CHANDIGARH: Dr Ritesh Arya a renowned geologist did a groundbreaking discovery while conducting ground water exploration in Burtse (Ladakh) His discovery shed light on the geological history of the area and will provide valuable insights into the ancient paleo environment. His discovery includes marine fossils including gastropods, bivalves and foraminifera.
These formations locate at an altitude of 16000 feet above sea level thus highlight the immense tectonic forces and augmenting the idea that Himalayas were born as continental plates thruyst out of Tethys Sea about 40 million years ago. His findings add a new dimension to our understanding of the region geology.
Notably, during this time, the massive Ladakh batholith, which currently separate the two formations—Subathu at around 2000 meters in Himachal Pradesh and Burtse at approximately 5000 meters in the eastern part of Ladakh—remained with in the womb of Mother Earth and had not yet emerged.
Preliminary investigations suggest that these fossils morphologically resemble those of Turritellatids (gastropod) and Assilina (foraminifera), similar to fossils found in the Subathu Formation in Himachal Pradesh. These have been dated to the Eocene epoch approximately around 56 to 33.9 million years ago. These ancient remnants also provide clear evidence of the existence of the Tethys Sea at that time—an
intrigues revelation that connects India and Tibet through the waves of Tethys,
showcase an unique paleo environmental connection.
Dr. Arya, also the founder of the Tethys Fossil Museum, has dedicated his efforts to the preservation and study of these remarkable fossils. The collected specimens will find their home in the museum located at Dangyaari in Kasauli Tehsil of Himachal Pradesh. They will be made available for research, providing scientists and
researchers with an invaluable opportunity to unlock further secrets of Earth's distant
past.
These well-preserved fossils, which indicate a thriving marine environment at the time of deposition, are likely the first reported findings from this formation, a statement about the findings by the geologist said.“The fossils offer a remarkable window into the past, allowing us to reconstruct the paleo environment of the region and enhance our understanding of the geological forces and interactions that shaped the planet, especially the birth Himalayas, ” he said.The geologist said that the discovery provides crucial data to unravel the mysteries of Earth’s history during the Eocene epoch, ranging from 56 to 33.9 million years — a time when the Tethys Sea is said to have spanned the region.