Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Cretaceous climate evolution in middle latitude Tethys, a study from green-silicates of Mahadek Formation, South Shillong Shelf |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Paleoclimate Studies, Sedimentology |
Principal Investigator : | Ms. Udita Bansal, Indian Institute Of Technology (Indian School Of Mines) Dhanbad, Jharkhand |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | uditabansal.geo@gmail.com |
Equipments : | Stereozoom binocular microscope with photographic attachment and image analysis software
Polishing cum grinding machine
Hot plate
Sieve Set
Muffle Furnace |
Details
Executive Summary : | The Mesozoic Era's most significant event was the Cretaceous climatic evolution from a super-greenhouse to a cooler greenhouse towards the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Throughout the Cretaceous period, sea surface temperatures were extremely high, but towards Maastrichtian they were relatively low, indicating a global cooling greenhouse. An increasingly humid climate reached its peak at the K/T boundary with high detrital influx. Authigenic, Fe-rich green-silicates recorded these global climatic variations, which were consistent with major sea-level fluctuations and the carbon cycle. These green-silicates stabilized marine pH and controlled element sequestration, affecting seawater chemistry. The late Cretaceous seawater chemistry is unique due to the deposition of green-silicates worldwide. The green-silicates of Mahadek Formation along the South Shillong Shelf, Meghalaya basin, near the K/T boundary may record the signatures of the cooling greenhouse accompanying the enhanced humid climate and its implications on seawater chemistry. |
Total Budget (INR): | 29,26,000 |
Organizations involved