An Assessement Of Geological Formatin Of The Rakwana-Pannila Mountain Of Sri Lanka
1Aravinda Ravibhanu Sumanarathna, 2W.A.Lasanthi Kanthika, 3G.W.A.Rohan Fernando, 4E.I.Priyaranga Silva, 5D.Kalinga Hathalahawaththa, 6S.L.Sewwanndi, 7A.Chiran Silva
1,5South Asian Astrobiology & Palaeobiology Research Unit of Eco Astronomy Sri Lanka
1,2,3,6,7Department of Physics, The Open University of Sri Lanka, PO Box 21, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
1Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
4Faculty of Applied Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura,Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
*Please cite this article in press as: Sumanarathna, A.R., et al., AN ASSESSEMENT OFGEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF THE RAKWANA-PANNILA MOUNTAIN OF SRI LANKA; Journal of Eco Astronomy (2017), Vol 01, Issue 01, PP 32-42
Publication History
Published Online : 2017-01-19
Abstract
The Rakwana mountain range, which is located in the margin of the northern side of Sinharaja, a UNESCO world heritage site, is an area having rich bio–diversity. The recent excavations of the alluvial deposits in Sabaragamuwa basin associated with northern side of Sinharaja area revealed that the existance of caves in the vicinity of Pannila mountain. The cave formation is seen within the rocks of crystalline limestons (marble),which is popularly known as ‘Pannila Hunugala’ is of 550 m in length and 350 cm height at its entrance of which 60 cm filled with water, where special cave characteristics are visible. Stalagmite and stalactites of 2.5 m height at the core of the cave was believed to be formed after re-crystallization of pre-existing crystalline limestones- the basement rock – in the Highland Complex of Sri Lanka belongs to the Precambrian age. Speleothem dimensions were used to measure the volume of stalagmite and stalagtites. The action of chemical weathering of crystalline limestone followed by limy solutions makes it secondary features like stalagmite and stalactite.It is postulated from the Geological map of Sri Lanka that the same crystalline limestones bed is extended to the Rakwana Pannila Hunugala’ ,Samanalawewa, Handagiriya caves.
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