Annual Report 2011-2012 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

EBIRBAL SAHNI INSTITUT
Annual Report 2011-2012
1946
OF PALAEOBOTANY
Project 5.2:
Palynological investigation, facies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretations of
Palaeocene-Eocene sediments in Rajasthan Basin
Palynofossils from Matasukh lignite mine, Nagaur
district representing Marh Formation have been studied.
The sequence, constituted by carbonaceous shale, siltstone
and lignite, yielded a rich palynological assemblage.
Quantitatively as well as qualitatively, angiosperm pollen
dominates over the pteridophytic spores and fungal
remains. Significant palynotaxa in the assemblage are
assigned different species of Lygodiumsporites,
Todisporites, Lycopodiumsporites, Dandotiaspora,
Arecipites, Palmidites, Longapertites, Proxapertites,
Matanomadhiasulcites, Pseudonyssapollenites,
Dermatobrevicolporites, Sastripollenites,
Ratariacolporites and Meliapollis. Based on the
Spini prominatus
Dipterocapus
stratigraphical record of palynofossils in Indian
Palaeogene strata, the investigated sequence is dated as
early Eocene.
S.K.M. Tripathi & Hukam Singh
Project 5.3:
High resolution biostratigraphy of Cretaceous-Tertiary sedimentary sections of Cauvery
Basin
A manuscript entitled ‘Palynological evidence for
dating of Grey Shale, Dalmiapuram Formation, Cauvery
Basin, Tamil Nadu’ has been prepared. Additionally, a
field visit to Ariyalur and adjoining areas, Tamil Nadu has
been undertaken and collected fresh rock samples from
Grey Shale of Dalmiapuram Formation [GVKC and
Kallakudi Mine-II, and Ananadawadi (K/T boundary)]
areas for palynological investigation.
M.R. Rao
Project 5.4:
Palynological studies of the Late Cretaceous-Early Palaeocene sediments of Central
India and the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, India
Myxomycetaceous fossil spores have been
recovered from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Padwar
(MP). These remains are found in association with the
index palynotaxa of Maastrichtian age, viz. Azolla
cretacea, Ariadnaesporites ariadnae, Gabonisporites
vigourouxii and Aquillapollenites bengalensis. The
fossil spores, flagellate swarm cells, zygotes and spores
of the Myxomycetes are recovered from the highly
carbonaceous lignitic shales of the dry dug out well at
Padwar. The well is more than 9 m deep and the basal
and top parts are composed of the traps. There is also a
3 m thick volcanic ash bed in between. The samples are
rich in fungal and pteridophytic spores and angiospermic
pollen, out of which the myxomycetaceous forms are
Project 5.5:
studied in detail. The myxomycetaceous spores apparently
resemble some pteridophytic spores in the sub-circular
shape and broad reticulation. However, the absence of
trilete or monolete mark and its dark brown colour, easily
differentiate them from others. Further, 4 types of motile
cells are distinguished on the characters of flagella– i)
unicellular cells with a posterior whiplash type of flagellum,
ii) uniflagellate cells with an anterior tinsel type of
flagellum, iii) biflagellate cells with one flagellum of tinsel
type and the other whiplash type, and iv) both the flagella
are of whiplash type. On the basis of detailed
morphological characters, the myxomycetaceous forms
are being constituted into new genera and species.
R.S. Singh
Palynofacies analysis and palyno-cyclicity in Palaeogene-Neogene sediments of Upper
Assam and Jaintia Hills, northeast India
Finalized palynofloral and palynofacies analyses of
188 m thick section of Tirap colliery of Makum coalfields
(Tikak Parbat Formation, Chattian) in Upper Assam. The
studied section provides important insights into the
composition and distribution of plant communities in a late
Oligocene tropical delta (palaeolatitude approximately 18°
N). The lower two thirds of this section represent lower
delta plain environments with only a small degree of
www.bsip.res.in
17