Evidence of climatic change during Holocene in the nearshore regions of Konkan (central west coast of India

Abstract

In order to understand the paleoenvironmental setting of the nearshore area of the central west coast of India, three vibro-cores from the Kalbadevi Bay, from a depth range of 6-12 m were analysed for sedimentological, mineralogical and micropaleontological aspects. The results have shown that during Early Holocene (Younger Dryas), arid climates prevailed which may be correlatable with global aridity. This has been inferred from feldspar/quartz ratio, occurrence of gypsum crystals, iron stained quartz grains, variation in the stability index and significantly poor diversity and scarcity of benthic foraminifera. In contrast, during the mid Holocene humid phase, the number of benthic foraminifera was very high. It is also remarked that Ammonia beccarii and Florilus scapha were abundant during humid and arid phases respectively