A palynostratigraphic study of the Umrer Coalfield of Wardha Basin, Maharashtra State, Central India and its putative correlation with Indian and other Gondwanan areas

Abstract

The present work details the results of the palynological studies carried out in the Umrer Coalfield of Wardha Basin of Maharashtra State, Central India. The coalfield covers an area of 4 sq. km and is characterized by three coal seams designated as bottom, middle and top seams with partings. Statistical analysis of the palynomorphs from these sediments have revealed the dominance of radial monosaccate pollen grains of the genus Parasaccites and subdominance of non-striate bisaccate genus Scheuringipollenites in association with other typical early Permian taxa viz. Crucisaccites, Callumispora, Caheniasaccites, Brevitriletes, Tiwariasporis and Primuspollenites. This association characterizes the palynoflora of the upper Karharbari Formation of India on the basis of which the Umrer Coalfield has been assigned an early Permian late Sakmarian to early Artinskian age. It is further authenticated by the presence of the species Crucisaccites monoletus significant of the Karharbari Formation. Age deductions have also been made by correlations with similar assemblages from different basins in India and early Permian palynoflora from other Gondwanan continents some of which have been associated with radiometrically dated sediments.

Upper Pennsylvanian Age of the Lower Talchir Formation in the Wardha Basin, Central India, Based on Guide Palynomorphs Present in Radiometricallydated Palynozonations in South America, Africa, and Australia

“…A literature survey of the palynological works from Talchir sediments of the Wardha Basin is relatively less and requires further studies. Many palynologic studies were carried out in the lower Permian Barakar and upper Permian Kamthi formations (Agashe & Chitnis, 1970, 1972a, 1972bAnand-Prakash & Khare, 1974;Bharadwaj & Anand-Prakash, 1974;Agashe et al, 1981;Sarate, 1985;Bhattacharrya, 1997;Kumar & Jha, 2000;Jha et al, 2007;Sabina et al, 2007;Shivanna et al, 2008Shivanna et al, , 2011Shivanna et al, , 2014Kalkar et al, 2010;Kavali et al, 2010Kavali et al, , 2016Jha et al, 2011;Sarate et al, 2016Sarate et al, , 2017Murthy et al, 2017Murthy et al, , 2019.…”

Upper Pennsylvanian Age of the Lower Talchir Formation in the Wardha Basin, Central India, Based on Guide Palynomorphs Present in Radiometrically-Dated Palynozonations in South America, Africa, and Australia

“…A survey of literature pertaining to the palynological works from Talchir sediments of the Wardha Basin are relatively less and require further studies. Many palynologic studies were carried out in the lower Permian Barakar and upper Permian Kamthi formations (Agashe & Chitnis, 1970, 1972a, 1972bAnand-Prakash & Khare, 1974;Bharadwaj & Anand-Prakash, 1974;Agashe et al,1984;Sarate, 1985;Bhattacharrya, 1997;Kumar & Jha, 2000;Jha et al, 2007;Kavali et al, 2007Kavali et al, , 2010Kavali et al, , 2016Kalkar et al, 2010;Shivanna et al, 2008Shivanna et al, , 2011Shivanna et al, , 2014Jha et al, 2011;Sarate et al, 2016Sarate et al, , 2017Murthy et al, 2017Murthy et al, , 2019.…”