Palynostratigraphy of sub-surface Lower Gondwana, Pali sediments, Sohagpur Coalfield,

(1)

0031-0174/2003/51-59 $2.00

Palynostratigraphy of sub-surface Lower Gondwana, Pali sediments, Sohagpur Coalfield,

M.P., India

RAM-AWATAR

¹,

A. MUKHOPADHYAy

²AND

S. ADHIKARF

IBirbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53University Road, Lucknow 226007, India.

2Geological Survey of India, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700091.

E-mail: [email protected]

(Received 23 October 2002; revised version accepted 8 May 2003)

ABSTRACT

Ram-Awatar, Mukhopadhyay A & Adhikari S 2003. Palynostratigraphy of sub-surface Lower Gondwana, Pali sediments, Sohagpur Coalfield, M.P., India Palaeobotanist 53 (1-3) : 51-59.

Two palynoassemblages have been identified in B.H. SKM 6, from Mithauri-Kelmania Sector of Sohagpur Coalfield, M.P. The Palynoassemblage [(254.00-163.40 m), of Late Early Permian age reveals the dominance ofSchellringipollenites and Fallnipollenites in association with Barakarites, Parasaccites, Ibisporites, Rhiwmaspora, Potonieisporites, A rcuatipollellites, Tiwariasporis and Brevitriletes. The Palynoassemblage II (157.40-77.90 m), contains striate disaccate pollen, viz., Faunipollenites, Striaropodocarpites and Crescentipollenites in prominence. Besides, Arcuatipollenites, Densipollenites, Gondisporites, Distriatites, Striatites, Hamiapollenites, Gu{{ulapollenites, Dicappipollenits and A/isporites have also been recorded, with sporadic occurrence of Goubinispora, ?Brachysaccus, Trabeculosporites, Densoisporites, Pla)1ordiaspora, Lundbladispora, Satsangisaccites, Krempipollenites, Falcisporites, Nidipol/enites and Kamthisaccites which suggest a Late Permian age of the assemblage. The significant outcome of the present study is recorded by identifying the Late Permian palynofloral assemblage for the first time in this part of the Sohagpur Coalfield, which is corroborate with the Middle Pali Member of the Pali Formation, in the South Rewa Basin, M.P.

Key-words-Palynostratigraphy, Pali Formation, Late Permian, Sohagpur Coalfield.

'qJ«f ~ llUf ~~

c6

(1"ltI$lll~< ~ ~

c6

_{~ ~}

c6

_-3l~ -3lm

q<PI! "j«1

~cfi)

fcMR

Wi" ~, ~. ~&lP1 ~

tm.

~

mU~

%5ClI11 cpr

l'ftzi>R~T ~

cfi Bmw

~ ~

cfi frr0ru

cfJ~YIf.1<:lI ~

B

~q ~

tm.cfi.r:;q.

6

if

~ ~

~ ~<rtf'til ~ ^1f'( ~ ^I~ ~-~~ (254.0-163.40

tfi.) if

q~~

mm

~ ~

<t1

6fV~V$tlJi, _~ViI%l$ tlJi, $41PiJ V$ t1Ji, V$ vi)lflPiJ V, <ild;fJPiJ V$ tlJi, .:JTWj\H1R'lIRH/$t1Ji, RJql f1PiJRA

~ ilR;ttAtlJi

cfi

_~

if Pift

Jfl<ilcii'1I$c!lJi _~ 'h/;fJq7fi'11$c!lJi

<t1

_{~ ~}

m

~^I ~

~-~ (157.40-77.90

tfi.) if

~

fuBcWft

~ q;i;fJ<ilfi'1I$c!lJi, @Qd<iliJ4?N!$c!lJi _~ rtlilrr!I<ilfHI$c!lJi_~

if

~^I~ ~ JlT'Fj,Jilc!l<ilH'1I$c!lJi, g-m<ilH'1I$c!)Ji, Jililf.l7V$c!lJi, [email protected]$c!lJi, f{jl.fCI$c!lJi, ~4I<i1H'1I$c!lJi, j(~<'II<ilH'1I$c!lJi, CffiPhfilO$c!lJi _~ QdiPiJO$c!lJi

'4T

~ ~ ^1f'( ~ JiI~;fJPiJo, ^?ili.h7i1%A, ?~'!J&7PiJO$c!lJiI g;:ffl$filO$c!lJi, 0!Q;7U4IPiJO, grs0Iileilo, ArfiJflil%I$c!lJi, i64J<ilH'11$t1Vf, 'hiH:fJfilO$t1Ji, Picfl<ilH'1I$c!lJi ~ cwr~iI%I$c!lJi

<fit

4>Glilf.14> ~ ~

<t1

q~~

r:rW!<R

_~ 'hi

m m

~^I

([) Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, India

(2)

52 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

t601cj)Hrtl$tI,!/, 0iHf1fi/O$r!1,!/, P!c{lcj)Hrtl$r!1'!/ ~ 'fiT11I!fIiI%I$r!1\i1 cn'T CfiCllqf.1Cfi ~ ~ cn'T q~q

~ ~ ^CfiT ~

m

~I

~ \31~ cf; 'm$n

erfturr::l

~ ~ ~

B

~~ ^qT{ q~q ~ ~ Cl1({lRl"1ld

~ ^cn'T ~ ~^cn'T ~ ~

vn

^fcl; l1~~T ^QRfcf; _~

ten-

~

if

~ ~ cf; 11<:11 ~

~ cf; m~ B~i't<:l1 ~^I

~ ~ q(I'II'j«1Retl~$111, ~ ~} q~q ~, ~ ~ ~^I

INTRODUCTION

T

^HESouth Rewa Basin occupies the central part of the Indian peninsula, comprising Umaria, Johilla, Korar, Sohagpur, Tatapani-Ramkola, Singrauli, Sonhat and Jhilimili

coalfields. The Sohagpur Coalfield is the biggest coal- bearing area which lies between latitude23°05': 23°30' Nand 81 °13' : 81

°

12'E longitude. The total area of the coalfield measure 3100 sq km, spanning from eastern M.P. to southern U.P.,and exhibits a full development of the Gondwana sediments.

