MAJOR LINEAMENTS
The crystalline rocks of Kerala have suffered intensive defonnation
like faulting, folding etc during more than one phase of orogeny. The general
foliation trend of these crystallines is NW-SE and it varies between NNWSSE to
WNW-ESE.. Both the charnockites and gneisses exhibit foliation joints and
oblique joints. There are a number of major faults and fractured zones in
Wynad, Palghat, Kasaragod, Malappuram, Attappady, etc. There are also some
basic dykes along the foliation trend of these rock fonnations. These faults,
fractured zones, dykes etc have been traced out in the fonn of lineaments
through remote sensing technique. This lineament map will be a time saving
device for regional hydrogeologic mapping, as the most productive aquifers in
the crystalline rocks are the fractured or faulted zones. Yield of wells which
are located along these lineaments or at the intersection point of lineaments
are likely to be high. Plate shows the general lineament distribution in the
State along with detailed mapping for Chaliyar river basin, Kozhikode
Corporation area and Attappady region of Palghat district.