{"id":61239,"date":"2025-08-29T17:24:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T11:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=61239"},"modified":"2025-08-29T17:24:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T11:54:36","slug":"rock-systems-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/rock-systems-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock Systems of India, Formation, Features, Locations, Significance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Rock System of India showcases the geological history of India. From the Archaean rock system to the modern Quaternary, the diverse rock system helps in understanding the rock system. In this article, we are going to cover the rock system in India, its formation, significance and location in the Indian landscape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rock System in India<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rock system in India is very diverse and consists of a series of rocks that belong to different ages and periods. The rock system in India is divided into four categories:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Archaean Rock System<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Purana Rock System<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dravidian Rock System\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Aryan Rock System<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Archaean Rock System in India\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Archaean Rock System in India represents the oldest rock system in Indian geological history. These rocks are some of the oldest in the world and date back to four billion years. These rocks are formed when molten magma gets solidified into the earth\u2019s crust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Archaean rock system in India features:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Azoic (devoid of fossils)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crystalline due to volcanic origin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foliated, appearing in thin sheets<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extremely contorted, faulted, and often occurring as plutonic intrusions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Archaean Rock System in India Subdivisions\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Archaean Rock System in India can be sub-divided into two: Gneisses &amp; Schists and Dharwar System<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(a) The Archaean System \u2013 Gneisses &amp; Schists<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Gneisses (banded structure, granite to gabbro composition) and Schists (crystalline).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Locations: Himalayas, Central &amp; Southern Peninsula, Odisha, Jharkhand (Chotanagpur Plateau), Madhya Pradesh, Bundelkhand.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Rich in mica, talc, hornblende, and chlorite.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(b) The Dharwar System<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation Period: Between 3100 to 1000 million years ago, formed in three cycles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features: Ancient metamorphosed sedimentary rocks derived from Archaean gneisses and schists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Hornblende, Quartzites, Phyllites, Slates, Crystalline Limestones, Dolomites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Locations: Dharwar-Bellary-Mysore belt (Karnataka), Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, parts of Himalayas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Economically vital with rich deposits of iron ore, manganese, copper, lead, and gold.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Purana Rock System in India (Proterozoic Rocks)\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Purana Rock System was formed between 1400-600 million years ago and was sedimentary- metamorphic in nature. These rocks are largely unfossiliferous in nature and are important for their economic value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Purana Rock System in India Subdivisions\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Purana Rock System in India can be sub-divided into two: cuddapah and the vindhyan system\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(a) Cuddapah System<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location: Cuddapah &amp; Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), parts of Chhattisgarh and Aravalli range.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Clay, slates, sandstones, limestones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minerals: Iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(b) Vindhyan System<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location: Stretch from Sasaram (Bihar) to Chittorgarh (Rajasthan), covering ~1,00,000 sq. km.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Ancient sedimentary deposits, ~4000 m thick.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features: Devoid of fossils; important diamond-bearing regions (Panna &amp; Golconda).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minerals: Limestone, ornamental stones, glass-making sand.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Dravidian Rock System in India (Palaeozoic Era)\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Dravidian rock system in India spans 600-300 million years ago, representing the palaeozoic age. These rocks are fossiliferous in nature and marks the beginning of coal formation. Contain shale, talc, dolomite, marble, and limited but valuable coal resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dravidian Rock System in India Features\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Presence of fossil remains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initial coal deposits (Carboniferous period).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rock types include shales, sandstones, quartzites, clays, salts, and slates.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Locations of Dravidian Rock System in India<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Predominantly in Extra-Peninsular regions: Kashmir (Anantnag, Lider Valley), Himachal Pradesh (Spiti, Kangra, Shimla), Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon), Pir Panjal.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dravidian Rock System in India Subdivisions\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dravidian Rock System in India can be subdivided into the following types:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cambrian Rocks: NW Himalayas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ordovician Rocks: Quartzites, sandstones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Silurian Rocks: Lahaul &amp; Spiti (limestones, shales).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Devonian Rocks: Lacking fossil fuels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carboniferous Rocks: Coal-bearing, limestone, quartzite, and shales.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Aryan Rock System in India<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Aryan Rock System in India\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Aryan rock system in India ranges from the upper carboniferous to the recent period and has many sub-divisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(a) Gondwana System<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation: 250 million years ago (Permian).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location: Damodar Valley (Jharkhand), Mahanadi Valley (Odisha, Chhattisgarh), parts of Madhya Pradesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features: Continental origin, laid down in synclinal troughs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Contains 98% of India\u2019s coal reserves, along with iron ore, copper, and uranium.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(b) Jurassic System<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation: 201\u2013145 million years ago.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location: Rajasthan, Kachchh, Ladakh, Spiti, Nepal, Bhutan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Coral limestone, sandstones, conglomerates.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Yields coal, petroleum, and gold.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(c) Deccan Traps<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation: End of Cretaceous to early Eocene (volcanic eruptions).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extent: ~5 lakh sq. km across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Basalt; weathering produces regur (black cotton soil).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Fertile soil for cotton cultivation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(d) Tertiary System<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation: 60\u20137 million years ago.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features: Period of Himalayan orogeny; known as the &#8220;Age of Mammals&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Karewas of Kashmir, Bhangar &amp; Khadar of Great Plains, coastal rocks of Konkan, Malabar, Nilgiris.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Petroleum and coal deposits.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(e) Shivalik System<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location: Shiwalik Hills (between Ganga &amp; Yamuna).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rocks: Sandstones, conglomerates, clays, silts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance: Contains lignite, oil, bauxite, and clays.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(f) Quaternary System (Pleistocene &amp; Recent)<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation: Last 1 million years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features: Fossiliferous clays, sands, gravels, and extensive alluvium deposits in Indo-Gangetic Plains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Classification:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bhangar: Older alluvium.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khadar: Younger alluvium, fertile and suitable for agriculture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the Rock System of India from Archaean to Quaternary. Learn about their formation, features, locations, significance and economic importance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":61210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[2396],"class_list":{"0":"post-61239","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-rock-systems-of-india","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61239\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}