1991-92 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1991-92ResearchProjectsand ProgrammesPROJECT 1 ,ANTlQUITY, RADIATION AND EVOLUTION­ARY PATTERNS OF EARLY LIFEProgramme 1.1 ,Palaeobiology of Vindhyan BasinObjective,To identify metaphyte and metazoan body fossils,ichnofossils and their relics from the Proterozoicsuccession and their evolution and diversification,To identify organosedimentary structures found inassociation of metaphytes and metazoans and 10decipher environmental conditions,To determine the significance of metaphytes andmetazoans in biostratigraphyObservations on the organic-walled microfossils comprising acritarchs, algaeand cf. vendotaenid in the Ganurgarh Shale exposed near Mid-Ghat railway stationhave been completed. The O.W.M. compare with the known Vendian assemblagesdue to the presence of large sized acritarchs, viz., Leiosphaeridia, Orygmatosphaeridium,Vavososphaeridium, Nucellosphaeridium andCymatiosphaeroides; tubular cyanobacterial forms, viz., Eomycetopsis, Polythrichoides,Tubulosa and cf. Vendotaenid.Studied organic-walled microfossils both in thin section and macerated residuepreparations from the Bijawar Group and Vindhyan Supergroup, viz., GanurgarhShale, Nagod Limestone, Sirbu Shale and Maihar Sandstone formations exposedaround Damoh-Narsingarh. Interesting organic-walled microfossils dOl\)inated bythe Vendian marker Bavlinella are recorded from the Nagod Limestone Formation.The Sirbu Shale shows the presence of acritarch with decomposed walls andtubular filaments.Studied macroscopic biota, in the Rohtas Formation. A branched filamentousform possibly ?alga is recorded. Besides, further observations are made onAmjohrea indicating its affinity with ?Chlorophycean remain.P.K. Mailhy and R. BabuPrepared samples of Suket Shale to study the metaphyte and metazoan evidences.K.L.MeenaProgramme 1.2Objective,Palaeobiology of the Proterozoic sediments inCuddapuh, Kuladgi and Bhima- basins,To record distribution of Precambrian microfossils11