000222   Matsumaru K;Ehiro M;Kojima S (Geology Dep, Faculty of Education, Saitama University, Saitama-338-8570, Japan, Email: matsumaru@post.saitama-u.ac.jp) : Orbitolina (foraminiferida) from the Shyok Suture Zone, Ladakh, NW India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 43-9.

Orbitolinid foraminifera from the Lower Shyok Formation, Shyok Suture Zone, Kashmir, NW India arc described for the first time, and the fauna is dated as the Early to Middle Albian.

4 illus, 18 ref

000221   Kamal Jeet Singh;Goswami S;Chandra S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: singh_kamal@yahoo.com) : Genus Glossopteris from lower Gondwana formations of Ib-river coalfield, Orissa, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 81-107.

Ib-River Coalfield in Orissa State is a part of the Mahanadi Master Basin. Recent extensive investigations were conducted in this coalfield to locate fossiliferous beds in the Lower Gondwana deposits and as a result a large cache of plant fossils was recovered from six different exposures belonging to the Barakar and Lower Kamthi Formations. The complete flora includes 23 genera representing nine orders viz., Lycopodiales, Equisetales, Sphenophyllales, Filicales, Cordaitales, Coniferales, Ginkgoales, Cycadales and Glossopteridales. Only Glossopteris. comprising 53 species and constituting 64.73% of the total plant assemblage, is discussed. The remaining plant groups are under publication. Of the 53 species, 49 are reported for the first time from the Ib-River Coalfield. Similarly, 31 and two species of this genus have been recorded for the first time in the Indian Gondwana from the Barakar and Kamthi Formations respectively. Glossopteris browniana forms the dominant taxa (20.4%, 110 specimens) followed by G. communis (14.8%, 80 specimens) and G. indica (14.3%, 77 specimens) in the Barakar Formation, whereas in the Lower Kamthi Formation Glossopteris indica dominates (30.2%) the flora followed by G. communis (17%) and G. raniganjensis (13.2%). Huge collection of Glossopteris specimens (593), with high specific diversity demonstrates that the genus Glossopteris grew as luxuriantly in the Barakar and the Lower Kamthi Formations as in the Raniganj Formation of the Indian Gondwana. Abundant leaves of Glossopteris in the fine sediments indicate seasonal falling and favourable conditions for plant growth. The range of variation within the species has also been observed. A diversification pattern of different Glossopteris species in various Gondwana formations of Peninsular India is discussed. A comparative account of the distribution of Glossopteris species in the Gondwana sediments of Mahanadi Master Basin is reviewed. Distribution of Glossopteris species in the context of other Lower Gondwana coalfields has also been analyzed.

7 illus, 9 tables, 63 ref

000220   Jauhri A K;Misra P K;Kishore S;Singh S K (Geology Dep and Botany Dep, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, Email: akjauhri@rediffmail.com) : Larger foraminiferal and calcareous algal facies in the Lakadong formation of the South Shillong Plateau, NE India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 51-61.

The Lakadong Limestone of the East Khasi Hills of the South Shillong Plateau, N.E. India is a major carbonate unit of the Lakadong Formation of the late Palaeocene to early Eocene age, which is the lowermost constituent formation of the Sylhet Limestone Group. The carbonates of the Lakadong Formation represent the larger foraminiferal-algal build-ups deposited in the prograditional cycles of the carbonate platform related to sea-level fluctuations during the Thanetian and the Ilerdian. The foraminifera, calcareous algae and microfacies characters allow to distinguish two facies associations in the carbonate sequence, Facies A charaeterising the lower 50 m part and Facies B characterising the upper 50 m part. The Facies A corresponds to the Thanetian sedimentation cycle in which deposition occurred in a relatively low-energy environment on a shallow subtidal ramp (protected lagoon). The Facies B correlates with the Ilerdian sedimentation cycle during which deposition occurred under low to moderate energy conditions on a relatively deeper mid-uppermost outer ramp, which allowed development of sediment-binding coralline algae and foraminifera such as discocyclinids and Ranikothralia.

4 illus, 2 tables, 45 ref

000219   Humane S K;Kundal P;Naitam S S (Postgraduate Geology Dep, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Law College Square, Nagpur-440 001, Email: sumedhahin@yahoo.com) : Porostromata algae from the Burdigalian limestone of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 77-80.

Calcareous porostromata algae belonging to the family Rivulariaceae are described for the first time from the Burdigalian limestone of the Chhasra Formation of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. Deals with the record fo three speceis of Rivularia.

2 illus, 1 table, 33 ref

000226   Srivastava D K (Geology Dep, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sirdkdr@rediffmail.com) : Diversity of fossil echinoids (Echinodermata) in the Indian subcontinent during the late cretaceous-Palaeogene. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 63-75.

Diversity of fossil echinoids in the Indian subcontinent with respect to the Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene palaeobiogeographic changes is discussed. The echinoid diversity in the Indian subcontinent shows an Eocene peak bounded by much lower diversities during the Cretaceous and the late Palaeogene (Oligocene) periods. The diversity remained very low through out most of the Oligocene epoch, indicating prolonged environmental deterioration related to climate cooling. Later, in the younger periods, it again increases considerably. Though the earliest report of echinoids in India and Pakistan is from the Permian sediments of Karakoram and Salt Range, they appear in appreciable numbers (from north to south) in the sediments of Jurassic succession of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kachchh. Their prolific and diversified developments, however, is noticed in the Cretaceous and lower Palaeogene sediments in many parts of the Indian subcontinent. The majorities of the fossil elements constitute the Indo-Madagascar endemic center and express affinity with the fauna of European (western) Tethys. The increased faunal diversity from the Late Cretaceous onward points to the availability of the large number of ecological niches created possibly due to the increasing influence of tropical conditions. The closeness of the Indian echinoid fauna with that of the European (western) Tethys seems to be the result of palaeobiogeographic changes brought about by the northward drift of India during the Meso-Cenozoic times.

