The Palaeobofanisf, ~1(2):176-190, 1983.
LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS IN THE HUTAR COALFIELD, PALAMAU DISTRICT, BIHAR, INDIA
MANOJ SHUKLA Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
ABSTRACT The paper deals with the various aspects of lithostratigraphy of the Hular Coalfield alongwith the palynoflora recovered from the various formations. The palynozonation of the Lower Gondwana formations has been done on the basis of palynofloras re covered from the samples belonging to three measured sections along Deori Naja, Saphi Nala and Koel River. Extension of these zones in various other nalas of the Hutar Coalfield has been traced. Comparison of these palynozones with those in other Lower Gondwana coalfields has also been done. Assemblage Zone 5 of the Barakar Formation contains a palynoflora similar to the Barren-Measure Formation of otha coalfields.
Key-words - Palynostratigraphy, LithostratigraphY, Lower Gondwana, HUlar Coalfield, India.
mmr
~ (~) it "ll<'rfll6; "R'R if; g- ~ ma- ~ ~ 'l1~rm,~ e'ffi ~ ~i\1fdF<"'lif; Pn'll?r 'fiT m;r;;f'!;m 1T1lT I >;ruP; 'fit q"([lTT'lT ~ "T~~m~ fq"f;'IffiR ~ 'IT\1T, fTT'li't'IT\1T C('l''l>1!ffi"Tenif; Wlf-Wlf ~ ~.q'1fYfd"lldif; man: ~ ~ ~ ~ >;r!1~'l1~r ~ 'fiT fu:m<: f'!;m 1T1lT I HlliiOIFn t:is<1'i '! '1ft~ ~ ~I orrm;n: m,-ff~Qif; tf~'Oi'f!.f-li:S INTRODUCTION Glossopteris indica, G. damudica, Ganga mopteris cyc/opteroides var. attenuata, G. HE Hutar Coalfield (latitude, 23°44' to cyc/opteroides var. subauriculata, coniferous 23°52' and longitude, 83°53' to 84°11 ') branch and equisetaceous stems, found T• lies in east-west trending Gond near the northern mergin of the Hutar wana belt along Koel Valley. Earlier, Coalfield. Ghosh, Singh and Acharyya Ball (1880) and Rizvi (1972) prepared (1977) reported the presence of Barren the detailed geological maps of this coalfield. Measures Formation in the Hutar Coalfield They recognized only three groups of sedi without giving any details. Palynological ments, vi,.;., Talchir, Barakar and Mahadeva. analysis of the Talchir Formation has been Recently, Shukla (1982) demarcated the done by Lele and Shukla (1981). Karharbari Formation in this coalfield The Gondwana sediments in the Hutar and revised the geological map of Rizvi Coalfield form a syncline. They are sur (1972). The presence of Karharbari sedi rounded on all sides by Archaeans. The ments was earlier inferred by Festimantel Talchir Formation rests nonconformably (1886) on the basis of plant fossils, viz., over the Archaeans. The Talchir sediments IN SHUKLA - LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS 177 are succeeded by the K3.rharbari Forma Striations on the boulders are rarely seen. tion. A conglomtfate between the Talchir The granite gneisses, vein-quartz, amphi and Karharbari sediments indicates a hiatus bolite Schist, pegmatite, quartzite and Jespar betw.:en these two formations. The Karhar form most of the pebbles while boulders b:Hi-Barakar boundary is mostly faulted are made of granite gneisses. They are except in the east and north-eastern parts embedded in a' sandy matrix. of the coalfield. Norm'll contacts are The sandstone varies from fine to medium m3.rked by the ridgeforming Chocolate brown grained and is poorly sorted. In a vertical to red Lower B:Hakar sandstone in this section the member shows pseudostrati coalfield. Dhankutia, Dhaj and Ranimai fication. hillocks mark this contact in the eastern 2. Shale Member - This member overlies and north- north-eastern portion of the the Basal Sandstone Conglomerate Member. coalfield. The Barakar sandstone is It shows two lithological facies: ovulain by massive red sandstone of the (i) Shale jacies comprising greenish-yellow, Mahadeva Formation with an angular u n fine-grained splintery shales which break conformity. into small needle-like fragments. (i i) Rhythmite jacies is represented by varves and sh,de siltstone alternations. The LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY varves are best exposed in the Saphi Nala near Ukamnar Village and in The Archaeans surrounding the Hutar the Behra Nala near Putvagarh Village. Coalfield belong to a series of metamorphic They Show alternation between dark rocks consisting of granites, gneisses with green clayey and light grey silty layers. mica, hornblende and quartz veins. Re These Jayds invariably exhibit graded gionally these rocks are uniform in nature. appearance within the laminae and vary The area in the south of the Hutar Coal in thickness Variation is more fre field is covered by granite gneisses, in which quent in the light coloured silty layers. quartz veins having general trend of £15° Laterally as well as vertically the varves N-W 15°S are also seen. Some of these grade into shales. In the Ukamnar veins are up to 30 cm thick. Towards area they are seen affected by reverse north-west, black synite is present. In faulting. Ripple marks, current bedd the west of the coalfield, the a rea is covered ing, slump structure, etc. are also ob with gneisses, traversed by pegmatite and served in the sediments associated with quartz veins. Granite gneisses traversed them. The shales, immediately over by dolerite dykes are seen in the East of lying