Geosites of the Early Cretaceous (Bhuj Formation) Based on Their Ichnological Values: Insights from the Kachchh Basin, Western India

Geoheritage studies have become increasingly important in recent years because of their ability to build an inventory of potential, established and endangered geological heritage. It is a worldwide endeavour to locate and preserve geological heritage for educational, tourism and conservation objectives. The Kachchh Basin is universally acknowledged in India for its rich palaeontological treasures of the southern Tethys margin. Several outcrops of low-dipping Mesozoic strata provide valuable information about the area's geological history. Since many decades, national and international students of earth sciences, geomorphology, geophysics, petroleum and reservoir engineering and mineral exploration have visited the Kachchh Basin for educational and training purposes. The basin reveals exceptional outcrops bearing evidence of Mesozoic life and its evolutionary fingerprints. The outcropping Cretaceous sediments of the basin extend offshore, producing economic quantities of hydrocarbons. Thus, it has become essential to preserve and protect Cretaceous sedimentary sequences for teaching and training purposes. We have identified three important geoheritage locations that should be preserved for the future. These three sites are (a) Tapkeshwari ichnosites, (b) Hill Garden ichnosites and (c) Ghuneri Dome ichnosite. The selected geoheritage sites displayed lateral stratigraphical continuity, outstanding textbook-type examples of (a) different trace fossil assemblages, (b) physical sedimentary structures and (c) dual-porosity petrophysical characteristics. Therefore, these sites offer a unique opportunity to study the wave-dominated deltaic ichnology of the Cretaceous clastic sequence and the effect of bioturbation on the petrophysical parameters.