Journal of Palaeosciences

Space and field-based investigations towards understanding the characteristics and origin of an inhabited rock glacier in NW Himalaya

Pratima Pandey, Md Ataullah Raza Khan, Sheikh Nawaz Ali — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530

The current space and field-based investigation of an important (inhabited) rock glacier (RG) in the north-western (NW) Himalaya aims to comprehend its morphological properties and genesis. Although the RG displays an inactive frontal lobe, small active lobes may be seen in the upper reaches, > 3900 m asl. The permafrost distribution map reveals that the rock glacier contains either discontinuous or sporadic permafrost. We propose that, while the rock glacier does not show indications of an active front, small RG lobes do show movement in the upper reaches. Furthermore, the presence of a well-preserved right lateral moraine implies that this RG originated from a previously glaciated valley and is supported and sustained by a constant supply of talus (rock debris) from the present sedimentary catchment to the northeast. The quick thawing of the RGs will significantly impact and perhaps lead to the complete migration of the inhabitants to other areas.

Drainage Basin Analysis of the Sarayan River, Ganga Plain, India

Priyanka Yadav, Dhruv Sen Singh — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530

The Sarayan River is a groundwater fed meandering river, originating near Gola Gokaran Nath Town in Lakhimpur Kheri District of Uttar Pradesh in the Ganga Plain. It flows around 170 km before joining the Gomti River at Kaintain hamlet, Sidhauli Tehsil, Sitapur District, Uttar Pradesh. The morphometric analysis of the Sarayan River Basin is explained in the present paper by using Geographical Information System (GIS) technique and Survey of India topographical sheets to integrate basic, shape and derived characteristics. It shows a dendritic drainage pattern, with a surface area of about 2535 km2. The basic parameters identified are, perimeter 383 km, length 112 km and slope 0.80 m/km. The derived parameters such as the relief–ratio (Rr) 0.30 m/km, bifurcation ratio (Rb) 8.82 and RHO coefficient 0.02, describe a gently undulating topography, influencing sediment transport and the formation of extensive alluvial plain. The form factor (Ff) 0.20, circularity index (Rc) 0.22, and elongation ratio (Re) 0.51 indicate the elongated shape of the basin. The Sarayan River Basin is a fourth order river basin with mature topography and dendritic behaviour of the drainage network.

Palynology and palynofacies analysis of the Subathu Formation (Early Ypresian-Middle Lutetian) of Morni Hills, Haryana, India

Samir Sarkar, Marcela Svobodova, Suman Sarkar — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530

Palynofossils and sedimentary organic matter recovered from two well exposed stratigraphic sections of the Subathu Formation (early Ypresian to middle Lutetian) outcropping in the Morni Hills, Haryana (Lesser Himalayas) are evaluated to interpret the depositional environment. The Morni Hills’ palynofloral assemblage consists of dinocysts, spores, pollen grains, fungal spores and ascostromata, and freshwater algae. Among these the significant palynotaxa are Pediastrum diffusus, P. angulatus Achomosphaera ramulifera, Adnatosphaeridium multispinosum, A. vittatum, Areoligera senonensis, Cleistosphaeridium diversispinosum, Cordosphaeridium fibrospinosum, C. gracile, Glaphyrocysta exuberans, Homotryblium abbreviatum, H. pallidum, H. tenuispinosum, Hystrichokolpoma salacium, Hystrichosphaerdium tubiferum, Lingulodinium machaerophorum, Operculodinium centrocarpum, Thalassiphora pelagica, Lygodiumsporites lakiensis, Todisporites major, Pteridacidites sp., Podocarpidites couperi and Neocouperipollis brevispinosus, etc. Five assemblage zones along with one barren zone are recognized on the basis of restricted species and variable abundance data of the examined palynofossils. Dinoflagellate cyst associations show a remarkable change from the older to younger horizons in the present succession. Variation in the composition of the assemblages from lower to upper horizons of the present succession might have been governed by several factors, viz. change in salinity concentration, decrease in water depth, and increase in proximity to the shoreline. Different types of organic matter types were also characterized, whose relative proportions in a vertical succession in both the sections, show changing depositional environmental gradients in this area. The study indicates that the basal carbonaceous shales seem to have been deposited in a freshwater swamp environment. Later, an open lagoon followed by closed lagoon and tidal flat environments are interpreted during the progradational sequence of the regressive phase.

