Geographical analysis

Abstract

Abstract Prominent among discussion of the granitic landscapes are the accounts of domes and tors. Domes typically rise as monoliths and exceed several hundred metres in height. Tors are characterised by group of spheroidally weathered boulders rooted in bedrock. They rarely exceed few tens of metres in height. Smaller domes may be completely hemispherical but larger domes show much complexity in morphology. Granitic landscapes are also characterised by boulder strewn domes and castellated domes. These morphological variations are often interpreted in terms of climatic geomorphology. However, their coexistence in Dumka Upland supports structural hypothesis for their genesis. Domes and tors are interpreted in terms two competing theories. One holds that domes and tors evolve due to scarp retreat and pediplanation and the other involves subsurface weathering of granitic terrain followed by stripping of regolith and subsequent exposure of the residual forms. In Dumka Upland, circumstantial evidences are in favour of sub-surface genesis of domes and tors.

Keywords: domes; tors; Dumka; Jharkhand