IMPORTANT INVERTEBRATE FOSSILS IN INDIAN STRATIGRAPHY
Explore the significant vertebrate fossils found in Indian stratigraphy, from ancient fish to dinosaurs.
Important Invertebrate Fossils in Indian Stratigraphy
- In geology, invertebrate fossils are especially important in stratigraphic studies of sedimentary rocks.
- These fossils give vital information on the Earth's past, paleoenvironments, and biostratigraphy.
- India's diverse geology and extensive fossil record provide a unique chance to study distinct invertebrate taxa, resulting in advances in geological mapping, knowledge of previous climates, and evolution.
1. The significance of invertebrate fossils
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- Paleontological Importance
- Invertebrate fossils play a crucial role in biostratigraphy, enabling geologists to date rock layers and determine their relative ages.
- Fossil assemblages shed light on ancient ecosystems, reconstructing previous habitats and climates.
1.2 Economic importance
- Natural Resources: Invertebrate fossils can include commercially significant resources, including hydrocarbons and minerals.
- Fossil sites promote tourism, research, and public education about geology.
2. Major Invertebrate Fossils in Indian Stratigraphy
- Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods known for their three-lobed bodies.
Significant species
- The Maharashtra trilobite is found in Lower Cambrian strata, indicating a diverse marine habitat.
- Found mostly in Cambrian and Ordovician layers.
2.2 Brachiopods: described as clams with two shells, they are important for understanding Paleozoic marine habitats.
- The Kutch Basin has many fossil brachiopods dating from the Cambrian to the Late Paleozoic.
- Found mostly in the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian strata.
2.3 Molluscs
- Molluscs, such as bivalves and gastropods, are among the most varied invertebrate fossils found.
- Important genera include Palaeolucina, which is found in the Cretaceous strata of the Western Ghats.
- The geological age ranges from the Cambrian to the Cenozoic, shedding light on marine evolution and change.
2.4 Corals: Fossil corals, both solitary and colony, are important indications of past marine ecosystems.
- The Vindhyan Supergroup limestone strata are significant for their abundance of coral fossils.
Geological Age: Found in Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments.
2.5 Echinoderms: Starfish, sea urchins, and crinoids offer unique insights into marine sedimentary settings.
- Vindhyan and Kaimur sandstones include fossil crinoids, a significant species.
- Geological Age: found in Paleozoic rocks, helpful in studying marine biodiversity over time
3. Geological Context for Invertebrate Fossils
3.1 Sedimental Environments
Invertebrate fossils are typically discovered in sedimentary rocks from marine habitats, including shallow seas, lagoons, and deltas.
3.2 Stratigraphic Units
- Indian stratigraphy includes geological strata that include invertebrate fossils, such as the Vindhyan Supergroup, Kutch Basin, and Siwalik Hills.
3.3 Tectonic and Geological Events
- The Himalayas' uplift and erosion, as well as tectonic movements, have exposed invertebrate fossils across stratigraphic levels, enabling extensive geological investigations.
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