JOURNAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA Vol.77, February 2011, pp.137-148 Palynological Dating and Correlation of Surface and Subsurface Sediments from Wardha Valley Coalfield, Maharashtra NEERJA JHA, PAULINE SABINA.K, RAJNI TEWARI and N.C. MEHROTRA Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow – 226 007 Email: paulinesabina@gmail.com Abstract: 42 genera of palynomorphs have been reported from the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the palynoflora from both open cast mine and bore holes viz., Ballarpur open cast mine, Durgapur open cast mine and Bore hole CMWNM-57 on barrier between Kawadi/Majri open cast and Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery from the Wardha valley coalfield of Wardha basin. Two palynoassemblages have been recorded i.e., an Upper Karharbari palynoassemblage comprising dominance of radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites and subdominance of nonstriate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites and a Lower Barakar palynoassemblage consisting of dominance of Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate disaccates chiefly Faunipollenites, suggesting an Early Permian age (Late Sakmarian to Early Artinskian) to the sediments. It is further authenticated by the occurrence of palynotaxa viz., Crucisaccites, Caheniasaccites, Indotriradites and Tiwariasporis. Upper Karharbari Formation has been demarcated for the first time in lithologically designated Barakar Formations in Ballarpur, Durgapur, Majri and Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery while the sample 57/2 of bore hole CMWNM from Kawadi area may belong to the Kamthi Formation on the basis of pinkish yellowish coarse grained to medium grained sandstone. An attempt has been made to correlate these palynoassemblages with other Lower Gondwana basins of Early Permian affinity. Keywords: Palynomorphs, Early Permian, Upper Karharbari, Lower Barakar, Correlation, Wardha valley coalfield, Maharashtra. INTRODUCTION The principal application of palynology is the determination of relative ages and correlation of strata on the basis of the palynomorphs retrieved from them. Coal palynology offers an excellent geological approach for the delineation of strata due to its vegetal source of origin. In India, palynological studies have been extensively utilized in the biostratigraphic delineation of the Lower Gondwana formations and several syntheses have been published during the last few decades (Bharadwaj 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975 and Bharadwaj and Srivastava, 1969). In the recent years, the spore and pollen based zonation has been given by Tiwari and Tripathi (1988) for the Permian sequence in the Indian Peninsula. Srivastava (1992), Jha (2006) synthesized the information regarding the distribution of pollen and spores in the Godavari graben. In the present work, 42 genera of palynomorphs have been reported from Ballarpur open cast mine (DTOCP) and Hindustan Lalpeth colliery (HLP) (Fig.1a), Durgapur open cast mine (DOCP) (Fig.1b) and bore hole CMWNM-57 on barrier between Kawadi/Majri open cast (Fig.1c) of Wardha valley coalfield . On the basis of their qualitative and quantitative analysis, two palynoassemblages have been recorded, viz., an Upper Karharbari palynoassemblage comprising dominance of radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites and subdominance of nonstriate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites and a Lower Barakar palynoassemblage consisting of dominance of Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate disaccate genus Faunipollenites. An Early Permian age (Late Sakmarian to Early Artinskian) has been assigned to these sediments. An attempt has been made to correlate these palynoassemblages with other Lower Gondwana basins of Early Permian affinity. GEOLOGY The Gondwana sediments exposed in Maharashtra constitute a part of the Wardha – Godavari Basin and are mostly confined to the northeastern part of the state in the districts of Nagpur, Chandrapur and Yavatmal. These coal bearing areas have been grouped into four main areas viz., Kamthi, Bandar, Umrer and Wardha valley coalfields. 0016-7622/2011-77-2-137/$ 1.00 © GEOL. SOC. INDIA 138 NEERJA JHA AND OTHERS O 79O20’ 79 15’ tN ala 79O 15’ O tha gha 19 58’ Mo N H. LALPETH Durgapur 20O 0’ O/C INDIA ER AI R IVE R MAHARASHTRA 19O55’ WA R DH AR IVE R BALLARPUR O/C BALHARSHAH 19O50’ 0 0 Km 1 2 Km 1 79° 25 19O53’ Kamthi Formation Barakar Formation Talchir Formation Alluvium Talchir Formation Barakar Formation Kamthi Formation Alluvium Undifferentiated proterozoic sediments  Coal Seam Incrop position of coal seam N Displacement of coalseams due to Faulting NEW 20 00 MAJ RI E 00 B.H.CMWNM-57 SECTOR- C OLD KAWADI WARDHA RIVER 20 00 S Scale- 1:20,000 Bearing- 173O 12’ 36’’ 00 Fig.1. Location map of (a) Ballarpur and Hindustan Lalpeth colliery (after MECL). (b) Durgapur open cast mine (after GSI). (c) Bore Hole CMWNM-57 at barrier between Kawadi/Majri (after WCL). JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 PALYNOLOGICAL DATING OF SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS FROM WARDHA VALLEY COALFIELD The Wardha valley coalfield is the northwestern extension of the Godavari valley coalfield and preserves the stratigraphic sequence from Early Permian to Early Cretaceous. The coalfield lies in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra between the latitudes 19°30' and 20°27' and longitudes 78°50' and 79°45'. The Wardha valley coalfield is a trough bounded on either side by NW-SE trending faults (Hughes, 1877). The Gondwana rocks are folded into a large anticline, on the eastern limb of the fold coal has been frequently encountered from Sasti-Ballarpur in the south to Chandrapur, Durgapur, Bhandak and Warora in the north over a distance of 58 km. In the western limb coal has been intermittently proved for a length of 25 km from Ghugus to Majri. North of Majri, Gondwana sediments are thickly overlain by alluvium and trap. Lameta Formation mainly comprising lime stones, marls and sandstone underlies the trap. Kamthi Formation generally covers the coal bearing Barakar sediments, which were deposited after some tectonic deformation and erosion of the underlying rocks. Thus, the Kamthis form a blanket over Talchirs and Barakars in the east and in the western part they have been exposed revealing the structure of the Wardha valley coalfield. The generalized geological sequence in the Wardha valley basin is given below in Fig.2. MATERIALS AND METHODS The standard maceration technique has been adopted Age for the recovery of palynomorphs which involves nonchemical processes like cleaning and crushing of 5-10 gm of sample and chemical processes like demineralization, consisting of removal of carbonates by 10% HCl, removal of silicates by 40% HF, oxidation of organic matter with conc. HNO3 and removal of humic matter by 10% KOH. Sequel to chemical methods for release of microfossils some non-chemical techniques like sieving and swirling were used to achieve maximum concentration of palynomorphs. Later the macerates were mounted in Canada balsam and slides were prepared for observation. The material for palynological study was collected by one of the author, Rajni Tewari from Durgapur colliery, Hindustan Lalpeth colliery and one bore core from Kawadi area of Wardha valley drilled by CMPDI. The slides have been deposited in the repository of BSIP museum. PALYNOLOGY On the basis of qualitative and quantitative distribution of palynotaxa different palynoassemblages have been identified in different areas under study. The detailed description of palynoassemblages of Ballarpur Colliery, Durgapur Opencast