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Recurrent seismicity in Rajasthan State in the tectonically stable NW Indian

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 IJES Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences
Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9.

Recurrent seismicity in Rajasthan State in the tectonically stable NW

Indian Craton
Hitesh Kumar1,2, Manoj Pandit1*
1. Department of Geology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur - 302004, Rajasthan, India
2. Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Received 16 February 2019; accepted 28 July 2019

Abstract
Indian peninsular region comprises several Archean cratonic blocks (Dharwar, Bastar, Singhbhum, Aravalli – Bundelkhand),
bordered by Proterozoic mobile belts. Therefore, this region is considered as tectonically stable and designated as the least vulnerable
region to earthquake hazard except the still active Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ). The latter is a major suture between
southern and northern Indian blocks. Seismicity in India is common along its northern and northeastern (Himalayan) region defining
the Indian Plate margin, in collision with the Eurasian (Tibetan) Plate. Being tectonically active, this region has a documen ted record
of frequent earthquakes including some high magnitude and devastating ones. The northwestern Indian block is amongst the
relatively stable Precambrian regions of India and categorized under Zone – II by the Indian Meteorology Department, one of the
seismically least vulnerable regions. However, the region has been a site of recurring low to moderate magnitude earthquakes.
Compilation of the earthquake data from the Rajasthan State in NW India documents at least 45 earthquakes in this region duri ng the
last one and a half decades. Several of these have remained unnoticed because of their low magnitude. The NE –SW trending
Aravalli Mountain Region (AMR), running across the eastern half of Rajasthan State represents the most significant tectonomor phic
feature of NW India. The AMR is an ensemble of Proterozoic age Aravalli and Delhi Supergroup rocks (metasediments, volcanics
and intrusives) that overlie an Archean basement (Banded Gneissic Complex – BGC). These Proterozoic mobile belts have evolved
through several episodes of deformation that have shaped its present day geomorphology. The western part of the State, the Marwar
Block, is relatively younger in age and was accreted to the AMR during the 1 Ga subduction event. The western margin of AMR,
also called as the Western Margin Fault, represents a major suture between the two terranes. However, the entire region was
cratonized by end Proterozoic and has remained tectonically stable during the Phanerozoic Eon. The Archean basement and
overlying Proterozoic cover rocks are infested with several major and minor faults and shear zones. The most prominent ones are the
NE-SW trending major lineaments corresponding with the regional tectonic grain and several minor ones across. The earthquake
epicenter distribution pattern shows a close spatial association with these lineaments. In the absence of any significant tectonic
activity in the region and rise in pore pressure either due to magmatism or excessive rainfall, we attribute recurrence of ea rthquakes
in the region to reactivation of such old sutures/weaker zones as a response to stress build-up along the northern margin of the Indian
Plate resulting from ongoing northward convergence of the Indian Plate. Some of the faults in western part are traceable into the
Cambay Basin active faults in the south that may have triggered seismic activity in western Rajasthan.
Keywords: Recurrent Seismicity, Lineaments, Reactivation, NW India, Rajasthan, Indian Plate Convergence

1. Introduction
Seismicity hazard is an issue of serious concern because The Circum Pacific Belt (Ring of Fire), Mediterranean
of the magnitude of destruction the earthquakes may Alpine – Himalayan region, the Mid Atlantic Ocean
cause. It is one of the most disastrous natural hazards region, can be named as the most prominent seismic
that cannot be controlled or averted but an indepth zones/belts. Besides, several other regions experience
geological understanding would help in identification frequent earthquakes of sizable magnitude. The old
and demarcation of earthquake vulnerable regions for (Archean – Proterozoic) terrains that have cratonized
better preparedness to minimize the loss of life. In the more than 500 million years ago and do not have any
Indian context, the poor construction and inappropriate tectonic history during the Phanerozoic, are considered
building design also contribute significantly toward loss tectonically stable and seismically safe. However,
of life and property. Earthquake hypocentres may be instances of occasional low to moderate magnitude
shallow to deep, depending upon ongoing tectonic earthquakes are not uncommon even in the most stable
activity in the lower crust – upper mantle region. shield areas (Kayal, 2008). Roy (2006), has questioned
Therefore, earthquakes are typically associated with the the ‘seismically stable’ status of the Indian Peninsular
tectonically active regions in the present day scenario, region (Indian Shield), based on apparent differences
such as the active plate margins and within plate rift with other shield regions i.e., the Canadian Shield. The
zones. Indian Shield lies close to the active Himalayan belt and
--------------------- a considerable part of it forms part of the Himalayan
*Corresponding author. edifice. There are records of high magnitude
E-mail address): [email protected] earthquakes (>8 magnitude) in this region that are
2 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9.

usually associated with collision tectonics (Roy 2006). Axis is known as the Western Plains that comprises a
Besides, the unusually high heat-flow over parts of the largely peneplained alluvial sandy tract. The
Peninsular Indian Shield indicates an abnormally hot westernmost part of the State is the Thar Desert that
crust, unlike the heat-flow pattern in other shield areas forms the eastern limit of the vast Saharan arid tract
of the world (Rao et al. 1976; Singh 1985). The Bouguer (Sinha-Roy et al. 1998). The volcanic and plutonic rocks
gravity anomaly maps published by the National of Malani Igneous Suite and some hills comprising
Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad show high Phanerozoic sediments rise above the western sandy
positive values (>40 mGal) in several parts of India, plains as isolated outcrops. The region to the east of
which according to Negi et al. (1986) indicate ‘mobility’ Aravalli Mountain Region, is known as the eastern
rather than stability. plains and comprises parts of the fertile Gangetic plains
The northwestern Indian terrain is one such ‘stable’ and sedimentary (Vindhyan Supergroup) hills.
region that largely comprises an Archean – Proterozoic In the geological context the oldest group of rocks is the
crystalline basement and overlying fold belts with a ~3.3 – 2.5 Ga, Banded Gneiss Complex (Heron 1953;
record of multiple episodes of metamorphism and Roy and Jakhar 2002) that can be traced further east into
deformation during the Precambrian (Sinha-Roy et al. the Bundelkhand Craton in north-central India (Meert et
1995, 1998; Gupta et al. 1997; Roy and Jakhar 2002, al. 2010). The highly deformed and migmatized granite
and references therein). The region west of the Aravalli gneisses, mafic and acid intrusive rocks of the Banded
Mountain Belt, is a geologically younger domain, Gneiss Complex (BGC) form the basement for two
known as the Marwar Block (de Wall et al. 2012). The overlying supracrutal sequences, namely Aravalli
oldest rocks known from this western segment are the (Paleoproterozoic) and Meso- Neoproterozoic, Delhi
~830 Ma trondhjemitic gneisses (Pradhan et al. 2010), supergroups (Heron 1953). Both the basement and
overlain and intruded by the 780 – 750 Ma volcano- cover rocks have undergone multiple episodes of
plutonic rocks of the Malani Igneous Suite (Gregory et deformation, metamorphism and magmatism (Sinha-
al. 2009; Wang et al. 2017; Zhao et al. 2018). These Roy et al. 1998; Roy and Jakhar 2002; Meert and Pandit
together form the basement for the overlying 2015 and references therein). All the major tectonic
Precambrian – Cambrian Marwar Supergroup and features in the region show a prominent NE – SW
Mesozoic – Tertiary sedimentats (Pandit et al. 2001, alignment that also marks the strongest regional tectonic
Roy and Jakhar 2002; Pandey and Bahadur 2009). The grain (Gupta et al. 1997). A general younging towards
northwestern India has been largely demarcated as Zone west can be seen and the region west of the Aravalli
II (relatively least seismically hazardous zone) in the Mountain Region (Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt) is named
seismic zonation (earthquake hazard) map of India, as the Marwar Block (accreted to the Indian Block
published by the Indian Meteorology Department. during 1 Ga convergence; see de Wall et al. 2012,
Therefore, it is intriguing to note frequent occurrence Bhowmik et al. 2012). Vast areas of Marwar Block
(two or more per year) of low to moderate magnitude comprise volcano-plutonic rocks of 780 – 750 Ma
earthquakes in the State of Rajasthan in NW India, Malani Igneous Suite (Bhushan and Chandrasekharan
which is a cratonized terrain with no major known 2002, Gregory et al. 2009; Zhao et al. 2018). Rocks of
tectonic activity since Late Proterozoic volcano-plutonic the Malani Igneous Suite form the basement for the
magmatism of Malani Igneous Suite. We have Ediacaran – Cambrian sediments of Marwar Supergroup
documented and inventoried earthquake occurrences in (Pareek 1984; Pandit et al. 2001; Pandey and Bahadur
Rajasthan State in NW India during the recent years and 2009). Phanerozoic sediments of Mesozoic and Tertiary
have evaluated them vis-à-vis regional tectonic fabric. age are exposed further west while a large area is
Spatial distribution of earthquake epicenters with fossil- occupied by the Quaternary sands of the Thar Desert
sutures and fault zones has been evaluated for their (Sinha-Roy et al. 1998; Roy and Jakhar 2002). The
possible reactivation due to stress build-up related to boundary between Aravalli Delhi Fold Belt and Marwar
northward drift and collision of the Indian Plate. Block is a major tectonic feature, known as the Western
Margin Fault (Gupta et al. 1997). It is marked by linear
2. Geological and geomorphological overview occurrence of mafic – ultramafic rocks that are
Rajasthan State can be subdivided into several collectively described as the Phulad Ophiolite Suite
physiographic domains, evolved through sustained (Sinha-Roy et al. 1998). The eastern limit of Aravalli –
degradational and aggradational processes during Late Delhi Fold Belt is also a major tectonic feature, known
Tertiary and Quateranry periods (Sinha-Roy et al. as the Great Boundary Fault that juxtaposes the
1998). The most prominent physiographic feature of the sediments of Vindhyan Supergroup and older rocks of
region is the NE – SW trending Aravalli Mountain that AMR. Most of the stratigraphic boundaries are
traverses the eastern part of the State from Delhi in the tectonized and define major NE – SW trending
north into the northern part of the adjoining Gujarat lineaments. The lineament distribution and geometry is
State in the south. The Aravalli Hills or Aravalli discussed in more detail in the following section.
Mountain Region also hosts the oldest rocks of the
region. The region to the west of Aravalli Orographic
 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9. 3

3. Lineament distribution in Rajasthan 3. Jaisalmer-Barwani Lineament

Bakliwal and Ramasami (1987) documented all the 4. Rajkot-Lathi Lineament
major lineamnets in Rajasthan State and their 5. West Coast Lineament
disposition and alignments is presented in Fig 1. The 6. Luni-Sukri Lineament
diagram shows an intricate network of lineaments that 7. Rakhabdev Lineament
are surface expression of old faults developed during 8. Pisangan-Vadnagar Lineament
several episodes of deformation. The ‘Seismotectonic 9. Kishangarh Chippri Lineament
Atlas’ of India (Dasgupta et al. 2000) subdivides the 10. Chambal Jamnagar Lineament
Rajasthan lineaments into two groups, (i) those formed 11. Ajmer-Sandia Lineament
as new features cross cutting all the rock formations and 12. Delwara Lineament
(ii) ones developed as reactivated Precambrian grains 13. Tonk Lineament
(Roy 2006). Major fold belts, lineaments and faults of 14. Chittaugarh Machilpur Lineament/ Great Boundary
Rajasthan State are listed below (Bakliwal and Fault
Ramasami 1987; Dasgupta et al. 2000; Figs. 1, 2). 15. Mehanda-Stepped Graben
1. Aravalli Fold Belt 16. Jaipur Depression Jaipur Uplift
2. Delhi Fold Belt

Fig 1. (a) Map of India showing Major Tectonic Lineaments (after Roy 2004) and Location of the Study area (shown in pink).
(b) Map of Rajasthan Showing an overlay of Geology, Lineaments and Faults. Compiled from Seismotectonic Atlas of India and its
Environs (Dasgupta et al. 2000) and Geological Map of Rajasthan (GSI). For Lineament and Fault nomenclature please refer to Fig
2.
4 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9.

Fig 2. Map of Rajasthan showing an overlay of Lineaments, Faults and Earthquake occurrences during last 15 years. Compiled from
Seismotectonic Atlas of India and its Environs (Dasgupta et al. 2000).

As seen in Fig 1, the lineament density is maximum in Great Boundary Fault and Raysing Nagar - Tonk
the eastern part of the State, i.e. in the Aravalli Lineament. A number of large scale faults in the Delhi
Mountain Region or the Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt. Supergroup rocks in the region north of Jaipur have
Prominent lineaments in this region are; Chambal been mapped by Das (1988) who named them as Jaipur
Jamnagar Lineament, Pisangan-Vadnagar Lineament, Depression, Jaipur Uplift, Mendha Stepped Graben,
Delwara Lineament, Ajmer-Sandia Lineament, Chahpoli Fault and Kantli Fault. These faults, defining a
Rakhabdev Lineament, Kishangarh Chippri Lineament, NW-SE and NE-SW conjugate disposition, effected
Tonk Lineament, Chittaurgarh Machilpur Lineament/ rotation and tilting of rock units and considerable strike
 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9. 5

slip displacements (Roy and Jakhar 2002). Relatively Compilation of earthquake data (sourced from the
smaller number of lineaments and faults are present in Indian Meteorological Department repository)
the western part of the state, the prominent ones being underlines about 45 earthquakes of magnitude 2.2 to 5.3
Luni-Sukri Lineament, Jaisalmer-Barwani Lineament, (Table 2). Of these, six earthquakes occurred in 2016
Rajkot-Lathi Lineament and West Coast Lineament. alone, the highest number in a single year. Recurrence
The Jaisalmer-Barwani Lineament marks the western of earthquakes, albeit low magnitude ones, is clearly
boundary of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin in the documented by the data. The table also lists the 1906
Barmer area and the boundary between Barmer Graben earthquake, which is the strongest one recorded so far in
in the east and Birmania - Barmer - Nagar Parkar Horst this region.
in the west. Location of the earthquake epicenters has been
Majority of lineaments have rectilinear disposition, superimposed onto the lineament map of Rajasthan in
irrespective of their antiquity and geomorphology of the Fig 2. As evident from the figure, majority of the
terrain. Such orientation in high relief terrains suggests earthquake occurrences are confined to the eastern part
steep to subvertical dips for these tectonic features. of the State and show a close spatial association with
Majority of lineaments and faults trend ENE-WSW, dense network of lineaments in the region. The largest
corresponding with the prominent tectonic grain of the earthquake of the State so far, the magnitude 6 Thar
Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt. Relatively less prominent Desert Earthquake (1906) shows a close spatial
NNW-SSE trend can be correlated with tectonics in the association with the West Coast Lineament that runs
Dharwar region in south India. The latter trends are along the southwestern extremity of Rajasthan State.
observed not only in Rajasthan but also in the entire The 5.3 magnitude Jaisalmer Earthquake of April, 2009
Peninsular India (Roy 2006). Some N-S trending can be regarded as the strongest earthquake among the
lineaments have also been demarcated in Rajasthan. more recent ones. Details provided in table 2, underline
recurrence of seismicity in this, otherwise tectonically
4. Earthquake occurrences in Rajasthan stable, region.
4.1. Major earthquakes
Rajasthan State has been broadly classified as Zone – II 5. Discussion on Spatial distribution of
in the Seismic Zonation (hazard) Map of India, earthquake and tectonic features
published by the Indian Meteorology Department, The location of earthquake epicenters was superimposed
indicating a seismically least vulnerable region. This is onto the lineament map of Rajasthan to evaluate their
similar to other cratonized blocks of southern and east- possible association with faults and other tectonic
central India. However, low magnitude earthquakes
features (Fig. 2). Incidentally, the highest concentration
commonly occur in this region, occasionally with more
than three magnitude (Table 1, 2). Some of the recent of earthquake epicenters is seen in the NE segment, the
earthquake occurrences during last decade and a half are North Delhi Fold Belt terrane (Sinha-Roy 1984; Wang
listed in Table 2. et al. 2017). The earthquake epicenter distribution
4.2. The more recent earthquake events pattern underlines a distinct spatial association with
faults/lineaments.

