Abstract
A rich palynological assemblage consisting of algal remains (5 genera and 7 species, including dinoflagellate cysts), fungal spores (2 genera and 3 species), pteridophytic spores (5 genera and 8 species), gymnospermous pollen grains (3 genera and 3 species) and angiospermous pollen grains (17 genera and 22 species) has been recorded for the first time from the Miocene sediments exposed along Kullur-Kavur road, near Mangalore along the west coast of Karnataka. Among the important genera are: Achomosphaera, Leptodinium, Staphlosporonites, Hammenisporis, Polypodiaceaesporites, Quilonipollenites, Myricipites, Graminidites, Malvacearumpollis, Palaeomalvaceaepollis and Chenopodipollis. Qualitative and quantitative analyses reveal that the angiosperm pollen grains are dominant over pteridophytic spores and an overall, a warm and humid tropical-sub-tropical coastal climate with heavy precipitation is suggested for the site of deposition. The sediments were deposited in fluctuating conditions ranging from lacustrine to marine environments with fresh water swamps and ponds nearby. The occurrence of Hammenisporis, Polypodiaceaesporites, Quilonipollenites, Myricipites, Graminidites, Malvacearumpollis, Palaeomalvaceaepollis and Chenopodipollis in the present assemblage suggests an early Miocene age. A comparison of the present palynofloral assemblage with those known from the Indian Tertiary sediments shows its close resemblances with the Miocene palynoflora recovered from Quilon and Warkalli beds of Kerala basin.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baksi, S.K. (1962) Palynological investigation of Simsang River Tertiaries, South Shillong Front, Assam. Bull. Geol., Min. Metall. Soc. India, v 26, pp.1–22.
Baksi, S. K. (1972) On the palynological biostratigraphy of Bengal Basin. In: A.K. Ghosh et al. (Eds.), Proc. Seminar on Palaeopalynology and Indian Stratigraphy, Calcutta, 1971. Botany Department, Calcutta University Kolkata: pp.188–206.
Banerjee, D. (1964) A note on the microflora from Surma (Miocene) of Garo Hills, Assam. Bull. Geol., Min. Metall. Soc. India, v.29, pp.1–8.
Banerjee, D. (1968) Siwalik microflora from Punjab (India). Rev. Palaeobot.Palynol., v.6, pp.171–176.
Bharadwaj, D.C. (1962) The microspore genera in the coals of Raniganj stage (Upper Permian), India. The Palaeobotanist, v.9, pp.68–106.
Bharadwaj, D.C. and Salujha, S.K. (1964) Sporological study of seam VIII in Raniganj coal-field, Bihar (India)- part- 1 Description of sporae dispersae. The Palaeobotanist, v.12, pp.181–215.
Couper, R.A. (1953) Upper Mesozoic and Cainozoic spores and pollen grains from New-Zealand. Bull. New Zealand Surv. Palaeont., v.2, pp.1–77.
Deb, U. (1970) Palynological investigation of Tertiary sediments of Bengal Bain, south of Calcutta. Quart. Jour. Geol., Min. Metall. Soc. India, v.42, pp.127–140.
Deb, U. (1972) Some pollen grains from the Neyveli lignite. In: A.K. Ghosh et al. (Eds.), Proc. Sem. Palaeopalynology and Indian Stratigraphy, Calcutta, 1971. Botany Department, Calcutta University Kolkata, pp.220–228.
Dev, S. (1961) The fossil flora of the Jabalpur series-3. Spores and pollen grains. The Palaeobotanist, v.8, pp.43–56.
Dilcher, D.L. (1965) Epiphyllous fungi from Eocene deposits in western Tennessee, USA. Palaeontographica, v.116, pp.1–54.
Dutta, S.K. and Sah, S.C.D. (1970) Palynostratigraphy of the Tertiary sedimentary formations of Assam. 5. Stratigraphy and palynology of south Shillong plateau. Palaeontographica, v.131B, pp.1–72.
Dutta, S.K. and Singh, H.P. (1980) Palynostratigrpahy of sedimentary formations of Arunachal Pradesh-1. Palynology of Siwalik rocks of lesser Himalayas, Kameng district. In: D.C. Bharadwaj et al. (Eds.), Proc. 4th Internat.Palynological Conf., Lucknow, 1976-77, Volume-2, BSIP, Lucknow, pp.617–626.
Hedberg, H.D (1976) International Stratigraphic Guide-A guide to Stratigraphic Classification, Terminology and Procedure. Wiley New York, NY, 200p.
