Journal of the Palaeontological Society of ISSN 0522-9630 Volume 58(2), December 2013: 241-250

PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF PERMIAN SUCCESSION IN THE PENCH VALLEY COALFIELD, SATPURA BASIN, , INDIA

SRIKANTA MURTHY*, VIJAYA and S.M. VETHANAYAGAM

BIRBAL SAHNI INSTITUTE OF PALAEOBOTANY, 53, UNIVERSITY ROAD, LUCKNOW -226007, INDIA. *Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The coal-horizon Barakar Formation exposed in the Shivapuri opencast coal mine near Parasia town, district, Pench Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin, is worked out for its spore-pollen content. Approximately 47.00 m thick Gondwana sediments comprising the carbonaceous shales, shales, claystones, siltstones, fine to medium-grained sandstones and coal seams, have shown levels of changing patterns in the spore-pollen groups in the Barakar Formation. Dominance of radial monosaccate pollen taxa (Parasaccites and Plicatipollenites) along with significant spore species in the lower part of the section within 16 m depth leads us to infer the strata of the Upper Talchir and Karharbari formations of Early Permian age in the coalfield. In the up-section (31m depth), an abundance of Striatopodocarpites, Indotriradites and Scheuringipollenites suggests occurrence of the Barakar Formation which is considered the late Early Permian in age. In the top section, an abundance of striate bisaccate pollen taxa (Crescentipollenites, Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites) represents the Bijori Formation, which is equivalent to the Raniganj Formation of the Damodar Basin. According to the FADs of Arcuatipollenites spp., Klausipollenites schaubergeri and Playfordiaspora cancellosa observed between samples SPO 34 and 36, the end of Permian is suggested as these species mark the transition of the Permian level into the Lower Triassic.

Keywords: Palynostratigraphy, coal horizon, Permian succession, Pench Valley, Satpura Basin

INTRODUCTION The Satpura Basin encompasses the districts of Chhindwara, Betula, Narsinghpur and Hoshangabad of Madhya Pradesh (22º 06' and 22º 28' N and 77º 48' and 78º 53' E) (Fig. 1). There are four coalfields in this basin, namely the Pench valley, Kanhan valley, Pathakhera and Mohpani. Lower Gondwana sediments are represented by Talchir, Barakar, Motur and Bijori formations, while Upper Gondwana is known by Pachmarhi, Denwa and Bagra formations (Figs.1, 2). On the basis of lithology, the Motur, Bijori, Pachmarhi, Denwa and Bagra formations were recognized by Medlicott (1873). The Fig. 1. Geological map of the Satpura Basin showing location of the study area, Pench-Valley Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh. Motur and the Bijori are correlated with Barren Measures and Raniganj formations respectively in the Damodar Basin. The Pachmarhi, Denwa and Bagra formations radial monosaccate miospore along with abundant alete are found to be equivalent with the Triassic beds of the Panchet miospores of Early Permian (Talchir) age; Srivastava et al. and Mahadeva formations of the Damodar Basin. Recently, (1989) recovered palynoflora in the sediments of the Mura- Ray and Chakraborthy (2002) have carried out detailed Kuppa area in Betul Coalfield, which is closely comparable geological work and proposed the stratigraphic succession in with palynoflora of the Talchir Formation (Early Permian); Sarate the area (Fig. 2). (1986) studied the palynology of the coal horizon and its The spore-pollen studies were carried out in the Satpura correlation in Pathakhera Coalfield; it has been assigned to the Basin by Anand-Prakash (1972) who recovered palynoflora of Upper Karharbari and Lower Barakar Formations; Srivastava the Lower Barakar Formation from Pench-Kanhan and and Ram–Awatar (2002) studied the mottled clay bed of the Pathakhera coalfields; Bharadwaj and Anand-Prakash (1972) Motur Formation palynologically. They recovered the frequent dealt with the geology and stratigraphical settings of the Lower occurrence of striate bisaccate, which is characteristic of the Gondwana, and they detailed the palynofloral content of the Upper Barakar palynoflora; Srivastava and Sarate (1989) Talchir and the coal-bearing Barakar formations from Mohpani investigated bore-core samples, revealing two distinct palyno- Coalfield; Bharadwaj et al. (1974) recovered palynoflora from assemblages equivalent to the Upper Karharbari and Barakar the Talchir and Barakar formations from Pench- Kanhan palynoflora. The main objective of the present study is to date coalfield; Bharadwaj et al. (1978) studied mioflora of the and determine the biostratigraphic status of the coal horizon northern Satpura Basin which have been found to contain (Fig. 2). 242 SRIKANTA MURTHY, VIJAYA AND S.M.VETHANAYAGAM

Chhindwara and lies in the east of Kanhan valley coalfields (78º 38'- 79º 0' E, and 22º 09'- 22º 12' N). The rocks of the Barkar Formation are exposed in the area which shows well- developed sections of the Lower and Upper Gondwana sediments. The Lower Gondwana sediments are represented by the Talchir, Barakar, Motur and Bijori formations, whereas the Upper Gondwana is known by the Pachmarhi, Denwa and Bagra formations. The Shivapuri opencast mine is situated 20 km east of Parasia town exposing 47 m thick Gondwana sediments constituted of shales, carbonaceous shales, fine to medium-grained sandstones, claystones and coal horizons. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-four rock samples were collected from the Shivapuri open- cast mine (Fig. 2); only 22 samples have yielded the spores and pollen. For maceration, 50g of samples were taken and crushed, treated with 40% of HF for 3-4 days to remove the silica content. Later, the samples were washed thoroughly with distilled water to remove the acid. Thereafter, the samples were treated with HNO3 and kept for 5-6 days to digest humic matter. The samples were again Fig. 2. General geological stratigraphy of the Satpura Basin, Madhya Pradesh (Ray and Chakraborthy, washed with distilled water to remove 2002). the acid. Finally, the material was treated with 10% KOH to remove the humic debris and to get clear palynomorphs. Five slides from each sample were GEOLOGY OF THE AREA prepared and examined under phase contrast binocular Satpura Coalfields are located in northern Chhindwara and microscope. Betul districts, south of the Narmada. Three rivers namely Pench, Kanhan and Tawa flow through this area. There are PALYNOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS four coalfields, viz. Pench Kanhan Valley, Mohpani, Tawa Valley Based on the qualitative and quantitative analyses of the and Pathakhera Coalfields in these river valleys. The geology spores and pollen taxa, four palynoassemblages have been of the Satpura Gondwana Basin is unique among all the identified in the coal horizon Barakar Formation (Table 2 & Gondwana Basins because of very long-ranging stratigraphic Figs. 3, 4). The relative occurrences of the taxa vary from rare record from Permian to Cretaceous (Crookshank 1936). The (less than 1%), common (1-5%), fair (6-10%), abundant (11- Pench Valley Coalfield is situated in the north-west of 25%) and dominant (more than 25%) in each assemblage.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I 1. Callumispora fungosa Balme 1973 12. Tiwariaspora simplex (Tiwari) Maheswari & Kar 1967 2. Callumispora gretensis (Balme & Hennely) Bharadwaj & 13. Divarisaccus lelei Venkatachal & Kar 1966 Srivastava 1969 14. Parasaccites korbaensis Bharadwaj & Tiwari 1964 3. Lacinitriletes minutes Venkatachala & Kar 1968a 15. Parasaccites bilateralis Tiwari 1965 4. Microfoveolatispora indica Sinha 1972 16. Parasaccites obscures Tiwari 1965 5. Pseudoreticulatispora barakaensis Bharadwaj & Tiwari 1965 17. Parasaccites korbaensis Bharadwaj & Tiwari 1964 6. Apiculatispora weylandii Bharadwaj & Salujha 1965 18. Plicatipollenites indicus Lele 1963 7. Microfoeveolatispora raniganjensis Bharadwaj 1962 19. Vittina permegnna Tiwari 1964 8. Jayantisporites pseudozonatus Lele & Makada 1972 20. Sahnaites barrelis (Tiwari) Tiwari & Singh 1984 9. Gondisporites ranigajensis Bharadwaj 1962 21. Densipollenites magnicorpus Tiwari & Rana 1981 10. Indotriradites sparsus Tiwari 1964 22. Densipollenites invisus Bharadwaj & Salujha 1964 11. Potonietriradites barakarensis Bharadwaj & Sinha 1969 23. Crucisaccites indicus Srivasata 1970 Journal of the PalaeontologicalPERMIAN Society of PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY India OF THE PENCH VALLEY COALFIELD 243 Volume 58(2), December 2013

