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Palynological and organic geochemical studies of the middle Eocene Siju Formation of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India

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Abstract

Detailed palynological and organic geochemical analysis of middle Eocene marlstones from the Siju Formation, Garo Hills of Meghalaya, were undertaken. All marl samples contained abundant organic wall dinoflagellate cysts and a few number of spores-pollen grains, foraminiferal linings and calcareous foraminifera. The palynological assemblage consists of 21 genera and 35 species with fungal remains. The occurrence of palynofloral assemblage indicates the prevalence of tropical–subtropical with humid climatic conditions. The deposition environment of the Siju Formation has been interpreted as the neritic setting. Organic matter is thermally immature representing type III–type IV kerogen with low total organic carbon (<0.72%). The biomarkers suggest microbial degradation of both reworked and terrestrial organic matter. Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons indicate charred biomass transported from the land.

Research Highlights

  1. 1.

    An integrated study of palynology and organic geochemistry was carried out in the middle Eocene of the Siju Formation of Garo Hills, Meghalaya.

  2. 2.

    Dinoflagellate cysts and spores, and pollen grains suggested that the Siju Formation has tropical-subtropical and neritic settings.

  3. 3.

    The biomarkers indicated microbial degradation of both reworked and terrestrial organic matter.

  4. 4.

    Rock-Eval pyrolysis and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis suggested the thermal maturity and type of kerogen

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Acknowledgements

YRS would like to acknowledge the Science and Research Board, Government of India (Grant No. EEQ/2016/000062) and Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (INSA/SP/VS-27/2017-2018/518) for financial support. YRS and SPS acknowledge to the ONGC, India for supporting to carry out Rock–Eval analysis. The authors are grateful to Dr Robert A Fensome (Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada) and Dr Przemyslaw Gedl (Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geological Sciences, Research Centre in Cracow) for helping identification of dinoflagellate cysts and Mr Sumit, Dr Anuradha, Research Scholars of IIT, Mumbai for their valuable support during organic geochemical analysis. We also are thankful to W Ajoykumar Singh, T Ngathoi Chanu and N Sanjit Singh for help during sample analysis.

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Author notes

  1. Arka Rudra

    Present address: Department of Geosciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Manipur University, Manipur, 795 003, India

    Y Raghumani Singh, Sh Priyokumar Singh, M Sapana Devi & N Reshma Devi

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, 400 076, India

    Arka Rudra & Suryendu Dutta

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  1. Y Raghumani Singh
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Contributions

Prof Y Raghumani Singh collected samples, identified palynological assemblages, prepared and revised the manuscript. Prof Suryendu Dutta and Dr Arka Rudra participated in the result interpretation of the biomarker, revised, and provided inputs for improvement. Sh Priyokumar Singh performed the measurements, collected the samples, literature review, and preparation of palynological slides. M Sapana Devi and N Reshma Devi supported chemical analysis and preparation of slides.

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Correspondence to Y Raghumani Singh.

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Communicated by Pratul K Saraswati

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Singh, Y.R., Rudra, A., Singh, S. et al. Palynological and organic geochemical studies of the middle Eocene Siju Formation of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India. J Earth Syst Sci 131, 19 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01760-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01760-6

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