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Geoheritage Values of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gujarat, Western India

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Abstract

Geosites are the regions or type locations with visible natural features, which enumerates the geological development of the terrain to understand its genesis. They are recognized based on their scientific, educational, and cultural values, uniqueness, present condition, and accessibility. The use of these geosites for science education, particularly earth science education, to foster sustainable thinking and learn geology and geo-conservation has gained importance over the last few years. Ancient mine workings are one such locality that can be used for teaching geosciences and sustainability issues. Therefore, we propose a field structural geology museum situated in an abandoned Shivrajpur — Bhat manganese mine, located near Champaner — Archaeological Park, UNESCO — World Heritage Site, Gujarat, Western India. The present location has the potential to emerge as a Geo-Heritage site as it consists of (i) more than 200 magnificent, mega-to-mesoscale folded metasedimentary outcrops of open-to-tight isoclinal variety and all “S,” “Z,” and “M” types of ptygmatic fold trains; (ii) classical historical remnants of human-derived underground mining structures, such as vertical shafts, inclines, blind shafts; and (iii) some of the textbook examples of structurally controlled mineralization in rocks as well as guides to metallic ore, e.g. fissure veins, box-works, saddle reefs. This site can provide field experience for understanding geology related to the development of complex structural features and their evolution, mine planning, and management, understanding the effect of mining on the environment, and thinking of necessary remedial measures for the future.

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Acknowledgements

The help rendered by Mr. Kush Patel, Mr. Ravi Thakkar during the field visit and Mr. Abhishek Lakhote, Ms. Alin, Mr. Praful R, Mr. Ijas R M, Mr. Darshan Upadhyay for helping in the betterment of the manuscript is duly acknowledged. The authors are grateful to the editor-in-chief, Prof. Kevin Page, for handling the MS. Prof. S. Mukherjee, and the anonymous reviewers for reviewing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India

    Aditya U. Joshi

  2. Department of Geology, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, 390002, Gujarat, India

    Parita Gorania & Manoj A. Limaye

  3. Department of Earth and Environmental Science, K.S.K.V. Kachchh University, 370001, Gujarat, India

    Gaurav D. Chauhan & M. G. Thakkar

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  1. Aditya U. Joshi
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  2. Parita Gorania
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  3. Manoj A. Limaye
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  4. Gaurav D. Chauhan
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  5. M. G. Thakkar
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Contributions

Aditya U. Joshi (conceptualization, field studies, data collection, and manuscript writing).

Parita Gorania (field studies, data collection, and manuscript writing)

Manoj A. Limaye (field investigation, manuscript writing, analysis and supervision)

Gaurav D. Chauhan (conceptualization, field investigation, manuscript writing)

M. G. Thakkar (manuscript writing and supervision)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manoj A. Limaye.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Indian Geoheritage: From the Precambrian to the Present

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Joshi, A.U., Gorania, P., Limaye, M.A. et al. Geoheritage Values of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gujarat, Western India. Geoheritage 14, 88 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-022-00720-w

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