7 illus, 11 tables, 107 ref

000225   Singh N P (NO, "Suryansh", A-5, Saket Housing Colony, Tarsali Ring Road) : Mesozoic lithostratigraphy of the Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 1-25.

Jaisahner Basin is an integral part of a major tectonic province known as "West Rajasthan Shelf" which is located to the west of Aravalli ranges and represents the eastern shelf part of the Indus Basin. The shelf hosts a number of sedimentary basins, viz. Jaisalmer, Bikaner-Nagaur and Barmer. The study is confined 10 the detailed Mesozoic lithostratigraphy of the Jaisalmer Basin which has well documented history for Mesozoic and Cenozoic rock sequences. An exhaustive study of the surface and subsurface sedimentary sequences has been possible in this basin due to availability of voluminous subsurface data generated through drilling in course of oil exploration by ONGC. This basin represents more or less central part of West Rajasthan Shelf and occupies an area of 42,000 sq.km. Tectonically, this entire basin is divisible into four geotectonic blocks which, from north 10 south, are Kishangarh sub-basin, Jaisalmer-Mari High, Shahgarh sub-basin and Miajlar sub-basin. The Jaisalmer Basin has a thick sedimentary column of the order of 10,000 meters or so involving alternating sequences of clastics and carbonates. The Mesozoic and Ccnozoic formations arc exposed in the south-eastern part of the basin. Lithostratigraphic development in all geotectonic blocks of the basin shows slight variance at different stratigraphic levels. Three major unconformities have been mapped in the basin, which differentiate four main sequences belonging to Proterozoic-Early Cambrian, Paleozoic-Mesozoic, Tertiary and Quaternary. The basin experienced first sedimentation on igneous/metamorphic basement during Paleozoic Era. The sedimentation continued up till Recent. However, in the southern outskirts of Miajlar sub-basin, Proterozoic-Early Cambrian sediments belonging to Randha and Birmania formations arc exposed; the extensions of these formations arc expected in the Miajlar sub-basin only. In all, nine Mesozoic formations have been mapped in the basin, out of which three formations, namely Bhuana, Goru and Parh do not extend to the surface. Similarly, the Habur formation is restricted to the outcropping area except in the subsurface of the Bhuana area. Facies changes in basinward areas and thinning of certain formations in shoreward areas have been observed. The surface and subsurface sedimentary sequences could be tied up precisely based on adequate biostratigraphic control and lithostratigraphy has been standardised. Magnitude of hiatuses, unconformities and disconformities/paraconformities have been recognised. Stratotypes of all formations have been established and their depositional characters alongwith faunal and floral elements and their strartigraphic relationship with succeeding formation have been discussed.

15 illus, 60 ref

000224   Sharma M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sharamukund1@rediffmail.com) : Small-sized akinetes from the mesoproterozoic Salkhan limestone, Semri Group, Bihar, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 109-18.

Early Mesoproterozoic (<126>1600 Ma old) stromatolitic cherts of the Salkhan Limestone of the Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup exposed in Rohtas district, Bihar contain well-preserved, distinctive population of nostocalean akinetes belonging to different species of Archaeoellipsoides. These are smaller in size in comparison to other known assemblages of Archaeoellipsoides and are comparable to the akinetes of modern bloom forming Anabaena. Small-sized akinetes of heterocystous cyanobacteria display rod-shaped, ellipsoidal to spindle-shaped morphologies, with prominent intracellular mass in two species out of three. Their distribution indicates allochthonous, presumably planktic and possibly dormant resting nature. Their presence also helps in understanding the evolution of marked cell differentiation in cyanobacteria. The recognition and record of akinetes are important to trace the antiquity of Nostocales and understanding the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere in the geological past, corroborating the geochemical evidence of atmospheric oxygen level about 15% PAL for Late Palaeoprterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic.

2 illus, 2 tables, 81 ref

000223   Sharma M (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sharmamukund1@rediffmail.com) : Late palaeoproterozoic (Statherian) carbonaceous films from the olive shale (Koldaha shale), semri group, Vindhyan supergroup, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 27-35.

Olive Shale (Koldaha Shale) belonging to the Semri Group exposed in the Newari area of the Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, has yielded a variety of (macroscopic) millimetric, carbonaceous films. These films can be attributed to multicellular/thalloid macroalgae that arc divided into four morphogenera and five morphospeeies viz., Changchengia stipitata Yan, 1997, Tuanshanzia lanceolata Yan, 1995, Tunshanzia platyphylla Yan 1997, Leiosphraeridia sp. and Eopalmaria prinstina Yan, 1995. It may represent the oldest megascopic carbonaceous remains from India and may belong to the select band of oldest carbonaceous macroscopic fossil assemblage found in Knob Lake Group, Canada; Michigamme Shales and Negaunee Formation, Michigan, USA and Changcheng Group (Changzhougou, Chauanlinggou and Tuanshanzi Formation) of Jixian, north China.

3 illus, 2 tables, 64 ref

000222   Matsumaru K;Ehiro M;Kojima S (Geology Dep, Faculty of Education, Saitama University, Saitama-338-8570, Japan, Email: matsumaru@post.saitama-u.ac.jp) : Orbitolina (foraminiferida) from the Shyok Suture Zone, Ladakh, NW India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 43-9.

