“अरावली पर्वत श्रृंखला: भारत की प्राचीन रीढ़“
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THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE, “ARAVALLI MOUNTAIN RANGE: THE ANCIENT SPINE OF INDIA,” IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENT, THE WEBSITE OWNER DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT ALL INFORMATION IS FREE FROM ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR OUTDATED DATA.
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INTRODUCTION
THE ARAVALLI RANGE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FOLD MOUNTAINS IN THE WORLD AND AMONG THE MOST ECOLOGICALLY AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF INDIA. STRETCHING ACROSS WESTERN INDIA, THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE GEOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, CULTURE, ECONOMY AND CIVILIZATION OF THE COUNTRY FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
THE ARAVALLIS ARE NOT JUST A RANGE OF HILLS OR ROCKS; THEY ARE A SYMBOL OF GEOLOGICAL ANTIQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES EVERYTHING FROM ITS FORMATION MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO TO ITS PRESENT CONDITION, SIGNIFICANCE IN INDIAN HISTORY AND SOCIETY AND WHY PROTECTING THIS NATURAL RESOURCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR INDIA’S FUTURE.
1. ORIGIN AND GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
1.1 GEOLOGICAL FORMATION
THE ARAVALLI RANGE IS CALLED ONE OF THE OLDEST MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS ON EARTH—OLDER THAN THE HIMALAYAS. IT FORMED DURING THE PROTEROZOIC EON, ROUGHLY BETWEEN 1.8 TO 1.5 BILLION YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, THE INDIAN PLATE WAS PART OF A SUPERCONTINENT KNOWN AS RODINIA.
OVER IMMENSE GEOLOGICAL TIME, THE INDIAN PLATE UNDERWENT CYCLES OF COLLISION AND SEPARATION WITH OTHER CONTINENTAL PLATES. THESE TECTONIC FORCES CAUSED THE EARTH’S CRUST TO FOLD AND WARP, GIVING RISE TO THE ARAVALLI UPLIFTS.
HOWEVER, THE ARAVALLIS ARE NO LONGER TECTONICALLY ACTIVE LIKE THE YOUNGER HIMALAYAS. INSTEAD, THEY HAVE UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE WEATHERING AND EROSION OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS, REDUCING THEM TO ROUNDED HILLS RATHER THAN JAGGED PEAKS.
1.2 ROCK TYPES AND STRUCTURE
THE RANGE PREDOMINANTLY CONSISTS OF ANCIENT METAMORPHIC AND IGNEOUS ROCKS, INCLUDING:
QUARTZITE
MARBLE
SCHIST
GRANITE
GNEISS
THESE ROCKS BEAR EVIDENCE OF MULTIPLE CYCLES OF TECTONIC MOVEMENT, METAMORPHISM AND EROSION. THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE ARAVALLIS TELLS A FASCINATING STORY ABOUT EARTH’S EARLY CRUSTAL EVOLUTION.
2. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND EXTENT
2.1 MAJOR ROUTE OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE
THE ARAVALLI RANGE RUNS IN A SOUTHWEST–NORTHEAST DIRECTION, BEGINNING NEAR AHMEDABAD IN GUJARAT AND EXTENDING NORTHEASTWARDS THROUGH RAJASTHAN, AND FINALLY TAPERING OFF IN HARYANA AND DELHI.
TOTAL LENGTH: APPROXIMATELY 692 KILOMETERS
ORIENTATION: SOUTHWEST–NORTHEAST (SW–NE)
2.2 STATES COVERED
THE ARAVALLIS STRETCH ACROSS FOUR INDIAN STATES:
- GUJARAT
- RAJASTHAN
- HARYANA
- DELHI
ALTHOUGH NOT VERY HIGH COMPARED TO THE HIMALAYAS, THE ARAVALLIS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SHAPING THE ENVIRONMENT OF THESE REGIONS.
3. MAJOR PEAKS AND HEIGHTS
THE ARAVALLI RANGE IS CHARACTERIZED BY NUMEROUS HILLS AND PEAKS SCATTERED ALONG ITS LENGTH. SOME IMPORTANT ONES INCLUDE:
| PEAK | LOCATION (STATE) | HEIGHT (APPROX.) |
| GURU SHIKHAR | MOUNT ABU, RAJASTHAN | ~1,722 METERS |
| AJMER PEAK | AJMER, RAJASTHAN | ~1,300 METERS |
| KUMBHALGARH HILL | RAJASTHAN | ~1,100 METERS |
| DELHI RIDGE | DELHI | ~318 METERS |
3.1 GURU SHIKHAR
THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE, LOCATED ON MOUNT ABU IN SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN.
BESIDES NATURAL BEAUTY, IT IS ALSO CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR ITS TEMPLES AND PILGRIMAGE SITES.
3.2 DELHI RIDGE
OFTEN CALLED THE “GREEN LUNGS OF DELHI”, THIS IS THE NORTHEASTERN EXTENSION OF THE ARAVALLIS.
THOUGH NOT VERY TALL, IT ACTS AS A NATURAL BARRIER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SHIELD FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
4. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
THE ARAVALLI RANGE INFLUENCES THE CLIMATE OF NORTHWEST INDIA IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS.
4.1 RAINFALL AND WEATHER PATTERNS
THE HILLS INTERCEPT MONSOON WINDS TO SOME DEGREE, CREATING RAIN SHADOW EFFECTS IN CERTAIN AREAS.
ALTHOUGH NOT VERY HIGH, THE RANGE STILL HELPS DIVIDE THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF WESTERN INDIA.
4.2 SOIL AND VEGETATION
THE RANGE SUPPORTS DRY DECIDUOUS FORESTS, THORNY BUSHES, SCRUB JUNGLES, AND GRASSLANDS.
IN HIGHER MOISTURE ZONES LIKE NEAR MOUNT ABU, THERE ARE DENSER FORESTS AND DIVERSE FLORA.
4.3 WILDLIFE AND BIODIVERSITY
THE ARAVALLIS ARE HOME TO VARIOUS SPECIES INCLUDING:
MAMMALS: CHINKARA (INDIAN GAZELLE), WILD BOAR, LEOPARD (IN PARTS OF RAJASTHAN), JACKALS
BIRDS: PARTRIDGES, EAGLES, VULTURES, PEAFOWL
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
WHILE NOT AS FAMOUS AS THE WESTERN GHATS OR EASTERN HIMALAYAS IN TERMS OF BIODIVERSITY, THE ARAVALLI ECOSYSTEM SUPPORTS LIFE ADAPTED TO ARID AND SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS.
5. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE
5.1 ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
THE ARAVALLIS HAVE BEEN INHABITED SINCE PREHISTORIC TIMES. EVIDENCE OF EARLY HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND TOOLS HAVE BEEN FOUND AROUND THE HILLS.
THE RANGE ACTED AS A NATURAL CORRIDOR AND RESOURCE BASE FOR ANCIENT COMMUNITIES DUE TO:
AVAILABILITY OF STONE FOR TOOLS
PROTECTED VALLEYS AND CAVES
NATURAL WATER CATCHMENTS
5.2 INFLUENCE ON KINGDOMS AND TRADE ROUTES
HISTORICAL EMPIRES—SUCH AS THE MAURYAS, GUPTAS AND LATER RAJPUTS—USED THE ARAVALLI TERRAIN FOR DEFENSE, HABITATION, AND STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE.
TRADE ROUTES ALSO PASSED NEAR OR THROUGH THESE HILLS, CONNECTING THE INDUS VALLEY, GUJARAT PORTS, AND THE GANGETIC PLAINS.
5.3 CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL LANDMARKS
THE ARAVALLI REGION IS DOTTED WITH HISTORIC FORTS, TEMPLES, AND PILGRIMAGE SITES:
MOUNT ABU: FAMOUS FOR DILWARA JAIN TEMPLES—ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECES.
KUMBHALGARH FORT: A UNESCO-RECOGNIZED FORT WITH ONE OF THE LONGEST WALLS IN THE WORLD.
PUSHKAR: A SACRED TOWN NEAR THE ARAVALLIS WITH ANCIENT TEMPLES AND A HOLY LAKE.
LOCAL FOLKLORE AND TRIBAL CULTURES ALSO ENRICH THE REGION’S HERITAGE.
6. ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
THE ARAVALLI RANGE CONTRIBUTES TO THE INDIAN ECONOMY IN VARIOUS WAYS.
6.1 MINERAL WEALTH
THE ARAVALLIS ARE RICH IN MINERALS:
MARBLE
LIMESTONE
GRANITE
COPPER
LEAD
SILVER
ASBESTOS
MINING HAS BEEN A MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY—ESPECIALLY MARBLE IN RAJASTHAN—BUT IT HAS ALSO RAISED SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS (DISCUSSED LATER).
