mela Tet ATG UG: Tet AT PURSE TCLS DDC CCE UE Com: Dlg | Geotourism 4 BCI ME CUCL ME CE sf Ces Geological Survey of India Cre ET ESLPROLOGUE: GSI's commemoration document, ie., special publication no, 61 on ‘National Geological Monuments! (NGM) was released in 2001 on the occasion of 150 years anniversary celebration, enlisted twenty-six locales as Geological Monuments having imprints of varied geological processes through ages and a storehouse of interesting geological features, to generate interest at large and help in preserving these natural wonders as precious national heritage. This provides aninsight in thereal past - theformation ofthe subcontinent, the orogeny, the palaecenvironment and the exotic collection of paleo - flora and fauna. In India, Region South, ie., the entire Indian Peninsula, has eleven such locations, recurrently declared as National Geological Monuments by GSI, the custodian to maintain these monuments. ‘Two new places viz., Varkala Neogene Park, Kerala and Karai Badlands, Tamil Nadu have already considered as National Geological Monuments and the [J declaration is in the offing. Out of thirteen, two locations are being developed as [BaeMeeee mee Geopark following the guidelines of UNESCO ie., Sathannur Fossil Park & Varkala Neogene Park. Sathannur Park is in the tourist map of Tamil Nadu f through the measures tazen by State Tourism Dept. Varkala Park is already a tourist destination for its beach-het spring complex. Plan to develop others into Geoparicis in the pipeline Most of these places are visited by the tourists regularly. Actions have already |Neaauemiaani ‘been initiated to popularise the locations at Govt level and through local bodies, E ie, municipality/ panchayat. Exciting pillow structure on. f 14°8'4".76°31'27" exclusive exhibit; voleano marme evidence Pillow Lava Maradihall, Kamataka, India This Geological Vonumentof PilowLavaisone of the best of Its kind In the werld. Gealogically, t ‘occurs in Chitradurga schist belt of Dharwar Group. Pillow lavas are formed when hot molten lava erupts under 2€0 water, or eubaqueoue extrusion and solidifies in the form of characteristic pillow-shaped structures ie., roughly spherical or rounded pilow-shape. The lava gets chilled so suddenly that pert of the flow separates ints cliscrete rounded bodies Pillow lavas in vobanic rock are characterized by thick sequences of dissontinuous pilow-shaped masses, commony up to one metre in diameter They form the upper part of normal soeanic crust and are ocmmonly of basatic compostion. In general, the more intermediate the composition, the larger the pilows, due % the increase in viscosity of the erupting lava, This pllow lava has been dated back 2500 milion years [2.5 Gal Mbvciealt 6 (ee Se ot Pre eee oir | seed a Chitradurgatown and 4km N of Ine. gecioa J Ayamanga‘avilage, onthe Na submarine volcanic eruption, islocated bythe sie (Mumbai Bengoluru Road). The of Chitradurga town and the target visions. are area is about 180km from tourisis! researchers. Local sightseeng for visitors Pitiow tava | Bengaluru of Chitaduga eg, Chitracurga Fort, eto. Is Waracthal feasible 1 National Geological Monument India: Region SouthCute intrusive rock: Granite Gneiss fabulous, exotic; world’s most abundant rads type 66'57"-77°35'2 Peninsular Gneiss Lalbagh, Bengaluru, India The monument, located in the southern part of Bengaluru, 4km from the Vidhan Southa, vithin the Labagh gardens, is easly approactable by road. Bengaluruis wel connected by road, rail and ait wth the rest of the country and is also well nown internationally "Peninsular Gnelss’ the name denotes a oranite gnelssic ‘complex spreacied over 118 of the indian Peninsula. The expesire at Lalbagh is ane af the dest exposures of this fock mass, protnding high above the ground as a hitock ‘shows long bards creating artist: patieene which are worth-seeing ‘The monument is ocaled inte sounem parlor Bengauru ands easly approachable by toad Lelbagh is one of the most celebrated botanal gartens inthe oty of Bengaluru Itis one of the four Towers erected to restrict the ity limits by MagadiKempgoweca, the then feudal eaderunder the feudatory of the Viayenagara empire The Laltagh hil is ‘composed of dark biol gneiss of granitic to granaclortic composition containing streaksof bolita. Vestiges of dder fooks are seen inthe form of enclaves withn the gneiss Geisses and related granitolds constitute one ofthe most abundant rock types exposecion eatth, Peninsular Gneiss ff Ihe regon is daled 2500 to 2400 milion years that aooreted in three major episodes, ie 3.4Ga,33-32Ga and 30-29 Ga The quarres of Laibagh are of great Importance for researches on earth sclenoes towards evolution theterrain Geiss is a coarse-grained high grace metamorphic rock formed at high pressures and temperatures in which light andi dark mineral canstitents are segregated into visible bancs andthe derk border isusuallyrich in biatitemioa ‘Most visited Geological monumentin the country, meinty by the tourists, is known as Kempgoweda Top within the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, GSI deoiared it as a National Geological Monument, since Lelbagh is frequentec by visors from allover the worla IL is2is0 called the Laibagh fock. The rook shines white after the rans and attracts attention of the vistors who excitedly climb the rock mass to the tower at the top to get a panoramio view of the ‘gardens ard the aly. ¥ oe National Geological Momanent- Snddin: Region South 2Stratiform Mineral deposit Spectacular and wast; world's single major store of baryte Thagoological monumentis located wihin the Mangampet minscarea, 1 Okm Nf Kodur town, on the Reniguntz- Kurrool State Highway The aondton of the ‘monumentis stable ands avalzbl forvistor. Ite well comected by road, railand air The nearest raihead is Kodur on the KumoofTiupati ine ofthe South Central Railway. The nearest alti lecated at Reng unta,atadistancect aboutSOkm. isan 79:20 Eparchaean Unconformity Tiumala, Andhra Pradesh, India Epzrchaean Unconfermity is a geological feature that separates the Proterozoic Nagati Quartzite from the coldest Archaean granite representing 2 time interval of over 800 Ma {million years old) , Af this location, the boundary surface is between Nagari Quartzites. the sedimentary rocks of ihe Proterozoic Kadapa Supergroup [attout 1600 Ma] and Archaean Peninsular Gneissic Gomplex granites, gneisses and dolerite dykes; more than2300 Ma}. Thistime gap isfermed as Unoanformify in stratigraphic sense andas i sgnifies the ime affer the Archean’ period it is befited for ‘Eparchaean Unoonformity:, This uncenformity is supposed f@ be a peried of remarkable quiescence without much structural disturbance and igneous activity in the history of earth ie., an indication of vasthiatusinthecreaton ofthe Earth's early cust The hill ranges of the Tirumala rise to @ height of 900m. The steep scarp of the ranges shows the Eparchaean Unconformity's feature. The view of cap rock of Tirumala hills the Nagari Quariites, isabsclufelyspectacular. jena ee Baryte Bed Mangampet, Andhra Pradesh, India The geological monument of Saryte deposi in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh is the single Jargest deposit n tho word where two Stratiform lenses upto 1 2km lang ard 20m thick contain over 74 million tonnes of barytes. Barytes or barite ig the mineral form of barium sulphate ‘with specific gravityvaring from 2.41028 This important stratiform deposit is considered to have formed through precipitation from volcanic vapours under ‘submerine conditins anc sub zerlal snowerng of ash ard = molten barite lapiliat or near the seafloor of sedimentary basin. The depost ocours In the Pulampet Formation of the Nallamalal Group of the Cuddapah Supergroup. The lower beds of Mangampe! Barytesareotthehighest grace and offen ocsur as pure barium suiphate. Its the largest single depost that constiutes about 98% and 28% ofthe {otal known reserve of nda andthe werld respectively. Baryte is used for oil and gas driling as dling mud, ‘shemicals, paints and asfilerandextender,aqgresates, Stratigraphic feature atime gap of millions years Setween 1139 gealogicnl formations The farge! people are the devolees of Tirumala shrine, passing through the spot unknowingly on way fo the femple, Teke a break af this place, roadside just 0.6km before themain gate on hillep, fo see the evidence where time had stopped for 300Ma, Please wai, feel the huge timegap between tworack unitsand move slowly 3 Noaional Geological Monument ~ Iudin: Region South ‘The contact is exposed in the Tirumala Hills. The geclagical monuments located! 