Dr. Pratul Kumar Saraswati
Professor
Department of Earth Sciences
pratul [at] iitb.ac.in
About Me
Teaching
Academics
Organisations
Positions
Awards & Honors
Publications
About Me
Research Areas
- Micropalaeontology (Biostratigraphy, Palaeoenvironment and Palaeoclimate)
- Developing geochemical proxies for the palaeobiology of foraminifera.
Teaching
- Palaeontology
- Micropalaeontology
- Petroleum Geology
Academics
- M. Sc. (Geology)
Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U.), Varanasi, India - Ph.D.
Indian Institute ofTechnology (IIT) Bombay, Mumbai, India
Research Career
Completed Research Works
- Biostratigraphy of Kutch, Saurashtra and Bengal Basins
- Multivariate morphometrics of Lepidocyclinidae and Nummulitidae
- Palaeogene isotopic temperatures of western India
- Isotopic palaeobiology of larger foraminifera from Kutch
Current Research Works
- Characterization of Modern Coastal Environments in the Gulf of Cambay (Principal Investigator; British Gas Exploration & Production India Ltd.)
- Sequence Stratigraphy of the Palaeogene Succession of Kutch (Co-PI, DST)
- Facies, Palaeogeography and Diagenesis of Cenozoic Carbonates, Kutch (Co-PI; British Gas Exploration & Production India Ltd.)
- Oxygen and Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy and Linkage Between Climate and Faunal Changes in the Rock Records of Palaeogene of Western and Northwestern India (Co- PI; project as part of DST National Facility on Stable Isotope Geochemistry at IIT-KGP)
Organisations
- Kumaun University, Nainital, India (1986-87)
- Oil and Natural Gas Commission (1983-86)
- Indian Institute ofTechnology (IIT) Bombay, Mumbai, India (1988 onwards)
Positions
Professional Activities
Present
- Member, Governing Body, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences
- Member, PAMC, Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Member, Advisory Council, CEWELL (ONGC), Baroda
- Member, Advisory Council, Western Offshore Basin, ONGC
- Member, Research Advisory Committee, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune
Past
- Member, PAC (Earth Science), SERB, DST (2012 – 2018)
- Member, Board of Governors, Rajiv Gandhi Instt. Of Petroleum Technology (2010 – 16)
- Member, Peer Review Group, DGH, Ministry of Petroleum (2005 – 2010 )
- Member, Expert Committee (WOS-A) DST (2004 – 2011)
- Member, Res. Adv. Comm., Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (2001- 2007)
- Member, National Committee for IUGS (2000-2003)
- Member, Program Advisory Committee, DST (1998-2004)
Editorial Board:
Present
- Journal of Petroleum Geology (Wiley)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Earth System Science (Indian Academy of Sciences)
- Journal of the Geological Society of India (Bangalore)
- Energy Exploration and Exploitation (Sage Publishing)
- Journal of Palaeontological Society of India (Lucknow)
Awards & Honors
Research-based Awards:
- Visiting Scientist, National Museum Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington DC (1997)
- STA (Japan) Fellowship (1998)
- JSPS (Japan) Fellowship (2000)
- DAAD – IIT Exchange of Faculty (2013)
Teaching-based Awards:
- S P Sukhatme Award for Excellence in Teaching, IIT Bombay 2017
Publications
Research Papers in Refereed Journals
- Saraswati, P.K., Khanolkar, S. and Banerjee, S. (2018) Paleogene stratigraphy of Kutch, India: An update about progress in foraminiferal biostratigraphy. Geodinamica Acta, 30 (1), 100-118.
- Banerjee, S., Khanolkar, S. and Saraswati, P.K. (2018) Facies and depositional settings of the middle Eocene – Oligocene carbonates in Kutch. Geodinamica Acta, 30 (1), 119-136.