6.2 AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES
THE HILLS PLAY A ROLE IN:
PROVIDING GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
SUPPORTING SEASONAL STREAMS
INFLUENCING SOIL FORMATION
AGRICULTURE IN ADJACENT AREAS DEPENDS PARTIALLY ON THESE WATER AND SOIL PROCESSES.
6.3 TOURISM AND RECREATION
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE:
HILL STATIONS (LIKE MOUNT ABU)
HISTORICAL FORTS AND TEMPLES
WILDLIFE VIEWING
TREKKING AND ADVENTURE SPORTS
TOURISM GENERATES INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
7. ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND WHAT HAPPENED OVER TIME
DESPITE THEIR IMPORTANCE, THE ARAVALLIS HAVE FACED SEVERE DEGRADATION OVER THE LAST CENTURY.
7.1 DEFORESTATION AND MINING
UNREGULATED MINING AND TREE-CUTTING HAVE LED TO:
LOSS OF VEGETATION COVER
SOIL EROSION
WATER TABLE DEPLETION
LARGE PARTS OF THE ARAVALLIS—ESPECIALLY IN RAJASTHAN AND HARYANA—LOOK BARREN DUE TO QUARRYING ACTIVITY.
7.2 WEAKENING OF NATURAL BARRIERS
THE ARAVALLIS WERE ONCE CONTINUOUS HILLS ACTING AS A NATURAL SHIELD AGAINST DUST STORMS, DESERTIFICATION, AND EXTREME WEATHER. FRAGMENTATION HAS REDUCED THIS PROTECTIVE EFFECT.
7.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON CITIES
URBAN CENTERS LIKE:
DELHI
GURGAON (GURUGRAM)
JAIPUR
HAVE SEEN A SHARP DECLINE IN AIR QUALITY, GROUNDWATER RESOURCES, AND GREEN COVER—PARTLY BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTIONS OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED.
7.4 WILDLIFE DECLINE
LOSS OF HABITAT HAS ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT ONCE THRIVED IN THE ARAVALLI ECOLOGY.
8. IMPORTANCE OF THE ARAVALLIS FOR INDIA
THE ARAVALLI RANGE MATTERS ACROSS MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS:
8.1 ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE
MAINTAINS GROUNDWATER LEVELS
SUPPORTS FLORA AND FAUNA
MITIGATES DESERTIFICATION
REGULATES LOCAL CLIMATE
WITHOUT HEALTHY ARAVALLIS, NORTHWEST INDIA WOULD BECOME HOTTER, DRIER, AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRAGILE.
8.2 PROTECTION AGAINST EXTREME WEATHER
THE HILLS REDUCE WIND SPEED, INTERCEPT DUST STORMS, AND INFLUENCE RAINFALL PATTERNS. THIS PROTECTS:
AGRICULTURAL LAND
URBAN AIR QUALITY
SOIL STABILITY
8.3 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL LEGACY
THE ARAVALLIS PRESERVE:
ANCIENT ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
TRIBAL CULTURES AND FOLKLORE
THESE OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND HERITAGE TOURISM VALUE.
8.4 ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS
BY PROVIDING MINERALS AND ENABLING TOURISM, THE ARAVALLIS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LIVELIHOODS.
8.5 WATER SECURITY
THE RANGE ACTS AS A WATERSHED ZONE. HEALTHIER HILLS MEAN BETTER GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AND MORE SPRINGS.
9. CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND GOVERNMENT ACTIONS
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARAVALLIS, INDIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE TAKEN STEPS:
9.1 LEGAL PROTECTION
PARTS OF THE RANGE HAVE BEEN LEGALLY DECLARED AS ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES WHERE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ARE RESTRICTED TO PREVENT FURTHER DEGRADATION.
9.2 REFORESTATION AND GREEN PROJECTS
VARIOUS TREE PLANTATION DRIVES AND SOIL CONSERVATION PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY TO RESTORE VEGETATION COVER.
9.3 REGULATION OF MINING
THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA HAS INTERVENED AT TIMES TO REGULATE ILLEGAL MINING AND REHABILITATE MINED-OUT AREAS.
9.4 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
LOCAL NGOS AND CITIZEN GROUPS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN:
SAPLING PLANTATION
WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS
WILDLIFE PROTECTION
HOWEVER, ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION REMAIN CHALLENGING.
10. FUTURE OUTLOOK: THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES
10.1 MAIN THREATS
THE ARAVALLI RANGE STILL FACES:
ILLEGAL MINING
RAPID URBANIZATION
WATER SCARCITY
BIODIVERSITY LOSS
WEAK ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
WITHOUT CORRECTIVE ACTION, THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE RANGE COULD BE IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED.