Table 1. Important earthquake occurrences in Rajasthan in the recent past (data source: Indian Meteorology Department) and
spatially associated lineament / fault

Sr. No. Location of Earthquake Magnitude and Intensity Associated fault/lineament

1 Churu (1974) Magnitude –3.5 SardarShahar Fault

Intensity – IV
2 Pali (1979) Magnitude – 3.4 Phulad Lineament
Intensity – II & III
3 Jaisalmer (1991) Magnitude – 6.3 Kanoi Fault
Intensity – VII+
4 Udaipur (1996) Magnitude – 4.3 Intersection of Chipri and Bharatpur -Mt. Abu
Intensity - +V lineaments.
5 Sirohi Magnitude – 4.9 Phulad Lineament.
6 Jaipur Magnitude – 4.5 Mendha seeped Graben or Jaipur Depression of Das
(1988).
6 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9.

Table 2. Details of more recent earthquake events in Rajasthan (Source: Indian Meteorological Department
http://www.imd.gov.in/pages/earthquake_prelim.php and other sources)

TIME LAT LONG Depth

S.N. DATE Magnitude Region
HRS (IST) (deg.N) (deg.E) (km)

1 15/08/1906 22:11 25.0N 71.0 6.2 THAR DESERT, RAJASTHAN

2 10/08/2003 11:17:55 27.38N 75.98 10.0 4.4 SHAHPURA –JAIPUR REGION, RAJASTHAN
3 19/02/2004 2:40:49 25.3N 72.66 7.9 4.1 JALORE, RAJASTHAN
4 29/11/2006 05:41:14.2 27.6°N 76.7°E 13.0 3.9 ALWAR,RAJASTHAN
5 23/12/2006 22:43:26.6 26.7N 76.0E 10 3.7 JAIPUR,RAJASTHAN
6 16/03/2007 4:46:25.3 27.6°N 76.9°E 10.0 3.3 ALWAR, RAJASTHAN
7 15/09/2007 8:57:45.1 27.5°N 75.4°E 27.9 2.8 SIKAR, RAJASTHAN
8 20/11/2007 17:11:5.6 28.0°N 76.6°E 01.2 3.3 RAJASTHAN--HARYANA BORDER
9 27/06/2008 7:53:38.7 25.2°N 73.8°E 05.0 3.6 RAJ SAMAND, RAJASTHAN
10 05/07/2008 11:59:37.6 25.8°N 74.2°E 10.0 3.6 BHILWARA, RAJASTHAN
11 28/12/2008 07:39:52 25.6 N 72.2 E 15 3.2 BARMER, RAJASTHAN
12 08/02/2009 15:42:13 27.4°N 75.5°E 5 2.8 RAJASTHAN
13 09/04/2009 01:46:57.0 27.1°N 70.7°E 33 5.3 JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN
14 29/10/2009 14:05:49 26.9°N 76.9°E 5 2.3 JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
15 12/01/2010 05:46 26.9°N 75.4°E 2.3 JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
16 07/04/2010 07:05:51 27.8°N 76.6°E 22 3.3 DISTT. ALWAR, RAJASTHAN
17 28/05/2010 10:15:49 27.8°N 75.7°E 28 2.2 DISTT. SIKAR, RAJASTHAN
18 15/08/2010 06:08:52 26.4°N 74.3°E 10 4.0 AJMER, RAJASTHAN
19 09/11/2010 22:46:19 25.2°N 73.7°E 4 4.8 DISTT. RAJSAMAND, RAJASTHAN
20 26/02/2011 15:40:08 27.5°N 75.6°E 10 3.0 NIM KA THANA, (DISTT SIKAR), RAJASTHAN
RAJASTHAN (JHUNJHUNUN DIST) - HARYANA
21 12/10/2011 10:27:25 28.2°N 76.0°E 6 3.5
(MAHENDRAGARH DIST) BORDER REGION
22 30/10//2012 17:21:51 25.8°N 71.2°E 10 3.5 BARMER, RAJASTHAN