Kar, R. K. (1985) The fossil floras of Kutch-IV. Tertiary palynostratigraphy. The Palaeobotanist, v.34, pp.1–280.
Kar, R.K. and Jain, K.P. (1981) Palynology of the Neogene sediments around Quilon and Varkala, Kerala coast, south India-2. Spores and Pollen grains. The Palaeobotanist, v.27, pp.113–131.
Lukose, N.G. (1968) Microfossils from the middle Siwalik of Bihar, India. Jour. Palynology, v.4, pp.107–112.
Mandal, J. (2010) Palynofossils from the Chhasra Formation (Early Miocene), Kutch Basin, Gujarat, India. Geophytology, v.38, pp.71–73.
Mandaokar, B.D. (2000) Palynology and palaeoenvironment of the Bhuban Formation (Early Miocene) of Ramrikawn, near Aizawl, Mizoram, India. The Palaeobotanist, v.49, pp.317–324.
Mandaokar, B.D. (2002) Palynoflora from the Keifang Formation (Early Miocene) Mizoram, India and its environmental significance. Jour. Palaeont. Soc. India, v.47, pp.77–83.
Mandaokar, B. D. (2004) Age and depositional environment of the Upper Bhuban Formation of Champahai area (Eastern Mizo hills) India-A palynological approach. The Palaeobotanist, v.53, pp.143–153.
Mathur, Y.K. and Chopra, A. S. (1982) Palynology, morphology and taxonomy of the cryptogamic spores from the post-Palaeogene subsurface sediments of the Bengal Basin, India. Geoscience Jour., v.3, pp.51–80.
Mathur, Y.K. and Jain, A.K. (1980) Palynology and age of the Dras Volcanics near Shergol Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Geoscience Jour., v.1, pp.55–74.
Muller, J. (1968) Palynology of the Pedawan and Plateau Sandstone formations (Cretaceous-Eocene) in Sarawak, Malaysia. Micropaleontology, v.14, pp.1–37.
Nagy, E. (1963) New pollen species from the Lower Miocene of the Bakony mountain (Varpalota) of Hungary. Acta Botanica, v.8, pp.153–163.
Nandi, B. (1975) Palynostratigraphy of the Siwalik Group of Punjab. Himalayan Geol. v.5, pp.411–423.
Nandi, B. (1980) Further contribution on the Palynostratigraphy of the Siwalik Group. In: Bharadwaj, D. C. (Eds.). Proc. 4th Internat. Palynological Conf., Lucknow, BSIP, Lucknow, pp.727–734.
Navlae, G.K.B. (1962) Pollen spores from Neyveli lignite, South India. The Palaeobotanist, v.10, pp.87–90.
Navlae, G.K.B. and Misra, B.K. (1979) Some new pollen grains from Neyveli lignite, Tamil Nadu, India. Geophytology, v.8, pp.226–239.
Phadtare, N.R. and Kulkarni, A.R. (1980) Palynological investigation of Ratnagiri Lignite, Maharashtra. Geophytology, v.2, pp.158–170.
Phadtare, N.R. and Kulkarni, A.R. (1984) Palynological assemblage of lignite exposure of Ratnagiri District. In: R.M. Badvae et al., (Eds.), Proc. 10th Indian Colloquium on the Indian Micropalaeontology and Stratigraphy, Pune, 1982, Maharashtra Association of Cultivation of Science Pune, pp.515–531.
Potonie, R. and Sah, S.C.D. (1960) Sporae dispersae of the lignites from Cannanore beach of the Malabar coast of India. The Palaeobotanist, v.2, pp.121–135.
Radhakrishna, B.P. and Vaidyanadhan, R. (1997) Geology of Karnataka. Geological Society of India, Bangalore, 353p.
Ramanujam, C.G.K. (1966) Palynology of the Miocene lignite from South Arcot District, Madras. Pollen et Spores, v.8, pp.149–203.
Ramanujam, C.G.K. (1987) Palynology of the Neogene Warkalli Beds of Kerala State in south India. Jour. Palaeont. Soc. India, v.32, pp.26–46.
Ramanujam, C.G.K, Rao, G.M. and Reddy, P. R. (1991) Palynological studies of subsurface sediments at Mynagapalli, Quilon district, Kerala State. Biovigyanam, v.17, pp.1–11.
