Origin of Miniature Pits in the Quartz-Arenites of the Badami Group (Younger Proterozoic), Umatar, Belgaum District, Karnataka

A 50 metre thick horizontal to gently inclined sequence of granule conglomerate and Quartz·arenite of the Badami Group (younger Proterozoic, ∼1.6 Ga-1.0 Ga) is exposed at Umatar, Belgaum district, Karnataka. During the course of field mapping the presence of numerous miniature pits were noticed along the southern fringes of the outcrop, i.e., on the farther updip edge of the seaward slope inclined due north. Such structures have been commonly interpreted as products of weathering processes. But the morphology and anatomy of the miniature pits at Umatar points to their origin initially by wave splash action, later primary tilling by subsequently deposited sand, lithification and later modification by weathering leading to the removal of loose incoherent sand, filling the pits; finally, colesion, frost action and undercutting of the pits. The marginal updip concentration or the pits strongly supports their primary-origin.