General Geology and Structural Setting of Myanmar

Myanmar is situated in an area of complex plate tectonic setting. Myanmar has been divided into four main belts geomorphologically and tectonically (Stamp, 1925, Chibber, 1934, Tainsh, 1950, WinSwe, 1980, Maung Thein 1977, 1983 and 2000). Starting the East to these four belts are Eastern Highlands, the Central Lowlands which are sperated into force-arc and back-arc by the Central Volcanic Line, The Western Ranges (Indo-Burma Ranges) and finally the Rakhine Coastal and Offshore Islands and Northern Coastal Plains. In order to portray the tectonic framework of the regions the following names are proposed for these provinces; the Shan-Tenasserim Highland, the Central Cenozoic Belt, the Western Fold Belt, the Arakan Coastal Belt. These belts are mere reflections of the underlying stratigraphy structures in that each contains lithologically and structurally related rock groups.