GEOLOGY OF THE AREA. u 



always of the very quartzose type, large masses and bands of horn- 

 blendic rock, however, being found in it. Another area of similar 

 gneiss is found round ManarkaM (Munaur). 



On the west of the Nilambur-Pandikad area, the quartzose gneiss 

 is succeeded by garnetiferous quartz gneiss (at Manjeri, Kondotti, 

 Pandalur Hill, &c.) ; and further west still this is followed by 

 felspathic gneiss. The same succession is found to the south of 

 PandikaU 



The Manarkid quartzose gneiss is succeeded on the west, south, 

 and east by felspathic gneiss ; but garnetiferous gneiss is less 

 common than in the north. 



Whether the two areas of quartzose gneiss are united is un- 

 certain, for the country between has not been examined. But it is 

 very likely that a band of quartzose gneiss runs along the foot of the 

 Ghats between Pandika*d and Manarkid. 



From the way in which the felspathic gneiss seems to dip away 

 from the quartzose gneiss (e.g., in Kalladikod Hill), it is probable 

 that the quartzose gneiss is the lowest bed exposed in the axis of an 

 anticlinal running from Nilambur to Mandrkad ; i.e., parallel to the 

 remarkable line of gneissic hills (Urotmala, Pandalur, Pranakod) 

 which rise above the Malabar plateau. If this be so, the gneiss may 

 be divided into three series succeeding one another in the following 

 order :■*— 



(i) Quartzose gneiss. 



(2) Garnetiferous quartz gneiss. 



(3) Felspathic gneiss. 



The anticlinal dies away to the south, and the higher beds curve 

 round the southern end of the quartzose gneiss area. The same 

 seems to take place north-west of Nilambur, but the examination 

 of that part of the country is not complete. 



The relation of the foliation of the gneiss to this anticlinal 

 axis, or to the quartzose gneiss areas, is of some interest. It may be 

 seen in the small map (Fig. 4, PL II). 



The quartzose gneiss itself is almost always laminated nearly 



( 211 ) 