Age

Upper Cretaceous to Eocene

Upper Cretaceous

Lower Cretaceous Lower Jurassic

Formation

Deccan Trap

Lameta Bed(30m)

Chandia Bed(70m) Hartala Formation(300m)

Lithology

Basalt flow and dolerite dykes.

White impure marlstone, pinkish to white sandstone.

White clay and sandstone.

Coarse to pebbly sandstone. Mostly massive with very large scale cross stratification; at places red clay and sandstone.

- - - U n c o n f o r m i t y - - - - Early Triassic to Rhaetic Tiki-Parsora(400m) Very coarse to coarse, medium to fine

and even- grained quartzite sandstone, cross laminated, ferruginous, with red claystone.

- - - U n c o n f o r m i t y - - - - Middle to Upper Permian

Lower Permian Lower Permian

Pali (300 m)

Barakar(350-250m) Talchir(+275m)

(Up. Pali)

(Lr. Pali)

Very coarse to coarse feldspathic sandstone with fresh feldspar, greenish sandstone, grey shale, mottled clay, red clay with coaly to carbonaceous shale.

Medium grained ferruginous sandstone and red clay.

Sandstone, shales and two major coal-seams.

Diamictite, sandstones, drop-stones and green shale.

- - - U n c o n f o r m i t y , - - - -

Precambrian

Fig. I-Generalised geological succession of Sohagpur Coalfield.

Granite, gneisses and quartzite.

(3)

30'

Fig. 2-Showing the location of B.H. SKM 6, Sohagpur Coalfield, M.P.

MATERIALS

+

*

+

* + + +

+ Preservation

Carbonaceous shale Coaly shale Coal Grey shale Missing sample Missing sample Grey shale

Grey shale Carbonaceous shale Claystone Laminated sst Laminated sst Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Fine-grainedSSl Fine-grained sst Fine-grained sst Fine-grained sst Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Shale

Claystone Claystone Grey shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous sha Ie Carbonaceous shale Clay

Carbonaceous shale Shale

Shale Grey shale Shale Shale

Laminated shale Fine-grained sst Shale

Laminated sst Carbonaceous shale Shale

Fine-grained sst Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Shale

Shale Claystone Claystone Claystone Grey shale Carbonaceous shale Carbonaceous shale Clayslone Claystone 81.60

81.90 8230 8270 8320 8360 84.65 85.15 8545 8575 8630 88 10 91.70 92.70 93.80 95.30 9545 9615 96.30 96.50 9730 9750 9865 99.25 9990 10090 10250 10340 103.80 105.10 105.95 106.55 107.30 10820 10890 11080 II1.10 112 10 112.90 115.50 I 15.75 116.75 119.05 12130 133.75 13430 137 15 13815 139.50 14260 14360 145.35 7790 78.90 7940 8095

Depth Lithology

(m)

SI. Sample No, No_

I. SKM 6/1 2 SKM 6/2 3 SKM 6/3 4 SKM 6/4 5. SKM 6/5 6. SKM 6/6 7 SKM 617 8 SKM 6/8 9. SKM 6/9 10. SKM 6/10 11 SKM 6/11 12. SKM 6/12 13.SKM6/13 14. SKM 6/14 15. SKM 6/15 16 SKM 6/16 17. SKM 6/17 18. SKM 6/18 19. SKM 6/19 20. SKM 6/20 21 SKM6/21 22 SKM 6/22 23 SKM 6/23 24. SKM 6/24 25. SKM 6/25 26. SKM 6/26 27. SKM 6/27 28 SKM 6/28 29. SKM 6/29 30. SKM 6/30 31. SKM 6/31 32 SKM 6/32 33. SKM 6/33 34. SKM 6/34 35 SKM6135 36 SKM 6136 37 SKM 6/37 38 SKM 6/38 39 SKM 6/39 40 SKM 6/40 41. SKM 6/41 42. SKM 6/42 43 SKM 6/43 44. SKM 6/44 45 SKM 6/45 46 SKM 6/46 47 SKM 6/47 48. SKM 6/48 49. SKM 6/49 50 SKM 6/50 51 SKM 6/51 52 SKM 6/52 53. SKM 6/53 54. SKM 6/54 55 SKM 6/55 56. SKM 6/56 57. SKM 6/57 58 SKM 6/58

Shahdol, M.P (Fig. 2). Twenty-five samples from Pali Formation yielded the palynofossils. A list of samples has been given below:

81'130' N _

-i--

4' -

.Y_

v

'oj

\'

v

.~

"

~ Barren-measure • Bore-hole v

v

y v

\' ~

" "f

v

IJ ': V

y v ^~'

v_~ 'J₁ '. v

~.L. L - 1

\r

&I

Deccan Trap @ Lamet bed

The Sohagpur Coalfield is an assemblage of three well- defined sub-basinal structures i.e., Jhagrakhand in the east, Kotma-Jamuna in the middle and Burhar-Amlai in the west.