Plate I

MURTHY, VIJAYA AND VETHANAYAGAM 244 SRIKANTA MURTHY, VIJAYA AND S.M.VETHANAYAGAM

Associated species: Lacinitriletes minutus, Brevitriletes unicus, Potonieisporites magnus, Leiotriletes bilateris, Tiwariasporis simplex, Callumispora sp., Faunipollenites sp., Tetraporina tetragona, Crescentipollenites sp., Sahnites sp., Platysaccus sp. Palynodating: This spore–pollen composition is referable to the known Parasaccites-Plicatipollenites palynozone established in the Early Permian Talchir Formation of the Damodar Basin, West Bengal (Tiwari and Tripathi, 1988). The assemblage also compares with the Parasaccites korbaensis assemblage zone of Tiwari and Tripathi (1992), which is dated as the earliest Permian Tiwari (1975) made a comparative study of the known Talchir palynofloras and concluded that Parasaccites dominance is the characteristic of the upper Talchir Formation. The palynoflora in the present assemblage is dominated by Parasaccites associated with Plicatipollenites and is thus comparable with the Parasaccites-dominant T-2 palynozone of Tiwari (1975). Palynoassemblage II (Fig.4; Table 2) Depth: 8m (samples SPO 10- SPO 23) Dominant: Parasaccites- Plicatipollenites. Age marker species: Callumispora gretensis, C. fungosa, Crucisaccites monoletus, Tiwariasporis gondwanensis, Brevitriletes crassus and Diverisaccus lelei. Associated species: Scheuringipollenites tentula, Didecitriletes sp., Faunipollenites prexguus, F. minor, Indotriradites sp., Divarisaccus lelei, Tiwariasporis simplex, Leiotriletes bilateris, Caheniasaccites decorus, Tuberisaccites lobatus, Indotriradites sp., Distriamonocolpites circularis and Potonieisporites sp. Palynodating: The dominance of Parasaccites- Plicatipollenites and above-mentioned age marker species in assemblage II is compared to the palynozone of the Karharbari Formation of the Damodar Basin (Tiwari and Tripathi, 1988), which is dated as Early Permian in age and is correlated with the Crucisaccites monoletus palynozone of Tiwari and Tripathi (1992); it suggests Early Permian age to the Karharbari Formation. Palynoassemblage III (Fig.4; Table 1) Fig 3. Lithocolumn in the study area showing sample location. Depth: 18m (samples SPO 24- SPO 32); fine- to medium- grained sandstone, siltstones and carbonaceous shales. Besides, abundance of wood shreds, plant tissues and organic Dominant: Indotriradites - Striatopodocarpites - matter was also observed (Table 3). Parasaccites. Palynoassemblage I (Fig.4; Table 1) Age marker species: Scheuringipollenites (S. Depth: 7m (samples no SPO 1- SPO 9); carbonaceous shales barakarensis, S. maximus, S. tentula), Rhizomaspora indica, and thinly layered shales. Barakarites implicatus, Barakarites decorus, Striatites Dominant: Parasaccites- Plicatipollenites. comunis and Densipollenites indicus. Age marker species: Jayantisporites pseudozonates, Associated species: Microbaculispora barakarensis, Jayantisporites conata, Tuberisaccites tuberculatus, M. bokaroensis, Microfoveolatispora indica, M. fovoelata, Caheniasaccites sp. Cyclobaculisporites gondwanensis, Jayantisporites

EXPLANATION OF PLATE II 1. Faunipollenites varius Bharadwaj 1962 10. Arcuatipollenites ovatus (Goubin) Tiwari & Vijaya 1995 2. Faunipollenites singrauliensis Sinha 1972 11. Goubinospora sp. 3. Striatopodocarpites subcircularis Sinha 1972 12. Scheuringipollenites barakarensis (Tiwari) Tiwari 1973 4. Verticipollenites sp. 13. Scheuringipollenites maximus (Hart) Tiwari 1973 5. Crescentipollenites sp. 14. Alisporites indicus Bharadwaj & Srivastava 1969 6. Crescentipollenites fuscus (Bharadwaj) Bharadwaj, Tiwari & Kar 15. Striatopodocarpites magnificus Bharadwaj & Salujha 1964 16. Klausipollenites schaubergeri Potonie & Klaus 1954 1974 17. Playfordiaspora cancelosa Maheshwari & Banerji emend. Vijaya 7. Primuspollenites linterus Tiwari 1965 1995 8. Striatopodocarpites decorus Bharadwaj & Salujha 1964 18. Tetraporina tetragona (Pant and Mehtra) 9. Arcuatipollenites pellucidus (Goubin) Tiwari & Vijaya 1995 19. Weylandites circularis Bharadwaj & Srivastava 1969 Journal of the PalaeontologicalPERMIAN Society of PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY India OF THE PENCH VALLEY COALFIELD 245 Volume 58(2), December 2013