Orbitolinid foraminifera from the Lower Shyok Formation, Shyok Suture Zone, Kashmir, NW India arc described for the first time, and the fauna is dated as the Early to Middle Albian.

4 illus, 18 ref

000221   Kamal Jeet Singh;Goswami S;Chandra S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: singh_kamal@yahoo.com) : Genus Glossopteris from lower Gondwana formations of Ib-river coalfield, Orissa, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 81-107.

Ib-River Coalfield in Orissa State is a part of the Mahanadi Master Basin. Recent extensive investigations were conducted in this coalfield to locate fossiliferous beds in the Lower Gondwana deposits and as a result a large cache of plant fossils was recovered from six different exposures belonging to the Barakar and Lower Kamthi Formations. The complete flora includes 23 genera representing nine orders viz., Lycopodiales, Equisetales, Sphenophyllales, Filicales, Cordaitales, Coniferales, Ginkgoales, Cycadales and Glossopteridales. Only Glossopteris. comprising 53 species and constituting 64.73% of the total plant assemblage, is discussed. The remaining plant groups are under publication. Of the 53 species, 49 are reported for the first time from the Ib-River Coalfield. Similarly, 31 and two species of this genus have been recorded for the first time in the Indian Gondwana from the Barakar and Kamthi Formations respectively. Glossopteris browniana forms the dominant taxa (20.4%, 110 specimens) followed by G. communis (14.8%, 80 specimens) and G. indica (14.3%, 77 specimens) in the Barakar Formation, whereas in the Lower Kamthi Formation Glossopteris indica dominates (30.2%) the flora followed by G. communis (17%) and G. raniganjensis (13.2%). Huge collection of Glossopteris specimens (593), with high specific diversity demonstrates that the genus Glossopteris grew as luxuriantly in the Barakar and the Lower Kamthi Formations as in the Raniganj Formation of the Indian Gondwana. Abundant leaves of Glossopteris in the fine sediments indicate seasonal falling and favourable conditions for plant growth. The range of variation within the species has also been observed. A diversification pattern of different Glossopteris species in various Gondwana formations of Peninsular India is discussed. A comparative account of the distribution of Glossopteris species in the Gondwana sediments of Mahanadi Master Basin is reviewed. Distribution of Glossopteris species in the context of other Lower Gondwana coalfields has also been analyzed.

7 illus, 9 tables, 63 ref

000220   Jauhri A K;Misra P K;Kishore S;Singh S K (Geology Dep and Botany Dep, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, Email: akjauhri@rediffmail.com) : Larger foraminiferal and calcareous algal facies in the Lakadong formation of the South Shillong Plateau, NE India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 51-61.

The Lakadong Limestone of the East Khasi Hills of the South Shillong Plateau, N.E. India is a major carbonate unit of the Lakadong Formation of the late Palaeocene to early Eocene age, which is the lowermost constituent formation of the Sylhet Limestone Group. The carbonates of the Lakadong Formation represent the larger foraminiferal-algal build-ups deposited in the prograditional cycles of the carbonate platform related to sea-level fluctuations during the Thanetian and the Ilerdian. The foraminifera, calcareous algae and microfacies characters allow to distinguish two facies associations in the carbonate sequence, Facies A charaeterising the lower 50 m part and Facies B characterising the upper 50 m part. The Facies A corresponds to the Thanetian sedimentation cycle in which deposition occurred in a relatively low-energy environment on a shallow subtidal ramp (protected lagoon). The Facies B correlates with the Ilerdian sedimentation cycle during which deposition occurred under low to moderate energy conditions on a relatively deeper mid-uppermost outer ramp, which allowed development of sediment-binding coralline algae and foraminifera such as discocyclinids and Ranikothralia.

4 illus, 2 tables, 45 ref

000219   Humane S K;Kundal P;Naitam S S (Postgraduate Geology Dep, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Law College Square, Nagpur-440 001, Email: sumedhahin@yahoo.com) : Porostromata algae from the Burdigalian limestone of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2006, 51(2), 77-80.

Calcareous porostromata algae belonging to the family Rivulariaceae are described for the first time from the Burdigalian limestone of the Chhasra Formation of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. Deals with the record fo three speceis of Rivularia.

2 illus, 1 table, 33 ref

014868   Miles C A;Miles C J (NO, , Western Paleontological Laboratories, North American Museum of Ancient Life, 2929 N. Thanksgiving Way No. 15, Lehi, Uta, Email: cliff@westernpaleolabs.com) : Skull of Minotaurasaurus ramachandrani, a new Cretaceous ankylosaur from the Gobi desert. Curr Sci 2009, 96(1), 65-70.

New genus and species of ankylosaurid, a dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert has been described. It shows characters typical of many Late Cretaceous ankylosaurs. The new specimen is a virtually complete skull with both hemimandibles preserved intact with the predentary. This skull has been subjected to almost no crushing or shearing. It has an equilateral, triangular-shaped skull when viewed dor-sally and large, highly ornamented narial osteoderms, which give the skull a bull-like appearance with flaring nostrils. Braincase features are more primitive than those of the other Gobi Desert ankylosaurs.

10 illus, 8 ref

014868   Miles C A;Miles C J (NO, , Western Paleontological Laboratories, North American Museum of Ancient Life, 2929 N. Thanksgiving Way No. 15, Lehi, Uta, Email: cliff@westernpaleolabs.com) : Skull of Minotaurasaurus ramachandrani, a new Cretaceous ankylosaur from the Gobi desert. Curr Sci 2009, 96(1), 65-70.

