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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are highly grateful and express their sincere sentiments of gratitude to HH Shri Gaj Singh Ji for his esteemed encouragement and support for geological works related to geoheritage and geotourism aspects of the Marwar region, India. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for providing thoughtful comments, suggestions, and guidance to improve the quality and content of the paper. The authors are highly gratified to Mr. Jagat Singh Ji, and Mahendra Singh Ji of MMT, Jodhpur, for their invaluable help. The authors are grateful to Prof. K.L. Srivastava, Honourable Vice Chancellor of JNVU, Jodhpur, Prof. S.R. Jakhar, Head, Department of Geology, JNVU, Jodhpur, Prof. R.P. Choudhary, Head, Department of Mining Engineering, MBMU, Jodhpur and Dr. Shruti Kanga, Head, Department of Geography, Central University, Bathinda, for providing encouragement and facilities for the present work. It gives us immense pleasure from the bottom of our hearts to express sincere thanks to Dr. V. S. Parihar, Dr. S. L. Nama (JNVU, Jodhpur) and Mr. Virat Arora for their local support and fieldwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, J. N. Vyas University, Jodhpur, India

    Saurabh Mathur & Shiv Singh Rathore

  2. Centre for Climate Change and Water Research, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India

    Sudhanshu Sharma, S. K. Singh & S. C. Mathur

  3. Department of Earth and Environmental Science, K. S. K.V. Kachchh University, Bhuj, India

    M. G. Thakkar & Gaurav Chauhan

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Mathur, S., Sharma, S., Singh, S.K. et al. Assessment and Threat to Significant Geoheritage of Soorsagar Formation of Jodhpur Group of Marwar Supergroup, Western Rajasthan, India: A Geological and Remote Sensing Approach. Geoheritage 15, 127 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00896-9

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