The generalised lithological succession in the coalfield comprises-Talchir, Karharbari, Barakar and Supra-Barakar formations. Recently, a number of palaeosols have been identified within the BatTen Measures at the top of the Barakar Seam No. V indicating a hiatus (Mukhopadhyay &

Mukhopadhyay, 1999) A generalised lithological succession of the Sohagpur Coalfield has been gi ven in Fig. 1 (after Mitra,

1993; Bandhopadhyay, 1999).

'j v

v 'J

GEOLOGY

Seventy samples were collected from B.H. SKM 6, in Mithauri-Kelmania Sector of Sohagpur Coalfield, District

v V \I 'J "

V '-I './ V V V

1/ ~, ~r 'f

The first petro-palynological report of Sohagpur Coalfield was given by Navale and Tiwari (1967) from Barakar coals of Churcha Seam. Subsequently, Bharadwaj and Srivastava (1971) established a correlation of coal seams of Bhaskarpara, Kutkona and Batura blocks on the basis of plynofossils. Recently, Ram-Awatar (1993,1996) also recorded the palynofloral assemblages in the bore-holes (SPB 17, 18) and correlated the Pali sediments of Sohagpur Coalfield. In the present communication, a Late Early Permian and a Late Permian palynoassemblages have been recovered in B.H, SKM 6, in Mithauri-Kelmania Sector of this coalfield.

(4)

INOe x

[Z]Alluvium

8 lam1nalec ss,l.

m

Carbonaceous shale

~^Shale

~Cloy~IOntl

§ (,rlly sholli'

~ AfenO(l<'Ou~ssl.

w

~~~t - - a l a l

'" :!: ~ :l' w w

g:I ~ u. "

'£

....:I:

0.

W

o

>-

"

^o

...

oJ:

=

...

4 ^(f)_W

(f) (f)

0

(( W (f)

(f) 0 :: ^w t- (f) W Z

w a- ^(f) z ^t--

Z ^W ^t- ^(f) ^(f) ^(f) ^(f) ⁴

t- (f) W ^(f) W (f) a- t--

Ci ^W ^W ^W ⁽⁽ ⁴ -

(f) r:;: t- W --' W ⁽⁽ W _t-- t- t- W 0 ^(f) (( t-

4 W^(f) wt-- 0 ~ (f) Z ^t-- ⁴ ^--' ^t- ⁴ ^--' ^Z ⁰ Z U ^t- o. ^W ⁰ ^(f) ^<{

(( 0 --' w a. ² ^(f) Z ⁴ ^t-- ^:>

<l: ⁽⁽ t- W a- _--' (f) W W 2 a- ^Z ^U ⁰ --' ^(f) W W ^W U ^(f) cr a- ^(f) _u 0

0 ^(f) 0 W _(f) ~ ⁰ ^(f) ^--' ^(f) ^--' ^<l: ^w ⁴ cr (f) w

X a. w --' Vi ^w ^t- ^t- --'^--' w--' <9 ^w--' ⁰ â- 0^--' 0 ^w ^t- Ô Û 0

t- ^(f) ^--' w _--' _(f) _--'

0 ^a. ⁰ 0 ^t-

<l: --' Ci _> u ₀

--' ^W ^(f) Z --' 0 ^t-- a- ^--' ^w ⁰ U ^t-- 0 --' a. 0 ⁴ Z

t-- (f)

a:

^t- ⁰ O ^cr ^u a. 0 ^:: ⁴ 0 a. ^z ^:> ^;: t- a. _U a- <9 ⁰ cr ^(f) ^(f) 4 ^(f)

0 SE ^t-- ⁰ ^u u. 4 4 ;: a- cr :::;:

a:

a. ⁰ ^w ^;: ^u 4 ;: ~ 4 cr

n:

z a- 0 Z 0 ^--' ^z ^>- ^>-

z _:> :> ₀ :£ (f) 0 0 ::> t- U 4 w

a:

⁰ ⁴ ⁴ Û- ÔJ ⁴ Î ^....J

>- --' > c;: cr cr ⁴ 4 4 Vi a- N W Z 4 (f) ::> OJ ⁴ ^a. ^(J) ^a. :::;: iii --'

~ ^(f) ⁰ ^U

--' _--' _W _CO ₍₍ cr cr ^u z ^(f) ^_ :> r:;: w u ₄ ^t- ^- ⁴

a:

^(f) ^W ^(f) i ::> z ^>- 4

~~

4 u I (f) cr u

~ z

4 ⁽⁽ ⁰ w 4 4 ::. w iii ^I ⁴ ⁽⁽ ⁽⁽ ⁽⁽ ^t- ^_ ⁰ --' ^{( (} 4 --' ⁰ ^W ^W ⁽⁽

a. u en Î > i ^CD a- a- D - ⁽⁽ û^(f) û- ^t-^(f) u 4 t- O ^(f) 0 u 4 ^::>

'"

^(f) ^I ^a. ^D ⁰ ^--' ^~ ^CD

@I ^p

@

I

E

A R

M

E I

A

N

'LA' ;:

E r

A E R R

M 1 Y A

~

® o o o

©®

01Zl

IZl

<I

r---,

1

®

^{50LI1ARY :}

I I

: IZI 2 -0; '/, :

: <I

^6-10 ^:

: 0

^11-25 ^:

: EB

_L ^L6-30 .J^:

IZIO 0121

<1121 6l01Zl@O

<lOOIZIO©®OIZl

IZ1I2IOI2I0

00121

IZ1I2IIZ1

06)000121

fZI1Z100

@ @OO

1Z10121 lZl fZI

00

IZI IZI

1ZI12J0 GI2JI2JI2J

lZl

IZIIZI<I

l2'I

IZI

1210 0I2J l2JlZI 1Z10

IZI IZI IZIIZI

I2I1Z1

IZI

fZI l2'I

IZI IZI IZI IZI

121

[21 (\) [21

<I IZI

o

@

IZI IZI

121 121 121 ()

00<1<1 00000 EBOO<lI2l 0<1<1<18 000<1121

000 <I

00<1<1<1 EBOO<l 000<1 00<1<1

EBEBOO <10 OOO<lI2l<l@

o 0 012100<10 01210121121000<1121 00121@<l1210EB<l12I121

01Z11Z1

o

121121

IZIO IZI IZI

0 0

IZIIZIIZI

121 I2JlZl 1210 001210

o

^{0 0}

o

~ ~:m

⁵^"^u ^{·c··~·(?·a}.'c1'o<?'C.,^..^e-:.

.

25t;, 05 ,;\.':l;?;

((

W (J)

:::;:

W

-,::;:

41w

IZl

:1_ !"'''

⁰

41^w _

IZI

a- ¹

LLCD 41::>

Fig 3-Pcrcenl;Jge frequ~llcyof significant spore/pollen taxa recovered from B.H. SKM6.

PLATE 1

(All photomicrographs. m;Jgllified ca x 500. taken 011 Olympus Microscope BH 2. Model. No. 233189)

2 3 4.

5 6 7 8 9.

10.

II

Fallllipollelliles varioll.1 Bharadwaj 1962 emend. Tiwari el01.

1989: co-ordinate. 9 x 127.

Scheurillgipollellili'.\ lell/uills Tiwari 1973: co-ordinate. II x 119.

SI rialOpo(/otarpile.l· decorll.\ Bhar;Jd waj & Sa 1uj ha 1964:

co-ordinate_ 21 x 137.

Dis/rialiles biialerali.l Bharadwaj 1962: co·ordinate. 10x 105.

FOllllipollelliln sillgrall/iellsis Sinha emend. Tiwariel 01. 1989:

co-ordin;Jte. 20 x 142.

CrnCl'lIilpollellile.\ ./iIS("IIS(Bharadwaj) Bh;Jradwaj eI01 .. 1974:

co-ordinate. 9x 119.

Ibisporiles diplosacclI.l·Tiwari 1968: co-ordinate. 19 x 129.

Dicapp(po/leJliles .IillgltiiTiwari & Vijaya 1995 (Llledisporill's POI. & KI emend. Klaus. 196]): co-ordinate. 6 x 143.

Micro/iJVelJlalispora bokaroell.li.1 Tiw;Jri 1965: co-ordinate. 12 x 116

COII(/ilplJrile.\ r{lIIigalljellsi.~Bharadwaj 1962: co-ordin;Jle, 7 x 123

Clllllliapo/lelliressp. Goubin emend. Venkatachal~1'101.. 1967;

12.

13 14.

15 16.

17 18 19 20.

co-ordin;Jtc. 5 x 136.

Verlicipo/lelliln nasslls Bh;Jr~dw;Jj& Sri vastava 19(,4: co-ordinate, 17 x 137.

Scltellrillgipollelliles bomkarellsi.\ Tiwari 197]: co-ordinate.

12 x 143

Dis/rill/ill'S ill.lO/i11l1 Bharaclw;Jj & Srivastava 1969; co·ordi-

nat~.12xI15.

Slrialopo(/O(-arpiles dnort/s l3h~radwaj& Sallljh;J 1964: co- ordinate. lOx 127

Slrialile.1 {/lJIII.\ Bharadwaj & S;Jlujh;J 1964. co-ordinate, (, A

134.

Arcualipoliellile.1 Ol'{{/II.\ Tiwari & Vijaya 1995: co-ordinate.

32x 140.

Tiwariaspol'i.\ .!IaVal/l.1 M;Jheshwari & Kar 19(,7: co-ordinate.

10 x 127

Slrioll/IJI/IJ.I·{II·cill'.\ sp. l3h;Jr;Jdw;Jj 19(,2: co-ordin'lle, 8x 141 Pr('("olpipolleJli/es lIidpllrellsis Bharadwaj & Srivaslava 1969:

co-ordinate. 22 x 140.

(5)

2

~...,,-,-'-

~. ~

....

;.

.

^. ^,.".. ~

ff "-,

^.

,'-o,'.,~"~''+-''t-~:.:(~''

^.:"\~~ '.' ' .,ar- .^'I

" " ; ' It-

'tii.

_-.~'

':,

-:', . ~ . !I.I' ..

.. :p£

Jit.. .'

'

;.

.~,t

. \, •

~~..., ^" :.,-,~",' . _ _--:","~r:c... • . ."J".,.f, ...,~!

':'r'~.

^t:" ~ .~.).:';:^.'

"t~' ,~"',

;',-

15

0:."1

.$".

- III

~ ~

•

9

,

13

PLATE 1

(6)

PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY

(+) Poor preservalion. (*) Good preservation. (-) l3arren.

Sandstone (sst)

The following spore /pollen genera ha ve been recovered from the sediment of S.H. SKM 6. Some of the qualitatively significant palynotaxa have been illustrated in PI. I&2.

THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Lele, 1964

Bharadwaj emend. Bharadwaj, 1964 I3haradwaj & Tiwari, 1964 Bharadwaj. 1962 Srivastava & Jha. 1986 Bharadwaj. 1962 Tiwari & Rana, 1980 *

Tiwari, 1968*

Tiwari, 1973 • Wilson. 1962

Sorilsch & Sedova emend. Bharadwaj

& Salujha. 1964*

Bharadwaj emend. Tiwari ~Ial ..

I C)89*

Panl emend. Bharadwaj, 1962*

I3haradwaj ~I01. 1974*

Wilson emend. Tschudy & Kosanke.

1966*

13 haradwaj, 1962

*

I3haradwaj & Srivaslava. 1069 I3haradwaj & Srivastava, 1969 * Daugherty emend. Jansonius. 1971·

Leschik emend. Klaus. 1963 *

Tiwari &Vijaya. 1995 * Tiwari ~I al.. 1995 * Madler, 1964 *

Tiwari & Vijaya, 1995 * Venkalachala & Kar, 1966 * Goubin emend. VenkatachalaeI01..

1967'

Tiwari & Vijaya. 1995 Klaus, 1960·

Trivedi & Misra emend. Tiwari &

Ram-Awalar. 1986 *

Bharadwaj & Srivastava. 1969*

Maheshwari & Kar. 1967*

I3haradwaj & Srivastava. 1969*

Samoilovich emend. Balme

& Hennelly. 1956 illustrated in PI. I & 2

Faunipoll~niles

Taxa marked with(*) are

Dislrialil~.1

Nidipo/ll'lLill'.1 Salm.ngisa('('iles Ali.l'porill'S Fa/ri.l'porile.1' Kr~lIIpipo/l~niles Prolll~l.Isa('('iles

"JBrar-hysQu"uS

A rcU(1f ipollen iles

Corisa('('il~s CUllulapoll~lIiles

Pli('alipolll'oiles

POlooi~i.lporil~s

Barakariles

D~IISipoll~lIiles

Kallllhi.lal'Ciles 51rioll/ollo.\Qccile.\

COllbillispora Ibisporiles

S('II~IIriogipoll~niles Rhizolllasp0f{/

51rialllpodo('arpil~.1

W~ylandil~s Till'ariasporis

Pr~lri('olpipolll'lIill'.,

Cinkgo(')"'adopllylus

Di('(lppipull~niles

Chordasporile.1 Trabee IIIO,IporiI~.\

Slrialil!!S

Cresl~0Iipi,II~IIiI es

Halliiapoll~niles

+

*

+ +

Bharadwaj & Srivastava emend.

Tiwari ~I al .. 1989

Bharadwaj & Srivastava emend.

Tiwari & Singh. 1981 Potonie & Kremp. 1954 Bharadwaj & Salujha. 1964 Bharadwaj emend. Tiwari & Singh.

1C)8 I

Bharadwaj emend. Tiwari & Singh.

1C)8 I*

Ibrahim emend. Smith. 1971 Couper. 1953

Weyland & Krieger emend Dellmann. 1963 Bharadwaj, 1962 *

Balme emend. Playford. 1963 * Maheshwari & Banerji emend. Vijaya.

1995 *

I3haradwaj & Tiwari emend. Tiwari ~I

al. 1989 Parasacriles

56

59 SKM 6/59 14810 Laminated SSI

60 SKM 6/60 15030 Laminated sst 61 SKM 6/61 151.50 Laminated sst 62 SKM 6/62 151.80 Claystone 63 SKM 6/63 156.10 Carbonaceous shale 64. SKM 6/64 157.40 Micaceous sst 65 SKM 6/65 163.40 Fine-grained sst 66 SKM 6/66 195.00 Carbonaceous shale

67 SKM 6/67 19600 Clay

68 SKM 6/68 247.50 Sandstone 69 SKM 6/69 249.00 Arenaceous shale 70. SKM 6170 25405 Claystone

Call1lillispora

Br~vl/ri/~l~s

Mi('l'(lrov~olalispora Cydograllisporil~s Horridilriletes M i('rol){/('ulispora

V~rl'll(,llsi.lPI)fil~S OSlllllllda,idile.<

?Dellsoisporile.\

Coodisporil~J'

Luodbladi.lpora Play/flrdiaspora

PLATE 2

(All photomicrographs. magnified ca x 500, taken on Olympus Microscope B.H. 2. Model. No. 233189)

"

/ '

4 2

o-'

5

Plax(ordirllpllra ('all('~"osa(Maheshwari & Banerji) Vijaya 1996; co-ordinate. 10 x 112

W"ylalldiln ('irn"aris BharadlVaj & Sri vasta va 1969: co-ordinate, 14 x 136.

,)alsallgisa('('iln sp. Bharad\\'aj & Srivastava 1969: co-orch- nate. 10 x 106

Ar(,lIalip{)/I~lIil~.1 "(IIlIlIdiclI,\ Tiwari & Rana emend. Tiwari &

Vijaya 1995; co-ordInate, 7 x 1\5.

"(/lIIiapo/lenil~.1sp. Wilson emend. Tshudy Kosanke \ 969;

co-ordinate. 8 x I 16.

CI/()l'(laspo,.il~.1 lIIaglllls Klaus 1964: co-ordinate. 5 x 135.

Fal('i.lporiln 1I11111O/I~II.li.1Balme 1970: co-ordinate. 7 x 130.

A((,II((/ipo/l('lli/~.\ p~/lucidll.1 (Goubin) Tiwari & Vijaya 1<)95;

co-ordinale, 12 x 122.

rrab~l'lIll1.\poril~.\ (Trivedi & Misra) emend. Tiwari & Ram·

Awatar \987; co-ordinate. \0 x 123.

II

18

\5 16 17 14.

13.

12.

10

6 7 8

Arrualipo"~lIilt'\ pali~lI.\i.\ (Tiwari & Ram-Awatar) emend.

Tiwari & Vijaya 1995: co-ordinate. 9 x 128.

Coubilli.l'pora 1IIIII'IIIIdal'I'II.,is(Goubin) Tiwari & Rana 1981.

co-ordinate, 5 x 114.

Alispllritesa.I,(III.\'I)/~lI.Ii.,Maheshwari & Banerji 1975: co-ordinate, 21 x 120.

Dirappipo/lellilnsillgrauli~lI.Ii,(Sinha) Ti\\'ari & Vijaya 1995

(LII~cki.l'pllri/es POl. KI.) emend. Klaus 1963: co-ordinate. 10 x 112.

Kr~lIIpipollellil~.1 ill"i('II.' Ti wari & Vijaya 1995

(Klausipllllellil~.1 Jansonius) emend. Klaus 1962: co-ordinate.

18 x I I.'

·'Bra('!Ivsa('I'II.I' IIvalis Madler 1964; co-ordinatc, IJ x 146.

LlIlldbladispoJ'll b"",'i('ula Salme 1963; co-ordinatc, 8 x 140.

Pro/IJ"U.I,(I(,('I/~.' rnvaell.\i.1 Ti"ari 1'101., I995; co-ordinate. 7 x 129

9. S(l(.l'({lIgi.l'{/('('il~.1 lIidp/ll'~I1SisSharadwaj & Srivastava 1969: co- ordinate. 12 x 122.

(7)

II

.. ~

'!II R1

'1f:"

":"'._-"rr. •

";r. •

, ...• "11!w

~'t'./'" ~1

~~~...." " .~

I ' "1-

..- .

^~~

.. '.'.'

~"?9J1~

.

^r'.^{. J '} ^....~~~~^{... ,}^••<

,.. • ,>t; II ...

"tm "

'..A'I· ~=- " ': .,:;

~

. . j."^~,.-

.,

~

_ ..

IO.)~

.,

3

4

[l

$~~~t. .. -

^,..

I ~ ^{' . . . .} ^{•• •}

t

^1...~,

,.).•• \i..Ii' • J ~J':)

.r

f ' ~.~, t,:'

,

''''',.,

,~ '.,J}( ~ ,

5 ⁷

11

~

9 10

•

12

16

13

17

PLATE 2

(8)

PALYNOASSEMBLAGES

On the basis of qualitative and quantitative analyses of the spore/pollen taxa. two palynoassemblages have been identified which are given below (see also Fig. 3).

Assemblage I

Depth-254.05-J63.40m.

Characteristic Palynotaxa Dom inanl-FaUllipolleniles.

Sub- DOI/I inall t-Scheuring ipollelliIes.

Comnwn-Strialopodocarpiles and Ibisporiles.

Others-Callumispora, Verrucosisporiles, Brel'ilrilelcs, RhiZOl1wspora, Plicalipolleniles, Parasacciles, BarakarilCs, Crescentipol/eniles, Arcumipollcnites and Densipollenites.

Index Species-Barakariles barakarensis.

Palynodating-LateEarly Permian.

Assemblage II

Depth-157.40-77.90m.

Characteristic Palynotaxa

Domillanl-Faunipollenites and Striatopodocarpiles.

Sub-dominalll-Crescent ipollenites, A rCllal ipol/eniles and Hamiapol/eniles.

Common-Horrid itriletes, M icrojo veolalispora, R Irizomaspora, Disl riaIit es, Sc!leu ring ipo/l cniles, A rcuatipollenites, Lueckisporiles, A lisporiles, Corisacciles, Krempipollenites and Strialiles.

Ot h er s-? Denso ispo rite s, PI ayjord iaspora, Trabeculosporiles, Lundblad ispora, Sal sang isacciles, Goubinispora, Weylandites, ?Brachysaccus and Kal11t hisaccites.

Index Species-Gondisporiles indictls.

Palynodating-LatePermian.

