Sedimentological and palaeoecological significance of the trace fossils of the Jurassic rocks of the Jhura Dome, Mainland Kachchh, western India

Abstract

The Middle to Late Jurassic succession of the Jhura Dome (Jhurio and Jumara Formations) of the Mainland Kachchh, western India, comprises a ~500 m thick succession of clastic carbonates and mixed siliciclastic-carbonates, intercalated with shales. The sequence, as based on sedimentological characteristics, exhibits six sedimentary facies and four subfacies. Certain exceptional bands of the ripple-marked calcareous sandstone, shale and oolitic limestone facies are rich in ammonites, belemnites, brachiopods and bivalves. Thirty four ichnogenera were also identified and analysed paleoecologically. These trace fossils represents five ethological categories and six ichnoassemblages. Seventeen ichnoguilds are demonstrated based on space utilization for characterising the ecological complexity of ichnoassemblages. Bathymetric control of the trace fossils resulted with development of Skolithos, Cruziana and Zoophycos ichnofacies type conditions. The sedimentological and ichnological data analysis revealed seven distinctive depositional regimes ranging from offshore shelf below storm wave base to middle shoreface.