1996-97 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

BSIP
etc.
B.N. Jana
Studied the fragmentary plant remains from Gumapahar, Rajmahal Basin. The
assemblage contains Rienitsia sp., Taeniopteris sp., Anomozamites sp., Ptilophyllum
acutifolium and P cutchense. The study is continued.
Neeru
Prakash
Recorded plant megafossils from Sitalpur locality, Rajmahal Basin
(Cladophlebis sp., Ptilophyllum cutchense, P. acutifolium, Elatocladus sp.,
Brachyphyllum sp. and Araucarites sp). The detailed morphotaxonomic study shows
its affinity with the Gollapalle floral assemblage of West Godavari District in having
dominance of cycadophytes and conifers.
Morphotaxonomic study of fossil flora of Dudhkol has been carried out. The
recorded elements are Equisetites sp., Haydenia sp., Todites indicus and Ptilophyllum
cutchense. The flora on the whole is dominated by pteridophytes.
Programme 2.8 : Palynological diversity and palaeoclimate through
Gondwana Sequence in Rajmahal Basin
Archana Tripathi
The palynological investigations of intertrappean sediments (10.50-22.42 m)
in the bore hole RCH-15l (410.95 m deep) about 2 km east of Chattam drilled by
MECL were carried out. The detailed analysis shows dominance of gymnospermous
pollen Callialasporites/Araucariacites. The other taxa found are Leptolepidites.
Matonisporites. Cicatricosisporites. Cycadopites and Schizosporis reticulatus. Among
the hilate forms only Coptospora kutchensis is recorded. The qualitative composition
of assemblage indicates Early Cretaceous age.
The palynodating of samples from Dubrajpur Formation in Lakraphela Pahar,
Mahuagarhi Coalfield has been done. Poor yield of palynofossils delimits precise age
assignment. However, the Permian taxa recorded are: Callumispora. Parasaccites,
Plicatipollenites. Sahnites and Scheuringipollenites. The Triassic spore-pollen ­
Ringosporites. Brachysaccus and Ovalipollis are sporadically recorded. A Triassic age
is tentatively assigned to these sediments having reworked Permian palynomorphs. In
Mahuagarhi Coalfield, the samples up to 47.25 m depth in bore hole RJMG-l 0 (466.10
m deep), drilled east of Talpahari Village) were analysed for palynodating. A Late
Permian age is assigned to sediments from 8.20 to 24.30 m depth on the basis of
abundance of genus Densipollenites.
In Pachwara Coalfield, the palynoflora recovered from samples (5.15-47.0 m
depth) of Bore hole RJP-49 (199.70 m deep, south of Chirudih Village) has shown
dominance of striate bisaccate Striatopodocarpites and increased frequency of genus
Alisporites. The qualitative search for age marker taxa reveals presence of
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