Plant fossil assemblage from the talchir formation, Auranga coalfield, Bihar, India

Abstract

Investigations on the Talchir sediments of Auranga Coalfield have yielded well preserved plant fossils from Jaitri river section situated about 1·5 km northeast of Latehar town of Palamau District, Bihar. The assemblage is represented by the species of Gangamopteris (G. cyclopteroides, G. fibrosa, G. clarkeana, G. major; G. angustifolia, G. karharbariensis, Gangamopteris sp.) and Glossopteris (G. talchirensis, G. indica, G. communis, G. stenoneura, G. tenuifolia, G. spatulala) besides a number of scale leaves and equisetalean-stem axes. The known records of plant fossils from the Talchir Formation indicate dominance of Gangamopteris leaves (10 sp.) whereas, Glossopteris leaves are recorded by only two species. The present report of occurrence of six species of Glossopteris and seven species of Gangamopteris demonstrates simultaneous settlement and diversification 0f the two types of glossopterid leaves i.e., midrib-less forms of Gangamopteris and midrib possessing forms of Glossopteris, during the early phase (The Talchir Formation) of Glossopteris flora.