Geography • Physical GeographyMedium
In the structural geomorphology of the southern Indian shield, how are the midland regions of Kerala structurally differentiated from the highland tracts of the Western Ghats?
A. The midland comprises undulating lateritic terrain formed by prolonged subaerial weathering of Precambrian crystalline gneisses, whereas the highlands consist of charnockite massifs sculpted into high-altitude plateaus and fault scarps.✓ Correct Answer
B. The midland is an active sedimentary basin filled with thick marine Tertiary deposits, while the highlands are volcanic trap formations composed entirely of horizontal basalt flows.
C. The midland represents a downfaulted graben filled with recent alluvial deposits, whereas the highlands are composed of folded sedimentary limestone ridges of Mesozoic age.
D. The midland consists of active sand dunes formed by aeolian deposition, while the highlands are glaciated U-shaped valleys carved during the Pleistocene ice age.
💡 Solution & Explanation
The Kerala midland or Idanad zone is characterized by rolling lateritic hills developed over Archean crystalline basement rocks like gneisses and charnockites under intense tropical weathering. The highlands consist of massive charnockite mountain ranges with high peaks and rugged escarpments resulting from Cenozoic tectonic uplift and denudation. The region contains no basalt traps or glacial valleys, as southern India remained unaffected by Pleistocene continental glaciation. Understanding this bedrock and weathering contrast is essential for regional geomorphological mapping.
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