Abstract
The sedimentary beds associated with Deccan Continental Flood Basalt (DCFB) sequences exposed in the volcanic subprovinces of Jabalpur-Mandla-Chhindwara (JMC) regions of Madhya Pradesh and Nand-Dongargaon (N-D) basin and the adjoining areas to the west in Yeotmal-Nanded in Maharashtra were studied for their palynofloral analysis. The sediments were characterized palynologically and changes in the palynoflora are observed at different stratigraphic levels in a number of sections including several new intertrappean localities recorded in recent years. For the purpose of effective correlation of different subprovinces, palynofloras of some of the previously studied intertrappeans are also reviewed. Our studies suggest that before the start of the Deccan volcanic activity, the palynoflora found in the Lameta sediments, was dominated by gymnosperms-angiosperm association. The plant canopy consisted mainly of gymnosperms (Conifers and Podocarpaceae) whereas, the understory members were mostly of palms and herbs (Poaceae and Asteraceae). The eruption of Deccan volcanic flows severely affected the existing floral association and proved fatal for the well established plant community. The immediately overlying sediments associated with the earliest volcanic flows are dominated by pteridophytes and angiosperm taxa (Azolla cretacea, Aquilapollenites bengalensis, Ariadnaesporites sp., Gabonisporis vigourouxii and Triporoletes reticulatus). Higher up in the stratigraphic sequence, similar forms continued with simultaneous appearance of new taxa including Scabrastephanocolpites spp. At still higher stratigraphic levels, abundance of fungi especially the mycorrhizal fungi, concurrent with sharp decline in pollen/spore recovery was observed. In the culminating phase (i.e. Palaeocene) of Deccan volcanic history a new palynofloral assemblage of typical Palaeocene taxa (Dandotiaspora dilata, D. pseudoauriculata, D. plicata, Spinizonocolpites echinatus, Matanomadhiasulcites sp., and Lakiapollis ovatus) was encountered.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambwani K, Sahni A, Kar R.K and Dutta D 2003 Oldest known non-marine diatoms (Aulacoseira) from the Upper Cretaceous Deccan intertrappean beds and Lameta Formation of India; Rev. Micropaleontol. 46 67–71
Bajpai S and Prasad G V R 2000 Cretacous age for Ir-rich Deccan intertrappean deposits: paleontological evidence from Anjar, Western India; J. Geol. Soc. London 157 257–260
Beane J E, Turner C A, Hooper P R, Subbarao KV and Walsh J N 1986 Stratigraphy, composition and form of the Deccan basalt, Western Ghats, India; Bull. Volacanol. 48 61–83
Berman D S and Jain S L 1982 The braincase of a small Cretaceous sauropod dinosaur (Reptilia: Saurischia) from the Upper Cretaceous Lameta Group, Central India, with a review of Lameta Group localities; Ann. Carneige Mus. Pittsburg 51 21 405–422
Bestland E A, Retallack G J, Rice A E and Mindzenty A 1996 Late Eocene detrital laterites in central Oregon: Mass balance geochemistry, depositional setting, and landscape evolution; Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 108 285–302
Bhowal M and Sheikh M T 2004 Baccatocarpon sharmae, a petrified dicot buccate fruit from intertrappean beds of Singpur; Trends Life Sci. 10 25–32
Birader N V and Bonde S D 1979 On a fossil palm peduncle from Dongargaon District Chandrapur Maharashtra, India; Geophytology 9 132–138
Bonde S D and Birader N V 1981 On two palm woods from the Deccan intertrappean beds of Dongargoan District Chandrapur, Maharashtra (India); J. Univ. Poona Sci. 54 247–257
Chaterjee S 1978 Indosuchus and Indosaurus, Cretaceous Carnosaurus from India; J. Palaeontol. 52 570–580
Chenet A L, Quidelleu X, Fluteau F, Courillot V and Bajpai S 2007 40K -40Ar dating of the main Deccan large igneous province: further evidence of KTB age and short duration; Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 263 1–15
Chitaley S D 1951 Fossil microflora from the Mohagaon-Kalan beds of Madhya Pradesh. India; Proc. Natl. Inst. Sci. India 17 373–381
Cookson I C 1947 Plant microfossils from the lignite of Kergulen Archipelago; BAN2ARE Report Ser A II 127–148
Cripps J A, Widdowson M, Spicer R A and Jolley D W 2005 Coastal ecosystem response to late stage Deccan Trap volcanism: the post K-T boundary (Danian) palynofacies of Mumbai (Bombay), west India; Paleogeogr. Paleoclimatol. Paleoecol. 216 303–332
Devey C W and Lightfoot P C 1986 Volcanological and tectonic control of stratigraphy and structure in the western Deccan traps; Bull. Volcanol. 48 195–207
Dilcher D L 1965 Epiphyllous fungi from Eocene deposits in Western Tennessee USA; Paleontogr. Abt B 116 1–156
Dogra N N, Singh R Y and Kulshreshta S K 1988 Palynological evidence on the age of Jabalpur and Lameta formations in the type area; Curr. Sci. 57 954–956
Dogra N N, Singh R Y and Kulshreshta S K 1994 Palynostratigraphy of infratrappean Jabalpur and Lameta Formations (Lower and Upper Cretaceous) in Madhya Pradesh, India; Cret. Res. 15 205–215
Dogra N N and Singh R Y 1996 Palynological zonation of Lameta in Formation (Maastrichtian in the type area Madhya Pradesh); XV India Colloq. Micropal. Strat. Dehar Dun pp 601–605
Dogra N N, Singh Y R and Singh R Y 2004 Palynological assemblage from the Anjar intertrappean beds, Kutch, District Gujarat; Curr. Sci. 86 1596–1597
Duncan R A and Pyle D B 1988 Rapid eruption of the Deccan flood basalt at the Cretaceous/ Tertiary boundary; Nature (London) 333 841–843
Dutta D and Ambwani K 2007 Capers: A food for Upper Cretaceous dinosaurs of Pisdura, India; Curr. Sci. 92 897–899
Ellis D, Bell B R, Jolley D W, and O Callaghan M 2002 The stratigraphy, environment of eruption and age of the Faroes Lava Group, NE Atlantic Ocean; in The north Atlantic Igneous Province: Stratigraphy, Tectonic, Volcanic and Magmatic Process (eds) D W Jolley and B R Bell (Geol. Soc. London. Spl. Pub. 197) pp 253–270
Fritsch F E 1961 The structure and reproduction of the algae; Volume 1(Cambridge University Press, London) pp 791
Geological Survey of India (GSI) 2000 District Resource Map, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh
Ghosh P, Bhattacharya S K, Sahni A, Kar R K, Mohabey D M and Ambwani K 2003 Dinosaur coprolites from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lameta Formation of India: isotopic and other markers suggesting a C3 plant diet; Cret. Res. 24 743–750
Guleria J S and Srivastava R 2001 Fossil dicotyledonous woods from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Kachchh, Gujarat, Western India; Palaeontogr. Abt B 257 17–33
Hansen H J, Mohabey D M, Lojen S, Toft P and Sarkar A 2005 Orbital cycles and stable carbon isotopes of sediments associated with Deccan volcanic suite, India: Implications for the stratigraphic correlation and Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary; Gond. Geol. Mag. Spl. Vol. 8 5–28
Hofmann C, Feraund G and Courtillot V 2000 40Ar/Ar40 dating of mineral separates and whole rocks from the Western Ghats lava pile: further constraints on duration and age of the Deccan traps; Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 180 13–27
Hopper P 1999 Winds of change, The Deccan Traps: a personal perspective; in Deccan Volcanic Province (ed.) K V Subbarao (Geol. Soc. India Mem. 43) pp 153–165
Huene F V and Matley C A 1933 The Cretaceous Saurischia and Ornithischia of the Central Province of India; Mem. Geol. Surv. India Pal. India New Series 21 1–7
Jain S L and Sahni A 1983 Some upper Cretaceous vertebrates from Central India and their paleogeographic implications; in Cretaceous of India (ed.) H K Maheshwari (Lucknow: Indian Asso. Palynostrat. Symp. BSIP) pp 66–83
Jana B N, Banerji J and Kar R K 1997 First occurrence of Isoetites serratifolius Bose and Roy from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Kutch, Gujarat; Curr. Sci. 73 403–405
Jay A E and Widdowson M 2008 Stratigraphy, structure and volcanology of the SE Deccan continental flood basalt province: implications for eruptive extent and volumes; J. Geol. Soc. London 165 177–188
Jolley D W 1997 Paleosurface palynofloras of the Skye lava field and the age of the British Tertiary volcanic province; in Paleosurfaces Recognition, Reconstruction and Paleoenvironmental Interpretation (ed) M Widdowson (Geol. Soc. London Spl. Pub. 120) pp 67–94
Jolley D W, Widdowson M and Shelf S 2008 Volcanogenic nutrient fluxes and plant ecosystem in large igneous province: an example from the Columbia river basalt group; J. Geol. Soc. London 165 1–12
Kapgate D K 2005 Megafloral analysis of Intertrappean sediments with focus on diversity and abundance of flora of Mohgaon-Kalan, Mandla and adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh; Gond. Geol. Mag. 20 31–45
Kar R K, Sahni A, Ambwani K and Singh R S 1998 Palynology of Indian Onshore-Offshore Maastrichtian sequence in India: Implications for correlation and paleogeography India; J. Petrol. Geol. 7 39–49
Kar R K, Mohabey D M and Shrivastava R 2004 First occurrence of angiospermous (Dicot) fossil woods from the Lameta Formation (Maastrichtian), Maharashtra, India; Geophytology 33 21–27
Kar R K and Srinivasan S 1998 Late Cretaceous palynofossils from the Deccan intertrappean beds of Mohgaon-Kalan, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh; Geophytology 27 17–22
Keller G, Adatte T, Bajpai S, Mohabey D M, Widdowson M, Khosla A, Sharma R, Khosla S C, Getsch B, Fleitmann D and Sahani A 2009 K-T Transition in Deccan Traps of central India marks major marine seaway across India; Earth Planet. Sci. Letters 282 10–23
Khosla A and Sahni A 1995 Diagenetic alterations of Late Cretaceous dinosaur egg shell fragments of India; Gaia 16 45–49
Khosla A and Sahni A 2000 Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) ostracodes from the Lameta Formation, Jabalpur Cantonment area, Madhya Pradesh, India; J. Palaeont. Soc. India 45 57–78
Khosla A and Sahni A 2003 Biodiversity during the Deccan volcanic eruptive episode; J. Asian Earth Sci. 21 895–908
Kumaran K P N, Bonde S D and Kanikar M D 1997 An Aquilapollenites associated palynoflora from Mohgaon-Kalan and its stratigraphic implications for age and stratigraphic correlation of Deccan intertrappean beds; Curr. Sci. 72 590–592
Lydekkar R 1890 Notes on certain vertebrate remains from the Nagpur District (with description of a fish shull by A.S. Woodward, FGS); Rec. Geol. Surv. India 23 20–22
Mathur A K and Mathur U B 1985 Boraginaceae (angiosperm) seeds and their bearing on the age of Lameta beds of Gujarat; Curr. Sci. 54 1070–1071
Mathur N S and Sharma S D 1990 Palynofossils and age of the Ranipur intertrappen beds Gaur river Jabalpur, M.P.; in A seminar cum workshop IGCP 216 and 245 (eds) A sahni and A Jolley (Chandigarh) pp 58–59
Mistry P B and Kapgate D K 1992 A fossil Euphorbiaceae fruit from the Deccan intertrappean beds of Singhpur, M.P. India; in Proc. Org. Int. Paleobot. Conf. pp 112–113
Mitchell C and Widdowson M 1991 A geological map of the southern Deccan Traps, India and its structural implications; J. Geol. Soc. London 148 495–505
Mohabey D M 1996 Depositional environment of Lameta Formation (Late Cretaceous) of Nand-Dongargaon inland basin, Maharashtra: the fossil and lithological evidence; Mem. Geol. Soc. India 37 363–386
Mohabey D M 2001 Dinosaurs Eggs and Dung (Faecal Mass) from Late Cretaceous of Central India Dietary Implications; Geol. Surv. India Spl. Pub. 64 605–615
Mohabey D M and Samant B 2003 Floral remains from Late Cretaceous fecal mass of Sauropods from central India: implications to their diet and habitat; Gond. Geol. Magz. Spl. Pub. 6 225–238
Mohabey D M and Samant B 2005 Late Cretaceous non-marine diatom assemblage from Iridium bearing intertrappean sediments of Anjar Kachchh. Gujarat; in Ab XX Colloq. Micro. Strat. Visakhapatnam pp 18–19
Mohabey D M and Udhoji S G 1996 Fauna and flora from Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) non marine Lameta Sediments associated with Deccan volcanic episodes, Maharashtra: its relevance to the K/T boundary problem, Palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate; Gond. Geol. Mag. Spl. Pub. 2 349–364
Mohabey D M, Udhoji S G and Verma K K 1993 Palaeontological and sedimentological observations on non-marine Lameta Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Maharashtra, India: their palaeoecological and paleoenvironmental significance; Paleogeogr. Paleoclimatol. Paleoecol. 105 83–94
Nichols H W 1973 Growth media-freshwater; in Handbook of phycological methods, Culture methods and growth measurements (ed) J R Stein (Cambridge University Press) pp 7–24
Pande K 2002 Age and duration of the Deccan Trap, India: Constraints from radiometric and Paleomagnetic data; Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.) 111 115–123
Prakash T, Singh R Y and Sahni A 1990 Palynofloral assemblage from the Padwar Deccan intertrappean (Jabalpur) M.P,; in A seminar cum workshop IGCP 216 and 245 (eds) A Sahni and A Jolley (Chandigarh) pp 68–69
Prasad B and Pundeer B S 2002 Palynological events and zones in Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary sediments of Krishna-Godavari and Cauvery basin, India; Palaeontogr. Abt B 262 39–70
Prasad G V R and Cappatte H 1993 Late Cretaceous selachians from India and age of the Deccan traps; Paleontology 36 231–248
Prasad G V R and Sahni A 1999 Were there size constraints on biotic exchanges during the northward drift of the Indian plate; Proc. Indian. Natl. Sci. Acad. 66A 377–395
Prasad V, Caroline A E, Strömberg C A E, Alimohammadian H and Sahni A 2005 Dinosaur Coprolites and the Early Evolution of Grasses and Grazers; Science 310 1177–1180
Sahni A and Tripathi A 1990 Age implications of Jabalpur Lameta Formation and the intertrappean biotas; in A seminar cum workshop IGCP 216 and 245 (eds) A Sahni and A Jolley (Chandigarh) pp 35–37
Sahni A, Venkatachala B S, Kar R K, Rajanikanth A, Prakash T, Prasad G V R and Singh R Y 1996 A new palynological data from the Deccan Intertrappean beds: implications for the latest record of dinosaurs and synchronous initiation of volcanic activity in India; Mem. Geol. Soc. India 37 267–283
Samant B and Bajpai S 2005 Palynoflora from Lakshmipur Intertrappean deposits of Kutch, Gujarat: Age implications; J. Palaeontol. Soc. India 50 177–182
Samant B and Mohabey D M 2003 Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) non marine dinoflagellates Peridiniales and Aquilapollenites bearing palynoassemblage from a new Deccan Intertrap near Daiwal river section, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra; Gond. Geol. Mag. 18 19–26
