Permian Palynoflora from Lower Gondwana Sediments of Godavari Valley Coalfield, Andhra Pradesh, South India

Palynological investigation of Lower Gondwana sediments of Goutham Khani Open Cast Mine (GKOCM) from Kothagudem sub basin of Godavari Valley Coalfield, Andhra Pradesh of Peninsular India have revealed two palynoassemblages are related to Early Permian (Barakar Formation). Palynoassemblage – A abundantly occurrence of Scheuringipollenites along with other common taxa like Parasaccites, Ibisporites, Primuspollenites, Sulcatisporites, Rhizomaspora, Densipollenites and Corisaccites and Palynoassemblage – B dominated by Scheuringipollenites along with sub dominance of Faunipollenites, Striatopodocarpites, Parasaccites, Striatites, Tiwariasporis, Rhizomaspora, Verticipollenites, Platysaccus, Primuspollenites, Lunatisporites, Latosporites, Ibisporites and Distriatites. The above demarcated palynoassemblages are applied to correlate with other horizons of Lower Gondwana deposits of India and also to fix the relative age for the sediments under investigation. Key words? Permian Age, Lower Gondwana, Palynoassemblage, Godavari Valley Coalfield, Sothern India

A palynostratigraphic study of lower Gondwana sediments from Bandar Coalfield, Nagpur District, Maharashtra

Core samples of Borehole MBG-23 of Gokul Block, Bandar Coalfield have been analyzed palynologically. Samples Shaly coal and shale occurring between the depth 52.3 m-43 m have been found to be rich in miospores and a statistical analysis of these samples have revealed the abundance of non-striate disaccate genera based on which Scheuringipollenires assemblage zone has been recognised which suggests Lower Barakar affinity(Ear1y Permian). This assemblage zone shows broad similarities with the Lower Barakar mioflora of other Lower Gondwana basins of India

Palynology and depositional facet of lower Permian (Artinskian) sediments from New Majri opencast mine, Wardha basin, India

Coal samples and the associated sediments from New Majri open cast mine have been analysed palynologically with the following objectives: to date the sediments on the basis of the palyno-assemblage recognised; to carry out an inter-basinal, intra-basinal and Gondwana wide correlation; to interpret the palaeoenvironment and depositional facet of the coal field on the basis of dispersed organic matter analysis and sedimentary facies analysis. Based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the spore and pollen content one palyno-assemblage-Scheuringipollenites and Faunipollenites has been recognised which is typical of lower Barakar Formation. This has been correlated with known palyno-assemblages from Wardha basin and other basins in India, while with the Gondwana continents the assemblage has been broadly correlated with early Permian Australian, African, South America palynofloras as well as early Permian palynoflora of Antarctica. Consequently, a tentative late Early Permian, Artinskian age is proposed for the sediments from New Majri open cast mine. Palynological studies also revealed that the peat forming vegetation was mainly composed of gymnosperms represented by glossopterids (Scheuringipollenites, Ibisporites, Platysaccus, Cuneatisporites, Primuspollenites and Sahnites), conifers (Faunipollenites, Striatites, Striatopodocarpites, Verticipollenites, Distriatites) and cordaites (Parasaccites, Plicatipollenites, Crucisaccites, Divarisaccus, Densipollenites). Spores were represented mainly by filicopsids (Horriditriletes, Brevitriletes, Callumispora) and sphenopsids (Latosporites). The relative abundance of structured organic matter implies the existence of a fairly dense cover of vegetation in the hinterland. Anaerobic, reducing, water logged peat-forming conditions have been inferred by the presence of biodegraded organic matter and amorphous organic matter. The charcoal fragments recovered from the present study area reflects a possible wildfire in the accumulated swamps or a wildfire in the hinterland after which the sediments were flushed by fluvial systems into the swamps. The coalfield exhibits horizontal bedding pattern which may be due to deposition by suspension settling or horizontal accretion. Further the alternating high and low energy regime is noticed in the sandstone-shale intercalated beds overlying the coarse grained yellow sandstone which forms the roof of the coal seam. Comprehensively the sediments are deposited as overbank / levee deposits

Distribution of ostracode assemblages along the nearshore and offshore areas of Malabar coast, Kerala (west coast of India)

298-306Sixty-one ostracode species have been identified in 76 sediment samples from 28 nearshore and 48 offshore locations off Malabar Coast, Kerala. Q mode cluster analysis of the ostracode assemblages of the nearshore sediments indicates that the entire nearshore assemblages can be classified into two clusters – cluster I – Kumbla (A₁) – Hosdurg (B₁) and Mattul (D₁) blocks and Cluster II – Payyannur (C₁) – Cannanore (E₁) – Telicherry (F1) blocks. This clustering is probably due to the differences in the depositional environment. The influence of estuarine environment is predominant in the cluster I due to the mixing of freshwater from the surrounding land masses. Several backwaters are observed in the areas covered by this cluster. Cluster analysis of offshore assemblages indicate that the entire offshore off Malabar coast can be divided into two clusters, cluster I – Kumbla (A₂) and Bekal (B₂), cluster II – Neeleswaram (C₂), Payyannur (D₂) and Payangoti (E₂) blocks. The presence of shallow water ostracode species in cluster I which lived in nearshore sand and silty sand substrate under the influence of subtropical water currents are inferred and further indicated by the fossil molluscan assemblages. Q-mode cluster analysis and details of physical and ecological parameters suggest that there is a substantial influence of substrate, organic matter and salinity in the distribution, diversity and abundance of the ostracode. Based on this, the Malabar coast of Kerala is significantly classified as a marine ecosystem/environment category

Palynodating of Talchir Palynoflora from lower Gondwana sediments of Godavari Valley Coalfield, South India

Palynological investigation in the sub surface of bore core SSP – 304 from Sattupalli area, Chintalpudi sub basin, Godavari Valley Coalfield, Andhra Pradesh have revealed palynoassemblage belongs to Early Permian (Talchir) palynoflora. The present Lower Gondwana Palynoassemblage characterized by dominance of Parasaccites – Plicatipollenites along with non striate disaccates Scheuringipollenites, Ibisporites, Sulcatisporites and other taxa like, Corisaccites, Faunipollenites, Horriditriletes, Tiwariasporis and Virkkipollenites