Occurrence of Nummulitic coralline limestone from offshore Palar Basin,Bay of Bengal,India |
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| Authors: | S Ramesh K Nvv Murthy S M Hussain S Ramasamy G A Ramadass |
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| Institution: | 1. Deep Sea Technology Group National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, India;2. sramesh@niot.res.in;4. Department of Geology, University of Madras, Chennai, India |
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| Abstract: | AbstractPalar basin is located between Pennar and Cauvery sedimentary basins of East coast of India in Bay of Bengal, northeast Indian Ocean. Sea floor drill (Wire-line Autonomous Coring System – WACS) with operational capability of up to 3000?m water depth was developed to collect long cores from deep sea floor for geotechnical and ocean resource assessment studies. During the drilling operation it encountered Nummulitic coralline limestone of Lower Eocene age at 18 meters below the seafloor (mbsf) at 850?m water depth indicating carbonated platform presence for the first time at the study region. Bathymetry contour from Naval Hydrography Chart and General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) has revealed the presence of shallow mounds from 50 to 200?m depth closure contour near the sampling site at 850?m water depth which might be a submerged carbonated structure. Since, Nummulites are shallow water dwelling fauna (<20?m depth) but its occurrence at 18 mbsf in 850?m water depth is recorded because of the advancement in technology tool for long core sampling by means of sea floor drill. |
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| Keywords: | Palar basin nummulites eocene wire-line autonomous coring system |
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