Facies analysis and depositional environment of siliciclastic sediments of Mundhan dome, Northwestern Kachchh, Western India

The Mundhan dome present in the northwestern part of the Kachchh basin, Gujarat, Western India comprises ~ 105 m thick Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous (Kimmeridgian to Hauterivian) succession belonging to Jhuran Formation. The middle member, the upper member, and the Katesar member representing the rocks of Jhuran Formation in the study area comprise siliciclastic sediments. The middle member shows dominance of shales with subordinate siltstones, while the upper and Katesar members marked by the presence of sandstones exhibiting different primary sedimentary structures and fossil assemblages. The field and petrographic analysis has been carried out in order to understand the spatial variation of facies and depositional environment for these sediments. The siliciclastic sediments reveal the presence of facies association representing low to moderate wave and current energy conditions. The overall characteristics of the facies aptly point to their formation in lower–middle shoreface conditions in prodeltaic to delta front environment.