Coastal Evolution of the Indian Plate: Decoding Stratigraphic Responses from Gondwana Dispersal to Quaternary Sedimentary Systems

The coastal dynamics of the Indian Plate span from rapid hydrodynamic events to multi-million-year tectonic cycles, recorded in its stratigraphy since the breakup of Pangaea (~200 Ma) into Laurasia and Gondwana. As part of Gondwana, its northward drift and interaction with the Neo-Tethys Ocean shaped a complex sedimentary history. Early Permian siliciclastics of the Paleo-Tethys gave way to carbonate-dominated Neo-Tethyan shelves, reflected in units like the Samana Suk and Datta formations. Mesozoic deposits such as the Shinawri (carbonate platforms), Chichali (lagoonal), and Lumshiwal (fluvial-deltaic) reflect environmental shifts, while the Kawagarh (micritic carbonates) marks carbonate productivity along basin margins. A major unconformity at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary signals the transition from marine Kawagarh to subaerial Hangu Formation (laterite/bauxite), linked to tectonic uplift and climate change during India-Eurasia convergence. Paleogene units like the Lockhart Limestone, Patala, Nammal, and Sakesar formations show evolving marine conditions, while the Kohat Formation records diminishing marine influence. Post-collision, continental sedimentation dominated, as seen in the Rawalpindi Group and residual marine carbonates (e.g., Gaj Formation). The Siwalik Group records Neogene-Quaternary fluvial deposition driven by Himalayan uplift, while the Chaman Belt Flysch captures late marine sedimentation from oblique convergence. This synthesis of stratigraphic and tectonic data reveals the Indian Plate’s evolving shoreline response to geodynamic thresholds. From Gondwana breakup to Holocene deltaic growth, the interplay of carbonate deposition, clastic influx, and basin shifts offers insights into ancient-to-modern coastal behavior, serving as a framework to predict responses under future climatic and anthropogenic pressures.