Paleobiogeography,paleoecology and paleoenvironmental significance of the Cambrian trilobites from the Zanskar region (Zanskar-Spiti-Kinnaur Basin), Northwest Himalaya

In present study the newly recorded latest Middle Cambrian trilobite fauna from the Cambrian succession of the Zanskar region of Zanskar-Spiti-Kinnaur Basin (Tethyan Himalaya) is analyzed critically to assess relationships with other Cambrian faunal elements of equatorial peri-Gondwanaland. The identification of genus Neoanomocarella, Parablackwelderia, Kunmingaspis, Fuchouia, Damesella and Dorypyge from the Cambrian of the Zanskar region and their comparison with those of South China and Australia is significant. It constitutes the basis for assessing the paleobiogeographic affinities during the Cambrian. The latest Middle Cambrian trilobite fauna from Zanskar shows proximity of Indian margin with that of southwest China “outboard” micro-continent. The recovery of analogous Middle Cambrian species i.e., Dorypyge perconvexlis, Fuchouia bulba, Fuchouia cf. oratolimba, Parablackwelderia sp. and Damesella sp. from the Zanskar region (Tethyan Himalaya) suggests a contiguous close proximity with south China and Australia during the latest Middle Cambrian, which supports the model of Meert and Van der Voo (1997) for assembly of Gondwanaland. The presence of Kunmingaspis in Zanskar and similar reports from northwestern Yunnan-Tibetan region, northern Henan, central and southeastern Hubei, north China, western Xinjiang and Yangtze platform reveal a close affinity between the Indian margin and the Yangtze platform during the Middle Cambrian. The trilobite fauna indicates the deeper shelf-shallow slope environment of deposition under fluctuating conditions of relative sea-level. The faunal elements of the Lejopyge acantha and Proagnostus bulbus zones indicate that the sea inundated the northern margin of Zanskar region during the latest Middle Cambrian time (Teta transgression) which is synchronous with globally recognized eustatic events during Lejopyge laevigata Zone.     

山东长清、薛城一带中、上寒武统界线新认识

<正> 华北中寒武统与上寒武统界线问题,实际上也涉及崮山组时代的归属问题。国外学者如B.Willis和E.Blackwelder(1907),C.D.Walcott(1913),A.W.Grabau(1924),T.Kobayashi(1935)和R.Endo(1937)等认为崮山组应归中寒武世晚期。1959年由Moore主编的《三叶虫专著》(Treatise on Invertebrade Palaeontology Part O.)将崮     

Integrated ichnological and sedimentological studies of the Parahio Formation (Cambrian) of the Zanskar region (Zanskar-Spiti Basin), Northwest Himalaya

Lower-Middle Cambrian (Lungwangmiaoan-Hsuchuangian stage) Parahio Formation (Kunzam La Formation) exposed at Purni Village, Niri-Tsarap Chu Valley of Zanskar region of Tethyan Himalaya has yielded a high diversity and abundant ichnofossils with myriapod trackways. It includes Cruziana isp., Phycodes palmatum, Diplocraterion isp., Diplichnites isp., Dimorphichnus isp., Tapherhelminthopsis cf. circularis, Teichichnus isp., Monomorphicnus isp., Lockeia isp., Skolithos isp., Planolites isp., Palaeophycus isp., Isopodichnus isp., and arthropod appendage marks. Integration of ichnological and sedimentological studies for measured part of the Parahio Formation (Cambrian) reveals that alternating energy conditions due to recurring storm events were superimposed on low energy fair-weather sediments. The post-depositional Arenicolites ichnofacies, preserved within the high-energy storm beds of shoreface deposits, commonly overlies the fair-weather assemblage of pre-depositional Cruziana ichnofacies of relatively more offshore deposits, which contains more diverse and varied behavioral signatures of various deposit feeders. The traces of the Cruziana ichnofacies are abruptly replaced by traces of Arenicolites ichnofacies and show reiteration throughout the measured part of the Parahio Formation. The ichnofabric indices in these deposits range from ii3–ii5. No discrete sets of tiers are observed; perhaps there were two coeval communities. Ichnologically, an idealized wave-dominated progradational cycle in the Parahio Formation is characterized, from base to top, by a Cruziana ichnofacies (lower-upper offshore to offshore transition) and storm related Arenicolites ichnofacies (shoreface). Each progradational cycle reflects a progressive increase in sand content, degree of oxygenation, hydrodynamic energy and dearth of food. These environmental factors controlled the vertical distribution of trace fossils in Parahio Formation. The occurrence of Cruziana ichnoassociation much below the Middle Cambrian trilobite horizon in the Parahio Formation restricts the age of this part of the formation to the pre-Middle Cambrian, probably series 2 of Cambrian system.     

Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds in Kangmar,Southern Tibet,China

The planktic foraminifera of the Chuangde Formation (Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds, CORBs) as exposed at Tianbadong section, Kangmar, southern Tibet has been firstly studied for a detailed for a detailed biostratigraphy elaboration. A rich and well-preserved planktic foraminifera were recovered from the Chuangde Formation of the Tianbadong section and the Globotruncanita elevata, Globotruncana ventricosa, Radotruncana calcarata, Globotruncanella havanensis, Globotruncana aegyptiaca, Gansserina gansseri and Abathomphalus mayaroensis zones have been recognized. The planktic foraminiferal assemblage points to an early Campanian to Maastrichitian age for the CORBs of the eastern North Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt, which also provides a better understanding of the shifting progress of the Indian Plate to the north and the evolution of the Neotethyan ocean. The lithostratigraphy of the Chuangde Formation of the Tianbadong section comprises two lithological sequences observed in ascending succession: a lower unit (the Shale Member) mainly composed of purple (cherry-red, violet-red) shales with interbedded siltstones and siliceous rocks; and an upper unit (the Limestone Member) of variegated limestones. The strata of the Chuangde Formation in the Tianbadong section are similar to CORBs in other parts of the northern Tethyan Himalaya area of Asia (Gyangze, Sa’gya, Sangdanlin, northern Zanskar, etc.). The fossil contents of the Chuangde Formation in the sections (CORBs) studied provide a means of correlation with the zonation schemes for those of the northern Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt and the Upper Cretaceous of the southern Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt. Paleogeographic reconstruction for the Late Cretaceous indicates that the Upper Cretaceous Chuangde Formation (CORBs) and correlatable strata in northern Zanskar were representative of slope to basinal deposits, which were situated in the northern Tethyan Belt. Correlatable Cretaceous strata in Spiti and Gamba situated in the southern Tethyan Belt in contrast were deposited in shelf environments along the Tethyan Himalayan passive margin. CORBs are most likely formed by the oxidation of Fe(II)-enriched, anoxic deep ocean water near the chemocline that separated the oxic oceanic surface from the anoxic.     

Trilobite Biostratigraphy of the lower Paleozoic (Cambrian–Ordovician) Joseon Supergroup, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea

In Korea,trilobites are among the most intensively studied fossil groups in the past century and provide invaluable information about lower Paleozoic stratigraphy,paleogeography,and tectonics of the Korean Peninsula. Trilobites occur in the lower Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup of the Taebaeksan Basin which was part of the Sino-Korean Craton in the Paleozoic. The Joseon Supergroup is divided into the Taebaek,Yeongwol,and Mungyeong groups. The Taebaek and Yeongwol groups are richly fossiliferous,while the Mungyeong Group is poorly fossiliferous. Contrasting trilobite faunal contents of the Taebaek and Yeongwol groups resulted in two separate biostratigraphic schemes for the Cambrian–Ordovician of the Taebaeksan Basin. A total of 22 biozones or fossiliferous horizons were recognized in the Taebaek Group; 19 zones were established in the Yeongwol Group; and four biozones were known from the Mungyeong Group. These trilobite biozones of the Taebaeksan Basin indicate the Joseon Supergroup ranges in age from the Cambrian Series 2 to Middle Ordovician and can be correlated well with the formations of North China,South China,and Australia.     