mine, B.H. 57 CMWNM from Kawadi/ Majri barrier and Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery are as follows. Ballarpur Colliery: Two palynoassemblages have been recognized in this colliery. Group / Formation Lithology Recent — Alluvial gravel beds, black cotton soil Eocene Deccan Trap Basalts ---------------Unconformity-------------- Cretaceous Lameta Formation Limestones, Cherts and Silicified sandstones ---------------Unconformity-------------- Upper Triassic Maleri Formation Fine to medium grained sandstone and red shale Upper Permian to Lower Triassic Kamthi Formation Red, brown and variegated sandstones, reddish siltstones and variegated shales Lower Permian Barakar Formation Light grey to white sandstones, shales and coal seams Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian Talchir Formation Tillites, turbidites, varves, needle shales and sandstones Precambrian Sullavai Group White to brown quartzitic sandstones, conglomerates, blue pink Limestones and Cherts Archaean Pakhal Group Quartzites, granite gneisses etc. ---------------Unconformity-------------- ---------------Unconformity-------------- Fig.2. Generalised Stratigraphic sequence in the Wardha valley coalfield (after: Raja Rao, 1982) JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 139 140 NEERJA JHA AND OTHERS Palynoassemblage I: The palynoassemblage recognized in sample, DTOCP A/6367 ranging in thickness from 0.52 m and lithologically constituted of carbonaceous shale is as follows. The quantitatively important taxa are the radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites (23.8%) and the non striate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites (16.1%). While the qualitatively important taxa are Crucisaccites, Brevitriletes, Indotriradites, Caheniasaccites, Callumispora, Microbaculispora, Ginkgocycadophytus Tiwariasporis, Platysaccus, Primuspollenites and Sahnites. The other taxa recorded are Faunipollenites, Lahirites, Leiosphaeridia, Leiotriletes, Lunatisporites, Plicatipollenites, Striatites, Striatopodocarpites and Verticipollenites. Palynoassemblage II: The palynoassemblage in sample DTOCPA/6370 composed of coal varying in thickness from 3.5-6 m, is quantitatively represented by the non striate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites (25.8%) and the striate disaccate genus Faunipollenites (14.5%). The qualitatively important taxa are Parasaccites, Latosporites, Tiwariasporis, Primuspollenites, Rhizomaspora, Sahnites, Striatites, Striatopodocarpites, Verticipollenites and Lahirites. While the other taxa reported are Brevitriletes, Caheniasaccites, Callumispora, Chordasporites, Crescentipollenites, Crucisaccites, Cuneatisporites, Ginkgocycadophytus, Indotriradites, Leiosphaeridia, Lunatisporites, Navalesporites. Platysaccus, Vesicaspora and Virkkipollenites. Durgapur open cast mine: Two palynoassemblages have been identified in this open cast mine. Palynoassemblage I: The sample DOCP 6-6367 whose lithological composition is shaly coal varies in thickness from 1.5-3 m and the quantitatively important taxa are Parasaccites (19.3%) and Scheuringipollenites (12.32%) while the qualitatively important taxa are Cruscisaccites, Brevitriletes, Indotriradites, Caheniasaccites, Callumispora, Divarisaccus, Horriditriletes, Lophotriletes, Microbaculispora, Ginkgocycadophytus, Tiwariasporis, Platysaccus, Primuspollenites, Sahnites and Rhizomaspora. The sample DOCP 7-6367 R is composed of shale and varies in thickness from 2-4 m. The quantitatively important taxa here are Parasaccites (24%) and Scheuringipollenites (16%) while the qualitatively important taxa are Crucisaccites, Brevitriletes, Indotriradites, Caheniasaccites, Callumispora, Microbaculispora, Ginkgocycadophytus, Tiwariasporis, Platysaccus, Primuspollenites, Sahnites and Rhizomaspora. Palynoassemblage II The sample DOCP 6-6367 R1 