BIOSTRATIGRAPHY

Ariyalur submodule

COURSE MATERIAL

FTC, Salem, Tamil Nadu

2010
Course material – Cretaceous rocks of Tiruchchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

Introduction
Ariyalur Submodule of the Field Training Centre is a newly established centre
of the GSI Training Institute in Tamil Nadu, Southern Region. The Centre has become
operational from 26.10.2010 with the 34th Orientational Course for Geologists
Programme in Perambalur, near Ariyalur.

Location, accessibility and climate

Ariyalur is a small town in southern India where many cement manufacturing units
are situated that depend on the limestone raw material. It is about 60 km in the
direction of Northeast from the temple town of Tiruchchirappalli. It is connected from
other parts of the State by all weather roads. Ariyalur is a station on the chord line
from Tiruchchirapalli to Chennai. Ariyalur is hot during summer (about 40°) and gets
rains during the months of November and December during the Northeast monsoon
when the climate is pleasant.

Regional Geology
The Cretaceous rocks of southern India are largely exposed to the northwestern part of
the Cauveri Basin where they are extensively overlapped and interrupted in their
lateral continuity by the younger Tertiary rocks and alluvium (Fig.1). On the other
hand the geological succession is fairly continuous in the subsurface, where it is
represented by rocks ranging in age from Early Cretaceous to Tertiary. The
importance of these Cretaceous deposits lies in the development of their diverse
lithofacies, abundance and variety of fossils and a wide geographical distribution in
the region. Forbes (1846) was the first to report Cretaceous fossils from Cauveri
Basin. The rich, varied and well preserved invertebrate mega-fauna of these
formations collected from the outcrops, prompted Kossmat (1897;1895-97) to
represent this classic area to represent the Cretaceous Indo-Pacific palaeozoological
province.

The exposures of the Cretaceous formations of southern India are limited to five
detached outcropping patches, namely, Sivaganga, Thanjavur, Tiruchchirappalli,
Vriddachalam in Tamil Nadu and in the Union Territory of Puducherri. These are
aligned approximately in a north northeast –south southwest direction. The areal
extent of the Thanjavur exposure (Vredenberg, 1910) is perhaps the smallest
(exposures are only from well sections) and poorly known; and the one in
Tiruchchirappalli district is the largest and best developed (70km by 45km).

The main structural framework of the Cauveri basin is of horst and graben type,
comprising of ridges and depressions (sub-basins). The expression of past tectonic
activity is relatively poor in the outcrop area. A boundary fault along the western
margin is probably responsible for the development of the basin. This view is
evidenced by the nearly straight north northeast – south southwest marginal alignment
of the outcropping sedimentary rocks and the general thickening of the sediments
towards east. The structural disturbances are a few and they may be expressed in the
form of faults. Two faults are observed in the south of the area where limestone is
faulted against the conglomerate at very high angle near Kallakkudi. The limestone is

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the down thrown block. Two more minor faults are traced in the Tirupattur arm of the
extension of the Cretaceous outcrop in the southwestern area.

Lithostratigraphy:
The Cretaceous rocks of the Ariyalur area in the Cauveri Basin have been classified
both lithostratigraphically and biostratigraphically. Lithologically, they are divided
into three groups, viz. Uttattur, Trichinopoly and Ariyalur groups in the ascending
order and these groups include many formations (Table – 1). Sundaram and Rao
(1984) recognised new formational units for the Uttattur and Trichinopoly groups and
they are Arogyapuram, Dalmiapuram and Karai formations for the Uttattur Group,
Kulakkalnattam and Anaipadi formations for the Trichinopoly Group (Fig. 2). They
retained the classification of Ariyalur Group by Sastry, Mamgain and Rao (1972) for
the Ariyalur Group (Sillakkudi, Kallankurichchi & Kallamedu formations – clubbing
Ottakkoil formation and Kallamedu formation into one formation). Sundaram et al
(2001) gave a detailed description of the lithostratigraphy of the Cretaceous rocks of
Ariyalur, Vriddachalam and Pondicherry. ONGC has classified the Cretaceous rocks
based only on the lithographic characters (Fig. 3).

Several varieties of igneous and metamorphic rocks form the basement rocks for the
sedimentary sequence. The Upper Gondwana sediments (Terani Formation of
Sundaram & Rao, 1984) which overlie the basement rocks are classified as Sivaganga
Formation (Banerji, 1982) and are considered non-marine and of Early Cretaceous
age. These occur as detached patches of outcrops along the western margin. These are
partially overlapped by the marine rocks. The rocks represented by the Sivaganga
Formation are white, pink and yellow silty clay with a few intercalations of brown
sandstone bands. Plant fossils such as Ptillophyllum acutifolium, P. cutchense,
Elatocladus plana, E. conferta, Taenioteris spatulata, T. lata occur in the clay.

The marine Cretaceous rocks are inferred to overlie the Sivaganga Formation
unconformably. The Uttattur Group of rocks cover a large area and lie on the
basement rocks at many places. The Trichinopoly Group overlie the Uttattur Group of
rocks to the west and on to the basement rocks in the south and themselves underlie
unconformably the Ariyalur Group to the east. The marine sediments usually have a
dip of 4° SSE. Some higher dips noted up to 25° are largely due to slumping of the
clay in the lower part of the Uttattur Group. The rocks of the Ariyalur Group are
mainly sandstones and shell banks and occupy a large area compared to the other two
groups. Cuddalore sandstone (younger Tertiary rocks) are exposed largely over the
Ariyalur Group of rocks which are indeed responsible for the preservation of the
Cretaceous rocks. This Cuddalore Sandstone is deep red in colour and shows
horizontal bedding.

Carbonate dominate the lower part of the Uttattur Group, represented by algal-coral
reefoidal limestone and associated marls. The middle part is mainly clay. The upper
part of the Uttattur Group and the lower part of the Trichinopoly Group are shell
limestone and coarse clastic with intercalated clay. The depositional sedimentary
structures include cross bedding and traces and trails of worms and other bottom
dwelling organisms. Fossils are considered as an integral part of the lithology and thus
help in the recognition of the formation. The rocks of the Ariyalur Group begin with
sandstone followed by shell bank deposits. The uppermost part of the Cretaceous

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sequence is Kallamedu Formation which is sandstone, often cross-bedded and have
yielded dinosaurian remains.

Biostratigraphy:
A biostratigraphic unit is defined as a body of rock strata characterised by its content
of fossils contemporaneous with the deposition of strata. A biostratigraphic unit is
fundamentally different from the lithostratigraphic unit. The boundaries between the
two may or may not coincide or may even cross eachother. A zone is the basic unit in
the biostratigraphic classification and is defined by the occurrence of a characteristic
fossil or an assemblage of fossils without reference to lithology. A biostratigraphic
zone may be based on all its fossils or it may be based on a fossil of one phylum, one
class or order, etc. Thus it is possible to have different overlapping systems of zones
variously based on different fossil groups. Two types of formal biostratigraphic zones
are recognised, namely, the assemblage zone (cenozone) and the range zone
(acrozone). At places, it may be feasible and desirable to recognise and define
assemblage zones of lower rank such as subzone.

Stoliczka (1861-73) was the first to propose a three fold biostratigraphic zonation for
the Cretacous rocks which was refined by Kossmat (1895-97) and he assigned the
sequence from Cenomaian through Turonian to Lower Senonian age. Sastry et al
(1968) assigned Albian to Maastrichtian age, thus advocating a continuous and
uninterrupted sequence. Chiplonkar and Tapaswi (1976) utilised inoceramid bivalves
to propose a biostratigraphic zone. Ayyasami (1990) presented a biostratigraphy based
on heteromorphy ammonite fauna. Faunal breaks at various stratigraphic levels were
proposed by Ayyasami & Rao (1984) and other publications. With the exploration for
oil in the Cretaceous rocks in the late 60s, various publications on the microfossils
appeared periodically.

