Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Early Eocene calcareous algae and benthic foraminifera from Meghalaya, NE India: A new record of microfacies and palaeoenvironment

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Early Eocene carbonate sediments of the Umlatdoh Limestone (Meghalaya, N-E India) represent a shallow marine shelf environment. The major biotic components characterizing these carbonates are calcareous green algae and small to larger benthic foraminifera. Based on the biogenic associations and general sedimentological features, five major facies types (MFTs) are distinguished. They are dominated by poor to moderately sorted grainstones followed by packstones, rudstones and wackestones. Considerable abundance of Halimeda, scarcity of z-corals and poor to moderate occurrence of filter-feeding organisms imply mesotrophic to a slightly oligotrophic nutrient regime. Rare occurrence of geniculate coralline algae is probably due to the lack of suitable substrate and environmental conditions. High incidence of grainstones and packstones, fairly preserved microfossils and few reworked specimens indicate a parautochthonous mode of deposition. Preponderance of Alveolina and Nummulites indicate the possible advent of larger foraminiferal turnover (LFT) in the east Tethys during or even before early Eocene. A conceptual palaeoenvironmental model for the studied succession is provided to showcase various facies gradients, bathymetry levels and shelf zones pertinent to the Umlatdoh Limestone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, C.G., Lee, D.E. and Rosen, B.R. (1990) Conflicting isotopic and biotic evidence for tropical sea-surface temperatures during the Tertiary. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.77, pp.289–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afzal, J., Williams, M., Leng, M.J. and Aldridge, R.J. (2011) Dynamic response of the shallow marine benthic ecosystem to regional and pan-Tethyan environmental change at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.309, pp.141–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baig, M.S. and Munir, M. (2007) Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of Yadgar area, Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Jour. Him. Earth Sci., v.40, pp.33–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, D. (2005) Larger foraminiferal and coralline algal facies in an Upper Eocene storm influenced, shallow water carbonate platform (Colli Berici, north-eastern Italy). Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.226, pp.17–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, D. and Loriga, C. (1999) Alveolinids and Middle-Upper Eocene boundary in Northeastern Italy (Veneto, Colli Berici). Jour. Foram. Res., v.29, pp.222–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, D. and Nebelsick, J.H. (2010) Components, facies and ramps: redefining Upper Oligocene shallow-water carbonates using coralline red algae and larger foraminifera (Venetian area, northeast Italy). Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.295, pp.258–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basso, D., Nalin, R. and Nelson, C.S. (2009) Shallow-water Sporolithon rhodoliths from North Island (New Zealand). Palaios, v.24, pp.92–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basso, D. and Granier, B. (2012) Calcareous algae in changing environments. In: D. Basso and B. Granier (Eds.), Calcareous algae and global change: from identification to quantification. Geodiversitas, v.34, pp.5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beavington-Penney, S.J. and Racey, A. (2004) Ecology of extant nummulitids and other larger benthic foraminifera: applications in palaeoenvironmental analysis. Earth Sci. Rev., v.67, pp.219–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beckmann, J.P. and Beckmann, R. (1966) Calcareous algae from Cretaceous and Tertiary of Cuba. Sch. Paläontol. Abhand., v.85, pp.3–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandano, M., Frezza, V., Tomassetti, L. and Cuffaro, M. (2009) Heterozoan carbonates in oligotrophic tropical waters: The Attard member of the lower coralline limestone formation (Upper Oligocene, Malta). Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.274, pp.54–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carbone, F., Matteucci, R., Pignatti, J.S. and Russo, A. (1993) Facies analysis and biostratigraphy of the Auradu Limestone Formation in the Berbera-Sheikh area, Northwestern Somalia. Geol. Rom., v.29, pp.213–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, A.B. (1977) Geology of the Assam-Arakan region. Quart. Jour. Mineral. Metall. Soc. India, v.49, pp.1–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deloffre, R. (1970) Niveau a algues dans le Sparnacien de la region de Plagne (Petites-Pyrénées-Haute-Garonne) et observations sur le genre Neomeris Lamouroux, 1816. Bull. Cent. Res. Pau–SNPA., v.4/2, pp.353–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deloffre, R. and Granier, B. (1993) Invantaire critique des algues Dasycladales fossiles. Rev. de Paléobiol., v.11, pp.331–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dragastan, O.N. and Soliman, H.A. (2002) Paleogene calcareous algae from Egypt. Micropaleontology, v.48, pp.1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunham, R.J. (1962) Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., v.1, pp.108–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutta, S.K. and Jain, K.P. (1980) Geology and Palynology of the area around Lumshnong, Jaintia Hills, Meghlaya, India. Biol. Mem., v.5, pp.56–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enge, A.J., Kucera, M. and Heinz, P. (2012) Diversity and microhabitats of living benthic foraminifera in the abyssal Northeast Pacific. Mar. Micropal., v.96-97, pp.84–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flügel, E. (2004) Microfacies of Carbonate Rocks: Analysis, Interpretation and Application. Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg, 976p.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ghafor, I.M. and Qadir, M.M. (2009) Larger foraminifera (Alveolinidae, Soritidae and Nummulitidae) from the Former Qulqula Conglomerate Formation, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq. Iraqi. Jour. Earth Sci., v.9, pp.35–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, A.K. and Sarkar, S. (2013) Palaeoecological implications of corallinacean red algae and halimedacean green algae from the Prang Formation of South Shillong Plateau, Meghalaya. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.81, pp.531–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granier, B. (2012) The contribution of calcareous green algae to the production of limestones: a review. In: D. Basso and B. Granier (Eds.), Calcareous algae and global change: from identification to quantification. Geodiversitas, v.34, pp.35–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halfar, J., Godinez-Orta, L., Mutti, M., Valdez-Holguín, J.E. and Borges, J.M. (2004) Nutrient and temperature controls on modern carbonate production: an example from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Geology, v.32, pp.213–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallock, P. and Glenn, E.C. (1986) Larger foraminifera: a tool for paleoenvironmental analysis of Cenozoic carbonate depositional facies. Palaios, v.1, pp.55–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herbig, H.G. (1991) Das Paläogen am Südrand des zentralen Hohen Atlas und in Mittleren Atlas Marokkos. Stratigraphic, Fazies, Paläogeographie und Paläotektonik. Berlin Geologica Abhandlungen (A), v.135, pp.1–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillis, L. (1980) Ecology and taxonomy of Halimeda: primary producer of coral reefs. Adv. Mar. Biol., v.17, pp.1–327 (as Hillis-Colinvaux, L.).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillis, L. (1986) Deep water populations of Halimeda in the economy of an atoll. Bull. Mar. Sci., v.38, pp.155–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillis, L. (1991) Recent calcified Halimedaceae. In: R. Riding (Ed.), Calcareous Algae and Stromatolites. Springer, Berlin, pp. 167–188.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hillis, L. (1997) Coralgal reefs from a calcareous green alga perspective, and a first carbonate budget. Proc. Eighth Int. Coral Reef Symp., v.1, pp.761–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillis, L.W. (2001) The calcareous reef alga Halimeda (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales): a cretaceous genus that diversified in the cenozoic. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.166, pp.89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hottinger, L. (1997) Shallow benthic foraminiferal assemblages as signals for depth of their deposition and their limitations. Bull. Soc. Géol. France, v.168, pp.491–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ismail, A.A. and Boukhary, M. (2008) Larger foraminifera from the Early Eocene of Shabwa area, Southeastern Yemen. Rev. Paléobiol. Gen., v.27, pp.89–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, N.P. and Bone, Y. (2011) Carbonate production and deposition in a warm-temperate macroalgal environment, Investigator Strait, South Australia. Sed. Geol., v.240, pp.41–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, N.P., Reid, C.M., Bone, Y., Levings, A. and Malcolm, I. (2013) The macroalgal carbonate factory at a cool-to-warm temperate marine transition, Southern Australia. Sed. Geol., v.291, pp.1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jauhri, A.K. (1994) Carbonate buildup in the Lakadong Formation of the South Shillong Plateau, NEIndia: A micropaleontological perspective. In: R. Matteucci (Ed.), Studies on Ecology and Paleoecology of Benthic Communities. Boll. Soc. Paleontol. Italy Sp. v. 2, Ital. Paleontol. Soc. Modena, pp.157–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jauhri, A.K. (1996) Ranikothalia nuttalli (Davies), a distinctive early Ilerdian marker, in the Shillong Plateau. In: J. Pandey, R.J. Azmi, A. Bhandari and A. Dave (Eds.), Contributions to XV Indian Colloquium on Micropalaeontology and Stratigraphy. Allied Printers, Dehra Dun, pp.209–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jauhri, A.K. and Agarwal, K.K. (2001) Early Palaeogene in the South Shillong Plateau, NEIndia: local biostratigraphic signals of global tectonic and oceanic changes. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.168, pp.187–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jauhri, A.K., Misra, P.K., Kishore, S. and Singh, S.K. (2006) Larger foraminifera and calcareous algal facies in the Lakadong Formation of the South Shillong Plateau, NEIndia. Jour. Palaeontol. Soc. India, v.51, pp.51–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kishore, S., Singh, A.P., Jauhri, A.K., Misra, P.K., Singh, S.K. and Lyngdoh, B.C. (2007) Coralline algae from the Prang Formation (Eocene) of the South Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India. Rev. Paléobiol. Genève, v.26, pp.615–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kooistra, W.H.C.F., Coppejans, E.G.G. and Payri, C. (2002) Molecular systematics, historical ecology, and phylogeography of Halimeda (Bryopsidales). Mol. Phylogen. Evol., v.24, pp.121–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Wanjarwadkar, K.M. (2003) Dasycladacean algae from Late Paleocene limestone of Middle Andaman, India: Implications to paleoenvironments, paleobathymetry and stratigraphy. In: Kundal, P. (Ed.), Recent Developments in Indian Micropaleontology. Gond. Geol. Magz. Spec. Vol., v.6, pp.277–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuss, J. and Leppig, U. (1989) The early Tertiary middle late Paleocene limestones from the western Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Neu. Jahr. Geol. Paläontol. Abhand., v.177, pp.289–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuss, J. and Herbig, H.G. (1993) Biogeography, facies and taxonomy of early Tertiary green algae from Egypt and Morocco. In: F. Barattolo et al. (Eds.), Studies on Fossil Benthic Algae. Proc 5th Int. Symp. Fossil Algae Boll. Dell. Soc. Palaeontol. Italy Spec Vol 1, pp.249–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer, M. and Hottinger, L. (2000) Biogeography of selected “larger” foraminifera. Micropaleontology, v.46, pp.57–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J.M., Braga, J.C. and Riding, R. (1997) Late Miocene Halimeda alga-microbial segment reefs in the marginal Mediterranean Sorbas Basin, Spain. Sedimentology, v.44, pp.441–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumaru, K. and Sarma, A. (2010) Larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the lower Tertiary of Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, NEIndia. Micropaleontology, v.56, pp.539–565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehrotra, K.K. and Banerji, R.K. (1973) Middle-Upper Eocene Biostratigraphy of Khasi and Jaintia Hills based on planktonic and larger foraminifera. Jour. Palaeontol. Soc. India, v.18, pp.22–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milliman, J.D. (1993) Production and accumulation of calcium carbonate in the ocean: budget of a nonsteady state. Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles, v.7, pp.927–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misra, P.K., Jauhri, A.K., Kishore, S. and Singh, S.K. (2002) Calcareous algae from the Lakadong Formation of the South Shillong Plateau, NEIndia. Rev. Paléobiol. Genève, v.21, pp.717–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, P.K., Jauhri, A.K., Tiwari, R.P., Kishore, S., Singh, A.P. and Singh, S.K. (2011) Coralline algae from the Prang Formation (Middle-Late Eocene) of the Lumshnong area, Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.78, pp.355–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J.W. and Alve, E. (1999) Natural dissolution of modern shallow water benthic foraminifera: taphonomic effects on the palaeoecological record. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.146, pp.195–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagappa, Y. (1959) Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of Cretaceous-Eocene succession in the India-Pakistan-Burma region. Micropaleontology, v.5, pp.141–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nandy, D.R. (2001) Geodynamics of Northeastern India and the adjoining region. ACB Publications, Kolkata, pp. 209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nebelsick, J. and Bassi, D. (2000) Diversity, growth-forms and taphonomy: key factors controlling the fabric of coralline algal dominated shelf carbonates. In: E. Insalaco, P. Skelton T. Palmer (Eds.), Carbonate Platform Systems: Components and Interactions. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Vol., v.178, pp.89–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, M. (1958) Revision des Orbitoidides du Cretacé et de l’Eocene en Aquitaine Occidentale. Mém. Soc. Géol. France, v.38, pp.1–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novak, V., Santodomingo, N., Rösler, A., Di Martino, E., Braga, J.C., Taylor, P.D., Johnson, K.G. and Renema, W. (2013) Envrionmental reconstruction of a late Burdigalian (Miocene) patch reef in deltaic deposits (East Kalimantan, Indonesia). Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.374, pp.110–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, P.N. and Palmer, M.R. (2000) Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations over the past 60 million years. Nature, v.406, pp.695–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrin, C., Bosence, D.W.J. and Rosen, B. (1995) Quantitative approaches to palaeozonation and palaeobathymetry of corals and coralline algae in Cenozoic reefs. In: D.W.J. Bosence and P.A. Allison (Eds.), Marine Palaeoenvironmental Analysis from Fossils. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., v.83, pp.181–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomar, L. and Hallock, P. (2008) Carbonate factories: A conundrum in sedimentary geology. Ear-Sci. Rev., v.87, pp.134–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radoicic, R. (1991) Acicularia tavnae sp. nov. and other Acetabulariaceae from the Palaeocene of eastern Majevica (NE Bosnia, Dinarides). Geologija, v.34, pp.57–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reuter, M., Piller, W.E. and Richoz, S. (2012) The dispersal of Halimeda in northern hemisphere mid-latitudes: Palaeobiogeographical insights. Persp. Plant Ecol. Evol. Syst., v.14, pp.303–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samanta, B.K. and Raychoudhury, A.K. (1983) A revised lithostratigraphic classification of the Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary shelf sediments of the Eastern Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Quart. Jour. Mineral. Metall. Soc. India, v.55, pp.101–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sameeni, S.J., Haneef, M., Rehman, O.U. and Lipps, J.H. (2009) Paleogene biostratigraphy of Kohat area, Northern Pakistan. Geol. Bull. Punjab Univ., v.44, pp.27–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saraswati, P.K., Sarkar, U. and Banerjee, S. (2012) Nummulites solitarius–Nummulites burdigalensis lineage in Kutch with remarks on the age of Naredi Formation. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.79, pp.476–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S. (2015a) Thanetian-Ilerdian coralline algae-benthic foraminifera from north-east India: microfacies analysis and new insights into the Tethyan perspective. Lethaia, v.48, pp.13–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, S. (2015b) Calcareous algal-rich carbonate sediments from Assam Shelf, N-E India: An overview of the palaeoenvironmental implications. In: S. Mukherjee (Ed.), Petroleum Geosciences: Indian Contexts. Springer Geology, Switzerland, pp. 175–189.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, A.K. and Ghosh, A.K. (2006) A new record of calcareous algae from Shella Formation (Jaintia Group) of South Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India. Curr. Sci., v.90, pp.1276–1281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, A.K. and Ghosh, A.K. (2007) Calcareous green algae from the Umlatdoh Limestone belonging to Shella Formation (Jaintia Group), Meghalaya, India. Palaeobotanist, v.56, pp.21–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena, R.K. and Tripathi, S.K.M. (1982) Lithostratigraphy of Tertiary sediments exposed along Jowai Badarpur Road in Jaintia hills (Meghalaya) and Cachar (Assam). Palaeobotanist, v.30, pp.34–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheibner, C. and Speijer, R.P. (2008) Late Paleocene-early Eocene Tethyan carbonate evolution-a response to long-and shortterm paleoclimatic change. Earth Sci. Rev., v.90 pp.71–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serra-Kiel, J., Hottinger, L., Caus, E., Drobne, K., Ferràndez, C., Jauhri, A.K., Less, G., Pavlovec, R., Pignatti, J., Samsó, J.M., Schaub, H., Sirel, E., Strougo, A., Tambareau, Y., Tosquella, J. and Zakrevskaya, E. (1998) Larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Tethyan Paleocene and Eocene. Bull. Soc. Géol. France, v.169, pp.281–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tewari, V.C., Kumar, K., Lokho, K. and Siddaiah, N.S. (2010a) Lakadong limestone: Paleocene-Eocene boundary carbonates sedimentation in Meghalaya, northeastern India. Curr. Sci., v.98, pp.88–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tewari, V.C., Lokho, K., Kumar, K. and Siddaiah, N.S. (2010b) Late Cretaceous-Paleogene Basin Architecture and Evolution of the Shillong Shelf Sedimentation, Meghalaya, Northeast India. Jour. Indian Geol. Cong., v.2, pp.61–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tragelehn, H. (1996) Maastricht and Paläozän am Südrand der Nördlichen Kalkalpen (Niederösterreich, Steiermark)–Fazies, Stratigraphie, Paläogeographie und Fossilführung des ‘Kambühelkalkes’ und assoziierter Sedimente. Den Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät Der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Thesis, 216p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, M.E.J. (2005) Equatorial delta-front patch reef development during the Neogene, Borneo. Jour. Sed. Res., v.75, pp.116–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, C.E. and Metre, W.B. (1953) Assam and Arakan. In: V.C. Illing (Ed.), World’s Oil Field. The Eastern Hemisphere. The Science of Petroleum. Oxford University Press, London 6, pp.119–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, C.A. and Murray, J.W. (1972) Comparisons of modern and Palaeogene foraminiferid distributions and their environmental implications. Mem. Bur. Recher. Geol. Min., v.79, pp.87–96.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow, 226 007, India

    Suman Sarkar

Authors
  1. Suman Sarkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suman Sarkar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sarkar, S. Early Eocene calcareous algae and benthic foraminifera from Meghalaya, NE India: A new record of microfacies and palaeoenvironment. J Geol Soc India 88, 281–294 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-016-0491-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-016-0491-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation