1996-97 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1996-97
Gutliferae, Lauraceae, Lythraceae, Myrtaceae, Myrsinaceae, Moraceae, Rubiaceae,
Sapindaceae and Rutaceae has been done.
Visited the Neyveli lignite Mine 1 and 2, South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu and
collected carbonised woods and leaf samples. Also visited Central National Herbarium,
Howrah for the comparative study of fossil leaves.
Programme 3.9 Organic petrology of Kutch lignites, Gujarat
Alpana Singh & B.K. Misra
Reflectance measurements have been taken on samples of old mine section
from Panandhro Lignitefield. The R" max. values (0.42-0.46%) indicate that the lignites
have attained sub-bituminous cm stage. Quantitative assessment of lignite under normal
incident mode indicates that huminite (74.4-82.0%), the dominant maceral group, is
chiefly constituted by humocollinite (25.6-61.0%) and humodetrinite (11.4-40.8%).
Humotelinite (3.6-20.8 %) is in relatively lower proportion. Liptinite, the sub-ordinate
group of macerals (4.6-26.0 %) is mainly contributed by resinite, cutinite and sporinite.
Secondary macerals bituminite and fluorinite were also observed in few samples (under
fluorescence mode).
Further collection of lignite samples from two seams exposed in Mine Block II
of Panandhro Lignitefield has been done. The lignite when fresh is compact and dark
brown in colour and becomes friable on exposure to air. Many shale bands (up to 5 cm)
of pinching and swelling nature were observed at places. Resin in the form of specks,
globules and bands (5-8 cm) was present throughout the seam thickness. Visited
Directorate of Geology and Mining (DGM) offices at Ahmedabad, Gandhi Nagar, Bhuj
and Gujarat Mineral Exploration Circle (Bhuj) for discussions and consultation regarding
geological, petrological and geochemical reporls on Kutch lignites.
Coal samples from Guneri Coalfield were also collected from exposed 2.5 feet
thick seam interbedded between creamish white sandstones. The seam is commercially
unexploitable.
Programme 3.10:
Palynostratigraphy of the Tertiary sediments of Gujarat
J.P. Mandai
The palynoassemblage of 4 sections from Panandhro, Akri and Matanomadh
lignite mines belonging to Naredi Formation was studied. In all the sections two distinct
palynoassemblages have been recognised. In the lower lignite-bearing horizon
MiIlLltitrico/porites, TriallgLl/orites. Tripi/aorites, Retitri/atiporites together with wellpreserved
dinocyst occur in good number. The upper part is devoid of dinocyst and
dominant palynotaxa are Chei/allthoidspora, Lakiapallis, Pellicieroipollis,
Dermatobrevico/porites. Pi/atrisynco/pites and tetrad pollen which are characteristic
of this assemblage.
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