- Özcan, E., Pignatti, J., Pereira, C., Yücel, A.O., Drobne, K., Barattolo, F. & Saraswati, P.K. (2018) Paleocene orthophragminids from the Lakadong 1 Limestone, Mawmluh Quarry Section, Meghalaya (Shillong, NE India): implications for the regional geology and paleobiogeography. Journal of Micropalaeontology, 37, 357-381.
- Evans, D., Sagoo, N., Renema, W., Cotton, L.J., Muller, W., Todd, J.A., Saraswati, P.K., Stassen, P., Zeigler, M., Pearson, P.N., Valdes, P.J. & Affek, H.P. (2018) Eocene greenhouse climate revealed by coupled clumped isotope – Mg/Ca thermometry. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115 (6), 1174-1179.
- Less, G., Frijia, G., Özcan, E., Saraswati, P.K., Parente, M. and Kumar, P. (2018) Nummulitids, lepidocyclinids and Sr-isotope data from the Oligocene of Kutch (western India) with chronostratigraphic and paleobiogeographic evaluations. Geodinamica Acta, 30 (1), 183-211.
- Özcan, E., Saraswati, P.K., Yucel, A.O., Ali, N. & Hanif, M. (2018) Bartonian orthophragminids from the Fulra Limestone (Kutch, W India) and coeval units in Sulaiman Range, Pakistan: a synthesis of shallow benthic zone (SBZ) 17 for the Indian Subcontinent. Geodinamica Acta, 30 (1), 137-162.
- Saraswati, P.K., Anwar, D. and Lahiri, A. (2017) Bartonian reticulate Nummulites of Kutch. Geodinamica Acta, 29 (2), 14-23.
- Khanolkar, S., Saraswati, P.K. and Rogers, K. (2017) Ecology of foraminifera during the middle Eocene climatic optimum in Kutch, India. Geodinamica Acta, 29 (2), 1-13.
- Özcan, E., Saraswati, P.K., Hanif, M., Ali, N. (2016) New orthophragminid species with novel axial thickening from the Bartonian shallow marine of Indian Subcontinent. Geologica Acta, 14, 261-282.
- Saha, S., Burley, S.D., Banerjee, S., Ghosh, A., Saraswati, P.K. (2016) The morphology and evolution of tidal sand bodies in the macrotidal Gulf of Khambhat, Western India. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 77, 1-17.
- Khanolkar, S. and Saraswati, P.K. (2016) Some observations on an atypical planktic foraminifer from the Middle Eocene of Kutch, India. Journal of Micropalaeontology, 35 (1), 54-61
- Khanolkar, S. and Saraswati, P.K. (2015) Ecological response of shallow marine foraminifera to early Eocene warming in equatorial India. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 45, 293-304.
- Sharma, J. and Saraswati, P.K. (2015) Lignites of Kutch, western India: dinoflagellate biostratigraphy and palaeoclimate. Revue de Micropaleontologie, 58, 107-119.
- Saraswati, P K, Khanolkar, S, Raju, DSN, Dutta, S and Banerjee, S (2014) Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of lignite mines of Kutch, India: Age of lignite and fossil vertebrates. Journal of Palaeogeography, 3 (1), 90-98.
- Ismail-Lattrache, K B, Ozcan, E, Boukhalfa, B., Saraswati, P K, Soussi, M. and Jovane, L (2014) Early Bartonian orthophragminids (Foraminiferida) from Reineche Limestone, north African platform, Tunisia: taxonomy and paleobiogeographic implications. Geodinamica Acta, 26, 94-121.
- Sarkar, U., Banerjee, S. and Saraswati, P.K. (2012) Integrated borehole and outcrop study for documentation of sea level cycles within the Early Eocene Naredi Formation, western Kutch, India. Journal of Palaeogeography, 1 (2), 126-137.
- Saraswati, P.K., Sarkar, U. and Banerjee, S. (2012) Nummulites solitarius – Nummulites burdigalensis lineage in Kutch with remarks on the age of Naredi Formation. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v. 79, p 476-482.
