A Geological Field Guide to the Himalaya
Geological field guides hold vital importance in Earth science for education, mapping, and detailed field excursions. This field guide to the Himalayas by Clark-Lowes follows a “megatransect”, where the tectonics, structure, and major geological features of the Himalayas are explored. The first of two legs takes us to west central Nepal to explore the Outer Himalayas (Siwaliks), Lesser Himalayas, Greater Himalayas, and Tethys Himalayas, while the second leg takes us to the Leh-Ladakh region to explore the Indus suture zone. Between these two legs, the Quaternary sediments from the Kali Gandaki River valley and its famous upside-down stratigraphy are discussed in detail. Mount Kailas has been given a separate chapter on the post-collisional, non-marine deposits of the Himalayas, with special emphasis on Professor Augusto Gansser’s legacy, the Great Counter Thrust of the Tibetan Plateau.
After this, the author takes us to the four sacred rivers that have their sources near Mount Kailas, examining their geological, geomorphological, societal, and cultural significance. A brief account of the pioneering geologists who shaped the science of the Himalayas and beyond is given, including: Sir Richard Strachey, who made the first cross section of the Himalayas; Dr J. B. Auden, who first observed inverse metamorphism in the Himalayas; and Dr D. N. Wadia, India’s most celebrated geologist, and the first Indian-educated geologist to be employed by the Geological Survey of India in 1921. The book concludes by summarising the features of the entire transect.
The guide offers detailed information of the megatransect and explains its geomorphology, tectonics, structure, and stratigraphy with the help of various cross sections, river profiles, and stunning photographs, which help the reader’s visualisation and understanding. The photographs are beautifully described and well-organised throughout the guide. At the end of the guide, the author provides a list of useful maps and resources to carry out your own field excursions and expand your understanding of Himalayan geology.
Overall, this detailed field guide is one-of-a-kind for the Himalayan collision zone. This guide would be beneficial for the budding geologist, as well as experienced geologists working in the Himalayas and across the world who want to understand and explore more of this young collision zone. The guide can also be used to teach Himalayan geology and to revisit the localities in short excursions.
Reviewed by R. Arun Prasath
DETAILS:
BY: Daniel Clark-Lowes (2022). Geologists’ Association. 176pp. (hbk).
ISBN: 978-1999675738
PRICE: £17 www.geolsoc.org.uk
