The document discusses the major rock formations in India, including the Archaean, Cuddapah, Vindhyian, and Gondwana systems. It provides details on the lithology, structure, occurrence, economic minerals, and use of building stones for each system. The Archaean system includes the oldest metamorphic rocks and occurs over two thirds of peninsular India. The Cuddapah system derives from a basin in Andhra Pradesh and contains quartzites, slates, and limestones. The Vindhyian system unconformably overlies the Archaean or Cuddapah systems and contains sandstones, slates, and limestones. The Gondwana system ranges from

1. Dept. of MBA, Sanjivani COE, Kopargaon 1
Advanced Engineering Geology With Rock
Mechanics
( T.Y. B.Tech. Civil – PE- 314 Elective )
Unit- I
1.4 Distribution & Geological characters of Major Rock
formations India
Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon
Civil Engineering Department
Prepared By:
Dr. A.V. Deshpande
Ph. D (Geology), M.Tech (Env.Engg.)
Asst.Professor Civil Engg.Dept.
www.sanjivani.org.in

2. .
Distribution & Geological characters of Major
Rock formations India
Archaean System
Includes older metamorphic rocks
As gneisses, schists & granites
Undergone repeated tectonic activity
Complex structure
General characteristics
 Unfossiliferous
 Highly metamorphose
 Intense folding & faulting
 Intruded by igneous rock – acid to ultrabasic

3.  Lithology
Chiefly made up of granites gneisses & schists
At places sedimentary rock - Conglomerate & banded
hematite Quartzite
 Structure
Schists elongated
Folded isocilnally
Dip towards east
Distribution & Geological characters of
Major Rock formations India

4.  Occurrence or Distribution
Two third of Peninsular India
 Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, A.P., M.P., Orissa, part
of Bihar
 Believed to extend below Indo Gangetic Alluvium
 Economic Minerals
Chief source of Metallic & non Metallic Mineral
 Gold, Iron Ore, Lead zinc ore, chromium, platinum,
tungsten
 Non Metallic – mica, garnet, beryl, tourmaline
Distribution & Geological characters of Major
Rock formations India

5. Distribution & Geological characters of Major
Rock formations India
 Building Stone
Granites Gneisses & charnokites
 Decorative stone
Marbles, porphyries & fuchsite

6. Eparchaean Unconformity
 Archaean rock separated form
Precambrian rock
 Represent major tectonic cycle

7. Cuddapah System
 Derived from Cuddapah basin of A.P.
 Crescentic basin with concave side facing East

8. Cuddapah System
 Lithology
 Includes Quartzites, slate
 Shale, sandstone, limestone & conglomerates
 Structure
 Lies at western side are undisturbed
 Eastern side folded, faulted & slightly
metamorphosed
 Low angle dip
 Ripple marks are found in sandstone

9. Cuddapah System
 Occurrence
 Found in :
 Rajasthan, parts of M.P, Parts of MH, Himachal,
 Punjab, Singhbhum of Bihar
 Economic Minerals
 Asbestos, Barites, Steatite, Lead zinc ore, talc, Copper
 Building Stone:
 Quartzites, Lime Stone-for cement
 Clays – Ceramic products
 Slates – for school slates

10. Vindhyian system
 Derived from Vindhyian range of mountain of M.P
 Unconformably overlain Archaean or Cuddapah
 Overlain by Deccan trap
 Lithology
 Includes sandstone, slate or shales & Limestone
 Calcareous & argillaceous sediments - Marine
environment – Lower formation
 Arenaceous rock - fluviatile env. – Upper formation

11. Vindhyian system
 Structure
 Undisturbed
 Un-metamorphosed
 Slightly tilted
 Upper formation – horizontal
 Lower Formation – folded at some part
 Occurrence
 In Rajasthan, A.P., Parts of M.P., Orissa & Chhatisgarh

12. Vindhiyan system
 Economic Minerals
 Diamonds, Pyrites, & Limestone
 Building Stones
 Limestone – for construction Buddhist Structure like
sculptures at Amravati, Stup of Sarnath & Sanchi,
Places of forts of Agra, Delhi, & Lahore
 Shales
 Sand stone – for Construction & Architectural

13. Gondwana system
 Name after Gond Kingdom of M.P.
 Rocks ranging in age Upper
Carboniferous to Lower Cretaceous
 Younger than Vindhiyan
 Older than Deccan traps

14. Gondwana system
 Lithology
 Includes Sandstone, shales, grit conglomerate,& Coal
 Mostly fluviatile or lacustrine origin
 deposited in large river or lake basin
 Cycles of sedimentation
 Structures
 No folding but are tilted
 Lower Gondwana intruded – sills & dykes
 Faults are common
 Bounded by faults

15. Gondwana system
 Occurrence & Distribution
 Occur in a series of narrow faulted
 Son - Damodar valley
 Mahanadi valley
 Godavari – Wardha valley
 Sub Himalayan region of Kashmir, Sikkim & Assam
 Economic Minerals
 Coal, Iron ore, clay, sandstone
 Building stone
 Sandstone – Orissa temples
 Sandstone - also use as abrasive stone