News
PANDAVULA GUTTA
Context
Pandavula Gutta, situated in the Bhupalpally district of Telangana, has recently gained recognition as the sole Geo-heritage site in the state.
Details
- This geological marvel, discovered in 1990, predates the Himalayas and is renowned for its rich history spanning from the Mesolithic to Medieval times.
Key Features
Historical Significance:
- Pandavula Gutta boasts numerous prehistoric habitation sites, making it a treasure trove for archaeologists and historians.
- The site is home to Palaeolithic cave paintings dating back to ancient times, offering invaluable insights into the lives of prehistoric inhabitants.
- These cave paintings depict a variety of subjects, including wildlife such as Bison, Antelope, Tiger, and Leopard, as well as symbolic shapes and weapons.
Geo-Heritage Recognition:
- The Geological Survey of India (GSI), Telangana State Unit, recently organized a Geo-heritage walk at Pandavula Gutta as part of the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- Following this event, Pandavula Gutta was officially recognized as a Geo-heritage site, highlighting its scientific, educational, cultural, and aesthetic significance.
Geo-Heritage Site
- Definition: Geoheritage sites encompass geological features with significant scientific, educational, cultural, or aesthetic value.
- Scientific Significance: These sites may feature unique geological formations, distinct rock types, or rare fossils, offering valuable insights for research and education.
- Cultural Importance: Geoheritage sites often play a role in cultural or historical events, reflecting the interaction between human societies and their geological surroundings.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Some sites are valued for their visual beauty, with striking landscapes shaped by geological processes.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- Establishment: Founded in 1851, the Geological Survey of India has evolved into a leading institution for geoscientific research and mineral resource assessment.
- Functions: GSI conducts ground surveys, airborne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting, and various geoscientific studies to gather and update national geoscientific information.
- National Network: With headquarters in Kolkata and regional offices across the country, GSI plays a crucial role in advancing geological knowledge and supporting mineral exploration and development.
Other Sites in India
|
State |
Name of the site |
Location |
Brief description of the site |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Volcanogenic bedded Barytes |
Mangampeta, Cuddapah Dist |
One of the largest baryte deposits of the world, formed through precipitation from volcanic vapours under submarine conditions and subaerial showering of ash and molten baryte lapilli. It has a reserve of over 74 million tonnes, constituting about 98% and 28% of the total known reserve of India and the world, respectively. |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Eparchaean Unconformity |
Namalagundu, Anantapur District |
Separates the Proterozoic Nagari Quartzite from the oldest Archaean granite, representing a time gap of over 800 Ma. It signifies a period of remarkable quiescence in Earth's history with minimal structural disturbance and igneous activity. |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Natural Geological Arch |
Tirumala hills, Chittoor District |
A unique geological marvel sculpted by geological agents like wind and water over thousands of years. The natural arch, measuring 8 meters in width and 3 meters in height, has been carved out of quartzite of the Cuddapah Supergroup over a long period of several thousand years. |
|
Andhra Pradesh |
Erra Matti Dibbalu |
Vishakhapatnam |
Rare red sand dunes formed over millions of years of geological processes. The dunes are located between Vishakhapatnam and Bhimunipatnam and consist of fragile reddish-brown concretion-bearing sand units, vulnerable to natural degradation. |
|
Kerala |
Laterite |
Angadipuram, Malapuram Dist. |
Laterite derived from acid charnockite, significant from an economic perspective due to associated mineral deposits of aluminum ore (bauxite), iron ore, and nickel ore. |
|
Kerala |
Varkala Cliff Section |
Thiruvanatapuram Dist. |
Exposes sedimentary rock formation of the Mio-pliocene Age, unique in the west coast of India. |
|
Tamil Nadu |
Fossil wood park |
Tiruvakkarai, Villupuram District |
National Fossil Wood Park with 200 fossil trees lying horizontally embedded in Cuddalore Sandstone of Mio-Pliocene age. |
|
Tamil Nadu |
National fossil wood park |
Sattanur, Perambalur Dist. |
Contains large trunks of petrified trees of Upper Cretaceous age, belonging to conifers that dominated the land vegetation during that period. |
|
Tamil Nadu |
Charnockite |
St. Thomas Mount, Madras |
Typical exposure of quartz-feldspar-hypersthene rock, believed to have important implications for the primordial crustal evolution of the earth. |
|
Tamil Nadu |
Badlands of Karai Formation with Cretaceous fossils along Karai |
Kulakkalnattam Section, Perambalur District |
Karai Formation exposed as badlands with conical mounds separated by gulleys, aiding in subdividing geologic history based on sedimentary breaks. |
|
Gujarat |
Sedimentary Structures Eddy Markings |
Kadan Dam, Panch Mahals Dist. |
Exposed eddy current markings believed to result from the dragging of a small limb of a larger floating log caught in a vortex or eddy current of a stream, or from the movement of a pebble. |
|
Rajasthan |
Sendra Granite |
Pali Dist. |
Unique granite formation sculpted by wind and water over millions of years. |
|
Rajasthan |
Barr Conglomerate |
Pali Dist. |
Composed of pebbles of quartzite and granite gneiss, set in a fine-grained pelitic matrix. |
|
Rajasthan |
Stromatolite Fossil Park |
Udaipur Dist. |
Largest and richest deposit of phosphorite associated with stromatolite, preserving evidence of early life on earth. |
|
Rajasthan |
Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt |
Udaipur Dist. |
Resulted from extensive chemical weathering and oxidation of sulfide-sulphosalts ore bodies over prolonged geological periods under favorable climatic conditions. |
|
Rajasthan |
Stromatolite Park |
near Bhojunda, Chittaurgarh Dist. |
Exposure within the Bhagwanpura Limestone of the Lower Vindhyan age, showcasing stromatolites, structures produced by blue-green algae. |
|
Rajasthan |
Akal Fossil Wood Park |
Jaisalmer Dist. |
Petrified wood fossils of Lower Jurassic period, offering insights into the region's past vegetation and climate. |
|
Rajasthan |
Kishangarh Nepheline Syenite |
Ajmer Dist. |
Pluton emplaced along the core of an antiform of metamorphites, dated to 1590 million years to 1910 million years. |
|
Rajasthan |
Welded Tuff |
Jodhpur Dist. |
Product of volcanic emanations, composed of glass, quartz, and feldspar. |
|
Rajasthan |
Jodhpur Group – Malani Igneous Suite Contact |
Jodhpur Dist. |
Marks the last phase of igneous activity of Precambrian age in the Indian Subcontinent. |
|
Rajasthan |
Great Boundary Fault at Satur |
Bundi Dist. |
Characterized by a faulted boundary between Pre-Aravallis and Upper Vindhyans, exhibiting a zone of disruption constituted by parallel and oblique faults. |
|
Rajasthan |
Ramgarh crater |
Baran district |
3.5 km diameter crater suspected to have developed due to the impact of a large meteorite on Deccan Basaltic rocks of Cretaceous age. |
|
Rajasthan |
Zawar lead-zinc mine |
Udaipur district |
Major lead-zinc mine in Udaipur district. |
|
Maharashtra |
Lonar Lake |
Buldana Dist. |
Nearly circular crater suspected to have developed due to the impact of a large meteorite on Deccan Basaltic rocks of Cretaceous age. |
|
Chhattisgarh |
Lower Permian Marine bed at Manendragarh |
Sarguja Dist. |
Unique exposure of fossiliferous marine Permian rocks of Talchir Formation belonging to Gondwana Supergroup, with marine fauna dominated by pelecypods/lamellibranchs like Eurydesma and Aviculopecten. |
|
Karnataka |
Columnar Basaltic Lava, St Mary Islands |
Udupi Dist. |
Majestic array of multi-faced columns developed in the basalts of Deccan Trap, representing nature's exquisite handiwork. |
|
Karnataka |
Pillow lavas near Mardihalli |
Chitradurga Dist. |
Best example of pillow lavas formed when hot molten lava erupts under water and solidifies into roughly spherical or rounded pillow-shapes. |
|
Karnataka |
Peninsular Gneiss |
Lalbagh, Bangalore |
Exposes gneisses and related granitoids, dating back to 2500 to 3400 million years, significant for understanding the evolution of the terrain. |
|
Karnataka |
Pyroclastics & Pillow lavas, Kolar Gold fields |
Kolar Dist. |
Welded agglomerate of large fragments of various rocks, forming pyroclastic rocks. |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
Siwalik Fossil Park, Saketi |
Sirmur District |
Displays a rich collection of vertebrate fossils from Siwalik rocks of Plio-Pleistocene age. |
|
Odisha |
Pillow Lava in Iron ore belt |
Nomira, Keonjhar dist. |
Well-preserved pillow structures in basic lava, underlain by quartzite and overlain by shale, chart-shale, and banded hematite jasper. |
|
Jharkhand |
Plant Fossil bearing Inter-trappean beds of Rajmahal Formation |
Sahibganj dist. |
Exposes Gondwana Supergroup with fluviatile and lacustrine sediments, significant for understanding the continental sedimentary sequence of the region. |
|
Nagaland |
Nagahill Ophiolite |
Site near Pungro |
Represents an ophiolite complex in Nagaland. |
|
Sikkim |
Stromatolite bearing Dolomite/Limestone of Buxa Formation |
Mamley, near Namchi, South District |
Exposes dolomites profusely stromatolitic, providing insights into early life in Sikkim Himalaya. |
