“MINERAL EXPLORATION | RECENT STRATEGIES ey Editors, ‘ S.Rajendran, K.Srinivasamoorthy and S.Aravindan Department cof Earth Sciences, Annamalai University t ‘Annamalai Nagar - 608 002, Chidamabaram Tamil Nadu, India 2007 | \ New India Publishing Agency ‘ Pitam Pura, New Delhi- 110 088 hney ‘Mineral Exploration : Recent Strategies, 2007 Ezs.: & Rajendran et.al, pp. 63-76 "New india Publishing Agency, New Delhi 6 Chrysoberyl from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India, with Implications for Gondwana Studies G. Manimaran, Deepak Bagai and P. T. Roy Chacko ABSTRACT We report here the occurrence of chrysoberyl bearing gem pegmatites of Southern India. The Pan-African Chrysoberyl mineralization is associated with intrusive event of grey pegmatites within granulite facies parametamorphic aluminous khondalites. Lithological and structural controls of chrysoberyl mineralization, are discussed. The chrysoberyl occurrences in southern India, southern Madagascar and Sri Lanka provide strong evidence for India-Sri Lanka- Madagascar juxtaposition in the East Gondwana assembly with the Achankovil Shear Zone of Southern India one side extending into Ranotsara Shear Zone in ‘Southern Madagascar and other side into southern tip of Sri Lanka. INTRODUCTION Southern Tamil Nadu in South India is among the historically reported Gondawana fragments for gem exploitation and exploration. Among the important gemstones found in the regions are alexandrite and cymophone varities of chrysoberyl (locally known as Kalakkad diamonds) and pink sapphire. The other semiprecious stones recovered from this region are ruby, greenberyl, aquamarine, green and golden zircons, topaz, kornerupine, bluish spinel, aimandine and pyrope garnets, blue and green apatites, moonstone64 Mineral Exploration variety of feldspars, smoky quartz, amethyst, rosy quartz and blue and violet cordierites. In this communication, we report occurrence, lithological and structural controls of chrysoberyl bearing pegmatites of southern Tamil Nadu. Based on correlations with similar occurrences recently reported from Madagascar and Srilanka, we evaluate the juxtaposition models on India, Sri Lanka, ‘Madagascar within the East Gondwana reassembly. . GEOLOGICAL SETTING The Achankovil shear zone is 8-25km wide sinistral tectonic zone trending WNW-ESE to NW-SE direction and running across the southern end of the Southern Granulite Terrain of south India for a length of 210km from west coast to east coast of South India (Katz, 1978; Drury and Holt, 1980; Manimaran, 1995; Janardhan, 1999, Ramakrishnan, 2003). The Achankovil shear zone (ASZ) and Kerala Khondalite Belt (KKB - Ponmudi unit) of Tamilnadu region is essentially a khondalitic (gneissic) and charnockitic terrain (Fig.1). Interlayered pelitic gneisses, are common in charnockites. Migmatitic and sheared cordierite gneisses essentially occur in ASZ. The khondalites (quartzofeldspathic gneiss with biotite, garnet, sillimanite, graphite + cordierite) are with enclaves of garnet biotite gneisses, cordierite gneisses, calc-silicate tocks and quartzites. Enclaves of veins and bands of basic granulites are common in both charnockites and khondalites. Abundance of intrusive pegmatites, veins of pyroxenites and hornblendites, granites and linear, incipient charnockitic zones are common in ASZ and KKB. A northern massive charnockite occurs to the north of Achankovil shear zone. A southern massive enderbite occurs to the south of KKB in Nagercoil unit. The over printed NW-SE sinistral Achankovil shear zone features on NW - SE dextral Tenmalai Shear Zone are well documented. Atleast two periods of cordierite formation, two periods of charnockite formation, two periods of granite intrusions and two periods of grey and pink pegmatites are delineated from the ASZ and KKB regions of Tamil Nadu (Manimaran, 1995; Manimaran and Roy chacko, 1996). The general strike of the lithounits is NW-SE to WNW- ESE and dips SW to SSW or NE with steep to low angles. GEOCHRONOLOGY Zircon evaporation age (cluster) for a metasedimentary gneiss from Nellikkala quarry of Kerala at 895 and 913Ma (Barrlett et al., 1998) could be the age of D1 and is related to earliest cordierite-K-feldspar mineralization of the Achankovil Metasediments, The NW-SE striking cordierite- bearing charnockite and the adjoining cordierite bearing dextrally sheared graniticChrysoberyl from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India 65 TI] Phanerozoie cover Corre goes Meta (Khondatte 61) Granite /Syente ‘Shear Zone. sic and ip of folaton = shear sense Fig. 1. Schematic geological map of the Kerala Khondalite Belt of Southem india showing locations of chrysobery! occurrences. 1. Ermalpuram, 2. Papankulam, 3. Kalakkad, 4. Perumaikulam, 5. Ervadi, 6, Mudavankulam and 7. Papanasam. Sinistral Achankovil Shear Zone and dextral Tenmalai shear zone are also shown. gneiss of Tenmalai-Ambasamudram area are formed during Tenmalai shearing of D2. Iyer and Santosh [quoted by Ravindrakumar, 1988] reported an age of 670Ma (Whole rock Rb-Sr) for cordierite gneiss from Chenganur along Tenmalai Shear Zone; 640+ 29Ma U-pb zircon dating of Chenganur granite (Bindu et al. 1996) and 678 Ma Rb-Sr whole rock isochron age of Cordierite bearing charnockites from Southern Kerala [Santosh and Drury, 1988) could be the age (ca.670-630 Ma) of shearing of Tenmalai dextral shear zone. The charnockites of 550 Ma, 560 Ma and 539 Ma ages are reported from Ponmudi and Nellikkala by Buhl, (1987); Chaudhary et al. (1992); Santosh (1996) respectively Zircon overgrowth dating of Achankovil ‘metasediments falling between 600 and 530+21 Ma reported by Bartlett et al. (1998) attest an age of ca.600-550 Ma for sinistral Achankovil Shear Zone of D3. The late D3 granite of ASZ zone yields an age of 520415 Ma and 550 Ma (Odom, 1982; Soman et al. 1983). Recently, Santosh et al (2005) studied the U-Pb electron microprobe age for zircon and monazite from Pathanapuram granite occuring in the central domain of the Achankovil shear zone. They reported 961-1149 Ma oldest zircons with younger overgrowths at 540 - 560 Ma and monzite core age of 526 - 574 Ma, with rim age of 506-539 Ma. From Monazite U-Th age, Braun et al (1998) dated the pink coloured syenogranitic66 Mineral Exploration pegmatites, 10km NE of Kottavattam of ASZ and a quartzmonzonitic pegmatite, 2km northeast of Trivandrum as 462431 Ma and 474+22 Ma respectively. Cenki et al (2004) pointed out that the KKB dominated by Nd. Model ages range between 2.0 and 3.0 Ga, but in Achankovil Zone Middle Proterozoic Nd model ages (1.3 - 1.6 Ga) were recognized from charnockite and cordierite bearing gneisses. The peak metamorphism occurred between 590 and 550 Ma, as recorded by U-Pb dating of monazite from charnockites and gamet-biotite gneisses, Rb-Sr ages of biotite-feldspar minerals in pegmatite intrusions record cooling to Ca 400 ~ 500°C by 490 - 470 Ma. The general peak granulite facies metamorphism and widespread migmatization of the area happened at 530 and 525 Ma from SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age (Shabeer et al, 2005). Miller et al, (1996) estimated the crystallization age of gemstone Pegmatites in Southern Kerala by U-Pb and Pb ~ Pb dating of gem quality pale brown and translucent green gem zircons from the Melankode pegmatite and obtained an average age of 51342 Ma. Later Santosh et al, (2002) have reported pink sapphire and chrysoberyl from the same Melankode pegmatite. GEOLOGY OF GEMSTONES DEPOSITS Southern Tamil Nadu and adjacent southern Kerala define a major gem field in South India, covering an area of more than 150 x 75 Km, stretching intermittently from the Achankovil Shear Zone area upto the Southern margin of the KKB. From southern Kerala gemstones bearing deposits are reported from Rose Mala, Melankoda, Venganoor, Bonaccord, Mudakkal, Nedumtheri, Aruvikkara, Kulathupuzha, Xizharur, Vamanapuram and Tenmala. while Chrysobery! is reported from these locations, pink Sapphire is located from. Rose Mala and Melankoda (Soman and Nair, 1985; Menon et al., 1994; Menon and Santosh, 1995; Santosh et al,, 2002). In southern Tamil Nadu, gem minerals occur in three principal settings: (1)as primary deposits associated with pegmatites emplaced within pelitic gneisses of granulite facies (Khondalites) (2) as secondary deposits within paleoplacers in alluvial gravels of Pleistocene to recent age and associated with river and stream systems of the area and (3) as residual gem deposits near to their source rock within the weathered zone of source rock and adjoining weathered calc-silicate rocks. Gemstones obtained from placer deposits are generally of higher quality since during their transport in streams, the gems with fractures, inclusions or other flaws tend to break along these lines of weakness and also attain smooth surfaces. Indicator heavy minerals such as tourmaline, gamet, zircon, beryl and opaque minerals are regarded as pathfinders by local prospectors for the occurrence of gems. Gravel deposits in potholes and in the upstream side of the rock exposures, crossing, the courseChrysobery| from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India 67 of rivers are intensely panned for the recovery of gemstones by local prospectors, CHRYSOBERYL FROM SOUTHERN TAMIL NADU There are three main varieties of chrysoberyl mined as gemstones in Southern Tamil Nadu namely chrysobery!, alexandrite and cymophane (cat's eye). Allare identical compositionally being aluminate of beryllium (BeAl,O), but have different appearances and gem properties. The chrysoberyl has'a hardness of 8.5 and is doubly refractive (1.745 - 1.754) with a birefringence varying between 0,008 and 0.010. Specific gravity is between 3.71 and 3.73 slightly less than that of the pink sapphire of the area (3.9 - 4.0). It generally occurs as interpenetrated complex twin crystals with single simple forms being rare, Italways in crystals usually embedded in books of biotite, or in plates of feldspar or in the host of quartz of pegmatites. Simple chrysoberyl varies from transparent through translucent and opaque varieties and yellow, green, bluish green and colourless chrysoberyl are common. Like Sri Lankan stones an unattractive brown chrysoberyl is also common. The colour results from the presence of Fe™ ions in the structure and fully transparent coloured types are the most favoured for gemstones. A well known variety of chrysoberyl is cat's eye or cymophane. It has acicular mineral inclusions oriented at an angle to the vertical C-axis of the crystal which produces a chatoyancy effect when cut in “en cabochon” form perpendicular to the C-axis, Best effect is observed in cloudy or translucent yellowish chatoyant chrysoberyl. The most valued alexandrite chrysobery1 is bluish emerald green colour which results from small scale replacement aluminium by chromium in structure. This mineral has a characteristic property of changing colour with a change between natural and artificial tight, from green to a deep red colour, often with a tint of violet. Because of their rarity and colour change capability, alexandrite gems are some of the most expensive gems in the world. The primary chrysoberyl mineralization occurrences are associated with a variety of complex pegmatites that are emplaced within the aluminous supracrustal kondalites (Fig,2). Examples of gem hosted pegmatite are reported from Ermalpuram, Papankulam, Kalakkad, Perumalkulam, Ervadi and Mudavankulam. Most of these pegmatites are partly weathered at the top due to lateritisation. On considering the above locations it appears that the chrysoberyl bearing gem pegmatities are lithologically and structurally controlled. Lithologically the gem pegmatites are grey pegmatites enriched in grey smoky quartz (35-40%) and grey potash feldspars (20-30%), unlike the 168 Mineral Exploration late pink pegmatites of the area which usually have pink garnets (10%), pink potash feldspar (30-40%), pink perthite (5-7%) and plagioclase less than 3% or absent. The grey pegmatites are rich in ALO, K,O, Th, Sr, U, Nb, Rb and Zr and poor in total FeO and Cr as compaared to the pink pegmatites and both pegmatites have equal abundance of P,O,, CaO, MnO, TiO,, MgO, NaO, Ga, Y, Pb and Zn (Manimaran 1995). To locate the gem bearing grey pegmatite, the lithoguides used are 1) Islands of schorl rock (network of black tourmaline and smoky quartz) (2) patches of cuneiform graphic granites (intergrown quartz and feldspars) (3) glistening spots of moonstones of greyish and yellowish varieties and (4) translucent, red garnets even upto cricket ball size. Tourmaline, emerald and aquamarine are the usual associates of the chrysoberyl. Invariably all the gem-bearing pegmatites strike between N60°E S60°W and N80°E S80°W with steep dips to vertical and all are intruded in ENE - WSW dextral shear zone observed in adjoining khondalites. Pegmatite intrusion and dextral shearing of khondalites are of syngenetic origin (Fig.3, 4 and 5). The Ermalpuram gem pegmatite is 100m thick band running more than a Kilometre and strikes N 60°E - S60°W with vertical dip. The pegmatite intruded both khondalite and calc-silicate rock (Fig.3). Pink Sapphire occurrence in pegmatite as reported by authors especially near the contract zone of calc-siliciate rock. Schorl rock, graphic growth of quartz and feldspars, books of biotite, yellow, brown and green coloured chrysoberyl, emerald, pink sapphire, gem garnets, black tourmaline, bluish spinel, green and yellow zircons are reported from Ermalpuram, Gems are ubiquitous in this pegmatites. The Fig.4 shows a weathered gem pegmatite of Ermalpuram, a source rock for liberated gems so as to form residual deposits in the nearby Karst cavern formed due to the removal of calc-silicate rock due to water leaching. Fig.6 shows a exploited residual gem deposit located at the contact zone of gem pegmatites of Ermalpuram. In Papankulam, Perumalkulam and Ervadi, yellow and brown chrysoberyl are seen. At Mudavankulam exploited gem pegmatite quarry, the adjoining Khondalite strikes E-W with low angle dips towards $ and the vertical pegmatite strikes ENE - WSW direction and the foliation planes of adjoining khondalites show dextral shearing. Smoky grey moonstone, grey moonstone, schorl rock, tourmaline, large crystals of brown biotite and green beryl are seen in the outer zone. In Kalakkad mountainous terrain, all kinds of chrysoberyl are reported from primary, alluvial and residual deposits. Diamond like colourless but heavy chrysoberyl, alexandrite, cat’s eyes occur in Kalakkad regions.(Chrysoberyl from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India re aurfewno} 29 toured por yuaonjsues, sunzeoq fuoz seays feaxap Sunes M.09S-2,00N '¢ Sty 70 MaIA 28015 °F ip “urexpnuresequay jo 19M Yos “weandyeN None ‘os are sysodop uo’ tempos on Bung [Kiagossniy ¢ St tp Buoqe ose jeuciad S099, MN WY 02 1e SHTepuoNS ut poasasqo Suureays [eure] Toreu, feaxap Supyans ASSMNN V Z Sit kh70 Mineral Exploration Fig.6. A site of totally exploited and removed residual gem deposit, near gem bearing pegmatite at Ermalpuram. In southern Tamil Nadu chrysobery| is also found as water worn pebbles and fragments in alluvial deposits and has a wide distribution in the river courses of Thamiraparani, Manimuthar and Patchaiaru of Tirunelveli District. ‘At Papanasam, the gem bearing gravel is of variable thickness, attaining a maximum of 3m and lying above the bedrock comprising Khondalites. Important gem minerals recovered from placers include alexandrite, cat’s eye, beryl, pink sapphire, garnet, topaz and zircon. INDIA, SRILANKA AND MADAGASCAR CONNECTION Various models have been proposed for the juxtaposition of India and Madagascar within East Gondwana. Madgascar-India fits are based mostly on matching of the Palghat ~ Cauvery Shear Zone (PCSZ) (Janardhan, 1999; Janardhan and Srikarni, 2001) or Achankovil Shear Zone (ASZ) of South India (e.g. Windley et al. 1994; Yoshida et al. 1999; Santosh et al. 2002; Braun and Kriegsman, 2003; Cenki et al. 2004) with the Ranotsara shear of ar. Recently following Martelat (1998), de Wit et al, (2001), Collins and Windley (2002) and Shabeer et al, (2005) on the basis of geologic and tectonic features the N ~ S trending Tranomaro Shear Zone in southern Madagascar is correlated with NW - SE trending Achankovil - Shear Zone in southern India. Santosh etal, (2002) inferred the extension of Ranotsara shear zone into the Achankovil shear zone on the basis of pink sapphire occurrence. Many of the ductile shear zones like PCSZ and the ASZ should terminate in the west before reaching Madagascar, as no significant major dextral shear zone has been documented in Madagascar (Jain et al, 2003). ‘A predominance of dextral movement along the Moyar ~ Bhavani shear zone (MBSZ) and steep and gentle plunging mineral lineations at places areChrysoberyl from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India nm consistent with the model of regional Neoproterozoic transpressional tectonics superposed on the Palaeoproterozoic thrust system (Chetty etal, 2003). Hence, dextral MBSZ is not to be correlated with sinistral RSZ of Madgascar. The E- W striking Palghat-Cauvery shear zone is a dextral, strike-slip dominant, ductile shear zone evolved in a N-S compressive regime (Cruz et al, 2000), unlike sinistral ASZ of South India and Sinistral RSZ of Madagascar formed in a ENE - WSW compression regime (Manimaran, 1995) and in a E-W compression regime (Martelat ef al, 1999) respectively. Hence PCSZ can not be eastern extension of Ranotsara Shear Zone in Gondawana Assembly. Correlation with Madgascar is weakened as the ASZ is no longer considered a major crustal shear zone, whereas correlation with Srilanka is strengthened by the presence of a similar syntactical bend possibly produced by an indentor (Cenki and Kriegsman, 2005). An attempt is made here to fit the ASZ of South India with Ranotsara shear zone of Madagascar and position of Sri Lanka on the basis of comparable chrysoberyl bearing gem pegmatites of Similar age (Fig.7). Chrysoberyl bearing pegmatites have been widely reported from a number of localities in southern Madagascar including Betroka, Illakka from Ranotsara Shear Zone and Antranondambo south of RSZ. These occurrences also carry garnet, spinel, aquamarine, tourmaline and other gems. De Wit et al, (2001) dated a cordierite ~ bearing pegmatities within the RSZ at 548 and at 523 - 527 Ma from U-Pb dating of monazites. The age of chrysobery! bearing pegmatites mineralization reported from southern India South of ASZ is also similar 51342 Ma (Miller et al, 1996), Moreover, north of ASZ no chrysoberyl occurrence is reported. Yellow-blue-green chrysoberyl varieties, cat’s eye and alexandrite in pegmatites occur at Pattara near to Morawaka, and in sediments of Matugama, Rakwana and Ratnapura. The other gem stones are spinel, garnet, tourmaline, topaz, zircon, beryl, moonstone, citrine, amethyst and kornerupine, (Munasinghe and Dissanaya, Ke 1981; Harder, 1992; Gunaratne and Dissanayake, 1995). The zircon U-Pb lower fraction intercepts between 510 and 460 Ma (Holzi et al, 1994) from Vijayan complex of Sri Lanka probably reflect the age of peak metamorphism and intrusive events of pegmatites like southern India and southern Madagascar. The identical gem field in these three continental fragments, the clear proximity to the intercontinental shear belt and the available ages for chrysoberyl mineralization in all these East Gondwana Crustal fragments allow a close correlation during the late Pan - African time, Further studies are needed to extend the intercontinental shear belt into Africa, since the celebrated chrysoberyl occurrences are reported from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Wa7 Mineral Exploration Lotzow-Holm Complex Yamato-Belgica Complex. Fig. 7. India-Sri Lanka-Madagascar assembly within East Gondwana (modified after Braun and Kriagsman, 2003). The locations of chrysoberyl bearing gem pegmatites are shown. The sinistral Achankovil Shear Zone extending into Sinistral Ranotsara Shear Zone of Madagascar and also crossing the Southern tip of Sri Lanka (exactly where?) are possible Con the basis of chrysobery! mineralization at 1. Betroka 2. Iiakaka 3. Antranondambo 4. Rose Mala 5. Kalakkad 6. Ratnapura 7. MatugChrysoberyl from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India 73 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The first author