600m before the main enirance of Tirumala temple at the 12k point on the Tirupati —Titumala Ghat road atthe top of the Tirumala Hils. ‘The location of ne Monumentiswell oonnecledby raed, ralland ar routes. Itis fOkm NW of Tupatitown,Geomorphic feature action of weathering agents like water and wind over thousands of years ; rock quartzite carved out naturally ASMA T3°2025" Natural Arch (Silathoranam) Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, India Naturalarch, Tiumala Hills is basioallya rock bridge! and a rratchiess geological surprise in the county The arch measures fm inwidth and 3m in hetght, hes two dissmilar sets of rockswth aconnecting thin link itis crafted by nature through intensified climatic settingsand corrosion e.g, by geological agents like wind, water, ce act conthuously on the rocks to rod, binging out marvellous changesin landscape] of Quart roskswith tine (1600 milion yearsage of the rock). On top, the Thumala Hills made up of sedimentary. rocks-quartzites. and. intercalated shales, geologeally inawnas Najari Quartzites The archisa rerty and oneorthe few naturalarches n ‘Asia, A’natural arch’or ‘natural beige’. a geological formation with an opening underneath, Most Natural arches commonly form where clffs are subject to erosion tom te sea, rivers or wealheving (subaerial processes): the processes ind" weaknesses n rocks arworkon them, making them lrger unt they breek through There is a wellmainiainedrock garden in front of the toh, Moming and Sunset are good time to visit the Arch looks move striking and mystifying in the ight of the settingsun Senin thelight of afull moon he Arch issaldtobe"ethereally beautiful” This geological monument ‘Natural Arch’ is usually visted by lacsof devotees of Lord Venkatestwara or Belaj [India’s most visited pilgrim site and the worlds seooni-biggest one after the Vetican] while visting ‘Chakra Teertham- a religous position in Trumai Hil. To the vistorsit isa ‘Siathorenam’ ['Sila” mears ‘rock’ and "Thoranam” means a bridge) The Hina legends say that the arch resembles the hood of a serpent, @ conch (Shank) and a discus (Chakra), linged to the famous Tirumala tills shrine of Lord ‘Venkateshwera. The monument is located near the road leading from Tiumala to Dhatmagiri near Chakra Teerattam, {km Nvf of the Tiumala temple. This monument is well mainained by the Forest department of (Tirupat Piao: Am ‘umnala Devesttanat wi afenlng andl gan The (oon ott ee Natural Arch swell oonnected by road, rll and ai routes, Tiumala hls, y Chittoor cistret is stuated 10km NW of Trupati fown en Srialahast x ear a Chittoor StateHighway. vosaees] The nearest airpor is located at Rengunta, about 45km away from the Tirupati town, which connects to Chennai, Hylerabad and Bengaluru, The es nearest rilhead to Trumala hill is Tiupat. The Trupati-Renigunta loop Nana AR Ainciniels 5 line comectsitto the Chennai-Vjayawada main line of the South Centra palais Railway, From Tirupati railway station the approachto the Tiumala temple ‘esi Oe isonly by road, a distanced! 15ien, Regular tus services [bath ivateane! we Epater repr Onctatcl Wy Govt} ae operated by all the slates bordering Andiva Pradesh. The eon auyroact ced toads the tebe wide and an evenue of tees Frivate vehices are allowed to the lation, A 30-ninutes wak from Pet. ket—1— | maintempletothe:onumentisan enjoyable ncidentinTrumala National Geological Monanent - India: Region South — 4Imprint of past Life geopark with evidence of fossil plants (coaTeaEee Sathannur Fossil Park Tamil Nadu, Incia The National Geological Monument in Sathannur, Perambalur dist., Tamil Nadu is being converted into Fossil Wood Geopars, The State Govt of Tamil Nadu and the local Panichayal developed the places witha rest