Geological treasure of Guryul ravine section in Kashmir Himalaya - a
case report
Abstract
Globally researchers have unraveled unique locations that helped to
understand the chronology of the critical events concerning the Earth’s
past. Among such geological events, the time-shot of the
Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) extinction event is one of the significant
revelations concerning the end and start of life on Earth. Among various
geological sites in the world that contain the critical information
regarding the P-Tr extinction event, Guryul ravine in Kashmir India is
geologically a treasure. It bears specimens of primordial corals, small
invertebrates, plants, and a group of mammal resembling reptiles, called
therapsids. Due to its immense importance, the Government of India had
decided to accredit the site of Guryul ravine section as an
international fossil park. However, due to political turmoil in the
region and unabated mining and industrial activities within the vicinity
of it, has threatened the very existence of this scientific wealth. This
paper reviews the importance of the Guryul Ravine Section, paleoclimatic
conditions of that time, and the current threats it is facing to
stimulate the stakeholders for the conservation of this site in the
global scientific interest.