Plate II

MURTHY, VIJAYA AND VETHANAYAGAM 246 SRIKANTA MURTHY, VIJAYA AND S.M.VETHANAYAGAM

pseudozonatus, Brevitriletes sp., Striatites sp., I. However, the presence of stratigraphic age marker species Crescentipollenites sp., Faunipollenites varius, Tiwariasporis (Callumispora gretensis, Callumispora fungosa, simplex, Striomonosaccites circularis, Rhizomaspora singular Crucisaccites monoletus, Divarisaccus lelei) correlates with and Circumstriatites ovatus. the Crucisaccites monoletus palynozone of Tiwari and Tripathi Palynodating: The assemblage III is rich in simple as well (1992), suggesting equivalence with the Karharbari Formation, zonate triletes spores along with radial monosaccates Early Permian age. The interval between sample nos. SPO14 (Parasaccites and Plicatipollenites) and striate bisaccate and SPO17 and SPO 21 and SPO 22 is devoid of spore-pollen (Striatopodcarpites). This composition is similar to the known and contains abundance of small to big-sized, dark woody palynozone from the Barakar Formation in the Damodar Basin shreds and dark brown amorphous matter (Table 2). esp., in the abundance of Indotriradites, Parasaccites and Subsequently, in fine to medium-grained sandstones, Striatopodocarpites. This assemblage is placed in siltstones and carbonaceous shales from approximately 18m Scheuringipollenites barakarensis assemblage zone of Tiwari depth (SPO 24-SPO 32) the strata contain abundance of and Tripathi (1992) because of fair presence of Indotriradites, Striatopodocarpites and Parasaccites along Scheuringipollenites; it is dated as late Early Permian. with non-striate bisaccate pollen taxa Scheuringipollenites, Palynoassemblage IV (Fig.4; Table 1) Rhizomaspora and Barakarites. Hence, palynoassemblage III Depth: 12m (samples SPO 33- SPO 36); carbonaceous is compared with Scheuringipollenites barakarensis shales and coal horizon. palynozone (Barakar Formation, Damodar Basin) of Tiwari and Dominant: Crescentipollenites, Striatopodocarpites, Tripathi (1992) and assigned the late Early Permian age. Faunipollenites. In the younger part of the succession, between SPO 33 Age marker species: Densipollenites magnicorpus, D. and SPO 36 (ca 12m depth) comprising carbonaceous shales densus, D. invisus, Gondisporites raniganjensis, and coal horizon, is equivalent to the known Densipollenites Crescentipollenites fuscus, C. gondwanensis, C. bengalensis, magnicorpus palynozone of Tiwari and Tripathi (1992). Arcuatipollenites pellucidus, A. ovatus, Playfordiaspora Approximately 8m depth interval comprising carbonaceous cancelosa, Alisporites indicus, Goubinospora sp., sediments between SPO37 and SPO41 has no spore-pollen Pseudoreticulatispora barakarensis, Klausipollenites and is full of dark to dark brown amorphous matter. The schaubergeri, Microbaculispora villosa, Microfoveolatispora youngest part of the succession (SPO 42- SPO 44) comprises raniganjensis, Verrucosisporites narmianus, Trabeculosporites brown claystone and weathered sandstone and is devoid of nidhpurensis and Distriatites bilateralis. spores and pollens and plant debris. Associated species: Horriditriletes horridus, The dominance of Densipollenites (D .indicus, D. densus) Potonieitriradites barakarensis, Pseudoreticuatispora along with striate bisaccate pollen composition symbolises the barakarensis, Apiculatisporis weylandii, Weylandites circularis, Verticipollenites sp., Tiwariasporis flavatus, Motur Formation (Tiwari and Tripathi, 1992) but these taxa Striatites sp., and Distriatites sp,. have not been recorded the present strata. Palynodating: The overall composition of Assemblage CONCLUSIONS IV is similar to that from the upper part of the Raniganj Formation, latest Permian of the Damodar Basin in the age On the basis of the present palynological study, the marker species mentioned as above. Hence, this assemblage is following conclusions are drawn (Fig. 4, Table 1): comparable with Densipollenites magnicorpus palynozone of  Four palynoassemblages have been identified from the Tiwari and Tripathi (1992), and dated as the latest Permian in Barakar Formation in the studied sequence. age. The presence of Arcuatipollenites pellucidus,  Assemblage I, oldest in sequence, in present study (sample Klausipollenites schaubergeri, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, no SPO 1- SPO 9), is equated with the Parasaccites Alisporites indicus, Goubinospora sp. along with fair korbaensis Assemblage zone and is dated as the Earliest specimens of Densipollenites magnicorpus enhance the end Permian (Fig. 4). Permian age.  Assemblage II, in this succession (samples SPO 10- SPO23), is equated with the Crucisaccites monoletus palynozone, DISCUSSION which suggests. Early Permian age to the Karharbari Approximately 47 m thick Gondwana strata of the coal Formation (Fig. 4). horizon Barakar Formation is intersected at Shivapuri open cast  Assemblage III between samples nos SPO 24 and SPO 32, coal mine in the Pench Valley Coalfield. In this litho-succession, is comparable with Scneuringipollenites barakarensis four palynoassemblages are identified (I, II, III & IV) (Fig. 4); palynozone, which is late Early Permian in age. this is based on the stratigraphically important age marker  Assemblage IV, in samples (SPO33- SPO36), is youngest species (Table 1). Their relative occurrences along with other in the sequence and is correlatable with the Densipollenites associated significant species are discussed here to assess magnicorpus palynozone of Latest Permian age. the biostratigraphic status of the studied area (Fig. 1). The  Abundance of age marker taxa of the Motur Formation coal horizon basement is unknown. has not been recorded in the present study. The oldest stratum, ca 7m depth (SPO1 –SPO 8) comprising Hence, it is suggested that the Barakar Formation carbonaceous shales and grey shales, yielded an assemblage represents the deposits of Early to Late Permian in age. FAD’s which contains radial monosaccate pollen that favours the of Arcuatipollenites pellucidus, Goubinispora sp, Parasaccites korbaensis assemblage zone, upper Talchir Klausipollenites schaubergeri and Playforidaspora Formation of Tiwari and Tripathi (1992). cancelosa observed within SPO 34 and SPO 35 samples The composition of palynoassemblage II, approximately 8m enhance the end Permian level in the youngest part of the depth (SPO 10- SPO 23), is similar to that of palynoassemblage studied section. PERMIAN PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE PENCH VALLEY COALFIELD 247

Table 1: Occurrence and age marker species in the Palynoassemblage I, II, III & IV in the Shivapuri opencast mine, Pench Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin.

Sample no. Assemblage I Assemblage II Assemblage III Assemblage IV Palynotaxa SPO 1 to SPO 10 to SPO 24 to SPO 33 to SPO9 SPO23 SPO32 SPO36 Parasaccites korbaensis + + Parasaccites obscurus + + Plicatipollenites indicus + + Jayantisporites pseudozonates + Jayantisporites conatus + Callumispora gretensis + Callumispora fungosa + Crucisaccites monoletus + Indotriradites sparsus + Scheuringipollenites barakarensis + Scheuringipollenites maximus + Scheuringipollenites tentula + Horriditriletes curvibaculosus + Microbaculispora barakarensis + Densipollenite magnicorpus + Crescentipollenites fuscus + Crescentipollenites gondwanensis + Striatopodocarpites magnificus + Arcuatipollenites pellucidus + Playfordiaspora cancellosa +

Fig. 4. Palynoassemblage zones identified in the sequence exposed in the Shivapuri opencast coal mine, Pench-Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin and their stratigraphic status. 248 SRIKANTA MURTHY, VIJAYA AND S.M.VETHANAYAGAM

Table 2: Details of lithofacies and the recovery of yield of spore-pollen and taphonomic features of the Barakar Formation at different depths in the Shivapuri opencast coal mine, Pench- Valley Coalfield, Satpura Basin (* indicates productive samples). Sl. no. Sample no. Lithology Remarks 1 SPO 1 Thin layered shale Preservation good, spore- pollen poor, light brown, woody and amorphous present 2 SPO 2* Carbonaceous shale Fair preservation of spore- pollen, light brown, abundant plant debris, no woody shreds 3 SPO 3* Carbonaceous shale Preservation fair, spore- pollen rich, light brown, abundant plant debris, no woody shreds 4 SPO 4* Carbonaceous shale Preservation poor, spore- pollen medium, light yellow, exine peeled out, dark coloured, plant matter abundant 5 SPO 5* Carbonaceous shale Preservation poor, spore- pollen medium, light yellow, exine peeled out, dark coloured, plant matter abundant 6 SPO 6 Carbonaceous shale Preservation poor, spore- pollen common, light yellow, exine peeled out, abundant dark plant matter 7 SPO 7* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, honey brown, woody shreds and amorphous present 8 SPO 8* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, honey brown, woody shreds and amorphous present 9 SPO 9 Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, honey brown, woody shreds and amorphous present 10 SPO 10* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, honey brown, woody shreds and amorphous present 11 SPO 11 Carbonaceous shale Preservation bad, spore- pollen common, light yellow, exine peeled out, dark plant matter abundant 12 SPO 12* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, honey brown, exine peeled out, woody shreds and amorphous absent 13 SPO 13 Coal Poor preservation, medium spore- pollen, light yellow, exine peeled out, full of dark plant matter 14 SPO 14 Carbonaceous shale Preservation poor, spore- pollen less, broken, black to dark granular mass and woody shreds present 15 SPO 15 Carbonaceous shale Preservation poor, spore- pollen poor, broken, black granular mass and woody shreds present 16 SPO 16 Carbonaceous shale Preservation poor, spore- pollen poor, broken, black granular mass present 17 SPO 17 Carbonaceous shale Preservation bad, spore- pollen very poor, broken, black granular mass and woody shreds abundant 18 SPO 18* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, brown, exine peeled out, black granular mass and woody shreds common 19 SPO 19 Intercalation of Preservation good, spore- pollen poor, brown, amorphous and needle