house and a small museumfor the visitors, The park contains lage tunks of petrfied tees of Middle Cretaceous age (Aptian; about 120 milion years ok fossil tree trunks of Sathannur, measures over 48m in length, are aset oftree trunksdiscovered in 1940 by Dr.M.S Krishnan, These tunksaretelieved to be over 12) Ma olf and are considered to be evidence of the presence of a sea in the riddle of the presentday Tamil Nadu during the time. Geological study shows that move than 120 Ma ago, the sea (which lies today about 100Km E of Sathannur) had transgressed asfar as to 10KmW of Sathannur, During this period, the sea abounded ina variety of marine animals similar to those found in the present day sea. These animals, after death, sank to the bottom and were buried by sands and clays brought down by therivers. The largetrunk of pelted tree, which ean beseen here, lies within the Trichinopoly group of rocks of about 100 Ma ago. This tree shows the presence of conifers ( nen Towering plants) thai dominaledthe land vegetation prior to the advent of Angiesperms (flowering plants ofthe present cay) Similar fossil trees measuring afew meters in lenalh are found along the stream sections near Varagur, Anaipad, Alurdalipur and Saredamangalam. This patk is mostly visited by tourists who consulted the tourist map of Famil Naduwhereinthe park has been marked notably This park is mostly vsited ty tourists who consulted the touriet map of Tamil Nadu wherein the park has been marked notably 5 [tis situated ebout 700m \of the Sathannur vilage and can be approashed through NH 45 [oonnecting Chennal with Tiruchohirapali] up to Suvachehur vilage end then to tre par location through an unmetalles road for @ distance of 14km eastward ee eK ‘Sathannur Fossil Park SL Karai Badlands bea National Geological Monument ~ India: Region SouthSign of past forest life sorar rose? a rare repasitery of impressive and rightly preserved fossilised trees Fossil Wood The National Gaologisal Monument at Thirwaktarai, Villupuram District, Tamil Nad is maintained by GSI, Here, large trunks of plants drifted, depositec, petfied and preserved in sedimentary rocks i.e, horizontally embedded in Gurldslore Sandstone of Miocene age (20 million years). The ‘wood fossils, scattared over 247 acres (1 sq kr), are fencedt within nine separafs enclaves. Only a small pottionis open to the public. Thereare 200 fssiltees of various shapes ranging betwean mand 15m in length and upto Smin gith. They lie strewn and halfburied in the sol give a glimpse of the ‘compasitionof forethatexistedinthe pre-hisbricages Scientists speculate that tre big rees cid not aiginally grow at that ste, but were transported by massive flood millons of years ago from the huge forests of adjoning areas and ‘deposted in the present site of inland seas which in turn petrified intofossilwoods! Petrified woxd are fossi wood that have tumed to stone throughthe process of pemineralization All organic materials here are repaced It per Itby silica cetved fiom valoanie-ash ‘jected during volcanic eruptions . In facl the degros of perfection inthe petrificaton process in Thirw/akkera is relly Lunommon. Vory fw foesi foreats in tha world can boast of such high lavels of preservation. ‘The local Hindu legend! says thatthe tas ae the bones of a demon that was slain by Lord Vishnu, usually, mentioned sduringfestivals at the famous VatraKaaliAmman Devi Temple inthe iilage. Getting popular with the Sathannur Geopark, the umber of fourists) devoees of lal pilarimage visiting this, site is growing. Gonstructon of a mini museum andapproach steps io develope t as Geoperk by GSI are n theofing The placeis notedinthe Tourist map of Tam! Nari a1 TET 18°38 58 Karai Badlands Perambaltur, Tamil Nadu, India The area is very close to Chennai - Tiruchirapalli road i.e. NHAS junction at Perambalur on Alathur-Afyalur Rood near Sathannur Fossil Park Thiruvakkeral, Tamil Nadu, India The Geolerical Monument is located thm E of Thiwatkarat village, which is 35km fram “inlvaram. though Thelvenan Puductety Road. rear nace, Naylan/Maiemicaseny frou pigimoente of Lond Nuruge, and Kuttergaty — Putucheny road passesthroughthistenpletoun Geomorphic feature world’s paramount mariie Oretadeous section, effects of differential weathering and erosion; heaven for fossil anthology ‘The stretch of Kara Bad ands (11°0635"-11°08", 78'59339- T8E645")ie, in between the places viz, Karai&xKolatkanatnam along Alathut-AriyalurRload having 4k length (fom Tkm station to 44m station on road] & 2km width [kn on ether sie ofthe road] in Perambalurdlstat, Tamil Nadu exposing Eatly Cretageous(ie., 1450 100 Ma)marine sedimentswith fossils] has been prosceed as National Geological Morument{ie, National Crotaxaous Fossil Paik] by GS! andthe declaration is infheoting ‘The Cretaceous Beds of AryalurPerambalur area belongs to marine ‘seciments of Cauvery basin [Early Cretacecus to Palaeogene] ageis an ideal Parise for fossil colection and sostraigraphia studies. The Badland topography with a series of natural conical hillocks seperated by valley is unique and rare naturalgit and should be protected as anational geobgical monument. The sediments ofthis area bebngs to Karal Formation of Early Cenomarian age and consists of qypsecus olay, sandstone, pockets of phosphatiz nodules ard clectte. The marine fossils are precened ae ammonites, nautlo#ls, belemrites, worm tues, peeaypads, gastropods and ‘oyster inabundance wth other marin ertebrateslike cow shark to [tis a Westeland, It atracs scientists forthe best preserved Cretaneous satin seoton jn the word wih its unique Itholoyy and diversity of extinct maineite National Geological Monanent - Initia: Region South 6Amazing fabric on Lava effect of contraction during cooling of highly viscous lave: fabulous structure; nature's supers creation ss20at-74e4o2e ‘St ary’s lstanes also tnownas Coconut Island and Thonseparare a set ‘of four small lands inthe Arabian Sea of the coast of Malpe in Uduai, Karnataka The Coconut Island displays majestic array of mult-faced solumns well developed in the felsic voksanss{rhyoltes end rhyssacies) ‘wth basis patches, These manelous trctures,caled ‘Columnar Joints in geviogicallpartance are nature's exqusite handivork andthe only natal fracture tet aporvaah the finest hexagonal honeyoorb fkepattem. ‘The gaomatrical om ofthe rock mosaic resembles the work of an expart ‘scuptor. Considering the importance and ray of such occurrence, these islands were classified as aNatonal Geological Monumentby GSI ‘The Felsic Lava of the St. Mar/'s Islands (Sul) vobanias, evolved due to vast outpouring cf hotmalten vain the south-western part of India during Late Cretagzous (88 Ma) could represent vocanic activity associated with the treakup of Greater India [India plusSeyctelles) and Madagascar. Thay are now prasent as tlattopped hls and step Ike terraces, The Madagascar flood basalt povince, the SM voloarics, ard possibly the Kerala dykes, thotghtto tave onouredinthe Late Cretacecus, Theisland covers an area whith is about 660m x “00m. has prominent soconut trees, and hence is also called Cooonut Island. There is 10 habitation on theistands. The highest elevation at Coconut Island, whih has generated intarest among geologists and tourists, i atout 1m above mslwth surounting areas inthe form of platfomns. “The lava rocks form regular §,6.0r 7-sided plas, and is tund in varying heights in he islands; thetallesof thecolumsis aboutn. Mostcolums are straight with parallel sides and diemeter: from a few em to Sm. Sone ‘solurmns.ae curved and vary in with Colunarjointed volcanics exsts on many places on earth, The exposed lava contacts as i coos, forming the development of tensle stress between the hot and the cooler pat ofthe rocks, causing t1o creck. Onoe the srack cevelops continues o grow. The growth s perpendicularto Te surface ofthe flow That means cooling of highly vsaous lava eads oform Jong polyganal nt blocks as columns, Itisa tounst’s paradise, very popular for mastic gaologeal columns and honaycoms sinucturas af volcanic rack. Vary fino grained igneous rock srezted through voloanice fusion on land. Herethe eckisasidicie, rhyoitesand rhyccactes. tis developed in basis basalts also, eq, Deccan Basalt of Andhra