---
title: "Problems of Higher and Tethys Himalaya"
subject: "Engineering Geology II"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_4/engineering_geology_ii:higher-tethys-problems"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/higher-tethys-problems
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Problems of Higher and Tethys Himalaya

Engineering Geology II · Chapter 2: Engineering Geology in Himalayas

- Asked in: 2079 Asoj, 1+1 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/higher-tethys-problems
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/chapter-2

## Question

What are the geological problems of the Higher Himalaya and Tethys Himalaya zones?

## Short answer

Higher Himalaya has rock fall, avalanches, GLOF, seismic hazard along MCT, and rock burst in tunnels. Tethys Himalaya faces landslides in weak shale, karst cavities, frost shattering, permafrost, and glacier hazards with intense folding.

## Answer

#### Higher Himalaya
Made of high-grade metamorphic rocks (gneiss, schist, migmatite, quartzite) and granite, with very steep, glaciated terrain.
- Rock fall, rock avalanches and landslides on steep jointed slopes.
- Snow avalanches, glacier retreat and GLOF; unstable moraines.
- Rock burst, squeezing and high stress in deep tunnels.
- Seismic hazard along the MCT.

#### Tethys Himalaya
Made of fossiliferous Palaeozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks (limestone, shale, sandstone) in a cold, arid, high-altitude setting.
- Landslides in weak shale and slate; rock fall in limestone.
- Karst and cavities in limestone.
- Frost shattering, permafrost and freeze-thaw damage.
- Glacier, GLOF and snow avalanche hazards.
- Intense folding and faulting; STDS zone is weak.
- Wind erosion and debris deposition; poor accessibility.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What rocks form the Higher Himalaya?
   A. High-grade metamorphic rocks and granite
   B. Siwalik sandstone
   C. Alluvium
   D. Fossiliferous limestone only
   Answer: A. Gneiss, schist, migmatite, quartzite and granite make up the Higher Himalaya. (Key point: Higher Himalaya rocks)

2. Which Tethys Himalaya rock gives karst and cavities?
   A. Shale
   B. Limestone
   C. Slate
   D. Gneiss
   Answer: B. Limestone dissolves, giving karst. (Key point: Tethys karst)

3. Which problems arise from the cold, arid, high-altitude setting of Tethys Himalaya?
   A. Frost shattering, permafrost and freeze-thaw damage
   B. Tropical laterite
   C. Liquefaction
   D. Waterlogging
   Answer: A. Cold climate causes frost shattering, permafrost and freeze-thaw damage. (Key point: Tethys climate)

## Related in Engineering Geology II

- [Problems of Siwalik and Higher Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Asiwalik-higher-himalaya-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Mitigation of geological problems in Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Ahimalaya-problems-mitigation) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2
- [Geological hazards of Higher Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Ahigher-himalaya-hazards) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2
- [Problems of Lesser Himalaya and Terai](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Alesser-himalaya-terai-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 5×
- [Problems of Lesser Himalaya with mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Alesser-himalaya-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 5×
- [Engineering geological problems of Siwalik zone](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Asiwalik-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 4×

## Related in other subjects

- [Lithology of Higher Himalaya and Tethys zone](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Alithology-of-higher-himalaya-and) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 3×
- [Lithology of Lesser and Tethys Himalaya; Siwalik difference](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Alithology-of-lesser-and-tethys) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7
- [Engineering geological problems in tectonic divisions](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aengineering-geological-problems-in-tectonic) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 2×
- [Discontinuities and engineering problems in Nepal Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Adiscontinuities-and-engineering-problems-in) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7