Review on the Comparative Sedimentology of Late Jurassic Transgressive Deposits of Tendaguru Hill - Mandawa Basin (Tanzania) and Wagad Hill - Kachchh Basin (India)

Abstract

This review study has focused on existing sedimentological information of Late Jurassic transgressive deposits of Tendaguru Formation (110 m thick), Mandawa basin, Tanzania exposed around Tendaguru hill and Kanthkot Formation (150 m thick), Kachchh basin, India exposed near Wagad hill. Based on comparison between the two coeval deposits shows variable transgressive characteristics. Studies have revealed that during transgression there existed a storm-dominated sedimentary facies in Kanthkot Formation and tidally influenced facies type in Tendaguru Formation. Both represent similar cyclic sedimentation patterns and high-energy transgressive deposits into different depositional regimes. Lithofacies review reveals that Kachchh basin (Wagad region) was an open marine and relatively deeper and steeper shelf environment in late Jurassic time. However, Mandawa basin (Tendaguru region) was a restricted marginal marine with an estuarine setting. Faunal affinities in both formations indicate a shallow marine environment of deposition with variable depth. The close similarity of transgressive episodes and upward stacking pattern of facies successions in both basins indicates overall shallowing of the sea that correlates with the global trend of relative sea-level fall during late Jurassic time.