Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No. 1 January 2017 CONTENTS Stratigraphic Simulation of Late Paleozoic Coal Bearing Cycles in Gondwana Basins of 1-8 Eastern using Continuous Time, Markov Model….. Ram Chandra Tewari Differential Subsidence and Coal Formation in Early Permian Gondwana Sequences of 9-16 Eastern-Central Peninsular India……Zahid A. Khan and Ram Chandra Tewari A Review of Modern Pollen-rain/Vegetation Relationship from Eastern , 17-28 Central India ...... M.F. Quamar Petrography of Coal Seams from Belampalli Coalfield, Godavari Valley, State, 29-36 India ...... Omprakash S. Sarate Palynofloral Evidences from Sub-surface Sediments of Bhadrawati Area, Wardha Valley 37-44 Coalfield, Central India...... Omprakash S. Sarate, S. A. Kalkar and S. D. Bhute Morphometric Analysis of Basin, , , India, using 45-53 Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques S. Manjunatha, Manjunath Dalwai, Raju Sukhaye, J. Davithuraj Integrated Investigations of WGAMG′0 Watershed from , 55-67 for Planning of Artificial Recharge Sites…… Y.A. Murkute and N.G. Oak Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Felsic Meta-volcanic Rocks of Baghmara Formation, 69-74 Sonakhan Greenstone Belt, Central India…..S.D. Deshmukh, K.R. Hari, P. Diwan and M.P. Manu Prasanth Quaternary Faunal Assemblages from Purna Alluvial Basin, Maharashtra, Central India 75-80 ...... A.M. Varade, G.L. Badam, N.G. Thakur, M.P. Tiwari, A.P. Bejalwar and S.P. Khadse Palaeogene Fish Otoliths from Lignite Associated Succession (Cambay Formation) 81-92 Khadsaliya, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India………Lachham Singh, Raman Patel and Rajendra Singh Rana Book Review 93 Micropalentology, Principles and Applications…….Bandana Samant

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.1 - 8 Stratigraphic Simulation of Late Paleozoic Coal Bearing Cycles in Gondwana Basins of Eastern India using Continuous Time Markov Model

Ram Chandra Tewari Department of Geology, Sri Jai Narain Post Graduate College, Lucknow-226001, India E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract The Early Permian Karharbari and Barakar coal bearing cyclothems of Giridih and Saharjuri Gondwana sub-basins of Peninsular India represent asymmetrical and symmetrical cycles of sandstone, shale and coal. Lithologic composition shows decrease of sandstone at the cost of shale and coal through time from Karharbari to Barakar. The two successions were respectively deposited by braided and moderately sinuous streams which flowed from southeast to northwest. Application of continuous time Markov chain model suggests that transition probability of lithologic transitions attains 'equilibrium stage' after 19 iterations in Karharbari and 10 in the overlying Barakar Formation. These differences are due to difference in lithologic composition and cyclic orders; asymmetrical cycles in Karharbari abound in coarse grade member, whereas symmetrical in the Barakar exhibits the same amounts of coarse and fine members. Cumulative probabilities of individual lithology of sandstone, shale and coal are used to simulate the Karharbari and the Barakar stratigraphy by random selection. These simulated successions are closely comparable with those of actual stratigraphy from borehole logs. It is suggested that simulated stratigraphic sections of coal bearing cyclothems can best be used to predict sub-surface stratigraphy and percentage and number of associated coal seams. Keywords: Stratigraphic simulation, Markov Chain, Early Permian, Gondwana, Cyclothems.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.9 - 16

Differential Subsidence and Coal Formation in Early Permian Gondwana Sequences of Eastern-Central Peninsular India