23 20/12/2012 13:00:56 27.5°N 76.2°E 5 3.6 KOTHPUTLI, RAJASTHAN
24 24/02/2013 00:57:17 26.3°N 75.6°E 5 4.1 TONK, RAJASTHAN
25 31/03/2013 14:43:21 27.2°N 75.0°E 5 2.3 NEAR SAMBHAR LAKE, RAJASTHAN
26 05/08/2013 07:27:06 27.0°N 70.7°E 20 4.0 JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN
27 27/04/2014 09:14:04 27.6°N 75.5°E 5 3.4 SIKAR, RAJASTHAN
28 19/11/2014 15:26:00 24.5°N 72.4°E 5 2.9 SIROHI, RAJASTHAN
29 03/09/2015 23:27:50 27.6°N 75.6°E 10 4.4 SIKAR, RAJASTHAN
30 28/01/2016 04:17:08 27.1°N 75.5°E 10 3.8 JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
31 24/02/2016 07:36:51 24.9°N 72.3°E 26 3.0 JALORE, RAJASTHAN
32 18/03/2016 09:07:33 25.4°N 73.4°E 33 3.5 PALI, RAJASTHAN
33 08/04/2016 01:33:19 27.0°N 75.1°E 15 3.5 NAGAUR, RAJASTHAN
34 17/11/2016 04:28:56 27.8°N 76.7°E 10 4.4 RAJASTHAN HARYANA BORDER REGION
35 26/12/2016 21:47:18 25.7°N 74.2°E 10 3.5 RAJSAMAND-BHLWARA, RAJASTHAN
36 17/03/2017 15:54:17 28.1°N 76.3°E 5 2.6 RAJASTHAN HARYANA BORDER REGION
37 24/03/2017 12:42:25 27.6°N 75.4°E 5 2.9 SIKAR, RAJASTHAN
38 18/11/2017 15:21:19 26.4°N 73.8°E 10 4.2 JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN
39 08/07/2018 09:43:22 27.3°N 75.9°E 10 4.3 DISTRICT JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
40 24/08/2018 03:25:50 27.8°N 75.7°E 18 3.7 DISTT. JHUNJHUNU, RAJASTHAN
41 30/08/2018 23:34:36 27.5°N 75.6°E 05 3.5 DISTRICT-SIKAR,RAJASTHAN
42 17/03/2019 05:11:29 27.4°N 75.7°E 10 4.0 DISTT.- SIKAR, RAJASTHAN
43 03/05/2019 10:51:51 27.3°N 74.9°E 10 3.0 DISTT. NAGAUR, RAJASTHAN
44 03/07/2019 20:59:25 27.6°N 74.6°E 35 3.5 DISTT. NAGAUR, RAJASTHAN
45 04/09/2019 15:30:30 28.0°N 75.5°E 16 3.8 DISTT. JHUNJHUNU, RAJASTHAN
46 13/10/2019 10:36:34 28.0°N 73.4°E 10 4.5 DISTT. BIKANER, RAJASTHAN

The Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt region in the eastern part and Jaipur Earthquake of December 2006 (magnitude
of the State was cratonized by end Proterozoic with no 3.7) can be associated with the Jaipur Depression and
further tectonic activity, therefore, recurrence of Delwara Lineament (NE-SW trending), respectively, in
earthquakes in this region is rather intriguing. In the the northern part of the State. The Rajasthan-Haryana
absence of any known tectonic activity in the region we Border Earthquake of November 2007 (magnitude 3.3)
relate earthquake occurrence to reactivation of the old at the northeastern extremity can be associated with the
faults. The Shahpura-Jaipur Earthquake of August 2003 NE-SW trending Mendha Stepped Graben. Jaipur
 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9. 7

