M.P. Sah, R.A.K.

Srivastava, Morphology and facies of the alluvial-fan sedimenta

tion in the Kangra Valley, Himachal Himalaya, Sedimentary Geology, Volume 76, Is
sue 1, 1992, Pages 23-42, ISSN 0037-0738, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0037-0738(92
)90137-G.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/003707389290137G)
Abstract: A number of alluvial fans, having an average width (E-W) of 10 15 km and l
ength (N-S) of 8 15 km, have been mapped using the LANDSAT TM imageries on 1:250,000
scale in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Himalaya. This important geomorphic zone
of alluvial fans is confined between the foot of the Dhauladhar Range and the S
iwalik ridges. These fans are gently sloping from north to south and are slightl
y dissected having distinct horizons of glacial, glacio-fluvial, fluvial, lacust
rine and loessic sediments derived from the Dhauladhar granitic complex, Dharams
ala and Siwalik Formations during the glacial and interglacial climatic stages o
f the Quaternary period. The vertical lithological profiles of these fans show a
dominance of gravelly (nearly 60%) facies along with other lithofacies associat
ions representing a braided-river depositional environment. In general, the thic
kness of fan sediments ranges between 90 and 120 m. The vertical facies are subd
ivided into three main facies, i.e. lower-, middle- and upper-fan facies, showin
g distinct sediment characteristics. The presence of glacial moraines and clay-r
ich debris-flow deposits is significant in the upper-fan facies. The middle-fan
facies is gravel-dominated along with some interbedded sandy channel-fill deposi
ts, whereas the lower-fan facies is composed of sand, silt and mud. The genesis
of these three fan facies is closely related with the uplift of the source area
and climatic changes during the Pleistocene period.