Palynology of the Late Tertiary sediments (DSDP Site 218) in the Bengal Fan, Indian Ocean

Abstract

Palynological assemblage from DSDP Site 218 in the Bengal Fan comprises spores, pollen, fungal fruiting bodies and dinoflagellate cysts. The palynofloral composition has minor variation in core no. 27 to 12. The microthyriaceous fungal remains show comparatively higher frequency than other fungal entities. The gymnosperms are represented mostly by the pollen grains of Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae. Angiosperm pollen are sparsely observed in the assemblage. The pteridophytic spores occur mostly in the bottom and middle cores (core nos. 27-26 and 23-20). Recycled Cretaceous spores have also been found in most of the core samples. This palynoassemblage from Site 218 is comparable to that of the Miocene sediments of northeast India. The environmental relationship of the taxa shows similarity with the modem plants inhabited in the subtropical climate.