ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 99 



ern laterite tracts^ where the hard and massive forms of the rock abound 

 Lateiifeasa building ^^^ have been largely used for many purposes, 

 stone. such as walls of temples, and the revetting of the 



teppa kulams, or temple tanks. 



Massive laterite was used almost exclusively in building the fine old 

 fort at Kilanelli Kotai, also the fort at Arrantangi in Tanjore district 

 (see page 46) . It has also been largely used as road material. 



In the Shenkarai and Shahkotai tracts are lateritic quarries in which 

 masses are raised measuring as much as 8' X H' X ^'} ^ very large size 

 for a lateritic stone. This is by far the best and most reliable form of 

 laterite I have seen in South India. 



The gneisses furnish a great variety of stone, but the most valued 

 „ . , .,,. forms are the reddish or pinkish-grey granitoid 



stones. varieties. The quarries most resorted to in Ma- 



dura for example are those of Tiruparai-Kundram at base of the Sikandur 

 Quarry on the Sikan- ^alai, whence the stone used in building the great 

 dar Malai. Minakashi temple has been procured. Not only is 



the stone a very handsome one, with its pink and grey bandings, but if 

 well selected it is susceptible of being carved with great delicacy. 

 Masses of almost any size can be quarried. 



The westerly extension of the Sikandar Malai beds has been consider- 

 ably quarried close to the village called Ambalathandi in the map. 



About 27 miles to the southward of Madura are the quarries of 



At and near Arupu- Arupukotai, where a rich red granite gneiss of great 



^otai. beauty is largely raised, being in much request. 



Masses of great length, even of 18 to 20 feet, have been procured. The 



stone if polished would equal the very finest Peterhead granite in beauty, 



A similar but rather duller red stone has been worked at the Moonoo- 

 roopoor quarry, 6 miles north-east of the last named. A very handsome, 

 rather purplish-grey massive granite gneiss is procurable from the 

 quarries at Shayalpatti (Shoilputty), 2 miles north-west of Moonoo- 

 roopoor rock. Handsome banded gneiss of high quality has also been 

 quarried on a rocky hill a mile west of Tirushulai (Teruchcoly). 



( 99 ) 