Chronostratigraphy:
The correlation of these rocks with other well-known Cretaceous areas of the world is
imprecise. Besides, the casual remarks on age without adequate supporting data of
proper fossil assemblage by many authors have added further confusion. While
inoceramid zonation for these rocks and a detailed classification on ammonites along
with a biostratigraphic map is available; data on magnetostratigraphy, radiometric age
and Carbon isotope excursion curve through the sequence in addition to other biotic
data will help in assigning the chronostratigraphic units. Though the paucity of
foraminifera in the Trichinopoly Group in the outcrop area, as a stratigraphic tool,
restricts their use at that stratigraphic level, these microfossils are excellent index
fossils wherever they occur in these Cretaceous rocks.

The Cretaceous sediments of the Ariyalur area were dated by various researchers
utilizing many groups of fossils. The assignment of age based on biota was restricted
to comparison and broad correlation of the fauna from other Cretaceous basins in
India. Detailed analyses of various stage/substage boundaries of the Cretaceous from
Ariyalur area is based on ammonites and inoceramids only. A critical analysis of
fauna along with magnetostratigraphy, Carbon isotope excursion curve and
radiometric dating is necessary to suggest sections as candidates for global boundary
stratotypes/additional type sections.

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 Seven stages – Albian, Cenomanian, Turonian, Coniacian, Santonian,
Campanian and Maastrichtian – are to be examined for assessing the six boundary
level between them in Ariyalur area.

1. The Albian – Cenomanian boundary: This boundary may be traced in the

badlands to the east of Uttattur village where a good geological section is
available. The rocks exposed here are the gypsiferous clay and sandstone of
the Karai and Kunnam formations. The rocks of Karai Formation yielded
ammonite Mortoniceras rostratum of Late Albian age and the Mantelliceras
mantelli of Early Cenomanian age.
Map

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 2. The Cenomanian – Turonian boundary: This boundary is traced to the
east of Odiayam village. The rocks exposed here are gypsiferous clay, calcareous
nodules in clay, shell limestone and sandstone. This area is one of the most
fossiliferous localities in the Ariyalur area. The transition from Cenomanian to
Turonian stage may be marked by the ammonites Eucalycoceras pentagonum in the
former to Pseudaspidoceras footeanum in the latter. Many species of inoceramids are
also useful in tracing the transition (Ayyasami and Banerji, 1984).

Map:

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6
Section along A – B:

3. The Turonian – Coniacian boundary: This boundary may be traced in the

gully to the north of Andur and Varagur villages in the northern part of the Ariyalur
area. The section is well exposed and fossils are abundant. The Turonian ammonite is
the Lewesicereas anapadense and the Coniacian ammonite is Proplacenticeras
tamulicum. It may be noted that Ayyasami and Rao (1984) and Chidambaram (1985)
documented the absence of Late Turonian sediments in Ariyalur area.

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Map:

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 4. The Coniacian - Santonian boundary: This stage boundary is not traceable
in Ariyalur area as no Late Coniacian and Early Santonian ammonites have been
reported.
5. The Santonian – Campanian boundary: This boundary may be traced to
the north of Mel Mattur village. The rocks are predominantly sandstone with
subordinate clay of Sillakkudi Formation. The inoceramid Inoceramus balitus of the
Santonian age was collected from this locality. Campanian invertebrates are rare here.
However, foraminiferal evidences show the presence of Santonian and Campanian
rocks in this area (Chidambaram, 2000; Ayyasami and Rao, 1984).
Map:

Section along traverse line

6. Campanian – Maastrichtian boundary: This boundary may be traced in a

gully section north of the road from Ariyalur to Vilangudi near Periyanagalur. The
rocks are grit, limestone (oyster bank) with subordinate clay and sandstone. The

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characteristic Campanian ammonites are rare but Eubaculites vagina and other
heteromorph ammonites of the Maastrichtian age are known. This the type section of
the Kallankurichchi Formation of Sastry et al. (1972). Foraminiferal and ostracode
studies are available (Sastry et al., 1968; Sastry et al., 1972).
Map:

ONGC has proposed a chronostratigraphic classification for the Cretaceous rocks

based on the occurrence/range of foraminifera (Table – 2).