is lithologically constituted of coaly shale and varies in thickness from 2-3 m. The quantitatively important taxa are represented by Scheuringipollenites (29.32%) and Faunipollenites (26.6%) while the qualitatively important taxa are Parasaccites, Latosporites, Tiwariasporis, Primuspollenites, Rhizomaspora, Striatites, Striatopodocarpites and Lahirites. The other taxa reported from this sample are Brevitriletes, Caheniasaccites, Callumispora, Crescentipollenites, Crucisaccites, Cuneatisporites, Distriatites, Divarisaccus, Ginkgocycadophytus, Leiosphaeridia, Luantisporites, Microfoveolatispora, Platysaccus, Striamonosaccites and Tuberisaccites. Bore hole CMWNM-57 from barrier between Kawadi/Majri open cast: Out of four samples collected from this bore hole only two have yielded palynomorphs. Palynoassemblage I: The sample 57/4 at a depth of 59.60 - 62.00 m consists of carbonaceous shale. The quantitatively important taxa here are Parasaccites (25.2%) and Scheuringipollenites (11%) while the qualitatively important taxa are Crucisaccites, Brevitriletes, Indotriradites, Callumispora, Horriditriletes, Microbaculispora, Ginkgocycadophytus, Tiwariasporis, Platysaccus, Sahnites and Rhizomaspora. Palynoassemblage II: The sample 57/3 was encountered at a depth of 56.00-57.20 m and is lithologically constituted of shaly coal. The sample was comparatively poor in mioflora. The quantitatively important taxa are Scheuringipollenites (5.4%) and Faunipollenites (1%). The borebole was drilled by CMPDI at the location on barrier between Majri/Kawadi open cast mine. The bore hole was closed at a depth of 65 m. The lithological succession in the upper part of the bore core 4-37.10 m consists of medium to coarse grained pink and brown sand stone with pebbles and brown clay and is designated as Kamthi Formation. The sequence from 37.10 m to 65 m consists of grey white sandstone with carbonaceous bands, carb shale, shaly coal, grey shale and coal and is designated as Barakar Formation. The sample 57/2, pinkish to yellow coarse grained to medium grained sandstone, at 44.00 m depth have not yielded palynomorphs. Hindustan Lalpeth colliery: One palynoassemblage has been identified in this colliery. Palynoassemblage I: The sample from HLP 12/6368 is lithologically constituted of carbonaceous shale and ranges in thickness from 2.5-3 m. The sample is rich in pollen and spores with a good state of preservation. It is quantitatively represented by Parasaccites (26%) and Scheuringipollenites (14%) while the qualitatively important taxa are Crucisaccites and Callumispora. The other taxa reported are Divarisaccus, Indotriradites, Sahnites, Striatites, JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 PALYNOLOGICAL DATING OF SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS FROM WARDHA VALLEY COALFIELD Striatopodocarpites, Virkkipollenites, Plicatipollenites, Primuspollenites and, Gingkocycadophytus. Along with pollen and spores, various fragments of tracheids and cuticles have also been observed. From the above statistical analysis it has been observed that the samples from DTOCP –A/6367, DOCP-6/6367, DOCP-7/6367 R, CMWNM-57/4 and HLP 12/6368 revealed the dominance of radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites and subdominance of non-striate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites in the ratio of 24:16, 19.3:12.32, 23.4:16.1, 25.2:11 and 26:14% respectively. While, the samples from DTOCP- A/6370, DOCP-6/6367 R1, and CMWNM-57/3 revealed the dominance of non striate disaccate genus Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate disaccate genus Faunipollenites in the ratio of 25.8:14.5, 29.32:26.6 and 5.4:1 respectively. Therefore, two palynoassemblages, viz. Parasaccites+Scheuringipollenites palynoassemblage and Scheuringipollenites+Faunipollenites palynoassemblage have been recognized. Palynocomposition