Earthquake of October 2009 (magnitude 2.3) can be most plausible explanation for the frequent occurrence
associated with the Bharatpur-Mt. Abu Lineament. The of earthquakes in this region seems to be the
Jaipur Earthquake of January 12, 2010 (magnitude 2.3) Neotectonic reactivation of such faults, triggered by the
can be linked with the Jaipur Depression. The Alwar stress build up in the Himalayan region.
Earthquake of April 7, 2010 (magnitude 3.3), Kotputali Earthquakes along active plate margins and mid oceanic
Earthquake of December 20, 2012 (magnitude 3.6) and regions can be attributed to degassing related magmatic
Rajasthan-Haryana Earthquake of November 17, 2016 fluid movement and increased fluid pressure. The high
(magnitude 4.4) also show association with the Jaipur frequency of earthquakes in the intraplate western
Depression. The Sikar Earthquake (magnitude 2.2) of Indian Deccan Province has been attributed to fluid
May 28, 2010 is associated with NW-SE trending Kantli pressures increase due to penetration of magmatic fluids
Fault. The Ajmer Earthquake of August 15, 2010 from upper mantle into the seismogenic lower crust
(magnitude 4.0) seems related to the intersection of NE- (Singh et al. 2019). The development of localized stress
SW trending Pisangan Vadhnagar Lineament and NW- field may be a result of increase in pore pressure due to
SE trending Ajmer Sandia Lineament. The 4.8 hydrothermal activity and increase in pressure exerted
magnitude, November 2010 Rajsamand Earthquake by magma chambers at shallow depth (Singh et al. 2019
(highest magnitude among the recent ones in AMR) can and references therein). Such a possibility seems
be associated with the Kishangarh Chippari Fault. The unlikely in case of Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt region due
Neem Ka Thana Earthquake of February 26, 2011 to absence of any magma chamber below a thickened
(magnitude 3.0) can be associated with N-S trending crust (Sinha-Roy et al. 1998). Change in water table due
fault system and the Rajasthan - Haryana Border to heavy rainfall and consequent rise in pore pressure
Earthquake (magnitude 3.5) of October 2011 with the can also trigger micro-earthquakes of limited extent
NE-SW trending Chapoli Fault. The Tonk Earthquake (Singh et al. 2017). This possibility seems quite unlikely
(magnitude 4.1) of February 2013, Sambhar Lake as the NW India is one of the least rainfall regions of
Earthquake of 2.3 magnitude of March 31, 2013 and India.
Nagaur Earthquake of April 2016 (magnitude 3.5) can Understanding of the plate interior seismicity of
be associated with the Tonk Lineament. Peninsular India would be greatly enhanced if we know
As shown in Fig 1 (see also Tab. 2), earthquakes of 3.6 about the stress sources simulating earthquakes.
magnitude that occurred in Rajsamand on June 27, 2008 Possible stress sources include, (i) those related to the
and Bhilwara on July 05, 2008, can be associated with a force of collision between Indian and Eurasian plates
prominent thrust zone, the Kaliguman Dislocation Zone including the central Indian flexural bulge; (ii) gradients
which also marks the boundary between South Delhi resulting from surface topography and erosion and (iii)
Fold Belt and Sandmata - Mangalwar Complex. The sediment load in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
Shahpura-Jaipur Earthquake of August 2003 (magnitude (Bilham and Srivastava 2003; Roy 2006). These
4.4) and Alwar Earthquake of November 2006 processes, in combination or individually, may
(magnitude 3.9) can be associated with (tectonized) the contribute in stress building. The NE – SW directed
contact zone between Alwar and Ajabgarh groups of unidirectional stress has been inferred for a large
Delhi Supergroup. The March 2017, Rajasthan - number of earthquakes over the entire Indian shield
Haryana border earthquake can also be associated with region (Roy 2006). Such a homogenous stress system
this zone. over the entire Indian peninsular region seems unlikely
The above discussion provides clear evidence of close and there may be some additional geological factors that
spatial association of the recent earthquakes with some would influence the local stress pattern. According to
old fault/lineaments. The Western Margin Fault, a Roy (2006) the only geological process that can
prominent (1 Ga) suture between Aravalli Craton in the generate such a regional stress system would be the
east and Marwar Block in the west, is the locale for formation of a new crust along the NW–SE oriented
several earthquakes. The earthquake occurrence in the Carlsberg Ridge – rift system operating in the Arabian
Rajasthan State can be attributed to reactivation of the Sea. Either way, the possible cause for the earthquakes
old weak planes/zones. Since the region does not have in the Aravalli Delhi Fold Belt region appears to be the
any history of Phanerozoic tectonism, the trigger for reactivation of old fault systems.
reactivation needs to be identified. Northward drift and
continued collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian 6. Conclusions
Plate causes stress build up, resulting in frequent There is recurrence of low to moderate magnitude
earthquakes along the tectonically active, northern earthquakes in the otherwise tectonically stable, Aravalli
margin of the Indian Plate, the highest earthquake Mountain Region and along its western margin in the
vulnerability zone in India. This stress build up has also eastern half of Rajasthan State. The western part of the
affected the otherwise stable, continental interiors such State comprises much younger (Phanerozoic) rocks and
as the Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt in NW India that is some active faults, such as the N-S trending, Kanoi
infested with a network of lineaments developed during Fault. It can be concluded that the trigger for seismicity
its complex and prolonged deformation history. The in the eastern and western domains of Rajasthan State
8 Kumar and Pandit / Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2020, 1-9.

