Magnetic polarity stratigraphy of the Neogene Siwalik Group at Khutia Khola, far western Nepal

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2000 Magnetic polarity stratigraphy of the Neogene Siwalik Group at Khutia Khola, far western Nepal T. P. Ojha; T. P. Ojha 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. F. Butler; R. F. Butler 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Quade; J. Quade 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. G. DeCelles; P. G. DeCelles 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Richards; D. Richards 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar B. N. Upreti B. N. Upreti 2Department of Geology, Tri-chandra Campus, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, Nepal Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2000) 112 (3): 424–434. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<424:MPSOTN>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 13 Aug 1998 rev-recd: 18 Mar 1999 accepted: 26 Mar 1999 first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation T. P. Ojha, R. F. Butler, J. Quade, P. G. DeCelles, D. Richards, B. N. Upreti; Magnetic polarity stratigraphy of the Neogene Siwalik Group at Khutia Khola, far western Nepal. GSA Bulletin 2000;; 112 (3): 424–434. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<424:MPSOTN>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The middle Miocene–Pliocene Siwalik Group was deposited in the Himalayan foreland basin in response to uplift and erosion in the Himalayan fold-thrust belt. Results of thermal demagnetization experiments on samples from the Siwalik Group in central and western Nepal demonstrate that laminated siltstones yield paleomagnetic data useful for tectonic and magnetostratigraphic studies. Sandstones and paleosols of the Siwalik Group, however, generally display highly erratic paleomagnetic behavior during thermal demagnetization. On the basis of these observations, siltstones from a well-exposed, 2423-m-thick section of the Siwalik Group in Khutia Khola, far western Nepal, were sampled for magnetic polarity stratigraphy. The Siwalik Group is composed of informal lower, middle, and upper members. Correlation of the resulting polarity stratigraphy with the geomagnetic polarity timescale indicates that the exposed section spans 13.30 to 7.65 Ma. The lower-middle Siwalik boundary occurs at 11.05 Ma, near the beginning of chron C5n. The rate of sediment accumulation increases upsection, similar to rate changes previously observed in the Pakistan Siwalik Group, and probably in response to increasing proximity of the Himalayan thrust belt. In the Khutia Khola section, a discordant declination indicates that this region has rotated about a vertical axis 16.6° counterclockwise with respect to the Indian subcontinent. Measurements of δ13C in paleosol carbonate indicate the predominance of C3 plants until 7.65 Ma, and the clear presence of C4 plants higher in the undated portion of the section. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.