the varves, show dropstones. the coalfield. These dykes are trending The siltstone alternation are exposed in east-west. Deori Nala, Ukamnar area and the Behra Nala exposures. The silty layers vary in thickness from 2-20 cm and can be distin TALCHIR FORMATION guished from the shales due to differential type of weathering, massive appearance This form3.tion is distinguishable into and compact nature. These beds are the following three membus in ascending laterally traceable in the field for long order. The scheme proposed by Ghosh distances. and Mitra (1969) has been followed here 3. Upper Sandstone Member - It is coarse for stratigraphic classification. grained and greenish in colour and CO\l /. Basal Sandstone Conglomerate Member stituted mostly of immature subround - It is characterized by lateral and vertical ed quartz grains and rock fragments. variations in the lithology from conglo The sandstone is overlain by a con merate to sandstone. Towards southern glomerate. side of the coalfield the boulder bed is seen grading into sandstone and shale. Some conglomeratic lenses have also been noticed KA}{HARBARI FORMATION in the sandstone. Boulders and pebbles forming these bedS range from I cm to The Karharbari Formation in the Hutar 1 m in size and are subrounded in nature. Coalfield is seen overlying the Talchir 178 THE PALAEOBOTANIST Formation without any discordance in dips, BARAKAR FORMATION but the beds of the two formations are separated by a bed of conglomerate i ndicat It has been divided into following three ing a hiatus. This conglomerate bed is members: noticeable both in the Koel and the Deori 1. Compact red Sandstone Member - It Nala sections. Some good sections of the is a characteristic member which can be Karharbari Formation are exposed in deeper taken as marker horizon to separate the nala - and river-cuttings through the Barakar and Karharbari formations. Due to Barakar sandstones. This formation con hard and compact nature of the sediments in sists of thick succession of gritty ferruginous this member it stands out in the form of a sandstones separated by thi n coal-shale number of hillocks which mark the Kar beds. harbari-Barakar boundary. The sandstone I. Basal Conglomerate Member - The is red to chocolate brown, coarse-grained pebbles are mostly of granite gneiss, horn and poorly sorted. Occasionally, the lenses blende-schist, mica schist, chlorite-schist, of conglomerate are also present. Pebbles quartzite, vein-quartz, Talchir Shale and are mostly of quartz. epidiorites, which are set in a fine sandy 2. Critty Sandstone Member - This mem matrix. In the past, this conglomerate ber is also composed of two distinct was classified with the Talchir boulder lithologies, viz., gritty sandstone and coal beds due to apparent lithological similarities. shale. In the present work it is taken as a basal Sandstone - It is coarse grained and unit of the Karharbari Formation, as it occasionally gritty. The grains are sub marks the beginning of the Karharbari rounded. Le.nses of conglomerate made cycles of sedimentation. • up of immature quartz pebbles are also 2. Critty Sandstone Member - It consists seen. It is less ferruginous than the Kar of two distinct types of sediments, viz., harbari sandstones. Iron nodules are also sandstones and coal-shales. Four coal-shale rare. At few places, carbonaceous grits beds have been observed in the Deori Nala associated with shale beds have also been Section, where the Karharbari Formation seen. is best exposed.. Coal-Shale bed - The lower Barakar sedi Sandstones - They are medium-to coarse ments of this coalfield are characterized grained, reddish brown, poorly sorted and by thick and frequent coal seams. The mainly composed of subrounded quartz coal is generally shaly and dull in nature. and feldspar grains. Occasionally, the sand The coal seams show gradational contact stones are gritty to pebbly. At places iron with sandstones passing through shale and nodules are also seen in the sandstone. sandy shale beds. Sometimes thin streaks These nodules are often washed off by water of coaly matter are also seen in the sand action, leaving behind rounded cavities. stones associated with these beds. Frequently the sandstones are strongly, 3. Ferruginous Sandstone-Shale Member current-bedded with laminae sloping towards - It consists of two types of lithologies, east. viz., the sandstones and clay-shale beds. Coal-Shales - The coal beds show sharp Sandstone - It is gritty to pebbly, ferru contacts with the sandstone on the upper ginous, mostly constituted of poorly sorted side while the lower contact is transitional immature quartz grains. In extreme west, passing through coaly shale-shale-sandy near the Barakar-Mahadeva contact, these shale to sandstone. The coal is generally sandstones show a typical greenish-black dull, hard, compact, non-banded and durain colour. The sandstones in general have type in appearance. Rarely lenses of vi train a tendency to become more pebbly near are also seen. The shales occurring near top. the sandstones are rich in sandy material Clay and shales - This zone shows near and show transitional contact with sand absence of carbonaceous matter. The stones whereas, the