Palynological record from Chhasra Formation (Early Miocene), Eastern Kutch, Gujarat

Poonam Verma; Nivedita Mandal; Mahesh G. Thakkar; M.R. Rao; Sunil Bajpai

doi:10.54991/jop.2013.340

Authors

Poonam Verma Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
Nivedita Mandal Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Department of Earth Sciences, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
Mahesh G. Thakkar Department of Earth and Environmental Science, K.S.K.V. Kachchh University Bhuj, Kachchh 370001, Gujarat, India
M.R. Rao Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India
Sunil Bajpai Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2013.340

Keywords:

Palynology, Palaeoecology, Neogene (Early Miocene), Palasawa, Eastern Kutch

Abstract

A moderately diverse palynoflora consisting of angiospermous pollen and pteridophytic spores has been recorded from poorly known Chhasra Formation (Early Miocene) exposed in a section near Palasawa in eastern Kutch, Gujarat, western India. Dinoflagellate cysts are absent in the section, whereas the fresh water Centropyxis, a testate amoeba, is recorded. Among the important genera recovered are: Hammenisporis, Khariasporites, Acanthotricolpites, Spinizonocolpites, Spinomonocolpites, Retitrescolpites, Meliapollis, Ctenolophonidites, Palaeomalvaceaepollis, Graminidites and Ericipites. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative assessment reveals the dominance of angiospermous pollen grains over pteridophytic spores, and an overall warm and humid coastal climate with tropical rain forest in a lowland coastal setting. Ongoing work in this newly identified section may reveal greater insights into diversity and significance of the Chhasra palynoflora.

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