Pradesh-Maharastre Gujarat ‘Themonumentis ons ered as animportantsite for GeoTburisn ‘The westem coasts of the islands have no sand beach to swim and relax since itis sstted with vocaniaooks, Butthereareflatslabsto stand eny the serenity ofthe place, Watching sun seta the Islands alsoa special sight. tis a popuar picric spot wit lecals and toursts alike, Decemberto ‘Marah isthe best seasontovstthe Islands. According folk agend, in 498, Vascoda Gama nemed St Manyslands ‘tis voyage from Portugal tolndia, before he progeeded to Kozhikode in Kerala. The beach at this location is stimulating. Apart from the Islanés, Malzo toohas tout atractione such as the Vadathandeshwara Tompla anda image of Sr Balarama consecrated by the Saint Madhwackarya, te fourder of vaita Philosophy. St mary’sislands are a tiny group of four picturesque islands situated of the west coast of Incia near Malbe, a small hamlet about Skm W of Udupi, the istrict headquarers, Udupi is about GOkm WNW of Mlangelor, the nearest aitpot. It sais linked! ‘o Mumbai and Mangalore by the West Coast Ralway 5.| and the Kenkan Railway. The only way of geting to the islands is by boat so) through regular ery service from Melpe. a. uae 7 National Geological Monument India: Region SouthInnovative Residuat —_ an atractive weathered caprock, sediment ‘pssst 7608 Laterite Monument Te csi tes erued nomen at Angealipuram, Malappuram district, Kerala where the ‘Angadiouram, Kerala, hdia _latertewerefratidentifed.ontheoososion of he infenotional Conference on Laterzation’ held in 1978. The monument eptaphgving details ofthe Latertesovera pedestal madect laterite The world’s frst account of latonte vas from Angadjpuram in 1807, as “induratod clay” 0, an q 2xclusive ‘sedimentary residual produc, ieally suite! forbuilling construction It has astrising @ pisoltic texture, gorarally sitted and porous eppearance. The name latrite was firs coined in India, is related to “ltrs” means bricks. Lateite is found above parent rock ‘ypes viz, chareckita, ephynie, anothosiie and gabbro in Kerala. Laterte in Angadippuram has been derived from acid chamoctite, The anstaine mcks ofthis regionare an admture of pyroxene ‘ranulie, chemookte and migmatte. The laterite here ocaurs at an average elevation of 60m above msl as unstratified cap rock over the gaanitic parent rock. Laterte is significant from the ‘e0onoric ange since mineral deposits ofaluriniumare (bau) iron oreand/ nickel ore are known tobe associated with them. The monumentis lbcatedwithinthe premises of thePWD rest house Later isa residual product created by the natural progess of rocks weathering in the hot humid slimatis eondtions and interaction with water, ‘oxygen andcarbon dhoxice. In simple terms, itis. sll formation linked tothe parent rock meterialthat has evolved because ofvarious powers of nature. tis also inferred that paleootimete dating back several milion years has beena causalive factor in laterite formation The residue usually ‘onsist of errichediron, aluminum andlttanium ox in varying proportions. The residue iselffusedin immense masses. tis full ofcavites and pores and contains a large quantty of ran inthe form of redand yellow ochres: Laterite provides wll crainedl conditions withgood water holding ‘apaciy andalso rh in humus and essential plantnutrients. Angacipuram is well known as a pigrimage centre ard has a flurshingtourist industry due bits famous temples, the Thirumanchamkunnu temple andthe Kaiitempe Erantnode eH \ngadipuram ia osated about {ékm fom Malappuram on the road to wonipern oa 8 Palakkad. [tig animportant railway stationan the Shoranur-tilambur railway. i line, The main roa fromPalaksad to Kozhikode passes through Angadipuram via Perinthelmanna, The nearestaiportis Kozikole, 50km away,13°18" 801157" A crucial and mighty granitic rock Chamockite Monument classic exhibit; massive intrusive rock, a variety of important granite St Thomas Mt, Chennai, India Charonoskite, St. Thamas Nlount, Chennai is» typical expeaure of quatz feldspar hypersihene 2 fock, charactered by presence oftwo pyroxene facies metamorphism. Charnackiteisappled to any orthopyroxene-bearing