Palynostratigraphy and correlation of the coal bearing Gondwana sediments in the Kothagudem sub basin of the Godavari Graben, South India

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the palynology of five sections from the Kothagudem sub–basin of the Godavari Graben, India to unravel the biostratigraphy and palaeovegetation. The palynological analysis in the five sections of Rampur, Hemchandrapuram and Kothagudem areas revealed the presence of Karharbari (Palynozone–I), lower Barakar (Palynozone–II) and Raniganj (Palynozone–III) equivalent palynofloras in lithologically designated Barakar Formation. Palynozone–I is dominated by cordaitalean radial monosaccate pollen grains (Parasaccites spp., Plicatipollenites spp.) and trilete spores (Callumispora spp.) which represent colder climatic conditions. Palynozone–II is chiefly dominated by non–striate bisaccate (Scheuringipollenites spp. and Ibisporites spp.) and striate bisaccate (Faunipollenites spp., Striatopodocarpites spp.) grains of conifer and glossopterid origin indicating presence of peat–forming plants and conducive climatic condition for the coal formation. Palynozone–III is mainly dominated by striate bisaccate pollen grains of glossopterid origin along with conifer (Faunipollenites spp., Striatopodocarpites spp., Crescentipollenites spp.) and peltasperm (Falcisporites spp., Chordasporites spp.) pollen grains representing hot and humid conditions. Palynozone–III is characterized by the dominance of striate bisaccate taxa along with stratigraphically significant palynomorphs (Corisaccites sp., Guttulapollenites sp., Lunatisporites sp., Chordasporites sp., Falcisporites sp., etc.). On the basis of palynofloral composition Palynozone–I, II and III have been assigned to the Sakmarian (upper Karharbari), Artinskian (lower Barakar) and Lopingian (Late Permian) age respectively.

Palynostratigraphy, Paleoenvironments and Kerogen Evaluation of the Campanian-Maastrichtian Enugu Shale, Anambra Basin, Nigeria

“…Generally, large amounts of phytoclasts particles, as observed in the present study, are deposited by rivers in estuarine and deltaic environments, both of which are closed to shorelines (e.g., Oboh-Ikuenobe et al, 2003). High percentage of phytoclasts show oxidizing conditions and the relative resistance of the lining tissues that are also associated with the proximity of the source area (e.g., Tyson, 1995;Dalseg et al, 2016;Aggarwal et al, 2017). However, palynofacies type I (P-I) and type III (P-III) could be classified as type III kerogen (mainly gas prone, could be related to the high phytoclasts input) as deduced mainly from Tyson (1993) ternary plot (Jaeger, 2013;Tahoun et al, 2013;Makled & Baioumi 2013).…”