Monday, May 19, 2014

Geologists Have Found Out New Volatile Volcano and a Fault Line in Leepa Valley, Kashmir

A team of geologists claimed to have noticed a volcanic activity in Leepa valley, which is situated about 100 kilometers southeast of Muzzafarabad in Kashmir. This volcanic activity was recorded on a very small scale, in the Kesarkot and Hanjana areas of Leepa valley in the month of March this year.

The lava erupted on the surface, emitting smoke for about three days, resulting to which the local residents of the area reported it to AJK University department for Geology. After which a team of geologists visited the valley for geological survey and investigations. On reaching the spot, scientists collected rock samples from solidified lava for chemical and physical analysis and further carried out microscopic and chemical analysis of some selected samples. These analysis of the samples suggested that rocks were formed by flow of lava on the surface. The claimed the existence of Silica (SiO2) content in the rock samples that they analyzed.
The outcome of the results prompted the geophysical investigations of Leeepa, Reshian and Lamnian areas that showed presence of a deep fault in the Leepa valley through which the lava flow occurred. Scientists emphasized on the need of further investigations in order to avoid any perilous incidents in the area.

The team of scientists investigating the Leepa valley comprises of Prof Dr Mohammad Rustum of the Ajk University, Prof Dr Mohammad Sabir Khan and M. Phil scholars Mohammad Saleem Mughal and Fahad Hameed.
An extensive tour of these areas where the volcano was discovered was done by a team of geologists and professors from the AJK University. Traces of lava were found in Leepa Valley and Kaisarkote situated neighboring the Karnah sector. The residents also informed them of the smoke coming from the soil of these areas. They also came to know that residents had seen smoke emanating from the soil in these areas. After a thorough research along the tour, the group of researchers expressed an alarm of the volcano getting erupted any time. 
A team of experts has confirmed the presence of volcanic lava in these areas and also that it is very volatile. That the volcanic lava has seeped through the cracks has been proved after test of few samples of rocks. Extensive investigations are being carried on a fault line that has been discovered.
Muzaffarabad is place on the margin between the gradually colliding Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, both of which are composed of thick continental crust. The pressure on the collision has not occurred instantly but when the rocks cannot hold the pressure for longer period of time. The collisions of the tectonic plates make Kashmir one of the most earthquake prone zones in the world.

The Leepa Valley is placed in Azad Kashmir which is the Pakistani administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir now in Pakistan. It is situated at a distance of about 45 kilometers from Muzaffarabad. The valley has several lavish touristic scenes. The mountains of this valley have been dotted with dense pine trees and are covered with dense snow throughout the winter season. The entire region of the valley has been divided into Leepa, Reshian, Dao Khan and Chananian sections that are open to tourists from the months of May to November.  

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