Identification of Loriya Fault, Its Reactivation Due to 2001 Bhuj Earthquake, (Using Remote Sensing Data) and Its Bearing on the Kachchh Mainland Fault, Kachchh District, Gujarat

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Identification of Loriya Fault, Its Reactivation Due to 2001Bhuj Earthquake, (Using Remote Sensing Data) and ItsBearing on the Kachchh Mainland Fault, KachchhDistrict, Gujarat

Pramod Kumar Singh & Sanjay Das &

S. R. Mohapatra

Received: 11 November 2009 /Accepted: 24 May 2011 /Published online: 25 June 2011# Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2011

Abstract The 2001 Bhuj earthquake (Mw 7.7), one ofthe most severe earthquakes in the recent history ofIndia, reactivated various existing active faults. It ismanifested in the form of coseismic ground fissures/cracks and upheaval of land in the form of bumps.Identification and reactivation of Loriya Fault isestablished by 1—Geomorphic changes with the helpof digital imagery (LISS III images). 2—Coseismicchanges through ground checks and 3—Geophysicalsignatures through magnetic and gravity survey. Alineament cutting the north-western part of the PurRiver alluvial fan has been revealed by satelliteimagery. The streams flowing along the lineamentadd to the evidences of a weak plane, while theoccurrence of coseismic ground fissures confirms theexistence of an active fault. No dip slip movement isrecorded in the trenches made across the Loriya activefault while the en-echelon pattern of ground fissuressuggest strike slip movement along the fault due to2001 earthquake.

Keywords KachchhMainland Fault (KMF) . 2001Bhuj earthquake . LISS III . Loriya Fault . Reactivation

Introduction

Kachchh region is one of the few regions in the worldwith high intra-plate seismicity making the areatectonically unstable with incidence of recurringearthquakes. This region falls under Zone V in theSeismotectonic Hazard Zonation map of India. The 26January 2001 earthquake, which was measured ML

6.9 by Indian Meteorological Department and MW 7.7by USGS, was one of the most disastrous earthquakesin recent times in India. The epicenter of theearthquake lies north of Bhachau, a town which wastotally devastated due to the earthquake. The KachchhMainland Fault (KMF), which is one of the majorfaults in the Kachchh peninsula, passes throughBhauchau up to the western fringe of the peninsulavia Khirsara—Lodai-Kotai-Loriya-Nirona to Lakhpat.Due to 2001 Bhuj earthquake the KMF and itstransverse faults were reactivated (Malik et al. 2001;Singh et al. 2008). This reactivation is manifested inthe form of coseismic ground fissures near Kharoi-Manfara to Vondh village, upheaval of land in theform of bumps at Budharmora village and groundfissures/cracks along the KMF from Sikra, Dudhai,Devisar, Khirsara, Jawaharnagar, Lodai, Dhrang,Kotai, Kunariya and Loriya villages (Fig. 1a). Loriyaactive fault is a transverse fault to the KachchhMainland Fault near Loriya village, 25 km north—west of Bhuj city, Kachchh district. In this paper anattempt has been made to show the reactivation effectof the devastating 2001 earthquake on the KMF and

J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2012) 40(1):85–96DOI 10.1007/s12524-011-0127-x

P. K. Singh (*) : S. Das : S. R. MohapatraGeological Survey of India,Sector-10A,Gandhinagar 382043, Indiae-mail: [email protected]

the transverse faults through geological, geomorphicand geophysical evidences.

Materials Used and Methodology

LISS-III images of the pre- and the post-2001Bhuj earthquake period of the area along theKachchh Mainland Fault were georeferenced usingErdas 8.6 with reference points taken from surveyof India toposheets. The satellite data comprisesBand-1, 2, 3 and 4 of LISS-III sensor dated 22ndDecember 2000 (Pre-Earthquake Images) and 4thMarch 2001 (Post-Earthquake Images). The georefer-enced images were enhanced using various imageprocessing methods to get the best results to view thegeomorphic changes due to 2001 Bhuj earthquake.Subset of the localized areas, which were showing

effects of the earthquake were prepared. The pre- andpost images were compared and changes were recog-nized. Band combination of 1-2-4 is best suited to viewthe centres of liquefaction, while it is invisible withoutthe band 4, as this band is sensitive to the moisturecontent and the liquefaction centres in the Rann ofKachchh area are formed due to squeezing out of water.The alluvial fan of the Pur River, which is cut by aneotectonic fault, was highlighted by spectral enhance-ment using the PCA method.

