Occurrence of foraminifera in Jurassic sediments of Jhurio Dome, Kutch, India: first report of species from the Indian region and preliminary interpretations regarding palaeoecology and age

Middle to Late Jurassic rocks of Jhurio Dome, Kutch, India yielded fairly rich foraminiferal assemblages comprising 87 species, including 27 species reported for the first time from the Indian region which are illustrated with the help of SEM photomicrographs. Preliminary interpretations regarding palaeoecology and age are attempted. Based on the dominance of Family Vaginulinidae followed by Nodosariidae, Morphogroup J, calcareous hyaline species, and genus Lenticulina, the foraminiferal assemblages of Jhurio Dome appear to be flourishing in an open oceanic deep shelf environment, ranging from mid to outer shelf, with normal to high oxygen level and normal salinity. On the basis of foraminiferal assemblages, a Bajocian to Oxfordian age is assigned to the studied rocks of Jhurio Dome, Kutch, India.