Annual Report 2011-2012 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

EBIRBAL SAHNI INSTITUT
Annual Report 2011-2012
Research
Thrust areas and Projects
1946
OF PALAEOBOTANY
Thrust Area:
Project 1.1:
EARLY LIFE, ATMOSPHERE AND OCEANS: EVIDENCES FROM
INDIAN CRATON (Bio-Geosphere interactions in the Precambrian)
Precambrian Palaeobiology Group
Palaeobiology of the Neoproterozoic Marwar Supergroup and the Bhander Group of
Vindhyan Supergroup: Biostratigraphical correlation
The trace-fossils collected from the siliciclastic
sequence of Nagaur Formation of the Marwar Supergroup
have been processed for description. These include (in
order of abundance) Cruziana, Rusophycus,
Palaeophycus, Dimorphicnus, Monomorphicnus,
Planolites, Bergaueria and varied arthropod scratch
marks. Absence of true body fossils of trilobite and small
shelly fossils in the sequence put a constraint of fine
division of the Nagaur Group. The study provides definitive
evidence of the Cambrian succession for hitherto
suggestive Precambrian-Cambrian sequence in peninsular
India. Fresh investigations of the siliciclastic sequence of
the Sonia Sandstone of the Jodhpur Group have shown
the presence of cluster of circular structures on the top
surface of the bedding plane. A large collection has been
made from the Artiyan Kalan locality of Jodhpur. At
present the fossil assemblage of Marwar Supergroup
indicate that entire sequence range from Pre-ediacara-
Ediacara-Early Cambrian in age. Samples from Bilara
Group have been collected for microfossils studies in thin
section and maceration studies.
Mukund Sharma, Yogmaya Shukla & S.K. Pandey
A field-visit has been undertaken with Mr. Deepak
Singh and Mr. Uday Bhan of the University of Petroleum
Marsonia artiyansis from the Sonia Sandstone Formation,
Marwar Supergroup
and Energy Studies, Dehradun for validation of data of
the Ph.D. problem. A set of systematic samples are
collected from Semri and Bhander Groups of the
Vindhyan sections exposed in Maihar area in Satna district
(MP), central India. Field-work have been carried out in
the Vindhyan Supergroup in an around Rewa-Satna-Katni
districts of MP. Also carried out the field work in the
Marwar Supergroup in an around Jodhpur-Nagaur-
Bikaner-Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan.
Mukund Sharma & S.K. Pandey
Project 1.2:
Tracing the palaeobiological entities from the eastern part of Chhattisgarh Basin with
geologic implications
Studied the biotic communities from the samples
belonging to Singhora and Raipur groups of Chhattisgarh
Supergroup collected from the outcrops exposed in various
localities in Raigarh district to understand the significance
and evolutionary status of varied palaeobiotic communities
(micro-macrofossils and organo-sedimentary structures
viz. stromatolites) preserved in variety of sedimentary
rocks. Structurally, three/two dimensional, cellularly
preserved microbiota (prokaryotes & eukaryotes both)
comprising 12 genera of acritarchs and 4 genera of
cyanobacterial remains from the macerated residue of
black carbonaceous shale belong to the lower Saradih
Formation, the youngest carbonate horizon of the Raipur
Group exposed on the right bank of Mahanadi River at
www.bsip.res.in
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