shales present near shales are fine-grained and show various the coal seams are rich in carbonaceous green and red shades. The clays are material. The shales are generally grey massive, non-Iami nated and yellow in colour. but also show various shades of black Occasionally, their surface is stained with colour. iron. The significant feature of these shale SHUKLA - LlTHOSTRATlGRAPHY OF LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS 179 and clay beds is their similarity with the Srivastava, 1970; CannanoropoWs obscurus Talchir shales. This type of lithology is (Lele) comb. nov. (= Virkkipollenites ob not common in the Barakar Formation of scurus Lele, 1964, pI. 2, fig. 17, p. 60); other areas. Potonieisporites neglectus Potonie & Lele, 1961; P. jayantiensis Lele & Karim, 1971; P. densus Maheshwari, 1967; P. crassus MAHADEVA FORMATION Lele & Chandra, 1973; Parasaccites distinctus Tiwari, 1965; P. bilateralis Tiwari, 1965; It is represented by a thick massive sand P. obscurus Tiwari, 1965; P. diffusus Tiwari, stone which dipsIO-12° in S 25°W. It 1965; P. talchirensis Lele & Makada, 1972; overlies the Barakar Formation with a P. densicorpus Lele, 1975; Tuberisaccites marked angular unconformity. The hills tuberculatus (Maheshwari) Lele & Makada, formed by these sandstones have steep 1972; Caheniasaccites distinctus Lele & escarpment with uneven top. The sand Makada, 1972; Vesicaspora sp.; Faunipol stones are feldspathic at the base with an lenites goraiensis (Potonie & Lele) Maithy, occasional thin bed of red ferruginous shale. 1965; Crescentipollenites amplus (Balme & Extension of the various members in the Hennelly) Lele & Shukla, 1981. Hutar Coalfield is given in Table 1. KARHARBARI FORMAnON MATERIAL Callumispora tenuis; C. tenuis var. minor; Three sections along Deori Nala, Koel Leiotriletes sp., Brevitriletes levis (Balme River and Saphi Nala were measured. The & Hennelly) Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1969; samples were collected along these and other Microbaculispora indica Tiwari, 1965; Jayan nala and river cuttings. Details of samples tisporites pseudozonatus Lele & Makada, in these sections alongwith the thickness 1972; Plicatisporites distinctus Lele & Makada of individual beds is shown in Text-fig. 1 1972; Tiwariasporis simplex (Tiwari), and Table 2. Palynozonation has been Maheshwari & Kar, 1967; Pilasporites cal done in the three measured sections and culus Balme & Hennelly, 1973; Brazilea their extension has also been traced in other punctata Tiwari & Navale, 1967; Greiner sections. vi/lites undulatus Bose & Kar, 1967; Balmeela tetragona Pant & Mehra, 1953; B. gigantea Bose & Maheshwari, 1968; Quadrisporites MIOFLORAL COMPOSITION AND horridus (Hennelly) Potonie & Lele, 1961; DISTRIBUTION Parasaccites korbaensis Bharadwaj & Tiwari, 1964; P. dislinclus; P. diffusus; P. obscurus; Forty-six genera and 98 species of pollen P. bilateralis; P. densicorpus; P. plicatus and spores are represented in the miofloral Lele & Makada, 1972; P. invasus Tiwari, complex present in the Hutar Coalfield. 1968; Crucisacciles lalisulcalus Lele & The palynofossils, recorded from each Maithy, 1964; C. indicus Srivastava, 1970; formation, are listed below: Stellapollenites talchirensis Le1e, 1965; S. 10. indicus Lele & Kulkarni, 1970; Slellapol lenites sp., Divarisaccus lelei Venkatachala TALCHIR FORMATION & Kar, 1966; Caheniasacciles decorus Lele & Makada, 1972; C. granulalus Lele & Psilalacinites triangulus Kar, 1969; Makada, 1972; C. granulalus Lele & Chandra, Callumispora tenuis var. minor Bharadwaj 1972; Plicalipollenites indicus; P. gond & Srivastava, 1969; Verrucosisporites sp.; wanensis; P. diffusus; P. trigonalis; Kibam Horriditriletes curvibaculosus Bharadwaj bites corius Bose & Kar, 1967; Cannanoro & Salujha, 1964; Jayantisporites pseudo poWs orientalis (Tiwari) comb. nov. zonatus Lele & Makada, 1972; J. conatus (= Virkkipollenties orientalis Tiwari, 1968, Lele & Makada, 1972; Plicatipollenites p. 23, pI. 34, fig. 38); Polonieisporites lrian indicus Lele, 1964; P. gondwanensis (Balme gulatus Tiwari, 1965; P. monosaccoides & Hennelly) Lele, 1964; P. trigonalis Lele, (Bose & Maheshwari) Lele, 1975; P. neglec 1964; P. diffusus Lele, 1964; P. densus tus; P. jayantiensis; P. densus; P. sp. cf. o00 TABLE 1-EXTENSION OF LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNITS IN THE HUTAR COALFIELD FORMATION MEMIlERS DEaRI DEaR! KOEL SAPHI BEHRA SAPHI KELHA GHORASUM DURIA- CHELHA- NALA NALA RIVER NALA NALA (UKAMNAR NALA NALA KHAR PA~IKHAR (SOUTH) (NORTH) (NORTH) (NORTH) AREA) Mahadeva Ferruginous pebbly + sandstone ANGULAR UNCONFORMITY------(Fault) ------. ------_ Ferruginous + + + + + -+- sandstone-shale Barakar Gritty sandstone + + + + Compact red + sandston.: + ------•---•------•--- (fault) ------• Gritty + + + + + + Karharbari sandstone Basal + + + conglomerate ------EROSIONALBREAK ------(Fault). ------. --- _. - -. ------. -. • •_ Upper sandstone + + (Fault) + Shale + + + + + Talchir Basal sandstone + + + + conglomerate ." -•----•-- NONCONFORMITY --•------•• ------•------_- • _ Granite, gneiss + + + + Archean schists Page 181 PAYNOLOGICAL vERTICAL SCALE FORMATION ASSEMBLAGE - ZONE ~?,,, 9,, ,~,O'" 1111:.....