>BrownHairedGirl: remove navbox {{Rajasthan}}, which doesn't link here

2021-05-01T06:18:44Z

remove navbox {{Rajasthan}}, which doesn't link here

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Location map
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| long = 73.02
| label = Malani Igneous Suite Contact
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| caption = Location of Malani Igneous Suite Contact in India
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{{Coord|26.28|73.02|region:IN-RJ|display=title}}
[[File:Malani Igneous Suite Jodhpur near Mehrangarh Fort.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Malani Igneous Suite Contact below Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur]]
'''Jodhpur Group-Malani Igneous Suite Contact''' of [[Aravalli range]] is a geological feature representing the last phase of [[igneous]] activity of [[Precambrian]] age in the [[Indian Subcontinent]] at the foot of the picturesque [[Mehrangarh Fort]] in [[Jodhpur]] city, the second largest city in [[Rajasthan]] after [[Jaipur]].<ref name=GSI2>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/portal/page?_pageid=127,529424&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |title= Monuments of Stratigraphic Significance, Malani volcanics overlain by Jodhpur sandstone |accessdate= 2009-03-23 |publisher= Geological Survey of India |year= 2001 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130419091251/http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/portal/page?_pageid=127,529424&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-date= 19 April 2013 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The uniqueness of the geological feature at Jodhpur prompted the [[Geological Survey of India]] (GSI) to declare the site as a [[National Geological Monument]].<ref name= GSI>{{cite book|title=National Geological Monuments|accessdate=2009-03-23|work= Jodhpur Group-Malani Igneous Suite Contact|pages=65–67|publisher=Geological Survey of India, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata,700016|year=2001|url=http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no24484.htm}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Malani was the name of a district in the former state of [[Marwar]] (Jodhpur) where [[volcanic]] rocks were found and thus named as Malani beds (1877). This name underwent several changes over the years, known as Malani Volcanics Series (1902), Malani System (1933), the Malani Granite and Volcanic Suite(1968). Finally, the complete magmatic sequence has been named as the Malani Igneous Suite.<ref name = bhushan>{{cite web|url=http://prr.hec.gov.pk/Chapters/338-3.pdf|title=Regional Geological and Tectonic Setting|accessdate=2009-03-25|pages =68–73}}</ref> The igneous suite marks the last phase of igneous activity of Precambrian age in the Indian subcontinent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4225479.cms|title=GSI proposal gets buried in sands of time|accessdate = 2009-03-23|work=Times of India|date=2009-03-05|first1=Rachna|last1=Singh}}</ref>

==Topography and geography==
{{Further|Jodhpur}}
Malani Igneous Suite, an integral component of the [[Thar Desert]] in Rajasthan, extends at the periphery of the desert, to an area of {{convert|44500|km2|mi2|0|}} covering parts of [[Pali district|Pali]], [[Sirohi]], Jodhpur, [[Barmer district|Barmer]], [[Jaisalmer]], [[Jalore]] and [[Siwana]] districts of western Rajasthan.<ref name = bhushan/> In particular, a [[rhyolite]] rock exposure in a hillock of {{convert|120|m|ft|0|}} height, originally called the "Mountain of Birds", forms the foundation for the imposing Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.<ref name=maharaj>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharajajodhpur.com/fort/fort_hist.htm|title=Mehrangarh – Citadel of the Sun|accessdate=2009-03-2009|publisher=H.H.Maharaj Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur|year=2001|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120141657/http://www.maharajajodhpur.com/fort/fort_hist.htm|archivedate=2008-11-20}}</ref>
The climate here is of extreme desert condition of scorching summer with hot dry winds and arid conditions. The winters are quite chilly. The rainfall is scanty and occurs during late June to September. The average rainfall is reported to be {{convert|360|mm|cm|0|}}; extremely variable with a minimum recorded of {{convert|24|mm|cm|0|}} during the [[famine]] year of 1899 and a maximum of {{convert|1178|mm|cm|0|}} during the floods of 1917.
<ref name=topography>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiasite.com/rajasthan/jodhpur/ |title=Jodhpur Travel Guide |accessdate=2009-03-23 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404045749/http://www.indiasite.com/rajasthan/jodhpur/ |archivedate=2009-04-04 }}</ref>

==Geology==
[[File:Mehrangarh Fort 5174627.jpg|right|thumb|The Malani Igneous Suite contact below the Mehrangarh Fort]]
The [[lithological]] formations of the region classified as upper and lower [[Vindhya]]ns in the east and Marwar in the west, have been recorded as consisting of a thick series of [[sedimentary]] rocks comprising [[sandstone]], [[limestone]] and [[shales]]. Igneous activity preceded the deposition of these rocks in western Rajasthan in the form of a thick pile of [[lava]], mostly of an [[acidic]] nature. These lava and its [[plutonic]] equivalent have been noted in the form of [[granite]] bosses and sills in [[Jalor]], [[Siwana]], Mokalsar and Jodhpur areas and designated as Erinpura [[granite]] and Malani Igneous Suite (pictured).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://waterresources.rajasthan.gov.in/1geology.htm|title=Rajasthan Geology|accessdate=2009-03-25}}</ref>

Mehrangarh Fort section in Jodhpur exposes the best Jodhpur Malani Suite contact. This erosional contact is between the underlying youngest Igneous suite of rocks of Precambrian age and overlying oldest sedimentary sequence of late [[Proterozoic]] to [[Eocene]] age.<ref name= GSI/> Its geological significance led to it being declared a National Geological Monument.<ref name=GSI2/><ref name=GSI/>

