A megaspore assemblage from the Athgarh Formation and its bearing on the age of the formation

Abstract

Megaspores have been recorded from the Athgarh Formation of Mahanadi Basin. The megaspore assemblage comprises species of Banksisporites, Bacurnleres, Erlansonisporites, Minerisporites, Saccarisporites, Paxillitriletes, and seed structures referable to Spermatites. The megaspore assemblage has a preponderance of the genera Paxillitriletes and Minerisporites in association with other Early Cretaceous forms, and thus supports the age arrived at on the basis of megafloral data. Spore/pollen investigations had earlier revealed an age ranging between Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous.