Geomorphological and Quaternary Geological Studies Along the Coastal Plain in Parts of Cannanore and Kasargod Districts, Kerala

The area studied represents coastal plain of Kerala forming parts of Cannanore and Kasargod districts. The coastal plain in this area is narrow, having an average width of about 6 km and consists of depositional landforms. Five depositional surfaces and one erosional surface, each characterised by a particular morphology and lithostratigraphy are identified in the coastal plain. The strandlines and sand barriers throw some light on the nature of the former coastal plain and the marine regression. The shell-bearing black clay deposit below the flood-plain deposit is an evidence of palaeolagoonal environment.

Fringing the coastal plain, towards east, are laterite-capped plateaus which represent remnants of a former planation surface. This surface is seen developed over the Mio-Pliocene (Warkalli) Formation as well as over the crystallines and is tentatively dated as the Pliocene surface. An attempt is made to discuss the neotectonic activity along the coastal plain with the help of geomorphic data.