The igneous cycle has three phases namely, the volcanic, plutonic and [[hypabyssal]]. The eruption is reported to be of [[fissure]] type. The [[pyroclastic]] exposed in a thickness of {{convert|40|m|ft|0|}} to {{convert|50|m|ft|0|}} is followed by [[rhyolite]] flows of {{convert|50|m|ft|0|}} to {{convert|60|m|ft|0|}} thickness.<ref name= GSI/>

Sandstones of Jodhpur Group form the basal part of the Marwar Supergroup and the upper boundary of these volcanics is considerably eroded. The two formations called the Sonia Formation (sandstones) and the Girbhakar Formation (sandstones) occur unconformably over the eroded surface of Malani Volcanic rocks at the top, which comprise the Pokhran Boulder Bed (developed locally around [[Pokhran]]) with the Jodhpur Group as the basal part. The sandstones are creamy (reddish maroon upwards), and widely used as building stones.<ref name= GSI/>
Further classification of the Malani Igneous Suite has been done by Bhushan (1991) as Granite Plutons (at least 15 varieties including the Jodhpur Rhyolites), the Siwana [[Granites]] (several plutons covering an area of {{convert|1100|km2|mi2|0|}} within the Malani Igneous Suite) and the Jalore Granite (covers an area of {{convert|7600|km2|mi2|0|}} including {{convert|3700|km2|mi2|0|}} of Sankara pluton).<ref name = bhushan/>

;Geological age
The geological age of the Malani Igneous Suite assessed by several geologists vary. Crawford and Compston (1970) assessed the age by Rb-Sr classification as 745 ± 10 [[Megaannum|Ma]]. They also reported, in 1975, that the Isochron age was 735 Ma which was less than the age of 840 Ma for Sandra Granite, 830 Ma for Erinpara Granites and 820 Ma for the Pali Granites.<ref name = bhushan/> But the Geological Survey of India in its publication ''National Geological Monuments'' (2001) has given the age as 600±70 Ma.<ref name= GSI/>

==Legend==
[[File:Jaswant thada 02.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Malani Igneous Rocks behind a memorial monument amidst old fort walls]]
The lone human occupant of the hill before the Mehrangarh Fort was built, was an old [[hermit]] named Cheeria Nathji, the Lord of the [[Bird]]s. The hill and now the fort is habitat to thousands of birds, particularly the Cheel or [[Kite (bird)|Kite]], the sacred bird of the [[Rathore]]s. When [[Maharana]] Jodha wanted to build a fort on top of this hill, the irate hermit cursed him for intruding into his solitary cave; the curse "Jodha! May your citadel ever suffer a scarcity of water!", is true to this day as there is no water on the hill. The King, while continuing to build his fort, also appeased the hermit by building a [[temple]] and a pond for the hermit to reside and meditate. The fort called the Mehrangarh Fort (etymology: 'Mihir' ([[Sanskrit]])–[[Sun]] or Sun–deity; 'garh' (Sanskrit)–fort), located at the center of the Jodhpur city, thus known as the citadel of the Sun, and the Malani Igneous Suite hill are both famous now - the fort for its grandeur and the rock for its unique geological formation spread over an area of {{convert|5|km2|mi2|0|}} of the hill.<ref name =maharaj/><ref name=tour>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourismtravelindia.com/rajasthanportal/touristattractions/|title=Tourist Attractions of Rajasthan|accessdate=2009-03-23|publisher=Travel India}}</ref>

Another folk legend about the formation of the Thar Desert region, with the Malani Igneous Suit as an integral component, is of Lord [[Rama]], the hero of the Hindu [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] [[Ramayana]]. In order to rescue his wife [[Sita]], who was abducted by the demon–king [[Ravana]], he attempted to cross the ocean but was turned back by the Sea–God. In a fit of fury, he raised his arrow to empty the ocean and force the Lord of the Sea to retreat, but discharged the arrow into another body of water located in western Rajasthan that resulted in its drying up. This is the area known as Marwar (former [[Jodhpur State]]) or [[Marusthali]] (desert region) or the land of the dead.<ref name =maharaj/><ref name=tour/>

==Access==
The Geological monument is located in the heart of Jodhpur city, at the Mehrangarh fort hill range, which is connected by road, [[Rail transport|rail]] and air with the rest of the country. It is {{convert|343|km|mi|0|}} SW of Jaipurcity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatourism.co.uk/jodhpur-travel/jodhpur-distance-guide.html|title= Jodhpur distance guide|publisher=India Tourism.co.uk|accessdate=2009-03-24}}</ref> by the State Highway. The [[Northern Railway (India)|Northern Railway]] Main Line and Northern Railway [[Phalodi]] Branch passes through Jodhpur Town. The Fort is {{convert|5|km|mi|0|}} away from the Jodhpur airport.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:JodhpurIndia.jpg|The blue city viewed from the hill top has [[indigo]] tinge due to whitewashed houses around the Fort
File:Jodhpurfort.jpg|Fort over the Igneous rock walls
File:Meherangarh Fort 1.jpg| A full view of the Hill and the Fort
File:Mehrangarh Fort.jpg|Mehrangarh Fort and the Igneous rock exposures below the foothills
File:Jodhpur1.jpg|A view of the Malani Igneous Rock Hill of Mehrangarh Fort and the Jodhpur city
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jodhpur Group - Malani Igneous Suite Contact}}
[[Category:Jodhpur district]]
[[Category:Geology of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Proterozoic]]
[[Category:National Geological Monuments in India]]

Jodhpur Group – Malani Igneous Suite Contact - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl: remove navbox {{Rajasthan}}, which doesn't link here