Besides the image data, Shuttle Radar TopographicMission (SRTM—90 m) data under Global LandCover Facility (GLCF) was used for the preparationof the digital elevation model of the alluvial fan. Theprofile section of the fan was prepared using 3D-DEM. After the identification of the lineament/activefault, cutting the alluvial fan of the Pur River,fieldwork was carried out to observe the effect of

Location map

KMF

KACHCHH

Kharoi transverse fault

Loriya transverse fault

VondhBudharmora

Loriya

Bhachau

Lodai

Lakhpat

KharoiNirona

1956

Island Belt Fault 24

23

71

Kachchh Mainland fault South Wagad

Fault2001

0 20Km> 5

3 - 5

Magnitude

1819

69

Nagar Parker Fault

FKatrol Hill Fault

Alla Bund Fault

a

b

Fig. 1 a Location map.b Distribution of epicentersof various earthquakes(modified afterMalik et al. 2001)

86 J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2012) 40(1):85–96

the earthquake on ground and long deep groundfissures were found in the deep shrubs along the fault.

Geomorphology and Drainage PatternAlong the KMF

The variety of the geomorphic units of the KachchhPeninsula reveals a complex interplay of tectonism, sealevel changes, lithology and the Cenozoic processes oferosion and deposition. Interestingly, within the limitsof the Kachchh Peninsula, conspicuously high hills andextensive low plains are present. The uplands compriserugged hilly terrains exposing Mesozoic rocks bor-dered by thin strips of gently dipping Cenozoic rocks.The highlands are the areas of uplift whereas the plainsof low lands represent structural basins between theuplifts and are made up of alluvium, mud and Rannclays (Fig. 2). The landscape comprises rocky high-lands standing out amidst the vast plains of Kachchh.Whereas the Rann and Banni areas represent Recentfluviomarine and fluvial depositional plains respectively,the highland areas bear evidences of multiple erosionalcycles (Biswas 1987).

The study area exhibits an array of elongateddomes/anticlines with roughly east-west trendingaxes. This hill range forms a chain of domes ofJurassic and Cretaceous rocks and its northern flank ismarked by E-W trending Kachchh Mainland Fault(KMF). From east to west, it is marked by a series of

domes like Devisar dome, Khirsara dome, Habodome, Jura dome, Jumara dome and Chari dome.These domes (doubly plunging anticlines) are thestructural highs and were developed during compres-sion and over stepping of southern block over thenorthern block along KMF. On account of this fault,the northern slopes are steeper whereas the southernslopes coinciding with the dip of the strata are gentler.

The highlands has been turned into denuded hills inthe eastern part, especially near Vondh, Bhachau,Dudhai, and Devisar; giving rise to a few inselbergsstanding in the pediplains. Typical cuestas are developedin the area between Jawaharnagar and Lodai. This isbecause of the elongated anticlinal structure with oldersofter lithounits. The beds dip northerly in the north andsoutherly in the south of these elongated domes. Highplateau like structures are observed at places whereharder rocks occur as capping over the thick softer units.

The general elevation of the area varies between20 m to 80 mMSL. The maximum elevation is 324 m atJura dome. The Rann of Kachchh, lying north ofKachchhMainland Fault, is roughly 4–6 m above MSL.

The axial zone of domal anticline roughly forms thewater divide, which extends in east west direction. Thestreams south of the hill range drain southerly whilestreams in north make alluvial fans and ultimately getlost in the greater Rann of Kachchh. The drainage patternis mainly dendritic which is controlled by lithology andstructure but in the alluvial fans radially distributive

Kachchh Mainland Fault (KMF)

INDEX

Alluvial fan

Cuesta

Banni plain

Upheaval of land

Active fault

Immerged channel

RannAF

Geomorphological Map of the area along Kachchh Mainland Fault (41 E/11,15, I/3 & I/7)

Profile line of Fig-10

Sand boil

Coseismic ground fissures

Jura dome AFLoriya

Kaila River

Location of Fig.7 & 8

Kunariya

Pur River

AF

Location of Fig.9

Loriya Active Fault

Habo dome

DhrungKotaiLodai

Khirsara-Devisar domeLocation of Fig.5

Kaswali River

Location of Fig.4

Location of Fig.6

Dudhai Budharmora

Sikra AF

AF

Kharoi

Vondh

0 15 30

kilometres

Fig. 2 Geomorphological and Neotectonic map of the area along the KMF

J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2012) 40(1):85–96 87

pattern has been observed. Around the Jura dome, thedrainage is radial. The streams show meandering andbraided nature at places. Sharp and certain turns ofstreams, flowing north, are observed at number of places,which may be correlated with the reactivation of the preexisting faults/weak zones. Rejuvenation of streamsflowing north is also recorded with formation of nickpoints characterized by head ward erosion in the NorthWest of Devisar village. There is a significant downcutting (≥10 m) in the channels of the Kaila and Purrivers which is unusual for tectonically stable platform.

The Kashwali River, Lotia nala, Dhrung nala, theKhari/Pur River, the Kaila River and Nirona nadi, are themain streams flowing north. The Kashwali River nearLodai village makes a typical alluvial fan with a semicircular plan. The converging streams in the pediplainregion now diverge into radially distributed pattern,which is typical of an alluvial fan. The Lotia andNihwara nalas together make a bigger alluvial fan in thenorth of Jawaharnagar. The Pur River in the north ofRudramata makes another important alluvial fan whichis cut by an active fault in its northwestern part. The foothills along the northern side of the elongated range forma narrow pediment covered with thin alluvium. At placesbare rocks denuded up to ground level can be seen. Thispediment is broader in southern side because of gentledip of the lithounits and presence of comparatively softerfelspathic sandstone of the upper Bhuj Formation. TheBanni Plain represents an area between the KachchhMainland in the south, the uplifts of Patcham in thenorth and theWagad and the Bela uplifts in the east. It isat a little higher elevation than the surrounding Rann.

General Geology and Tectonics

The Mesozoic rocks are represented by Patcham, Chari,Katrol and Bhuj formations in the ascending order ofsuperposition. Fine-grained basalt flows belonging tothe Deccan Volcanics, occur above the Mesozoicscapping on many of the hillocks in the area. Basicdykes and sills have been observed cross cutting rocksof Mesozoic and Deccan traps. Holocene sedimentscomprise aeolian sands, and fluvial deposits. Thesediments of the Pur River, which is cut by the Loriafault, are light brownish, medium grained sandy clay.

The tectonic framework of Kachchh is controlledby a set of parallel major faults comprising NagarParker Fault (NPF), Alla Bund Fault (ABF), Island

Belt Fault (IBF), South Wagad Fault (SWF), KachchhMainland Fault (KMF) and Katrol Hill Fault (KHF),from north to south. KMF has been active since itsinception in the Mesozoic (Biswas 1987). TheKachchh basin has been an important site for thedeposition of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments.

Seismicity

Kachchh region is located on the westernmost fringe ofIndian Peninsula. The area has been seismically activeand experienced number of large magnitude earthquakesin the historic past. It falls within the seismotectonic zone-V in seismic zonation map of India. Some of the largemagnitude earthquakes (≥6) in Kachchh over a period of182 years are located around Alla Bund (1819), Khavda(1940), Anjar (1956) and Bhachau (2001).

Micro-earthquake study was carried out by GeologicalSurvey of India immediately after the 2001 majorearthquake in the region. The 12-station array operatedfor 77 days in Kachchh and recorded more than 3,000aftershocks ofM≥1. Based on the aftershock investigation,the following inferences were drawn (Kayal et al. 2002).

i) The aftershocks are confined in a 60 km×30 kmzone around the epicenter (near Bhachau) of themain event.

ii) Maximum concentration of events is between thedepths of 15–38 km; where as the aftershockactivity is less in the shallow depth (≤10 km).

iii) The deeper earthquakes show NE-SW trend whereas the shallower ones cluster along NW-SEdirection.

iv) Composite fault plane solution for the aftershockevents at a depth range of 25–38 km show reversefault mechanism with a large left-lateral strike-slipcomponent along a NE-SW trending plane

v) Composite fault plane solution of the shalloweraftershocks (<10 km depth) gives a reverse faultmechanism with right lateral strike-slip compo-nent along a NW-SE trending plane.

vi) The aftershock observation also confirms that theNE-SW trend shows a SE dipping plane and theNW-SE aftershock trend indicate a SW dippingplane.

NGRI carried out soil-gas (Helium) emanationstudies (Srinivasan and Reddy 2001) along the

88 J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2012) 40(1):85–96

suspected surface rupture zones around Budharmoraand Manfara. The study has indicated absence of anyHelium anomaly, suggesting that the deep seismicfault might have ended blindly without any opening atthe surface.

Rajendran and Rajendran (2001) also inferred thatthe main rupture generated by the 2001 earthquakedoes not propagate to the surface, despite the fact thatthe epicenter lied close to the Kachchh MainlandFault. They have concluded that the imbricate faultswithin the Kachchh rift may have the potential to bereactivated and another fault located north of KMFcould be the causative tectonic plane.

Pandey and Ghevariya (2003) and Kayal et al.(2002) of GSI are of the opinion that during KachchhEarthquake-2001, the KMF and some of the trans-verse faults got reactivated due to deep seatedruptures as a consequence of which the groundruptured, upheaved, subsided or displaced in the area.

Kachchh has drawn its attention as one of a fewimportant regions in the world for intracratonic seismic-

ity. There are various east west trending major faultsdeveloped during Kachchh rifting in the Late Triassicand Early Jurassic (Biswas 1987). These are NagarParkar Fault, Alla Bandh Fault, Island Belt Fault, SouthWagad Fault, Kachchh Mainland Fault and Katrol HillFault from north to south. They run roughly east westand determined the tectonic instability of the area. KMFis one of the major faults in the area. It runs far about150 km trending E-W to WNW-ESE from Bhachau inthe east to Lakhpat in the west.

Historical Seismic Records

Kachchh region has a long history of earthquakes ofvarying magnitudes ranging between ML 3.5 to 8.The records of epicenters of earthquakes that occurredin the Kachchh from 1668 to 2001 are availablewhich reveal that the maximum earthquakes (3 to >5M)are confined along NPF, ABF, KMF and KHF (Fig. 1b).Data has been taken from various sources (Malik et al.2001) (Fig. 3).

Geological map of the area around Loriya

2b Calc gritty sandstone

KMF

1 Golden oolite

3b Gritty felspathic sandstone

2c Dhosa oolite

3a Gypseous shale

4a Ferrugenous sandstone

4b Felspathic sandstone

Rann clay

D

(Mid Jurassic)

(Mid to Up Jurassic)

(Up Jurassic to Lr Cretaceous)

(Cretaceous)

D

Attitude of beds

Bhuj Formation

2a Shale and marl

KMF

Faults

Ground fissures

Patcham Formation

Chari Formation

Katrol Formation

F

DD

F

F

F

D

D

D

55

Dolerite dyke

60

20

Palanpur

Loriya

Jura

25

29

25

36

18

0 2.5 5

Kilometers

2b

Rann of Kachchh

2b

2a

2b

2c

3b4b

4a

F

Fig. 3 Geological map of the area around Loriya, Singh et al. (2008)

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Historical Record of Seismological History:

Year Magnitude Fault Locality

1030 <5.5 IBF Ruined the cityof Brahminabad.

1668 7.6 IBF/KMF Indus delta in NWof Kachchh.

1819 8.2 IBF NNW part ofKachchh near theInternational border.

1821 5.0 KMF Anjar.

1828 4.3 KMF East of Bhujand Bachhau.

1844 4.3 IBF East of Lakhpat.

1845 >5.0 IBF/NPF East of Lakhpat

1845 6.3 IBF/NPF East of Lakhpat.

1864 5.0 IBF Greater Rann eastof Rahpar.

1903 6.0 IBF Greater Rann

1904 >4.0 KMF Bhuj

1940 5.8–6.0 NPF Northeast of Khavda

1956 6.0 KNF Anjar

1965 5.3 IBF North of Khavda

1966 5.0 NPF Northeast of Khavda

1976 5.1 NPF/ABF North of Allah Bund

1981 4.1 NPF Greater Rann

1982 4.8 NPF North of Khavada

1982 4.8 NPF North of Mauvana

1985 4.4 NPF North of Bhand

1991 4.7 NPF/ABF Greater Rann

1991 4.7 NPF/ABT Greater Rann

1993 4.3 NPF/ABT North of Allah Bund

1996 4.5 KHF South of Bhuj

2001 7.6 KMF Bhachau.

Neotectonic Evidences from the Area

Record of Earlier Earthquake

The epicenter of 20-01-1991 earthquake, which washaving 4.9 magnitude, was located just west ofKuneria village

Ground Fissures and Other Liquefaction InducedStructures

Liquefaction induced structures are most importantbesides the ground fissures and cracks in the area.

