Migmatization (ultrametamorphism) is a kind of geological
process and diagenesis between the metamorphism and magmatism with the
greatest characteristic of partial remelting and diverse fluid. Melted felsic
component and refractory component act and mix with each other under new
conditions to form the rocks with different compositions and shapes, generally
called migmatites.
The migmatite usually comprises matrix and vein. The matrix refers to the residual
dark refractory iron and magnesium metamorphic rock in the mixing process,
including regional metamorphic rocks of gneiss, amphibolites, and leptynite; the
vein refers to the fine crystalline parts of fluid entering the matrix during the mixing
process, including felsites, granite, and pegmatite. According to the proportion of
matrix and vein content, alternation intensity in the matrix, migmatite structure,
and material composition of matrix and vein, the migmatite can be divided into
injection migmatite, migmatite gneiss, and migmatite granite. According to the
structure type, the migmatite is further divided into breccias migmatite, augen
migmatite, reticular migmatite, band migmatite, and ptygmatic.
Migmatites are the rocks formed by multiple deformation due
to repeated metamorphism in Tamil Nadu state and this
Migmatites are formed as dykes, sills, ultramafic bodies and in
Carbonatite Complex. The dykes and sills of Migmatites occur
widespread in Gingee, Anaimalai hill ranges of the Western
Ghats, Tirunelveli, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri.
In tamil nadu they are available as Ultramafic bodies of
Migmatite Complex is rich in Dunite, Peridotite and Pyroxenite
in places traversed by Magnesite veins occurs widespread in
Chalk Hills of Salem and Namakkal districts.
Madurai Melur Migmatites
Migmatites with evidence for low pressure metamorphism and partial melting occur
in the melur region. Although migmatitic rocks of the region are located near the
granitic intrusions, the degree of partial melting is not related to intrusions and is
irregular.
It appears that partial melting and migmatization pre-date the intrusion of major
granitic bodies in the region. Leucosomes in stromatic migmatites are commonly
parallel to bedding planes and are mostly formed by metamorphic segregation and/
or in situ partial melting (showing mafic enclaves, pinch and swell structures). The
melt fraction and migmatite type depend on the chemical composition of parent
rocks and the distribution of high strain zones.
The study area having two different granitic formations, migmatite Gneiss and
Quartzite formation of the study area is Azhagar hill, Perumal malai. Tectonic trends
have been interpreted on the basis of alignment of these layered lithological bodies
and field measurement of penetrative structural fabrics in various rocks types.
The Gneissic formation is generally weathered very coarse to
medium grained rocks. The mica bandings are more in the
formations. The phenocrysts of Feldspars are present in the
outcrop. The Garnets are also fine to big crystals in older
gneissic formation.
The migmatised gneiss (Fissile Hornblende Biotite Gneiss) is
weathered and veryfresh in nature and the coarse grained
texture. The migmatised gneiss is very coarse tomedium
grained and the intruded granite is very fine to medium
grained in nature. Thepegmatite is having very coarse to coarse
grained texture.
Conjeevaram Gravels
Kanchipuram area is endowed with a complex geological set up with crystalline rocks
occurring in the Southern part of the area and the Northern part of the area The crystalline
rocks occur at depths covered by sedimentary formations ranging from Gondwana to Recent.
The sedimentary cover sequence is named as Palar basin and the thickness of the sediments
is as high as 300 m in the northern part. The eastern part comprises unconsolidated
sediments of fluvio-marine and marine origin. The Precambrian crystalline rocks are
represented by charnockites and contain several enclaves mafic granulite. Garnetiferous
biotite gneisses, leptinites and banded magnetite quartzites are also encountered as linear
bands.
The area exposes crystalline rocks of Archaean age and
sedimentary rocks of Gondwana Supergroup and the Cuddalore
Formation belonging to Mio-Pliocene age. A gravel and shingle
bed locally known as Kanchipuram Gravels belong to the Pliocene
to lower Pleistocene age. The laterite and alluvium are related to
Quatemary age. A large area north of Conjeevaram occupied by
Gravels, shingles and grits called Conjeevaram Gravels. Their age
ranges between Upper Miocene and Pleistocene.
Granites
Based on the distribution of the granite bodies, they may be grouped as North of the
Moyar-Bhavani tectonic zone (Granite formation in Gingee, Sholingar and Thirukovilur
granites of Villupuram and Vellore districts)
Central part between the Moyar-Bhavani tectonic zone and the Palaghat-Cauvery zone
(Granite formation in Maruthamalai, Karamadai, Sirumugai and Thiruchengodu of
Coimbatore and Namakkal districts)
South of the Palaghat – Cauvery tectonic zone (Granite formation in Kudumiyanmalai,
Annavasal, Narthamalai in Pudukkottai district and Vanjinagaram, Nagamalai granite of
Madurai district)
Laterite
Laterite is a common rock found along the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Laterites have
developed mainly over Deccan Trap basalts in Maharashtra, gneisses and metasediments in
Goa and parts of Karnataka, whereas it has developed on granulite-khondalite rocks in the
southern state of Kerala.
In the Western Ghats region of India, laterite has been extensively used in the construction of
monolithic structures.
Laterite Soil is widely believed that hot, humid tropical regions are where laterite, a soil and
rock type rich in iron and aluminium, developed.
Due to their high iron oxide concentration, nearly all laterites are rusty-red in hue. They form
when parent rock is intensively and repeatedly weathered, typically under conditions of high
temperatures, significant rainfall, and alternating wet and dry seasons.
Laterite of Tamil Nadu
Laterites and lateritic soils (Red soils) of the east coast especially around Madras, Tamil Nadu
have been formed in different geomorphic conditions and on various geological deposits.
They occur as caprocks over recent alluvium, Upper Gondwana sandstones and shales, and
Precambrian basement rocks. The laterite profiles studied around Madras are generally 2 to 5
m thick and exposed 5 to 45 km inland from the present-day shoreline.