- Banerjee, S., Chattoraj, S.L., Saraswati, P.K., Dasgupta, S., Sarkar, S., Bumby, A. (2012) The origin and maturation of lagoonal glauconites: a case study from the Oligocene Maniyara Fort Formation, western Kutch, India. Geological Journal, v. 47, 357-371.
- Banerjee, S., Chattoraj, S.L., Saraswati, P.K., Dasgupta, S. and Sarkar, U. (2012) Substrate control on formation and maturation of glauconites in the Middle Eocene Harudi Formation, western Kutch, India. Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 30, pp. 144-160.
- Chattoraj, S.L., Sarkar, U, Chakraborty, S, Banerjee, S. and Saraswati, P.K., (2012) Facies and Palaeogeography of the Middle Eocene Fulra Limestone, Kutch. Journal Indian Association Sedimentologists, 31, 1-9.
- Saha, S, Ghosh, A, Banerjee, S, Saraswati, PK and Burley, SD (2011) Characteristics of an open coast tidal flat: Example from Daman, west coast of India. Journal Geological Society of India, v. 77, pp 409-418.
- Dutta, S., Mathew, R.P., Singh, B.D. Tripathi, S.M., Saraswati, P.K., Banerji, S. and Mann, U. (2011): Petrology, palynology and organic geochemistry of Eocene lignite of Matanomadh, Kutch basin, western India: Implications to depositional environment and hydrocarbon source potential. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 85, pp. 91-102.
- Punekar, J. and Saraswati, P.K. (2010) Age of the Vastan lignite in context of some oldest Cenozoic fossil mammals from India. Journal Geological Society of India, v. 76, pp 63-68.
- Saha, S., Banerjee, S., Burley, S., Ghosh, A. and Saraswati, P.K. (2010) The influence of flood basaltic source terrains on the efficiency of tectonic discrimination diagrams: An example from the Gulf of Khambhat, western India. Sedimentary Geology, 228, 1-13.
- Sahoo, L. and Saraswati, P.K. (2010) Some basic issues in Mg/Ca of foraminifera as proxy of palaeotemperature. Gondwana Geological Magazine, 25, 1-5.
- Kumar,P., Saraswati, P.K. and Banerjee, S. (2009) Early Miocene Shell Concentration in the Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic System of Kutch and their Distribution in Sequence Stratigraphic Framework. Journal Geological Society of India, v. 74, pp 432-444.
- Chattoraj, S.L., Banerjee, S. and Saraswati, P.K. (2009) Glauconites from the Late Palaeocene – Early Eocene Naredi Formation of Kutch and their Genetic Implications. Journal Geological Society of India, v. 73, pp 567-574.
- Ghosh, A., Saha, S., Saraswati, P.K., Banerjee, S. and Burley, S. (2008) Intertidal foraminifera in the macrotidal estuaries of the Gulf of Cambay: Implications for interpreting sea level change in palaeo-estuaries. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 26, 1592-1599.
- Saraswati, P.K. (2008) Life history of foraminifera: Stable isotopic and elemental proxies. Journal of Palaeontological Society of India, 53, 1-8.
- Ghosh, A., Saha, S., Saraswati, P.K., Banerjee, S., Burley, S. and Rao, T.K.G. (2008) Gallitellia – a proxy for palaeomonsoonal upwelling on the western coast of India? Current Science, 95, 1608-1611.
- Saraswati P.K. (2007) Symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifera of Lakshadweep. Ind. Jour. Mar. Science, 36, 351-354.
- Parcha, S K , Sabnis, S V and Saraswati, P K (2007) Taxonomic application of Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and Random Forest (RF): A case study of Middle Cambrian trilobites. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 70, 1033-1038.
- Raja, R., Saraswati, P.K., Iwao, K. (2007): A field based study on variation in Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca in larger benthic foraminifera. Geochem. Geophy. Geosyst. 8, doi 10.1029/2006GC001478.