of different assemblages have been summarized in Fig.3. The vertical distribution and frequency of occurrence of palynomorphs is given in Fig.4 and stratigraphically significant taxa recorded in the present study in Fig.5. ASSESSMENT OF AGE AND CORRELATION Palynofossils are best suited for proposing palynostratigraphic zonation of finer resolutions for the Permian sediments (Schof and Askin, 1980). The Upper Karharbari palynoflora in the Indian Lower Gondwana basins is characterized by the dominance of radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites and subdominance of non striate diasaccate genus Scheuringipollenites and the Lower Barakar palynoflora is characterized by the dominance of Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate disaccate genus Faunipollenites. Therefore, the samples in DTOCP –A/6367, DOCP-7/6367 R, DOCP-6/6367, and CMWNM57/4and HLP 12/6368 are palynologically dated to belong to Upper the Karharbari Formation on the basis of the Parasaccites+Scheuringipollenites palynoassemblage recorded in these sediments. Agashe and Chitnis (1970 and 1972) have earlier studied the coal seam of Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery and correlated the palynoassemblage with Barakar palynoflora. However, in the present investigation the palynoflora of Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery has been correlated with Upper Karharbari on the basis of presence of monosaccates along with Scheuringipollenites. Presence of Crucisaccites, Caheniasaccites and Callumispora is significant indicating Karharbari affinity. JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 141 The Scheuringipollenites+Faunipollenites palynoassemblage reported from the samples in DTOCP- A/6370, DOCP-6/6367 R1 and CMWNM-57/3 show a Lower Barakar affinity. Therefore, an Early Permain age (Late Sakmarian to Early Artinskian i.e. 282-269 Ma) has been suggested for these assemblages . The Parasaccites+Scheuringipollenites palynoassemblage recorded in the samples of boreholes DTOCP – A/6367, DOCP-7/6367 R, DOCP-6/6367, and CMWNM 57/3 is correlatable with the Upper Karharbari palynoflora reported from Umrer coalfield (Bharadwaj and Anand Prakash 1974, Bhattacharyya 1997, Jha et al. 2007 and Pauline et al. 2008) and Kamthi coalfield of Wardha basin (Sarate, 1985) and Ramagundam area (Srivastava and Jha 1989) Palynozone 3 of Ramakrishnapuram area (Srivastava and Jha 1992) and Palynozone 4 of Budharam area (Srivastava and Jha 1995) of Godavari graben. Thus , Upper Karharbari palynoflora has been recognized in lithologically designated Barakar Formation of Wardha valley coalfield. The present assemblage compares well with the Upper Karharbari palynoassemblages of other Gondwana basins of India viz. Damodar Basin (Bharadwaj and Srivastava, 1973, Tiwari 1973), Satpura Basin (Bharadwaj and Srivastava 1973, Trivedi and Ambwani, 1984; Sarate 1986). It is closely comparable with the Giridih coalfield of Damodar Basin, the type locality for Karharbari Formation but the later differs from the former in having Limitisporites and Vesicaspora as the subdominant genera (Srivastava, 1973) and zone-1 of Tatapani – Ramkola coalfield of KoelDamodar Basin (Kar and Srivastava, 2003) which is characterized by the dominance of radial monosaccate genus Parasaccites but it differs in having sub dominance of triletes. Early Permain sediments from all the Gondwana continents viz. Antarctica (Darwin Tillite-Barrett and Kyle, 1975; Victoria Group- Roaring Formation- Kyle and Schof, 1982, Mackellar Formation, Masood et al. 1994), Australia (Baccus Marsh Tillite- Truswell, 1980), South America (Lower Itarare Formation of Brazil-Bharadwaj, Kar and Navale, 1976) and Africa (Dwyka Tillite- Anderson 1970, Utting 1978) are characterized by dominance of monosaccates, therefore, the monosaccate predominant assemblage of