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Characterization of Ordovician-Silurian Acritarchs from the Kumaon Tethys Himalaya, Pithoragarh District, Uttarakhand, India

  • Original Article
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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Acritarchs, microphytoplankton of algal protists, from the Shiala and Yong Limestone formations of the Gunji village along Kali river (upstream) of Kumaon Tethyan Himalaya, Pithoragarh district, Uttrakhand, India have been examined for the first time. It aims to test the basin-wide existence and testing the reliability of already locally established biozones from the Garhwal Tethys Himalaya, Chamoli district, Uttrakhand. The study reveals moderate to poorly preserved, matured assemblages and diversified forms of acritarchs from both formations. The assemblage includes sphaeromorphs, acanthomorphs, netromorphs, polygonomorphs, diacromorphs, herkomorphs, etc. Two palynoassemblages have been recognized each from the Shiala and Yong Limestone formations. Palynoassemblage (I) from the Shiala Formation is confirmed by one productive sample which reveals a mix of Late Ordovician and Silurian forms. The acritarchs assemblage assigned to 16 genera with at least 13 species. The acritarchs from the Yong Limestone Formation are more plentiful and diverse confirming the Palynoassemblage (II) that contains biostratigraphically significant forms of typical Silurian (Ludlow) age. This Palynoassemblage is assigned to 23 genera with 16 species. The paper also describes the possible reasons for floral difference from the same formation and basin sampled at two different localities of the Tethys Himalaya, possibly due to palaeoclimatic constraints. However, detailed work on this aspect is required.

The palynoassemblages from both the formations describe morphologically non-distinct, ubiquitous, wide palaeogeographic spread and uncertain stratigraphic taxa too along with biostratigraphic significant forms.

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Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges gratefully to DST (New Delhi) for funding the research project (SR/S4/ES-562/2011) and an anonymous reviewer for improving the manuscript. HNS extends heartful thanks to Dr Bindra Thusu (UCL, London) for his constructive comments during the identification of palynomorphs and continuous support. Logistic support was provided by the Indo-Tibet Border Police, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Dharchula (India) and Mr G.D. Prasad (Deputy Director, Geology) of Directorate and Industries Uttarakhand, Dehradun to Dr. Sinha during field sampling. The first author thanks to his student Mr Akhil Lakra who accompanied him for field work/expedition. Dr Sinha thanks to the Registrar of the V.B. University for administrative support. The author thanks to Dr Anupam for neat drawing. Dr Sinha gratefully acknowledges Dr. Laxmi for support and encouragement.

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  1. Department of Geology, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag, 825 301, India

    Hareshwar N. Sinha

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  1. Hareshwar N. Sinha
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Correspondence to Hareshwar N. Sinha.

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Sinha, H.N. Characterization of Ordovician-Silurian Acritarchs from the Kumaon Tethys Himalaya, Pithoragarh District, Uttarakhand, India. J Geol Soc India 98, 113–124 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-022-1937-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-022-1937-x

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