- Das Gupta, K, Saraswati, P.K., Kramar, U., Ravindran, C.N., Stueben, D. and Berner, Z. (2007): Oxygen isotopic composition of Albian – Turonian foraminifera from Cauvery basin, India: Evidence of warm sea-surface temperature. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 69, 390-396.
- Saraswati, P.K., Rogers, K.M. and Raja, R. (2006): Disequilibrium effect in oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of modern foraminifera from Lakshadweep, India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 68, 1003-1007.
- Sahni, A., Saraswati, P.K., Rana, R.S. and others (2006) Temporal constraints and depositional palaeoenvironments of the Vastan lignite sequence, Gujarat: Analogy for the Cambay Shale hydrocarbon source rock. Indian Jour. Petroleum Geol., 15, 1-20.
- Saha, S., Ghosh, A., Burley, S., Banerjee, S. and Saraswati, P.K. (2006) Tidal bars in a macrotidal estuarine embayment: the Gulf of Khambhat, Western India. Indian Jour. Petroleum Geol., 15, 69-78.
- Raja, R., Saraswati, P.K. Rogers, K M. and Iwao, K. (2005): Magnesium and Strontium compositions of Recent symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifera. Marine Micropaleontology, 58, 31-44.
- Rana, R.S., Singh, H., Sahni, A., Rose, K.D. and Saraswati, P.K. (2005): Early Eocene Chiropterans from a new mammalian assemblage (Vastan lignite mine, Gujarat, western Peninsular margin): Oldest known bats from Asia. Jour. Palaeont. Soc. India, Vol 50(1), pp 93-100.
- Saraswati, P.K. (2005): Survival of the fittest – Some cross-disciplinary issues in palaeontology. Himalayan Geology, 26, 295-298.
- Saraswati, P.K., Seto, K. and Nomura, R.(2004): Oxygen and carbon isotopic variation in co-existing larger foraminifera from Reef flat at Akajima, Okinawa, Japan. Marine Micropaleontology, V. 50, pp 339-349.
- Saraswati, P.K.(2004): Ontogenetic isotopic variation in foraminifera – Implications for palaeo proxy. Current Science, v. 86, pp 858-860.
- Raja, R and Saraswati, P K. (2003) A note on lagoonal sediments of selected islands of Lakshadweep, India. Jour. Indian Assoc. Sedimentologists, V. 22, pp 151-160.
- Saraswati, P.K.(2003): Progress in the morphometrics of foraminifera. Gondwana Geological Magazine, Spl. Vol.6, 11-18.
- Saraswati, P.K., Shimoike, K., Iwao, K. and Mitra, A.(2003): Distribution of larger foraminifera in the reef sediments of Akajima, Okinawa, Japan. Jour. Geol. Soc. Ind., 61, 16-21.
- Ghosh, M. and Saraswati, P.K.(2002): Biostratigraphic reliability of the grade of enclosure of Neogene Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina). Indian Journal of Petroleum Geology, 11(2), 85-92.
- Saraswati, P.K.(2002): Growth and habitat of some Recent miliolid foraminifera. Current Science, 82(1), 81-84.
- Saraswati, P.K.(2002): Oxygen and carbon isotopic studies of calcareous microfossils. Indian Journal of Geochemistry, 17, 47-56.
- Majumdar, D., Saraswati, P.K. and Raja, R.(2002): High resolution chemical analysis of foraminiferal shells using EDX. Electron Microscope Society of India Bulletin, 3(2), 7-13
- Muthikrishnan, S. and Saraswati, P.K.(2001): Shape analysis of the nucleoconch of Lepidocyclina from Kutch – A taxonomic interpretation. Micropaleontology, 47(1), 87-92.
- Saraswati, P.K.(2000): Understanding the palaeobiology of foraminifera – Oxygen and carbon isotopic approach. Ind. Jour. Geol., 72(3), 161-174.
- Saraswati, P.K. and Patra, P.K.(2000): Multivariate analysis of three closely resembling species of Nummulites from Middle Eocene of India. Rev. de Micropal., 43, 319-326.