Regional Traverses
As a part of the Ariyalur module, two regional traverses are planned to introduce and
familiarise the officer trainees to the Upper Cretaceous rock sequence. These traverses
include:
i. Karai – Kulattur Traverse
ii. Chittali – Kunnam Traverse
iii. Kunnam – Periyanagalur Traverse (by road)
Karai – Kulattur Traverse:
The Upper Gondwana rocks are exposed in mine cuttings to the east of Karai village.
Overlying them are the marine gypsiferous clay and thin limestone bands. The colour
of the gypsiferous clay is white to yellow which changes to red in the stratigraphic
succession. All these clays contain fossils. The change in colour of the clay from
white or yellow to red reveals a change in the provenance. The overlying white
sandstone is coarse grained and at places fossiliferous. The contact of the Uttattur and
Trichinopoly Group of rocks is seen when the latter with its shell limestone cross the
river near Kulakkalnattam village. The alternation of shell limestone and the clay with

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calcareous nodules continue till a sandstone with abundant brachiopod shells are
traced. The overlying sandstone and clay alternations continue till the village of
Kulattur when the gritty sandstone of the Ariyalur Group are exposed near the village.
The alluvium and the Cuddalore sandstone cover the rocks in further tracing of the
Cretaceous rocks in this traverse.

Chittali – Kunnam Traverse:

This traverse is one of the best developed that yielded many invertebrate fossils,
especially, ammonites of varied sizes, shapes and coiling. The coral-algal limestone is
exposed to the west of Maruvattur village to the south of Chittali. The overlying
alternations of limestone and marl continue for about 2 km along the dry river bed
south of Maruvattur village. The traverse is taken a turn to the east after this,
following a line south of Odiyam village and then turning east of that village. The
nala that drains the area to the east of the villages exposes the fossiliferous limestone

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full of oysters and at places inoceramids with common ammonites. Near the source of
this nala, the shell limestone of the Trichinopoly Group raise above the river bed. The
sequence of alternations of shell limestone and calcareous nodules in clay unit
continue for a short distance and the soil cover conceals further outcrops to the east
till the Kunnam village. As heteromorph (uncoiled) ammonites are common, a table
showing the various morphological features of ammonites (after Ayyasami, 1990) are
given in Table – 3.

Kunnam – Periyanagalur Traverse:

From Kunnam onwards, the rocks of the upper part of the Trichinopoly Group
comprising sandstone and clay are exposed along the road sections. Further down the
road from Kunnam to Ariyalur, the gritty sandstone of the Sillakkudi Formation is
exposed which continue beyond Ariyalur village to the east till Kattupirangium. Here
the gritty sandstone is overlain by shell bank deposits with well marked contact. The
shell bank deposit, which is in fact, sandstone with abundant fossils, are exposed

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along the river flowing south from Kallankurichchi. On both sides of the road from
Ariyalur to Vilangudi exposes the rocks of the Kallankurichchi Formation with
abundant large brachiopod fossils and inocermids. Further down the road, near
Periyanagalur, the Fixit Mines are located where the limestone is mined.

Guided mapping
Two areas have been identified for guided mapping. They are:
i. Rocks exposed near Kallakkudi
ii. Rocks exposed near Sattanur

Kallakkudi area:
The Uttattur Group of rocks are exposed near Kallakkudi area where the sequence
begin with conglomerate and the overlying coral-algal reefoidal limestone. They are
overlain by marls and bedded limestones. The overlying clay is similar to the clays
exposed in the Karai – Kulattur traverse. The shell limestone of the Trichinopoly
Group overlies the earlier rocks and now occur as small outliers near Kallakkudi. The
relationship between the Uttattur and Trichinopoly rocks are to be studied here.

Sattanur area:
The area to the north of the Karai – Kulattur traverse exposes the same sequence of
rocks encountered in the traverse line. However, the change in thickness of rocks,
attitude and fossils indicate marked unconformities which may be recognised by
careful observation of the sequence. As fossils are common, the index ammonites are
utilised in recognising the unconformities or even the bivalves may also be used.

Class room programmes

After the guided mapping is done during the day, the fossils and mapping techniques
will be discussed in the evening. Plotting of field data along with fossil identifications
that help in defining the boundaries of various rock units will form an exercise in the
class. A few fossil drawings will also be made using the fossils that are available in
the camp.

Photography
Special emphasis is being given to the photography in the field and also the fossil
photography. As all the geologists are aware, fossil photography for publication
requires special lighting techniques to clearly show various morphological characters
of the fossils and also to bring out the details using light and shadow judiciously.

Economic minerals
1. Limestone: The reefoidal limestone at the base of the Cretaceous sequence forms
important source of raw material for cement. The limestone in Ariyalur Group,
because of its high shell content forms raw material. The Tertiary Niniyur limestone is
also a good raw material for cement. Locally available shell limestone is used for
building purposes.
2. Gypsum: The clay of the Uttattur Group contains Gypsum veins which are mined
locally.
3. Phosphatic nodules: The lower part of the Uttattur Group contains phosphatic
nodules which are gathered during the mining for gypsum or from the surface and
used for local agricultural purposes.

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4. The Upper Gondwana clay of the Sivaganga Formation is a good source of clay for
ceramic industry.

Reference

Ayyasami, K. (1990) Cretaceous heteromorph ammonoid biostratigraphy of southern

India. Newsletters on Stratigraphy, Stuttgart.. vol.33 , no.2/3, pp 111-118

Ayyasami, K. and Rao, B.R.J. (1984) Observation on the biostratigraphic zones of the

Trichinopoly Group (Upper Cretaceous), Tamil Nadu. Proceedings of the X

IndianColloquium on Micropalaeontology and Stratigraphy, Pune, pp 223-

230

Banerji, R. K. (1982) Sivaganga Formation: its sedimentology, micropalaeontology

and sedimentation history. Journal of the Geological Society of India, vol. 23,

pp 450-457

Blanford, H. F. (1862) On the Cretaceous and other rocks of South Arcot and

Trichinopoly districts. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, vol. 4,

217p.

Chidambaram, L. (1985) Foraminiferal assemblages from upper part of Uttatur Group

(Paravay Formation) and Trichinopoly Group (Garudamangalam Formation),

Cauvery Basin, South India. Bulletin of the Geological, Mining and

Metallurgical society of India, vol. 52, pt.1, pp 12-19

Chidambaram, L. (2000) Middle Turonian – Santonian foraminiferal

biostratigraphy of Trichinopoly Group, South India. Memoirs of the Geological

Society of India, vol.46, pp 173-204

Chiplonkar, G. W. and Tapaswi, P. M. (1976) Bivalvia from the Upper Cretaceous

of Trichinopoly district, South India, pt. 1, Inoceramidae. Recent Researches in

Geology, vol.3, pp 87-123

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Forbes, E. (1846) Report on the fossil invertebrates from southern India, collected by

Mr. Kaye and Mr. Cunliffe. Transactions of the Geological Society of London,

vol. 7, pp 97 - 174.

Kossmat, F. (1897) The Cretaceous deposits of Pondicherry. Rec. GSI, vol.30, no.2,

pp 51-111

Kossmat, F. (1895-97) Untersuchungen uber die sudindische Krideformation. Beitr.