The oldest trilobites in Cambria: Early Cambrian trilobite faunas from the Llanberis Slates Formation,Gwynedd, North Wales

Historical published works on the fossil fauna of the Llanberis Slates Formation in Gwynedd, North Wales, concentrated on the endemic trilobite Pseudatops viola (Woodward, 1888), and placed the formation towards the top of Stage 3 (Series 2) of the Cambrian chronostratigraphy.The impression given was that the fauna is not particularly diverse and fossils are rare. However, recent collecting has produced a comprehensive fauna of sponges, hyolithids and diverse arthropods including over 250 trilobite specimens from two localities of the uppermost Green Slate horizon. Among them are examples of the endemic trilobite Pseudatops viola, sufficiently well preserved to enable a reappraisal of its status. The most abundant trilobite is a form of Strenuella (cf. strenua), but the collection includes previously unrecorded eodiscoid trilobites and specimens representing unrecorded and potentially new taxa. These additions result in the most comprehensive lower Cambrian trilobite assemblage yet described from Wales, and place it in the lower part of Stage 4, Series 2 in standard global terms.     

Discovery of Trace Fossils from the Sinian—Cambrian Boundary Beds in Eastern Yunnan and Their Significance for Global Correlation1

Abstract There are abundant and highly varied trace fossils in the Sinian—Cambrian boundary beds in eastern Yunnan. Collections from 27 sections and their study give altogether 45 ichnogenera and 87 ichnospecies. Among them, 2 ichnogenera and 7 ichnospecies are new, and 31 known ichnogenera and 38 known ichnospecies first found in the region. According to their order of appearance in the boundary beds and their assemblage features, the trace fossils in the Sinian—Cambrian boundary beds in the region may fall into 4 trace fossil assemblage zones in ascending order. In the paper they are correlated with those in the equivalent horizons abroad and their geological significance is discussed preliminarily.     

新化,湘潭等地跳马涧组的遗迹化石

新化、湘潭等地跳马涧组的遗迹化石经笔者鉴定与描术者共15个遗迹属24个遗迹种(包括4个新遗迹种)。它们大部分属于跳马涧组上部,可分为Arenicolites-Palaeophycus组合,Skolithos-Planolites组合,Palaeophycus-Gordia组合,Rhizocorallium-Planolites组合,代表近滨环境,属Cruziana遗迹相。部分属于顶部Zoophycus-Cochlichnus组合和Zoophycus-Skolithos组合,属Zoophycus遗迹相上部。综合前人资料,湖南跳马涧组遗迹化石现已发现22属45种,可归并为居住迹、觅食迹、爬行迹、休息迹、啮食迹、钻孔、逃逸构造、生物扰动构造八种生态类型。由跳马涧组下部至顶部,由以居住迹为主的遗迹组合,转变为居住迹、觅食迹同等发育或以觅食迹为主,转变为啮食迹为主的组合。反映由前滨转变为近滨,再转变为远滨,代表海水加深、海侵扩大的过程。     

Additional late Middle Cambrian trilobites from Karsha Formation (Haimanta Group) Zanskar region of Zanskar-Spiti basin, Northwest Himalaya

Additional latest Middle Cambrian polymerid trilobites are recorded from the Teta Member (Karsha Formation) along the Tangze-Yogma-Kuru section, Kurgiakh Valley, southeastern Zanskar, Northwest Himalaya. It includes record of a new genus Pianspis Saito & Sakakuru, 1936 of family Lisianiidae and others associated fauna comprises of Neoanomocarella asiatica (Lisianiidae), Parablackwelderia sp., (Damesellidae) and two undetermined pygidium and one unidentified cranidia. All these specimens are collected from the level representing the Lejopyge acantha Zone of Guzhangian Stage (Cambrian Series 3) of the Middle Cambrian. The fauna is mainly correlated with the South China, North Korea, Kazakhastan, Uzbekistan, Siberia and Australia.     

Micro faunal assemblages in the Ordovician – Silurian successions from the Pin Valley of Tethys Himalaya, India

The Spiti basin together with the Zanskar basin forms the largest basin among the Tethyan Himalayan successions and forms one of the best-developed sec-tions in the Tethyan Tibetan belt. The basin is one of the classical areas, which depicts a continuous fos-siliferous Palaeozoic - Mesozoic successions. The present studies are focused on the Ordovician and Si-lurian successions of the Pin valley of the Spiti basin. Pin valley exposes richly fossiliferous lithological successions from Neoproterozoic to Cretaceous; therefore, it is an ideal section for the detail paleobi-ological and geological studies.     

Peri-Gondwana Late Early–Middle Cambrian trilobites from the Kuhbanan Formation in Dahu section,Kerman Province,Iran

Outcropped of the Kuhbanan Formation at Dahu, near Zarand, about 63 km north of Kerman, Iran contains peri-Gondwana trilobites. In this study, 185 trilobite samples including six species and genera were identified and described from Dahu section. This trilobite’s assemblage including Redlichia noetlingi, Redlichia sp., Kermanella kuhbananensis, Kermanella lata lata, Kermanella lata minuta, Iranoleesia pisiformis, and Iranaspis sp. based on occurrence of the trilobite fauna a late Early to Middle Cambrian (Series 2–3) is suggested for this strata. These trilobite fauna help confirm conclusions from recent geological studies that place the Kerman Basin of Iran during the Cambrian.     

寒武纪三叶虫生物地理区的一些问题

文内叙述寒武纪三叶虫分类、分布和分区。世界上有两个寒武纪生物地理区,一个是北区,另一个是南区。斜坡带的球接子类及少数多节类是世界性分布的,仅能视作任何一区内的生态小区。两区的分界在北非的北部、土耳其的南部,再向东连接天山的北部边缘及蒙古的南部边缘。从南欧寒武纪三叶虫的情况看,是海水深度频繁变化的结果。中国任何一个地区,既不属东冈瓦纳,也不属西冈瓦纳。     

峡东寒武纪三叶虫化石新材料

三峡东部中寒武统化石稀少。本文对在宜昌三斗坪中寒武世覃家庙组二段下部含鲕粒灰岩、细晶灰岩中所采获的三叶虫Xingrenaspis sp.进行了研究和描述,并对含化石地层时代进行了讨论。此次发现,丰富了峡东中寒武世的化石资料,也为本区中寒武世地层划分对比提供了新的依据。     

Systematics, biometry of the species Opsidiscus from the Middle Cambrian succession of the Spiti basin, India

The Middle Cambrian succession of the Parahio Valley in general and Debsakhad section in particular is dominated by trilobites. Genus Opsidiscus, along with other trilobite forms dominates the lower Middle Cambrian succession. In the present study two new species of Opsidiscus, Opsidiscus wadiai and Opsidiscus srikantiai are reported from the lower Middle Cambrian succession of Debsakhad section. The species were differentiated on their morphological features and their multivariate analysis. The multivariate analysis applied here is used as a supplement method to qualitative analysis in order to differentiate between the cranidial characters of Opsidiscus. The qualitative study of each species studied individually shows more or less close affiliation as is observed by different quantitative methods. The presence of Opsidiscus has a great stratigraphic significance in this region, as they first appear from informal Stage 5 of Series 3 and goes up to the Drumian Stage of Series 3 of the Cambrian System in the Debsakhad section, which helps to correlate this section with other well known sections of the Middle Cambrian.     

新疆塔里木盆地东北部库鲁克塔格地区寒武─奥陶纪遗迹化石

本文研究的遗迹化石采自新疆塔里木盆地东北部库鲁克塔格山上寒武统和奥陶系．经鉴定计有１６个遗迹属，２１个遗迹种，其中有４个新遗迹种．这个地区丰富的深海Ｎｅｒｅｉｔｅｓ遗迹相遗迹化石在我国首次发现，这些发现对于塔里木盆地的油气勘探，沉积环境分析具有重要的意义．     

新疆塔里木盆地东北部库鲁克塔格地区寒武─奥陶纪遗迹化石

本文研究的遗迹化石采自新疆塔里木盆地东北部库鲁克塔格山上寒武统和奥陶系．经鉴定计有１６个遗迹属，２１个遗迹种，其中有４个新遗迹种．这个地区丰富的深海Ｎｅｒｅｉｔｅｓ遗迹相遗迹化石在我国首次发现，这些发现对于塔里木盆地的油气勘探，沉积环境分析具有重要的意义．     

