Trans-Aravalli Vindhyan Evaporites under the Semi-desertic plains of Western India - Significance of Depositional Features

A large evaporite basin of upper Proterozoic and early Cambrian age exists in the sub-surface of western part of India, now represented by the semi-desertic plains of Punjab-Haryana-Rajasthan and extending beyond the Salt Range of Pakistan. This has come to light in recent years by intensive exploratory drilling. Under a thick blanket of Quaternary sediments (305-330 m) of southwest Punjab (Faridkot and Ferozepur districts) and north-west Haryana (Sirsa district), in contiguity with Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan, there occurs in the sub-surface huge thickness of sedimentary rocks, essentially sub-horizontal in disposition. Part of this sedimentary sequence consists of halite and associated evaporites (polyhalite, anhydrite, limestone and dolomite), attaining a cumulative thickness of over 600 mat Hansera in Rajasthan.

Synthesis of available data suggests that the present evaporite sequence constitutes a marginal facies of a larger evaporite basin existing to the west.