Deccan Trap Basalts Research Articles

Petrological Characteristics of Lateritic Bauxite Deposits of India and Their Significance in Mineral Processing

India is endowed with 3896 million tons of bauxite resources and ranking it fifth globally. The bauxite comprises various minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore, hematite, goethite, kaolinite, quartz, anatase and rutile. India possesses abundant lateritic bauxite resources originating from parent rocks like Khondalite, Deccan trap basalt, Granite Gneiss, Sandstone, etc., each exhibiting its specific characteristics. The geotechnological evaluation of India's lateritic bauxite deposits, conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), revealed the presence of two types of deposits: high-level and low-level (coastal). In this study, bauxite and laterite samples were collected from different regions in India and subjected to comprehensive technological evaluation. Mineral processing techniques are optimized based on the mineralogical and petrological characteristics of the bauxite deposits. The mineral liberation, association, and alteration information obtained through petrological analysis guide the selection and optimization of various methods. The understanding of the mineralogy and petrological characteristics also assists in predicting the behaviour of bauxite during the processing stages, facilitating process control and minimizing losses. This paper aims to highlight the petrological, chemico-mineralogical characteristics of Indian lateritic bauxite deposits and emphasize the significance of petrology and mineralogy in their evaluation and mineral processing. Microscopic examination plays a vital role in mineral characterization and the beneficiation process by enabling mineral identification, texture analysis, grain size, mineral liberation, association, alteration, and process optimization. Such comprehensive analysis contributes to maximizing the economic value of mineral resources, aiding informed decision-making in exploration, mining, and mineral processing industries. Keywords: Bauxite, Lateritic Deposits, Petrological Characteristics, Mineralogy, Mineral Processing

Fluid–rock interaction in the basement granitoids: A plausible answer to recurring seismicity

The Koyna–Warna Seismogenic Region in the western part of the Indian Subcontinent has been recognized as one of the most significant sites of Reservoir–Triggered–Seismicity (RTS) during the last five decades. The basement granitoids, overlain by the porous and vesicular Deccan Trap basalt, contain numerous interconnecting fractures which act as the ascending and descending pathways of fluid flow. As a result of this fluid flow along fractures, the host rock has been subjected to significant chemical alteration along with the subsequent formation of some new minerals at the expense of a few other pre–existing mineral phases. Mesoscopic observations followed by Optical microscopy in the core samples of the basement rocks upto 1.5 km depth retrieved from the borehole KBH1 near Rasati (about 4.7 km from the Koyna Dam) have revealed the presence of chlorite and the precipitation of calcite, whereas the bulk mineralogical XRD has reaffirmed the presence of chlorite, calcite along with illite at a certain depth. This entire secondary mineral assemblage resembles the propylitic kind of hydrothermal alteration at temperatures < 350°C under acid–to–neutral solution conditions and also indicates water channelization up to the deeper level in the basement granitoids (>1.5 km). In addition, the presence of the hydrophilic clay minerals along fault and fracture zones may be responsible for triggering the seismicity in the Koyna Seismogenic Region as their absorption of water reduces the shear strength of faults and their low frictional strength accelerates the fault weakening process causing the generation of slip surfaces. Thus, in addition to several seismotectonic features, fault geometry and existing stress pattern, the clay mineralisation along the pre–existing faults and fractures of the basement rocks may also be a factor behind the recurring seismicity in this region.

Slake durability index (SDI) of weathered Deccan trap basalt

The slake-durability test is considered to be a basic method for determining the degree to which a rock is susceptible to the effects of the weather. The results of this experiment shed light on the processes that take place when rocks are exposed to the elements at varying depths or even on the surface of the earth. During the slake-durability tests, Franklin and Chandra said that ion exchange and capillary tension are applied to the mechanisms. A total of ten rock samples gathered from a variety of locations were subjected to slake durability testing in order to ascertain the degree to which the Deccan trap basalt is susceptible to the elements in the vicinity of Indore (Madhya Pradesh). It is possible that the dry operation will only take forty-five minutes to complete for some basalt rocks, namely the surface region of the basalt samples.

