Ichnological analysis of Jurassic shallow to marginal marine deposits: example from Wagad Highland, Western India

Abstract

Jurassic deposits of shallow to marginal marine (delta) environments are widely reported from different continents of the world. This study shows inter-relationship of the animal-sediment behaviours in shallow and marginal marine conditions, suggesting an interpretation of the possible ichnodisparity. The Jurassic succession exposed at Washtawa Dome and Adhoi Anticline of Wagad highland, Kachchh comprises an approximately 341 m thick succession, divided into two formations – Lower Washtawa and Upper Wagad Sandstone. Eight sparsely to highly bioturbated sedimentary units show twenty-three identifiable ichnospecies from fifteen ichnogenera representing five ichnoassemblages broadly attributable to the Skolithos and the Cruziana ichnofacies, and developed in shallow-marine strandplain shoreface and delta depositional facies. The relative frequency statistical data reveals the dominant occurrence of feeding structures generated by polychaetes preferentially in quartz arenites. These structures represent sub-horizontal, sub-vertical and complex burrows, and show twelve and six categories of architectural designing Callovian-Oxfordian of shallow-marine shoreface and Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian shallow-water delta successions, respectively. The lower ichnodiversity and ichnodisparity associated with the Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian deltaic intervals represents a decrease in the exploitation of under-used ecospace, due to unfavourable environmental conditions rather than an expression of evolutionary radiation.