COMPARISON

AssemblageI-The genusFaunipollenilesis dominating in the assemblage (Fig. 3). The other marker palynotaxa are Scheuringipollen iles, Ibisporites, 51riatopodocarpiles, M icrojoveola tispora, Ve rrucos isporites, Brevil riletes, Callumispora, Rhizomaspora, Plicalipollenites, Barakariles, and Crescentipollenites with solitary occurrence of Densipollenites. This composition of palynoassemblage correlates with Faunipollenites varius zone of Tiwari and Tripathi.1992(Text fig. I; zone- VI-B), as5cheuringipolleniles barakarensis(Tiwari, 1973), Faunipollenites varius(Tiwari et al.,1989),Barakariles indicus(Bharadwaj&Tiwari. 1964), Microjoveolalispora joveolata (Tiwari & Singh, 1984) and Brevitrileles communis (Bharadwaj &Srivastava, 1969) are also recorded in the assemblages. The present

palynoassemblage is also comparable with the Upper Barakar palynofloras of the Raniganj Coalfield (Tiwari.1973).and the Umaria and Johilla coalfields (Srivastava&Anand-Prakash.

1984;Tiwari&Ram-Awatar,1989).The FADs (first appearance datum) of Densipo//enilcs indicus (Bharadwaj, (962), Microjoveolalispora joveolala (Tiwari & Singh. 1984) and Arcualipolleniles pellucidus(Tiwari&Vijaya.1995)delimit the upper strata of the Barakar Formation. The occurrence of monosaccate pollenParasaccitesand Plicalipollenilesin the Barakar Formation is quite significant (Fig. 3). as similar trends have also been observed in the Johilla Coalfield. M.P. (Tiwari

&Ram-Awatar. 1989).

Assemblage II-Itis characterised by the preponderance ofFaunJpollenilesandSlrialopodocwpiles(Fig. 3). The other significant genera areCresccnlipollenilcs, Arcllalipollenilcs, Nidipo//enites, Dislrialiles and Hallliapo/leniles in association with Verrucosisporiles. Corisacciles and Alisporiles. Besides. ?Brachysacclls, Kamlhisacciles.

Trabecu Iospori tes, We yl ({1Ielil e s, De nsoisporil es, Playjordiaspora, GOllbillisporaand Lueckisporileshave also been recorded in thiS assemblages.

In the Raniganj Formation. Tiwari(1999)recognised two play no-zones. The older one is marked by Gondisporiles raniganjensis in association with Didecilrileles erician/ls (Venkatachala&Kar, (965).Lop1101rileles rams(Kar, 1968) andVesligisporites diseclus(Tiwari &Singh,1984)while the younger one is characterised by the presence of Densipo/leniles magnicorpus (Tiwari & Rana, 1984) in association with Crescel1lipo//eniles gondwallensis (Bharadwaj el aI., 1974), Cyclobaculisporiles indicus (Bharadwaj&Salujha,1964)andIlldospora maclila(Bharadwaj

&Salujha, 1964):these are the characteristic forms of Late Permian. The most important feature to demarcate the Raniganj palynoflora. is the FADs palynotaxa which are common in the overlying Panchet; these are- ?Densoisporiles complicalus (Balme, (970), LUlldbladispora brevicula (Balme, (963), Osmundacidiles seneclus (Balme, 1963), A rcualipolleniles ovalus (Tiwari & Vijaya, 1995), Ca/lllmispora jungosa (Bharadwaj &Tiwari, 1977). Goubinispora morolldavensis (Tiwari & Rana, 1980), Krel/lpipollenites indicus(Tiwari &

Vijaya, 1995), Playjoldiaspora cancel/osa (Maheshwari &

Banerji, 1975) and Weylandiles indiclls (Bharadwaj &

Srivastava, 1969). Most of these forms are recorded in the B.H. SKM 6, exceptDidecitrileles ericiallus(Venkatachala&

Kar, 1965), Indospora macula(Bharadwaj&Salujha. 1964) and, therefore, the present palynoassemblage resembles Densipollelliles maglllcorpliSZone of Tiwari&Tripathi(1992), Tiwari&Ram-Awatar(1986)and Ram-Awatar(1996).

DISCUSSION

The palynofloral composition of B.H. SKM 6, around Mithauri-Kelmania Sector of Sohagpur Coalfield, reveals a diversified spore/pollen complex. The Palynoassemblages I&

(9)

II show a clear relationship with Late Early Permian (Upper Barakar) and Late Permian (Raniganj) miofloral assemblages, respecti vely, as also recorded in other basins of the Indian Gondwana. Adhikari and Hore (1989), first identified a palaeosol bed. in bore-holes and out-crop sections within the Barren Measure sequence, lying above the Barakar Formation in Mithauri-Kelmania Sector of the Sohagpur Coalfield.

Recently Mukhopadhyay and Mukhopadhyay (1999), separated the Raniganj strata from over-lying Pali Bed on the basis of the palaeosol and compared it with the Barren Measures sequence of the Damodar Basin. However, Densipolleniles magnicorpus palynozones (Tiwari&Tripathi, 1992), characteristic of the Barren Measures has not been recorded in B.H. SKM 6. It is possible that the Barren Measures sediments lying above the Barakar Formation are either absent (?) or because of the taphonomic factor. the palynofossils could not be preserved. Yet, in the B.H. SKM 6, the record of the Late Early Permian (Upper Barakar) and a Late Permian (Raniganj) palynofloral assemblage is significant, though the Barren Measures palynoflora have not been encountered in this sector of Sohagpur Coalfield.

Acknowledgements-Ail/hoI's are graleful ¹⁰ Ihe Director, BSIp, Lucknow alld DireCior General GSI, Kolkala,jor Ih.e permissionlO publish Ihe presel1/ paper.