expresses his sincere thanks to Mr. A.P.C.V. Chockalingam, Secretary and Prof. A. Francis, Principal, V.O.C, College, Tuticorin. The help extended by Dr. N.S. Gururajan, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Detradun and faculty members, Department of Gelogy, University of Kerala, are highly acknowledged. REFERENCES Bartlertt, .M., Dougherty-page, Jon, S,, Harris, N.B.W., Hawkesworth, CJ. and Santosh, ‘M,(1998) The application of single Zircon evaporation and model Nd ages to the interpretation of polymetamorphic terrain: an example from the Proterozoic mobile beltof South India. Contrib. Mineral Petrol, V.131, pp-181-195. Bindu, RS, Suzuki, K, Yoshida, M. and Santosh, M. (1996) Chemical Th-U total Pb isochron ages from the Southern Indian granulites. In : Santosh, M. and Yoshida, M. (Eds.) Proceeding of IGCP - 368, International Field workshop on Proterozoic continental curstof Southern India. Aug. 1996. Gondwana Res, Group MiscLPubi.,, pp.83-84. Braun, I. and Kriegsman, L.M. (2003). Proterozoic crustal evolution of Southernmost India and Sri Lanka. In: Yoshida, M., Windley, B.F. and Dasgupta, S.(eds). Proterozoic East Gondwana Supercontinent Assembly and Breakup. Geological Society, London. Special Publ. 206, pp.169-202. Braun, I, Montel, J.M. and Nicollet, C. (998) Electron Microprobe dating of monazites from high-grade gneisses and pegmatites ofthe Kerala Khondalite Belt, Southern India. Chemical Geo. V.140, pp.65-83. Buhl, D,(1987) U-Pband Rb-Sr Alterbestimmungen und Untersuchungen Zum Strontium soitopenaustausch an Granuliten Sudindiens, Ph.D. Thesis, Universitat Munster, Germany, pp.197. Cenki, B, Braun, I. and Broker, M. (2004) Evolution of the continental crust in the Kerala Khondalite Belt, Southernmost India : evidence from Nd isotope mapping, U-Pb and Rb-Sr Geochronology. Precambrian Research. V.134, pp.275-292. ‘Cenki, B. and Kriegsman, L.M. (2005) Tectonics of the Neoproterozoic Southern Granulite ‘Terrain, South India, Precambrian Research, v.138, pp 37-56. Chetty, T-RK., Bhaskar Rao, YJ. and Narayana, B.L. (2003), A structural cross section along Krishnagiri-Palani corridor, Southern Granulite Terrain of India. In : Ramakrishnan, M. (ed.), Tectonics of Southern Granulite Terrain. Geol. Soc. India. Mem. No.50, pp.255-277, Choudhury, A.R, Harris,N.B.W., VanClasteren, P.C. and hawkesworth, CJ, (1992) Pan- African Charnockite formation in Kerela, South India, Geol. Mag., V.129, pp.257- 267.74 Mineral Exploration Collins, AS. and Windley, BF. (2002) The tectonic evolution of central and northern Madagascar and its place in the final assembly of Gondwana J.Geol. V.110, Pp325-339, Dewit, MJ., Bowring, S.A., Ashwal, L.D., Randrianasolo, L.G., Morel, V.P.L. and Rambeloson, R.A. (2001) Age and tectonic evolution of Neoproterozoic ductile shear zone in south western Madagascar, with implications for Gondwana studies. Tectonics., v.20, pp.-1-45. Drury, S.A. and Holt, RW. (1980). The Tectonic Framework of the South Indian Craton: a reconnaissance involving LANDSAT imagery. Tectonophys. V.65, pp-1-15, EricD’ Cruz, Nair, P.KR. and Prasanna Kumar, V.(2000) Palghat Gap - A Dextral Shear Zone from the South Indian Granulite Terrain. Gondwana Res., V.3, pp.2131. Gunaratne, HS. and Dissanayake,C.B, !995) Gems and gem deposits of Sri Lanka. NGJA Publications. Colombo, pp.205. Harder, H. (1992)Smoky Moonstone- A new variety from Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Zeitschrift Deutschen Gemmologischen Gessellschaft. V.41, pp.69-84. HOlzi, S, Hofmann, A.W, Todt. W and Kohler, H. (1994) U-Pb geochronology of theSri Lankan basement. In: Raith, Mand Hoernes,. (eds) Tectonic, Metamorphic and Isotopic Evolution of Deep Crustal Rocks, with special emphasis on Sri Lanka. Precambrian Research. V.66, pp. 123-149. Jain, AK, Sandeep Singh and Manickavasagam, RM. (2003). Intracontinental shear zones in the Southern Granulite Terrain : Their Kinemtics and Evolution. In-Ramakrishnan, M, (ed.). Tectonics of Southern Granulite Terrain. Geol. Soc. India. Mem. no.50, pp.255-277. Janardhan, A.S. (1999) Southern Granulite Terrain, south