Ungarns orients. Band 9,11 & 12

ONGC. (1976) Rock Stratigraphy of Cauvery basin. Media publications Ltd.,

Chennai. 20p.

Sastry, M. V. A., Mamgain, V. D. and Rao, B. R. J. (1972) Ostracod fauna of the

Ariyalur Group (Upper Cretaceous), Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu.

Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Palaeontologia Indica, vol. 40,

59p.

Sastry, M. V. A., Rao, B. R. J. and Mamgain, V. D. (1968) Biostratigraphic zonation

of the Upper Cretaceous formations of Trichinopoly district, South India.

Memoirs of the Geological Society of India, no.2, pp 10-17

Stoliczka, F. (1865-71) Cretaceous fauna of South India. Memoirs of the Geological

Survey of India, Palaeontologia indica, Ser. 3, 4 & 6

Sundaram, R., Henderson, R. A., Ayyasami, K. and Stilwell, J. D. (2001)

Lithostratigraphic revision and palaeoenvironmental assessment of the

Cretaceous System exposed in the onshore Cauvery Basin, southern India.

Cretaceous Research, vol. 22, no.6, pp. 743-762

Sundaram, R., Rao, P. S. (1986) Lithostratigraphy of the Cretaceous and Paleocene

rocks of Tiruchirapalli dist., Tamil Nadu, South India. Records of the

Geological Survey of India, vol. 115, pt.5, pp 9-23

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Vredenburg, E. (1910) Cretaceous rocks of Tanjore. Records of the Geological

Survey of India, vol. 40, pp 336-339

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Fig. 1: Cretaceous rocks of southern India

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Fig. 2: Geological map of the Cretaceous rocks

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Fig. 3: ONGC Classification of the Cretaceous rocks

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 Table – 1: Lithostratigraphy of the Cretaceous rocks with the biozonations of ammonites and oysters

LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY AMMONITE OYSTERS AGE

Kallamedu Fm. (for the Eubaculites vagina Zone
Agerostrea ungulata
lower marine part)
Hauericeras rembda Agerostrea ungulata,
Zone Ceratostreon pliciferum
Maastrichtian
Planospirites ostracina,
Ariyalur Kallankurichchi Fm.
Pycnodonte (Phygraea)
Group
vesicularis, Rastellum
(Arcostrea) pectinatum
Karapadites
Sillkkudi
Kil Palavur karapadense Zone Ostrea zitteliana Campanian to Latest Santonian
Fm.
Member
Kossmaticeras No characteristic oyster
Coniacian
theobaldianum Zone
1
Anaipadi Fm. Lewesiceras anapadense Exogyra(Costagyra)
Trichinopol Zone fausta, Lopha
y Group (Actinostreon) diluviana
Middle Turonian
Romaniceras
Kulakkalnattam Fm. (Yubariceras) Exogyra haliotoidea
ornatissimum Zone
Uttattur Pseudaspidoceras Rhynchostreon
Kunnam Lower Turonian
Group footeanum Zone suborbiculatum
Karai Member1 Eucalycoceras
Pycnodonte vesiculosa Upper Cenomanian
Fm. pentagonum Zone
Odiyam Calycoceras newboldi Exogyra (Costagyra)
Middle Cenomanian
Member Zone costata

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 Mantelliceras vicinale
Pycnodonte n. sp. Lower Cenomanian
Zone
Dalmiapuram Fm.
Mortoniceras rostratum Rastellum (Arcostrea)
Zone carinata, Ostrea sp. nov. Upper Albian
Arogyapuram Fm. No ammonite No recognizable oyster
Terani Fm. Australiceras jacki Zone No oyster Upper Aptian
CRYSTALLINE ------ ------
Archaean
BASEMENT
1
Faunal break with/without unconformity is recognised

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Table – 2: Chronostratigraphic stratigraphic stages proposed by ONGC

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Table – 3: Heteromorph ammonite morphological features

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