Geo-Heritage character of Jabalpur to make it natural world museum of geological studies

Geo-heritage character of Jabalpur is an archive of gigantic geographical changes over the millenniums which should come up as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scenic beauty combined with evidences of Mesozoic era (extinction of dinosaur) and Intertrappean times (successive basaltic lava flows) made Jabalpur a natural museum for world tourism and international geological studies. Bhedaghat - Lamhetaghat itself are an evidence of geographical changes in centuries while dinosaur remains in GCF Estate, fossils of oceanic plants and trees in Ghughwa, lava flows of fissure eruption and beautiful granite terrains in Barela, Balance Rock near Madan Mahal fort and several other natural sports in and around Jabalpur are of international geological significance.

Hence, Jabalpur is a naturally gifted place to be amongst global network of 138 Geo-Parks in 40 countries around the world. Unfortunately, there is no Geo-park in India. Jabalpur has been naturally blessed with the bouquet geological sites which are enough to meet the standards of establishing first Geo-park of India. There is a need of little push on the part of local administration to grab the attention of competent authorities and exploring Jabalpur as museum of geo-heritage on the world map. Global Network of National Geoparks was established in the year 2004 with the help of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Geo-parks are natural heritage sites of geology and geomorphology which are managed with holistic concept of their protection, education and sustainable development for the boost of tourism. Such sites also explore ecological, archaeological, historical and cultural significance of the area. Proposed development of Jabalpur into a Geological city is a welcome step. At least 20-25 parties of students and researchers come to Jabalpur every year for geological studies.

The Lametas and U. Gondwana rocks near Chota Simla and Bara Simla hills, Central School and railway cutting are excellent areas for learning geological mapping. In addition typical current bedding, graded bedding, outliers, inliers and pot holes are also present. Dr V K Khanna, noted Geologist, formerly Professor and Head, Geology Department, Government Science College, Jabalpur shared his geological study of Jabalpur with ‘The Hitavada’ and termed the district and its surrounding areas as an excellent place for geo-tourism and emphasis should be given to geo-tourism to justify its being a smart city. Bhedaghat - Lametaghat In Bhedaghat, Narmada river makes 3-km long george in marble with wonderful scenic beauty unmatched in the world. Crossing the river by ropeway gives an excellent view of the george. The initial course of Narmada river was around Bhedaghat village. Due to tectonic movements it started flowing through the marbles.

The palaeochannel of Narmada river can be seen by naked eye and also in aerial photograph or imagery. It is very likely that Dhuandhar waterfall was formed in Panchwatighat and it receded to the present position by erosion. The marbles are white, grey, pink and blue. They impart additional beauty to the spot. Apart from intrusion of sills and dykes, a multiple dyke is also present in Bhedaghat. Advanced archaeological artifacts have been found in the alluvium of Narmada river in Bhedaghat whose age is estimated to be one lac and twenty five thousand years.

These sites have also reported fossils of Boss skull, some long bone fragments and vertebrae along with fossils of mollusks in Narmada alluvium. Stone arms of Neolithic age have been found near Banganga bridge in Bhedaghat. All these indicate ancient ecology along with archaeological, historical and cultural significance of the area. Bhedaghat-Lametaghat area is an example of regional metamorphism (Bauchan type) within a short distance of 2-2.5 km so very rare in the world. Lametaghat is full of a variety of geological structures, presence of rare andalusite tabloids, beautifully developed amphibolite boudins and the Lameta Beds which have been the source of dinosaur remains. The name Lameta Beds itself has been derived from Lametaghat. Pleasing multi coloured chert is found on the south of Narmada river in Lametaghtat due to leaching of silica by Deccan Traps. In Lametaghat river Narmada flows along a fault plane and the physiography of the area is very well suited for water sports.

Lametaghat is also of archaeological significance. For any area to be established as geopark joint proposals should be submitted by public authorities, local communities and private interests together, which demonstrate the best practices with respect to Earth heritage conservation and integration of sustainable development strategies. Without the cooperation of all these sectors it will not be possible to establish a geopark. There is no geopark in India. Establishment of geopark in Bheraghat-Lametaghat area of Jabalpur will definitely attract tourists from distant places and it will be a good source of income. Volcanic Tephra Volcanic tephra related to 75,000 years old silicic volcanic explosion in Sumatra, has also been reported a few kilometres downstream of Bhedaghat. The tephra contains volcanic glass shreds admixed with detrial clay, minor quartz, feldspar, biotite and hydrous iron oxides. The grains are angular and the size varies from 10 micron to 435 micron. Ghughwa National Fossil Park Ghughwa is the smallest fossil park in India with an area of 27.4 hectares. It is 76 km from Jabalpur.

It is a great tourist spot. In Ghughwa fossil-park a variety of plant fossils are present in Intertrappean Beds whose thickness is 18 to 20 feet. Intertrappean Beds are sedimentary beds between two lava flows. The plants appear to be natural but in fact they have been converted into fossils by the process of petrifaction, Ghughwa has been blessed with priceless treasure of plant fossils which have been dated 55 to 65 million years. Important plant fossils include filicales (ferns), pteridosperms and angiosperms. The fossilized plants include date palm, jamun, banana, rudraksh, aonla, harra and bahera. Fossils of coconut and palm trees are present in plenty.

Their presence indicates the existence of sea nearby about 60 million years back. This is confirmed by the existence of two seaways in India during this period. These were Narmada seaway and Godavari seaway in south-east India. Narmada seaway was present near Ghughwa. Fossils of seeds of Eucalyptus indicate that the plant originated in India along with Australia. India and Australia were parts of the same landmass and they separated due to continental drift. The plant fossils indicate the existence of moist and humid climate with plenty of rainfall during Intertrappean times. Ghughwa is between two important tourist spots, Bandhavagarh and Kanha National Parks.

A tourist can see fossils in open platforms where informative notes have also been provided. In museum can be seen seeds, leaves, fruits and trunks in fossil form. A number of models depict the ecology during Intertrappean times. Dinosaur area Dinosaur area - Bara Simla and Pat Baba Region Jabalpur has an important place in the world map of dinosaurs. The dinosaur fossils were first collected in India from Lameta Beds (Upper Cretaceous period) of Jabalpur in 1828 by William Sleeman. These fossils, however, were much fragmented and could not be properly recognized. These were identified as dinosaur fossils by Lydekker in 1877. The dinosaur egg clusters were also discovered in India for the first time in Jabalpur in 1982. Five egg clusters were present in Pat Baba region. At present there is only one egg cluster plus a fossil egg (Magaloolithus) kept in the museum of Geology Department of Government Science College, Jabalpur. Both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs were present in Jabalpur. Important herbivorous dinosaurs were Titanosaurus, Lametasaurus, Laplatasaurus and Antarctosaurus. Carnivorous dinosaurs included Indosaurus and Indosuchus.

In December 1988 Dr. Shankar Chatterjiee discovered the biggest carnivorous dinosaur in the world at the base of Bara Simla hills. He suspected it to be Tyrranosaurus. It is, however, not confirmed as published work on the said dinosaur is not available. Tyrranosaurus has not been reported from India so far. The Central Indian Cretaceous habitat of dinosaurs is the biggest in the world. It extends from Kutch to Jabalpur and from Nagpur to Hyderabad. During his field work from 1921 to 1929 Matley shipped as many as 32 box-full of dinosaurian remains to British Museum of Natural History, London, for detailed study. The first dinosaur fossil to be rediscovered in India after 185 years (in the year 2013) has been found in the cupboards of Geological Survey of India in Kolkata.

The rediscovered fossil is Titanosaurus Indicus from Bara Simla hill area. Bara Simla and Pat Baba areas can well be tourist spots due to beautiful surroundings habitat of dinosaurs and the famous Pat Baba temple. Much will have to be done to bring back the dinosaur fossils to Jabalpur. These can be kept in a museum giving needed information on dinosaurs of Jabalpur. Lava Flows of Barela In India, about 5 lakh sq.km. area is covered by Deccan Traps which are silent eruption of lava flows from fissures instead of pipes. These lava flows are mostly basic in nature and dark steel grey in colour. In Barela 10 lava flows are present, 6 in Gaur river section and 4 in the hills.

The flows can be recognized by slight difference in their colour, grain size and the presence of vesicles and amygdaloidal structure at the top of the flow. Vesicles which result due to escape of gases can also be present at the base of the flow. The vesicles are often occupied by the zeolites-stilbite heulandite natrolite, chabazite, scolecite etc; geodes of quartz amethyst and green earths. If the cooling centres are evenly spaced then hexagonal columns are formed due to resulting joints (fissures). The columnar joints are seen near waterfall (Bhadbhada) and nearby areas. Big hexagonal horizontal columns are present at the eastern most end of Barela village on Jabalpur-Raipur highway on the hill top, These give impression of broken columns of a castle. Horizontal columns are formed when lava flow is thick. For tourists it is worth visiting Gaur river section and hills to get idea of the lava flows and to enjoy the beauty of the terrain. World famous Ajanta and Ellora temples have been carved in Deccan Traps. The Gate Way of India in Bombay is also made up of the Deccan lava flows which are lighter in colour. Balance Rock Granite occupies large areas in Jabalpur. On the basis of radioactive dating the granites of Jabalpur are 2200 million years in age.

The hills and hillocks of granite impart impressive physiography and beauty to the city. No major damage was caused by 1997 earthquake due to the presence of hard granite rocks which are part of a batholith. Balance rocks are common in granite terrain. These are formed due to mural jointing followed by spheroidal weathering. The stages of formation of balance rocks can be seen at the base of Sharda temple. Many balance rocks are present in Jabalpur particularly in Bargi hill area between Medical College and Tilwaraghat. However, the balance rock near Sharda temple is unique in the world. It is more fascinating than the Golden Rock of Burma. The huge rock rests on a very narrow space of few inches and is greatly inclined. 1997 earthquake of 6-magnitude did not affect the balance rock. The reason of stability is that the centre of gravity of balance rock is within the base rock.

An added attraction is Madan Mahal Fort nearby which constructed on granite rocks by a Gondwana King and the Sharda temple. A number of tourists from all parts of India visit the balance rock everyday. The place is also visited by foreign tourists who come to Jabalpur. Need to Preserve the Geoheritage of Jablapur The natural museum of Jabalpur is shrinking fast. The diorite xenoliths and the reaction rims in granite, small patch of norite, the incipiently formed scarn rocks and the famous Chui Hill Fault have all vanished due to construction of houses in Ghamapur and GCF areas. The upper Gondwana plant fossils Ptilophyllum, Elactocladus, Brachyphyllum, Araucarites and others in clay are no more due to the construction of Central School at the fossil site in G.C.F. area. In 1964 the author had the opportunity to guide the delegates of International Geological congress held in Delhi to this wonderful geoheritage site. Likewise the hatcheries of dinosaur eggs at Pat Baba and Bara Simla hills have been dug out and taken away by geoscientists from different parts of India and abroad.

The famous anthophyllite–corderite sill near Dhuandhar water fall has vanished due to construction of road leading to waterfall. In Lametaghat the only area of andalusite tabloids in India and various structures in the Precambrian rocks are getting covered with rubbles falling down due to construction work at the bank of river Narmada. In Ghughwa National Fossil Park the plant fossils in- situ are rarely seen. There is urgent need to preserve the remaining geoheritage sites of Jabalpur and its neighbourhood.