-.::,.. J z J.i~,~,- """A"". >- ? oz ~ LOCATION MAP b Spll~ z < IX Sp8 .. o ..J z !;pll) o lJ...... o SpllZ MIOFLORA .... ~ NOT « :l~-'J:,' ~ Spill KNOWN F- a: ~r~~s~,o;~:~~=~~Gl~OLL(,.·I~~~: ~..... o ASSIIoIIILAGI- ZONa lL. ZONE- .. MIOFLORA S01EuRINr.rpOu..ENITE 5 STRlASULClTE5 NOT ASSEMBLAGE '1"', ZONE KNOWN a: 8:t~17; « ''''1 ~ z ~ « o mmJ~l='~Jl° a:: z « ~ ID '1,1. I o SAPHI NALA Z MIOFL.ORA NOT KNOWN SECTION « oa:: ..J lJ.. ." Q INDEX ~ "'"::i:,:: : ""it;-: ....;:::::::.:;::. ZONE - 3 g:~:: =-~-.:-~=-:-g::~, -"-"'-=----=- i g §:j COAL PARASACCITES PARASACCITES ,,"_,_ 0; • \' ~ ~ COALY SHALE (( z SCHEURINGIPOLLENI 00'0 SCHEURINGIPOLLENITES :'i)'~"~_~;0 o CIl,O C1i ASSEMBLAGE ASSEMBLAGE '. - L\-, .... 1C'1~ SHALE IX ~ ZONE ;:;;~=_:~i;ZONE ~f;;:- < ~ ~I~.~~~GRIT TY SANDSTONE J: ZONE-2 IX a: F _rj~i~i~~w~~~1~~'2SAND-STONE WITH LENSES < ~ OF CONGLOMERATE ~ f2 PARASACCITES 0'. PARASACCITES CALLUMISPORA W\~t;~lPEBBLY SANDSTONE ASSEMBLAGE - ZON E -ZONE MEDIUM- COARSE SANDSTONE NEEDLE SHALE I ,:'.~~::,I.:;:;&!i~:.~ii'£#;~¥i ;=~:";~;:i&tiif:t' '-;;;i:;;;::: BOULDER BED GENERALIZED DEORI NALA I TEX1-f1G _ .., o KARHARBARI :0 BARAKAR FORMATION l: l> » FORMATION --< 0 6 0 N= z c ~ > f:" ~• - PARASACCITES 1(]:lIJ -----_._-- PL1CAT\POLlENtTES "~-==:X=-==- CAHENIASACCITES CANNANORO?OLLIS CALLUMISPQRA JAYAN T IS?ORITE 5 FAUNtPOLLENrTES .------+------1• • -.J I CRESCENTIPOLLE N lTE 5 I o SCHEUR1NG1POUENITES 1- CRUCISACCITES BREVITRILETES BRAZILEA BALMEELA PILA5PORITES ,::::a QUADRISPORITE 5 ::::~ STRIATITES - PLATYSACCUS :~:::. • LAHIRITES STRIATOPODOCARPIT'ES FUSACOLPITES ._-"~ STRIASULCITES _._--<) DENSIPOLLENITES SHUKLA- LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS 183 TABLE 2-DETAIL OF SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM OrHER NALAS, EXPOSING LOWER GONDWANA BEDS (BESIDES THREE MAIN TRAVERSES) IN THE HUTAR COALFIELD No. SAMPLE FORMATION LOCATION No. DTJ5 Needle shale with Talchir Near Barwadih Village in Deori NaJa siltstone 2 BT2, Bn Needle shale with TaJhchir Behra Nala, N·W of Dhaj Pahar siltstone 3 DBl6 Shale- Coal Karharbari Deori NaJa, near Hutar Colliery 4 KIK2 CoaJ Karharbari Kelha Naja, nearly JOO meter from con- fluence of the Kelha Nala and Deori Nala 5 GB2 ShaJe- Coal Karharbari Ghorasum Nala, near its confluence with Deori Nala 6 SBIO Coaly shale Karharbari Satbahni Nala, 0.5 km south-east of Hot- water spring 7 SBI Carbonaceous shale Barakar Satbahni Nala 8 SB3 Sandy carbonaceous Barakar do shale 9 SB8 Shale Barakar do 10 CB3 Sandy carbonaceous Barakar Chelha-Panikhar Nala shale P. letei Maheshwari, 1967; Scheuringipol 1965; F. parvus; F. goraiensis; F. bharad lenites maximus (Hart) Tiwari, 1973; S. wajii Maheshwari, 1967; Faunipollenites sp-, barakarensis (Tiwari) Tiwari, 1973; S. ten (cf. Tiwari, 1965). Striatopodocarpites labrus tulus (Tiwari) Tiwari, 1973; Ibisporites Tiwari, 1965; S. decorus Bharadwaj & diplosaccus, Tiwari, 1968; Korbapollenites Salujha, 1964; Lahiriles Jructus Tiwari, sp.; Faunipollenites varius Bharadwaj, 1962; 1965; L. alulas Venkatachala & Kar, 1968; F. perexigllus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964; L. rams Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1965; L. F. parvus Tiwari, 1964; Crescentipollenites incertus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1965; Crescen Juscus (Bharadwaj) Bharadwaj, Tiwari & tipollenites Juscus; C. globosus (Maithy), Kar, 1974; Ginkgocycadophytus cymbatus Bharadwaj, Tiwari & Kar, 1974; Striatiles (Balme & Hennelly) Potonie & Lele, implicatus Bose & Maheshwari, 1968; S. 1961. cancellatus (Balme & Hennelly) Potonie, 1956; S. multistriatus (Balme & Hennelly) Tiwari, 1965; S. ornatus Venkatachala & BARAKAR FORMATION Kar, 1968; Distriatiles insolitus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964; Ginkgocycadophytus Indotriradites surangei Tiwari, 1965; cymbatus; Fusacolpites Jusus Bose & Kar, Densipollenites indicus Bharadwaj, 1962; D. 1966; Striasulcites tectus Venkatachala & invisus Bharadwaj & Salujha, 1964; D. Kar, 1968; S. ovatus Venkatachala & Kar, minimus Venkatachala & Kar, 1968; D. 1968. brevis Lele & Srivastava, 1977; Crucisac cites sp., Vesicaspora distincta Tiwari, 1965; Plicatipollenites indicus; Potonieisporites PALYNOLOGICAL SUCCESSION concinnus Tiwari, 1965; P. triangulatus; P. monosaccoides; P. bilateralis Singh, 1964; Palynological succession of the Lower P. densus; Potonieisporites sp., Illinites de Gondwana sediments in the Hutar Coal lasaucei (Potonie & Klaus) Grebe & Schwei field has been worked out on the basis of tzer, 1962; Schellringipollenites maximus; percentage distribution of genera (Text S. barakarensis; S. tentulus; Platysaccus fig. 2). However, some species found in hingirensis Tiwari, 1964; Ibisporites dip10 the miofloral assemblage of the Hutar Coal saccus; Korbapollenites sp., Rhizomaspora field show a restricted distribution in time Jimbriata Tiwari, 1965; Faunipollenites (Table 3) and therefore are useful at least varius; F. perexigllus Bharadwaj & Salujha, for broad local correlation, 184 THE PALAEOBOTANIST Section, though it is also encountered within TABLE 3 -- DISTRIBUTION OF MIOSPORES the Koel River and Behra Nala sections. SPECIES IN THE LOWER GONDWANA FORMATION OF THE HUTAR COALFIELD The miospore frequency distribution is shown in Table 4. SPECIES TALCHIR KARHAR- BARAKAR 2. Parasacciles-Callumispora Assemblage BARI Zone - This zone is marked by the dominant presence Parasacciles and Ca/lumispora. Parasacci/es X of /a/chirensis The other important genera present in the P/icalipo//elli/es X zone are Plicalipollenites, Scheuringi densus pollenites, Faunipolleniles, Caheniasacciles, P%nieispori/es X crassus POlonieisporiles, Crescenlipolleniles and Caheniasaccites X Crucisacciles. An important feature of this dis/illc/us zone is the presence of alete genera, viz., Callnanoropo//is X Quadrisporiles, Bafmeefa, Pilasporites obscurus and Brazelia in the upper part (sample Parasaeci/es X X densieorpus no. OB7-OB8) of the zone. This zone P/ica/ipo/leni/es X X is identified in the Deori Nala Section trigona/is only. The miospore frequency distribution Plicalipo/leniles X X 5. gondwanensis is shown in Table Parasacciles plicalus X 3. Parasacciles-Scheuringipollenites Assem Ca/lumispora lenuis X bfage Zone - This zone shows the domi Brevi/ri/e/es levis X nant presence of Parasacciles and Scheu Crucisacciles indicus X ringipollenites. Other important genera are Seheuringipo//eniles X X lenlu/us Faunipolleniles, Plicalipolleniles, Callumi P%nieisporiles X spora, POlonieisporiles, Caheniasacciles, concinnus Brevilrifeles, Crucisacciles, Jayanlisporites, P%nieispori/es X barra/is Microbaculispora, Tiwariasporis, Balmella, Faunipo/leniles X Brazelia, Stellapolleniles, Vesicaspora, perexiguus Divarisaccus, Kibambiles, Cannanoropollis Faunipo/leniles X and Ibisporiles. Genera like Scheuringi bharadwajii Crescenlipo//elliles X polleniles, Crucisacciles and Faunipo/leniles g/obosus gradually increase while Callumispora, IIIiniles de/asaucei X Brevilrifeles, Plicalipolleniles and POlonie Stria/ires mU/li- X isporites gradually decrease. This zone is slrialus S/rialiles ornalus X best exposed in the Deori Nala Section Dis/ria/iles inso/i/lis X though it is also encountered within the Rhizomaspora X Koel River Section, Kelha Nala, Ghorasumi fimbriala Nala and Satbahni Nala. The miospore S/rialopodocarpiles X frequency distribution is given in Table 5. /abrus Slrialopodocarpiles X 4. Scheuringipolleniles-Slriasulcites Assem decorus blage Zone - This zone is marked by Lahiriles rarus X the dominant presence of Scheuringipol Lahiriles ineer/us X Lahiriles a/ulus X feniles and Slriasulciles. Other important genera present include Potonieisporites, Faunipolleniles, Slrialiles, Crescenlipolleniles, Lahiriles, Plalysaccus, Tiwariasporis, Vesica The palynological succession in the Hutat spora, Illiniles, Ibisporites, Slrialopodocarpiles, Coalfield is divided into 5 Assemblage-zones. Dislrialites, Ginkgocycadophylus and Fusacol 1. Parasacciles-Plicalipollenilcs Assem piles. This zone is best exposed in the blage Zone - This zone is marked by the Koel River Section, though it is also dominant presence of Parasacciles and encountered with in Chelha-Panikhar Nala Plicalipolleniles. Other important genera and Satbahni Nala. Miospore frequency are - Polonieisporiles, Caheniasaccites, Can is given in Table 6. nanoropo/lis, Callumispora, Jayanlisporiles, 5. Densipol/enites-Scheuringipol/enilesFauni Vesicaspora, Limilisporiles, Faunipolleniles. pol/eniles Assemblage Zone - This Assem It is best identified in the Deori Nala blage-zone is marked by the dominant SHUKLA - LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS 185 TABLE 4- DISTRIBUTION OF PALYNOMORPHS IN VARIOUS SAMPLES OF THE TALCHIR FORMATION (ASSEMBLAGE ZONE-I) IN THE HUTAR COALFIELD DWRI NALA KOELRIVER BEHRA NALA DT,+DT J DT,. KT 1 BT3 ST. Psilalaciniles + Cal/umispora 2 6.5 3 4 2 Verrllcosisporiles + - - - + Horridilrileles + - - - + Jayanlisporiles 0.7 2 - + I Parasacciles 51.9 53 54 59 56 Tuberisacciles 0.2 - - - Caheniasacciles 3.2 4.5 8.5 5 4 Vesicaspora 0.7 1 - - - Cannanoropol/is 3.2 4.5 8.5 5 4 Plicalipol/eniles 31.7 21.5 19.5 22 24 POlonieisporiles 5.7 8.5 12.5 8 8 Faunipol/eniles 0.5 - 0.5 - 2 Crescenlipolleniles 0.2 0.5 - + Foveolusa - - + + BOlryococcus - - + occurrence of genera Densipo/lenites, Scheu (1.9 %)and bisaccates (0.6 %)are rare. This ringipollenites and Faunipo/lenites. Genera zone Shows resemblance with miofloral Striasulcites, Platysaccus, Crescentipo/lenites, zones in the North Karanpura (Zone I of Striatites, Fusacolpites, Lahirites, Rhizo Kar, 1973), Korba (lower part of Zone-I maspora and Verticipollenites are also of Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1973), Mohpani present. (Zone-l of Bharadwaj & Anand-Prakash, This zone is best developed in the Koel 1972), Giridih (older part of Zone I of River Section, though it is also encountered Srivastava, 1973), Bokaro (late Talchir flora with in Satbahni Nala. Miospore frequency of Lele, 1975), Jayanti (middle to upper is given in Table 6. set of Talchi r flora of Lele & Makada, 1972), Johilla (late Talchir mioflora of Chandra & Lele, 1979) and Manendragarh area DISCUSSION (Bharadwaj et al., 1979). All these miofloras show dominance of radial monosaccates, The Lower Gondwana succession in the viz., Parasaccites, Cannanoropollis and Hutar Coalfield has been divided into