Foraminiferal study from Kharo creek, Kachchh (Gujarat), north west coast of India

Abstract

A total of seven surface sediment samples collected within 4 to 13.5 m water depth below chart datum from Kharo creek were studied for their foraminiferal content. The study revealed 47 foraminiferal species of which 44 were benthic and 3 planktonic. Out of these, 7 benthic species were the living ones. The fauna showed a positive relationship between angular- asymmetrical form and clay fraction in the sediments. The dominant rounded-symmetrical form of benthic foraminifera exhibit high energy environment. However, relatively high clay, asymmetrical form, living foraminifera and absence of reworked

<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;="" mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">foraminifera at certain stations in the creek showed presence of quiescent microenvironment. This first report of foraminifera from any creek of Kachchh area will also serve as a baseline data to assess the future impact of industrial pollution (if any) as a jetty for offloading cement is being constructed in Kharo creek for proposed cement plant which is coming up in this area.</span>