the present study compares with these assemblages but subdominance of bisaccates like Scheuringipollenites indicates that the present a ssemblage is younger than these assemblages from the above Gondwana continents. The Scheuringipollenites+ Faunipollenites palynoassemblage reported from the samples in the boreholes DTOCP- A/6370, DOCP-6/6367 R1, and CMWNM -57/2 142 NEERJA JHA AND OTHERS Area Palynoasemblage/ Sample No Quantitatively important taxa Qualitatively important taxa Other taxa Remarks (Age) Ballarpur open cast mine Palynoasemblage II DTOCP A/6370 Scheuringipollenites(25.8%) Faunipollenites(14.5%) Parasaccites Latosporites Tiwariasporis Primuspollenites Rhizomaspora Sahnites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Verticipollenites Lahirites Brevitriletes Caheniasaccites Callumispora Chordasporites Crescentipollenites Crucisaccites Cuneatisporites Ginkgocycadophytus Indotriradites Leiosphaeridia Lunatisporites Navalesporites Platysaccus Vesicaspora Virkkipollenites Lower Barakar (Early Permian) Palynoasemblage I DTOCP A/6367 Parasaccites(23.8%) Scheuringipollenites(16.1%) Crucisaccites Caheniasaccites Callumispora Brevitriletes Indotriradites Microbaculispora Ginkgocycadophytus Tiwariasporis Platysaccus Primuspollenites Sahnites Plicatipollenites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Faunipollenites Lahirites Leiosphaeridia Leiotriletes Lunatisporites Verticipollenites Upper Karharbari (Early Permian) Palynoasemblage II DOCP 6-6367 R1 Scheuringipollenites(29.32%) Faunipollenites(26.6%) Parasaccites Tiwariasporis Primuspollenites Rhizomaspora Striatites Striatopodocarpites Lahirites Latosporites Brevitriletes Caheniasaccites Callumispora Crescentipollenites Crucisaccites Cuneatisporites Distriatites Divarisaccus Ginkgocycadophytus Luantisporites Microfoveolatispora Platysaccus Striamonosaccites Tuberisaccites Leiosphaeridia Lower Barakar (Early Permian) Palynoasemblage I DOCP 6-6367 Parasaccites (19.3%) Scheuringipollenites(12.32%) Crucisaccites Brevitriletes Indotriradites Caheniasaccites Callumispora Divarisaccus Horriditriletes Lophotriletes Microbaculispora Ginkgocycadophytus Tiwariasporis Platysaccus Primuspollenites Sahnites Rhizomaspora Plicatipollenites Circumstriatites Potoneisporites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Tuberisaccites Jayantisporites Verrucosisporites Verticipollenites Vesicaspora Virkkipollenites Crescentipollenites Distriatites Faunipollenites Lahirites Leiotriletes Striasulcites Leiosphaeridia Upper Karharbari (Early Permian) Durgapur open cast mine Fig.3. Palynocomposition of different assemblages from surface and subsurface sediments of the present study areas of Wardha valley coalfields. JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 PALYNOLOGICAL DATING OF SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS FROM WARDHA VALLEY COALFIELD Area Kawadi/ Majri barrier Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery 143 Palynoasemblage/ Sample No Quantitatively important taxa Qualitatively important taxa Other taxa Remarks (Age) Palynoasemblage I DOCP 7-6367 R Parasaccites (24%) Scheuringipollenites(16%) Crucisaccites Brevitriletes Indotriradites Caheniasaccites Callumispora Microbaculispora Ginkgocycadophytus Tiwariasporis Platysaccus Primuspollenites Sahnites Rhizomaspora Circumstriatites Chordasporites Crescentipollenites Cuneatisporites Distriatites Faunipollenites Lahirites Leiosphaeridia Leiotriletes Leuckisporites Lunatisporites Navalesporites Plicatipollenites Striasulcites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Vesicaspora Virkkipollenites Upper Karharbari (Early Permian) Palynoasemblage II CMWNM 57/3 Palynoasemblage I CMWNM 57/4 Scheuringipollenites(5.4%) Faunipollenites (1%) Parasaccites(25.2%) Scheuringipollenites(11%) Pseudoreticulatispora (poor yield) Crescentipollenites Faunipollenites Illinites