shaped woody shreds represented siltstone & coal 20 SPO 20* Intercalation of Preservation good, spore- pollen poor, brown, amorphous and needle shaped woody shreds represented siltstone & coal 21 SPO 21* Intercalation of Preservation good, spore- pollen poor, brown, amorphous and needle shaped woody shreds represented siltstone & coal 22 SPO 22* Intercalation of Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, brown, amorphous and needle shaped woody shreds represented siltstone & coal 23 SPO 23* Intercalation of Preservation good, spore- pollen poor, brown, amorphous and needle shaped woody shreds represented siltstone & coal 24 SPO 24* Intercalation of Preservation good, spore- pollen poor, brown, amorphous and needle shaped woody shreds represented siltstone & coal 25 SPO 25 Siltstone Preservation bad, spore- pollen less brown, needle shaped woody shreds represented 26 SPO 26* Siltstone Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, brown, needle shaped woody shreds common 27 SPO 27 Siltstone Preservation bad, spore- pollen poor, brown, needle shaped woody shreds represented 28 SPO 28* Siltstone Preservation good, spore- pollen common, yellow, woody shreds and amorphous absent 29 SPO 29* Siltstone Preservation good, spore- pollen common, yellow, woody shreds and amorphous absent 30 SPO 30 Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore-pollen rich, brown, dark coloured plant matter present 31 SPO 31* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore-pollen rich, brown, dark coloured plant matter common 32 SPO 32 Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore-pollen rich, brown to dark plant matter and woody shreds common 33 SPO 33* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore-pollen rich, brown to dark coloured plant matter common 34 SPO 34* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore-pollen rich, dark coloured plant matter common 35 SPO 35* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, brown, woody shreds and amorphous common 36 SPO 36* Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, brown, woody shreds and amorphous common 37 SPO 37 Carbonaceous shale Preservation good, spore- pollen rich, brown, woody shreds and amorphous common 38 SPO 38 Carbonaceous shale Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented 39 SPO 39 Carbonaceous shale Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented 40 SPO 40 Carbonaceous shale Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented 41 SPO 41 Carbonaceous shale Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented 42 SPO 42 Claystone Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented 43 SPO 43 Claystone Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented 44 SPO 44 Claystone Preservation bad, dark to brown plant debris represented

CHECK LIST OF SPORE–POLLEN Callumispora barakarensis Bharadwaj & Srivastava emend. Simple Trilete Spore Tiwari et al., 1989 Callumispora fungosa Balme, 1973 Gen u s Brevitriletes Bharadwaj & Srivastava emend. Tiwari & Singh, Callumispora gretensis (Balme & Henn) Bharadwaj & 1981 Srivastava, 1969 Brevitriletes unicus Bharadwaj & Srivastava emend. Tiwari Gen u s Lacinitriletes Venkatachala & Kar, 1965 & Singh, 1981 Lacinitriletes minutus Venkatachala & Kar, 1968a Brevitriletes communis (Bharadwaj & Srivastava) Tiwari & Gen u s Pseudoreticulatispora Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969 Singh 1981 Pseudoreticulatispora barakaensis Bharadwaj & Tiwari, Gen u s Callumispora Bharadwaj & Srivastava emend. Tiwari et al., 1965 1989 Gen u s Tiwarispon's Maheswari & Kar, 1967 PERMIAN PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE PENCH VALLEY COALFIELD 249

