खोंडालाइट - Khonḍālaiṭa (Khondalite) | Inheritage Foundation Art & Architecture Thesaurus | Inheritage Foundation

Title	खोंडालाइट - Khonḍālaiṭa (Khondalite) खोंडालाइट Khonḍālaiṭa
Description	खोंडालाइट - Khonḍālaiṭa (Khondalite) is a metamorphic rock rich in manganese garnet (khondalite series), sillimanite, graphite, and feldspar. Found predominantly in Eastern Ghats. Density ranges from 2.7-3.0 g/cm³. Compressive strength varies from 80-150 MPa depending on mineral composition.
Tags	कोंडलाइट Kondalā'iṭa Garnet Sillimanite Metamorphic Rock Quarry Konḍalāiṭa Khondalite Metamorphic कोंडालाइट Kondālite Odisha खोंडालाइट Khonḍālaiṭa Metamorphic rock
Material ID	`INHFMAT-339411001-20-11-25-KN`
URI	https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/khondalite
API Endpoint	`https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/khondalite`
Total Sites	7
Primary Sites	6
Created	November 20, 2025
Last Updated	November 20, 2025

Material Types

Types	Metamorphic Rock Gneiss

Regions

Regions	Odisha Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu Eastern Ghats

Historical Context

Time Periods	Eastern Ganga Dynasty Period Ancient Period Medieval Period CE Ancient Period CE
Dynasties	Ganga Dynasty Eastern Ganga Dynasty Eastern Ganga Gajapati Gajapati Dynasty Eastern Ganga dynasty Gajapati dynasty specific dynasties

Geographic Sources

Sources	Tangi-Chowdwar area quarries Tapang quarries Eastern Ghats quarries specific Odisha quarries Visakhapatnam quarries Kalahandi region quarries Specific geological formations in Eastern Ghats specific geographic sources Specific geological formations in Odisha Specific Khondalite quarries in Odisha Eastern Ghats Specific quarries in Odisha Specific geographic sources

Properties

Properties	Compressive strength: 80-120 MPa Porosity: 0.5-3% Specific gravity: 2.6-2.8 g/cm³ Thermal expansion coefficient: 7-9 x 10^-6/°C Compressive strength: 80-150 MPa Density: 2.7-3.0 g/cm³ Porosity: 1-3% Thermal expansion coefficient: 6-8 x 10⁻⁶/°C Density: 2.6-2.8 g/cm³ Compressive strength: 100-200 MPa Water absorption: <0.5% Thermal expansion: 8-10 x 10⁻⁶/°C Water absorption: 0.1-0.3% Mineral composition: Garnet, Sillimanite, Feldspar, Graphite Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale) Anisotropic thermal expansion Thermal conductivity: 2-3 W/mK Water absorption: 0.1-0.5% Thermal expansion: 6-8 x 10^-6 /°C Density: 2.7-3.2 g/cm³ Mineral composition: Quartz, feldspar, garnet, sillimanite Anisotropic strength Mineral composition: Garnet, Sillimanite, Graphite Mineral composition: Garnet, Sillimanite, Quartz, Feldspar Medium to coarse grain size

Compressive strength: 80-120 MPa

Porosity: 0.5-3%

Specific gravity: 2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal expansion coefficient: 7-9 x 10^-6/°C

Compressive strength: 80-150 MPa

Density: 2.7-3.0 g/cm³

Porosity: 1-3%

Thermal expansion coefficient: 6-8 x 10⁻⁶/°C

Density: 2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Compressive strength: 100-200 MPa

Water absorption: <0.5%

Thermal expansion: 8-10 x 10⁻⁶/°C

Water absorption: 0.1-0.3%

Mineral composition: Garnet, Sillimanite, Feldspar, Graphite

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale)

Anisotropic thermal expansion

Thermal conductivity: 2-3 W/mK

Water absorption: 0.1-0.5%

Thermal expansion: 6-8 x 10^-6 /°C

Density: 2.7-3.2 g/cm³

Mineral composition: Quartz, feldspar, garnet, sillimanite

Anisotropic strength

Mineral composition: Garnet, Sillimanite, Graphite

Mineral composition: Garnet, Sillimanite, Quartz, Feldspar

Medium to coarse grain size

Common Uses

Uses	Load-bearing walls Foundation stones Decorative carvings Outer facing of the temple structure Paving Sculptures Temple construction Pillars Sculptural elements

Related Materials

Materials	चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) सुरखी - Surkhi (Brick Dust) Kāshtha (Wood) Lohā (Iron) धातु - Dhātu (Metal)

Related Styles

Styles	Kalinga architecture style Regional temple architecture Dravidian architecture style

Related Categories

Categories	Temple Rock-cut architecture Sculpture Fort

Conservation Notes

Notes	Susceptible to weathering due to mineral composition Requires careful cleaning to avoid abrasion Treatment with consolidants to improve durability Susceptible to exfoliation Requires stabilization treatments Prone to weathering in coastal environments Resistant to weathering Susceptible to cracking due to thermal stress Requires careful handling during transportation Susceptible to weathering Requires consolidation Protection from water ingress Weathering due to temperature variations Requires careful cleaning Garnet alteration Susceptible to weathering due to exfoliation Requires consolidation treatments Protection from acid rain Requires careful handling due to anisotropic nature Potential for exfoliation Requires careful handling due to foliation Weathering due to mineral alteration

Notes

Susceptible to weathering due to mineral composition
Requires careful cleaning to avoid abrasion
Treatment with consolidants to improve durability
Susceptible to exfoliation
Requires stabilization treatments
Prone to weathering in coastal environments
Resistant to weathering
Susceptible to cracking due to thermal stress
Requires careful handling during transportation
Susceptible to weathering
Requires consolidation
Protection from water ingress
Weathering due to temperature variations
Requires careful cleaning
Garnet alteration
Susceptible to weathering due to exfoliation
Requires consolidation treatments
Protection from acid rain
Requires careful handling due to anisotropic nature
Potential for exfoliation
Requires careful handling due to foliation
Weathering due to mineral alteration

Recommended Sources

Title	Type	Notes
Geological Survey of India Reports	Geological Survey	Khondalite geology and properties
Geological Survey of India Memoirs	Geological Survey	Geology of Eastern Ghats
Geology of Odisha	Book	Khondalite formations and properties
Geology of Odisha	Geological Survey	Khondalite distribution and properties
Geological Survey of India	Report	Khondalite geology and properties
Geological Survey of India Reports	Geological Survey	Khondalite deposits in Eastern Ghats

Heritage Sites (7)

Site Name	Status	Confidence
Chausath Yogini Temple Bhubaneswar	Primary	100%
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneswar	Primary	100%
Mukteswara Temple Bhubaneswar	Primary	100%
Raibania Fort Balasore	Primary	100%
Ram Mandir Bhubaneswar	Primary	100%
Sisupalgarh Fort Bhubaneswar	Primary	100%
Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar	Secondary	100%