Organisational Structure - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
Rock samples (30) from Laptal Chojan La section
of Spiti Shale Formation, Malla Johar area have been
worked out for their spore-pollen. The characteristic
taxa, viz. Callialasporites spp, Murospora florida,
Cicatricatisporites australiensis, Aequitriradites
spinulosus, Appendicisporites sp,, etc. evidence the
Oxfordian to Berriasian age correlation for the
formation. The palynozones identified have been
compared with the known Ammonite zones to
develop an integrated biostratigraphy of Spiti Shale
unit in the Tethyan Mesozoic sequence.
Vijaya
Component 2: Permian plant fossils from North-Eastern Himalayas
Observation, description, morphotaxonomy and
photodocumentation of Permian plant fossils from
Tindharia, Pankhabari, Kalijhore nala sections of
Darjeeling and Rohtak Khola section of South Sikkim
district have been carried out in detail. The
assemblages are represented by following species:
Gangamopteris cyclopterioides, G. major, G.
clarkeana, Gangamopteris sp., Glossopteris
communis, Gl. indica, Gl. stenoneura, Gl. varia, Gl.
vulgaris, Noeggerathiopsis hislopii, equisetalian axes
and vertically and horizontally preserved Vertebraria
axes. The compilation of floristic data and
stratigraphical significance of the flora are under
progress. Carbonaceous shale samples from different
sections of Tindharia, Baman Pukharia, Pankhabari
and Rohtak nala were chemically processed.
Although the samples are devoid of megaspores,
seeds and cuticles, but presence of Botryococcus-algal
colony in almost all the samples are significant. The
palaeoecological significance of the algae is being
studied.
R. Tewari & A.K. Srivastava
Chemically processed coal and carbonaceous
shale samples from Kalijhora, Rakti Khola and
Bamon Pokhari areas of Darjeeling district (WB) for
palynological analysis. Carbonaceous shale samples
from Kalijhora nala section have yielded
palynofossils, represented by Scheuringipollenites
maximus, Alisporites sp., Distriatites sp.,
Faunipollenites varius, Striatopodocarpites and
Microfoveolatispora. A number of Botryococcus
algal colonies have also been found.
A.K. Srivastava & A.P. Bhattacharyya
Project 4: Floristics, biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of
Gondwana sediments
Component 1: Morphotaxonomy, floristics, evolution, biostratigraphy and palaeo-environmental
studies of Son-Mahanadi, Damodar, Panagarh and Birbhum basins
Completed identification of 350 impression and
compression specimens from eight localities of
Mand–Raigarh coalfield, Chattisgarh, viz. Kantasar
nala section near Dokripari village, Mand river
section near Ambetikra temple, Kasaia nala section
near Kasaia village, Gersaghat section near Gersa
village, Saria nala section, and Barod, Jindal and
Mand open cast projects. The plant fossils indicate
Early to Late Permian age (Karharbari, Barakar and
Kamthi formations) for the various beds. Photography
of important taxa is also completed. Singh again
visited the coalfield area and collected above 250
megafossil specimens belonging to Glossopteris flora
from Barakar and Kamthi formations exposed in
different nala sections and collieries.
S. Chandra & K.J. Singh
Traced the marker spore-pollen species from the
coal-bearing and Kamthi sediments of Talcher
coalfield (Orissa). The Permo-Triassic palynofloral
transition has been recorded in the subsurface
material. The change of palynoflora is gradual. The
variation in the pattern of change over the distribution
of nonstriate and taeniate bisaccate pollen is more
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