- Saraswati, P.K., Patra, P.K. and Banerji, R.K.(2000): Biometric study of some Eocene Nummulites and Assilina from Kutch and Jaisalmer, India. Jour. Pal. Soc. Ind., 45, 91-122.
- Saraswati, P.K.(1997): Eustatic changes and the evolution of Palaeogene larger foraminifera – A numeric analysis. Journal Geological Society of India, 50: 61-67 [1997]
- Saraswati,P.K., Kumar, A., Patra, P.K. and Banerji, R.K.(1997): Isotopic palaeobiology of some Tertiary larger foraminifera from Kutch. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 27: 69-74.
- Kumar, A. and Saraswati, P.K.(1997): Response of larger foraminifera to mixed carbonate – siliciclastic environments: an example from the Oligocene-Miocene sequence of Kutch. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 136: 53-66
- Saraswati, P.K.(1995): Biometry of Early Oligocene Lepidocyclina from Kutch, India. Marine Micropaleontology, 26: 303-311.
- Saraswati, P.K. and Kumar, A.(1994): Protoconch size of Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina – A potential palaeoclimatic indicator. Journal Geological Society of India, 43: 475-478 .
- Kumar, A. and Saraswati, P.K.(1994): A note on the microstructures of three genera of late Oligocene Nummulitidae from Kutch. Journal Geological Society of India, 44: 451-455.
- Saraswati, P.K.(1994): Biometric study of Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) from Kutch, Saurashtra and Quilon. Journal Geological Society of India, 44: 79-90.
- Saraswati, P.K., Ramesh, R. and Navada, S.V.(1993): Palaeogene isotopic temperatures of western India. Lethaia, 26: 89-98.
- Kumar, A., Navada, S.V. and Saraswati, P.K.(1992): Petrography and geochemistry of the Miocene limestone of Saurashtra, Gujarat, West India. Current Science, 62, pp. 424-426.
- Saraswati, P.K. and Ramesh, R.(1992): Eocene – Oligocene stable isotope stratigraphy of Kutch. Journal Geological Society of India. 39: 427-432.
- Saraswati, P.K.(1991): Palaeoecology of the Middle Eocene larger Foraminifera from Kutch. Indian Journal of Earth Sciences, 18: 37-44.
- Banerji, R.K. and Saraswati, P.K. (1983): Controversy on the lower age limit of the Subathu Subgroup in the northwestern Himalayas. Himalayan Geology, V. 11, pp 180-192.
- Banerji, R.K., Saraswati, P.K., Hura, R., Nandy, S K and Ramasamy S. (1982): Primary globigerinid stock in planktonic foraminiferal evolution and radiation. Jour. Palaeont. Soc. India, V. 27, pp 9-16.
Chapters Contributed to Books
- Saraswati, P.K., Singh, A., Rogers, K., Sanyal, P., Pande, K. and Iwao, K. (2017) δ18O of larger benthic foraminifera: Temperature calibration for shallow marine tropical-subtropical carbonates. In Kathal, P.K., Nigam, R and Talib, A. (eds) Micropaleontology and its Applications, Scientific Publishers India (India), 59-70.
- Saraswati, P.K., Banerjee, S., Sarkar, U., Chakraborty, S., Khanolkar, S. (2016) Eocene Depositional Sequence and Cycles in Kutch. In M.G. Thakkar (Ed.) Recent Studies on the Geology of Kachchh, Special Publication 6, Geological Society of India, 46-56.
- Saraswati, P.K., Khanolkar, S., Raju, D.S.N., Banerjee, S. (2016) An Updated Eocene Stratigraphy of Kutch. In M.G. Thakkar (Ed.) Recent Studies on the Geology of Kachchh, Special Publication 6, Geological Society of India, 25-31.