10.2 OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATION
INDIA CAN:
STRENGTHEN ECO-DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
EXPAND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
ENCOURAGE SCIENTIFIC ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
PROTECTING THE ARAVALLIS IS NOT JUST REGIONAL—IT IS NATIONAL IN IMPORTANCE.
11. CONCLUSION
THE ARAVALLI RANGE IS FAR MORE THAN A SERIES OF HILLS—IT IS:
A GEOLOGICAL TREASURE
A CRADLE OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
A CLIMATE REGULATOR
AN ECOLOGICAL SAFEGUARD
A HOME TO PRICELESS CULTURAL HERITAGE
FROM THE HIGHEST PEAK AT GURU SHIKHAR TO THE LOW RIDGES OF DELHI RIDGE, THE ARAVALLIS CONTRIBUTE TO INDIA’S ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY AND CULTURAL IDENTITY. THEIR PRESERVATION MUST BE A PRIORITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ECOLOGICAL BALANCE, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
1.2 ROCK TYPES AND STRUCTURE OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE (DETAILED EXPLANATION)
THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE IS AMONG THE MOST COMPLEX AND SCIENTIFICALLY VALUABLE IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT. ITS ROCKS PRESERVE A DETAILED RECORD OF THE EARLY EVOLUTION OF THE EARTH’S CRUST, MAKING THE RANGE A NATURAL GEOLOGICAL ARCHIVE. THE ARAVALLI SYSTEM EXPOSES ROCKS THAT ARE MORE THAN 1.5 BILLION YEARS OLD, FORMED DURING MULTIPLE PHASES OF SEDIMENTATION, VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, TECTONIC COMPRESSION, AND METAMORPHISM.
1.2.1 MAJOR ROCK GROUPS OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE
THE ROCKS OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE ARE BROADLY CLASSIFIED INTO THE FOLLOWING MAJOR GROUPS:
- ARCHAEAN BASEMENT COMPLEX
- ARAVALLI SUPERGROUP
- DELHI SUPERGROUP
- POST-ARAVALLI IGNEOUS INTRUSIONS
EACH GROUP REPRESENTS A DISTINCT GEOLOGICAL PHASE IN EARTH’S HISTORY.
1.2.2 ARCHAEAN BASEMENT COMPLEX
THE ARCHAEAN BASEMENT ROCKS FORM THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE ARAVALLI SYSTEM RESTS. THESE ROCKS ARE AMONG THE OLDEST IN INDIA, DATING BACK OVER 2.5 BILLION YEARS.
ROCK TYPES FOUND
GNEISS
GRANITE
MIGMATITE
SCHIST
CHARACTERISTICS
HIGHLY METAMORPHOSED
EXTREMELY HARD AND RESISTANT TO EROSION
COARSE-GRAINED CRYSTALLINE TEXTURE
SHOWS EVIDENCE OF REPEATED DEFORMATION
THESE BASEMENT ROCKS REPRESENT THE PRIMITIVE CONTINENTAL CRUST OF THE INDIAN LANDMASS. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY IGNEOUS OR SEDIMENTARY ROCKS BUT LATER TRANSFORMED DUE TO INTENSE HEAT AND PRESSURE.
1.2.3 ARAVALLI SUPERGROUP
THE ARAVALLI SUPERGROUP CONSISTS MAINLY OF METASEDIMENTARY ROCKS DEPOSITED IN SHALLOW MARINE ENVIRONMENTS AND LATER METAMORPHOSED DURING MOUNTAIN-BUILDING EVENTS.
IMPORTANT ROCK TYPES
QUARTZITE
PHYLLITE
SLATE
DOLOMITE
MARBLE
FORMATION PROCESS
INITIALLY DEPOSITED AS SAND, CLAY, AND LIMESTONE
SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSION AND HEAT DURING TECTONIC COLLISIONS
CONVERTED INTO HARDER METAMORPHIC FORMS
QUARTZITE, DERIVED FROM SANDSTONE, IS ONE OF THE MOST DOMINANT ROCKS AND FORMS THE LONG, LINEAR RIDGES CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ARAVALLIS.
MARBLE, FORMED FROM LIMESTONE, IS ESPECIALLY PROMINENT IN SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN AND IS ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
1.2.4 DELHI SUPERGROUP
THE DELHI SUPERGROUP ROCKS OVERLIE THE ARAVALLI SUPERGROUP AND REPRESENT A YOUNGER PHASE OF GEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.