Plicatipollenites with Potonieisporites, Cahe Talchir, Karharbari and Barakar formations. niasaccties and Vesicaspora ranging from Palynologically, it is divided into 5 zones, rare to subdominant. Triletes, especially viz., (i) Parasaccites-Plicatipollenties Assem Callumispora, do not form more than 9 % blage-zone, (ii) Parasaccites-Ca/lumispora of the assemblage except for one sample Assemblage-zone, (iii) Parasaccites-Scheu each in the Jayanti and Korba coalfields. ringipo/lenites Assemblage-zone, (iv) Scheu Records of bisaccate pollen are quite ringipollenites-Striasulcites Assemblage inconsistent in the Talchir Formation and zone, and (v) Densipo/lenites-Scheuringipol they should not be allowed to diffuse the lenites - Faunipo/lenites Assemblage - zone. real picture which is primarily based on The lithostratigraphic units and palyno radial monosaccates and triletes. Earlier, stratigraphic units show a close agreement the only broadly possible zonation in the (Table 7). Talchir flora was given by Lele (1975), i.e. Assemblage-zone I represents the mio of late and early Talchir flora based on flora of the Talchir Formation in this the diversification and paucity of genera. coalfield. This zone is dominated by radial Lower middle and upper set of miofloras monosaccates (85 %) genera like: Parasac in the Jayanti Coalfield (Lele & Makada, cites and Plicatipollenites, whereas the triletes 1972) are all part of late Talchi r miofiora. 00 0\ TABLE 5 - SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOlJS MLOSPORES IN THE KARHARBARI FORMATION (ASSEMBLAGE ZONE·2 AND 3) OF HUTAR COALFIELD (D B=Deori Nala; KB=Koel River; KIB=Kelha Nala; GB=Ghorasum Nala; SB=Satbahni Nala) GENERA ZONE-2 ZONE-3 ------SAMPI.E No. DB5 DB7 DB7 DB8 DB8 DB9 DBJ2 DBJ6 KB3 KIB, GB. SB lO (A) (B) (A) (B) Callumispora 24 16 JO 31.5 17.8 8 2.5 6.5 6 3 2 LeiOTrileTes 2 3.5 0.5 I Brel'iTrileTes 3 0.5 0.5 2.5 2 0.5 1.5 2 Microbawlispora 2 3.5 J 2.5 0.5 JayamisporiTes 2 0.5 3.5 J ..., Plicatipollenires 0.5 1.5 :I: Tiwariasporis 1·5 0.5 0.5 tTl "tl Pilasporires 20 0.5 7 0.5 1 > t"" Brazilea 3 0.5 2 1.5 > (;reinervillires J 1.5 tTl 0 Balmeela 2 17.5 2 t::D Quadri.\porires 42.5 ...,0 Parasaccires 44 34 1.5 42 J8.5 49 47 38 37.5 44 35.05 60 > Crucisaccires I 3 J 3 1.5 J 3 Z srellapollenires J 0.5 0.5 0·5 1.5 en..., Divarisacclls 0.5 0.5 J Caheniasaccires 4 2 u.5 2 2 2 2 5.5 2.5 I 3 3 Plicaripollenires 11 16 3 7 6 2.2 8 18.6 3 6 13 Kibambires 2.0 0.5 I 3 Cannanoropo/lis 0.5 1.5 2 2.5 Potonieisporires 4 5 2.5 6.5 6 1.7 3.5 JO.5 2.5 1 Scheuringi- 8 6 2.5 9.5 J2 J3 20 23.5 17.5 32 18.05 JI pollenires lbisporires 0.6 cf. Korbapollenites 0.5 0.6 J 1 Fatlnipollenire s J 8 4 9.5 9 14 5.5 4.6 9 11.05 3 Crescenripollenires 2 0.5 1 1 5.1 1 2.5 J (Jink/?ocywdo- J phyrus SHUKLA- LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS 187 TABLE 6 - DISTRIBUTION OF MIOSPORES IN VARIOUS SAMPLES OF BARAKAR FORMATION (ASSEMBLAGE-ZONE-4 AND 5) (KB=Koel River; CB=Chelhapanikhar Nala; SB=Salbahni Nala) GENERA ZONE-4 ZONE-5 KB, CB, SB. KB. SBI SB, MicrobaClilispora - - - + + + Indotriradites + + + - - Densipo/lenites + + + 36 38 39 Vesicaspora I 2 3 Plicatipollenites + - Potonieisporites 20 IO 12 Schellringipollenites 20 22 23 25 22 18 Illinites I + I Ibisporites 3 3 3 Platysaccus 3 3 3 I 2 I Rhizomaspora - - 2 I 3 Faunipollenites 12 15 15 22 23 28 Striatopodocarpites + + - 3 4 4 Lahirites 4 3 2 5 4 3 Crescentipollenites 8 8 8 I 2 I Striatites 8 II 9 2 I I Distriarius I I I - - Flisacolpites 2 4 3 I 2 + Striasulcites 17 17 15 I I 3 Ginkgocycadophytus I I I - - I The three zones given by Tiwari (1975) This zone shows resemblance with are somewhat hypothetical and need to be miofloral zones in the North Karanpura demonstrated in conti nuous succession. (Zone II of Kar, 1973), Korba (upper Recently, Chandra and Lele (1979) pub subzone in Zone I of Bharadwaj & Srivas lished an exhaustive study of the Talchir tava, 1973), Giridih (younger part in Zone I miofloras from a number of areas in South of Srivastava, 1973), Raniganj (Callumispora Rewa Gondwana Basin in which they zone of Tiwari, 1973), Umrer Quarry, identify two miofloral zones in the Talchir Nagpur (Zone I of Bharadwaj & Anand Form'ltion. The lower zone is characterized Prakash, 1974), Jayanti Coalfield (flora of by the prevalence of Plicatipolleniles over samples DIS and 19, Lele & Makada Parasaccites; whereas in the upper zone 1974), West Bokaro Coalfield (Anand the pictu re is reversed. A similar con Prakash, Srivastava & Tiwari, 1979) and clusion has been drawn by Bharadwaj el al. Auranga Coalfield (Lele & Srivastava, 1979). (1979) from their study of the Manen Zone II of the Mohpani Coalfield which dragarh Talchir miofloras. shows a flora dominated by Sulcatisporiles Assemblage zone-2 represents mioflora of ( = Scheuringipolleniles) and apiculate genus the lower part of the Karharbari Formation. Brevitriletes, is miofloristically nearer to This mioflora shows a sudden increase in the Lower Barakar mioflora and hence the triletes and decrease in monosaccates. has been placed there in the present work. This abrupt change in miofloral picture Assemblage-zones 1 and 2 of the Hutar indicates a hiatus between the deposition Coalfield together correspond with the Zone of the Talchir and the Karharbari forma I of the Korba Coalfield (Bharadwaj & tions. This hiatus is also indicated by Srivastava, 1973) and Zone I of the Giridih the presence of a conglomeratic horizon Coalfield (Srivastava, 1973). However, in above the Talchir Formation, both in the both these coalfields two sets of mioflora, Koel River Section near Hutar Village and i.e. lower and upper are recognized which in the Deori Nala section near Barwadih compare with the Assemblage-zone I and Village. 