The Paleobotanical Changes Across the Jurassic/Cretaceous Boundary in India

Integrated palaeobotanical and palynological analysis of subsurface Gondwana sedimentary succession (Jurassic–Cretaceous) in Jangareddygudem area, Chintalapudi Sub-basin, South India: Stratigraphical and phytogeographical implications

Authors:

Jha et al

Abstract:

Here we present an integrated palaeobotanical and palynological analysis of sub-surface terrestrial deposits of Jangareddygudem area, Chintalapudi Sub-basin, Godavari Graben, India. Plant megafossil impressions and palynomorphs were recovered in the bore core MJR-11 from Jangareddygudem area. Plant megafossils impressions: Equisetites sp., Ptilophyllum acutifolium, Pachypteris indica, Elatocladus jabalpurensis, Pagiophyllum gollapallensis, and Ptilophyllum cutchense are recorded at different depths in the bore core MJR-11. Palynological investigations carried out in these megafossil bearing beds reveal the presence of Coptospora sp., Ceratosporites equalis, Appendicisporites erdtmanii, Biretisporites spectabilis, Cicatricosisporites hughesii, Cicatricosisporites sp., Concavissimisporites sp., Contignisporites cooksoniae, C. fornicatus, C. glebulentus, C. multimuratus, C. psilatus, Converrucosisporites sp., Gleicheniidites sp., Klukisporites scaberis, Plicifera delicata, Balmeiopsis limbatus, Araucariacites australis, A. cooksonii, Callialasporites dampieri, C. monoalasporus, C. segmentatus, C. turbatus, Dacrycarpites australiensis, Podocarpidites ellipticus, Podosporites variabilis, Crybelosporites stylosus, and Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis. Very rare occurrence of monocolpate, tetracolpate and tricolpate pollen is also recorded. Both plant mega- and microfloral evidences indicate Late Jurrassic–Early Cretaceous (Tithonian–Valanginian) age for these sediments. A comparative study of present mega and microfossil assemblages with known megafloral and microfloral assemblage from the Upper Gondwana sediments of Godavari and other Indian basins has also been attempted. The floral assemblage clearly indicates the presence of Gangapur sediments in Jangareddygudem area.

Similarity of the Antarctic palynofloras with those known from Godavari and other basins on the east coast of India confirms continental reconstructions that show Lambert Graben of East Antarctica to have been contiguous with eastern India prior to Gondwana break-up. The non-marine character of the palynomorphs suggests that marine conditions in this region of the Godavari Graben did not develop until at least early Early Cretaceous time.