Zahid A. Khan1 and Ram Chandra Tewari2 1504, W.R. Apartments, 5, J.C. Bose Marg, Lucknow-226001, India 2Department of Geology, Sri J.N.P.G. College, Lucknow-226001, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] ------Abstract The variation in net subsidence in Early Permian Karharbari and Barakar Formations of Giridih and Korba Gondwana sub-basins of eastern-central India is analysed using interspecific association statistical technique between lithologic and stratigraphic variables. All possible pairs chosen from nine variables: total thickness, total thicknesses of sandstone, shale and coal, number of sandstone beds, shale beds and coal beds, sand/shale ratio and ratio of (sandstone + shale)/coal. Results suggest that Karharbari Formation of Giridih Gondwana sub-basin characterise basic pairs significant at 5% level as total thickness- total thickness of sandstone, total thickness- number of sandstone beds, total thickness of coal beds- number of coal beds, and total thickness of coal beds- number of shale beds. Whereas, the succeeding Barakar Formation characterise significantly correlated lithologic variables such as total thickness-total thickness of sandstone, total thickness- number of sandstone beds, and total thickness of shale beds- number of coal beds. These basic pairs therefore represent interspecific associations among stratigraphic and lithological variables for the Karharbari and Barakar formations, respectively. The above interspecific association basic pairs of the Karharbari Formation suggest that total thickness of sandstone, number of sandstone beds and numbers of shale beds are largely responsible for variation in net subsidence i.e. total thickness and imply the formation of peat swamps in distal flood plains. In the succeeding Barakar Formation the total thickness of sandstone, number of sandstone beds and number of coal beds mainly control net subsidence and the coal swamps developed largely in abandoned channels. Keywords: Interspecific Association, Karharbari and Barakar Formations, Early Permian, Giridih and Korba sub-basins, Gondwana Sequences.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.17 - 28 A Review of Modern Pollen-rain/Vegetation Relationship from Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Central India M.F. Quamar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract The modern pollen-rain/vegetation relationship studies carried out from tropical deciduous sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) dominating forests distributed in eastern Madhya Pradesh, India are reviewed in the present paper. The study has demonstrated that Shorea robusta (sal), despite being an enormous pollen producer (about 60,000 pollen grains/flower, 61,020 pollen grains/flower and up to 94,600 pollen grains/flower) and dominant forest constituent (60 to 90% of total forest constituents), is encountered mostly in low frequencies, which could be inferred to its low pollen dispersal efficiency and poor (pollen) preservation in sediments. Madhuca indica, a common associate of sal in the said forest, has shown mostly higher values in total pollen rain, which could be attributed to its local abundance around the provenance of samples, coupled with high pollen dispersal efficiency as well as good preservation of its pollen in the sediments. However, the other usual and typical associates of tropical deciduous sal forests, despite their frequent presence in the forests, are under-represented, sporadically represented or not represented at all, which could be ascribed to their low pollen productivity because of entomophily. In this review article, the factors affecting the pollen deposition pattern of different components of the tropical deciduous forests dominated by sal were discussed so that they all may be considered while interpreting the pollen diagram for the accurate explanation of the vegetation-based reconstruction of past climate during the Late Quaternary. Keywords: Pollen rain, Tropical deciduous sal (Shorea robusta) forests, Vegetation and Climate, Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Central India.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.29 - 36 Petrography of Coal Seams from Belampalli Coalfield, Godavari Valley, Telangana State, India Omprakash S. Sarate Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, India E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract The present paper incorporates coal petrographic analysis of three sub-surface coal seams encountered in the Bore-hole No. A-146 from Belampalli coalfield of Godavari Valley, Telangana State, India. The topmost index seam contains high proportion of mineral matter and the coal is shaly in nature. The middle seam show a wide variation in its maceral content as depicted by the existence of vitric, fusic and mixed coal types. The bottom seam is marked by the presence of fusic coal. Similarly, from the random vitrinite reflectance (Ro mean%) study, it is inferred that the bottom seam has reached the rank of high volatile bituminous 'C' stage, whereas the middle seam contains coal with rank variation from sub- bituminous 'B' to high volatile bituminous 'C' stage. The facies diagram advocates prevalence of alternate oxic and anoxic moor conditions during the deposition of the bottom seam while, the middle seam has witnessed both wet moor with intermittent moderate to high flood as well as alternate oxic and anoxic moor conditions. Keywords: Belampalli, Godavari Valley, Reflectance, Macerals, Depositional environment, Telangana State.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.37 - 44 Palynofloral Evidences from Sub-surface Sediments of Bhadrawati Area, Wardha Valley Coalfield, Central India

