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Microfacies types (MFT) and palaeoenvironment of the Umlatodoh carbonates in the Shillong Plateau of Meghalaya, NE India

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

One of the major marine transgressions in the Shillong Plateau is represented by the middlemost Umlatodoh Formation of the Sylhet Limestone Group during early Eocene. Based on 26 species of Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) and eleven species of calcareous red algae and green algae, nine Tethyan MFT (microfacies types) viz, Miliolid Packstone-Grainstone, Algal Packstone-Grainstone, Miliolid Grainstone, Larger Benthic Foraminiferal Grainstone, Green Algae Grainstone, Alveolina oblonga Grainstone, Oolitic Packstone-Grainstone and Micrite have been identified for the Umlatodoh Limestone. These microfacies have contributed towards identification of a range of environments from low-energy, shallow neritic inner-shelf through shallow, reef shelf to more restricted environment represented by pure micrite. Petrographical characteristics indicate that these limestones are primarily microcrystalline allochemical rocks of biomicritic type and a mixture of packstone and grainstone. The foraminiferal assemblage associated with various species of coralline red algae and green algae suggests inner ramp, mud-free shallow neritic shelf carbonate sedimentation of the Umlatodoh Limestone showing depositions in calm water, low-energy conditions in the lower part changing to moderately high-energy conditions in the middle followed by low-energy restricted environment represented by micrite towards the upper part.

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  1. Department of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, India

    Kalpana Deka Kalita & Hemlet Gogoi

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Kalita, K.D., Gogoi, H. Microfacies types (MFT) and palaeoenvironment of the Umlatodoh carbonates in the Shillong Plateau of Meghalaya, NE India. J Geol Soc India 85, 686–696 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0265-9

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