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Bhuj Formation
Click to display on map of the Ancient World at:
Bhuj Fm base reconstruction

Bhuj Fm


Period: 
Cretaceous

Age Interval: 
Early Cretaceous? to Santonian


Province: 
W.India Kutch Basin

Type Locality and Naming

Outcrops around Bhuj town, typical section near Rukhmavati river near Jamthara, The Ukra beds forming the lower part of the formation are best developed in western Kutch near Ghuneri to Ukra Hill. [Biswas, 1977]. Also subsurface.

[Fig. Geological and structural map of Kutch, also showing the onshore and offshore wells drilled for oil exploration. (Map by Rasoul Sorkhabi in GeoExpro Dec2014, based on various sources including S.K. Biswas, Current Science, 25May2005)]


Lithology and Thickness

Sandstone. The formation primarily comprises of felspathic, friable, brown ferruginous sandstone. In the lower part it is brown and reddish brown with the rhythmic alternations of kaolinitic shale and thin ironstone bands. The shales are occasionally carbonaceous and contain plant fossils. In western Kutch, tongues of marine beds within the Ukra beds have been observed. 363 m to 800 m thick in the type area. In Subsurface thickness varies from 805 m or 848 m in wells Sanadra-1 and Suthri-1 respectively.

[Fig. Cretaceous Bhuj Formation, mainly sandstone with some shale and conglomerate, is a typical sight in the Bhuj city’s road cuts. (Source: Rasoul Sorkhabi in GeoExpro Dec2014)]


Lithology Pattern: 
Clayey sandstone


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

Gradational with Jhuran Fm and defined by the boundary between marine and non-marine.

Upper contact

Disconformable with overlying Deccan Traps Fm. In offshore wells the conformable upper boundary is marked by the calcareous fossiliferous marl and limestone of Naliya Fm.

Regional extent


GeoJSON

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Fossils

Ptylophyllum sp. Fossils wood, Ammonites, Lamellibranches, Gastropods, Trigonia sp


Age 

Neocomian (within the Berriasian-Barremian interval) to Santonian (Lower to Upper Cretaceous). [However, drawn by Dr. Raju on regional chart as only Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Campanian shallow, Cenomanian-Coniacian subsurface).

Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Cenomanian

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.1

    Beginning date (Ma): 
99.84

    Ending stage: 
Santonian

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
0.5

    Ending date (Ma):  
84.68

Depositional setting

Fluviatile to deltaic environment except for a few tongues of marine incursions


Depositional pattern:  


Additional Information


Compiler:  

Modified from Jitendriya Mishra (2009) Kutch-Saurasthra Basin, Chap. 17 in ONGC Bull 44