Omprakash S. Sarate1*, S. A. Kalkar2 and S. D. Bhute2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, India 2Department of Botany, Institute of Science, -440 001, India *E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract The present palynological study has been carried out on the sub-surface sediments of Wardha valley coalfield, intersected in Bore-hole No. BK-149, drilled at Kesurli village, in the vicinity of Bhadrawati area, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra State, India. The palynoflora contains dominant striated disaccates genus Striatopodocarpites in association with Faunipollenites. However, in sample No. 3 (257.89m) Faunipollenites dominates over Striatopodocarpites. Existence of monosaccates Striamonosaccites along with Parasaccites in lower frequency is recorded from younger horizons of this Bore-hole. Other stratigraphically significant palynomorphs of the assemblage includes Verticipollenites, Scherungipollenites, Tiwariasporis, Inaperturopollenites, Cyclogranisporites, Crescentipollenites, Klausipollenites, Ibisporites, Falcisporites, Weylandites and Playfordiaspora. This assemblage has shown closer affiliation with Late Permian palynoflora reported from Raniganj/Bijori Formations of different Gondwana basins of India, e.g., Wardha valley coalfield, Maharashtra, Godavari valley, and Telangana, Satpura, Son- and Singrauli coalfields, Madhya Pradesh, Auranga coalfield, Jharkhand, Damodar and Raniganj coalfields, West Bengal and , . The present palynological study has provided supporting evidence for the deposition of sediments of Late Permian age in Bhadrawati area of Wardha valley coalfield. It has also been inferred that the Lower Gondwana deposition in the region initiated with cold climate that changed to warm and humid conditions at later stages. Keywords: Late Permian palynoflora, Kesruli, Chandrapur District, Wardha valley coalfield, Maharashtra, Central India.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.45 - 53 Morphometric Analysis of Karanja River Basin, Bidar District, Karnataka, India, using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

S. Manjunatha1*, Manjunath Dalwai1, Raju Sukhaye1, J. Davithuraj2 1Department of Geology, Karnatak Science College, Karnatak University, Dharwad-580 001, India 2Central Ground Water Board, SUO, Belgaum-590 019, India *E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract In this study the detailed morphometric and drainage network analysis of Karanja river basin, a tributary of , has been carried out by using remote sensing and GIS technique. The Karanja river basin (study area) is divided into six sub-basins based on the drainage network identified on the digital elevation model (DEM) of the area using Arc-GIS 10 software. Morphometric parameters like linear, aerial and relief aspects of the basin have been evaluated, which revealed that, the sub-basins exhibits dendritic and sub-dendritic drainage pattern. Low values of bifurcation ratio suggest that the area was not affected by structural disturbances, whereas low drainage density (0.8 to 1km2) indicates highly permeable sub-soil and coarse drainage texture in the study area. The quantitative analysis in terms of form factor (0.27 to 0.57), circulatory ratio (0.33 to 0.51), elongation ratio (0.59 to 0.85) clearly indicates elongated shape of the sub-basins. Relief ratio that varies from 0.003 to 0.004 indicates gentle slope of the drainage basin. The slope map of Karanja river basin indicates that the major part of the area is very gently sloping (55.54%) to nearly flat (39.64%), however, around denudational hills, the terrain is steeply sloping. Hence, it is recommended to implement groundwater recharge schemes for proper management of water resources. Keywords: Morphometric analysis, Karanja river basin, Bidar district, RS-GIS.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.55 - 67 Integrated Investigations of WGAMG′0 Watershed from Chandrapur District, Maharashtra for Planning of Artificial Recharge Sites

Y.A. Murkute* and N.G. Oak Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur-440001, India *E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract The present paper deals with the morphometric analyses of WGAMG′0 Watershed, Chimur Taluka, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra. A drainage map of the area has been prepared with the help of satellite imagery and the toposheet. The drainage pattern is mostly dendritic in lower order streams and sub-parallel in higher orders streams. The average bifurcation ratio of watershed is 4.14, which indicates that the area has less structural disturbance. The drainage density value of 0.77/km2 suggests more infiltration than run-off. The small length of overland flow indicates gentle to moderate sloping area, which is susceptible to erosion, whereas the circulatory ratio of 0.28 reveals slightly elongated to oblong nature of the drainage basin. In the study area, two aspects viz. erosion control and artificial recharge have been studied. The geomorphology, lithology, landuse, rainfall and slope enabled to arrest and treat the active zones of sheet erosion and intensive gully erosion. The artificial recharge measures suggested are percolation tanks, check dams, nala bunds, recharge pits, contour trenches, gully plugs, earthen dykes, underground bandhara, dabari structure and roof top rain water harvesting structure. Keywords: WGAMG′0 watershed, morphometry, drainage, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.69 - 74

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Felsic Meta-volcanic Rocks of Baghmara Formation, Sonakhan Greenstone Belt, Central India