ROCK TYPES
SCHIST
QUARTZITE
CONGLOMERATE
VOLCANIC ROCKS
STRUCTURAL FEATURES
INTENSELY FOLDED AND FAULTED
DISPLAYS COMPLEX LAYERING
INDICATES STRONG TECTONIC FORCES
THESE ROCKS SHOW THAT THE REGION EXPERIENCED RENEWED TECTONIC ACTIVITY, INCLUDING VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND DEEP BURIAL FOLLOWED BY UPLIFT.
1.2.5 IGNEOUS INTRUSIONS
LARGE BODIES OF MOLTEN MAGMA INTRUDED INTO OLDER ROCKS DURING LATER GEOLOGICAL PERIODS.
COMMON INTRUSIVE ROCKS
GRANITE
DOLERITE
PEGMATITE
THESE INTRUSIONS:
CUT ACROSS EXISTING ROCK LAYERS
INCREASED MINERALIZATION
STRENGTHENED THE ROCK MASS IN SOME REGIONS
PEGMATITE VEINS ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH RARE MINERALS AND GEMSTONES.
1.2.6 STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE
THE ARAVALLI RANGE EXHIBITS COMPLEX STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FORMED BY REPEATED TECTONIC EVENTS.
A) FOLDING
ROCKS SHOW TIGHT FOLDS, ANTICLINES, AND SYNCLINES
INDICATES STRONG HORIZONTAL COMPRESSIONAL FORCES
FOLDING TRENDS GENERALLY FOLLOW THE SW–NE DIRECTION
B) FAULTING
SEVERAL MAJOR AND MINOR FAULTS EXIST
CAUSED DISPLACEMENT OF ROCK LAYERS
INFLUENCED DRAINAGE PATTERNS AND MINERAL DISTRIBUTION
C) FOLIATION AND CLEAVAGE
COMMON IN METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MINERALS ALIGNED DUE TO PRESSURE
GIVES ROCKS A LAYERED OR BANDED APPEARANCE
1.2.7 DEGREE OF METAMORPHISM
THE INTENSITY OF METAMORPHISM VARIES ACROSS THE ARAVALLI RANGE:
LOW-GRADE METAMORPHISM: SLATE, PHYLLITE
MEDIUM-GRADE METAMORPHISM: SCHIST
HIGH-GRADE METAMORPHISM: GNEISS, MIGMATITE
THIS VARIATION INDICATES DIFFERENT DEPTHS OF BURIAL AND TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS DURING GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION.
1.2.8 MINERALIZATION AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
THE STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY AND IGNEOUS INTRUSIONS CREATED FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR ORE FORMATION.
IMPORTANT MINERALS
COPPER (KHETRI BELT)
LEAD AND ZINC (ZAWAR REGION)
SILVER
IRON ORE
MARBLE AND LIMESTONE
THESE MINERAL DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN MINED SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, CONTRIBUTING TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
1.2.9 EROSION AND PRESENT-DAY LANDSCAPE
DUE TO THEIR IMMENSE AGE, THE ARAVALLI ROCKS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO PROLONGED EROSION.
EFFECTS OF EROSION
ROUNDED HILLS INSTEAD OF SHARP PEAKS
EXPOSED ROCK LAYERS
THIN SOIL COVER
INSELBERGS AND RESIDUAL HILLS
THIS EROSION EXPLAINS WHY THE ARAVALLIS ARE LOWER IN HEIGHT COMPARED TO YOUNGER MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS LIKE THE HIMALAYAS.
1.2.10 SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE
THE ROCK TYPES AND STRUCTURES OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE ARE OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE FOR:
UNDERSTANDING EARLY CONTINENTAL FORMATION
STUDYING ANCIENT OCEAN BASINS
ANALYZING TECTONIC CYCLES
TEACHING GEOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
BECAUSE OF THIS, THE ARAVALLI RANGE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A “GEOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF INDIA.”
SUMMARY
THE ROCK TYPES AND STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY OF THE ARAVALLI RANGE REFLECT A MULTI-BILLION-YEAR GEOLOGICAL JOURNEY INVOLVING SEDIMENTATION, VOLCANISM, TECTONIC COLLISION, METAMORPHISM, AND EROSION. THESE ANCIENT ROCKS NOT ONLY DEFINE THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF THE RANGE BUT ALSO UNDERPIN ITS ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE TO INDIA.
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