Palynofloral, palaeovegetational and palaeoenvironmental investigations in the Lower Kamthi Formation of South India

Harinam Joshi, Neha Aggarwal, Neerja Jha — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530

These studies were carried out to better understand the palynostratigraphic and palaeoclimatic fluctuations observed in the floral ecosystem. The palynofloral investigation discovered two palynoassemblages (I-II). Faunipollenites spp. and Striatopodocarpites spp. dominate Palynoassemblage-I (430-232.10 m), with a high incidence of Striasulcites spp. Palynoassemblage-II (208.30-83.50 m) is distinguished by striate bisaccates and a high Densipollenites spp. frequency. Alisporites sp., Falcisporites nuthaliensis, Klausipollenites schaubergeri, Chordasporites australiensis, Guttulapollenites hannonicus, and Corisaccites alutus are the younger elements of these palynoassemblages. Guadalupian (Wordian-Capitanian) and Lopingian (Wuchiapingian-Changhsingian) ages have been assigned to the palynoassemblage I and II based on palynofloral evidence. Organic matter in various forms indicates four distinct palynofacies assemblages (PF I-IV). According to their findings, the sequence is dominated by the presence of sub-arborescent/arborescent forest cover that thrived in swampy settings near the depositional site. During deposition, the host sediments exhibit oxic to anoxic conditions as well as variable energy levels of the freshwater regime.

Rare earth element proxy for distinguishing marine versus freshwater Ediacaran fossils

Gregory Retallack — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530

Ediacaran fossils and sedimentary rocks are controversial for whether they are marine or non-marine, and this study applies the test of light rare earth over heavy rare earth weight ratios (LYREE/HYREE) to a variety of Ediacaran siliciclastic and carbonate fossil matrices. Holocene soils have light-YREE-enriched arrays (LYREE/HYREE>4.8) and modern deep marine clays have heavy-YREE-enriched arrays (LYREE/HYREE<2.7). Flat arrays of fluvial and shallow marine siliciclastic sediments (LYREE/HYREE 2.7-4.8) are indistinguishable by this proxy. This proxy has been applied to a variety of Ediacaran and Cambrian rocks, for which confounding provenance effects were minimized by comparing marine and non-marine pairs within the same formations. Many samples were within the ambiguous zone (LYREE/HYREE 2.7-4.8), but Ediacaran red beds from Newfoundland, and some beds from China, Namibia, central and South Australia showed diagnostic continental, terrestrial LYREE/HYREE weight ratios of 4.8 to 11.3. A grey tempestite from Newfoundland, a grey sandstone from California, and grey dolostones from Australia and Namibia showed marine LYREE/HYREE weight ratios of 2.7 or less, from the same provenance as terrestrial samples. This new criterion for distinguishing marine from non-marine Ediacaran rocks is supported also by boron content, Ge/Si ratios, and eolian interbeds. Furthermore, new analyses correctly interpreted trilobite and Cloudina beds as marine. One surprisingly secure result is that fossiliferous Ediacaran rocks of Newfoundland were not formed in a deep ocean, but on coastal plains. Some fossiliferous Newfoundland beds have LYREE/HYREE weight ratios of as much as 6.0-11.3, found only in paleosols.

A Note on the Significance and Futuristic Approach of the Newly Established Amber Analysis and Palaeoentomology Laboratory at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow

Hukam Singh, Priya Agnihotri — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530

National Conference on Advances and Multidisciplinary Approach in Geosciences (Amag-2024)

Bhagwan Ghute — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0530