MIOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE OF SEAM IX OF EAST COALFIELD ()*

S. 1(, SALUJHA Research & Training Institute. Oil & Natural Gas Commission, Dehra Dun

ABSTRACT Bowlah seam (VIII) and crops out to the The spore and pollen flora contained in seam IX east of the - strike-fault at (Upper Kajora seam at the J aipuria Kajora colliery) Modhujori colliery and to the west of of Raniganj coalfield consists of 32 genera and 72 and Khas Kajora collieries. species, out of which 11 species are new. The spore Further south it is worked at a depth in the assemblage of this seam has also been compared with those of the underlying seams (Nos. VIII & pits of Central Kajora colliery. On the east VII in succession) and the important seam to seam. of the fault the seam crops out again in the qualitative as well as quantitative differences have Parashkol tract and continues southwards been discussed. across the eastern half of Kajora colliery area. The Khandra faults have affected the INTRODUCTION Upper Kajora seam in the area very pro• foundly. The seam outcrop south of town becomes thinner very rapidly eastward MIOSPORESRaniganj Stagecontained(Upper inPermian)the coalshaveof so that its thickness is only 7 ft. in a number been extensively worked out by of bore holes located north-west of the Bharadwaj (1962) and Bharadwaj & Salujha Sarpi village. The Upper Kajora seam (1965, a, b). Bharadwaj (lac. cit.) has outcrop east of the Babuisol fault has been described the various genera present in these marked with the help of 2 bore holes coals whereas Bharadwaj & Salujha (1964) located in the area to the north-west of have delimited the various species repre• Sokra. Below this seam is the typical sented in seam VIII of the Raniganj sandstone succession of the thickness of coalfield, India. This has been done after a 197 feet. detailed study of hundreds of specimens of each genus and ascertaining the value of MATERIAL AND METHODS different characters individually as well as in combination. In a subsequent publication The material for the present study was (BHARAD.& SALUJHA,1965 a) seam VIII has provided by the Fuel Research Institute. also been correlated from distantly situated Jealgora. The usual maceration procedure collieries. In another paper Bharadwaj & was adopted. The macerate used for Salujha (1965, b) have described the mio• qualitative study was passed through a sieve spore assemblage of seam VII in Raniganj such that the wood shreds, cuticles, etc., were coalfield. separated and a concentrated sporiferous The present paper deals with a sporological material was obtained. In doing so some of study of seam IX (Upper Kajora) at the the spores were lost, either by remaining Jaipuria Kajora colliery of the Raniganj sticking to the extrenuous matter above or coalfield, Bihar. The spore and pollen flora by passing down through the finer sieve. recovered here has also been compared with Thus for an exact quantitative analysis of the the underlying seam:; (Nos. VIII & VII in miospore assemblage the unsieved macerate succe:;sion) and the remarkable differences, was used. both qualitative as well as quantitative, The thickness of the Upper Kajora seam have been brought out. is about 21 feet, of which only the top 10' 4w The Upper Kajora seam (IX) is the upper• has been sampled. The sampling details most workable seam of the Raniganj Stage along with the maceration numbers of the in the eastern part of Raniganj coalfield. samples collected have been given in the It lies about 220 ft. above the Jambad following table (TABLE1).

*Work carried out at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, for the Scheme "Palaeobotanical Investigation of Indian Coals" (C.S.I.R.). 227 228 THE PALAEOBOTA~IST

TABLE 1- UPPER KAJORA SEAM, JAIPURIA KAJORA COLLIERY, RANIGANJ COALFIELD

Location of place of Sampling - No.2 Pit, 27th level between 17th & 18th dip. N.E. Section Total thickness of the seam - 21 ft. (Working Sution Top 8')

DullCoal Coalwith withbrightsthin Ul G) Foot89723No.~o. No.laminationslaminations:\fAc.65F.S.10F.S.3"x2".137138139140136133134ShaleF.S.No.Ko.NO.4SAMPLENo.~o.Ko.132135141ofof101brightsbrights 0'5"0'9"1'0"0'3"1'4"1Section'0"THICKNESSofchannelthe seam "/;.Shale

SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF SPORAE DISPERSAE Calamospora aplata Bharad. & Salujha Calamospora exila Bharad. & Salujha Retusotriletes . divc1'sijormis (B. & H.) The miofloral assemblage of the Upper Bharad. Kajora seam consists of 32 genera and 72 Cyclogranisporites gondwanensis Bharad. species. Qualitatively spore and pollen flora & Salujha of the present seam is almost the same as Cyclogranisporites optimus Bharad. & those of the ]ambad Bowlah and Bonbahal Salujha seams (BHARADWA]& SALU]HA1964, 1965 b) Lophotriletes recttts Bharad. & Salujha but for few species which are described below. d. Lophotriletes rarus Bharad. & Salujha Quantitative differences are rather very Apiculatisporis weylandii Bharad. & marked and perhaps very important to Salujha differentiate various strata in the same basin. H orriditriletes cttrvibaculosus Bharad. & The already known species recovered from Salujha the present assemblage have been listed here H orriditriletes sp. A whereas the new species are described in Cyclobaculisporites indicus Bharad. & detail. Salujha Leiotriletes sp. Cyclobaculisporites minutus Bharad. & d. Concavisporites bankolensis Bharad. & Salujha Salujha Microjoveolatispora sp. Eupunctisporites gravus Bharad. & Indospora clara Bharad. Salujha I1tdospora macula Bharad. & Salujha SALUJHA -l\IIOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE OF SEAM IX, OF RANIGANJ COALFIELD 229

I ndospora sp. Anteturma - Sporites H. Pot. 1893 Turma - Triletes (Reinsch) Pot. & Kr. 1954 Gondisporites sp. Subturma - Azonotriletes Luber 1935 Latosp01'ites colliensis (B. & H.) Bharad. Infraturma - Laevigati (B. & K.) Pot. 1956 Latosporites sp. Punctatosporites sp. Calamospora S.W. & B. 1944 Thymospora gondwanensis Bharad. & Calamospora rotata sp. novo Salujha Densipollenites indicus Bharad. PI. 1. Figs. 1-4 Densipollenites invisus Bharad. & Salujha H olotype - PI. 1, Fig. 1. Densipollenites sp. St1'iomonosaccites circularis Bharad. & Diagnosis - Circular, 28-40 fL. Y-m~rk distinct, rays !-2/3 radius long, exme Salujha laevigate. Platysaccus sp. Description - Yellow, circular miospores, Cuneatisporites sp. halo type 32 fL. Trilete mark clearly Striatiies notus Bharad. & Salujha discernible, rays t-2/3 radius long, ray ends Striatites rhombicus Bharad. & Salujha usually blunt, rarely pointed; exine and Striatites subtilis Bharad. & Salujha extrema-lineamenta smooth. Striatites solitus Bharad. & Salujha Striatites communis Bharad. & Salujha Comparison - Calamospora a1?latais big~er in size with an infrapunctate exme. C. extla Verticipollenites ftnitimus Bharad. & is also bigger in size and has a dark brown Salujha central body. Verticipollenites subcircularis Bharad. & Almost similar specimens referred as Salujha Calamospora sp. have been illustrated by Verticipollenites gibbosus Bharad. Bharadwaj & Salujha (1965 b; PL. 1, FIGS. Lahi1'ites singularis Bharad. & Salujha Lahirites incertus Bharad. & Salujha 6-7).. They may also belong to the present speCIes. Lahirites parvus Bharad. & Salujha Hindipollenites oblongus Bharad. & Infraturma - Apiculati (B. & K.) Pot.1956 Salujha Cyclogranisporites Pot. & Kr. 1954 Lunatisporites fuscus Bharad. Lunatisporites sp. A Cyclogranisporites sp. Lunatisporites sp. B· PI. 1, Fig. 5 Striatopodocarpites decorus Bharad. & Salujha Description - Golden yellow: circular Striatopodocarpites magniftcus Bharad. & miospores, size ± 62 (J.. Tnlete m~rk Salujha clearly seen, rays t-2/3 radius long. Exme Faunipollenites varius Bharad. ornamented with ± 1 fL broad grana; F aunipollenites sp. A. grana closely set usually cohering to give a Striapollenites saccatus Bharad. . pseudoreticulate appearance; about 75 grana Striapollenites obliqU'usBharad. & SaluJha seen at the margin. . Striapollenites sp. Comparison - Cyclogranisporites gondwan• SHlcatisporites ovatHs (B. & H.) Bharad. ensis is much smaller in size and the Y-rays Sulcatisporites sp. A are 3/4 the radius or more long. C. optimus, Sulcatisporites sp. B. . though measuring as much as th~ p:e~ent Welwitschiapites tenuis Bharad. & SaluJha specimen differs in having an mdIstmct Welwitschiapites extansus Bharad. & trilete mark and loosely arranged grana. Salujha d. Gnetaceaepollenites sp.· Apiculatisporis Pot. & Kr. 1956 Decussatisporites lucifer Bharad. & Salujha ., Apiculatisporis grandis sp. novo The new species are not mcluded m the PI. 1, Figs. 6-8 above list. They are systematically classified and described belmv. They are arranged Holotype - PI. 1, Fig. 6. according to the artificial system of classifica• Diagnosis - Circular, 50-60 fL .. Y-mark tion put forward by Potonie & Kremp (1954) distinct, rays t-! radius long; exme orna• and subsequently elaborated by Potonie mented with 1·5-3 fL long and ± 1·5 fL (1956, 1958, 1960). broad coni. 230 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Description - Golden yellow, circular to Comparison - Lophotriletes rectus has subcircular miospores, holotype 50 [1.. Trilete comparatively bigger and sparsely arranged mark clearly seen, rays i-I radius length, coni. ct. L. rarus differs in having distinct ray-ends usually pointed. Exine bearing inter-radial area. closely spaced coni; coni 1·5-3 [1. long and ± 1·5 [1. broad (at the base). 40-50 coni Cyclobaculisporites Bharad. 1955 seen on the periphery. Comparison - Apiculatisporis levis B. & Cyclobaculisporites bharadwajii sp. novo R., is smaller in size, has very sparsely set PI. 1, Fig 15-18 coni and the Y-rays almost reaching the periphery of the spore. A. weylandii Bharad. Hol6type - PI. 1, Fig. 15. & Salujha, has an indistinct trilete mark Diagnosis - Circular, 58-90 [1., V-mark and exine is covered with sparsely set, faintly seen; rays i-i radius long. Exine longer than broad coni. covered with round headed, irregular sized bacula. Apiculatisporis inconspicuus sp. novo Description - Golden yellow, circular PI. 1, Figs. 9-12 miospores; holotype 78 [1.. Trilete mark faintly discernible due to irregular size of the Holotype - PI. 1, Fig. 9. bacula which sometimes fuse to give a Diagnosis - Circular to subcircular, 16• pseudoreticulate appearance; Y-arms !-i 28 [1.. V-mark faintly seen, rays 3/4 radius radius long. Bacula usually 2-4 [1. long and or more long. Exine beset with 1 [1. long ± 1·5-2 [1. broad, with rounded heads, some and equally broad coni. of them bend back to look like hooks at the Description - Yellow coloured, circular to margine; 60-75 bacula can be counted on the subcircular miospores, holotype 22 [1.. Trilete extrema-lineamenta. mark present but hardly seen, its rays being Comparison - Cyclobaculisporites indicus 3/4 the radius or more long. Exine covered has smaller, closely set bacula and a hardly with ± 1 [1. long and equally broad (at the perceptible trilete mark. C. minutus has base) coni; 8-12 coni observed on the extrema• very small bacula with a clearly seen Y-mark. lineamenta. The present species distinguishes in having Comparison - Apiculatisporis levis B. & bigger, sparse but irregular sized bacula with R., is bigger in size, has sparsely set coni an hardly discernible Y-mark. and a very clear trilete mark. A. grandis differs in being bigger in size and in having Turma - Monoletes Ibr. 1933 bigger coni. A. weylandii Bharad. & Salujha, Subturma - Azonomonoletes Luber 1935 is also bigger in size and has an indistinct Infraturma - Laevigatotfwnoleti Dybova trilete mark. The present species dis• and Jacbowitz 1957 tinguishes in being smallest in size, in Latosporites Pot. & Kr. 1954 having a faintly discernible trilete mark and comparatively smaller coni. Latosporites striatus sp. novo Lophotriletes (Naum.) Pot. & Kr. 1954 PI. 1, Fig. 19 Lophotriletes minimus sp. novo H olotype - Bharadwaj & Salujha 1964; PI. 1, Fig. 13-14 PI. 3, Fig. 64. Diagnosis - Oval to subcircular, longer Holotype - PI. 1, Fig. 13. axis 96-120 [1.. Monolete mark i-I spore Diagnosis - Triangular, 26-34 [1.. Y-mark length; exine laevigate with 4-6 striations distinct, rays almost reaching the periphery; parallel to monolete mark. exine beset with small ± 1 [1. long and equally Description - Golden yellow, oval to sub• broad coni. circular miospores; holotype 120 [1.. Monolete Description - Golden yellow, triangular to mark clearly seen, being i-t the spore length. roundly triangular miospores, holotype 30 [1.. Exine smooth, proximally bearing 4-6 Y-mark prominently seen, rays appearing striations running parallel to the monolete slightly wavy, as long as the spore radius. mark. Exine ornamented with coni; coni ::1:: 1 [1. long Comparison - The present species differs and equally broad; 50-60 of them counted from the earlier described species of Latos• at the extrema-lineamenta. porites, L. colliensis in bearing striationS on S,\LUJHA - MIOSPORE ,\SSDlBLAGE OF SEA!.I IX -OF R~\:-.1IGANJCOALFIELD 231 its exine. Bharadwaj has illustrated one than the bladders in vertical height; exine specimen (1962, PL. 4, FIG. 74) as Latosporites coarsely but uniformly intrapunctate, sp., which may be referred to the present proximally bearing 6-8 horizontal striations species. without any vertical connectives. Bladders subspherical, attached laterally and distally Pollenites Anteturma - Pot. 1931 leaving a 12-16 fl. wide, thin bladder free area; Turma - Saccites Erdt. 1947 bladder intrareticulation sm3.ll to medium Subturma - Di6accites Cookson 1947 Infraturma - Podocarpoiditi Pot. Thoms. sized. & Thierg. 1950 Comparison - All the known species of Lahirites are diploxylonoid in nature, i.e. the Cuneatisporites Lesch. 1955 central body is smaller in vertical height than the bladders. The present species Cuneatisporites exiguus sp. novo distinguishes in being haploxylonoid with Pl. 1. Figs. 20-21 very small bladders, central body with a thick marginal ridge, proximally bearing Holotype - PI. 1, Fig. 20. 6-8 horizontal striations without any vertical Diagnosis - Overall size 105-122 !J-. connectives. Samoilovich (1961) has referred Central body vertically oval, marginal ridge an apparently similar specimen (PL. 4, thin; exine finely intramicroreticulate. FIGS. 1 a & b) to Protodiploxypinus bullae• Bladders hemispherical, intrareticulation formis which has been transferred to 5tri• medium sized; distal sulcus 16-24 !J-broad. atosaccites bullaeformis by ]izba (1962). In Description - Golden yellow, bisaccate, bi• the description of this species she gives the lateral pollengrains, holotype 120!J-. Central exine ornamentation to be finely reticulate, body vertically oval, 44-60 !J-X 78-86 !J-,with a character which differentiates these from a thin ± 2 !J- wide marginal ridge all round; the specimens illustrated here. Hart has exine finely intramicroreticulate without any also illustrated two specimens (1960, PL. 1, striations on it. Bladders hemispherical FIGS. 3 & 4) under disaccate ' Striatiti ' type with mostly medium sized meshwork, attach• ing distally leaving a 16-24 !J-, wide, thin whic.h may probably belong to the present bladder free area. speCIes. Comparison - This is the first species of Lunatisporites (Lesch.) Bharad. 1962 Cuneat£sporites being described from the Permian of India. It distinguishes in having Lunatisporites sellingii sp. novo a vertically oval central body with a thin marginal ridge all round, medium sized Pl. 2. Figs. 26-29 meshwork of the bladders and 16-24 !J-broad Holotype - PI. 2, Fig. 26. sulcus distally. Diagnosis - Overall size 94-11 0 !J-;central Infraturma - Striatiti (Pant) Bharad. 1962 body thin, circular to subcircular, marginal ridge thick, exine intramicroreticulate with Lahirites Bharad. 1962 6-9 horizontal striations. Bladders sub• spherical, intrareticulation medium sized, Lahirites kajorensis sp. novo sulcus 11-16 !J-broad distally. PI. 2. Figs. 22-25 Description - Golden yellow, bisaccate, bi• lateral pollengrains, holotype 100!J-. Central H olotype - PI. 2, Fig. 22. body circular to subcircular, 44-52 !J-X Diagnosis - Overall size 58-78!J-. Central 44-54 !J-; marginal ridge 3-5 !J- thick; exine body circular to subcircular with a broad intramicroreticulate, proximally bearing 6-9 marginal ridge, bigger than the bladders horizontal striations without any vertical in height; exine uniformly intrapunctate, partitions in between them. Bladders sub• bearing 6-8 horizontal striations proximally, spherical with medium sized intrareticulation, vertical partitions absent. Bladders sub• attaching distally leaving a 11-16 !J- wide, spherical with small to medium sized intra• bladder free area. reticulation, distal sulcus 12-16 !J-broad. Comparison - Lunatisporites fuscus, the Description - Golden yellow, bisaccate. bi• genotype, has a vertically oval central body lateral pollengrains, holotype 74!J-. Central with two bladder ledges at the lateral sides. body circular to subcircular, 32-44!J- X 24-40 !J• L. latisulcatus Bharad. & Salujha, also has a with a 2-3 !J- broad marginal ridge; bigger vertically oval central body and the widest 232 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

(25-35 fL) bladder free area distally. L. sp. A Vesicaspora sp. by Bharadwaj (PL. 21, has a boat-shaped sulcus. The present F1GS. 265-269) appear to be different because species distinguishes in having a circular to of the vertically oval shape of the central subcircular central body with a thick body and a comparatively narrower bladder marginal ridge and a narrower (11-16 fL) free area distally. bladder free area distally. Vesicaspora sp. Faunipollenites Bharad. 1962 PI. 2, Fig. 36 Faunipollenites minor sp. novo Description - Golden yellow pollengrains. PI. 2, Figs. 30-32 Overall size ± 150 fl. Central body vertical• lyoval, ± 90x114 fL; exine coarsely intra• H olotype - PI. 2, Fig. 30. granu10se; bladder oval, 3-5 fL wide at the Diagnosis - Overall size 36-62 fl. Central lateral sides; distal sulcus ± 70 fL wide; body indistinct, exine intramicroreticu1ate, bladder intrareticu1ation big sized. 5-7 horizontal striations; distal sulcus 8-12 fL Comparison - The specimen illustrated broad, bladder intrareticu1ation small sized. here distinguishes in being bigger in size, Description - Yellow, bisaccate, bilateral coarse intragranu1ation on the body exine pollengrains, ho10type 46 fl. Central body and a very wide bladder free area distally. vertically oval, outline indistinct made out Turma - Monocolpates Iverson & Troels• by striation ends; exine intramicroreticu1ate, Smith 1950 proximally bearing 5-7 horizontal striations without any vertical partitions in between Infraturma - Intortes (Naum.) Pot. 1958 them. Bladders hemispherical with small Decussatisporites sized meshwork, attaching distally leaving a 8-12 fL wide bladder free, thin area. Decttssatisporites sp. Comparison - F aunipollenites varius, the PI. 1, Fig. 37 genotype, and F. sp. A, are much bigger in size and have a very wide bladder free area Description - Golden yellow, oval pollen• distally. The present species distinguishes grains; size ± 38 X 80 fl. Exine bearing in being smallest in size and in having a ± 10 striat.ions on one side and ± 7 striations narrower bladder free area distally. on the other side running perpendicular to each other. Infraturma-Disacciatrileti (Lesch.) Pot. 1958 Comparison - Decussatisporites luciler Vesicaspora (Schemel) Wilson & Venk. 1963 Bharad. & Sa1ujha, is smaller in size, mb• circular in shape and the striations are Vesicaspora lutetts sp. novo comparatively closely spaced. Wilson has PI. 2, Figs. 33-35 illustrated a similar specimen (1962, PL. 3, FIG. 10) under Vittatina sp. Holotype - PI. 2, Fig. 33. Diagnosis - Overall size 56-80 fl. Central MIOFLORAL DISTRIBUTION body broadly oval to subcircular, marginal ridge distinct but thin, seen all round; The spore flora of the Upper Kajora seam bladder oval, intrareticulation medium sized, at the Jaipuria Kajora colliery consists of distal sulcus 20-38 fL broad. 32 genera and 72 species. Description - Golden yellow pollcngrains, Leiotriletes is represented by a single holotype 80 fl. Central body broadly ov

Lahirites has the average distribution per• Sulcatisporites has the average percentage centage of 2·95 per cent. Here the genus is of 6·11 per cent and is met with as 3 represented by 4- species: specie.>: Lahirites singularis Sulcatisporites ovatus L. incertus S. sp. A L. parvus S. sp. B L. kajorensis S. ovatus is abundantly represented as Bulk of the percentage is constituted by compared to the other two species and first two species, i.e. L. singularis and constitutes bulk of the total percentage of L. incertus. the genus. Hindipollenites is very poorly represented, the average frequency being 0·45 per cent. Only one species of the genus H. oblongus TABLE2 is recorded here. Lunatisporites has the average distribution GENUS BONBAHAL JAMB AD UPPER percentage of 2·25 per cent and is represented SEAM BOWLAH KA]ORA by the following species: SEAM SEAM Lunatisporites Juscus L. sellingii (I) (2) (3) (4) L. sp. A L. sp. B Leiotriletes 4·5 2·45 1·3 Out of these species L. sellingii, L. sp. A and Concavisporites + 0·1 0·4 L. sp. B form the bulk of the percentage. Eupunctisporites 0·6 0·35 0·36 Ricaspora + Striatopodocarpites has the distribution Punctatisporites 0·13 percentage as 11·21 per cent and is repre• Calamospora 0·23 0·37 0·88 sented by 2 species: Retusotriletes 0·02 + + Cyclogranisporites 3·8 7·66 8·0 Striatopodocarpites decoYlts Verrucosisporites + + S. magnificus Laphotriletes 2·5 2·6 2·05 Both the species are almost uniformly A piculatisporis 0·1 1·88 epresented throughout the seam. H orriditriletes 16·2 14·22 16·9 Cyclobaculisporites 3·7 1-67 3·5 Faunipollenites dominates all the bisaccate M icrofoveolatispora 4·3 0·04 0·45 forms in its distribution which is 16·9 per jVf icrobaculispora 0·5 + cent. The following 3 species of the genus Indospora 4·8 2·7 5·5 are recorded: D ictyotriletes + Lycopodium- 0·16 0·02 + Faunipollenites vantts sporites F. minor Gondisporites 0·5 0·25 0·16 F. sp. A Latosporites 3·9 2·65 1·26 Out of these species F. varius and F. sp. A Punctatosporites 1·5 2·03 1·6 Thymospora 7·03 10·83 3·48 are abundantly and almost uniformly distri• Spinososporites 0·03 buted whereas the remaining species F. minor N uskoisporites 0·1 0·01 + is rather poorly represented. Densipollenites 1·3 2·0 1·01 Striapollenites is poorly represented and Striomanasaccites 0·7 0·9 1·0 Platysaccus 0·1 + 0·16 constitutes only 0·63 per cent of the present Cuneatisporites 0·2 0·01 0·5 miospore assemblage. The species of the Limitisporites 0·3 genus recorded here are: Striatites 4·5 7·9 6·2 Striapollenites saccatus Verticipollenites 1·7 2·66 2·05 Lahil'ites 2·5 3·8 2·95 S. obliquus H indipollenites 0·6 1·46 0·45 S. sp. Lunatisporites 2·1 5·3 2·25 S. saccatus and S. obliquus are comparatively Striatopodo- 10·5 4·4 11·21 richly represented than S. sp. for which carpites F aunipollenites 15·5 15·74 16·9 only 1-2 specimens are recorded. Striapollenites 0·5 0·5 0·63 Distriatites is a very poorly represented D istriatites + 0·04 0·16 genus and very few specimens of the genus Sulcatisporites 3·5 5,96 6·11 scattered here and there are met with, the Welwitschiapites 0·7 0·7 0·25 G netaceaepollenites 0·2 0·1 0·18 average percentage of the genus being 0·16 DeCHssatispOl'ites 0·5 0·53 0·37 per cent. It is represented by a single species D. pulcher. 0' SALUJHA - MIOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE OF SEAM IX· OF RANIGANJ COALFIELD 235

HISTOGRAM UPPER KAJORA SEAM JAIPURIA KAJORA COLLIERY

P E RCENTAGES o 5 '0 15 20 25 o 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 ~O 25 I , . LEIOTRILETES

C (.CONCAVISPORITES

EUPUNTISPORITES

CALAMOSPORA

CYCLOGRANISPORITES

LOPHOTRILETES

APICUL AT! SPO RIS

HORRIOITRILE TES

CYCLOBACULISPORITES

MICROFOVEOLATISPORA

INOOSPORA

GONOISPORITES

LATOSPORITES

PUNCTATOSPORITES ~ THYMOSPORA o...... "wi..,iI" 0..'" ,..,".,.'"..• DENSIPOLLEN ITES o '"..,"'"0'-'" •0r;;;~ ,6 ~ . STRIOM ONOSAccrr ES "z o PLATYSACCUS ... '" > CUNEA T1SPORITES "s: 5TRIATITE5 r '"o VERTICIPOLLENITES \J

LAHIRITES

HINOIPOLLENITES

LUNATISPORITES

STRIATOP OOOCARPITES

FAU NIPOLLE N ITE 5

STRIAPOLLENITES

DISTRIATITES

SULCATISPORITES

WELWITSCHIAPITES

GNETACEAEPOLL ENITE S

DECUSSAT ISPORITES

TEXT-FIG. 1 - Showing the frequency of various genera in each of the samples of the seam. 236 THE PAL!\EOBOTANIST

FREQUENCY UPPER KAJORA SEAM GRAPH JAIPURIA KAJORA COLLIERY !>AMPL£!> 234 S 6 7 8 " -_...•...... •.. .••...... •..._ ...... •...... "'--- --.•.------...------...... _-_------_..------._--•..•.-----_------..--_.---_N--...... ------....---__--__--._.. _ ..-_-__---._--._-_ ...•.. _- or- -- LEIOTRILETES ._.------~ ---..------..,.--.-_ •.. ---- ..• _ ...•. _ .. ---.. ---_-CfCONCAVISPOP.lTES_------...... - _ .... -.--...... ----.,.,.,-...EUPUNCTISPORITESm.•...

CALAMOSPORA

CYCLOGRANISPOR----~--~---~._-~ITES

LOPHOTRILETES

-- APICULATISPORIS

HORRIDITRILETES

CYCLOBACULISPORITES

MICROFOVEOLATISPORA

INDOSPORA

GONDISPORITES

LATOSPORITES

PUNCTATOSPORITE S

THYMOSPORA

DENSIPOLL£NITES

STRIOMONOSACCITES

PLATY SACCUS

CUNEATISPORITES

STRIATITES

VERTICIPOLLENITES

LAHIRITES

HINDIPOLLENITES

LUNATISPORITES

STRIATOPODOCARPITES

fAUNIPOLLENITES

STRIAPOUENITES

DISTRIATIT ES

SULCATISPORITES

WELWITSCHIAPITES

GNETACEAEPOL L ENITES

OECUSSATISPORITES

TEXT-FIG. 2 - Showing the average representation of various genera from top, middle and bottom sectors of the seam. SALUJHA- ~IOSPORE ASSEMBLAGE OF SEA~1 IX 'OF RANIGA~J COALFIELD 237

Welwitsehiapites has the average frequency differences in the relative percentage of of 0·25 per cent and is represented by two various genera and species represented in the species; different seams are quite significant to Welwitsehiapites tenuis show up their differential nature. The W. extansus qualitative and quantitative representation W. tenuis is comparatively more frequently of the various genera in all the seams studied encountered than W. extansus. has been shown in Table 2. Gnetaeeaepollenites is very poorly repre• In the above table (- ) denotes total sented with a meagre percentage of 0·18 per absence and (+) denotes presence but not cent. The specimens referable to this genus encountered in the countings. have been put as G. sp. In the above table it is observed that both Deeussatisporites is represented by two qualitative as well as quantitative differences species D. lueifer and D. sp., with an average occur in the miospore assemblage of all the distribution percentage of 0·37 per cent. 3 seams under comparison. Qualitatively The sample to sample distribution of the there are some genera \\'hich are present in various genera represented in the seam is one seam and absent in the other two whereas shown in the frequency chart (TEXT-FIG.1) some others are present in two of the above and the average frequencies of the different seams and absent in the third. Such genera from the top, middle and bottom qualitatively important genera are; sectors have been plotted in a histogram Rieaspora (TEXT-FIG.2). Punetatisporites Verrueosisporites Comparison with Jambad Bowlah and A pieulatisporis Bonbahal Seams M icrobaculispo1'a Dietyotriletes A thorough and detailed sporological study 5pinososporl:tes of the Upper Kajora, Jambad Bowlah and Limitisporites Bonbahal seams shows that they differ from In addition to the above genera there are each other both qualitatively as well as some other genera which show a significant quantitatively. The qualitative differences difference in their average frequencies in are not as marked as the quantitative Bonbahal, Jambad Bowlah and Upper differences. Qualitative differences occur in Kajora seams. Such differences among the the rare and very rare genera and species various genera may either be in all the in a way that some of them may be seams studied or at least in two of them. present in one seam and absent in the The genera showing marked quantitative other and vice versa. Such genera show a differences are: meagre representation and sometimes they Leiotriletes are not encountered in the countings. The Cyelogranisporites

TABLE 3

UPPER KAJORA SEAM J AMBAD BOWLAH SEAM BONBAHAL SEAM

Calamospora rotata Ricaspora granulala PUl1clatisporites priscus Calamospora exila A piculatisporis grandis d. Lopholrileles pseudogramJs Cyclogral1isporites oplimus Dictyotriletes invisus A piculatisporis inconspicuus cf. Nuskoisporites triangularis Verrucosispo1'iles diversus Distriomonosaccites ovalis Lophotriletes minimus Lahirites rarus A piculati spori s weylandii Cyclobaculispo1'ites bharadwajii Hindipolleniles oblongus H orriditriletes elegans 5triatopodocarpites diffusus H orriditriletes splendidus Latosporiles striatus d. Anapiculalisporis longispinosus Cuneatisporiles exiguus Cyclobaculisporites proprius Lahirites kajoren sis .Limilisporiles disectus Lunatisporites sellingii Lahirites lepidus L unatispori Ies lalisulcatus Faunipollenites minor 5trialopodocarpites venuslus Vesicaspora luleus Faunipolleniles copiosus Faunipollel1iles perexiguus 238 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Cyclobaculisporites Upper Kajora, Jambad Bowlah and Bon• Aficrojoveolatispora bahal seams are shown in Table 3. Latosporites If not all, at least some of the species Thymospora present in each of the seams are likely to H indipollenites constitute the association of index species L unatisporites for individual seam under study. Striatopodocarpites Sulcatisporites ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Welwitschiapites It is not only the genera that show quali• I take this opportunity to express my tative and quantitative differences, species deep gratitude to Dr. D. C. Bharadwaj, also show distinct qualitative differences Assistant Director, for kindly going through among the various seams. There are some the manuscript and valuable suggestions and of the species which are present in Upper Mrs. Savitri Sahni, President, Birbal Sahni Kajora seam and absent in the others, while Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, for all some others are restricted to the J ambad the laboratory facilities and to the Council Bowlah seam only and still another set of of Scientific and Industrial Research for species is met within the Bonbahal seam and awarding me the Senior Research Fellowship not in the other two seams. The species during the tenure of which the present work that are present and restricted to each of the was carried out.

REFERENCES

BALME, B. E. & HENNELLY, J. P. (1956). Trilete the lower coal measures (K2); Ketewaka• sporomorphs from Australian Permian sediments. Machllchuma coalfield, Tanganyika. Bull. Geol. Auslral. Jour. Bol. 5: 240-260. Stlrv. Tanganyika 30: 1-18. BHARADWA],D. C. (1962). The miospore genera in JIZBA, K. M. M. (1962). Late Paleozoic Bisaccate the coals of Raniganj Stage (Upper Permian), pollen from the United States Midcontinent India. Palaeobolanist 9 (1 & 2): 68-106. area. J. Palaeontol. 36 (5): 871-887. BHARADWA], D. C. & SALU]HA, S. K. (1964). POTONIE, R. (1956). Synopsis der Gattungen der Sporological study of seam VIII in Raniganj Sporae dispersae; Pt. 1, Beih. Geot. Jb. 23: 1-103. coalfield, Bihar, India. Part I·- Description Idem (1958). Synopsis der Gattungen der Sporae of Sporae dispersae. Ibid. 12 (2): 181-215. dispersae; Pt. 2. Ibid. 31: 1-114. Idem (1965a). Sporological study of seam YIII in Idem (1960). Synopsis der Gattungen der Sporae Raniganj coalfield, Bihar (India). Part II• dispersae; Pt. 3. Ibid. 39: 1-189. Distribution of Sporae dispersae and correlation. POTONIE, R. & KREMP, G. (1954). Die Gattungen Ibid. 13 (1): 57-73. der palaeozoischen Sporae dispersae und ihre Idem (1965b). A sporological study of seam YII stratigraphie. Geo!. Jb. 69: 111-194. (J ote Dhemo colliery) in the Raniganj coalfield, SAMOILOVICH,S. R. (1961). Pollen and spores from Bihar (India). Ibid. 13 (1): 30-41. the Permian of the Cis-Urals. Okla. Geol. Surv. HART, G. F. (1960). Microfloral investigation of 56: 1-103.

EXPLANA TION OF PLATES

(All magnifications X 500)

PLATE 1 20-21. Cunealisporiles exiguus sp. novo Ph. Nos. 237/21, 236/15.

1-4. Calamospora rotala sp. novo Ph. Nos. 381/21, PLATE 2 381/26, 382/19, 382/9. 5. Cyclogranisporiles sp. Ph. No. 351/7. 22-25. Lahirites kajorensis sp. novo Ph. Nos. 6-8. Apiollalisporis grandis sp. novo Ph. Kos. 383/12,351/15,382/8,383/7. 381/5, 383/3, 282/13. 26-29. Lunalispor-iles sellingii sp. novo Ph. Nos. 9-12. Apiculatisporis inconspicuus sp. novo Ph. 237/29, 239/3, 43/21, 236/23. Nos. 351/4, 381/22, 382/7, 382/37. 30-32. Faunipolleniles minor sp. novo Ph. Nos. 13-14. Lopholriletes minimus sp. novo Ph. Nos. 381/16, 381/4, 381/8. 351/2, 381/2. 33-35. Vesicaspora [uleus sp. novo Ph. Kos. 15-18. Cyclobaculisporiles bharadwajii sp. novo 238/3, 381/19, 381/17. Ph. Nos. 237/16, 236/16, 381/14, 351/12. 36. Vesicaspora sp. Ph. No. 236/4. 19. Lalosporiles slrialus sp. novo Ph. No. 382/30. 37. Decussalisporiles sp. Ph. No. 240/27. THE PAI.AEOBOTA:-lIST. \' OI.. 1:1 SALUJHA - PLATE 1

3

9 8 7 10

13 SAUJJHA - PL\TE 2 THE PALAEOBOTANisT, YOLo 13