• Jan 25 2016
• Admin
• 12
• 3332
• Travel

Dholavira Fossil Park

The plant fossils are at least eight metres long and about half to one metre in diametre. "Called petrified wood, the plant fossils of this size have only been found in Jaisalmer in western India. The samples found are similar to the plant fossils associated with the Lathi Formation (Jurassic) of Jaisalmer area. where the Geological Survey of India has established a plant fossils park in Akal," said KC Tiwari, principal investigator at department of geology in MSU, who conducted the study.

The Jurassic age pertains to the Aalenian-Bathonian period that dates back to 187 to 176 million years. On first-hand visual studies, the petrified wood samples were found to be associated with the Khadir formation comprising sandstone-shale-limestone sequence. They are fibrous and nature. Tiwari, however, added that the findings were subject to site verification. "I have conducted a study of samples given to me by the regional forest officer, SB Khamar, of Rapar in Kutch. We can establish the authenticity of the location only after a site visit," Tiwari said. To verify the exact plant species and age of the fossils, a detailed field and laboratory study is required.