Role of spore-pollen species in demarcating the Permo-Triassic boundary in Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal

Abstract

An attempt is made to delimit Permo-Triassic boundary in Raniganj Coalfield on the basis of selected palynofossils. Densipollenites invisus, D. indicus and D. densus decline while D. magnicorpus and Gondisporites raniganjensis disappear at the close of Raniganj Formation; Densoisporites contactus, Lundbladispora microconata, L. brevicula, Playfordiaspora cancellosa, Lunatisporites ovatus, L. diffusus and cf. L. pellucidus appear in Lower Panchet. Lithological and palynological changes at Raniganj/Panchet boundary help to draw the Permo-Triassic boundary at this level.