Appraisal of natural groundwater reserve using entropy-based model at the proximity of Deccan Trap Basalt and Gondwana Sandstone in a part of Central India

Appraisal of natural groundwater reserve using entropy-based model at the proximity of Deccan Trap Basalt and Gondwana Sandstone in a part of Central India

Sedimentological responses to coastal dynamics along the Thane District, North Maharashtra, West Coast of India

We present the results of sedimentological responses to coastal dynamics of the Arnala beach, located between Vaitarna and Ulhas rivers, Thane district, Maharashtra, India. The coast is remarkably flat and wide and in the backshore, there is a semi-consolidated raised beach. Granulometric and mineralogical investigations and CaCO3 measurements of the sediments were carried out to understand their variations. The CaCO3 contents in the sediments from raised beach, sub-surface and sand pits vary between < 1 and 20%. The medium-very fine sands are moderately well sorted–very well sorted, symmetrical, very platy- to meso-kurtic and mostly uni- or bi-modal. Heavy minerals (av 39 wt%) are magnetite (av 17 wt%), ilmenite (av 15 wt%) and non-magnetic (av 7 wt%) fractions. The sediments are derived from weathered Deccan Trap basalts that occur in nearby hillocks, as shore platform and along the Vaitarna River. These sediments are mainly transported and redistributed by littoral currents. In nearshore waters, annual average wave height is ~ 0.8 m and gross littoral drift is 0.132 × 106 m3. Similarity in sediment parameters and mineralogy along the more than 20-km-long and 400-m-wide coast indicates prevalence of uniform oceanographic processes in a littoral cell along the coast. Significant variability in volumes of sediment accretion/erosion is noticeable.

Hydrogeochemistry and multivariate statistical analysis of groundwater quality of hard rock aquifers from Deccan trap basalt in Western India

In the present investigation, hydrogeochemistry and multivariate statistical analysis of groundwater quality were assessed from hard rock aquifers of the Deccan trap basalt in the Jalna district of Maharashtra. Groundwater samples (n = 105) were collected from the study area in a systematic grid pattern to avoid biasing in sampling. Water quality parameters of all these groundwater samples were analyzed by standard BIS and APHA procedures by titrimetric and using sensors. Uranium in all samples was analyzed using an LED fluorimeter. Strict quality assurance and quality control features were adopted in all stages of the study to ensure the quality of the data. The observed sequence of the dominance of major cations and anions is Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ and HCO3− > Cl− > SO42− respectively. The observed uranium values were in the range of 0.1 to 16.2 µg/L with an average value of 2.04 µg/L, well below the safe limits recommended by WHO and AERB i.e. 30 and 60 µg/L, respectively. Piper trilinear diagram indicates dominant hydrochemical facies of groundwater in the study area are Mixed Ca2+–Na+–HCO3−, Na+–Cl− and Ca+–HCO3− while Gibbs plot infers host rock-water interaction is the major geochemical process in these aquifers. The correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and factor analysis tests are performed. Groundwater was assessed for its suitability for irrigation purposes using multiple indices such as SAR, RSC, and Na percentage. From the estimated indices, it was found that the groundwater in hard rock aquifers of the Deccan trap basalt is suitable for irrigation purposes.

Magnetic Anomaly and Model of the Lonar Meteorite Impact Crater in Maharashtra, India

The ground magnetic field of the Lonar impact crater (Maharashtra State, India) and its surrounding area was measured and studied utilizing 2.5-dimensional potential field modelling. Field data showed the crater depression is associated with a strong circular negative anomaly with an amplitude of more than 1000 nT. The negative anomaly, however, decreases smoothly while moving from south to north. Most of the crater rim exhibits anomalous positive values. Negative anomalies at the rim are seen in the south–southwestern sections and coinciding in the northeastern section with the Dhar valley. Our study shows that most of the anomaly is caused by the topographic effect and a strong SE directed natural remanent magnetization of Deccan Trap basalts, which are the target of the Lonar-creating projectile. The magnetic anomaly of the relatively weakly magnetized impact-produced allochthonous breccia and post-impact sediments is small, being less than 150 nT.

