Erra Matti Dibbalu-Geoheritage sites

Erra Matti Dibbalu

Erra Matti Dibbalu is dissected and stabilized coastal red sediment mounds, located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Formation:

Formed around 12,000 years ago due to sea-land interaction.
Comprises a mixture of sand (40-50%), silt and clay (another 50%) with oxidation imparting the unique red colour.

Significance:

They are geologically important as they represent the geological history of the late Quaternary period and carry the imprints of the fall of sea level and its subsequent rise, the impact of climate, monsoon and geological processes on the sediments.
They are anthropologically and archeologically important as they possibly contain mesolithic and neolithic cultural materials as well.

Recognition:

It was recognised as a national geo-heritage site in 2014 and as a protected site by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2016.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares geo-heritage sites/ national geological monuments for protection and maintenance
Other Similar Place: The only other place in the country to have a similar stretch of red sand dunes is Tamil Nadu, which has the Teri dune complex.

There are 32 Geo-Heritage sites in India. They are lised below:

S. No	Geological heritage site / National geological monument	S. No	Geological heritage site / National geological monument
	ANDHRA PRADESH	18	Kishangarh Nepheline Syenite, Ajmer Dist.
1	Volcanogenic bedded Barytes, Mangampeta, Cuddapah Dist.	19	Welded Tuff, Jodhpur Dist.
2	Eparchaean Unconformity, Chittor Dist.	20	Jodhpur Group – Malani Igneous Suite Contact, Jodhpur Dist.
3	Natural Geological Arch, Tirumala Hills, Chittor Dist.	21	Great Boundary Fault at Satur, Bundi Dist.
4	Erra Matti Dibbalu- the dissected and stabilized coastal red sediment mounds located between Vishakhapatnam and Bhimunipatnam.		MAHARASHTRA
	KERALA	22	Lonar Lake, Buldana Dist.
5	Laterite near Angadipuram PWD rest house premises, Malapuram Dist.		CHATTISGARH
6	Varkala Cliff Section, Thiruvanatapuram Dist.	22	Lower Permian Marine bed at Manendragarh, Surguja Dist.
	TAMILNADU		KARNATAKA
7	Fossil wood near Tiruvakkarai, South Arcot Dist.	24	Columnar Lava, St Mary Island Udupi Dist.
8	National fossil wood park, Sattanur, Tiruchirapalli Dist.	25	Pillow lavas near Mardihalli, Chitradurga Dist.
9	Charnockite, St. Thomas Mount, Madras.	26	Peninsular Gneiss, Lalbagh, Banglore
10	Badlands of Karai Formation with Cretaceous fossils along Karai – Kulakkalnattam Section, Perambalur District.	27	Pyroclastics & Pillow lavas, Kolar Gold fields, Kolar Dist.
	GUJARAT		HIMACHAL PRADESH
11	Sedimentary Structures – Eddy Markings, Kadan Dam, Panch Mahals Dist.	28	Siwalik Fossil Park, Saketi, Sirmur dt.,
	RAJASTHAN		ODISHA
12	Sendra Granite, Pali Dist.	29	Pillow Lava in lron ore belt at Nomira, Keonjhar dist.
13	Barr Conglomerate, Pali Dist.		JHARKHAND
14	Stromatolite Fossil Park, Jharmarkotra Rock Phosphate deposit, Udaipur Dist.	30	Plant Fossil bearing Inter-trappean beds of Rajmahal Formation, upper Gondwana sequence around Mandro, Sahibganj dist.
15	Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt, Udaipur Dist.		NAGALAND
16	Stromatolite Park near Bhojunda, Chittaurgarh Dist.	31	Nagahill Ophiolite Site near Pungro,
17	Akal Fossil Wood Park, Jaisalmer Dist.		SIKKIM
		32	Stromatolite bearing Dolomite / Limestone of Buxa Formation at Mamley, near Namchi, South district.

Source: PIB

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