A REINTERPRETATION OF GRAVEL SPREADS IN THE JAISALMER REGION, THAR-DESERT, INDIA

Gravel deposits have a wide distribution in the Thar Desert. The prese nce of these gravels has led to the persistent idea that 'mighty river s' once flowed in the desert (Oldham, 1893; Ghosh, 1977; Bakliwal, 198 8). This paper demonstrates that gravel spreads around Jaisalmer are n ot related to Quaternary fluvial activity. They are weathered lags der ived from conglomerate beds within the Lathi and Jaisalmer Formations of Mesozoic age. It is suggested that other gravel ridges of Nagaur (M isra er al., 1980) and Bikaner Districts are also pre-Quaternary in ag e. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited