Pataco/)olani.fI49 (2000) 23-30 003) -0) 74/2000/23-30 $2.00

Plant fossil assemblage from the Talchir . Formation, Auranga Coalfield, Bihar, India

RAJNI TEWARI AND A.K. SRIVASTAVA

Birbal Salmi Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road. Luckllow 226 007. India.

(Received 03 August 1999; revised version accepted 07 February 2000)

ABSTRACT

Tewari R & Srivastava AK 2000. Plant fossil assemblage from the Talchir Formation, Auranga Coal­ field, Bihar, India. Palaeobotanist49( I) : 23-30.

Investigations on the Talchir sediments of Auranga Coalfield have yielded well preserved plant fossils from Jaitri river section situated about 1·5 km northeast of Latehar town of Palamau District, Bihar. The assemblage is represented by the species of Gangalllopteris (G. cyclopteroides, G.fibrosa, G. clarkeana, G. ma)ol; G. angusllfolia, G. karharbariensis, Gangalllopteris sp.) and Glossopteris (G. talchirensis, G. indica, G. communis, G. stenoneura, G. te11/./lfolia, G. spatulala) besides a number of scale leaves and cquisetalean­ stem axes. The known records of plal1l fossils from theTalchir Formation indicate dominance of Gangalllopteris leaves (10 sp.) whereas, Glossopteris leaves are recorded by only two species. The present report of occur­ rence of six species of Glossopteris and seven species of Gangamopteris dt'monstrates simulraneous settle­ ment and diversification 01 the I wo types of glossopterid leaves i.e., midrib-less forms of Gangall10pteris and midrib possessing forms of Glossopteris. during the early phase (Ihe Talchir Formation) of Glossopteris !lora.

Key-words- Talchir Formation. Glossopteris. Gangallwpteris, Auranga Coal field, India. ~~~~~~~~B~~~"tf~

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() Birbal Sahni Instilute of PalaeobOlany, India 24 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

INTRODUCTION 84°130' .. LANT fossils from the Lower Gondwana succession of N ...... PAuranga Coalfield are well known from the Karharbari, + .,. .,. .,. + + Barakar and Raniganj formations (Feistmantel, 1881; ++ +- Bhallacharyya, 1959; Bhallacharyya, 1963; Srivastava, 1977a, '," .. F __+ b, 1978, 1979, 1996; Srivastava & Tewari, 1996). In 23°(~~;-~~t(!!!I!/f;;1. comparison, the Talchir FOlmation is poorly known by its fossil contents. Feistmantel (1881), for the first time reported equisetaceous stalks, Gangamopreris cyclopleroides, G. cyclopreroides var. subauriculala, G. cyclopreroides var. acul1linara, G. cyclopleroides var. aflenuata, G. cyclopreroides var. cordifolia, G. spalulaw, Noeggeralhiopsis hislopii and winged seeds of Samaropsis from Talchir shales of Latehar hill. Fragmentary leaf impressions and equisetaceous stems were reported by Bhallacharyya (1963) from Deogarh Reserve Forest.

Present assemblage for the first time reports the presence Fig. I- Geological map of the area showing fossil locality. of seven species of Gangamopleris and six species of Glossopreris in the Talchir Formation of India. Glossopreris slenOneura, G. lenuifolia, G. spalulata alongwith, The Talchir Formation, representing the lower most earlier reported species of Gangamopleris and Glossopleris sequence of Gondwana comprises the earliest representatives in the Talchir Formation of Auranga Coalfield is indicative of of Glossopteris flora in India. Planl fossils from this formation the variety and richness of Glossopteris flora in its early stage. are known from South Rewa Gondwana Basin (Ganguly, 1959; Surange & Lele, 1957; Chandra & Srivastava, 1982; Chandra MATERIAL AND METHODS el aI., 1992) Coalfield (Surange & Lele, 1956), Rikba beds of North Karanpura Coalfield, Auranga Coalfield Specimens were collected from the Talchir beds exposed (Feistmantel, 1881) and (Lele et aI., 1968). in laitri Riv€lr, a small tributary of Auranga River, situated Recently, Chandra and Singh (1996), while describing the about 1·5 km north-east of Latehar Town, Palamau District, assemblage from the type locality of the Talchir Formation Bihar (Fig. I). Geology and stratigraphic sequence of the area i.e. Talchir Coalfield, have provided a list of all the known are discussed by Raja Rao (1987) in detail. Plant fossils are records. Records of bryophytic remains from Talchir beds of preserved as impressions in brownish yellow Talchir needle South Rewa Gondwana Basin (Chandra 1995) have added new shales and sandstones. Identification of the species is based on dimensions towards the knowledge of Talchir flora. external morphological features i.e. shape, size and venation is represented by the known species Floristic analysis ofTalchir Formation indicates presence pattern. Since the flora of Gangamopteris and Glossopteris, only a brief description and of 10 species of Gangamopleris, two species of Glossopteris comparison is provided along with photographs. All the type and one species each of Ollokaria, Arberia, Paranocladus, and figured specimens are preserved in the museum of Birbal Noeggeralhiopsis, Samaropsis, Cordaicarpus and Vertebraria. Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow. First record of Gangamopleris fibrosa, G. karharbariensis,