S.D. Deshmukh1, K.R. Hari2*, P. Diwan3 and M.P. Manu Prasanth2 1Department of Geology, Govt. V.Y.T. PG, Autonomous College, Durg, India 2School of Studies in Geology and WRM, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India 3Department of Applied Geology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, India *E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract The Neo-Archean Sonakhan Greenstone Belt (SGB) is located in the north-eastern fringes of the Bastar craton in Central India and is composed of greenschist to amphibolite facies meta- volcanic rocks and meta-sedimentary sequences. The felsic meta-volcanic rocks from SGB exhibit steep REE pattern (La/Yb = 66.86). The trace element geochemistry indicates negative Nb and Ti anomalies in the multi-element spider diagrams suggesting subduction related origin for this volcanic suite. It has been inferred that the felsic and mafic volcanic rocks are characterised by bimodal volcanism. The felsic magmatism in SGB might have been generated by the partial melting of the crustal portion, either due to the heat generated by the diapirism of mafic magma or by the heat generated during the subduction process. Keywords: Archean Sonakhan Greenstone Belt, Bagmara formation, Suprasubduction zone, Bastar Craton, Central India.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.75 - 80 Quaternary Faunal Assemblages from Purna Alluvial Basin, Maharashtra, Central India A.M. Varade1*, G.L. Badam2, N.G. Thakur3, M.P. Tiwari4, A.P. Bejalwar5 and S.P. Khadse6 1Department of Geology, RTM Nagpur University Nagpur-440001, India 2Retd. Professor, Deccan College, Pune, India 3Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Amravati- 444602, India 4334, Lokmanya Nagar, Hingna Road, Nagpur-440016, India 5Shyam Nagar, Amravati- 444606, India 6 Shivaji Science College, Congress Nagar, Nagpur-440012, India *E-mail:[email protected] ------Abstract The Purna alluvial basin of Maharashtra State, India contains rich faunal assemblage of Quaternary period. These includes mammalian fossils viz. Equus namadicus and Bos namadicus, reptilian fossils viz. Trionyx gangeticus and invertebrate fossils belonging to molluscan shells especially lamellibranchs. The faunal assemblage has preserved evidences of erosion, abrasion and breakages and has thrown light on taphonomy and palaeoecology of the Purna valley. Taphonomic processes in the valley were predominantly controlled by natural factors and are devoid of human interference. This study has indicated the migration and distribution pattern of animals in the past and their palaeo- environmental assessment. Further research on palaentological aspects, including systematics and chronology may prove significant in establishing and fixing the precise litho and chronostratigraphic events of the basin fill sediments and their correlation with the coeval sediments of Central Indian Quaternary basins. Keywords: Purna Valley, Quaternary sediments, Palaeoecology, Taphonomy, Maharashtra, Central India.

ISSN : 2455-1953

Journal of Geosciences Research Vol. 2, No.1, January, 2017 www.ggsnagpur.org pp.81 - 92 Palaeogene Fish Otoliths from Lignite Associated Succession (Cambay Formation) Khadsaliya, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India Lachham Singh, Raman Patel and Rajendra Singh Rana* Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal)-246174, India *E-mail: [email protected] ------Abstract Ten genera and seventeen species of teletostean taxa of otoliths were recovered from the Khadsaliya clays (Cambay Formation) exposed in Khadsaliya open cast lignite mine, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. This was done by screening and washing of ~500kg rock matrix of which ten species are new viz. Palaeogadus elongatus sp. nov., P. lanceolatei sp. nov., Ampheristus bhavnagarensis sp. nov., “genus Batrachiodidarum” eocenous sp. nov.,” genus Opisthognathid” sahnii sp. noZZZv., “genus O”. khadsaliyensis sp. nov., Apogon nolfi sp. nov., A. closeostiumus sp. nov., A. cambayenensis sp. nov. and “genus Uranoscopidarum” ellipticus sp. nov. The present day relative of these represented taxa occurs in the marine realm while some of them penetrate into fresh water such as pristigasterids, atherinids, centropomids, ambassids and ophidiids but the primary freshwater fishes are absent. The present taxa are mainly confined to tropical, subtropical, very shallow, near shore habitat and the mesopelagic and deep water bottom fishes are also absent. In general, the present fish taxa suggests a protected shallow marine environment and not widely exposed ocean realm and may be regular influx of fresh water or may be estuarine of protected bay. Keyword: Otoliths, Teleost, Palaeogene, Maceration, Bhavnagar, India.