Samant B and Mohabey D M 2005 Response of flora to Deccan volcanism: A case study from Nand-Dongargaon basin of Maharashtra, Implications to environment and climate; Gond. Geol. Mag. Spl. Pub. 8 151–164
Samant B, Sakurkar C V, Kundal P and Mohabey D M 2005 Maastrichtian dinoflagellates and palynomorphs from subsurface Deccan Intertrappean sediments, Khandala-Ashta area, Wardha District, Maharashtra; J. Geol. Soc. India 66 267–272
Samant B, Mohabey D M and Kapgate D K 2008 Palynoassemblage from Singpur intertrappean beds, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh: Implications for stratigraphic resolution within Late Cretaceous Deccan Intertrappean beds; J. Geol. Soc. India 71 851–858
Sarkar A, Bhattacharya S K and Mohabey D M 1991 Stableisotope analyses of dinosaur eggshells: Paleoenvironmental implications; Geology 19 1068–1107
Selkirk D R 1975 Tertiary fossil fungi from Kiandra, New South Wales; Proc. Linn. Soc. Nw. 100 70–94
Sharma N, Kar R K, Aggarwal C and Ratan Kar 2004 Fungi in dinosaurian (Isisaurus) coprolites from the Lameta Formation (Maastrichtian) and its reflection on food habit and environment; Micropaleontology 51 7–82
Self S, Thordarson T and Widdowson M 2005 Gas fluxes from flood basalt eruptions; Elements 1 283–287
Sheth H C, Pande K and Bhutani R 2001 40Ar/39Ar ages of Bombay trachytes: evidence for a Palaeocene phase of Deccan volcanism; Geophy. Res. Lett. 28 3513–3516
Singh R S and Kar R 2002 Paleocene palynofossils from the Lalitpur intertrappean beds, Uttar Pradesh; J. Geol. Soc. India 60 213–216
Singh R S, Kar R and Prasad G V R 2006 Palynological constraints on the age of mammal yielding Deccan intertrappean beds of Naskal, Rangareddi district, Andhra Pradesh; Curr. Sci. 90 1281–1285
Singh R S, Stoermer E F and Kar R 2007 Earliest freshwater diatoms from the Deccan intertrappean (Maastrichtian) sediments of India; Micropaleontology 52 541–551
Srinivasan S 1996 Late Cretaceous Egg shells from the Deccan volcanic sedimentary sequence of Central India; in Cretaceous stratigraphy and Environment (eds) A Sahni and R Rao (Mem. Geol. Soc. India 37) pp 321–336
Subbarao K V, Chandrashekhar D, Navaneethakrishnan P and Hooper P R 1994 Sratigraphy and structure of parts of the central Deccan Basalt province: Eruption model; in Volcanism: Radhakrishna Volume (eds) K V Subbarao and B P Radhakrishna (New Delhi: Wiley Eastern) pp 321–332
Tandon S K 2002 Record of the influence of Deccan volcanism on contemporary sedimentary environment in central India; Sediment. Geol. 147 172–192
Tandon S K and Andrews J E 2001 Lithofacies associations and stable isotopes of palustrine and calcrite carbonate: examples from an Indian regolith; Sedimentology 48 339–355
Tandon S K, Sood A, Andrews J E and Dennis P F 1995 Paleoenvironment of the Dinosaur-Bearing Lameta Beds (Maastrichtian), Narmada Valley, central India; Palaeogeogr. Paleoclimatol. Paleoecol. 117 153–148
Tandon S K, Andrews J E, Sood A and Mittal S 1998 Shrinkage and sediment supply control on multiple calcrete profile development: a case study from the Maastrichtian of central India; Sediment. Geol. 119 25–45
Widdowson M, Pringle M S and Fernandez O A 2000 A post K-T boundary (Early Eocene) age from Deccan-type feeder dykes Goa; India J. Petrol. 41 1177–1194
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Samant, B., Mohabey, D.M. Palynoflora from deccan volcano-sedimentary sequence (Cretaceous-Palaeogene transition) of central India: implications for spatio-temporal correlation. J Biosci 34, 811–823 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-009-0064-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-009-0064-9