Assessment and Threat to Significant Geoheritage of Soorsagar Formation of Jodhpur Group of Marwar Supergroup, Western Rajasthan, India: A Geological and Remote Sensing Approach.

Autor: Mathur, Saurabh, Sharma, Sudhanshu, Singh, S. K., Thakkar, M. G., Chauhan, Gaurav, Rathore, Shiv Singh, Mathur, S. C.
Zdroj: Geoheritage; Dec2023, Vol. 15 Issue 4, p1-18, 18p
Abstrakt: The landscape of the northern part of Jodhpur located in western Rajasthan, India is endowed with a wide variety of volcanic and sedimentary type geoheritage of global significance. These are represented by rocks of Malani Igneous Suite (MIS) of Cryogenian age forming basement for overlying Ediacaran Jodhpur Group (JG) of Marwar Supergroup (MSG). Unique and rare volcanic features of MIS and its interface with the sandstone of JG have been declared as the National Geological Monuments of India. The site-specific landscape of the Soorsagar Formation (SSF) of JG covering about 54 sq. km area in the northern rural part of Jodhpur provides an outstanding record of seven types of geoheritage. Among these, the most significant sedimentary and paleontological geoheritage is represented by a treasure of sedimentary structures and a rich assemblage of Ediacaran fossils of marine paleo-ecosystem. Such records of past tectonics, climate, paleogeography, paleoecology, and environments showcasing 200 million years of Earth’s history characterize the land-sea interaction and distribution in this part of Eastern Gondwana land. Thus, it displays global geodiversity of both intrinsic and extrinsic geoheritage values that provide eminent narratives for geo-education and geotourism. However, the unique geoheritage of the SSF landscape is under great threat to degradation and damage dominantly due to anthropological activities. To study such threats and damage, a study is conducted using various geological and remote sensing techniques. Interpretation of satellite images of about fifty years reveals that dominantly sandstone mining along with urbanization activities is responsible for damaging the significant geoheritage of SSF. The present paper embodies geoheritage characterization and assessment of the landscape of SSF with its progressive damage to understand the necessity for its conservation through protected status by Geopark creation in the northern rural part of Jodhpur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
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