GSI-CHQ-11735

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

GYPSUM IN THE PALLADAM TALUK, COIMBATORE DISTRICT

By

N.K.N. AIYENGAR
and
V. SUBRAMANYAM
Geologist, Geological Surrey of India.

January 1950
 GSI-CHQ-11735

Gypsum in the Palladam Taluk, Coimbatore district.

by

Messrs. N.K.N. Aiyengar and V. Subramanyam,

Geologist, Geological Survey of India.

CONTENTS

Page.

Introduction 1

Location of Gypsum Deposits 1

Communication 1

Geology 2

Gypsum 2

Prospecting work 2

Extent and reserves 3

APPENDIX

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

PLATE

Map showing the location of test pits put down for gypsum.
 GSI-CHQ-11735

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 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 of the gypsum deposits. As the results
were encouraging, it was thought worth while to do prospecting in greater 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 prospecting work and
sites for twenty four test pits were selected by the second author for this purpose. The work of putting
down the pits and 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-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 somewhat
raised country. Minor occurrences of the gypsum have been observed in (i) Half a mile northeast of
Puliyampatti (58F/1;10°56':77°13'), (ii) near the pond west, of Mallekavundanpalaiyam (58 F/1; 10°
56'35":77°11'45"), (iii) one mile west 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 miles 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.

*
Note ongypsam in some black soil areas in the Palladam Taluk. Coimbatore district 1947-48.
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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 vary in size from that of a lemon to that of an orange 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 powdering and washing to clean it.

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

SiO2 R2O3 CaO MgO SO3 H2O 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 put down by the second author of this note are:-

(i) Pit west of milestone 25/7; dimensions 5 x 2 x 4½ feet. The section shows three feet of black
cotton soil and 1½ 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 6 x 2½ x 10½ feet. The black soil was 1½ feet
thick and the rest of the pit up to 10£ feet consisted of kilar and gypsum. The maximum
number of nodules in this pit was at about 5½ feet depth and the quantity gradually dwindled
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to nothing deeper down. The gypsum recovered from this pit was 675 1bs.

(iii) Pit further east of (ii). - 6 x 4½ x 8 1/3 feet.

The black cotton soil was 1¼ 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 Ibs.

11. The data of all the prospecting pits put down by the Industries department, Government of
Madras, is given in the annexed stable. 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

I3. 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 lbs. of gypsum, the average being 2.28 1bs. per cubic feet. 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
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Report on Gypsum trial pits near Palladam Coimbatore District

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

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

Sb.8/2/50 By A. Kesara Panicker

Mechanic
Department of Industries 1 Madras
GSI-CHQ-11735