The Geology of Kerala Region:

Kerala is a south-west coastal strip of about 500 km long and

average width of less than 90 km.
It has 3 distinct geomorphologic units such as 1) coastal lands 2)
mid lands and 3)High land. The coastal lands and of coastal
alluvium, mid lands and highlands are consisting of Laterite soil
underlain by hard laterites. The hard rock, mainly gneisses for the
basement.

The generalized geological cross-section (W-E) Direction is as

follows:

Westernghats
Highlands

Midlands
Arabian sea

W E
Coastal alluvium & lateritic soil
Recent
Laterites
Pleistocene

Doleritic intrusions
Lower tertiary
sedimentary rocks
Tertiary

Metamorphic rocks
Archaen
 The oldest rock in Kerala terrain is the metamorphic rocks of Archaen
system. The rocks in this system are Khondolite (Sillimanite garnet
gneiss) and Charnockite (Hypersthene granulite). All other rocks are
younger and unconformably overlying this rock with varying
thickness or absence.

Teritiary rocks overlie the Archaen gneiss at the coastal region of from
warkali up to Chertahalai having a thickness of more than 2000m at
certain locations. They are comprised of alternating layers of
sandstones, limestones and shales. Staratigraphically they are known
as Warkali series, Quilon series and Vaikom series.

Both Archaen gneiss and Tertiary rocks are criss-crossed by doleritic

intrusions having the geological age of Paleocene to Eocene.

The Lateritic rocks of midland and highland are of Pleistocene age

and it is formed from the in-situ leaching of the underlying gneissic
rocks.

The coastal alluvium is of recent origin which is found all along the
coasts.

The laterite soil cover is generally seen on top of lateritic horizon are
generally of transported ones and occasional insitu origin.

Engineering and economic importance of rocks and overburden of

Kerala State.

Khondalite and Charnockites are very good foundation rocks and also
very good as stones for masonry constructions
The tertiary rocks especially sandstones are good engineering material
and all these horizons are having good groundwater potential.
The laterite is a good engineering material which is very good as a
foundation rock, can be cut as bricks which are good for construction.
The lateritic horizons can have stable vertical cuts for roads and
quarrying purposes unlike other overburdens.
The coastal alluvium is rich in placer deposits of illmanite and
monazite, which are the only major mineral resources of Kerala.