Rao, K.P. and Ramanujam, C.G.K. (1978) Palynology of the Neogene Quilon beds of Kerala state in south India. 1. Spores of pteridophytes and pollen of monocotyledons. The Palaeobotanist, v.25, pp.397–427.
Rao, K.P. and Ramanujam, C.G. K. (1982) Palynology of the Quilon beds of Kerala State in south India-II. Pollen of dicotyledons and discussion. The Palaeobotanist, v.30, pp.68–100.
Rao, M.R. (1986) Palynology of the Barail (Oligocene) and Surma (Lower Miocene) sediments exposed along Sonapur-Badarpur Road Section, Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Part-IV. Gymnospermous pollen grains. Geophytology, v.16, pp.89–96.
Rao, M.R. (1995) Palynostratigraphic zonation and correlation of the Eocene-Early Miocene sequence in Alleppey district, Kerala, India. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., v. 86, pp.325–348.
Rao, M.R. (1996) An early Miocene palynofloral assemblage from Turavur bore-hole, Alleppey District, Kerala- its palaeoecological and stratigraphical significance. Geophytology, v.25, pp.155–163.
Rao, M.R. (2004) Palynological investigation of the Sindhudurg Formation (Miocene) exposed at Kalviwadi, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India. The Palaeobotanist, v.53, pp.123–135.
Rao, M.R. (2005) Reworked Permian and Cretaceous palynofossils from Miocene sediments of Mangalore, Karnataka. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.66, pp.217–222.
Rao, M.R. and Rajendran, C.P. (1996) Palynological investigations of Tertiary lignite and associated sediments from Cannanore, Kerala Basin, India. The Palaeobotanist, v.43, pp.63–82.
Rao, M.R. and Nair, K.K. (1998) Palynological investigation of Miocene sediments exposed in Kannanellur-Kundara area, Quilon District, Kerala. Geophytology, v.27, pp.49–59.
Rao, M.R. and Patnaik, R. (2001) Palynology of Late Pliocene sediments of Pinjor Formation, Haryana, India. The Palaeobotanist, v.50, pp.267–286.
Rao, M.R. and Singh, H.P. (1986) Palynology of the Barail (Oligocene) and Surma (Lower Miocene) sediments exposed along Sonapur-Badarpur Road Section, Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Part.III. Pteridophytic spores. The Palaeobotanist, v.35, pp.267–280.
Rao, M.R., Saxena, R.K. and Singh, H.P. (1985) Palynology of the Barail (Oligocene) and Surma (Lower Miocene) sediments exposed along Sonapur-Badarpur Road Section, Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Part.V. Angiospermous pollen grains. Geophytology, v.15, pp.7–23.
Sah, S.C.D. (1967) Palynology of an Upper Neogene profile from Rusizi Valley (Barundi). Annals Museum research African Centre, v.57, pp.1–173.
Sah, S.C.D. and Kar, R.K. (1969) Pteridophytic spores from the Laki series of Kutch, Gujarat. Jitendranath Sen Memorial Volume, pp.109–121.
Salujha, S.K., Rehman, K. and Kindra, D.S. (1973) Distinction between the Bhuban and Bokabil sediments on the southern edge of shilling Plateau based on palynoassemblage. Bull. ONGC, no.10, pp.109–117.
Salujha, S.K., Kindra, G.S. and Rehman, K. (1979) Palynostratigraphy of the Tertiary sediments of Gojalia Anticline, Tripura-Part-2. Systematic palynology. Jour. Palynology, v.14, pp.71–93.
Saxena, R.K. (1978) Palynology of the Matanomadh Formation in type area, north-western Kutch, India (Part-1), Systematic description of pteridophytic spores. The Palaeobotanist, v.25, pp.448–456.
Saxena, R.K. (1992) Neyveli lignites and associated sediments — their palynology, palaeoecology, correlation and age. The Palaeobotanist, v.40, pp.345–353.
Saxena, R.K. and Bhattacharyya, A.P. (1987) Palynology of the Siwalik sediments of Kala Amb-Nahan area in Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh. The Palaeobotanist, v.35, pp.187–195.
Saxena, R.K. and Misra, N.K. (1990) Palynological investigation of the Ratnagiri beds of Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra. In: K.P. Jain and R.S. Tiwari (Eds.), Proc. Symp. on Vistas in Indian Palaeobotany. The Palaeobotanist, v.38, pp.263–276.
Saxena, R.K. and Rao, M.R. (1996) Palynological investigation of the Boldamgiri Formation (Early Miocene) in type area, Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Geophytology, v.26, pp.43–56.
