Neotectonic Movements in the Loharkhet Area, District Almora, Kumann Fiimalaya

Thrusts, fold axes and fault zones in the Loharkhet area in the northern part of Almora district in Uttar Pradesh, record reactivation during Neogene times. Several alluvial and colluvial deposits in the area are being vertically and horizontally offset, and tilted by active folding and faulting. The recent movements along the Ravetiganga overturned anticline and Dulam Gadhera- and Vongarh-Gason-faults have not only uplifted the Nasati-Rithabagar block by about 103 m, but have shifted also the original confluence of the Sarju and Ravetiganga rivers by 11 km southwestward.

The ESE-flowing Gurkhula Gad and Mehar Gad streams have been deflected towards SSE direction by the recent strike-slip movements along the Kaphlikot-Ramari Fault. The Ramari landslides fan has been displaced vertically by 3 m along this fault. Terraced toe of the colluvial cone of the Badiyakot landslide has been displaced dextrally and uplifted by 18 m along the NNW-SSE striking Ghatia Gad Fauh.

The geomorphic expressions of the various tectonic zones indicate both vertical and strike-slip displacements. Rejuvenation of the earlier mature terrain is borne out by topographic changes that have taken place in the recent past. The topographic development indicates continuing uplift in some sections of Vaikrita (MC) Thrust and Berinag Thrust and the zone of the Ravetiganga overturned anticline. Relatively higher rate of uplift is observed for the MCT zone.