2 of the Hutar Coalfield respectively. .... 00 00 TABLE 7 - CO.\1PARTSON OF LITHOSTRATiGRAPHIC AND PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNITS iN THE HLJTAR COALFIELD FORMATION LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY ------Member D~~ri Koel Saphi Biozone Deori KoeJ Saphi Nala River Nala Nala River Nala MAHADEVA + Mioflora not known + BARAKAR Sandstone shale- clay + + do + + Member Sandstone Coal-shale + Zone V Densipollelliles- + Memb~r Schellringipollelliles - Faunipolleniles Assemblage zone --l :I: Zone IV Scheuringipolleniles- + m Slriaslllciles "1:1 Assemblage zone ;l> r' ;l> Compact red Sandstone + Assemblage not known - 7- 7- 7- 7- 7-?- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7 m Member 0 I:ll 0 --l KARHARBARI Sandstone and shale coal + + Zone III Parasacciles- + + ;l> Member Scheuringipolleniles Z Assemblage zone Vi --l Zone II Parasacciles- + Call/lmispora Assemblage zone Basal conglomerate Member + + TALCHIR Upper Sandstone Member + + Shale-Varve-siltstone + + Zone I Parasacciles- + + Member Plicalipolleniles Assemblage zone Basal-sandstone - conglo- + + merate Member ARCHEAN + + SHUKLA - LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF LOWER GONDWANA FORMATIONS 189 Assemblage-zone 3 represents the mioflora field is part of the Upper Barakar mioflora of the upper part of the Karharbari For which is dominated by striate-bisaccates mation. This zone shows the dominance and Scheuringipollenites with triletes as rare of th~genera Parasacct'tes and Scheurin forms (Tiwari, 1974; Bharadwaj, 1971). gipollenites. Callumispora, which was domi Striasulcites may also form significant pro nant in Assemblage-zone 2, gradually portion of the flora (Kar, 1973). The high declines in this zone. Thus, miofloristically incidence of Potonieisporites in the Rutar zone 2 and 3 do not show any sudden change. Coalfield is somewhat exceptional to the Lithostratigraphically too, the beds yielding known Upper Barakar miofloras. This the mioflora of Assemblage-zone 2 and 3 Assemblage-zone shows some resemblance are confonnable. with miofloral zone in the North Karanpura The best development of the Karharbari (Zone-VI of Kar, 1973) and the Raniganj Form1tion may be seen in the Deori Nala Coa!field (Stdatopodocarpiies-Faunipollenites Section and consequently both the paly zone of Tiwari, 1973). nozones of this formation are represented Assemblage-zone 5 shows first appearance here. The Karharbari Formation thins out and dominance of the genus Densipollenites. towards west and consequently in the Koel Potonieisporites which fonned 20 per cent River Section very small thickness of the of the mioflora in Assemblage-zone 4 is Karharbari sediments are represented. The absent. The monocolpate genus Striasul beds which should have the mioflora of cites (1 %) also shows a sudden decline. Assemblage-zone 2 are also thin on this This change strongly suggests a miofloral side. Unfortunately, these beds did not break between the Assemblage-zones 4 and ~ yield any mioflora. Further, the bed which 5. Incidentally, the mioflora of Assem yielded the mioflora of the zone 3, is blage-zone 5 shows a general similarity also thin. with the middle Barren Measures mioflora Assemblage-zone 3 shows resemblance in the dominance of bisaccates and Densi wIth miofloral zones in North Karanpura pollenites and in absence of triletes (Bhara (Zone III of Kar, 1973), Korba (Zone II of dwaj, 1971; Kar, 1973). It is also important Bharadwaj & Srivastava, 1973), Raniganj that the lithology of beds immediately over (Parasaccites Zone of Tiwari, 1973) and lying this zone is devoid of carbonaceous Umrer Quarry, Nagpur (Zones II & In of facies, and thus shows a general similarity Bharadwaj & Amnd-Prakash, 1974). with the Barren Measures Formation. The lower and middle part of the Barakar Besides, this zone compares with the Form:ttion in this coalfield is represented miospore assemblages described from Barren by huge thickness of chocolate brown sand Measures of the Jharia Coalfield stone with lenses of conglomerate (best (Bharadwaj, Sah & Tiwari, 1965), North seen in the Ranimai, Dhaj, Chelha, Panch Karanpura Coalfield (Kar, 1969), and pahari and Dhankutia hillocks), carbona Brahmni Coalfield (Srivastava & Mahe ceous grits and gritty sandstone (Koel shwari, 1974). All these have abundance' River Section) but it did not yield any of genus Densipollenites. mioflora. Elsewhere the lower - middle This assemblage has been recovered from Barakar flora is represented by dominance sediments which normally on the basis of of Scheuringipollenites apiculates and zonate lithology are grouped with the upper part trilete genera (Tiwari, 1974). of the Barakar Formation. However, the Assemblage-zone 4 represents the mioflora palynological evidence indicates that these of the upper part of the Barakar Formation. sediments may be homotaxial with a part The miofiora of this assemblage shows of the Barren Measures Formation. Fur the first appearance of many striate-bisaccate ther field and laboratory work are recom and colpate poIlen and sudden disappearance mended to solve this problem. of the spores of lower plants. This flora is quite distinct from the miofloral assem blage of the Assemblage-zone 3. This ACKNOWLEDGEMENT sudden change in the miofloristic picture is due to the absence of any miofloral evi The author is thankful to late Dr K. M. dences from lower and middle parts of the Lele for his constant guidance during this Barakar. Further, this zone of the Coal- work. 190 THE PALAEOBOTANIST REFERENCES ANAND-PRAKASH,SRIVASTAVA,S. C. & TIWARI, R. S. KAR, R. K. (1973). Palynological delimitation of (1979). The nature of grooved pavement and the. Lower Gondwana in the North Karanpura pal~nologyof overlying Talchir and Karharbari sedimentary baSJn, India. Palaeobotanist, ~O(3): sediments in West Bokaro Coalfield, Bihar, India. 300-317. Palaeobolanisl, ~6(1): 63-71. LELE, K. M. (1964). Studies in Talchir flora of BALL, V. (1880). On Auranga and Hutar coalfields India-2. Resolution of the spore genus Nuskois and iron oreS of Palamau and Toree. Mem. porites Pot. & KI. Palaeobotanist, 12 (2): 147-168. geol. surv. India, 15 (2): 1-90. LELE, K. M. (1975). Studies in the Talchir flora of BHARADWA), D. C. (1971). Palynostratigraphy of India-IO. Early and late microfloras from the Lower Gondwana succession in India. Inl. West Bokaro Coalfield, Bihar. Palaeobolanisl, Gondwana Symp. Aligarh Muslim Univ., 1970. ~2 (3): 219-235. Annis Geol. A.M.U., 5 & 6: 390-419. LELE. K. M. & MAKADA, R. (1972). Studies in BHARADWA), D. C. & ANAND-PRAKASH (1972). Talchir flora of India-7. Palynology of Talchir Geology and palynostratigraphy of Lower Gond Formation of Jayanti Coalfield, Bihar. Geo wana formations in Mohpani Coalfield, Madhya phylology, 2 (1): 41-73. Pradesh, India. Geophylology, 1 (2): 103-115. LELE, K. M. & MAKADA, R. (1974). Palaeobotanical BHARADWAJ, D. C. & ANAND-PRAKASH (1974). evidences on the age of the coal-bearing Lower Palynostratigraphy of Lower Gondwana sediments Gondwana Formation in the Jayanti Coalfield, from Umrer Quarry, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Bihar. Palaeobolanist, 21 (I): 81-106. India. Geophylology, 4 (2): 130-135. LELE, K. M. & SHUKLA, M. (1981). Studies in the BHARADWAJ, D. C. & SRIVASTAVA, S. C. (1973). Talchi r flora of India-12. Palynology of the Subsurface palynological succession in Korba Talchir Formation of Hutar Coalfield, Bihar. Coalfield, M.P., India. Palaeobolanisl, ~O(2): Geophylology, 10 (2): 231-238. 137-151. LELE, K. M. & SRIVASTAVA,A. K. (1979). Lower BHARADWAJ, D. c., SRIVASTAVA,S. C. & ANAND Gondwana (Karharbari to Raniganj Stage) PRAKASH (1979). PalYnostratigraphy of the miofloral assemblages from Auranga Coalfield Talchir Formation from Manendragarh, Madhya and their significance. IV inl. Palynol. Con!, Pradesh, India. Geophytology, 8 (2): 215-225. LuckllOw (1976-1977), 2: 152-164. BHARADWAJ, D. C., SAH, S. C. D. & TIWARI, R. S. RIZVI, S. R. A. (1972). Geology and sedimentation (1965). Sporological analysis of some coals and trends in Palamau Coalfield, Bihar, India. Mem. carbonaceous shales from Barren Measure Stage geol. surv. India, 104: 1-99. (Lower Gondwana) of India. Palaeobolanisl, SRIVASTAVA,S. C. (1973). Palynostratigraphy of the 13 (2): 222-226. Giridih Coalfield. Geophylology, 3 (2): 184-194. CHANDRA, A. & LELE, K. M. (1979). Talchir SRIVASTAVA,S. C. & MAHESHWARI. H. K. (1974). miofloras from South Rewa Gondwana Basin, Palynostratigraphy of the Damuda Group in India and their biostratigraphical significance. Brahmini Coalfield, Rajmahal Hills, Bihar. Proc. IV inl. palynol. Con!, Lucknow (1976-77), 2: Geophylology, 4 (I): 35-45. 117-151. SHUKLA, M. (1982). Lithostratigraphy and structure FEISTMANTEL,O. (1886). The fossil flora of Gond of Hutar Coalfield, Palamau District, Bihar. wana System. The fossil flora of some of the Palaeobotanist, 30 (2): 168-180. coalfields in western Bengal. Mem. geol. surv. TIWARI, R. S. (1968). Palynological investigation of India Palaeont. Indica, 4 (2): 1-66. some coal seams in lb River Coalfield (Orissa), GHOSH, P. K. & MITRA, N. D. (1969). History of Indi a. Palaeobotanist, 16 (3): 222-242. the Talchir sedimentation in Damodar Valley TIWARI, R. S. (1973). Palynological succession in basins. Mem. ceol. surv. India, 105: 1-117. t he Barakar type area. Geophytology, 3 (2): GHOSH, S. C., SINGH, C. & ACHARYYA,S. K. (1977). 166-184. Barren Measure/Kulti Formation. Geol. Surv. TIWARI, R. S. (1974). Inter-relationship of palyno India, Misc. Publ., 36: 18-19. floras in the Barakar stage (Lower Gondwana), KAR, R. K. (1969). Palynology of North Karanpura Tndia. Geophytology, 4 (2): 109-127. Basin, Bihar, India-4. Subsurface palynology of TIWARI, R. S. (1975). Palynological composition of bore core no. K5. Palaeobotanist, 17 (l): 9 the basal Gondwana in India. Bull. Soc. beige. 21. Geoi., 84 (1): 11-17.