PLATE 1 ;7"

Glossopreris renuifil!ia Panl & Gupta, middle portion of linear-Ianceo­ trapezoidal meshes, which are short and broad near midrib and nar­ late leaf showing long, narrow meshes. Specimen no. BSfP 38333. x 2. rower near margin. Specimen no. BSIP 38336c. x 2 and 38338. x I 2 GWlj!,amopreris major Feistmantel, an almost complete spathulate leaf 5. Ganj!,amopreris cyc!opreroides Feistmantel, an incomplete leaf show­ showing obtuse apex, narrow base, median subparallel anastomosing ing tapering base, prominent subparallel median veins forming long, veins forming secondary veins with elongate, narrow meshes. Speci- trapezoidal narrow meshes. Specimen no. BSIP 38336b. x I. men' no. BSfP .18334. x 3. 7. Gatlj!,amopleris fibrosa McCoy, an incomplete leaf showing median

3. Gl{ls~{lp(erissrel10/leura Feistmantel, an incomplete leaf showing ob­ subparallel veins and arched, nexuous secondary veins forming elon­ tuse apex, nat. striated, evanescent midrib and arched, thin, dense sec- gate, polygonal meshes. Specimen no. BSIP .18339. x 2. ondary veins with narrow, trapezoidal, elongate meshes. Specimen no. 8. Gangamopreris (lI1!illsri{o!ia McCoy, an incomplete linear leaf show­ BSIP 38335. x 2 ing middle part with median subparallel veins and arched secondary 4 & 6.Glossopreris indica Schimper, incomplete portions of Ianceolate leaves veins with trapezoidal meshes. Specimen no. BSIP 38340. x 2. showing acute apex, persistent midrib, arched secondary veins forming TEWARI & SRIVASTAVA-PLANT FOSSIL ASSEMBLAGES FROM THE TALCHIR FORMATION 2~

PLATE 1 26 THE PALAEOBOTANJST

SYSTEMATICS width are preserved; base narrow; thick median subparallel veins radiate from the basal region, bifurcate and form oblong Genus-GANGAMOPTERIS McCoy, 1847 meshes; secondary veins arise from median veins, arch back­ wards to meet margin and after dichotomising and anastomo­ GANGAMOPTERIS CYCLOPTEROIDES Feistmantel, 1876 sing form elongate, narrow, trapezoidal meshes. leaves are similar to C. PI. 1·5 Comparison-The clarkeana (Feistmantel, 1879; Maithy, 1965). Complete leaf is not preserved; different portions of leaves ranging in size from 4'1-14 cm in length and 1·8-2·5 cm in Number of specimens-Two. width are preserved; apex not preserved, base narrow, taper­ GANGAMOPTERIS MAJOR Feistmantel, 1879 ing; median region occupied by a group of subparallel veins, PI. 1·2 prominent at base, forming meshes; secondary veins arise from these at acute angles, curve backwards to meet margin and Leaf measures 2·9 cm in length and 1·9cm in width; shape after anastomosing and dichotomising, form long and broad spathulate, apex obtuse, base narrow, median region occupied meshes near median veins and narrow meshes towards mar­ by few subparallel veins; secondary veins arise from median gin. veins, curve backwards to meet margin and after anastomosing and dichotomising form elongate, narrow meshes. Comparison-The leaves descri bed here compare well with C cycLopteroides (Feistmantel, 1879; Maithy, 1965). Comparison-The leaf is comparable to C. major 1879; 1965). Number of specimens-Six. (Feistmantel Maithy, Number of specimen-One. GANGAMOPTERIS FIBROSA Maithy, 1965 GANGAMOPTERIS KARHARBARIENSIS Maithy, 1965 PI. 1·7 PI. 2-4 Leaf incomplete, measures 8·7 cm in length and 2·7 cm in width, shape') lanceolate, apex not preserved, base taper­ Leaf incomplete, only middle part is preserved which ing, median subparallel veins distinct, with anastomoses; sec­ measures 4·8 cm in length and 2·8 cm in width, base narrow; ondary veins arise at acute angles from median veins, follow a median region occupied by few weak subparallel veins with flexuous course to meet margin and after anastomosing and anastomoses; secondary veins arise from median veins at aClIte dichotomising, form elongate, polygonal meshes with charac­ angles, curve backwards to meet margin and after anastomo­ teristic subparallel, flexuous, elongate fibres. ses and dichotomization, form narrow, elongate meshes of uniform size. Comparison-The venation pattern of the leaf is similar to C fibrosa (Maithy, 1965). Comparison-The leaf compares well with C. karharbariensis (Maithy, 1965). However, epidermis in this Number of specimen-One. leaf is not preserved. GANGAMOPTERIS CLARKEANA Feistmantel, 1890 Number of specimen-One. PI. 2·5 GANGAMOPTERIS ANGUSTIFOLIA McCoy, 1847 Complete leaf is not preserved, only basal portions of PI. 18 leaves ranging from 4·6-6·6 cm in length and 3·6-4·0 cm in

PLATE 2 /'"

Glossopteris /(llchiremis Chandra & Surange, an incomplete leafshow­ ondary veins. Specimen no. BSIP 38344. x 2. ing middle and basal parts, with a distinct, elevated, striated midrib 5. GungolllIJpreris c!ork.eono Feistmantel. an incomplete leaf showing and arched secondary veins forming polygonal meshes. Specimen no. middle and narrow basal part, thick median subparallel veins radiating BSIP 38341. x 1.5. from basal region and arched secondary veins with elongate. naITOW, 2. Glossopteris spullIlula Panl & Singh, an incomplete leaf showing mid­ trapezoidal meshes. Specimen no. BSIP 38345. x 1.3. dle ponion, persistenl, thin midrib, slightly curved secondary veins with 6. Glos.wplens communis Feistmantel. an incomplete leaf showing mid­ narrow, elongate, meshes which are smaller and narrower IOwards dle pan, striated midrib and dense venation with elongate. nalTow marg'in. Specimen no. BSIP 38342 x 1.5. meshes Specimen no. BSIP 38346 x I. 1. Glln!!IIIIlOllreris sp., an incomplete specimen showing few weak 7. GloSSIJIJleris lenttifillio Pant & Gupta, an incomplete leaf showing subparallel veins with anastomoses. slightly arched secondary veins acute apex, persistent, thin midrib and arched secondary vems with and elongate meshes. Specimen no. BSIP 38343. x 2. long narrow Im;shes .. Specimen no. BSIP 38347. x 1.3. 4. Gun!!Ull1opreris kllrharbariensis Maithy, an incomplete leaf showing 8. Scale leaf. showing ovate shape. acute apex, cuneate base and venation narrow base, median region with few subparallel veins and arched sec- pattern Specimen no. BSIP 38337B. x 1.5.

28 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Complete leaf is not preserved; middle portion of leaf Number of specimens-Eight. measuring 9 cm in length and 3 cm in width is preserved; GLOSSOPTERIS TALCHIRENSIS Chandra & Surange, shape linear. median region occupied by few subparallel veins 1979 with meshes; secondary veins arise from median veins at acute angles, curve backwards to meet margin and after anastomo­ P1. 2·1 sing and dichotomising, form narrow, elongate, hexagonal to Leaf incomplete, middle portion of leaf is preserved which trapezoidal meshes. measures 5·1 cm in length and 3 cm in width; midrib 1 mm Comparison-The leaf is comparable with G. angustifolia wide, distinct, elevated, striated; secondary veins arise at an (Feistmantel, 1879; Maithy. 1965) in shape and venation pat­ acute angle, meet margin straight or curve slightly and after tern. anastomosing and dichotomising, form medium, polygonal meshes which are broader near midrib and narrower near mar­ Number of specimen-One. gin where they are more closely spaced. GANGAMOPTERIS sp. Comparison-The leaves are comparable with G. PI. 2·3 lalchirensis (Chandra &Surange, 1979). Complete leaf not preserved; middle portion of leaf Number of specimen-One. measuring 6·0 cm in length and 2·3 cm in width is preserved; GLOSSOPTERIS STENONEURA Feistmantel, 1877 median region occupied by few, thin subparallel veins with anastomoses; secondary veins arise fi'om these at acute angles, PI. 1·3 curve slightly backwards to meet margin and after Complete leaf is not preserved, di fferent portions of leaves anastomosing and dichotomising, foml elongate meshes which ranging in size from 3·0-5,5 cm in length and 1·6-3·0 cm in are slightly narrow near margins. width are preserved; shape spathulate, apex obtuse, base nar­ Number of specimen-One. row, midrib 1-2 mrn wide, flat, striated, evanescent; second­ ary veins arise at acute angles, curve backwards to meet mar­ Genus-GLOSSOPTERIS Brongniart, 1828 gin and after anastomosing and dichotomising, form GLOSSOPTERIS COMMUNIS Feistmantel, 1876 trapezoidal, narrow, elongate meshes, venation dense. PI. 2·6 Comparisol1- The leaves are comparable with G. stenoneura (Chandra & Surange. 1979; Tewari & Srivastava, Complete leaf is not preserved. different portions of leaves 1996) in shape and venation pattern. ranging in size from 4·0-9,0 cm in length and 3,0-6,9 cm in width are preserved; apex obtuse, base acute-cuneate; midrib Number of specimens-Twelve. 1'5-3-5 mm wide, striated; secondary veins arise at an acute GLOSSOPTERIS TENUIFOLIA Pant & Gupta. 1968 angle, curve backwards to meet margin and after anastomising and dichotomising, form narrow-elongate meshes throughout PI. ]'1; PI. 2·7 the lamina. Complete leaf is not preserved, di fferent portions of leaves Comparison-The leaves are comparable with G. com­ ranging in size from 3.4-4.4 cm in length and 1.4-1.7 cm in munis (Feistmantel, 1879; Chandra & Surange, 1979). width are preserved; leaves linear in shape, apex acute, midrib thin, 0.5 mm wide, gradually tapers upwards, persistent; sec­ Number of specimens-Ten. ondary veins arise at acute angles, curve backwards to meet GLOSSOPTERIS INDICA Schimper, 1869 margin and after anastomosing and dichotomising, form long. narrow meshes. PI. lA, 6 Comparison-The venation pattern of the leaves com­ Leaves incomplete; measure 25-15'5 cm in length and pares well with G. tenuifolia (Pant & Gupta. 1968; Tewari, 2-3 cm in width; shape lanceolate, apex acute, base acute­ 1996). cuneate; midrib 0·5-2·0 mm wide, solid, elevated..strong, stri­ ated, thinning in apical region; secondary veins dense, arise at Number of specimens-Three. acute angles, curve backwards to meet margin, and after anas­ GLOSSOPTERIS SPATULATA Pant & Singh. 1971 tomosing and dichotomising, form short. trapezoidal meshes, broader near midrib. narrower near margins. PI. 2·2

Comparison-The venation pattern of the leaves is com­ Leaf incomplete, apical half of leaf is preserved; speci­ parable with G. indica (Chandra & Surange. 1979). men measures 8·2 cm in length and 3·2 cm in width; apex rounded, obtuse. midrib I mm wide, thinning towards apex, TEWARI & SRIVASTAVA-PLANT FOSSIL ASSEMBLAGES FROM THE TALCHIR FORMATION 29

persistent, distinct; secondary veins arise al.acute angles, curve lier known only from upper horizons of Lower Gondwana slightly backwards to meet margin and after anastomosing and i.e., Barakar and Raniganj formations suggests the ancestry of dichotomising, form narrow, elongate meshes which are smaller advanced species of Glossopteris leaves (Srivastava. 1992). and narrower towards margin, venation dense. Acknowledgements-We are lhankful 10 Prof Anshu J<.Sinha, COl1lparison-The venation pattern of the leaf is compa­ DireclOJ; BSIp, Luck/lOW for his kind permission 10 publish lhe pOpel: rahle with G. spatulata (Pant & Singh. 1971: Tewari. 1996). (BSIPIRCPClI999-112).

Number of specimell~One. REFERENCES Scale leaf Bhattacharyya AK 1963. The assemblage of megaplant fossils from PI. 2·8 Ihe Lower Gondwana rocks of the western part of the Auranga Valley Coalfield. Palamau District. Bihar. Quarterly Journal of Leaf measures 2 x 1·3em in size. shape ovate, apex acute, Geological Mining and Metallurgical Society of India 35 : 123­ base cuneate. margin entire; venation reticulate. veins appar­ 128 ently arise from base of leaf and then spread out towards mar­ Bhattacharyya B 1959. On the flora of the Auranga Coal field. gins; meshes short, narrow, elongate. Palamau. District, Bihar. Quarterly Journal of Geological Mining and Metallurgical Society of India 31 : 23-27 Equisetalean stems Brongniart A1828-1837. Histoire des Vegetaux fossiles. I. Chandra A & Srivastava AK 1982. Plant fossils from the Talchir and Specimens measure 2·3-6'7 cm in length and 0·8-2·3 em coal bearing formations of South Rewa Gondwana Basin. India in width; nodes and internodes present in one of the speci­ and their biostratigraphical significance. Palaeobotanist 30: 143­ mens. internodes measure 1,5-1·9 em in length, ridges and 167. furrows present, do not alternate with those of adjacent inter­ Chandra S 1995. Bryophytic remains from the Early Permian node. striations present in between two ridges which are I to sediments of India. Palaeobotanist 43: 16-48. 1.5 mm apart. Chandra S & Singh KJ 1996. Plant fossils from the type Locality or Talchir Formation and evidence of earliest Plant!Animal acti vily Number of specimells- Three. in Gondwana of India. Gondwana Nine. I: Proceedings IX Inter­ national Gondwana Symposium, Hyderabad: 397-414. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Chandra S, Srivastava AK & Singh KJ 1992. Lower Permian plant fossils from India and early developmental history of the The plant fossils from the Talchir Formation represent an Glossopteris flora. Acta Palaeobotanica 32 : 5-19. early developmental phase of Glossopteris flora in India. There Chandra S & Surange KR 1979. Revision of the Indian species of is no record of megafossils from basal Talchir Boulder Beds. Glossopteris. Monograph No.2. Birbal Sahni Institute: of However, palynofossils are recorded from Jayanti Coalfield Palaeobotany. Lucknow. 291 p. (Lele & Karim. 1969). Megafossils are known from the FeistmantelO 1876. On some fossil plants from the Damuda Series in the . collected by Mr. J. Woodmason. Jour­ successive needle shales and sandstones distributed in South nal of Asiatic Society of Bengal 45 : 329-380. Rewa Gondwana Basin, Giridih. Auranga, Hutar and North Feistmantel 0 1877. Notes on fossil floras in India - XL Note on Karanpura coalfields. Three floral zones have been recognised plant fossils from Barakar District (Barakar Group). Records of in the flora of Talchir Formation (Chandra et al.. 1992). The Geological Survery of India 10: 73-74. lower two zones are exclusively dominated by the leaves of FeistmantelO 1879. The fossil nora of the Lower Gondwanas. I. ­ Gangamopteris, whereas. the upper zone is characterised by The nora of lhe Talchir-Karharbari beds. Memoirs of lhe Geo­ the distinct presence of Glossopteris leaves. as has been logical Survey of India Palaeontologia New Series J2: 1-48. observed in Rikba beds of North Karanpura Coalfield (Lele, FeistmantelO 1881. Palaeontological notes from the Hazaribagh and 1966). Lohardagga districts. Records ofGeological Survey of India. 14: 241-263. Present record of seven species of Gangamopteris and FeistmantelO 1890. Geological and palaeontological relations of the six species of Glossopteris in Talchir beds of Auranga Coal­ coal and plant bearing beds of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic age in field suggests affinity with the flora of upper part of Talchir eastern Australia and Tasmania. Memoirs of Geological Survey Formation. The increased proportion of Glossopteris leaves of new South Wales Palaeont. 3 : 1-86. Ganguly S 1959. Palaentological study of Lower Gondwana rocks in Auranga Coalfield from two to six species contradicts the including the coal seams around Chirimiri of Surguja District. earlier hypothesis that, the Gangamopteris leaves are the ear­ Madhya Pradesh. Quarterly Journal of Geological Mining and liest representati ve of Glossopteris flora (Lele 1966; Chandra Metallurgical Society of India 3\ : 155-166. et al., 1992). Rather, it exemplifies that Gangamopteris and Lele KM 1966. Studies in the Talchir flora of India-4. Quest for the Glossopteris leaves survived simultaneously since the begin­ earl y traces and subsequent development of the Glossopteris flora ning phase of Glossopteris flora. Presence of Glossopteris spe­ in the Talchir Stage. Symposium on floristics and stratigraphy of cies e.g.. G. stenoneura. G. tenuifolia and G. spatulata, ear- .,0 THE PALAEOBOTANIST

Gondwanaland: 85-97. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Srivastava AK I 977b. Studies in the Glossopteris !lora of India 42. Lucknow. Barakar plant megafossils and miospores from Auranga Coalfield, Lele KM & Karim R 1969. Discovery of Talchir miospore floras in Bihar. Palaeobotanist 24 : 50-69. the Jayanti Coalfield, Bihar. Currenl Science 38: 436-437. Srivastava AK 1978. Studies in the Glossopteris flora of Indla-43. Lele KM. Swarup P & Singh IN 1968. Occurrence of plant fossils in Some new plant fossils from the Lower Gondwana sedimenls of the Lower Gondwana succession of Singhrauli Coalfield, Uttar Auranga Coalfield, Bihar. Palaeobotanist 25 : 486-495. Pradesh. Journal of Palaeontological Society of India II : 8-17. Srivastava AK 1979. Studies in the Glossopteris flora of India-44. Maithy PK 1965. Studies in the Glossopteris !lora of India - 26. Raniganj plant megafossils and miospores from Auranga Coal­ Glossopteridales from the Karharbari beds, Giridih Coalfield, field, Bihar. Palaeobotanist 26 : 72-94. India. Palaeobotanist 13: 248-263. Srivastava AK 1992. Planl fossil assemblages from the Barakar For­ McCoy F 1847. On the fossil Botany and Zoology of the rocks asso­ mation of Raniganj Coal field, India. Palaeobotanist 39 . 281-302. ciated with coals of Australia. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 20. Srivastava AK 1996. Early Permian planl fossils from the Barakar Pant DD & Gupta KL 1968. Cuticular structure of some Indian lower Formation of Auranga Coalfield, Bihar. Palaeobotanist 43 : 54­ Gondwana s[Jecies of Glossopteris Brongniart. Part I. 58. Palaeonlographica B 124 : 45-81. Srivastava AK & Tewari R 1996. Plant fossils from the Barakar For­ Pant DD & Singh KB 1971. Cuticular structure of some Indian Lower mation, Auranga Coalfield, Bihar. Geophytology 26: 83-88. Gondwana species of Glossopteris Brongnian. PalaeonLOgraphica Surange KR & Lele KM 1956. Studies in the Glossopteris flora of BI35.1-40 India-3. Plant fossils from the Talchir Needle shales from Giridih Raja Rao CS 1987. Coal Resources of Bihar. Bulletins of the Geo­ Coalfield. Palaeobotanist 4: 153-157 logical Survey of India. Series No. 45, Coalfields of India Vol. IV Surange KR & Lele KM 1957. Studies in the Glossopteris !lora of (Pan-I) . 246-256. India-6. Plant fossils from the Talchir Beds of South Rewa Schimper WP 1869. Traite de Paleontologie vegetale.I. 1.B. Bailliere Gondwana Basin. Palaeobotanist 5 : 82-90. et Fib. Paris. Tewari R 1996. Palaeobotanical investigalions from the RaniganJ Srivastava AK 1977a. Palaeobotanical evidence for the presence of Formation of ; Gondwana Nine I: Proceedings IX Karharbari Stage in the Auranga Coalfield, Bihar: megaflora. Pal­ International Gondwana Symposium, Hyderabad . 135-142. aeobotanist 23 : 206-219. Tewari R & Srivastava AK 1996. Plant fossils from the Barakar For­ mation Jharia Coalfield, Bihar. Geophytology 25: 35-39.