Integrated Benthic Foraminiferal and Ammonite Biostratigraphy of Middle to Late Jurassic Sediments of Keera Dome, Kachchh, Western India
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Advanced Micropaleontology Pradeep K. Kathal, Rajiv Nigam & Abu Talib (Editors) Scientific Publishers (India), 2017, 71-81 pp. Integrated Benthic Foraminiferal and Ammonite Biostratigraphy of Middle to Late Jurassic Sediments of Keera Dome, Kachchh, Western India Abu Talib1*, Sreepat Jain2 and Roohi Irshad1 1Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202001, India 2Department of Applied Geology, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Oromia, Ethiopia *Email: [email protected] Abstract Early Callovian to Middle Oxfordian foraminiferal assemblages are tagged with precise ammonite occurrences for the first time from the Jurassic sediments of Chari Formation exposed at Keera Dome, Kachchh, Western India, with precise dating and marking of the Callovo-Oxfordian boundary. Four ammonite zones and nine subzones are correlated with seven foraminiferal zones, enabling accurate and reliable regional biostratigraphic analysis. Such integrated work will lead to precise dating of the otherwise hard-to-date foraminiferal assemblages from Kachchh. Keywords: Benthic foraminifera, Ammonites, Biostratigraphy, Keera Dome, Kachchh, Western India INTRODUCTION Krishna and Westermann, 1985, 1987; Bhaumik et al., 1993; Krishna and Cariou, Kachchh is well known for its prolific 1990, 1993; Callomon, 1993; Pandey and ammonite records (Waagen, 1873-75; Callomon, 1995; Datta et al., 1996; Jain et Spath, 1924, 1927-33; Singh et al., 1982; al., 1996; Jain and Pandey, 1997, 2000; 72 Advanced Micropaleontology Jain, 1997, 1998, 2002; Krishna and Ojha, Hence, it is imperative that an 1996, 2000; Shome and Bardhan, 2005, attempt be made to identify and establish 2007, 2009; Roy et al., 2007; Krishna et marker Jurassic foraminiferal species (at al., 2009a, b; Bardhan et al., 2010, 2011; least on a regional scale) and integrate the Rai and Jain, 2012). However, rich forami- foraminiferal biozones with the available niferal occurrences have been recently high resolution ammonite zonal data to recorded from the Kachchh Jurassics make the former more useful for biostrati- (Bhalla and Abbas, 1978; Bhalla and graphic applications. The present study is, thus, an attempt in this direction. A well Talib, 1991; Pandey and Dave, 1993; Gaur exposed Kachchh Jurassic outcrop (Keera and Talib, 2009; Alhussein, 2014; Talib et Dome) was selected for this purpose (Fig. al., 2016; Bhat et al., 2016) but only a few 1). Another reason for this selection is the biostratigraphic studies using foramini- fact that this dome has also been extens- fera have been carried out so far. An integ- ively studied for its ammonite content and ration of foraminiferal and ammonite data thus, has a well established and dated am- may provide more accurate and reliable monite biozonation (Prasad, 1993, 1998; results in biostratigraphic analysis of the Krishna et al., 1998; Krishna and Ojha, Jurassic sediments of Kachchh. 1996, 2000; SJ, personal observation). Fig. 1. Geological Map of Kachchh showing the study area (after: Fürsich et al., 1991) Integrated Benthic Foraminiferal and Ammonite Biostratigraphy of Middle... 73 The Jurassic rocks of Kachchh are the Late Bathonian marker Macrocepha- grouped into four formations, viz., lites triangularis Spath (Prasad, 1998), Patcham, Chari, Katrol, and Umia, in indicative of late Bathonian age. ascending order (Waagen, 1873-75). The The Chari Formation in this area, Keera Dome displays sediments from the which is the subject of the present study, Chari to Katrol formations. However, the is grouped into four informal members, presence of Patcham Formation at the viz., A, B, C, and D. These are further base of the section is controversial divided into seven lithounits designated as (Prasad, 1998). Here, it must be mentio- ned that the basal few meters of lithounits Kr-1 to Kr-7 in ascending order sediments, viz., Friable Sandstones (see (Fig. 2). The Katrol Formation is devoid of also Prasad, 1998) has not been sampled foraminifera and, therefore, not included but have yielded fragmentary specimens of in the present study. Fig.2. Litholog of the studied sequence at Keera Dome, Kachchh showing the ammonite occurrences and standard ammonite zones 74 Advanced Micropaleontology Fig.3. Frequency of foramininiferal species and correlation of foraminiferal and ammonite biozones, Keera Dome, Kachchh (SJ*: The ammonite biozones are based on the observations by one of us (SJ). The present biozonation also incorporates previous works by Prasad 1993, 1998; Krishna et al., 1988 and Krishna and Ojha 1996, 2000 with field inputs from Late J. H. Callomon, United Kingdom, to SJ.). FORAMINIFERAL BIOSTRATIGRAPHY to establish marker foraminiferal species with biostratigraphic utility in the Indian The foraminiferal assemblages region but with little success (Pandey and recovered from Keera Dome comprises of Dave, 1993; Talib and Bhalla, 2006; Talib thirty species (Fig. 3). All the species et al., 2007, Talib and Gaur, 2008). recovered are illustrated with a systematic Interestingly, only one species of the account of the species reported for the first present assemblages, Vaginulina inspis- time from Indian region in a separate sata appears to be globally restricted publication (Talib et al., 2012). However, within two stages, i.e., Callovian and most are long ranging and hence, Oxfordian (Fig. 4) but a number of other unsuitable for precise dating (Fig. 4). In species show short ranges within the recent years some workers have attempted Indian region, essentially confined to Integrated Benthic Foraminiferal and Ammonite Biostratigraphy of Middle... 75 Callovian and Oxfordian stages (Fig. 5). the world, an attempt is made here to Therefore, on the basis of these species, mark the Callovo-Oxfordian boundary viz., Ammobaculites aff. A. hagni, within the studied sequence. Triplasia emslandensis, Laevidentalina Species identified as characteristic of gümbeli, Nodosaria aff. N. biloculina, N. Callovian in the present assemblages simplex, Lenticulina varians, Astacolus include Pseudonodosaria sowerbyi and puperatus, Citharina entypomatus, Epistomina mosquensis. Pseudonodosaria Citharinella rhomboidea, Vaginulina sowerbyi is restricted to Callovian in the inspissata, and Epistomina stellicostata, a Indian region and occurs in Lithounit Kr- Callovian to Oxfordian age is suggested for 3. Epistomina mosquensis is known for its the sequence at Keera Dome. long range globally but in Kachchh On the basis of a few short ranging Pandey and Dave (1993) and in Iran species in the present assemblages (Kalantari, 1969) considered it a represe- restricted to a single stage as well as some ntative Callovian species, its last appear- species although long ranging but ance is in Lithounit Kr-6. In view of the frequently reported from Callovian or above, it may be inferred that Lithounits Oxfordian strata from different parts of Kr-1 to Kr-6 belong to Callovian. Fig.4. Global ranges of the foraminiferal species recovered from Keera Dome, Kachchh. 76 Advanced Micropaleontology Fig.5. Indian ranges of the foraminiferal species recovered from Keera Dome, Kachchh. Representative Oxfordian species more refined and ammonite-constrained recognized in the present assemblages is assemblage-based current benthic forami- Vaginulinopsis aff. V. enodis. Vaginuli- niferal biozones (Fig. 3). These are: nopsis enodis ranges from Callovian to 1. Barren Zone - No foraminifers: This Oxfordian in India but Kalantari (1969) zone includes Lithounit Kr-1 and is regarded it as representative of Oxfordian devoid of foraminifera. This is equiva- in Iran. This species is, therefore, rega- lent to the Diadematus subzone of rded as representative of Oxfordian in this middle Early Callovian age. region and on this basis Lithounit Kr-7 is 2. Planularia tricarinella-Lenticulina considered as belonging to Oxfordian. The quenstedti Assemblage Zone: Includes Callovian/Oxfordian boundary, consequen- Lithounit Kr-2. Apart from zonal tly, lies between lithounits Kr-6 and Kr-7. name species it includes Laeviden- The broad foraminiferal biozones talina guembeli, Spirillina polygyrata, erected for the Kachchh Basin by Pandey Citharina zaglobensis and Lenticulina and Dave (1993) are compared with the nodosa. This Zone has an early Integrated Benthic Foraminiferal and Ammonite Biostratigraphy of Middle... 77 Middle Callovian age and is 6. Epistomina mosquensis-Planularia equivalent to Anceps subzone. tricarinella Assemblage Zone: This 3. Spirillina polygyrata-Planularia tri- zone encompasses Lithounit Kr-6 and carinella Assemblage Zone: Incorpor- apart from the zonal name species ates Lithounit Kr-3 and includes includes Spirillina polygyrata, Lenti- Laevidentalina gümbeli, Lenticulina culina quenstedti, and Epistomina alveolata. This zone is equivalent to quenstedti, Citharina zaglobensis, Athleta Zone of Late Callovian age. Lenticulina nodosa, Nodosaria simp- lex, Lenticulina subalata, Pseudono- 7. Citharina zaglobensis-Planularia tric- dosaria sowerbyi, Astacolus anceps, arinella Assemblage Zone: Incorpor- Epistomina mosquensis, Citharina ates Lithounit Kr-7 and along with entypomatus, Astacolus pauperatus, zonal name species includes Laevid- Epistomina stellicostata, Vinelloidea entalina gümbeli, Lenticulina quenst- aff. V. bigoti, and Nodosaria aff. N. edti, L. subalata, Astacolus anceps, biloculina, in addition to zonal name Citharinella rhomboidea, Vaginulino- species. This zone is equivalent to the psis aff. V. enodis, and Vaginulina inspissata. This zone is correlated Eucyclum subzone of upper early with Helenae-Maya