They are manifested in the form of numerous craters,sand-mud sprouts, ground subsidence and slumping.Liquefaction has occurred mostly in the marshy area(dominated by silty sand) of Rann where the groundwater table is shallow (4–5 m bgl). The liquefactionphenomenon was recorded from the area near Lodai,Khengarpar, Wanthra and north of Jawaharnagar(Fig. 4).

Rejuvenation of Streams

Record of rejuvenated streams with northerly flowdirection near Devisar with deep head-ward erosionand knick points suggests relative base level changesdue to tectonic activity. The river flowing nearDhrung Village and Kaila River near Jura villageshows about 15 m a high cliff indicating evidence ofneotectonism (Fig. 5).

Modification of Stream Course

Change in stream courses in the area is the result ofthe neotectonic activities. Shifting of stream coursesand abandoning the original stream are recorded nearKharoi and Devisar villages. Reversal of slope due toupheaval of land mass resulted into change in thestream direction near Budharmora village.

Faults in Recent Sediment

Small scale faults, originated in Holocene Period, arerecoded from various places in the area. One verticalfault with about 10 cm dip slip component is found inthe stream channel deposit in south of Dhrung village.Various small-scale faults are also recorded from themiliolitic limestone deposited along the slopes of thehills near Dhrung village.

Upheaval of Land

About 350 m long east west trending bump wasformed about 1 km north of Budharmora villagedue to 2001 earthquake. The maximum recordedheight of the bump is 65 cm. Parallel ground cracksare found in the north and south of this bump. Thesoil in the area consists of brownish silty sand. Thebump is located close to the Kachchh MainlandFault and is resulted due to reactivation of theKMF.

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Change in Ground Slope

Change in stream direction due to the local ground tiltingis recorded near the Budharmora and Kharoi transformfault. The streams flowing northerly near Budharmorawere obstructed by the bump created due the 2001earthquake. This phenomenon resulted stream deflectionbefore they followed the general slope towards north.

Development of New Streams

New streams originated along the coseismic groundfissures. This phenomenon is common in the areanorth of Devisar and Khirsara villages. The soil in thearea is sandy, which is easily eroded with rain waterresulting into new streams. The new streams are alsodeveloping along the Kharoi and Loriya active faults

41 E/15, Pre EQ Image 41 E/15, Post EQ Image

Fig. 4 Liquefaction centers due to 2001 earthquake, LISS Image of IRS 1C/1D. Circles have been marked on the image showingareas of liquefaction. (Band combination: 2(R))_3(G)_4 (B) of LISS III)

------50 mt------

Coseismic Ground fissures

KMF

KMF

Schematic diagram

Fig. 5 Deflection in thestream course alongthe KMF

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where maximum ground fissure were generatedduring the earthquake.

Emergence of Buried Channels

The study of pre- and post earthquake imagery of thearea reveals emergence of various stream channelsdue to the 2001 earthquake (Fig. 6b). These channelsare noticed mostly from the Rann areas. Numbers ofsmall streams were filled up with ground water due tothe shaking of the ground during 2001 earthquake.These streams may be viewed in the post earthquakeLISS III imagery of the area (5th March 2001 image)while they are not visible in the pre earthquakeimagery (Fig. 6a). During the earthquake, strongshaking resulted in the liquefaction of fine silts andsands below the water table in the Rann of Kachchh.This caused the sediments to settle and expel theirinterstitial water to the surface.

Image Interpretation

IRS 1C/1D images of the Pre- and Post-2001 Bhujearthquake were studied to understand the neotectonicfeatures and post earthquake changes in the area. Thestudy reveals a lineament cutting the north-westernfringe of the alluvial fan of the Pur River (Fig. 7a,b).The trend of the lineament is NE-SW. Contrast in

vegetation pattern across the lineament is quietevident. The lineament is followed by local streams;otherwise the general slope is towards the north.

Reactivation of Loriya Transverse Fault

This lineament is manifested by a sudden change inthe vegetation and textural pattern on its either sideand the alignment of a stream course. This indicatespresence of an active fault, which was reactivatedduring 2001 earthquake. The alluvial fan of Recentage has also been affected by this fault.