Saxena, R.K., Rao, M.R. and Singh, H.P. (1987) Palynology of the Barail (Oligocene) and Surma (Lower Miocene) sediments exposed along Sonapur-Badarpur Road Section, Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Part.VI. Palynostratigraphic zonation. The Palaeobotanist, v.35, pp.150–158.
Saxena, R.K. and Singh, H.P. (1981) Pinjoriapollis, a new fossil pollen from the Pinjor Formation (Upper Siwalik) exposed near Chandigarh. Curr. Sci., v.50, pp.418–419.
Saxena, R.K. and Singh, H.P. (1982a) Palynological investigation of the Upper Siwalik sediments exposed along Hoshiarpur-Una road section in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Geophytology, v.12, pp.287–306.
Saxena, R.K. and Singh, H.P. (1982b) Palynology of the Pinjor Formation (Upper Siwalik) exposed near Chandigarh, India. The Palaeobotanist, v.30, pp.325–339.
Saxena, R.K., Singh, H.P. and Rao, M.R. (1987) Palynology of the Tatrot-Pinjor sequence exposed between Masol and Kiratpur in Ambala District, Haryana. Geophytology, v.17, pp.275–284.
Saxena, R.K. and Tripathi, S.K.M. (2012) Seven decades of Indian Tertiary spore-pollen floras: A Compendium. AASP Contrib. Series No.45, pp.1–182.
Saxena, R.K. and Trivedi, G.K. (2009) Palynological investigation of the Kopili Formation (Late Eocene) in north Cachar Hills, Assam, India. Acta Palaeobotanica, v.49, pp.253–277.
Sheffy, M.V. and Dilcher, D.L. (1971) Morphology and taxonomy of fungal spores. Palaeontographica, v.133, pp.34–51.
Siddhanta, B.K. (1986) The age of the Neyveli lignite with reference to stratigraphy and palynology. Indian Minerals, v.40, pp.61–82.
Singh, A., and Misra, B.K. (1991a) New colporate pollen taxa from Neyveli lignite, south India. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., v.67, pp.59–74.
Singh, A. and Misra, B.K. (1991b) Revision of some Tertiary pollen genrea and species. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., v.67, pp.205–215.
Singh, H.P. and Saxena, R.K. (1980) Upper Siwalik palynoflora from Gagret-Bharwain road section, Himachal Pradesh. Geophytology, v.10, pp.278–279.
Singh, H.P. and Saxena, R.K. (1981) Palynology of the Upper Siwalik sediments in Una District, Himachal Pradesh. Geophytology, v.11, pp.173–181.
Singh, H.P. and Sarkar, S. (1984) Palynological investigations of Ramshahr Well 1, Himachal Pradesh, India. The Palaeobotanist, v.32, pp.91–112.
Singh, H.P., Srivastava, K. and Roy, S.K. (1964) Studies on the Upper Gondwana of Kutch-1. Mio-macrospores. The Palaeobotanist, v.12, pp.282–306.
Singh, R.Y. and Tewari, B.S. (1979) A note on the palynostratigraphy of the Tertiary sediments of Upper Assam. Bull. Indian Geol. Assoc., no.12, pp.151–159.
Tiwari, R.S. (1962) Miospore genera in some coals of Barakar stage (Lower Gondwana) of India. The Palaeobotanist, v.13, no.2, pp.168–214.
Tiwari, R.S. and Vijaya Singh (1984) Morphographic study of Jugasporites-Complex. Proc. Vth Indian Geophytological Conf., Lucknow (1983). Spec. Publ., pp.66–72.
Venkatachala, B.S. and Kar, R.K. (1969) Palynology of the Tertiary sediments of Kutch- 1. Spores and pollen from borehole no.14. Palaeobotanist, v. 17, pp.157–178.
Venkatachala, B.S. and Rawat, M.S. (1973) Palynology of the Tertiary sediments in the Cauvery Basin-2. Oligocene-Miocene palynoflora from the subsurface. The Palaeobotanist, v.20, pp.238–263.
Verma, P., Mandal, N., Rao., M.R., Thakkar, M.G. and Bajpai, S. (2013).Palynological record from Chhasra Formation (Early Miocene), Eastern Kutch, Gujarat. The Palaeobotanist, v.62, pp.149–155.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rao, M.R., Verma, P. Palynological investigation of Neogene (Early Miocene) sediments of Mangalore basin, India: Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic implications. J Geol Soc India 84, 55–67 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-014-0110-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-014-0110-6