Late Cambrian deformation in the Lesser Himalaya

The Tons Valley, situated in the central-easternmost part of the Himachal Lesser Himalaya, adjoining the Garhwal Himalaya, shows geological features suggestive of a strong pre-Tertiary deformational episode. The Paleoproterozoic Dharagad Group, overlain by the Mesoproterozoic Deoban and Neoproterozoic Simla groups rest as a thrust sheet over the Middle Cambrian Chilar Formation, which occurs as windows and also as tectonic slivers within the thrust sheet designated as the Dharagad Thrust Sheet (DTS). The mineral lineation, inclination of tectonic slivers and overturned beds suggest that the DTS was translated from the NE. The westernmost and southwesternmost leading edges of the DTS are exposed at Subathu and Morni WNW and WSW respectively of the Tons Valley. The position of the leading edges of the DTS vis-à-vis the windows in the Tons Valley suggest a minimum translation of about 50 km for the DTS. The Simla Group at Subathu and the Deoban at Morni, forming parts of the DTS, constitute basement for the Thanetian–Lutetian Subathu Formation of the Himalayan Foreland Basin (HFB). This stratigraphic relationship unambiguously demonstrates that the Simla and the Deoban Groups, forming leading edges of the allochthonous DTS, were already translated and emplaced at Subathu and Morni before the creation of the HFB in which the deposition commenced with the Subathu Formation in Thanetian. It implies that the DTS was translated from the NE to the present position at Subathu and Morni in pre-Thanetian time. There is no direct evidence to constrain the age of the thrusting.In view of regional regression in Late Cambrian, a distinct angular unconformity between the Cambrian and the overlying Ordovician, Early Paleozoic metamorphism and extensive development of Early Paleozoic granites and their rapid exhumation, a Late Cambrian age is suggested for the DTS thrusting. Not only the direction of movement of the DTS is same as that of the Tertiary thrust sheets but also Cambrian folds are co-axial with the Tertiary folds. This strange coincidence shows that similar kinematic field existed during two tectonic events. A ridge, like the present Central Crystalline Axis, was elevated between the Tethyan and Lesser Himalayan basins, which contributed zircons of the Early Cambrian age to both basins.     

Cambrian trace fossils of the Cruziana ichnofacies from the Bikaner-Nagaur Basin,north western Indian Craton

The Marwar Supergroup of the Bikaner-Nagaur Basin is composed of sediments deposited from the late Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran) to Upper Cambrian. The Nagaur Sandstone Formation of the Nagaur Group (uppermost division of the Marwar Supergroup) preserves trace fossils significant for establishing Early Cambrian biostratigraphic zones and depositional facies. Fifteen ichnospecies (and eight ichnogenera) identified in the Nagaur Sandstone Formation include “Treptichnus” pedum, Cruziana cf. tenella, Cruziana isp., Diplichnites ispp. A, B, and C, Gyrophyllites isp., Lockeia isp., Merostomichnites isp., Monomorphichnus gregarius isp. nov., Monomorphichnus isp., Planolites isp., Psammichnites isp., Rusophycus bikanerus isp. nov., Rusophycus cf. carbonarius, Rusophycus isp. and radial trace fossils.These trace fossils belong to ethological categories pascichnia, repichnia, cubichnia, and fodinichnia and represent arthropod and worm-like burrowing biota. The assemblage and a regional comparison with contemporaneous trace fossils in the eastern Gondwanan realm suggest that the sequence in the study area belongs to the Cruziana tenella Ichnozone and to Stage 2 (upper part of Terreneuvian), however the Middle Cambrian is not excluded. The trace fossil assemblage belongs to the archetypal Cruziana ichnofacies. Cross bedded sandstone, mud cracks and rainprints in the ichniferous strata of the Nagaur Sandstone Formation indicate deposition in an intertidal sand flat with channels that was exposed episodically.     

Cambrian stratigraphy of Kashmir and its boundary problems

The biostratigraphy of the Cambrian of Kashmir based on trilobite assemblage zones and trace fossils has been attempted. Faunal gaps occur in lower part of Lower Cambrian, upper Lower Cambrian, lower Middle Cambrian and upper part of Upper Cambrian. In the Lower Cambrian Cruziana—Rusophycus and Redlichia Zones, in the Middle Cambrian Solenopleura—Tonkinella, Tonkinella—Anomocare, Anomocare—Bailiella and Bolaspidella Zones, and in the Upper Cambrian Chuangia and Dikelocephalites Zones are recognized. The position of intrasystem boundaries is also discussed. While the various taxa have lithological preferences and are not necessarily found in a continuous sequence, an attempt has been made to interpret the ranges of different genera. The affinities of the fauna with that of other Cambrian basins of the world are discussed. It is concluded that the bulk of the fauna is of a cosmopolitan nature.     

An overview of the stratigraphy and tectonics of the Nepal Himalaya

Nepal can be divided into the following five east–west trending major tectonic zones. (i) The Terai Tectonic Zone which consists of over one km of Recent alluvium concealing the Churia Group (Siwalik equivalents) and underlying rocks of northern Peninsular India. Recently active southward-propagating thrusts and folds beneath the Terai have affected both the underlying Churia and the younger sediments. (ii) The Churia Zone, which consists of Neogene to Quaternary foreland basin deposits and forms the Himalayan mountain front. The Churia Zone represents the most tectonically active part of the Himalaya. Recent sedimentologic, geochronologic and paleomagnetic studies have yielded a much better understanding of the provenance, paleoenvironment of deposition and the ages of these sediments. The Churia Group was deposited between ∼14 Ma and ∼1 Ma. Sedimentary rocks of the Churia Group form an archive of the final drama of Himalayan uplift. Involvement of the underlying northern Peninsular Indian rocks in the active tectonics of the Churia Zone has also been recognised. Unmetamorphosed Phanerozoic rocks of Peninsular India underlying the Churia Zone that are involved in the Himalayan orogeny may represent a transitional environment between the Peninsula and the Tethyan margin of the continent. (iii) The Lesser Himalayan Zone, in which mainly Precambrian rocks are involved, consists of sedimentary rocks that were deposited on the Indian continental margin and represent the southernmost facies of the Tethyan sea. Panafrican diastrophism interrupted the sedimentation in the Lesser Himalayan Zone during terminal Precambrian time causing a widespread unconformity. That unconformity separates over 12 km of unfossiliferous sedimentary rocks in the Lesser Himalaya from overlying fossiliferous rocks which are >3 km thick and range in age from Permo-Carboniferous to Lower to Middle Eocene. The deposition of the Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene fluvial Dumri Formation records the emergence of the Himalayan mountains from under the sea. The Dumri represents the earliest foreland basin deposit of the Himalayan orogen in Nepal. Lesser Himalayan rocks are less metamorphosed than the rocks of the overlying Bhimphedis nappes and the crystalline rocks of the Higher Himalayan Zone. A broad anticline in the north and a corresponding syncline in the south along the Mahabharat range, as well as a number of thrusts and faults are the major structures of the Lesser Himalayan Zone which is thrust over the Churia Group along the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). (iv) The crystalline high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Higher Himalayan Zone form the backbone of the Himalaya and give rise to its formidable high ranges. The Main Central Thrust (MCT) marks the base of this zone. Understanding the origin, timing of movement and associated metamorphism along the MCT holds the key to many questions about the evolution of the Himalaya. For example: the question of whether there is only one or whether there are two MCTs has been a subject of prolonged discussion without any conclusion having been reached. The well-known inverted metamorphism of the Himalaya and the late orogenic magmatism are generally attributed to movement along the MCT that brought a hot slab of High Himalayan Zone rocks over the cold Lesser Himalayan sequence. Harrison and his co-workers, as described in a paper in this volume, have lately proposed a detailed model of how this process operated. The rocks of the Higher Himalayan Zone are generally considered to be Middle Cambrian to Late Proterozoic in age. (v) The Tibetan Tethys Zone is represented by Cambrian to Cretaceous-Eocene fossiliferous sedimentary rocks overlying the crystalline rocks of the Higher Himalaya along the Southern Tibetan Detachment Fault System (STDFS) which is a north dipping normal fault system. The fault has dragged down to the north a huge pile of the Tethyan sedimentary rocks forming some of the largest folds on the Earth. Those sediments are generally considered to have been deposited in a more distal part of the Tethys than were the Lesser Himalayan sediments.The present tectonic architecture of the Himalaya is dominated by three master thrusts: the Main Central Thrust (MCT), the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT). The age of initiation of these thrusts becomes younger from north to south, with the MCT as the oldest and the MFT as the youngest. All these thrusts are considered to come together at depth in a flat-lying decollement called the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT). The Mahabharat Thrust (MT), an intermediate thrust between the MCT and the MBT is interpreted as having brought the Bhimphedi Group out over the Lesser Himalayan rocks giving rise to Lesser Himalayan nappes containing crystalline rocks. The position of roots of these nappes is still debated. The Southern Tibetan Detachment Fault System (STDFS) has played an important role in unroofing the higher Himalayan crystalline rocks.