Beaconites () Trace Fossils from the Baisakhi Formation of the Jaisalmer Basin, India

ABSTRACT Several traces of Beaconites have been recorded here in the Lanela Member of the Baisakhi Formation, Jaisalmer Basin, exposed near Lanela village of Jaisalmer District, western Rajasthan, India. Three ichnospecies of Beaconites were recognised in yellowish to pinkish brown fine-grained silty sandstone intercalated with claystones in the Lanela Member and assigned as Beaconites antarcticus, B. capronus and B. coronus trace-fossils. Morphologically, B. antarcticus traces are parallel to sub-parallel, small, unbranched, straight to slightly curved, cylindrical meniscate burrow tubes filled with unequally thick and larger heterogeneous meniscate segments bounded by distinct, thin and smooth wall-linings. The B. capronus traces are parallel to sub-parallel, small, straight to slightly curved cylindrical meniscate burrow tubes with secondary branching and chevron-shaped meniscate segments bounded by distinct, thin and smooth wall-linings. As well as the B. coronus traces are parallel to sub-parallel, small, unbranched, straight to slightly curved cylindrical meniscate burrow tubes filled with arcuate to gently curved-shaped menisci bounded by distinct, thin and smooth wall-linings. Based on previously documented floral and faunal assemblages, the presence of Thalassinoides trace fossils, and the newly identified Beaconites trace fossils alongside Thalassinoides, L. siliquaria trace fossils, and wood fragments, this study interprets the depositional environment of the Lanela Member of the Baisakhi Formation as ranging from marginalmarine to fluvial settings.