Angadipuram Laterite

Kerala agro-ecological zones map

Angadipuram is situated in the Malappuram district, which lies in northern Kerala, and is bounded on the north by Wayanad and Kozhikkode districts, on the northeast by Tamil Nadu, on the southeast and south by Palakkad District, on the southwest by Thrissur District, on the west by the Arabian Sea, and on the northwest by Kozhikode District (see Kerala eco zones map). The geographical distribution of laterite is not limited to Angadipuram in Malappuram district but it is also found in the midland regions and highlands of Kerala. Its occurrence extends to Aleppey, Quilon, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Trichur and Cannanore districts. Overall, in the landform of Kerala which has seven landscape ecological zones, laterites account for a major share of 50%. This land form comprises lateritic mesa, mounds, slopes and ridges. This dominant laterite setting is delimited between altitudes 50 metres (160 ft) and 150 metres (490 ft) (though found up to elevation 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and extends from the northern end to the southern tip of the state. Further, as the topography changes a few kilometers from the sea to the east, there are numerous valleys called elas where patches of paddy fields, coconut and arecanut groves are seen. Incidence of laterite in other parts of India is reported in the states of Karnataka Maharashtra and Gujarat.[5][10][11][12][13]

Apart from India, its global occurrence in the form of vast deposits of lateritic bauxites with rich production is reported in Australia, Brazil, Guinea, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.[5]

Climate

The intense southwest Monsoon rainfall in Kerala (average annual rainfall is 3,107 mm) coupled with high temperatures (mean annual temperatures range from 25 to 27.5 °C in the coastal lowlands to 20 to 22.5 °C in the eastern highlands) and lush vegetation (belongs to the Malabar Coast moist forests of a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southwestern India) has accentuated the chemical processes over the base rocks, which has resulted in the formation of laterites. In view of these conditions, the laterization process, which results in formation of laterites, is called the "Tropical disease of rocks".[14]

Laterite formation cut into blocks for building construction

Laterite is a residual product created by the natural process of rocks weathering in the hot humid climatic conditions and interaction with water, oxygen and carbon dioxide. In simple terms, it is a soil formation linked to the parent rock material that has evolved because of various powers of nature in the same manner as other types of soils such as alluvial soil, regular soil and red soil. It is also inferred that paleoclimate dating back several million years has been a causative factor in laterite formation. The residue usually consists of enriched iron, aluminum and titanium oxides in varying proportions. The residue is pitted and porous in appearance. Buchanan, who discovered this formation in Kerala, in his report of 1807 observed:

It is diffused in immense masses, without any appearance of stratification and is placed over the granite that forms the basis of Malayala. It is full of cavities and pores and contains a large quantity of iron in the form of red and yellow ochres. In the mass, while excluded from air, it is so soft, that any iron instrument readily cuts it, and it is dug up in square masses with a pick-axe, and immediately cut into the shape wanted with a trowel or a large knife. It, very soon after, becomes as hard as brick, and resists air and water much better than any bricks that I have seen in India…

[15][16] In the midland region of Kerala where lateritic soil is predominant, laterites form a residual deposit due to weathering of either crystalline or sedimentary rocks with thickness varying from 5–8 metres (16–26 ft). They also form plateaus. These laterite plateaus are attributed to various phases of uplift of the land in terraced formations in this region. However, in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts in the plateau region, laterites are of greater thickness.[12][17] It is also noted that top layer of laterite, over the crystalline rocks, is very compact. It is also reported by GSI that in Kerala:[17]

Quartz veins, joints and fractures can be traced from the top to the bottom of the laterite profile. The laterite profile over pyroxene granulites, metaultramafites and gneisses are characterised by relict foliation that conforms to those of the subjacent rocks which indicate the in situ nature of the laterite. Porous and spongy texture is discernible in laterites, after meta-ultramafites. Laterite derived from Tertiary sedimentary rocks is well indurated at the top for about 2–5 metres (6.6–16.4 ft). Downwards, the profile grades into soft laterite with remnants of gritstone and culminates into a zone of variegated clay.

Chemical composition

It has been inferred from chemical analysis of Angadipuram laterites that they are a derivative of charnockite. The laterite which occurs at an average elevation of about 60 metres (200 ft) in the Angadipuram area have an admixture of pyroxene granulite, charnockite and migmatite. The results of the chemical analysis of samples of these laterites indicate the following composition.[18]

• SiO₂ - 32%, Al₂O₃ – 29.38%, Fe₂O₃ –17.38%, TiO₂ – 2.05%, Na₂O – 0.95%, KO – 0.27%, CaO – 0.3% and MgO – 0.2%

Spatial variations have been recorded in the chemical composition of laterites in Kerala.[11]

The economic importance of laterites comes from the mining of metals, particularly nickel and aluminium. Bauxite is an aluminium-rich laterite variety, which is commercially in demand. Bauxite patches are found with laterites overlying for a thickness varying from about 1–50 metres (3.3–164.0 ft).[16] Worldwide resources inventory indicates that laterites are a major source of nickel and account for 70% of resources. But nickel production from this source is limited to about 40% of the total world production.[19] Pepper one of the commercially important spices of Kerala is grown in red laterites as it provides well drained conditions with good water holding capacity. It is also rich in humus and essential plant nutrients.[17][20]

Angadipuram has a flourishing tourist industry because of its famous temples and is located about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Malappuram on the road to Palghat. It is an important railway station on the Shoranur – Nilambur railway line. The main road from Palghat (Palakkad) to Calicut (Kozhikode) passes through Angadipuram via Perinthalmanna. Perinthalmanna is the taluk headquarters located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from Angadipuram. The nearest airport is Calicut (Kozikode), 50 kilometres (31 mi) away.[9][21]

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  An abandoned Laterite quarry
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  Sample of Angadipuram laterite brickstone