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For official use only

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

GYPSUM IN THE PALLADAM TALUK

COIMBATORE DISTRICT

By

N.K.N. AIYENGAR
And
V. SUBRAMANYAM
Geologists, Geological Survey of India.

No part of the report should be quoted or reproduced without prior written permission
from the Director General, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata

January 1950
 GYPSUM IN THE PALLADAM TALUK
COIMBATORE DISTRICT

By
MESSRS. N.K.N. AIYENGAR and V. SUBRAMANYAM,
Geologist, Geological Survey of India.

CONTENTS

Introduction
Location of Gypsum Deposits
Communication
Geology
Gypsum
Prospecting work
Extent and reserves

APPENDIX
Tabulate statement showing data of the prospecting pits put down for gypsum.

PLATE

Map showing the location of test pits put down for gypsum.
 GYPSUM IN THE PALLADAM TALUK,
COIMBATORE DISTRICT

By

MESSRS. N.K.N. AIYENGAR and V. SUBRAMANYAM,

Geologist, Geological Survey of India.

INTRODUCTION

1. During the field season 1947-48, the second author of this note, in the course
of his water supply investigation in the course of his water supply investigation in the
Palladam taluk, came across a nodular variety of gypsum in the black cotton soil areas
south of Palladam (58 F/5; 10°59’:77°11’5”). Subsequently three trial pits were put
down by him to find out the nature and mode of occurrence to the gypsum deposits.
As the results were encouraging, it was thought worth while to do prospecting in
grater detail and he suggested the same in his note on the deposits submitted already*.
In furtherence of his advice, the Government of Madras directed the Industries
Department, Madras to undertake the detailed pros ecting work and sites for twenty
four test pits were selected by the second logging the data were ably carried out by
Mr. Kesava Panicker, Mechanic, Industries department. The first author of this note
visited the Palladam taluk after the pits were opened to find the probable reserves as
the second author was otherwise engaged.

Location of the Gypsum deposits.

2. The main gypsum area, where the twenty four pits were put down lies five
miles south-south-west of Palladam town and stretches roughly west-east across the
Palladam town and stretches roughly west-east across the Palladam-Pollachi road.
This strip is about a mile south of Venkatapuram (58 F/5; 10°57’10”: 77°15’30”) on a
dreary, flat or some what raised country. Minor occurrences of the gypsum have been
observed in (1) Half a mile northeast of Puliyampatti (58 F/1; 10°56’ : 77°13’), (ii)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note on gypsum in some black soil areas in the Palladam Taluk, Coimbatore district
1947-48.
near the pond west of Mallekavundanpalaiyam (58 F/1; 10° 56’35”: 77°11’45”), (iii)
one mile west of Karadibavi (58 F/1; 10° 58’: 77° 11’ 45”) and (iv) half mile north of
Karadibavi and west of the big tank.

Communication.

3. Palladam town is situated about ten south-east of Tiruppur R.S. on the broad
gauge section of the South Indian Railway on the Madras – Mangalore line. The
gypsum area is only about fifteen miles from this railway station and is connected by
a metalled road. Coimbatore is about 25 miles by road from Palladam town and
Madukkarai Cement works are about 7 miles from Coimbatore.

Geology

4. The country around Palladam is composed mainly of foliated biotite gneisses.

These, on weathering produce calcareous concretions which are generally of some
appreciable thickness.

5. The gypsum bearing localities are covered over by black cotton soil, which is
under dry cultivation. Weathered outcrops of hornblendic gneisses (mixed gneisses),
granite and pegmatite are observed in some places in this black soil area.

Gypsum

6. By constant tilling of the black soil, the gypsum which is of secondary origin,
has been brought up to the surface and can be seen strewn especially near the places
where some small dams (locally called “Kalingals”) have been built to present soil
erosion. The earth removed during the foundation excavation of these small dams and
which contained the gypsum, has been dumped to the north and south of these dams
and can be seen now as embankments. Concentrations of these nodules are also
observable along the shallow streams or nalas on either side of the Palladam Pollachi
road or in the earth thrown out of ponds in the black soil.

7. The nodules very in size from that of a lemon to that of an orrange and assume
sometimes various odd or reticulate shapes. When broken open, the nodules exhibit
needle shaped crystals which are sub-transparent. Cavities in the nodules do occur and
show filling of clay or kankar. The mineral will require powering and washing to
clean it.

8. An analyses of the gypsum gave the following results :-

SiO2 R2 O3 CaO MgO SO3 H2 Moisture CO2

4.56 2.68 30.14 Trace 41.40 18.82 0.68 1.28

9. The figures show that the mineral is not of the first grade, can be used for the
cement industry and may not be useful for the manufacture of fertilisers.

Prospecting work.

10. The details of three pits puts down by the second author of this note are:-

(i) Pit west of milestone 25/7; dimensions 5x2x4 feet. The section shows
three feet of black cotton soil and 1 feet of brownish clay (or kilar, as it is
locally called) with some gypsum nodules in it.

(ii) Trench alongside the stream east of the road 6x2 x 10 feet. The black
soil was 1 feet thick and the rest of the pit upto 10 feet consisted of kilar and
gypsum. The maximum number of nodules in this pit was at about 5 feet
depth and the quantity gradually dwindled to nothing deeper down. The
gypsum recovered from this pit was 675 1bs.

iii) Pit further east of (ii). – 6 x 4 x 8 1/3 feet. The black cotton soil was 1
feet thick. Below this there was 2 feet of soil, kankar and gypsum representing
stream wash. The rest of the pit upto the bottom contained Kilar and gypsum.
Gypsum obtained is 300 1bs.

11. The data of all the prospecting pits put down by the industries departments,
Government of Madras, is given in the annexed table. The location of the prospecting
pits and their survey numbers in the respective village groups are given in the plate
accompanying this report.
12. From the examination of the test pits, it has been observed that the gypsum is
of superficial origin and it does not occur below a depth of about 10 feet.

Extent and Reserves

13. The main gypsum area, one mile south of Venkatapuram extends east-west for
about 5000 feet with an average width of about 600 feet. From the prospecting done,
it has been found that the average thickness of the top black cotton soil is 2.8 feet and
of the gypsum bearing kilar 4.6 feet.

14. The total quantity of gypsum bearing kilar excavated from 24 test pits is 6412
cubic feet. This has yielded 14615 1bs. of gypsum, the average being 2.28 1bs. per
cubic foot. The reserves in the main gypsum area are therefore :-

5000 x 600 x 4.6 x 2.28 = 14,046 tons or

2240
14,000 tons approximately.

15. The other small places where gypsum has been observed, have not been
prospected. It is likely that there will be similar gypsiferous layers underneath those
black soil areas.

Sd/- N.K.N. Aiyengar

and 14.1.50
V. Subramanyam
Geologist / G.S.I.
16.1.50
 Report on Gypsum trail pits near Palladam
Coimbatore District.

Pit Survey Depth of black Thickness of Total depth of Volume of Weight of Remarks.
No. soil below gypsum layer pit from ground gypsum in gypsum
No.
of land ground level below black soil level cubic feet. in lbs.
Ft. in. Ft. in. Ft. in.

1 408 2 0 4 6 6 6 11.78 812

2 468 2 6 5 0 7 6 2.48 154
3 468 3 6 4 6 8 0 10.54 672
4 417 2 0 3 0 5 0 Hard clay below 5 feet.
5 445 1 0 3 0 4 0 1.55 95
6 447 2 0 5 0 7 0 14.88 864
7 447 0 6 4 0 4 6 7.44 448
8 448 1 6 3 6 5 0 7.44 476
9 444 1 6 5 0 6 6 8.68 602
10 449 2 0 5 0 7 0 18.60 1260
11 421 5 6 3 0 8 6 Hard clay Below 8 ft. 6 in
12 450 2 0 5 0 7 0 5.58 364
13 452 3 0 5 0 8 0 12.40 980
14 442 4 6 5 0 9 6 Hard clay Below 9 ft. 6 in.
15 440 2 0 5 0 7 0 9.92 644
16 126 3 6 4 0 7 6 Hard clay Below 7 ft. 6 in.
17 124 1 6 5 0 6 6 13.64 924
18 119 2 0 5 0 7 0 11.16 756
19 98 4 0 5 0 9 0 15.50 1008
20 97 2 6 5 0 7 6 14.88 980
21 97 3 6 5 0 8 6 6.20 448
22 94 4 0 5 0 9 0 14.26 952
23 95 2 0 5 0 7 0 18.60 1232
24 100 4 0 5 6 9 6 14.88 980
Total 14651 Lbs.

By A. Kesara Panicker
Mechanic
Department of Industries 1 Madras.