Palynological distinction between Upper Permian and Lower Triassic in Raniganj coalfield, Bengal, India

Abstract

The present paper deals with the palynological boundary between Raniganj (Upper Permian) and Panchet (Lower Triassic) in Raniganj coalfield, West Bengal, India. A good number of surface and subsurface samples have been investigated from Raniganj and North Karanpura coalfields, Bihar. It has been observed that in Upper Raniganj stage the palynological assemblage is dominated by striate bisaccate like Strotersporites, Siriatopiceites and Striatites while trilete and monolete are subdominant and mostly represented by Apiculatisporis, Lophotriletes and Laevigatosporites. In Panchet, however, the trilete is dominant while striate bisaccate is only frequently met with. The trilete genera like Decisporis, Divaripunctites and Dictyophyllidites which are absent in Raniganj are dominant in Panchet. Strotersporites, Striatopiceites and Striatites though present in Panchet are never found in abundance.