- Banerjee, S., Chattoraj, S.L., Saraswati, P.K., Bansal, U. (2016) Origin, depositional setting and stratigraphic implications of Palaeogene glauconite of Kutch. In M.G. Thakkar (Ed.) Recent Studies on the Geology of Kachchh, Special Publication 6, Geological Society of India, 75-88.
- Kumar, P. Saraswati, P.K., Banerjee, S., Ghosh, A. (2016) Sequence Straigraphic Analysis of a Shallow Marine, Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic System, Early Miocene, Kutch. In M.G. Thakkar (Ed.) Recent Studies on the Geology of Kachchh, Special Publication 6, Geological Society of India, 57-74.
- Saraswati, P.K. (2015) Time averaging and compositional averaging in biogenic carbonates: Implications for chemostratigraphy. In Ramkumar Mu (Ed) Chemostratigraphy – Concepts, Techniques and Applications. Elsevier, 93-101
- Saraswati, P.K. (2013) Foraminiferal Study in India: a journey from taxonomy and time to ocean and climate. In Bowden, A J, Gregory, F J and Henderson, A S (Eds) Landmarks in Foraminiferal Micropalaeontology: History and Development. The Micropalaeontological Society Special Publications, Geological Society, London, 207-216.
- Saraswati, P.K. (2011) Paleogene foraminiferal biostratigraphy of India in reference to continuity and gaps at epoch boundaries. In Bhargava O.N. (ed) Facets of Phanerozoic, Memoir Geological Society of India, 78, pp227-244.
- Saraswati, P.K. (2007): Symbiosis, calcification and stable isotopes in foraminifera: A review. In Sinha, D (Ed.) Micropaleontology – Applications in Stratigraphy and Paleoceanography. Narosa, New Delhi, 351-362
- Saraswati, P K (2000): Morphometrics of some lepidocycline foraminifera – Applications in taxonomy and biostratigraphy. In Pandalai, H.S. and Saraswati, P K (Ed) Geological Data Analysis: Statistical Methods, Hindustan Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, pp. 62-71.
Book Authored
- Saraswati, P.K. and Srinivasan, M.S. (2016) Micropaleontology: Principles and Applications. Springer.
Book Edited
- Pandalai, H.S. and Saraswati, P K (2000) Geological Data Analysis: Statistical Methods, Hindustan Publishing Corporation, New Delhi.
Conference Proceedings (Full Papers)
- Khanolkar, S. and Saraswati, P K (2013) Palaeoenvironmental significance of rectilinear benthic foraminifera in the Middle Eocene section of Matanomadh sub-basin, Kutch. Proc. XXIII Indian Colloq. Micropal. Strat., Special Publication Geological Society India, 1, 307-317.
- Anwar, D., Choudhary, A K and Saraswati, P K (2013) Strontium isotope stratigraphy of the Naredi Formation, Kutch basin, India. Proc. XXIII Indian Colloq. Micropal. Strat., Special Publication Geological Society India, 1, 298-306.
- Saraswati, P.K. and Sabnis, S.V. (2006) Comparison of CART and discriminant analysis of morphometric data in foraminiferal taxonomy. FORAMS 2006, Anuario do Instituto de Geociencias – UFRJ, Brazil, 29(1), 153-162.
- Saraswati, P K (2004): High resolution stratigraphy: Integrating biostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy. Proc. II Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Conf. and Exhibition, Khajuraho, pp 1 – 11.
- Nandy, P., Saraswati, P.K.and Kumar, A.(1995): Chemostratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene sequence of southwestern Kutch, Gujarat. Proceedings Recent Researches in the Geology of Western India, 53-59.
- Saraswati, P K and Banerji, R K (1985): Post-trappean sedimentation history of the northwestern Kutch. Proc. X Ind. Colloq. Micropal. Strat., pp 377-390.
- Saraswati, P K and Banerji, R K (1985): Lithostratigraphic classification of the Tertiary sequence of northwestern Kutch. Proc. X Ind. Colloq. Micropal. Strat., pp 369-376.