of the Palghat - Cauery Shear Zone : Implications for India ~ Madagascar Connection. Gondwana Res,, V.2, p.463-469, Janardhan, AS. and Srikarni, C. (2001) Pan-African Granulite Facies Assemblages in Kodaikanal - Anaimalai Ranges, Tamilnadu and Mt.Abu Balaram areas of Gujarat, India : Madagascar - India Connection in Eastern Gondwana Assembly, Gondwana Res, v4, pp.643-644. Katz, M.B. (1978). Tectonic evolution of the Archaen granulite facies belt of Srilanka - South India. J. Geol. Soc. India, v.19, no.5, pp.185-205. Manimaran, G. (1995) Petrological and structural studies of the nortrwestern part of the ‘Tambraparni shear zone, South India. Ph.D. thesis, univ. of Kerala, Trivandrum, India (unpubl) Manimaran, G. and Roy Chacko, P.T. (1996). Shear lineaments and tectonic setting of, massive and incipient charnockites of Tambraparni shear zone, Southern India.Chrysoberyl from Southern Tamil Nadu of South India 75 Ram Mohan, V. (ed). Proc. Intemational Symposium on Charnockiteand Granulite Facies Rocks, Univ. of Madras, India. pp.12-13. Martelat, E, Lardeaux, J.M., Nicollet, C. and Rakotondrazafy, R. (1999) Exhumation of Granulites within a'Transgressive Regime : an example from Southern Madagascar. Gondwana Res., v.2, pp.363-367. Martelat, J-E. (1998) Evolution thermomecanique de la croute inferieure du sud de Madagascar. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. BP. Clermont - Ferrant Il, pp.232. Menon, R.D. and Santosh, M. (1995). The Pan-African gemstone province of East Gondwana. J. Geol Soc. India, Mem.No.34. pp.357-371. ‘Menon, R.D., Santosh, M. and Yoshida, M. (!994) Gemstone Mineralization in Southern Kerala, India, J.Geol. Soc. India, V.44, pp.241-252. Miller, JS. Santosh, M.Pressley, R.A., Clements, A.S. and Rogers, JJ.W. (1996). A Pan- ‘African thermal event in Southern India, JSouth east Asian Earth Sci. V.14, pp. 127-136. Munasinghe, MS. and Dissanayake, C.B. (1981). The origin of gemstones of Sri Lanka. Econ. Geol. V.76, pp.1216-1225. Odom, A.L. (1982) Isotopic age determiantions of rock and mineral samples from Kerala, India, Final report U.N.Newyork. N.Y. Case No 81-10084 (unpubl). Ramakrishnan, M. (2003). Craton - Mobile belt relations in Southern Granulite Terrain. In: Ramakrishnan, M. (ed). Tectonics of Southern Granulite Terrain. Geol. Soc. India. Mem. No.50, pp.1-24. Ravindrakumar, G.R. (1988) The Kerela Khondalite Belt. In : Workshop on the Deep continental crust of South India. Guide Book. Geol. Soc. India., pp.68-87. Santosh, M., Kootri, R., Yoshikura, S., Higashi, S. and Salim. A.K. (2002) Pink Sapphire from Southern Kerala, S. India : Implications of Idnia - Madagascar Correlation within Gondwana Assembly. Gondwana Res., v.5, pp:894-901. Santosh, M. and Drury, S.A. (1988) Alkali granites with Pan-African Affinities from Kerala. South India. J.Geol,, V.96, pp-616-626. Santosh, M, Tanaka, K,, Yokoyama, K. and Collins, AS. (2005). Late Neoproterozoic- ‘Cambrain Felsic Magmatism along Transcrustal shear zones in Southern India : U- Pb Electron Microprobe Ages and Implications for the Amalgamation of the Gondwanana Supercontinent. Gondwana, Res.v.8, pp-31-42. Shabeer, KP, Kumar, MS, Armstrong, R. and Buick, LS. (2005) Constraints on the timing, ‘of Pan-African Granulite facies Metamorphism in the Kerala Khondalite Belt of ‘Southern India: SHRIMP Mineral ages and Nd Isotopic systematics, J. Geology. v.113, pp.95-106. Soman, K,, Santosh, M. and Golubyev, V.N. (1983). Early Palaeozoicl-type granite from ‘Central Kerala and its bearing on possible mineralisation. India Jour. Earth Sci, ‘V0, pp.137-141.76 Mineral Exploration Soman, K. and Nait, N.G.K. (1985) Genesis of Chrysoberyl in Pegmatites of Southern Kerala, India. Mineral. Mag. V.49, pp.733-738. Windley, B.F., Razafiniparany, A.,Razakamanana, T. and Ackermand, D. (1994) Tectonic framework of the Precambrian of Madagascar and its Gondwana Connections : review and reappraisal. Geol. Rundsch., v.83, pp.642-659. ‘Yoshida, M., Rajesh, H.M. and Santosh, M (1999) juxtaposition of India and Madgascar: A perspective Gondwana Res,, V.2. No.3. pp.449-463, ooo