Sedimentary Facies Analysis of the Fluvial Environment in the Siwalik Group of Eastern Nepal: Deciphering its Relation to Contemporary Himalayan Tectonics, Climate and Sea-Level Change.

Abstract The Siwalik Group, ranging from the Early Miocene to Pleistocene, is believed to be controlled by contemporary Himalayan tectonics and climate. In this study, we established the fluvial system responsible for the deposition of the Siwalik succession along the Muksar Khola section and its controlling factors. Five sedimentary facies associations are identified which are interpreted as the deposits of flood plain dominated fine-grained meandering river (FA1), flood dominated overbank environment (FA2), sandy meandering river (FA3), anastomosing river (FA4), and debris flow dominated gravelly braided river (FA5). These change in fluvial style occurred around 10.5 Ma, 10.0 Ma, 5.9 Ma and 3.5 Ma due to the effects of hinterland tectonics, climate and sea-level change. The thick succession of intraformational conglomerate reveals the intensification of monsoon started around 10.5 Ma in the eastern Nepal Himalaya. The present study show asynchronous exhumation of the Himalaya east to west brought significant difference on the fluvial environment of the Neogene foreland basin. Moreover, this study also reveals continuous drifting of the foreland basin towards the hinterland concerning depositional age.