New genus and species of ankylosaurid, a dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert has been described. It shows characters typical of many Late Cretaceous ankylosaurs. The new specimen is a virtually complete skull with both hemimandibles preserved intact with the predentary. This skull has been subjected to almost no crushing or shearing. It has an equilateral, triangular-shaped skull when viewed dor-sally and large, highly ornamented narial osteoderms, which give the skull a bull-like appearance with flaring nostrils. Braincase features are more primitive than those of the other Gobi Desert ankylosaurs.

10 illus, 8 ref

024251   Sahay V K (NO, Maheshwari Mining Pvt Ltd, Ramesh Nagar, New Delhi-110 015, Email: geovinay@yahoo.co.in) : Palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental significance of palynofossils from carbonaceous shale and lignite succession, Panandhro, Kutch. Indian J Geosci 2009, 63(4), 383-8.

Palynofossils representing 32 genera from the Late Palaeocene-Early Eocene Panandhro carbonaceous shale and lignite succession of Gujarat have been reported. Six genera belong to pteridophytes, two to gymnosperms and the remaining genera belong to angiosperms, along with fungal spores and foraminiferal linings. Ecological analysis of the assemblage shows several palynoassociations of the freshwater swamp and water edge, forest, low lands and mangrove. Overall, the assemblage suggests prevalence of brackish to freshwater swamp vegetation and a humid tropical climate during the deposition of the Panandhro carbonaceous shales and lignites.

3 illus, 2 tables, 8 ref

009604   Tessy J;Deokule S S;Jagtap S D;Lizzy M (Botany Dep, Pune Univ, Gneshkhind Road, Pune-411 007, Email: tessy_joseph@tyahoo.co.in) : Pharmacognostic study of the leaf of Barringtonia axutangula (L.) Gaertn.-an antidysentric drug used by some tribes of Kerala. Sci Soc 2009, 6(1), 51-60.

Barringtonia acutangula comes under the family Barringtoniaceae. It is found to be growing in regions south of Western Ghats ascending up to 900m. It is commonly seen throughout South India, especially in all districts of Kerala. The whole plant is useful. During an Ethanobotanical survey it was found that the tribal people of Kerala were using this plant for various ailments such as acute dysentery, diarrhoea, toothache, cholera, liver disturbance, rheumatism, fish poison, pneumonia, and asthma biliousness, diseases of the blood, bronchitis, sore eyes, headache etc. The investigation includes macroscopic and microscopic characters, quantitative microscopy (palisade ratio, stomatal number, stomatal index, vein islets and vein-let termination number), percentage extractives, and ash values fluorescence analysis, histochemistry and phytochemistry of the leaf of Barringtonia acutangula.

6 tables, 25 ref

006304   Kulkarini K G;Borkar V D;Petare T (Palaeobiology Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune-411 004, Email: lantimatik@yahoo.co.in) : Gastrochaenolites bioerosion in the kalyanpur limestone (Pliocene) of Dwarka area, Kathiawar, Gujarat. J Geol Soc India 2008, 72(6), 774-80.

Well preserved flask shaped borings belonging to ichnogenus Gastrochaenolites Leymerie, (1842) are being reported from the Kalyanpur Limestone Member (Pliocene) of Dwarka Formation, Jamnagar district, Kathiawar Region, Gujarat. The ichnofauna consists of Gastrochaenolites ampullatus Kelly and Bromley, G. cluniformis Kelly and Bromley, G. lapidicus Kelly and Bromley, G. orbicularis Kelly and Bromley, G. ornatus Kelly and Bromley, G. torpedo Kelly and Bromley, G. turbinatus Kelly and Bromley, and Gastrochaenolites isp. Though individuals of groups other than bivalves are known to create Gastrochaenolites-ike borings, these borings were evidently emplaced by bivalves alone, confirmed by the presence of bivalve casts in some of the specimens. This hardground suggests an intraformational break in deposition.

13 illus, 1 table, 19 ref

006303   Kishore S;Misra P K;Jauhri A K;Singh S K; Singh P P (Botany Dep, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow- 226 007, Email: shyamk2001rediffmail.com) : Palaeocene coralline algal growth forms and their significance in the Cauvery basin, South Inida. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(6), 1293-7.

Brings out the palaeoenvironmental significance of the growth-form morphology of coralline algae present in the Ninniyur Formation (Palaeocene) of the Cauvery Basin, South India. Our observations indicate presence of four types of coralline algal growth forms in the studied sections of the Ninniyur Formation: laminar, branching, columnar and massive and fragmented. They seem to have been controlled by depositional environments, each characterising a distinctive set of conditions pertaining to water-energy and depth. It appears that the carbonate environment, in which the Ninniyur Formation was deposited, was well differentiated into subenvironments due to changing environmental constraints (depth of deposition and hydraulic energy). The biota responded to these factors through habitat partitioning which possibly hastened the process of evolution of varied types of coralline algal associations and growth morphology leading to distinctive biofacies characters.

2 illus, 1 table, 22 ref

006302   Guha A K;Gopikrishna K (Geology and Geophysics Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721 302, Email: gak3366@yahoo.co.in) : Cyclostome bryozoa from the (Eocene) Lutetian of western Kachchh, Gujarat. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(6), 1271-8.

Seven bryozoan species belonging to six genera in five families under the Order Cyclostomata are described and illustrated for the first time from the Harudi Formation (Lutetian) of western Kachchh, Gujarat. They are Stomatopora illiesae n. sp., Voigtopora reticulata n. sp., Discosparsa lakhpatensis n. sp., Idmidronea sp., Oncousoecia narediensis n. sp., 'Proboscina' sp. and Plagioecia taylori n. sp. Of these five are new to science.

4 illus, 1 table, 27 ref

006301   Alam M N (NO, Bangladesh Petroleum Institute (BPI), Sector-8 Plot-5A, Uttara Model Town, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh, Email: bpimail@bpmail.net) : Stratigraphic and structural features of the surma basin and the upliftment of the mashupur tract of norheastern Bengal basin. J Geol Soc India 2007, 69(6), 1319-27.

The structural features developed under the influence of regional tectonics that in turn controls the seismo-stratigraphy in the northeastern part of Bangladesh have been illustrated in this paper. Almost all prominent seismo-stratigraphic horizons represented by continuous, high amplitude reflections that extend over a fairly large distance were identified, traced, and mapped. Interpreted sections reveal the structures and arrangement of the Tertiary-Quaternary succession in the Bengal Basin area while the areal extent maps of the youngest eight prominent seismo-stratigraphic horizons revealed a fair picture on the relative distribution of the near-surface strati graphic horizons developed under the influence of associated tectonics in the northeastern part of Bengal Basin. Two interpreted composite seismic sections across the Barind Tract and the Madhupur Tract reveal that, they belong to different seismo-stratigraphic horizons where the Barind Tract seems to correlate with the older seismic horizons than the Madhupur Tract. Structurally the exposure of the Madhupur Tract coincides with the crestal part of a low amplitude, broad anticlinal fold with it's NW-SE trending axis stretching along Sariakandi in Bogra District to Bhuapur in Tangail District and further southeast towards Lalmai. A similar pattern is observable on the LANDSAT imagery of Bangladesh. This broad anticlinal feature separates spatial distribution of some of the Pleistocene and younger sedimentary horizons of the Surma Basin from that of the Faridpur Trough as well as south of the Barind Tract. The composite areal extent map mostly comprising seven youngest seismo-stratigraphic horizons of the Quaternary sequence in the Surma Basin is representative of their inter-relationship. The areal extent of these horizons gradually decrease with time and dip towards their common depocenter near Tangua-Raular Bils (Marsh) north of Madhyanagar Thana in Sunamganj District. The Tangua-Raular Bils (Marsh) coincides with the axis of a broad synclinal fold between the Madhupur Tract and the Chhatak anticline where the Pleistocene formation has undergone a continuous subsidence of about 2 km during post-Pleistocene time. These sediments were probably deposited in a fluvio-Iacustrine environment. The Quaternary sediments have excellent developments in this area and therefore can be considered as type locality for the Quaternary deposits in the Bengal Delta. On the other hand the Quaternary sediments on the west and southwest of the Madhupur Tract and that south of the Barind Tract were deposited in a rather active deltaic environment and were severely affected by river erosion. These sediments most probably have been brought in by the river Ganges and its tributaries and distributaries and the delta prograded rapidly towards the Bay of Bengal to the south.

4 illus, 11 ref

003191   Ghosh A;Saha S;Saraswati P K;Banerjee S; Burley S;Gundu Rao T K (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai-400 076, Email: geoanupam@iitb.ac.in) : Gallitellia - a proxy for palaeo-monsoonal upwelling on the western coast of India?. Curr Sci 2008, 95(11), 1608-11.

A planktonic foraminifer, Gallitellia vivans, has been recorded in the Quaternary sediments exposed in the Gulf of Cambay. Its occurrence in the sediments dated ~50 ka and ~125 ka respectively, is identical to peak occurrence of monsoon upwelling indicator, Globig-erina bulloides in the Arabian Sea and the continental record of monsoon enhancement in Mahi and Nar-mada estuaries. The species is known as a tracer of high run-off, environmentally unstable and upwelling conditions. The study suggests the possibility of using G. vivans as monsoon tracer, similar to the well-established biological proxy G. bulloides.

2 illus, 13 ref

002168   Tewari R (Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: rajni.tewari@gmail.com) : Genus Glossopteris brongniart from the kamthi formation of camp IV area, Wardha valley coalfield, Wardha basin, Maharashtra, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 19-30.

Twenty one species of the genus Glossopteris, viz. G. angusta, G. angustifolia, G. barakarensis, G. brongniartii.G. communis, G. indica, G. intermedia, G. hinjridaensis, G. kamthiensis, G. leptoneura, G. longicaulis, G. maheshwarii, G. mohudaensis, G. musaefolia, G. retifera, G. rhabdotaenioides, G. stenoneura, G. subtilis, G. syaldiensis, G. tenuifolia, and G. vulgaris are systematically described from the Kamlhi Formation, Camp IV Area, Chandrapur District, Wardha Basin in the present communication. The species are comparable with those of the Raniganj and Kamthi formations of the Damodar and Handappa, Mahanadi basins, respectively, indicating an Upper Permian age. Besides adding to the knowledge of the flora of the Wardha Basin, systematic analysis of Glossopteris leaves from the Camp IV area, Tohegaon Village, Chandrapur District is provided for the first time.

2 illus, 2 tables, 52 ref

002167   Srivastava D K;Rana R S;Singh H (Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sirdkdr@rediffmail.com) : Record of Megapneustes gauthier (Brissid echinoid) from the khuiala formation, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 31-6.

The spatangoid genus Megapneustes Gauthier, 1899 is recorded, for the first time, from the Khuiala Formation (early liocene) exposed at Gharollia Hill, near Pariwar village, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, India. The specimens are placed in a new species characterised by its large, heart-shaped test with moderate frontal sinus; dome-shaped aboral surface; flat oral surface; anteriorly eccentric ethmolytic, monobasal apical system; anteriorly eccentric, kidney-shaped, labiate peristome; long, subpetaloid petals; inframarginal periproct at the posterior truncation and perforate, crenulated tubercles.

