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We will be discussing the topic on virtual visit to the Barremian to Maastrichtian
outcrop sedimentary sequences, Ariyalur-Cauvery Basin in Southern India. This particular site
is widely recognized as a field museum of Paleontology, showcasing a wide array of
invertebrate fossils such as Coelenterates, Brachiopods, Mollusks, and Echinoderms.
Additionally, there is a remarkable 120-million-year-old wood log, a reported fish fossil, and
even a dinosaur egg. The location provides an excellent opportunity to study sequence
stratigraphic concepts, as there are clearly visible unconformities surfaces exposed in the field.
These surfaces, including LST (Lowstand Systems Tract), MFS (Maximum Flooding Surface),
and HST (Highstand Systems Tract), can be easily identified and studied. Researchers such as
Nagendra et al. have thoroughly documented these distinct unconformities. Noteworthy
publications by Subir Sarkar on sedimentary facies, Santanu Banerjee on glauconite geology,
and GVR Prasad on vertebrate fossils have contributed to a comprehensive understanding of
the area. Furthermore, there are specific locations within the traverses that offer remarkable
features, including mind-blowing fossil wood grounds and ammonite colonies (considered
Geoheritage sites) and plant fossil beds. These sedimentary sections are also highly relevant to
biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, ichnology, paleotemperature, and paleoclimatic studies.
Yuri et al. from Russia have conducted extensive research in these areas, further enhancing our
knowledge. In addition to discussing the Cretaceous research, this discussion will cover the
overview of the outcrops from the Barremian to the early Paleocene sections, highlighting their
significant features. |