Geochemical, Mineralogical and Petrological Characteristics of Lateritic Bauxite Deposits formed on Deccan Trap Basalt with Reference to High-level and Coastal (low level) Deposits of Maharashtra

Abstract Lateritic bauxite are the products of intense subareal weathering of rocks. It is characterised by a particular enrichment of aluminium-hydroxide minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore. Based on geological occurrences, bauxite is classified as lateritic, karstic, tikhvin type and about 86% deposits of the world are lateritic bauxite deposits. They typically are in stable areas of plateaux, where they had sufficient geological time to form and were protected from erosion. India is endowed about 3896 million tons of bauxite resources and Maharashtra state constitutes about 5 % of the total assets. The medium to high grade lateritic bauxite occurrences are located in western Maharashtra which spread up in two distinct belts, viz. high level and low-level coastal areas. The coastal bauxite deposits in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are located at altitude varying between 50 to 350 m above mean sea level (msl), while high level bauxite deposits of Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli districts occur on the plateaus with an elevation 900 to 1300 m above msl. Most of the laterite of the western Maharashtra overlies the Deccan Trap basalt, except in some part of coastal areas, it either caps the Kaladgi sandstone or overlie the Dharwar pebble beds. The lateritic bauxite deposits of the western Maharashtra have been studied with reference to its geology, chemico-mineralogy and petrological characteristics. Field studies indicate the following successive stages developed during in-situ weathering: Deccan trap basalt (parent rock) → weathered basalt → saprolite/lithomargic clay → bauxite → duricrust (ferruginous, aluminous laterites). The geological, physical and chemico-mineralogical characteristics of the bauxite and laterite located in two belts is distinguished from one another. For the present study, two bauxite deposits namely Ringewadi and Velas located in Kolhapur (high-level) and Raigad (coastal) district of western Maharashtra respectively have been selected. The representative samples of bauxite, laterite, saprolite, parent rock have been collected. In present paper, comparative study has been done and the geological, geomorphological, geochemical, mineralogical, petrographic and physical characteristics of low level (coastal) and high-level lateritic bauxite deposits are highlighted.

Fluvial facies and petrography of Late Pleistocene Baneta sediments, Central Narmada Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India

Baneta Formation, comprising of fining upward sequences of pebbly conglomerate, sandstone and siltstone, exhibits development of five distinct lithofacies, viz., massive pebbly conglomerate, large scale tabular cross bedded sandstone, horizontal parallel bedded coarse-grained sandstone, parallel laminated fine-grained yellowish sandstone and siltstone; representing channel lag, point bar and overbank flood plain deposits of mixed load meandering river. In these sediments, development of nodular, buckled bedded calcrete, rhizoliths and tepee is noticed. Granulometric studies of these sediments revealed presence of wide range of grain size classes, polymodal grain size distribution, moderate to very poor sorting, positive skewness and leptokurtic nature, supporting fluvial environment of deposition. Lithic arenitic nature, heavy mineral assemblage with dominance of augite and low ZTR index of these sediments indicate mineralogical immaturity and presence of illite, kaolinite and montmorllionite together with geochemical composition indicate their derivation from mixed provenance of Precambrian granite, metapelites, Vindhyan Supergroup, Gondwana Supergroup, Deccan trap basalt, and laterite. The thin sections studies reveal signatures of meteoric phreatic and vadose zone diagenesis related with semi-arid climate and subaerial exposure. The δ13C and δ18O content of calcretes indicate their pedogenic and/or shallow groundwater origin under semi-arid climatic conditions, and C3–C4 mixed vegetation with dominance of C4 vegetation. OSL and 14C dates of the samples from Baneta Formation suggest deposition of these sediments in Late Pleistocene.

Depositional History and Indian Summer Monsoon Controls on the Silicate Weathering of Sediment Transported to the Eastern Arabian Sea: Geochemical Records From IODP Site U1456 Since 3.8 Ma

AbstractSystematic variation in elemental and Sr‐Nd isotopic compositions of the clay‐sized (&lt;2 μm) siliciclastic fraction from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1456 (Laxmi Basin) provides valuable insights into dynamic changes in continental weathering intensity in the western Himalayas and sediment inputs from the Indus River and Deccan Traps to the eastern Arabian Sea. Long‐term, high‐resolution proxy records from the sediment core reveal that the main sources (i.e., Indus River and Deccan Trap basalts) of the fine‐grained detrital sediments have significantly changed with Indian summer monsoon variation over the studied time interval. During two depositional periods (3.8–3.3 and 2.7–1.2 Ma) corresponding to a weak Indian summer monsoon, the Indus River contributed fine‐grained sediments with high K/Al, high 87Sr/86Sr, and low εNd to the study site. Between 3.3 and 2.7 Ma and between 1.2 and 0 Ma, deposition in the eastern Arabian Sea was governed by large inputs of Deccan Trap‐derived basaltic sediments, characterized by high Mg/Al and Fe/Al, low 87Sr/86Sr and chemical index of alteration values, and high εNd values, associated with a change to a stronger Indian summer monsoon driving stronger chemical weathering. Synchronous changes in the geochemical proxies since 3.8 Ma highlight that variations in the inputs of siliciclastic sediments and Indian summer monsoon development are closely coupled.

Seismic imaging of Deccan-related lava flows at the K-T boundary, deepwater west India

Continuous improvements in geophysical technology have enabled seismic imaging of Mesozoic strata under the K-T transition boundary — a thick lava blanket spread along the continental margin of India's west coast. The new images reveal features of the subbasalt geology of this large offshore region. The relationship of the offshore lava flows with the equally vast lava flows of the onshore Deccan Traps adds a parameter of comparison to the whole Mesozoic stratigraphy of the south, west, and northwest coasts of India. The lava flows are part of the deepwater margin that embraces several basins, the largest being the southernmost underexplored Kerala-Konkan Basin. Newly acquired and processed regional seismic data sets were integrated with new data sets of potential field data to better uncover the Mesozoic stratigraphy. The 3D seismic data, acquired with long spreads and broadband processing through time and depth migration, enabled imaging of the complex structure of layers under basalt. India detached from Madagascar during Cretaceous time; the northward path to its present position was affected by Reunion hotspot activity that melted the west coast near the K-T transition time. The volcanic lithology observed at the K-T boundary is related to episodic emplacement of intrusive dykes and extrusive sills. A possible cause-effect event in that span of time is the Chicxulub meteorite impact that may have increased the volume of Deccan lava flows. The deepwater lava volumes estimated from interpretation of seismic data from the offshore region at the end of Cretaceous time are comparable to, or perhaps much greater than, the volumes estimated for the precisely age-dated Deccan Traps basalts exposed onshore. This suggests an enormous outpouring of flood basalts (onshore and offshore) at K-T time that was comparable to other major flood basalt events, such as the Siberian traps, and associated with mass extinctions.

Curtain Grouting, a Tool Used for Stopping the Seepage from an Existing Dam

Hidkal dam, also known as Raja Lakhamagouda dam, was constructed in the year 1974 across the river Ghataprabha in Krishna River Basin. In this dam, there are two dykes—Dyke I and Dyke II, each of length 5227 and 506 m, respectively. After impounding the dam, it was observed that there is seepage at a distance 3 km downstream of Dyke I. To overcome the situation, seismic refraction studies in the upstream of Dyke I were conducted by CWPRS, Pune, for delineating the stretch of the seepage zone. After identifying the seepage zone, trial boreholes of Nx size were made to determine the permeability of the strata for designing effective treatment measures. Recovery of material from the trial boreholes was examined to identify the rock type met with in the foundation along with the degree of weathering. The rock extracted is Deccan Trap Basalt with various degrees of weathering ranging from highly weathered to disintegrated variety including the presence of quartzite. The permeability values vary between 26 and 498 Lugeons. So to make the strata impermeable, curtain grouting was carried out in three rows, 1.5 m apart from each other from Ch. 4650 to 5330 m near the upstream heel through Nx size borehole. The spacing of the boreholes is 3 m c/c, and boreholes are staggered and up to depth of 20 m are suggested to be carried out. During the grouting process, CWPRS engineers inspected the process of grouting from bottom of borehole to the surface. After the completion of grouting, post-permeability tests were conducted and it was seen that the permeability values had drastically reduced. The data obtained during investigations were used in the preparation of a mathematical model (FEM). After the seepage analysis of the model, it was observed that there was drastic reduction in the seepage.

Faulting in Deccan Traps in the Vicinity of Koyna-Warna Seismic Zone

ABSTRACT Studies of sustained activity in the Koyna – Warna Seismic Zone have yielded several models of faults in the basement of the Deccan Traps inferred from geophysical and seismic signatures. There is however, a dearth of unambiguous surface manifestations of such faults, apart from the surface ruptures from the epicentral zone of the December, 1967 earthquake. We report for the first time, an exposed NW-SE trending reverse fault in the Deccan Trap basalts from this region.

Magnetic Mineralogical Variability along Deccan Trap Basalt Borehole (KBH07), Koyna Deep Continental Drilling Program, Western Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT A 1248 m long core (KBH 07, 17°18'07" N; 73°47'28.2"E, 960m above msl) drilled up to basement in the Deccan traps from Koyna region was sampled at ∼10m interval for magnetic mineralogical studies. Analysis of routine rock magnetic parameters (mass specific magnetic susceptibility: χlf, frequency dependence of susceptibility: χfd, susceptibility of anhysteretic remanance: χARM, saturation isothermal remanance: SIRM, remanance coercivty: B(0)CR, SoftIRM, HardIRM, S-Ratio, SIRM/χlf, χARM/χlf) and density (σ, gm/ cc) depicted significant higher order temporal variation. The χlf varies between 13 and 309 x 10−8m3/kg and is independent of density variation. The χARM, B(0)CR and S-Ratios indicate majority of SD-PSD ferrimagnets with episodes of MD ferrimagnetic concentration and few hard coercivity components. The giant plagioclase lath bearing (GPB) horizons show highest variability of ferrimagnetic concentration marked by anomalous peaks. Overall the variability of rock magnetic parameters independent of lava flow units suggest that the changeover in magnetic mineral concentration, composition and domain size occur at major episodes in magma composition (e.g., primary source, crustal contamination and fractional crystallization). The studied parameters are therefore examined to mark intervals of (i) magma compositional changes, (ii) zones of oxidative conditions and (iii) rapid/slow cooling intervals demanding detailed petrologic studies. We identified one I order trend, four II order cycles and eight III order cycles for the purpose of correlation. Notable peak in χlf at 650-700m, the changeover in rock magnetic parameters at ∼930 m and ∼280 m can facilitate marker intervals while several higher order variations can be adopted for high resolution correlation to other boreholes in the region. The complex variation in rock magnetic parameters independent of flow units reflect temporal magnitudes of compositional variability, cooling and emplacement history that needs detailed petro-mineralogical attempts; and the present data is useful for high order inter-core correlations under the deep drilling program.

Fracture and Stress Orientation from Borehole Image Logs: A Case Study from Cambay Basin, India

ABSTRACT The Deccan trap basalt, laid down by multiple lava flows during upper Cretaceous to Paleocene times forms the basement of current study in Cambay basin. As such, there is great interest and value in fracture detection and evaluation of fractured basement reservoirs in the Cambay basin. The procedure for identification and evaluation of natural as well as induced fractures in basaltic basement of the Cambay basin is presented in this work. In this study formation micro-imager (FMI) and extended range micro-imager (XRMI) log data for fracture identification is used. The Deccan trap basaltic basement of the study area, comprising five wells in the Tarapur-Cambay block, has potential for holding commercial hydrocarbon due to the presence of fractures and weathered basement. Both image logs (FMI, XRMI) identify three types of fracture including open (conductive), partially open and closed (resistive) fractures, of which open and partially open fractures are important for hydrocarbon accumulation. Fracture dip ranges from 10° to 80°. Image logs have also identified washout, breakout and drilling-induced fracture zones. The strike direction of the open natural fractures for four wells varies from N60°E to N30°E whereas the strike direction of most natural fracture in the fifth well is oriented towards N20°W. The orientations of drilling-induced fractures and breakouts may be interpreted for the in-situ stress direction over the logged interval. Drilling-induced tensile fractures, identified over the depth interval of 1969–1972 m, and borehole breakouts over the interval of 1953–1955 m in one well, suggest an orientation of maximum in-situ horizontal compressive stress (SH) lies in the north-south direction. The azimuths of open natural fractures in the same well vary from north-south to N30°E. It is expected that the direction of fluid flow will be controlled by open natural fractures and therefore would be in a direction parallel to the SH direction, which is orthogonal to the minimum horizontal stress (Sh) direction. The orientations observed are consistent with the present day SH direction in the study area of Cambay basin.

A43 マントルレールゾライトの融解により洪水玄武岩マグマは生成可能か? : デカン洪水玄武岩の岩石学的研究

A43 マントルレールゾライトの融解により洪水玄武岩マグマは生成可能か? : デカン洪水玄武岩の岩石学的研究

Dynamic Response of Deccan Trap Basalt under Hopkinson Bar Test

The Deccan trap is a large igneous rock province located on the Deccan plateau of west-central India. There are several important structures located on Deccan trap basalt like Koyna dam hydropower project, Konkan railways, Katraj twin tunnels to name a few. In order to safeguard the structures from dynamic loading arising from manmade or natural disastrous circumstances, it becomes necessary to characterize the dynamic behavior of rocks. In the present work, experimental studies have been performed to determine the dynamic stress-strain behavior of Deccan trap basalt rock as the same is not yet available in literature. The rock samples have been collected from various regions spread along the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. Tests have been performed to determine the physical and static mechanical properties. The dynamic tests have been carried out using 20 mm diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) at different strain-rates. From the analysis of results, the dynamic stress-strain response of the rocks, force equilibrium and dependence of dynamic strength on the strain rate have been examined for the first time.

Alteration and submergence of basalts in Kachchh, Gujarat, India: implications for the role of the Deccan Traps in the India–Seychelles break-up

Abstract The Deccan Trap flood basalt volcanism has commonly been considered to have initiated the break-up of India from the Seychelles ( c. 62.5 Ma). In Kachchh, Gujarat, western India, the sedimentary succession in the Paleocene Matanomadh Formation was deposited on highly weathered Deccan Trap basalts that were altered to kaolinite before basin formation. This contrasts with the weathering pattern on flat-topped hills of the Deccan Traps outside the Cenozoic rift basins in the Kachchh region and other parts of India, where basalt is dominantly altered to smectitic minerals. As basalts that are altered to smectite and kaolinite occur just across the faults that bound the Matanomadh Basin, the differential weathering cannot be attributed to climate. Geochemical modelling shows that kaolinite stabilizes in preference to smectite if CO 2 - and O 2 -buffered rainwater interacts with well-drained basaltic rock at high water:rock ratios. Such conditions can be accomplished by rainfall on a slope created by Cenozoic rifting that exposes the graben flank and basin floor basalts to continuously flowing water, the composition of which is buffered by equilibration with the atmosphere. As the rift post-dates both the eruption of the basalts and subsequent smectite formation, the associated extensional tectonics must be unrelated to flood basalt volcanism, and is most likely to correspond to the India–Seychelles break-up.

Alteration of Volcanic Glass to Well-crystallized Ferrosaponite in the Vesicles of the Deccan Trap Basalts at Bhuleshwar Ghat Section, Pune District, Maharashtra

Abstract: Clay minerals formed mainly by the alteration of volcanic glass are reported by many workers. The commonly formed minerals belonging to the smectite group especially nontronite and ferrosaponite are widely reported by many in basalts. However, most of the reports suggest the formation of ferrosaponite in marine conditions (Zhou et al., 1992; Chen et al., 1996) or by hydrothermal solutions (Shayan et. al., (1988)). Origin of ferrosaponite in continental flood basalts by a mechanism of alteration of volcanic glass to ferrosaponite is reported in the paper. The different stages involved in the alteration process are also highlighted.

Geomorphic Evolution of Chambal River Origin in Madhya Pradesh using Remote Sensing and GIS

The Fluvial geomorphology of Chambal River basin is so vast in terminology; therefore remote sensing and GIS application and technique to analyzing the whole Chambal geomorphology in interval of space and time has been used. Chambal River is a perennial river and carries large quantity of water and sediment load to transportation. Chambal River is famous for the past prehistoric and as unpolluted river. Chambal origin considered from the Janapav valley (Janapav Shiv Temple) at Malwa ridge surrounded by Manpur Reserve Forest, Madhya Pradesh, India. The source of Chambal water is considered from seepage of groundwater from the Basaltic columnar joint rock (Malwa Ridge) where the water flows from the weak columnar joints of Basalts and follows gradient slop facing in Northward direction. Chambal River has Deccan trap Basalt as river bedded rock, Mesozoic age formation with dendritic drainage pattern at Malwa region. Chambal River origin lies at an elevation of 840.6 meter with Latitude 22 0 27′36.5″N and Longitude 75 0 41′14.4″E (source by: ground truth field data) . Physiographically the area to the North of Chambal is characterized by moderately dissected plateau and formed undulating topography. However, to determine the changes in flow, meandering, and geomorphic landforms development in the Chambal river origin, primarily the toposheet no 46N, 46M and Landsat imagery ETM+ data are used for geomorphic evolution maps and digitization and georeferencing has done by using ArcGIS v10 software. Identification of geomorphological landforms with their specific geomorphological processes either erosional or depositional in the fluvial system of the Chambal River will certainly help in assessing the environmental and hydrological problems in this Malwa region.