2 illus, 1 table, 22 ref

002166   Srivastava D K;Lalchawimawii Hatley;Tiwary R P (Geology, Centre of Advanced Study Dep, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sirdkdr@rediffmail.com) : Echinoids from the bhuban formation (Surma group), Mizoram. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 221-6.

The two echinoid genera namely, Coelopleurus (Keraiophorus) Michelin, 1862 (an arbacioid cchinoid) and Schizasler L. Agassiz, 1836 (a spatangoid echinoid) are being recorded and described systematically, for the first time, from the rocks of the Upper Bhuban Unit, Bhuban Formation, Surma Group (lower to middle Miocene) exposed at South Hlimen Quarry, Aizawl, Mizoram.

2 illus, 33 ref

002165   Singh S K;Chauhan M S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: sanjai_sk2002@yahoo.com ) : Fungal remains from the neogene sediments of Mahuadanr valley, Latehar district, Jharkhand, India and their palaeoclimatic significance. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 73-81.

Fungal remains arc recorded from the Neogene fossiliferous beds exposed along the Rampur Nala and Birha River in the vicinity of Mahuadanr locality in Latehar District, Jharkhand, and their significance in understanding the palaeoenvironment discussed. The the exposed section is mainly constituted of pyroclastic rocks, conglomerates, sandstones and organic-rich shales. However, the lower part of the shales has yielded a very rich fungal assemblage with 22 well established forms, and 10 other types of spores and fruiting bodies of uncertain affinities very frequent in the sediments. The asscmblageg suggests that the region experienced a humid climate during the course of sediment accumulation with a thick vegetation providing suitable substrates for the growth and proliferation of fungi.

3 illus, 47 ref

002164   Singh S K;Chauhan M S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007) : Pollen remains from the late tertiary sediments of Mahuadanr valley, Latehar district, Jharkhand and their climatic significance. J appl Biosci 2008, 34(2), 152-6.

Deals with the pollen remains from the Neogene fossiliferous bed exposed along the Rampur Nala and Birha River in the vicinity of Mahuadanr locality in Latehar District, Jharkhand and their significance in the assessment of past vegetation and reflected climate. The retrieved pollen assemblage in the shales deposit of the exposed column comprises mainly grasses (Poaceae) together with sporadic presence of other herbaceous elements mainly Asteraceae and Solarium. Pollen of tropical trees viz., Schleichera, Terminalia, Emblica (cf. officinalis), Dalbergia, Lannea (cf. coromandelica), besides shrubs of Melastomaceae (cf. Melastoma) are recovered in good numbers. The overall vegetation composition reflects the existence of open tropical deciduous forests in the region under the regime of warm and humid climatic conditions. The ferns and their allies frequently inhabited in the moist and shady situations. Retrieved pollen of riverine element viz., Melastomaceae (cf. Melastoma) depicts the existence of a perennial stream near the fossiliferous bed during the sedimentation period. Palaeoclimatic inferences drawn from the present investigations are in agreement with earlier deduced observation based on recovered mega floral impressions such as leaves, fruits and seeds as well as petrified woods (Singh & Prasad, 2007).

2 illus, 29 ref

002163   Shukla S;Begum J;Vyas S K;Barua J (KDMIPE, ONGC, Dehradun, Email: shukla_sudhir@ongc.co.in) : Palaeogene larger forminiferal correlation of Assam-Shillong shelf-an example of high resolution biostratigraphy. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 227-42.

The Assam-Arakan Basin covering north-eastern India and the adjoining areas is one of the hydrocarbon producing sedimentary basins with great thickness of the Cenozoic sediments. The lower Palaeogene shelf carbonate and intermittent clastic facies over the Assam-Arakan shelf signifies marine sedimentation of the Tethyan realm. Recent oil finds in the pre-Barail sediments in Assam has pointed to the enhanced stratigraphic exploration of the pre-Barail sediments in future by bringing in new concepts and high impact biostratigraphic tools, being developed world over. One such scheme followed have is that of shallow benthic zones [SBZ] proposed by Serra-kiel et al. (1998). This biostratigraphic zonation comprises twenty zones covering the Palaeocene-Eocene time span (32 M.A) and represents faunal assemblages of both concurrent and mutually exclusive species from the key-levels and key-localities. The SB zones are largely "Oppel zones" with key foraminifera along with the association of other taxa spread over vast areas in the Tethyan region. Twenty three wells spread over the Assam-Arakan shelf were analyzed to propose a framework of biostratigraphic correlation on the lines of IGCP-286 scheme. Several other wells were also studied for supportive micropalaeontological data. Indian equivalent species for each SBZ have been worked out. They include both the Tethyan key foraminifera and concurrent shallow larger benthic species acting as the local reference. Recognition of Indian equivalent species to the European and far-Tethyan taxa is primarily aimed to make the SBZ scheme directly useful to the biostratigraphic correlations in our sedimentary basins. These of local bio-events in chronostratigraphic mapping is expected to provide robust framework to the sequence stratigraphic models in the area. Integration of SBZ data with other geological information would also be immensely useful in the stratigraphic exploration.

8 illus, 9 ref

002162   Sharma R;Bajpai S;Singh M P (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247 667) : Freshwater ostracoda from the (?) palaeocene-age deccan intertrappean beds of Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh), India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 177-83.

A fairly diverse freshwater ostracod assemblage comprising 14 species has been recovered for the first time from the Deccan intertrappean beds at Papro, near Lalitpur (U.P.), on the eastern fringe of the Deccan Traps volcanic province of peninsular India. The probable Palaeocene age (based on palynomorphs) of the Lalitpur locality makes this intertrappean section potentially important in addressing the issue of faunal survivorship in fresh water aquatic systems across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Deccan. The Lalitpur assemblage includes Gomphocythere akalypton, G. paucisulcatus, Mongolianella cylindrica, M. subarcuata, Cypridopsis hyperectyphos, Cypridopsis sp., E. ucypris intervolcanus, E. catantion, E. sp., Zonocypris spirula, Frambocythere tumiensis, Cypria cyrtonidion, cf. Paracypretta elizabethae and Cyprois rostellum. While this diversity may further increase with additional investigations, the recorded assemblage from Lalitpur significantly shows a striking similarity to ostracod faunas previously documented from a number of Maastrichtian intertrappean localities in the Deccan volcanic province. If the Palaeocene age of the Lalitpur section is correct, then it is apparent that freshwater ostracods were not significantly affected, at least qualitatively, by the initiation of Deccan volcanic activity, a situation that is reminiscent of some other groups of freshwater organisms, particularly molluscs.

1 illus, 29 ref

002161   Rai A K;Maurya A S (Earth and Planetary Sciences Dep, Allhabad Univ, Allahabad-211 002, Email: akrai@sancharnet.in) : Miocene deep-sea benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of southeastern Indian ocean. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 147-57.

The Miocene sections at ODP sites 754A (Broken Ridge) and 760A and 761B (Wombat Plateau) in the southeastern Indian Ocean were examined to understand the biostratigraphic significance of benthic foraminifera. Detailed bcnthic foraminiferal biochronology at each site is used lu record the total stratigraphic ranges of taxa. Most of the benthic foraminiferal species recorded in the present study are long ranging and dislribuled throughout the studied section. However, some of them show their first and last appearances within the studied sections. On the basis of total stratigraphic ranges of significant taxa, seven distinct benthic foraminiferal zones have been proposed. The proposed biozones, in strati-graphic ascending order, are Uvigerina proboscidea Interval Zone, Ehrenbergina praebicornis Interval Zone, Gavelinopsis lobatulus Interval Zone, Bulimina glomarchallengeri - Globocassidulina tumida Concurrent Range Zone, Buliminella grata spinosa Interval Zone, Uvigerina flintii Interval Zone and Bulimina macilenta Interval Zone. The first appearances of Uvigerina proboscidea Schwager, Ehrenbergina praebicornis Rai and Srinivasan, Gavelinopsis lobatulus (Parr), Globocassidulina tumida (Heron-Allen and Earland) and the last appearances of Bulimina glomarchallengeri Tjalsma and Lohmann, Buliminella grata spinosa Parker and Bermudez, Uvigerina flintii Cushman and Bulimina macilenta Cushman and Parker are taken as zonal markers to define the zonal boundaries.

3 illus, 34 ref

002160   Prasad M;Dwivedi H D (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mahesh_bsip@yahoo.com) : Some plant megafossils from the sub-Himalayan zone (Middle miocene) of western Nepal. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 51-64.

A systematic study on leaf impressions collected from the middle Miocene sediments of the Sub-Himalayan zone exposed near the Scria Naka and Koilabas, western Nepal, revealed the existence of nine more taxa during the middle Miocene. These taxa belong to the genera Donax (Marantaceae), Uvaria (Anonaceae), Flacourtia (Flacourtiaccac), Qualea (Polygalaceae), Shared (Dipterocarpaceae), lodes (Icacinaccae), Ochna (Ochnaceac) and Paranephelium and Arytera (Sapinadaccac). The genera like Qualea, lodes and Arytera are new to the Tertiary sediments of Indian subcontinent. The present-day distribution of comparable extant taxa indicates existence of an evergreen to moist deciduous forest under tropical, warm humid climate in and around the study areas in the sub-Himalayan zone of western Nepal, as compared to the mixed deciduous forests there at present day.

4 illus, 1 table, 51 ref

002159   Prasad M;Agarwal A;Khare E G;Sekar B (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: mahesh_bsip@yahoo.com) : Occurrence of the genus Anogeissus wall. in the holocene (600 YRS. Cal. BP) sediments of Himalayan foot hills, Uttaranchal, India. J appl Biosci 2008, 34(2), 181-4.

Anatomical study of a fossil wood collected from the Holocene sediments of Purniyagiri area near Tanakpur, Champawat District, Uttaranchal have been carried out in detail. Small to medium sized vessels, mostly uniseriate, heterogeneous xylem rays with crystals and nature of paratracheal parenchyma indicate its affinity with the modern taxon, Anogeissus latifolia Wall, of the family Combretaceae. The present finding suggests that this taxon entered in the Himalayan foot hills before 600 Cal. BP years and flourished luxuriantly throughout India and Nepal.

1 illus, 17 ref

002158   Panchang R;Nigam R;Ravi Prasad G V; Rajagopalan G;Ray D K;Koyi Hla U (Micropalaeontology Lab., Geological Oceanography Div, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa-403 004, Email: prajani@nio.org) : Relict faunal testimony for sea-level fluctuations off Myanmar (Burma). J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 185-95.

