Previous Year Question
Rajasthan desert or Thar desert is the expanse of which of the following?
Pliocene
Paleocene
Pleistocene and recent deposits
Oligocene
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The vast sandy expanse of the Thar Desert consists mainly of Quaternary deposits of Pleistocene and Recent/Holocene age. The region contains wind-deposited sands, old and active sand dunes, fluvial deposits and, at some places, deposits associated with lakes and playa basins.
The Thar is regarded as one of the relatively young deserts of the world. Climatic changes, aeolian activity and fluvial processes during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene played an important role in the development of its present landscape. Geological studies record extensive phases of sand accumulation in the Thar during the Late Pleistocene.
The Pleistocene is the geological epoch extending from about 2.58 million years ago to about 11,700 years ago, followed by the present Holocene epoch. In older geographical classifications, the term Recent deposits was also commonly used for Holocene and very recent deposits.
Descriptions of the Geological Survey of India also record Quaternary sediments and associated deposits in the Thar Desert. Therefore, the desert is not generally regarded as an expanse of the older Pliocene, Paleocene or Oligocene Tertiary deposits.