Jurassic geodiversity and geomorphosite of Kanthkot area, Wagad, Kachchh, Western India

Abstract

The Kachchh Rift Basin of western India is known for several geological findings and revelations for more than a century. Earth scientists from India and the globe have played a significant role in placing the Kachchh Basin's geology at a global level. A basin is a place for geologists to understand typical geological processes with textbook examples of resultant landforms. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary sequences of Kachchh have preserved significant diversity in fossil flora and fauna, ranging from marine to terrestrial environment accompanied by volcanic, structural, and sedimentary processes. Due to lack of attention from the authorities and the absence of any legislation in India, the geologically important sites of the Kachchh Basin have been subjected to unauthorized and undocumented fossil collection and scraping of geological strata for mining and infrastructural development. Due to the noteworthy preservation of the geological features at Kanthkot area in the Wagad highland of the eastern Kachchh Basin, two key geosites, i.e., Trambau River Bed and Kanthkot Fort Hill are proposed, which have immense potential to be recognized as the first ‘Jurassic Geopark’ of the Kachchh Basin. The proposed geosites hold great significance in scientific, educational, and geotourism aspects like palaeontology, sequence stratigraphy, sedimentology, volcanism, structures, and geomorphology with historical and cultural heritage. SWOT analysis for the geosite suggests good potential for development, conservation, and geotourism. The conservation of the geological heritage along with self-sustainable economic development through awareness and collaborative approach between the locals and experts from the scientific community is the primary motive of this work.