1994-95 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

1994-95
from Rajmahal
Basin, Bihar
Objective
To assess the quality of coals for suitability ill various industrial
and domestic purposes with emphasis on coking and blending
potentiality
Qualitative study and quantitative estimation of macerals under fluorescence mode
(blue light excitation) have been made on particulate coal pellets from bore-hole HRC-CM/
107 of Hura Basin. Appreciably high amounts of hydrogen-rich macerals (Iiptinite and
perhydrous vitrinite) have been recorded. The liptinite maceral group is chiefly constituted
by spOlinite and Iiptodetrinite. Cutinite, fluorinite, resinite, alginite (Botryococcus and Lamalginite)
and exsudatinite are in subordinate amount. Sporinite showed wide range or
preservational stages from well-preserved to highly degraded and fragmented. High amount
of hydrogen-rich microconstituenls ih the coals renders them suitable for liquefaction.
Fifteen coal samples (out of 42) from bore-hole RCH-3 of Chuperbhita Coalfield
have been re-eStimated (under normal incident light) in terms of individual macerals to
assess the Gelification Index and Tissue Preservation Index of coals. BiopetrologicaJ preparations
of coal samples from Pachwara Coalfield were also made.
B.D. Singh & B.K. Misra
In the light of presence of fluorescing inertinite in the coals, a critical evaluation of
published literature on the reactivities of viu·inite and inertinite in the Indian Gondwana
coals during carbonization has been made. It revealed that there exists certain misconceptions
about their identification and coking behaviour. The semifusinite-A or semivitrinite is
nothing but pseudoviU·inite, however, semivilrinite/pseudoviU·inite as recognized by others
is partly pseudovitripjte and partly transitory semifusinite. The fluorescing inertinite, in
fact, comprises transitory semifusinite + certain fraction of semifusinite. They, probably,
are variably reactive. The fluorescence exhibited by inertinite appears to be related with its
genesis Ii·om partial oxidation of resin/bitumen impregnated cell walls of gymnospermous
plants which served as source for the formation of Indian Permian coals.
B.K. Misra & B.D. Singh
Programme 2.10
Objective
Palynnlogy ofthe Gondwana sequence in Satpura Basin
To study palynostratigraphy, biozonatioll, palaeoecology,
palaeoenvironment, correlation of various strata in the central
part of the basin
Search for good specimens from me palynoassemblage recorded in the Almod beds
is in progress. Striate bisaccate pollen are plentiful; the preservation is very poor.
Palynoassemblage trom Tamia cliff shows nonstriate bisaccate : Falcisporites,
Satsangisaccites in prominence, but striate bisaccate Striatopodocarpites, Faunipollenites
are common. Taeniate bisaccates Lunatisporites is poor but few cavate Playfordiaspora
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