Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Overview of the Mesozoic (Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous) Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Depositional Environments of the Kachchh Mainland, Gujarat, India

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mesozoic Stratigraphy of India

Part of the book series: Society of Earth Scientists Series ((SESS))

Abstract

The Mesozoic rocks in the Kachchh Basin, with their varied lithological characters and depositional facies, have been a focus of geologists’ attention since the pioneering work of Wynne and Fedden in 1872–74, more than a century ago. The prolific megafauna, especially the Upper Jurassic ammonites, of the Mesozoic succession of Kachchh is well known globally that attracted paleontologists, while the wide range of condensed sections exposing Bathonian to Pleistocene drew the stratigraphers’ attention. The Jurassic ammonite fauna of Kachchh is essential for  its regional significance and broad provincial interest. Although an excellent volume of data is available on the Jurassic succession of India, most of that focus attention on paleontology and stratigraphy. The varied depositional, erosional, and biogenic structures present in the Mesozoic sequence of Kachchh are quite interesting. The exposed Mesozoic sequence of Kachchh Mainland consists of rocks ranging from Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, is divided into four formations viz. Jhurio, Jumara, Jhuran, and Bhuj in ascending order. The Jhurio and Jumara formations, belonging to Middle Jurassic, represent a mixed carbonate–clastic sequence, while the Jhuran Formation (Late Jurassic) and Bhuj Formation (Early Cretaceous comprises an essentially clastic succession. In all, 13 lithofacies associations with varying depositional conditions are observed from the entire exposed Mesozoic succession of Kachchh Mainland. Sandstone and shales are the dominant lithologies of the succession, while the carbonate rocks occur only to the Middle Jurassic exposures. Petrographically, the sandstones belong to the predominant quartz arenite to feldspathic arenite categories, followed by a few lithic arenites, and the associated carbonate lithologies belong to a variety of types, ranging from mudstone to grainstones, and exhibit a variable microfacies character and diagenetic modifications. The present work highlights an overview of the sedimentological account of the Mesozoic succession of Kachchh Mainland and discusses the distribution of the variety of clastic and carbonate facies types and their use of the paleoenvironmental reconstruction for understanding the paleogeography of Kachchh Basin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agarwal SK (1957) Kutch Mesozoic: a study of the Jurassic of Kutch with special reference to the Jhura Dome. J Palaeontol Soc India 2:119–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal SK (1975) Kachchh mesozoic: some problems and recent contributions. Recn Res Geol 397–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad AHM, Bhat GM, Khan AF, Saikia C (2006) Petrography, diagenesis, provenance and tectonic setting of Upper Katrol Formation (Kimmeridgian), Nakhatarana Area, Kachchh, Gujarat. J Geol Soc India 67:243–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberti M, Fürsich FT, Pandey DK, Ramkumar Mu (2012) Stable isotope analyses of belemnites from the Kachchh Basin, western India: paleoclimatic implications for the Middle to Late Jurassic transition. Facies 58:261–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberti M, Fürsich FT, Pandey DK (2012) The Oxfordian stable isotope record (δ18O, δ13C) of belemnites, brachiopods, and oysters from the Kachchh Basin (western India) and its potential for palaeoecologic, palaeoclimatic, and palaeogeographic reconstructions. Palaeo Palaeo Palaeo 344–345:49–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberti M, Fürsich FT, Pandey DK, Mukherjee D (2017) Overview on the Middle to Upper Jurassic sedimentary succession of Gangta Bet in the Kachchh Basin, western India, with special emphasis on its lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and palaeoenvironment. J Geol Soc India 89:259–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Arkell WJ (1956) Jurassic geology of the world. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Arora A, Banerjee S, Dutta S (2015) Black shale in Late Jurassic Jhuran Formation of Kutch: Possible indicator of oceanic anoxic event? J Geol Soc India 85:265–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Arora A, Dutta S, Gogoi B, Banerjee S (2017) The effects of igneous dike intrusion on organic geochemistry of black shale and its implications: late jurassic jhuran formation, India. Int J Coal Geol 178:84–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee S, Bansal U, Thorat A (2016) A review on palaeogeographic implications and temporal variation in glaucony composition. J Palaeogeography 5:43–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Bansal U, Banerjee S, Pande K, Arora A, Meena SS (2017) The distinctive compositional evolution of glauconite in the Cretaceous Ukra Hill Member (Kutch basin, India) and its implications. Mar Petrol Geol 82:97–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardhan S, Chattopadhyay D, Mondal S, Das SS, Mallick S, Roy A, Chanda P (2012) Record of intense predatory drilling from Upper Jurassic bivalves of Kutch, India: implications for the history of biotic interaction. Palaeo Palaeo Palaeo 317–318:153–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardhan S, Jana SK, Roy P (2009) Sexual dimorphism and polymorphism in a Callovian Phlycticeras (Ammonoidea) assemblage of Kutch, India. Geobios 43:269–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1970) Geologic and tectonic maps of Kutch. ONGC Bull 7:115–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1971) Note on the geology of Kutch. Quart J Geol Min Met Soc India 43:223–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1974) Landscape of Kutch—a morphotectonic analysis. Indian J Earth Sci 1:177–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1977) Mesozoic rock–stratigraphy of Kutch, Gujarat. Quart J Geol Min Met Soc India 49:1–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1981) Basin framework, palaeoenvironment and depositional history of the Mesozoic sediments of Kutch Basin, western India. Quart J Geol Min Met Soc India 53:56–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1982) Rift basins in the western margin of India and their hydrocarbon prospects with special reference to Kutch basin. AAPG Bull 66:1497–1513

