landscape. To the east, the coastal
plains abut against the imposing Western Ghat escarpment.

How did this coastal plain of Maharashtra form? (Kanara refers to the stretch Enter your email
south of Maharashtra in the state of Karnataka). I came across a paper by Mike
Widdowson on the evolution of laterite in Goa. It also has a broader discussion on
the conditions that led to the formation of geomorphology of the coastal lowlands Subscribe
extending all along the west coast of India.

Here it is summarized nicely in this figure below: Powered by

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Suvrat Kher

I am a Sedimentary
Geologist. On Rapid Uplift I
write mostly about topics
within the geosciences, but
sometimes on biological evolution and
environmental issues. I like to travel and
in my free time I teach 12 year old kids
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Source: Evolution of Laterite in Goa: Mike Widdowson 2009 ► August (4)

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► July (4)
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After Deccan Volcanism ended, rifting of the Indian west coast and down faulting
► June (4)
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of the western side led to the formation of a west facing fault scarp. Erosion of
this scarp over the early mid Cenozoic (from about 60 million years ago) has ► May (3)
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caused it to retreat eastwards. The Western Ghat escarpment is this retreated ▼ April (4)
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4/11/23, 10:59 AM Rapid Uplift: Evolution Of The Konkan-Kanara Coastal Plain
scarp. The coastal plain formed as an erosional surface that became broader and Gone Hiking! Panchchuli Glacier And
broader with the progressive eastward retreat of this cliff to the current location. Beyond- Kumaon...
The fault which caused the western side to subside thus lies in the Arabian Sea Himalayan Gravel Flux And Flood
along the west coast. Risk

Evolution Of The Konkan-Kanara

In Mid-Late Miocene (~10 million years ago), a phase of humid climate resulted Coastal Plain
in intense chemical weathering of the basalts and pediment (rock debris) Oceanic Crustal Thickness Since
exposed along the coastal plains. This alteration of the basalts formed thick iron The Breakup Of Pangea
rich soils. The reddened and indurated crust of this soil is commonly termed
► March (3)
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laterite. In the Western coastal lowlands this laterite may be a few meters thick.
► February (3)
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Subsequent uplift of the west coast and concomitant down cutting by west ► January (4)
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flowing rivers formed a dissected landscape composed of laterite capped mesas
(table lands) and entrenched meandering streams. These mesas reach altitudes ► 2016 (51)
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of 150-200 m in the eastern parts of the coastal plain. Nearer the coast they are ► 2015 (52)
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about 50 -100 m above sea level. ► 2014 (38)
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► 2013 (72)
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The western margin of India has seen multiple episodes of extensive laterite
formation. The famous table lands of the hill stations of Panchgani and ► 2012 (85)
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Mahabaleshwar are also made up of laterite. They occur at altitudes of around ► 2011 (87)
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1200 m to 1500 m. However, this upland or high altitude laterite is much older, ► 2010 (107)
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having formed about 60- 50 million years ago in the early Cenozoic, soon after
► 2009 (130)
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Deccan volcanism ended. The Konkan and Goa lowland laterites point to another
younger phase of laterization. Sheila Mishra and colleagues have identified two ► 2008 (97)
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more surfaces in the Deccan Traps at 650 m ASL and 850 m ASL that preserve ► 2007 (49)
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remnants of laterite cover. This suggests a complex polyphase history of
denudation and chemical weathering and tectonic stability of the Sahaydri ranges
WHAT I'M WRITING ABOUT
of the Western Ghats.
biodiversity books carbonates
The sea cliffs that one encounters as you travel along the Konkan and Goa climate change creationism Darwin
coastline are a result of a late Cenozoic uplift. I remember with fondness a trek I deccan volcanics earthquakes
did during my college days from the town of Ratnagiri south to the town of education environment
Malvan. There were absolutely majestic sections where we walked on the edge of evolution field work fossils geo-lit
laterite capped sea cliffs with the Arabian Sea heaving and thundering below us. geochemistry geohazards geological
Little coves and beaches of sparkling white sand lay between the cliffs. Here and
there local fisherman had kept their fish catch to dry out in the sun. The pungent
processes and evolution geology
geology and global
livelihoods GIS
smell urged us on!
warming himalayas
groundwater
historical events human evolution
The satellite imagery below shows a section of the coastal plains from Ratnagiri
human migrations humour
in the north to Devgarh in the south. White arrows point to the laterite capped
hydrocarbon resources mapping india
table lands dissected by stream networks. Orange arrows point to sea cliffs. Black
maps mass extinction media
arrows shows the Western Ghat escarpment.
metazoans mineralogy my book
shelf natural gas natural selection
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Posted by Suvrat Kher at 4:05 PM
Labels: deccan volcanics, Geology of India, geomorphology, laterite, western ghats

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4/11/23, 10:59 AM Rapid Uplift: Evolution Of The Konkan-Kanara Coastal Plain

2 comments:

Unknown May 10, 2017 at 12:00 AM

This blog piece is so informative, it is going to help me write my own blogs on

Deccan grasslands, Aravali and peninsular India. The geological history of our
Konkan has shaped our culture.(Agroecology shapes geo-culture!)
I appreciate this blog from thebottom of my heart, good work Sir!

Reply

Replies

Suvrat Kher May 13, 2017 at 2:52 PM

appreciate your words..thanks!

Reply

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