Abstract
A well known Buddhist monastery of Lamayuru is located in a village about 128 Km West of Leh. It is situated on more than 100 m thick Late Quaternary palaeolake deposits which are surrounded by rocks of Lamayuru Formation. Geologically, the Lamayuru Formation includes the Lamayuru and Namikala flysch deposits of Triassic-Jurassic age. This Formation is composed of shales, schist and phyllites. This Lamayuru Formation forms the base and source of palaeolake deposits. In Late-Pleistocene (35 ka B.P.) the Lamayuru River was dammed due to tectonically triggered landslide and the Lamayuru palaeolake came into existence. The sedimentation in the palaeolake basin commenced at 35 ka B.P. and culminated at 1 ka B.P. The deposits of palaeolake consist of carbonaceous mud, sand, silty clay and matrix supported breccia. The palaeolake deposits are a product of complex interplay of lacustrine, fluvio-deltaic to colluvial processes. The research study shows the prevalence of glacio-lacustrine conditions during the major part of depositional history as evidenced by the dominance of varves in these deposits.
Highlights
The rocks around Lamayuru lake deposits are composed of Lamayuru and Namikala flysch comprising sandstone, shale, limestone and volcanic tuffs [1]
The research study shows the prevalence of glacio-lacustrine conditions during the major part of depositional history as evidenced by the dominance of varves in these deposits
The top of the palaeolake deposits is covered by the mud cracks, whereas the surroundings are covered by post lacustrine alluvium represented by the terraces along the Lamayuru river as well as colluvial deposition represented by fanglomeratic shales (Figure 4)
Summary
The rocks around Lamayuru lake deposits are composed of Lamayuru and Namikala flysch comprising sandstone, shale, limestone and volcanic tuffs [1]. These rocks, Triassic to Jurassic in age, serve as the basement as well as the source rocks for the palaeolake sediments. The sharp contact between Lamayuru flysch consisting breccia dominated limestone and overlying lacustrine silts indicates that the lake was massive and resistant enough to cause an immediate flooding of the valley and to initiate lacustrine sedimentation. The basal lacustrine deposits are represented by white chalky beds that crop out strikingly along the valley walls These beds are composed of mud, silt and fine sand and are horizontally stratified and are rich in organic debris. The occurrence of gastropods and ostracods in the centre of the valley suggests the shallower depth of the lake
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