can be attributed to the continued northward drift of the Dreger, DS, Tkalcic, H, Johnson, M (2000) Dilation
Indian Plate into Tibet region. Several minor faults in processes accompanying earthquakes in the Long
Aravalli Delhi Fold Belt facilitate the stress release in Valley Caldera. Science 288:122-125.
form of frequent low to moderate magnitude Gregory LC, Meert JG, Bingen B, Pandit MK, Torsvik
earthquakes. Epicenters of all the known major TH (2009) Paleomagnetism and geochronology of the
earthquakes of peninsular India lie either on the major Malani Igneous Suite, Northwest India: Implications
lineaments or reasonably close to them (Murthy and for the configuration of Rodinia and the assembly of
Raval 2000). This substantiates a close association of Gondwana. Precambrian Research 170: 13 – 26.
such linear features with earthquake occurrence. Gupta SN, Arora Y, Mathur RK, Iqballuddin Prasad B,
However, any quantitative correlation between the two Sahay TN, Sharma SB (1981) Lithostratigraphic map
has not been conducted in the ‘Stable’ Aravalli region of Aravalli Region, SE-Rajasthan and Nothern
so far and we hope that our study might invoke Gujarat. Geological Survey of India, Hyderabad.
geological interest in the region and eventually a better Gupta SN, Arora Y, Mathur RK, Iqballuddin Prasad B,
understanding of causes and mechanism of recurrent Sahay TN, Sharma SB (1997) The Precambrian
earthquake in this region. geology of the Aravalli region, southern Rajasthan and
northeastern Gujarat. Mem. Geological Survey of
Acknowledgements India 123: 262 p.
We are thankful to the Editor for efficient handling and Heron AM (1953) Thegeolgy of central Rajputana,
comments. We would like to thank all the anonymous Mem. Geological Survey of India 79: 1-389.
reviewers for their painstaking effort in critically going Kayal JR (2008) Microearthquake Seismology and
through the manuscript and for suggestions that have Seimotectonics of South Asia, 1st ed. Springer
enhanced its quality and presentation. Verlag and Capital Publishing company, India.
Meert JG, Pandit MK (2015) The Archean and
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