Latosporites Leiosphaeridia Lunatisporites Pseudoreticulatispora Striasulcites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Verrucosisporites Verticipollenites Virkkipollenites Lower Barakar (Early Permian) Upper Karharbari (Early Permian) Palynoasemblage I HLP12/6368 Parasaccites (26%) Scheuringipollenites (14%) Divarisaccus Indotriradites Sahnites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Virkkipollenites Plicatipollenites Primuspollenites Gingkocycadophytus Upper Karharbari (Early Permian) Crucisaccites Brevitriletes Indotriradites Callumispora Horriditriletes Microbaculispora Ginkgocycadophytus Tiwariasporis Platysaccus Sahnites Rhizomaspora Crucisaccites and Callumispora Fig.3. Contd... can be correlated with the Lower Barakar palynoassemblages recorded from Ramagundam area Assemblage C (Srivastava and Jha 1989), Ramakrishnapuram area (Srivastava and Jha, 1992), Palynoassemblage 3 of Manuguru area (Srivastava and Jha, 1992a), Palynozone 5 of Budharam area (Srivastava and Jha, 1995) and Palynozone 2 of Koyagudem area (Srivastava and Jha, 1995a) of Godavari Graben and Assemblage zone A of Wardha Valley coalfield (Mahesh et al. 2008). The present assemblage compares well with the Lower Barakar palynoassemblages of other Gondwana basins of India viz. Zone-3 of Korba coalfield (Bharadwaj and Srivastava, 1973) JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 and Zone – 2 of Giridih coalfield (Srivastava, 1973). Scheuringipollenites rich assemblage has also been recorded from Johilla Coalfield (Anand Prakash and Srivastava, 1984), Umaria coalfield (zone-3 Srivastava and Anand Prakash, 1984) but differs in having sub dominance of Vesicaspora rather than striate disaccates. Tiwari (1971) described a Lower Barakar palynoflora from Tura seam, Singrauli coalfield, but differs in having trilete and radial monosaccates as sub dominant elements. Other Scheuringipollenites dominant assemblages with which the present assemblage is correlatable are Hura and Chuperbhita coalfields (Banerjee and D’Rozario, 1984, 1988), Pathkera 144 NEERJA JHA AND OTHERS 1 2 6 7 10 14 3 8 22 9 11 12 19 23 13 17 16 15 18 5 4 20 24 21 25 Plate. Stratigraphically significant taxa recorded in the study areas.1. Callumispora sp. BSIP Slide no. 13785(3) co-ordinates S.59/2. 2. Indotriradites sp. BSIP Slide no.13786(1) G.41. 3. Brevitrletes unicus BSIP Slide no.13785 (3) M.49/3. 4. Microbaculispora sp. BSIP Slide no.13787 (1) U.51/3. 5. Ginkgocycadophytus sp. BSIP Slide no.13786 (1) P.44/3. 6. Microbaculispora sp. BSIP Slide no.13788 (2) S.42/2. 7. Tiwariasporis sp. BSIP Slide no.13786 (1) T.29/4. 8. Parasaccites sp. BSIP Slide no.13786 (1) G.37/4. 9. Crucisaccites sp. BSIP Slide no.13789 (4) N.65/1. 10. Plicatipollenites gondwanensis. BSIP Slide no.13789 (4) S. 58/1. 11. Potoniesporites monoletus . BSIP Slide no.13787 (1) T.44. 12. Crucisaccites sp BSIP Slide no.13787 (1) W.46. 13. Scheuringipollenites sp. BSIP Slide no.13790 (4) N.38/1. 14. Faunipollenites sp. BSIP Slide no.13791(1) U.34. 15. Striatites sp. BSIP Slide no.13785(3) Q.57. 16. Crescentipollenites fuscus. BSIP Slide no.13785(3) T.48/3. 17. Scheuringipollenites sp. BSIP Slide no.13792 (1) U.55/1. 18. Striatopodocarpites sp. BSIP Slide no.13785(3) V.31/3. 19. Rhizomaspora sp. BSIP Slide no.13786(1) H.53/4. 20. Primuspollenites sp. BSIP Slide no.13785(3) M.33/4. 21. Stroterosporites sp. BSIP Slide no.13792 (1) R.53/4. 22. Striatopodocarpites sp. DOCP(R) Slide no.6/6367(1) W.42. 23. Faunipollenites sp. BSIP Slide no.13791(1) R.65/1. 24. Cuneatisporites radialis BSIP Slide no.13792 (1) U.66/1. 