4. Introduction
• When the unmetamorphosed and
undisturbed sediments, resting upon the
Archean crystalines and capped by the
Deccan trapped in the region, this sequence
named as “Bhima Series”. It is one of the
smallest of the independently recognized
“Purana Basin of peninsular India”.
• Bhima Basin having an exposed extend of
5200 square km disposed in a sigmoidal
fassion over a stretch of 160 km NE-SW
direction.
Figure:Bhima Basin
Lagudu, Surinaidu & Bacon, C & Pavelic, Paul.
(2012)
5. Location
• Bhima basin is located on the northern border
of Krishna basin separated from Godavari
Basin by Harishchandra and Balaghat
ranges.
• Total area of the basin is 48,899 Sq km which
is 70.43% of Krishna Basin.
Figure: Location of Bhima Basin
Kulkarni et al. (2019)
6. Geomorphology
•The Basin is formed by the Bhima River.
•This basin have been shaped by the
geological processes and dianamic
behavior of the Bhima River overtime
Figure: Geomorphology of Bhima Basin
Zagade et al. (2021)
7. Origin of Bhima Basin
•Originates near Bhimashankar Temple in the
Bhimashankar hills in Pune District,
Maharashtra state.
•The northern extensions of this basin are of
Upper Cretaceous- Eocene age.
Figure: Origin of Bhima Basin
Source: Integrated State Water Plan for Upper Krishna
Sub Basin prepared by Water Resources Department
Maharashtra
8. Geologic Age
• U–Th–Pb and Rb–Sr (strontium) radiometric dates of limestones and glauconite‐bearing
sandstones of the Bhima Group (Bhima Basin). Indicate deposition at around 800– 900
Ma.
• That means it belongs to the neoproterozoic Era of Proterozoic Eon
Tectonic condition
• The age of the Bhima Basin has the time period of Pannotia /Pan-Africa supercontinent.
• The sigmoidal nature of the Bhima Basin contact is significant and is attributed to the pull
apart mechanism.
• The isostatic adjustment of the area leads to the faulting during pre-, syn-, postsedimentry
periods.
9. Sedimentation
• The formations seen to represent the
Major cycle of sedimentation.
• The Rabanpalli clastics and Shahabad
limestone form one cycle.
• The Rabanpalli clastics and Shahabad
limestone forms the second cycle of
sedimentation.
• Each cycle of sedimentation
commences
• with an arenaceous facies.
Figure: Formation of Bhima Basin
Korisettar and Ravi. (2007)
11. Revised Lithostratigraphy of the
Bhima Group
FORMATION MAXIMUM
THICKNESS
MEMBER MAIN LITHOLOGICAL COMPONENT
Shahabad limestone <75m. Gray , argelliceous micritic 1st.
Dark bluish gray, massive limestone
Variegted, siliceous and cherry 1st
Blue grey, blocky miritic 1st
Flaggy limestone
Rabanpalli Clastics <70m. Ekmai shale member Ferrogenous shales, with calcareous shales
at top
Kasturplli Green, glauconitic bearing fine sst and
siltstone
Kundrapalli Quartz arenite member Quartzitic sst (medium to fine grained)
Adki Hill conlomerate member Polymictic conglomerates and arkosic, grity
sst
Mishra et al.(1987)
12. Correlation of Purana Basin of Dharwar craton
Cuddapah-
Kurnool
Pranhita-Godawari Kaladgi-
Badami
Bhima
Kurnool Gp. Kundair Sgp.
Jammalamadugu
Sgp.
Sullavai/Usur Gp.
Penganga Gp.
Badami Gp. Andola Sgp.
Sedam Sgp.
Cuddapah
Sgp.
Srisailam Quartzite
Nallamalai Gp.
Chitravati Gp.
Papaghni Gp
Albaka/Pamanuru
Sst.
Mulug/Venkatapura
m
Mallampalli Gp.
Simikeri Sgp.
Lokapur Sgp.
Geology of India, vol. 1, M Ramakrishnan & R Vaidyanadhan
13. Depositional Environment
•The Bhima sediments represent platform
deposit of shallow marine, near shore
environments.
•The coarser clastics (conglomerates and
sandstone) represent shoreline to beach
deposits.
•The Siltstones and Shales represent
deposits of deeper, subtidal to intertidal,
clastic tidal flat environment.
Figure:Depositional environment
Schematic cartoons illustrating the infarred depositional
history of the Bhima Basin
14. Economic Significance
•The basin is known for huge reserves
of quality-limestone that supports a
large-scale cement industry in it.
Figure:Uranium deposit
AU - Sukanta Dey.(2015)
15. Conclusion
The Bhima Basin is broadly subdivided into two formations, representing the
Clastic facies and Carbonate facies. On the basis of their historic preceedance,
the locality names of “Rabanpalli” and “Shahabad ” are retained. The clastic
and carbonate facies of Bhima group are named as Rabanpalli Clastic
Formation and the Shahabad Limestone Formation respectively.
The basin is known for huge reserves of quality-limestone that supports a large-
scale cement industry in it.
16. Reference
Lagudu, Surinaidu & Bacon, C & Pavelic, Paul. (2012). Agricultural groundwater management in
the Upper Bhima Basin, India: Current status and future scenarios. Hydrology and Earth System
Sciences Discussions.
Kulkarni, Himanshu & Bhagwat, Manoj & Kale, Vivek & Aslekar, Uma. (2019). PUNE'S AQUIFERS
Some Early Insights From A Strategic Hydrogeological Appraisal.
Zagade, Nayan & Umrikar, Bhavana. (2021). Drought severity modeling of upper Bhima river
basin, western India, using GIS–AHP tools for effective mitigation and resource management.
Natural Hazards.
Korisettar, Ravi. (2007). Toward developing a basin model for Paleolithic settlement of the Indian
subcontinent: Geodynamics, monsoon dynamics, habitat diversity and dispersal routes..
Mishra,R.N.,Jayaprakash,A.V.,Hans, S.K & Sunda-Ram, V.1987.Bhima Group of Upper
Proterozoic
Geology of India, vol. 1, M Ramakrishnan & R Vaidyanadhan
AU - Sukanta Dey TI - Chapter 19 Geological history of the Kaladgi–Badami and Bhima basins,
south India
