Morphometric Analysis of Subbasins Along The Basalt-Granite Contact in The South East Deccan Volcanic Province, India

  • Authors

    • Deepak Wable School of Earth Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University,‎ ‎ Nanded – 431 606, Maharashtra, INDIA
    • Ramakant Kaplay Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai – 400076, Maharashtra, INDIA
    • Udaykumar Sahu Department of Geology, Toshniwal College of Arts, Commerce and Sciences, ‎ Sengaon, Hingoli – 431 542, Maharashtra, INDIA
    • Divyesh Vyas School of Earth Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University,‎ ‎ Nanded – 431 606, Maharashtra, INDIA
    https://doi.org/10.14419/hm2j5z48

    Received date: October 29, 2025

    Accepted date: January 20, 2026

    Published date: January 24, 2026

  • Basalt-Granite Contact; Field Structures; Morphometric Analysis; Morphotectonics, SEDVP

  • Abstract

    Morphometric analysis of drainage basins using remote sensing (RS) and GIS is an effective ‎way to assess the influence of lithology and tectonics. In this paper, the authors evaluated lithostructural controls on the sub-basins along the contact between basalt and granite in the South East Deccan Volcanic Province (SEDVP) and the Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) margin. Thirty-‎six drainage sub-basins (mini- to micro-watersheds) located in basalt, granite, and along the ‎basalt-granite contact were selected to assess the influence of lithology and structures ‎‎(lineament, faults, etc.) on drainage morphology. Geological fieldwork was carried out along ‎the basalt-granite contact within the 62 km stretch from Adampur, Biloli (MH), to Bhainsa ‎‎(TS). Eleven profiles of basalt-granite contacts were reported, which are further referred to ‎classify the sub-basins based on lithology, namely, Category I: sub-basins that are located in ‎basalt, Category II: sub-basins partially located in basalt (Deccan traps) and granite ‎‎(basement), and Category III: sub-basins that are located in granite. In morphometric analysis, we have calculated drainage density (Dd), stream frequency (Fs), elongation ratio (Re), and asymmetry factors (Af). The assessment of morphometric analysis and reported ‎structures suggests that the (1) category I sub-basins are tectonically inactive, whereas category ‎II and III sub-basins are tectonically moderately active. (2) Reported evidence of sub-‎surface tectonic activity expressed as ‘minor faults’ within the basement granite underlying the thin capping of ‎basalt/basaltic soil is profoundly manifested in the sub-basins, which are corroborated by ‎morphotectonic evidence.

  • References

    1. Babar, M. D., Kaplay, R. D., Mukherjee, S., Mahato, S., & Gurav, C. (2019). NE-SW strike- slip fault in the granitoid from the margin of the South East Dharwar Craton, Degloor, Nanded district, Maharashtra, India. Tectonics and Structural Geology: Indian Context, 115- 134. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99341-6_5
    2. Banerjee, R., Jain, S. K., & Shivkumar, K. (2008). Geochemistry and petrogenesis of uraninite-bearing granitoids and radioactive phosphatic cherty cataclasite of Thadiasoli area, Nanded district, Maharashtra. Memoirs of Geological Society of India, 73, 55–84.
    3. Banerjee, R., Shivkumar, K., Maithani, P. B. (2012). Major and trace element geochemistry of palaeoproterozoic Nanded district, Maharashtra: ge-odynamic and petrogenetic implications. Journal of Applied Geochemistry 26–58
    4. Cox, R. T., Van Arsdale, R. B., & Harris, J. B. (2001). Identification of possible Quaternary deformation in the northeastern Mississippi Embay-ment using quantitative geomorphic analysis of drainage-basin asymmetry. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 113(5), 615-624. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2001)113<0615:IOPQDI>2.0.CO;2
    5. Cuong, N. Q., & Zuchiewicz, W. A. (2001). Morphotectonic properties of the Lo river fault near Tam Dao in North Vietnam. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 1(1/2), 15-22. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-1-15-2001
    6. Ghute, B. B., & Babar, S. M. (2021). Morphotectonics of Kayadhu River Basin in Washim-Hingoli-Nanded Districts, Maharashtra: A Spatial Anal-ysis. Geological and Geo-Environmental Processes on Earth, 305-313. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4122-0_20
    7. Hare, P. W., & Gardner, T. W. (1985). Geomorphic indicators of vertical neotectonism along converging plate margins, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Tectonic geomorphology, 4, 75-104.
    8. Horton RE (1932) Drainage-basin characteristics. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 13(1), 350–361. https://doi.org/10.1029/TR013i001p00350
    9. Horton, R. E. (1945). Erosional development of streams and their drainage basins; hydrophysical approach to quantitative morphology. Geological society of America bulletin, 56(3), 275-370. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1945)56[275:EDOSAT]2.0.CO;2
    10. Kaplay, R. D., Babar, M. D., Mukherjee, S., & Kumar, T. V. (2017a). Morphotectonic expression of geological structures in the eastern part of the South East Deccan Volcanic Province (around Nanded, Maharashtra, India). Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 445(1), 317-335. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP445.12
    11. Kaplay, R. D., Babar, M. D., Mukherjee, S., Wable, D., & Pisal, K. (2021). Granitic Rocks Underlying Deccan Trap Along the Margin of East Dharwar Craton, Mutnyal (Maharashtra)—Bhaisa (Telangana), India—General Descriptionand Deformation. Structural Geology and Tectonics Field Guidebook—Volume 1, 599-620. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60143-0_20.
    12. Kaplay, R. D., Babar, M., Mukherjee, S., Mahato, S., & Chavhan, S. (2019). Structural Features of Kinwat Peninsular Gneissic Complex Along the Western Margin of Eastern Dharwar Craton, India. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 44, 6509-6523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03948-x
    13. Kaplay, R. D., Kumar, T. V., & Sawant, R. (2014). Field evidence for deformation in Deccan Traps in microseismically active Nanded area, Maha-rashtra. Current Science, 105(8).
    14. Kaplay, R. D., Kumar, T. V., Mukherjee, S., Wesanekar, P. R., Babar, M., & Chavan, S. (2017b). E-W strike slip shearing of Kinwat granitoid at South East Deccan Volcanic Province, Kinwat, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Earth System Science, 126(5), 71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-017-0853-8.
    15. Kaplay, R. D., Vijay Kumar, T., & Sawant, R. (2013). Field evidence for deformation in Deccan Traps in microseismically active Nanded area, Ma-harashtra. Current Science, 105, 1051–1052.
    16. Keller, E. A., & Pinter, N. (1996). Active Tectonics, Upper Saddle River. NJ: Prentice Hall, 19, 359.
    17. Melton MA (1958) Geometric properties of mature drainage systems and their representation in an E4 phase space. The Journal of Geology 66(1):35–54. https://doi.org/10.1086/626481
    18. Molin P, Pazzaglia F J and Dramis F (2004) Geomorphic expression of active tectonics in a rapidly-deforming forearc, Sila Massif, Calabria, south-ern Italy; Am. J. Sci. 304 559–589. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.304.7.559
    19. Ngapna, M. N., Owona, S., Owono, F. M., Mpesse, J. E., Youmen, D., Lissom, J., ... & Ekodeck, G. E. (2018). Tectonics, lithology and climate controls of morphometric parameters of the Edea-Eseka region (SW Cameroon, Central Africa): Implications on equatorial rivers and land-forms. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 138, 219-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.008
    20. Pati, J. K., Lal, J., Prakash, K., & Bhusan, R. (2008). Spatio-temporal shift of western bank of the Ganga River, Allahabad city and its implica-tions. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 36, 289-297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-008-0030-2
    21. Prakash, K., Mohanty, T., Pati, J. K., Singh, S., & Chaubey, K. (2017). Morphotectonics of the Jamini River basin, Bundelkhand Craton, Central India; using remote sensing and GIS technique. Applied Water Science, 7, 3767-3782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-016-0524-y.
    22. Radhakrishna, B.P. (1992) Cauvery – Its geological past. Jour. Geol. Soc. India. https://doi.org/10.17491/jgsi/1992/400101
    23. Rawat, A., Banerjee, S., Sundriyal, Y., & Rana, V. (2022). An integrated assessment of the geomorphic evolution of the Garhwal synform: Implica-tions for the relative tectonic activity in the southern part of the Garhwal Himalaya. Journal of Earth System Science, 131(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01794-w
    24. Ritter, D.F. (1986) Process geomorphology, 2nd ed Wm. C. Brown Publishers.
    25. Sangode, S. J., Meshram, D. C., Kulkarni, Y. R., Gudadhe, S. S., Malpe, D. B., & Herlekar, M. A. (2013). Neotectonic response of the Godavari and Kaddam rivers in Andhra Pradesh, India: Implications to quaternary reactivation of old fracture system. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 81(4), 459-471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-013-0062-2
    26. Schumm, S.A. (1956). The evolution of drainage systems and slopes in bad lands at Perth, Amboi, New Jersey. Geol. Soc. Ame. Bull. 67 (5), pp. 597_646. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1956)67[597:EODSAS]2.0.CO;2
    27. Singh CP (2002) Applied geomorphology: a study. B. R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi.
    28. Singh, C. K. (2014). Active deformations extracted from drainage geomorphology: a case study from Southern Sonbhadra District, Central In-dia. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 84, 569-578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-014-0164-5
    29. Singh, C. K., & Srivastava, V. (2011). Morphotectonics of the Area around Renukoot, district Sonbhadra, UP using remote sensing and GIS tech-niques. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 39, 235-240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-011-0072-8
    30. Sinha-Roy, S. (2001) Neotectonically controlled catchment capture: An example from the Banas and Chambal drainage basins Rajasthan. Curr. Sci., v.80, pp.293-298.
    31. Strahler, A. N. (1964). Quantitative geomorphology of drainage basin and channel networks. Handbook of applied hydrology.
    32. Twidale, C. R. (2004). River patterns and their meaning. Earth-Science Reviews, 67(3-4), 159-218.v.40, pp.1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2004.03.001
    33. Villela, S. M., & Mattos, A. (1975). Hidrologia aplicada. Editora McGraw-Hill do Brasil.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Wable, D., Kaplay , R. ., Sahu, U. ., & Vyas, D. . (2026). Morphometric Analysis of Subbasins Along The Basalt-Granite Contact in The South East Deccan Volcanic Province, India. International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 14(1), 20-29. https://doi.org/10.14419/hm2j5z48