Tiwarisporis gondwanensis Maheswari & Kar, 1967 Gen u s Playfordiaspora Maheshwari & Banerji emend. Vijaya, 1995 Gen u s Apiculatisporis (Ibrahim) Potonie’ & Kremp, 1956 Playfordiaspora cancelosa (Maheswari & Banerji) Vijaya, Apiculatispora weylandii Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1965 1995 Gen u s Cyclogranisporites Potonie & Kremp, 1954 Gen u s Goubinispora Tiwari & Rana, 1981 Cyclogranisporites gondwanentis Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Goubinispora sp. Gen u s Cyclobaculisporites Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Gen u s Striomonosaccites Bharadwaj, 1962 Cyclobaculisporites minutus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Striomonosaccites ovatus Bharadwaj, 1962 Cyclobaculisporites indicus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Striomonosaccites circularis Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Gen u s Didecitriletes Venkatachala & Kar emend. Tiwari & Singh, Gen u s Diverisaccus Venkatachala & Kar, 1966 1981 Diverisaccus lelei Venkatachala & Kar, 1966 Didecitriletes horridus Venkata. & Kar emend. Tiwari & Gen u s Caheniasaccites Bose & Kar, 1966 Singh, 1981 Caheniasaccites decorus Lele & Makada, 1972 Gen u s Horriditriletes Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Gen u s Tuberisaccites Venkatachala & Kar, 1996 Horriditriletes curvibaculosus Tiwari, 1965 Tuberisaccites lobatus Lele & Makada, 1972 Gen u s Microbaculispora Bharadwaj, 1962 Genus Kamthisaccites Srivastava & Jha, 1986 Microbaculispora barakarensis Tiwari emend. Tiwari & Kamthisaccites sp Singh, 1981 Non-Striate Bisaccate Pollen Microbaculispora gondwanensis Bharadwaj, 1962 Gen u s Platysaccus Naum. emend. Potonie & Kremp, 1954 Microbaculispora villosa (Balme & Hennely) Bharadwaj, Platysaccus densus Kar, 1968 1962 P. sp Gen u s Microfoveolatispora Bharadwaj, 1962 Gen u s Klausipollenites Jansonius, 1962 Microfoveolatispora indica Sinha, 1972 Klausipollenites schaubergeri Potonie & Klaus, 1954 Microfoveolatispora fovoelata Tiwari, 1965 Gen u s Alisporites Daughterty emend. Jansonius, 1971 Microfoeveolatispora bokaroensis Tiwari, 1965 Alisporites indicus Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969 Microfoeveolatispora raniganjensis Bharadwaj, 1962 Genus Krempipollenites Tiwari & Vijaya, 1995 Gen u s Verrucosisporites Ibra. emend. Smith, 1971 Krempipollenites indicus Tiwari & Vijaya, 1995 Verrucosisporites narmianus Balme, 1970 Gen u s Scheuringipollenites Tiwari, 1973 Zonate Trilete Spores Scheuringipollenites maximus (Hart) Tiwari, 1973 Gen u s Gondisporites Bharadwaj, 1962 Scheuringipollenites tentulus (Tiwari) Tiwari, 1973 Gondisporites raniganjensis Bharadwaj, 1962 Scheuringipollenites barakarensis (Tiwa.) Tiwari, 1973 Gen u s Jayantisporites Lele & Makada, 1972 Gen u s Sahnaites Pant emend. Tiwari & Vijaya, 1984 Jayantisporites pseudozonatus Lele & Makada, 1972 Sahnaites barrelis (Tiwari) Tiwari & Singh, 1984 Gen u s Indotriradites Tiwari, 1964 Gen u s Vesicaspora Schemel, 1951 Indotriradites sparsus Tiwari, 1964 Vesicaspora indica Tiwari, 1965 Gen u s Potonietriradites Bharadwaj & Sinha, 1969 Striate-Bisaccate Pollen Gen u s Crescentipollenites Bharadwaj et al., 1974 Potonietriradites barakarensis Bharadwaj & Sinha, 1969 Crescentipollenites gondwanensis (Mahesh.) Bharadwaj Monosaccate Pollen et al., 1974 Gen u s Bharadwjipollis Kar, 1969 Crescentipollenites fuscus Bharadwaj et al., 1974 Bharadwjipollis striatus Kar, 1969 Crescentipollenites sp. Gen u s Barakarites Bharadwaj & Tiwari, 1964 Gen u s Distriatites Bharadwaj, 1962 Barakarites indicus Bharadwaj & Tiwari, 1964 Distriatites bilateris Bharadwaj, 1962 Barakarites indica Tiwari, 1965 Gen u s Distriamonocolpites Bharadwaj & Sinha, 1969 Barakarites implicatus Tiwari, 1965 Distriamonocolpites ovalis Bharadwaj & Sinha, 1969 Barakarites decorus Gen u s Faunipollenites Bharadwaj, 1962 Gen u s Densipollenites Bharadwaj, 1962 Faunipollenites magnus (Bose & Kar) Tiwari & Vijaya, Densipollenites densus Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969 1989 Densipollenites invisus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Faunipollenites singrauliensis Sinhas, 1972 Densipollenites magnicorpus Tiwari & Rana, 1980 Faunipollenites varius Bharada. emend. Tiwari et al., 1989 Gen u s Parasaccites Bharadwaj & Tiwari, 1964 Gen u s Rhizomaspora Wilson, 1962 Parasaccites bilateralis Bharadwaj & Tiwari, 1964 Rhizomaspora indica Tiwari, 1965 Parasaccites korbaensis Bharadwaj & Tiwari, 1964 Rhizomaspora singula Tiwari, 1965 Parasaccites obscurus Tiwari, 1965 Gen u s Striasulcites Venkatachala & Kar, 1968 Gen u s Plicatipollenites Lele, 1964 Striasulcites ovatus Venkatachala & Kar, 1968 Plicatipollenites indicus Lele, 1964 Striasulcite tectus Venkatachala & Kar, 1968 250 SRIKANTA MURTHY, VIJAYA AND S.M.VETHANAYAGAM

