Built in 1943, , is made up of Sonia Sandstone of the Marwar Supergroup

International Field Workshop on the Marwar Supergroup, Western , Palaeontology, Biostratigraphy, Basin Evolution and Large Igneous Province (20th-28th January 2014)

The Society of Earth Scientists and the Organizing Committee of the International Field Workshop on the Marwar Supergroup (MSG) invite the geo-scientific community to participate in the Marwar Field Workshop and a conference on the Marwar Basin. The Marwar Supergroup is a distinct Ediacaran-Cambrian succession exposed in the peninsular region of western Rajasthan, India. The sedimentary succession of the MSG overlies a Large Igneous Province, known as the Malani Igneous Suite, which spreads over India and Pakistan. The Neoproterozoic, Ediacaran and Cambrian succession of the LIP-Marwar Supergroup have drawn the attention of various groups of researchers from India and abroad for its palaeobiological and sedimentological assemblages. The sedimentary successions of the MSG are mainly consist of siliciclastic sequences with subordinate carbonate rocks which are unmetamorphosed and un-deformed.

The Organizing Committee aims to bring together geologists, palaeontologists and geochronologists to discuss significant recent discoveries and issues related to our understanding of the evolution of the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian lithosphere, biosphere and results of their interaction. Recent studies on the MSG have shown the presence of a variety of Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures (MISS), trace fossils, boulder beds, Ediacaran fossils, stromatolites, carbonate mud mounds, and Cambrian trace fossils. Stable isotopic studies have shown the inferred position of the PC-C boundary in the carbonate succession. Reports of the occurrence of Precambrian oil from the basin have encouraged oil companies to renew exploration efforts. The field workshop and conference thus provides an opportunity to discuss these aspects of the Neoproterozoic and related issues. The objectives of the conference and field workshop are to: (1) Examine the Pokaran Boulder Bed overlying the ~770 Ma Malani Igneous Suite, which is claimed to be of glacial origin; (2) Study the Ediacaran assemblage and MISS reported from the Sonia Sandstone; (3) Study sections of the Bilara Group which have yielded isotopic signatures suggesting the PC-C boundary; (4) Study the Dulmera Section, which yields distinct Terreneuvian to mid-Cambrian fossils in the Nagaur Sandstone; (5) Examine intermediate felsic volcanics interspersed within the Sonia Sandstone, and; (6) Study the Malani Igneous Suite, which constitutes one of the Large Igneous Provinces of India.

Rajasthan, western India is a culturally vibrant state of the country. Jodhpur, the main stay point, was an important seat of power during the Marwar Kingdom in the historical past. The field workshop will not only satisfy the geological appetite of the participants but will also provide an opportunity to see some of the oldest mountains, historically important forts, lakes, and handicrafts. Camel caravans, colourful folk arts, folk dances and evenings on sand-dunes will be memorable.

Patrons Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India Mr. Rasik Ravindra, Chairman, Society of Earth Scientists, India

Organizing Secretary Dr. Mukund Sharma, BSIP, Lucknow, India

International Advisory Board Prof. Loren Babcock, Geology Department, University of Lund, Sweden Prof. Sunil Bajpai, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India Prof. Graham Shields, University College London, UK Prof. Patricia Vickers-Rich, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Dr. S. K. Wadhawan, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata, India Prof. Shuhai Xiao, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, USA

Organizing Committee Prof. S. Kumar, Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, India Prof. S. C. Mathur, Department of Geology, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur, India Dr. M. Sudhakar, MoES, , New Delhi, India Dr. Satish C. Tripathi, General Secretary, Society of Earth Scientists, India

Organized by The Society of Earth Scientists C-207, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016 , India Website: www.earthses.org; E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +91-522-2350138; +91-7607374176

Sponsored by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany ICS Subcommission on Ediacara ICS Subcommission on Cambrian IGCP 587 J.N.V. University, Jodhpur