The age of the Tiki formation: with remarks on the miofloral succession in the Triassic Gondwanas of India

Abstract

The age of the Tiki Formation in the South Rewa Gondwana Basin has been discussed. Available data on the vertebrate fauna, megaflora and palynoflora of the Tiki Formation have been evaluated. It is concluded that the Tiki Formation sensu lato (i.e. including the Nidhpuri beds) ranges in age from Anisian through Norian and possibly extends into the Rhaetian.
 On the basis of available palynological data an attempt has been made to establish the miofloral succession in the Triassic Gondwanas of India. Presently nine successive palynological zones have been recognized. However, possibility of existence of some more palynological zones is also not ruled out.

Marker Assemblage-Zones of spores and pollen species through Gondwana Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sequence in India

“…Remarks-The presence of Podocarpidites alareticulatus, P. rarus and P. typicus together with the species of Dubrajisporites gives an younger aspect to this assemblage zone than the Assemblage defined by Maheshwari, Kumaran and Bose (1978) from Janar Nala, South Rewa Gondwana Basin. This assemblage zone is recorded by Tiwari, Kumar and Tripathi (1984, map 1, pp.…”

“…Remarks-The definition of Kia usipollen ites schaubergeri Assemblage-I of Maheshwari, Kumaran and Bose (1978) is elaborated here. This assemblage zone encompasses the generic acme-zone Composition VI : Striatopodocarpites-Klausipollenites Zone-A delimited by Tiwari and Tripathi (1988) and Assemblage-PI of Tiwari and Singh (1986).…”

“…Remarks-The definition of Playjordiaspora cancellosa Assemblage-II of Maheshwari, Kumaran and Bose (1978) is revised and enlarged here. It also incorporates the Decisporis variabilis Assemblage-III of Maheshwari et al (1978) as their delimitation is not feasible at present.…”

“…Remarks-The definition of Playjordiaspora cancellosa Assemblage-II of Maheshwari, Kumaran and Bose (1978) is revised and enlarged here. It also incorporates the Decisporis variabilis Assemblage-III of Maheshwari et al (1978) as their delimitation is not feasible at present. This assemblage zone compares well with the Composition VI : Verrucosisporites-Callumispora Zone-B, Lunatisporites-Verrucosisporites Zone-C and Lundbladispora-Densoisporites Zone-D delimited by Tiwari and Tripathi (1988) based on generic acme• zone.…”

“…THE study of spores and pollen, dispersed in the Gondwana Sequence of India, dates back to nineteen-thirties (Virkki, 1937). During the last five decades enormous data has been generated on morphotaxonomy and palynostratigraphy (Venkatachala & Kar, 1970;Venkatachala, 1974;Lele, 1974;Tiwari, 1974a, b;Maheshwari et al, 1978;Maheshwari & lana, 1988;Tiwari & Tripathi, 1988). Identification of distinctive organizations and exine characters in spores and pollen has established the identity of Gondwana palynoflora (Tiwari & Vijaya, 1988).…”