1991-92 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1991-92Work other than ProgrammesOrganic petrology and spontaneous combustion susceptibility of coals / lignitesLiptinite macerals in the coals, generally masked by the mineral (inorganic)matter, are most significant in relation to the economical and depositional aspectsof the Permian coals. Under blue light excitation, these macerals (up to 57 %) inSingrauli coals show manifold increase. Also made first authentic record ofBotryococcus algae (alginite) from the coals. A paper on these features has beenpresented at the Palaeobotanical Conference, Lucknow.A scheme for indexing spontaneous combustion susceptibility of Indian coalsand lignites has been proposed, which incorporates most of physical, chemical andpetrological factors recognized to have induced spontaneous heating process. It isalso realized that these factors have only relative significance in their complexinter-relationships, not presently understood, and there may be some other potentfactors not identified, as yet, in Indian conditions.B.K. Misra and B.D. SinghThe coal fire data and its various implications have been studied from India,Canada, Germany, Netherlands and western U.S.A. It has shown that this problemis more prevalent in most of the coalfields having low rank coals in the world. Thevarious facets of this problem particularly the role of resin material and fluorescingvitrinite, besides other factors were dealt in a keynote address' Coal fire - a globalchallenging frontier " delivered at XII International Congress on Carboniferousand Permian Stratigraphy and Geology (ICCP), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Manuscripthas been finalized and submitted for publication.A biopetrological study of some resin samples from U.S.A. is being carried out.It has indicated that the kauri resin is more brittle in nature as compared to theresinous material of Eocene age. The fluorimetric study is in progress.RakeshSaxenaMorphological evolution of pteridophytic spores in relation to aquatic environmentwas analysed. It was observed that the aquatic ferns are mostlyheterosporus with trilete mark. They evolved in Lower Cretaceous and exceptAzolla and Salvinia all of them became extinc~ in Late Maastrichtian. The commongenera are: Arecellites, Molaspora, Balmeisporites, Ariadnaesporites, Glomerisporites,Parazolla, Azolloposis, Azolla and Salvinia. The morphological evolution andadaptation of these genera in relation to aquatic environment is discussed.Studied the pollen morphology (L.M. and SEM) of coryphoid palm genusLicuala Wurmb (9 species) and its phylogenetic relationship with other palmgenera.R.K.Kar55