REFERENCES

Adhikari A&Hore BK 1989. Final report on regional exploration for coal in Pakaria (east) Block, Sohagpur Coalfield, Shahdol Distlict.

M.P. Geological Survey of India 122 : 171-172.

Balme, BE 1963. Plant microfossils from the Lower Triassic of Western Australia. Palynology 6( I) : 12-40

Balme. BE 1970. Palynology of Permian and Triassic strata in the Salt Range and Surghar Range west Pakistan In: (Editors- Kummels. B& Teichert. C) Stratigraphic Boundary problem:

Permian and Triassic of west Pakistan: Special publication 4 : 306-453. University, of Kansas. University Press, Kansas.

Bandhopadhyay RK 1999. Supra Barakar rocks of the South Rewa Basin and its stratigraphic enigma. Geological Survey of India.

Special Publication 20 : 24-31.

Bharadwa] DC&Srivastava SC 1971. Sporological correlation of coal seams in some blocks of Sohagpur Coalfield. M.P., India.

Palaeobotanist 19: 1-28.

Bharadwa] DC 1962. The miospore genera in the coals of Raniganj Stage (Upper Permian), India. Palaeobotanist 9 (I &2) : 68-106.

Bharadwaj DC&Salujha S.K. 1964 : Sporological study of Seam VIII in Raniganj Coalfield. Bihar (India) Part-I. Description of Sporae dispersae. Palaeobotanist 12 : 181-215.

Bharadwaj DC&Srivastava SC 1969. Some new miospores from Barakar Stage, Lower Gondwana. India. Palacobotanist 17: 220- 229.

Bharadwa] DC&Tiwari RS 1964. On twomon~accategenera from Barakar Stage of India. PalaeobOlanisl 12 : 139- 146.

Bharadwaj DC& Tiwari RS 1977. Permian - Triassic micronoras

from the Raniganj Coal field. India. Palaeobotanist 24 : 26-49.

Kar RK 1968. Palynology of the north Karanpura Basin, Bihar, India-3. Ranigan] exposure near Lungatoo, Hazaribagh. District.

Palaeobotanist 16: 273-282.

Maheshwari, HK& Banerji J 1975. Lower Triassic palynomorphs from the Maitur Formation, west Bengal, India Palaeontographica B 152 : 149-190.

Mitra NO 1993. Stratigraphy of Pali-Parsora-Tiki formations of South Rewa Gondwana Basin and Permo-Triassic boundary problem. In: Dutta KK&Sen S (EdilOrs)-Gondwana Geological Magazine 1993; Birbal Sahni Centenary, Special Volume: 41-48.

Mukhopadhyay A & Mukhopadhyay SK 1999. Historical development of lithostratigraphy of Sohagpur Coalfield and modification thereof. Geological Survey of India, Coal News 19' 12-16.

Navale GKB&TiwaJi RS 1967. Petro-palynological study of Churcha Seam, Sohagpur Coalfield, M.P., India. Journal Geological Society of India 8 : 68-69.

Ram-Awatar 1993. Palynological dating of subsurface sequence of Middle Pali Member in Sohagpur Coalfields. (MPJ. India Geophytology 23 . 107-114.

Ram-Awatar 1996. Palynozonation of Middle Pali Member in Sohagpur Coalfield. Madhya Pradesh. Palaeobotanist 43 . 96-

101

Srivastava SC&Anand-Prakash 1984. Palynological succession of the Gondwana sediments in Umaria Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh.

Palaeobotanist 32 . 26-34.

Tiwari RS 1973. Palynological succession in the Barakar type area.

Geophytology 3 : 166-183

Tiwari RS 1999. The palynological succession and spatial relationship of the Indian Gondwana Sequence. Proceeding of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi 65 : 329-375.

Tiwari RS &Ram-Awatar 1986. Late Permian palynofossils from the Pali Formation, South Rewa Basin, Madhya Pradesh. Bulletin Geological Mineral Metallurgical Society of India 54 . 250-255 Tiwari RS&Ram-Awatar 1989. Sporae-dispersae and cOlTelation

of Gondwana sediments of Johilla Coalfield, Son Valley Graben.

Madhya Pradesh. Palaeobotanist 37 : 94 -114.

Tiwari RS &Tripathi A 1992. Marker Assemblage-Zones of spore and pollen species through Gondwana Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sequences in India. Palacobotanist 40 : 194-236.

Tiwari RS&Rana V 1980. A Triassic miotlora from India. Biological Memoir 38: 105-121.

Tiwari RS&Rana V 1984. Palynodating of Permian and Triassic sediments in two bore-holes from the eastern limit of Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal. Ill: Sharma AK. ^elal ..(Editors) Sympo sium Evolutionary Botany& Biostratigraphy, Calculla (1979) . 425-449. Today&Tomarrow's P,inters&Publication. New Delhi Tiwari RS &Singh V 1984. Morphological study of }ugasporires-

complex. Proceeding. V Indian Geophytological Conference, Lucknow (1983), Special Publication: 169-206.

Tiwari RS, Srivastava. SC, Tripathi. A& Vijaya 1989 Morpho graphic study of Permian palynomorphs: Callumispora, Pasasacciles, Crucisaccir('sand Fauilipollelliles. Palaeobotanist 37. 215-266

Venkatachala BS& Kar RK 1965. Two new trilete miospore genera from the Permian of India. Palaeobotanist 13 (3)' 337-340