Significance of the trace fossil Balanoglossites Mägdefrau, 1932 from the Lower Cretaceous Guneri member (Bhuj formation) of the Guneri dome, Kachchh, India

Abstract

The Guneri dome, situated in the Western Kachchh, is famous for its prominent exposures of Lower Cretaceous sandstone-dominated Guneri member belonging to the Bhuj formation. The ichnogenus Balanoglossites Magdefrau, 1932 is reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent and is represented by B. triadicus and B. ramosus, occurring in association with the tear-shaped boring Gastrochaeonolites. These trace fossils occur as a part of two, laterally extensive Glossifungites ichnofacies surface, representing omission suite assemblage. The detailed analysis of the trace fossil Balanoglossites along with lithofacies analysis suggests that it belongs to the Glossifungites ichnofacies surface and this trace fossil bearing surface corresponds to the Lower Cretaceous regressive phase that marks the unconformity of other parts of the Kachchh basin.