25. Striatites rhombicus. BSIP Slide no.13785(3) T.32/4. JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 HLP KAWADI-57/3 KAWADI- 57/4 DTOCP-A/6367 DTOCP-A/6370 DOCP-7-6367 R DOCP-6-6367 R1 DOCP-6- 6367 SAMPLE NO. PALYNOLOGICAL DATING OF SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS FROM WARDHA VALLEY COALFIELD PALYNOMORPHS Brevitriletes Caheniasaccites Callumispora Circumstriatites Chordasporites Crescentipollenites Cruscisaccites Cuneatisporites Distriatites Divarisaccus Faunipollenites Ginkgocycadophytus Horriditriletes Illinites Indotriradites Jayantisporites Lahirites Latosporites Leiosphaeridia Leiotriletes Leuckisporites Lophotriletes Lunatisporites Microbaculispora Microfoveolatispora Navalesporites Parasaccites Platysaccus Plicatipollenites Potoniesporites Primuspollenites Pseudoreticulatispora Rhizomaspora Sahnites Scheuringipollenites Striomonosaccites Striasulcites Striatites Striatopodocarpites Tiwariasporis Tuberisaccites Verrucosisporites Verticipollenites Vesicaspora Virrkipollenites 10% Fig.4. Histogram showing the percentage frequency and vertical distribution of palynomorphs in the study areas. JOUR.GEOL.SOC.INDIA, VOL.77, FEB. 2011 145 146 NEERJA JHA AND OTHERS Soil/Alluvium 21.60m 32.50m KAMTHIS Cgd Sst Brown Clay 35.00m 37.10m 38.00m CONCLUSIONS Pink Mgd Sst KAMTHIS BARAKAR Fgd sst Pinkish yellow Cgd to mgd sst- Unproductive 47.00m Grey Cgd gritty sst 50.00m Fgd sst with carb bands 52.74m 53.30m Roof of coal seam faulted Coal Seam- Palynoassemblage II 59.60m 62.00m Urihiku Terrane, Southland, New Zealand (Campbell et al. 2001). Scheuringipollenites along with Vesicaspora associated with Alisporites reported from Rio Bonito Formation of Parana Basin, Brazil (Miriam et al. 1982) closely compares with the present assemblage but the latter is associated with Faunipollenites. Grey shale-Palynoassemblage I Fgd to Mgd grey sst 65.00m Fig.5. Litholog of Bore hole- CMWNM-57 at barrier between Kawadi/Majri. coalfield (Sarate, 1986), and Talchir coalfield (Tripathi, 1993). Tiwari et al. (1981) recorded Scheuringipollenites dominant zone form Katrinala section of Jharia coalfield. The present assemblage correlates well with assemblage Zone A of South Karanpura coalfield (Bharadwaj and Tripathi, 1978) and Pench Kanhan coalfields (Bharadwaj et al. 1974). All these assemblages dominated by Scheuringipollenites with sub dominance of striate disaccate forms are accommodated under Scheuringipollenites barakarensis assemblage zone (Tiwari and Tripathi, 1992). The Scheuringipollenites rich assemblage identified in these boreholes correlates with the non striate bisaccate rich assemblage represented by Scheuringipollenites in association with Alisporites from the Kuriwao Group, The present study was aimed to palynologically date and correlate the sediments from Ballarpur open cast mine, Durgapur open cast mine and Bore hole CMWNM-57 on barrier between Kawadi/Majri open cast and Hindustan Lalpeth colliery from the Wardha valley coalfield of Wardha basin, based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of palynological contents. The following conclusions have been drawn: y Upper Karharbari Formation has been demarcated for the first time in lithologically designated Barakar Formations in Ballarpur, Durgapur, Majri and Hindustan Lalpeth colliery of Wardha valley coalfield, Maharashtra state, India. y Thus palynologically Karharbari and Barakar Formations have been recognized in the sediments of the present study suggesting an Early Permian age to the sediments. y Palynoflora of Hindustan Lalpeth Colliery shows an Upper Karharbari affinity rather than Barakar affinity as suggested by Agashe and Chitnis (1970, 1972). y Pinkish yellowish coarse grained to medium grained sandstone at 44 m depth in sample 57/2 of bore hole CMWNM in barrier between Kawadi / Majri may belong to Kamthi Formation on the basis of its lithology. Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to Shri. S.V. Chaoji, CMD, WCL for granting permission to visit the Coal mines. We are thankful to Mr. R.L. Rai, CGM Ballarpur Colliery and Mr. S.K. 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