Gen u s Striatites (Pant) Bharadwaj, 1962 Bharadwaj, D.C. and Anand-Prakash 1972. Geological and Palynostratigraphy of Lower Gondwana Formation in Mohapani Striatites communis Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh. India. Geophytology, 1(2): 103- 115. Striatites reticuloides Tiwari, 1965 Bharadwaj, D.C., Navale, G.K.B and Anand Prakash. 1974. Striatites magnificus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964 Palynostratigraphy and Petrology of Lower Gondwana coals in Pench-Kanhan Coalfield, Satpura Gondwana Basin, M.P, India. Gen u s Verticipollenites Bharadwaj, 1962 Geophytology, 4(1): 7-24. Verticipollenites gibbosus Bharadwaj, 1962 Bharadwaj, D.C., Tiwari, R.S. and Anand- Prakash. 1978. A Talchir Verticipollenites secretus Bharadwaj, 1962 mioflora from Northern Satpura Basin, India. Palaeobotanist, 25: 62- 69. Verticipollenites debilis Venkatachala & Kar, 1968 Medlicott, H.B. 1873. Notes on the Satpura coal Basin. Memoir Taeniate Geological Survey of India, 10: 159. Gen u s Arcuatipollenites Tiwari & Vijaya, 1995 Ray, S. and Chakraborthy, B. 2002. Lower Gondwana fluvial succession of Pench-Kanhan Valley, India: Stratigraphy architecture Arcuatipollenites pellucidus (Goubin) Tiwari & Vijaya, 1995 and depositional controls. Sedimentary Geology, 151: 243- 271. Arcuatipollenites ovatus (Goubin) Tiwari and Vijaya, 1995 Sarate, O.S. 1986. Palynological correlation of the coal seams of Gen u s Guttulapollenites Goubin, 1965 Pathakhera Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh, India. Geophytology, 16(2): 239- 248. Guttulapollenites hannonicus Goubin, 1965 Srivastava, S.C. and Ram-Awatar, 2002. Palynological assemblage Guttulapollenites punctatus Venkatachala, Goubin and Kar from Motur Clay Bed of Satpura Gondwana Basin, Madhya Pradesh, Sulcate India.Geophytology, 31(1&2): 81- 86. Srivastava, S.C., Anand-Praksh and Sarate, O. S. 1989. Palynology Gen u s Weylandites Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969 of the Talchir Formation from Betul Coalfield, Satpura Basin, India. Weylandites indicus Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969a Palaeobotanist, 37(1): 81- 84. Weylandites cicularis Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969 Srivastava, S.C., and Sarate, O.S. 1989. Palynostratigraphy of the Lower Gondwana sediments from Shobhapur Block, Pathakhera Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh. Palaeobotanist, 37(1): 125- 133. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tiwari, R. S. and Tripathi, A. 1988. Palynological zones and their Authors are thankful to Dr. N.C. Mehrotra, Director, BSIP, climate inference in the coal bearing Gondwana of Peninsular India. Lucknow for kind permission to publish this work and also Palaeobotonist, 36: 87-101. extend sincere thanks to Dr. Ana M. Zavattieri for critical Tiwari, R. S. and Tripathi, A. 1992. Marker assemblage zones of suggestions and comments. spore and pollen species through Gondwana Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sequence in India. Palaeobotanist, 40:194-236. REFERENCES Tiwari, R.S.1975. Palynological composition of the basal Gondwana in India. Bull. Soc. Belge Ge’ologe, 84(1): 11- 17. Anand-Praksh 1972. Sporae dispersae in the coals of Pench-Kanhan and Pathakhera Coalfield (M.P.), India. Palaeobotanist, 19: 206- 210. Manuscript accepted June 2013