Palynological dating of Supra-Barakar formations in Son Valley Graben

Abstract

The Pali Formation was so far considered to be barren of coal. Recently a one-meter thick coal seam has been reported in the Middle Pali in the subsurface. Palynological analysis of this coal-bearing stratum has revealed the presence of palynotaxa, viz., Densipollenites, Faunipollenites, Striatopodocarpites, Striatites and Scheuringipollenites. Strata supposed to be younger to Pali in the outcrop have yielded the genera- Gondisporites, Densipollenites and Striatopodocarpites. It shows that these beds are of the Late Permian age. At the same time, some taxa, like Lundbladispora, Palyfordiaspora, Guttulapollenites, Satsangisaccites and Nidipollenites are also present in this assemblage giving it a younger aspect, i.e., Early Triassic. It is, therefore, suggested that these sediments were deposited during Permian/Triassic time probably closer to Early Triassic.