Abstract:
A sequence of rhythmic varve like sediments within the valley of Weuda and
isolated sand and gravel deposits in the northwestern plains of Sri Lanka, were
reinvestigated. Inter-bedded peaty clay and sand intercalating with un-weathered
feldspar, striated and faceted pentagonal quartzite pebbles, “U” shaped valley
flanked with large boulders, isolated occurrences of poorly sorted white angular
sands, ferruginized gravels and Permo-Triassic plant microfossils all favored a
glacial origin for these sediments. However, Paleozoic glacial features appear to
be either obliterated or erased due to post-glacial neotectonic movements, large
scale pluvial processes, effects of denudation and intense tropical weathering.
Study on provenance indicates that Paleozoic glacial deposits may have mixed
with or covered by subsequent sediments