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1987) Regional tectonic framework, structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India. Tectonophys 135:307–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (1991) Stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution of the Mesozoic basin of Kutch, western India. In: Tandon SK, Pant CC, Casshyap SM (eds) Stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution of Western India, Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital, pp 74–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas SK (2005) A review of structure and tectonics of Kutch basin, western India, with special reference to earthquakes. Curr Sci 88:1592–1600

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri A, Banerjee S, Le Pera E (2018) Petrography of middle jurassic to early cretaceous sandstones in the Kutch Basin, western India: Implications on provenance and basin evolution. J Palaeogeography 7:2–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri A, Das K, Banerjee S, Fitzsimons ICW (2020) Detrital zircon and monazite track the source of mesozoic sediments in Kutch to rocks of late neoproterozoic and early palaeozoic orogenies in northern India. Gond Res 80:188–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri A, Banerjee S, Chauhan G (2020) Compositional evolution of siliciclastic sediments recording the tectonic stability of a pericratonic rift: mesozoic Kutch Basin, western India. Mar Pet Geol 111:476–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhuri A, Chatterjee A, Banerjee S, Ray JS (2020c) Tracing multiple sources of sediments using trace element and Nd isotope geochemistry: provenance of the Mesozoic succession in the Kutch Basin, western India. Geol Mag https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756820000539

  • Chaudhuri A, Banerjee S, Prabhakar N, Das A (2020) The use of heavy mineral chemistry in reconstructing provenance: a case study from Mesozoic sandstones of Kutch Basin (India). Geol Jour. https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.3922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curray JR (1956) The analysis of two-dimensional data. J Geol 64:117–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Das S, Saha S, Bardhan S, Mallick S, Allmon W (2018) The oldest turritelline gastropods: From the Oxfordian (Upper Jurassic) of Kutch, India. J Paleontol 92:373–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson WR (1985) Interpreting provenance relations from detrital modes of sandstones. In: Zuffa GG (ed) Provenance of arenites. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 333–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson WR, Suczek CA (1979) Plate tectonics and sandstone compositions. AAPG Bull 63:2164–2182

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey N, Chatterjee BK (1997) Sandstone of Mesozoic Kachchh basin: their provenance and basinal evolution. Indian J Petrol Geol 6:55–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunham RJ (1962) Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture. In: Ham WE (ed) Classification of carbonate rocks. AAPG Mem vol 1, pp 108–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutta R, Bardhan S (2016) Systematics, endemism and phylogeny of Indian proplanulitins (Ammonoidea) from the Bathonian-Callovian of Kutch, western India. Swiss J Palaeontol 135:23–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman GM (1967) Dynamic process and statistical parameters compared for size frequency distribution of beach and river sands. J Sed Petrol 37:327–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman GM (1969) Depositional sedimentary environments in carbonate rocks. SEPM Spec Publ 14, Tulsa

    Google Scholar 

  • Fürsich FT, Oschmann W, Singh IB, Jaitly AK (1992) Hardgrounds, reworked concretion levels and condensed horizons in the jurassic of western India: Their significance for basin analysis. J Geol Soc London 149:313–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Fürsich FT, Pandey DK, Callomon JH, Jaitly AK, Singh IB (2001) Marker beds in the Jurassic of the Kachchh Basin, western India: their depositional environment and sequence–stratigraphic significance. J Palaeontol Soc India 46:173–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaur KN, Talib A (2009) Middle-upper jurassic foraminifera from Jumara Hills, Kutch, India (Foraminifères du Jurassique Moyen-Supérieur des Collines de Jumara, Kutch, Inde). Rev De Micropaléontologie 52:227–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh DN (1969) Biostratigraphic classification of Patcham–Chari sequence of Kutch. (abstract). Proc 56th Sess, Indian Sci Congress Assoc 3, p 214