Right lateral en echelon ground fissures of variablelength developed due to 2001 earthquake are found inclusters running broadly parallel to the fault and arerecorded about 4.5 km north of Loriya village. Thetrends of these fissures are N55°E-S55°W to N40°E-S40°W (Fig. 2). They run for a length up to 150 mwith maximum depth of 1.5 m and width of 2 m.They are ‘V’ shaped in cross section. Trenches weredug to study the nature of movement along the faultplane. The study of the trenches shows no dip slipcomponent of movement along these planes (based onthe position of the gritty-sand marker horizon). Sincethe ground fissures recorded from the area make anen-echelon pattern in the right lateral fashion, thissuggests a left lateral movement of the blocks alongthe fault plane (Yeats et al. 1997). Ground fissures are

Dec, 2000 image, No stream is visible March, 2001 image, Emergence of buried channels, 41I/3, N of Amrapar

ba

Fig. 6 a and b Emergence of buried channels due to 2001 earthquake (Band combination: 2(R))_3(G)_4 (B) of LISS III)

92 J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2012) 40(1):85–96

Spectral enhancement of the image by PCA method

a

b

Fig. 7 a and b Liss IIIimage showing the LoriyaActive Fault, cutting theAlluvial fan of the PurRiver (Band combination7a: 2(R))_3(G)_4 (B)of LISS III)

Fig. 8 a and b Coseismic ground fissures due to 2001 Bhuj earthquake along Loriya Fault

J Indian Soc Remote Sens (March 2012) 40(1):85–96 93

a

b

Fig. 9 a and b Digitalelevation model of the PurRiver fan and Elevationprofile of the fan

Fig. 10 Gravity andMagnetic section acrossthe Loriya Fault

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also recorded from the east of the Loriya village alongthe trend of the Loriya fault (Fig. 8a,b). Somenortherly flowing streams follow the fault for somedistance and then take the general northerly slope. Thelength of the Loriya Active Fault is about 8 km which isa transverse fault to the Kachchh Mainland Fault.

Digital Elevation Model of the Pur RiverAlluvial Fan

Digital elevation model of the alluvial fan is preparedusing the SRTM data (Fig. 9a). The asymmetricalprofiles across the axis of the fan show steepergradient in the north-western distal part of the fancut by the fault. The asymmetric cross section of thePur River fan, shown in Fig. 9b, indicates the effect ofthe fault on the fan. The western side has steepconstant slope while the eastern side is convex and

gentler in slope. Since this asymmetrical feature isrecoded in the alluvial fan of a present stream, itindicates the presence of neotectonic activity.

The geophysical survey in the area across theLoriya active fault also indicate feeble signature in theform of gravity and magnetic variations (Singh andLal 2008). In crease in the magnetic and gravityvalues is demonstrated in the graph (Fig. 10).

Kharoi Transverse Fault

A transverse fault to the KMF near Manfara—Kharoi(Kharoi Transverse Fault, Pandey and Ghevariya2003) extends for about 7 km as conspicuous deepand wide ground fissures in the N15°W-S15°E trend(Fig. 11). This transverse fault shows 50 cm of dipslip and 18 cm right lateral strike slip component nearKharoi village in an excavated trench. The displace-

Fig. 11 Kharoi TransverseFault manifested in the formof ground fissure

(Right lateral)

Fig. 12 Litholog(lithological column) ofthe trench across theKharoi transverse fault

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ment is also recorded in the weathered felspathicsandstone exposed below 6 ft soil cover (Fig. 12).

Conclusions

The lineament, recorded in the LISS-III image of areacutting the alluvial fan of the Pur River is an activefault which has been reactivated by the 2001 Bhujearthquake. It is a transverse fault to the KMF. Thereis only strike slip movement along this fault asrevealed from the existence of en-echelon pattern ofground fissure (Yeats et al. 1997). Discovery of thistransverse fault has an important bearing on thereactivation nature of the KMF due to 2001 earth-quake. The maximum liquefaction related featureswere developed between the Kharoi and Loriyatransverse faults. Emergence of the buried channelsin the Rann area in the north of KMF, development ofcoseismic ground fissures, cracks were recorded fromthe same segment. These evidences suggest that onlya segment of the KMF, between the Kharoi TransverseFault in the east and Loriya Transverse Fault in thewest, was reactivated due to 2001 earthquake.

Acknowledgment The authors are thankful to the DirectorGeneral, Geological Survey of India, for according permissionto publish the paper. Dr. Vinay Kumar Dadhwal‘s scruitiny andhis positive comments have helped in the improvement of thepaper. Thus, thanks are also due to him.

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