Angadippuram Laterite | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Angadippuram Laterite Location in Kerala, India | |
| Coordinates: 10°59′33″N 76°12′15″E / 10.9925°N 76.2042°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Malappuram |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| National Geological Monument | |
Angadippuram Laterite is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument [1][2][3] in Angadippuram town in Malappuram district in the southern Indian state of Kerala, India. The special significance of Angadippuram to laterites is that it was here that Dr. Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, a professional surgeon, gave the first account of this rock type, in his report of 1807, as "indurated clay", ideally suited for building construction.[4][5] This formation falls outside the general classification of rocks namely, the igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rocks but is an exclusively "sedimentary residual product". It has generally a pitted and porous appearance. The name laterite was first coined in India, by Buchanan and its etymology is traced to the Latin word "letritis" that means bricks.[4][5] This exceptional formation is found above parent rock types of various composition namely, charnockite, leptynite, anorthosite and gabbro in Kerala. It is found over basalt in the states of Goa, Maharashtra and in some regions of Karnataka. In Gujarat in western India, impressive formations of laterite are found over granite, shale and sandstone..[5][6][7][8]
Apart from its use as bricks in building construction, it has other substantial economic value, since it has been established that laterites are closely juxtaposed with aluminium ore (bauxite), iron ore and nickel ore mineral deposits in many parts of Kerala.[6]
The GSI has erected a monument at Angadippuram (see picture) where the laterite formations were first identified, as one of the 26 monuments declared as National Geological Monuments, on the occasion of the "International Conference on Laterization" held in 1979.[6]
Angadippuram is also well known as a pilgrimage centre for its famous temples, the Thirumandhamkunnu temple and the Tali temple.[9]
- ^ "National Geological Monument, from Geological Survey of India website". Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- ^ Geo-Heritage Sites, Minister of Mines Press release, 09-March-2016
- ^ national geo-heritage of India Archived 11 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, INTACH
- ^ a b Buchanan, F. (1807). "A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar, Volume II". Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ a b c W. Schellmann. "An Introduction in Laterite". Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ a b c "Monuments of economic significance". Laterite in Angadipuram, Malappuram district, Kerala. Geological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ Geological Monuments of India. Geological Survey of India. 2001. pp. 46–48.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Balasubramanyam, K. C.; Shah, S. D. (1983). Mineralogy and utilization technology of laterites from W. India. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Retrieved 20 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Tourism Attractions". National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2009.