ARAVALLI RANGE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court barred Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi from issuing new mining leases in the beleaguered ecosystem of India's oldest mountain range, following Haryana government's revelation that there is no specific definition of areas qualifying as the Aravali range.

Aravalli Range

• Location: North-western of India, stretching from Delhi to Gujarat through Haryana and Rajasthan
• Historical Significance: It stands as one of the oldest fold mountains globally, bearing witness to millions of years of Earth's history.
• Length: 670 km 
• Formation: Its formation is deeply rooted in the collision of tectonic plates during the Proterozoic era, shaping the landscape we see today.
• Geological Context: As part of the Indian Shield, it represents a significant geological formation formed through ancient cratonic collisions.
• Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar Peak (1722m) on Mount Abu.
• Rivers: Major rivers like Banas, Sahibi, and Luni originate from the Aravalli, contributing to the rich hydrology of the region and its surrounding areas.
• Erosional History: Despite once towering to great heights, the Aravalli has weathered over millions of years, attesting to the relentless forces of erosion.
• Minerals: The range boasts abundant mineral resources like copper, zinc, lead, and marble, contributing to economic activities and historical significance.
• Division: It can be classified into two main sections: the Sambhar-Sirohi ranges, featuring notable peaks like Guru Shikhar, and the Sambhar-Khetri ranges, characterized by discontinuous ridges.