grante, as an end-member of the ohamookite series. The ‘constituents ofthe rock suggest ots origh in particularly ‘cry’ and hightempereture condition and believed to have important bearing in eluoidatng prmordial crustal evolution of the earth, The ‘chamockite suite or series isa group of iyneous rocksvariably metamorphosed and produced by flow in a viscous exysializing intsive magma and of wide distribution and great importance in indian subcontinent, The granuite facies event transforming the grantic gneisses into ‘chamnockite in the southern part of the South Indian granule terran is dated as 850 millon years ago, The name ‘Chamockite' derived from the use of a block ofthis rack as tombstone of Job Chemook the feunderof ty Kolkata Themonument s locate in a known place, a femous church situated ontop ofthe mount. Target peopleare ine vsitorsixnoame wihihe moodof sghiseeing rom he topof inemount, the Dis eyeview of city Chena. ‘The Geslogioal Monument is located in the St Thamas. Mount at Magazine Road, near Anna Salai, Chennai, ‘about fhm away fromNH 45. Chamockte ‘monuragni "= Cee Lava deposit: erupted and consolidated Pyroclastic Rocks voloand efected fabrie: impressive form, Significant composition. Pecapalli, Kamataka, India This geoogical monument n Peddapal is a wekledagglomerate of lage fragments of granite, granite gneiss, basat and banded ferrugincus quarizte set ina matrix of ignimorite (ash flow tus). While mary rock {ragmenis are angular some ofthem appearto be wel rounded, Some rook fragments of granite gneiss measure upto 80cm in clameter An inimiiable gzologé element, the Pyroclastic Recks’ has rock matric bounded! by vowanic motten lava. One of the most spectacular forms of pyroclastic depost are the knmbrites (the deposts of pumice-rch pyroclastic ows] formed bythe high-temperature gas and ash mic ejected from a vokang, or where the lara thrown into the air along with ash, pyroclastic materials, and ather volcanic byproducts; or entrained in a buoyant eruption plume which can rise several kilometers into the airand the particles fling from the eruption clouds form layers onthe ground, The tetm ‘pyroclastic’ Iterally means breken by fre. A pyroslasticerupton entails spitting or “fountaining” lava, the particles ejected from a voloeno during explosive activity vary considerably insize andoompasition fram the largestacolomerates, to veryfine eshes and tuf's All hese ejected material ‘orsolidale to form pyroolastic rooks. The monument plaque lies by the side of famous Kolar Golé Fields and the ‘arget visitors are tourists! researchers. \ Pyraclastic Recut * Podapalli snus ‘The Peddapall vilage is about 700m eastof the road connecting Kolar Gold Fields with theBangerpet Betmangale road SH 85] The outorop is test approached bythe roadand taking the southery diversion near the 10 km stone for about Tkm, The outorop ison the NW oamer ofthe village bo 5 tena 9 National Geological Monanent - Initia: Region SouthGeopark with superb beach-cliff combo elegant scenario, beautiful location; exctusive preserve of geological process’ and tradition The gorgeous Varkala Clif stripped on south Kerala coast ascends wih its gandeur along the seashore. Actualy, the plaoe has three wave-cutelifs v2, Edava Ciff, Noth Clifand South Cif (ram northto south) wih a maximum elevation of 30m edging the Arabian See and ‘uns avera distance of abot 7km with intermittent gaps and preserves the fragile sedimentery rocks which include sandstone, variegated ‘lays andearbonaceaus clays forired during Neogene period (1. Mio Pliocene :23 0 { Smilion yearsago) The Tertiary Werkalli Formation, frst described from this aiff section ‘exposed in the Varkala area by tMiliam King in 1882, is composed of nconsoldated sand, variegated clay, white plastic clay and ‘carbonaceous sandy slay enclosing less durable seems and lenses of lighte. The olff section together with the beach and ihe sea provide a visual impact ofgeataestheticvalue.itisa major clin thewest coast ‘of india hatexposes ine Tertary sedimentaries The carbonaneous clay andpeat beds exposed inthe olff face are the store house of palynafira, the plart microfossis. Thelignite seams and the plant fossils (mangrove swampy! coastal vegetation) preserved in these horizontal fomations signify the palaeoslimatslogy and palaeogeography of the area during Neogene time i.e., hgh organic input envronmentwith a wan, humic climate with heavy rainfall during the deposition, Hoduls of marcaste in carbonaceous olaysand iynte indbate a reducing environment. The lithology indleates Werkall sediments, as shallow water! coastal deposits. Varkala is an unique place of geological hentlage-worth preserving forthe future, The Neogene Varkala olff in Thiruvanarthapuram dstrit, Kerala has. been marced by GSI as a National Geological Monument i 2012, and the requisite deolaration is awaited. The geographical coordinates of thearea ere: 8°4557"76°41', 8°45"76°41'4", 84258" 75°43 18", srasgireagty This proposed National Geological Monument as Geopark is already a fenowmes beach-hot spring complex. Varlala, the beachlovers paradise, isa tourist destination fr last two decades, The ciffie., very steep landside next tosea along Varkalabeachexposes muttooleured spotted olay in ayers. This & fabulous andworth seeing forthe tourist along with other interests, The conversion of the area intoa Geopark ‘reales special attention to the geoscienific people, students, amateursand teurists.as.a destination fortheir study urs and enriches, their knowledge on geology It can defintely inspire them to visvalize the concepts of sedimentation, environment of deposition and teotonios fatkala is silualed about 55km NE of | Neoware Thitwwanarthapuram, the nearest atport. This coastal . hambt is vell oonnected by oad, ral and air. NH 47 rena ‘oonnecting Kanyakumari with Salem passes through Kallambelem which is 10km from Varkela. Several pocket roads are there oonnectng Varkala with Paripally, Kallamoalam and Attingal. Varkala has a allway station ané connected to Mumbal- orion Thitwenarthapuram, Travancore Shorenur. inland waterway passesthrough thisareaEPILOGUE: GSI (Charter of Operations' contains advancement of the cause of geoscience by documentation, propagation, archiving and education, including creation and management of monuments and parks for useofthepublic, studentsandseseatchers and fiturs generations. The parpose is to popularise geosciences forpublic. Regardingii@muments and parks, GSI has declared aventy-six sites, located in different parts of the county, 2s National Geological Monuments and undertaken the responsibility of protection and Promotion ofsuch features. Searches continus to identify and recognise mors places of geclagical interests asGeological Monuments and appropriately convert them as Geopark. To populsriss the geological monuments, contsining the essence of significant geologic signatures associated with it, initiatives are being taken to protect all monument sites and erect new/ modified plagues/ epitaphs on spot and destination beards on important road connections approaching the sites. Measures arealso takento indude all such locationsinto the tourist maps along with famous/ known tourist positions aearby by involving certeinly the State Tourism Dept,/ local Govt. body/ etc. In addition, the constant endeavour for general awareness on geoscientific issues propagetes through displays/ audio- visual material keptin a room/ hall located in the target arza and organise exhibitions/ special events/ regular seminar/ discussions which are a continuous process highlighting the significance of these monuments by linking the eminent personalities/legislaures/ Govt. executives/ local nediz, areto bepart of the exercise. It is a part of common worldwide attempt to popularise geoscience issues by means of UNESCO guidelines. Interestingly, thereis a striking congregation of nineNGMssituated dosely inthe central eastpartof Indian Peninsula around the connectlinesof three neighbouring states of South India, i, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Likely, three NGMsare also located along the stretch of Konkan Rly. through the west coastafthe peninsula. That's why, plan yourvisitaccordingly. WELCOME!