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard JD, Singh IB (1985) Trace fossils in the Mesozoic sediments of Kachchh, western India. Palaeo Palaeo Palaeo 52:99–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Kale MG, Pundalik AS, Duraisamii RA, Karmalkar NR (2016) Soft sediment deformation structures from Khari River section of Rudramata member, Jhuran formation, Kutch: a testimony of jurassic seismites. J Geol Soc India 87:194–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Khadikikar AS (1996) Breakup of Gondwanaland and the jurassic record of the Kachchh Basin, Gujarat, western India. Curr Sci 70:1093–1096

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishna J, Singh IB, Howard JD, Jafar SA (1983) Implications of new data on Mesozoic rocks of Kachchh, western India. Nature 305:790–792

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishna J, Pathak DB, Pandey B, Ojha JR (2000) Transgressive sediment intervals in the late jurassic of Kachchh, India. GeoResearch Forum 6:321–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishna J (2017) The Indian Mesozoic Chronicle: Sequence Stratigraphic Approach. Springer, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahender K, Sharma NL (2010) Lithofacies association, clastic sedimentology and depositional environment of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous sequence (Jhuran and Bhuj formations) of central part of Kachchh Mainland, India. Gond Geol Mag 12:177–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahender K, Rajeevan M, Sharma NL (2008) Textural and petrographic characterization and implication of diagenesis in the interpretation of provenance and depositional environment of the sandstones of the middle jurassic Jumara Formation, Kachchh Mainland, Gujarat. Int J Earth Sci Eng 11:31–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Moiola RJ, Weiser D (1968) Textural parameters: an evaluation. J Sed Pet 38:45–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Osman AH, Mahender K (1997) Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Middle Jurassic (Callovo–Oxfordian) sequence of Habo Hill, Kutch District, Gujarat. J Indian Ass Sedimentol 16:103–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey J, Dave A (1993) Studies in Mesozoic foraminifera and chronostratigraphy of western Kutch, Gujarat. Palaeontographica Indica 1, ONGC

    Google Scholar 

  • Patil DJ, Mani D, Madhavi T, Sudarshan V, Srikarni C, Kalpana MS, Sreenivas B, Dayal AM (2013) Near surface hydrocarbon prospecting in Mesozoic Kutch sedimentary basin, Gujarat, Western India—a reconnaissance study using geochemical and isotopic approach. J Petrol Sci Eng 108:393–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Phansalkar VG, Khadkikar AS, Sudha G (1992) Sedimentary characters of the late jurassic-early cretaceous clastics near Bhuj and their environmental implications. J Indian Ass Sedimentol 11:47–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajnath (1932) A contribution to stratigraphy of Kutch. Quart J Geol Min Met Soc India 4:161–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajnath (1942) The Jurassic rocks of Kutch, their bearing on some problems of Indian geology. Proc 29th Indian Sci Cong Pt II:93–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla UK, Singh IB (1990) Facies analysis of Bhuj Sandstone (Lower Cretaceous) Bhuj Area, Kachchh. J Palaeontol Soc India 35:189–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh CSP, Kanjilal S (1974) Some fossil Mussels from the Jurassic rocks of Habo Hill in Kutch, Gujarat, Western India. Indian J Earth Sci 1:113–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Spath LF (1933) Revision of the Jurassic cephalopod fauna of Kachchh (Cutch). Pal Indica, Geol Surv India New Ser 9:1–945

    Google Scholar 

  • Talib A, Gaur KN, Sisodia AK, Bhatt BA, Irshad R (2012) Foraminifera from jurassic sediments of Keera Dome, Kutch. J Geol Soc India 80:667–675

    Google Scholar 

  • Waagen W (1871) Abstract of result of examination of the Ammonite fauna of cutch, with remarks on their distribution among the beds and probable age. Rec Geol Surv India 4:89–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynne AB (1875) Memoir on the Geology of Kutch to accompany a map compiled by A.B. Wynne and F. Fedden during the sessions 1867–68 and 1868–69. Mem Geol Surv India 9:1–289

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the financial support received through grant nos. ES/23/194/94 and ES/23/VES/095/2000 from the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The author is thankful for the support and facilities extended by Goa University for the conduct of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Panaji, 403206, Goa, India

    Mahender Kotha

Authors
  1. Mahender Kotha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahender Kotha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

    Santanu Banerjee

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

    Subir Sarkar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kotha, M. (2021). An Overview of the Mesozoic (Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous) Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Depositional Environments of the Kachchh Mainland, Gujarat, India. In: Banerjee, S., Sarkar, S. (eds) Mesozoic Stratigraphy of India. Society of Earth Scientists Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71370-6_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation