PPT: Structure and Physiography

 Page 1


Structure and 
Physiography
Page 2


Structure and 
Physiography
I n t r o d u c t i o n
Earth's 4.6 billion-year history has been shaped by both 
internal (endogenic) and external (exogenic) forces.
The Indian plate, once located south of the equator and 
connected to the Australian plate, has been moving 
northward while Australia drifted southeast.
This ongoing northward movement continues to 
influence the Indian subcontinent's environment and 
geology.
The Indian subcontinent's current geological structure 
results from the interaction between endogenic and 
exogenic forces combined with tectonic plate 
movements.
Page 3


Structure and 
Physiography
I n t r o d u c t i o n
Earth's 4.6 billion-year history has been shaped by both 
internal (endogenic) and external (exogenic) forces.
The Indian plate, once located south of the equator and 
connected to the Australian plate, has been moving 
northward while Australia drifted southeast.
This ongoing northward movement continues to 
influence the Indian subcontinent's environment and 
geology.
The Indian subcontinent's current geological structure 
results from the interaction between endogenic and 
exogenic forces combined with tectonic plate 
movements.
Geological Divisions of India
The Peninsular Block
Ancient, stable landmass 
consisting of old 
gneisses and granites 
that has remained 
largely unchanged since 
the Cambrian period.
The Himalayas and other 
Peninsular Mountains
Young, weak, and 
flexible mountain 
systems that are still 
being influenced by both 
exogenic and endogenic 
forces.
The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain
Formed by sediments deposited by rivers in a geo-
synclinal depression with alluvial deposits ranging from 
1,000 to 2,000 meters in depth.
Page 4


Structure and 
Physiography
I n t r o d u c t i o n
Earth's 4.6 billion-year history has been shaped by both 
internal (endogenic) and external (exogenic) forces.
The Indian plate, once located south of the equator and 
connected to the Australian plate, has been moving 
northward while Australia drifted southeast.
This ongoing northward movement continues to 
influence the Indian subcontinent's environment and 
geology.
The Indian subcontinent's current geological structure 
results from the interaction between endogenic and 
exogenic forces combined with tectonic plate 
movements.
Geological Divisions of India
The Peninsular Block
Ancient, stable landmass 
consisting of old 
gneisses and granites 
that has remained 
largely unchanged since 
the Cambrian period.
The Himalayas and other 
Peninsular Mountains
Young, weak, and 
flexible mountain 
systems that are still 
being influenced by both 
exogenic and endogenic 
forces.
The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain
Formed by sediments deposited by rivers in a geo-
synclinal depression with alluvial deposits ranging from 
1,000 to 2,000 meters in depth.
The Peninsular Block
The northern boundary of the Peninsular Block is an uneven 
line starting from Kachchh, going along the Aravali Range 
near Delhi, and then roughly parallel to the Yamuna and 
Ganga rivers until the Rajmahal Hills and Ganga delta.
The Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya Plateau in the northeast 
and Rajasthan in the west are also part of this block.
The northeastern area is separated from the Chotanagpur 
plateau by the Malda fault in West Bengal.
In Rajasthan, the block is covered by desert and similar 
features.
The Peninsula mainly consists of very old gneisses and 
granites, which make up most of the region.
Page 5


Structure and 
Physiography
I n t r o d u c t i o n
Earth's 4.6 billion-year history has been shaped by both 
internal (endogenic) and external (exogenic) forces.
The Indian plate, once located south of the equator and 
connected to the Australian plate, has been moving 
northward while Australia drifted southeast.
This ongoing northward movement continues to 
influence the Indian subcontinent's environment and 
geology.
The Indian subcontinent's current geological structure 
results from the interaction between endogenic and 
exogenic forces combined with tectonic plate 
movements.
Geological Divisions of India
The Peninsular Block
Ancient, stable landmass 
consisting of old 
gneisses and granites 
that has remained 
largely unchanged since 
the Cambrian period.
The Himalayas and other 
Peninsular Mountains
Young, weak, and 
flexible mountain 
systems that are still 
being influenced by both 
exogenic and endogenic 
forces.
The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain
Formed by sediments deposited by rivers in a geo-
synclinal depression with alluvial deposits ranging from 
1,000 to 2,000 meters in depth.
The Peninsular Block
The northern boundary of the Peninsular Block is an uneven 
line starting from Kachchh, going along the Aravali Range 
near Delhi, and then roughly parallel to the Yamuna and 
Ganga rivers until the Rajmahal Hills and Ganga delta.
The Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya Plateau in the northeast 
and Rajasthan in the west are also part of this block.
The northeastern area is separated from the Chotanagpur 
plateau by the Malda fault in West Bengal.
In Rajasthan, the block is covered by desert and similar 
features.
The Peninsula mainly consists of very old gneisses and 
granites, which make up most of the region.
The Peninsula has remained largely stable since the Cambrian period, with changes only in submerged 
western coastal areas and regions of tectonic activity.
As part of the Indo-Australian Plate, vertical movements and block faulting created rift valleys (Narmada, 
Tapi, Mahanadi) and the Satpura block mountains.
Notable ancient mountain ranges include the Aravali, Nallamala, Javadi, Veliconda, Palkonda, and 
Mahendragiri hills.
Rivers in this region have shallow valleys with gentle slopes. East-flowing rivers like Mahanadi, Krishna, 
Kaveri, and Godavari form deltas at the Bay of Bengal.