The distribution and ecological significance of the relict benthic forarainiferal assemblage found in the study area off Myanmar is discussed here. Of the 126 surface sediments studied for foraminiferal content, relict foraminiferal assemblage comprising the genera Operculina-Amphistegina-Calcarina-Alveolinella-Heterostegina were encountered at 22 different locations nearly parallel to the west coast of Myanmar. Soft coral sclerites, coral rubble and calcareous algae were found associated with this assemblage. These signatures confirm the existence of fossil patch reefs in the region, which were never reported before. A conceptual framework is proposed to explain the proliferation of coral patches at different depths during different times in the geological past. Radiocarbon AMS dating of 7 select samples representing different depths revealed different ages at different depths. To derive a sea-level curve, the sea level was assigned to 17.5 m above the depth of finding the relict fauna as deciphered from soft coral assemblage. On the basis of the faunal ecology and chronology, for the first time a sea level curve for the past 16,000 radiocarbon years is proposed for the west coast of Myanmar. This study suggests an episodic sea-level rise in the region. A comparison of this sea level curve with the ones proposed for the East and West coasts of India indicates that in addition to the global Holocene sea level rise, tectonic vertical displacement is the cause of the destruction of the soft coral patches off west coast of Myanmar.

9 illus, 3 tables, 35 ref

002157   Mathur N S;Juyal K P;Kumar K K (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun-248 001, Email: kumark@whig.res.in) : Biotic response to cretaceous-eocene tectonic events at the northern margin of the Indian plate and the indus-tsangpo suture zone, Ladakh Himalaya, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 37-49.

The Cretaceous-Eocene successions of the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (1TSZ) and the Zanskar Tethyan Zone (ZTZ) of the Ladakh Himalaya were laid down during progress of the India-Asia collision and have well preserved imprints of the event. In the ITSZ, the northward drift of the Indian Plate during the Early Cretaceous led to subduction of its oceanic crust under the Asian Plate leading to the creation of the Nindam forearc basin, in which was deposited the Nindam Formation with planktic foraminifers and radiolarians in its lower part and larger foraminifers in the upper. The contact of the oceanic crust of the Indian Plate with that of the Asian Plate towards the end of Cretaceous created the Indus Basin, which received sediments of the Danian-Cuisian Indus Formation with shallow marine biota in its lower part and fluvial-brackish in the upper part as well as of the overlying middle-late Eocene Hemis Formation with fluvial biota. In the ZTZ, the deposition of the Giumal Formation with shallow marine biotas occurred after the deep marine sedimentation of the Spiti Shales. The subduction of oceanic crust of the Indian Plate under the Asian Plate steepened the Zanskar shelf, creating deep marine conditions during the deposition of the Cenotnanian-Turonian Chikkim/ Shillakong formations with planktic foraminifers. Similar conditions persisted in North Zanskar during the deposition of the Goma Formation with planktic foraminifers up to early Thanctian, whereas in South Zanskar its coeval Kangi La-Marpo-Stumpata succession with deep to shallow marine biotas witnessed gradual shallowing due to contact of Indian oceanic crust with the Asian Plate. The marine conditions continued up to Cuisian when the Dibling/ Lingshet-Kong succession with shallow marine biotas was deposited. Afterwards, the region was uplifted due to the India-Asia collision, leading to deposition of the Chulung La Formation under continental conditions.

4 illus, 2 tables, 48 ref

002156   Mandaokar B D;Chuhan M S;Chatterjee S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: bdmandokar@yahoo.com) : Fungal remains from late holocene lake deposit of Demagiri, Mizoram, India and their palaeoclimatic implications. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 197-205.

An attempt to portray the fungal remains retrieved from a 2m deep sediment profile analysed from Demagiri, southern Mizoram. Several types of fungal forms/spores encountered in the lake sediments comprise Alternaria, Helminthosporium, Tetraploa, mtrvulsria Cookeina, Nigrospora, Mullicellaesporites, Ornasporonites, Dyadosporonites, Actinopelte, Kutchiathyriies, Clasterosporiutn, Helicoma, Enlophlyctis, etc. encompassing a time bracket of last 850 yr BP. In fact, the organic-rich sediments drifted from the nearby tropical humid forest cover provided an ideal habitat/substratum for the growth of fungi. The preponderance of fungal remains in the investigated lake bed sediments could be attributed to in situ proliferation of the fungi as well as their transportation from the adjoining forest belt, from higher riches by wind and water and by upthermic winds from the lower elevations to the depositional site. In all, the recovery of fungal remains in great diversity and numbers suggests that the region enjoyed a humid climatic condition during the course of sediment accumulation the lake basin.

2 illus, 44 ref

002155   Kundal B P;Mude S N (PG Dep of Geology, RTM Nagpur Univ, Law College Square, Nagpur-440 001, Email: ppk_kundal@rediffmail.com) : Ichnofossils from the neogene-quaternary sediments of the porbandar area, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 207-14.

The Neogene-Quaternary sediments are exposed in and around Porbandar area, Saurashlra, Gujarat. These sediments are classified into: Gaj Formation (early Miocene), Dwarka Formation (early to middle Miocene), Miliolite Formation (early middle to late Pleistocene) and Chaya Formation (late Pleistocene to late Holocene). Eight ichnofossils are recorded from the Dwarka Formation and the Adatiana Member of the Miliolite Formation. They are: Granularia ichnosp, Ophiomorpha borneensis, O. irregulaire, O. nodosa, Palaeophycus heberti, P. tubularis, Planolites berverleyensis and P. rnontanus. Out of the 8 species, 3 ichnospecies, namely, Ophiomorpha irregulaire, O. nodosa and Planolites berverleyensis occur in both the formations whereas 3 ichnospecies, namely, Granularia ichnosp., Palaeophycus heberti and P. tubularis occur exclusively in the Dwarka Formation and 2 ichnospecies Ophiomorpha borneensis and Planolites montanus occur exclusively in the Adatiana Member of the Miliolite Formation. The ichnospecies from the Dwarka Formation belong to Skolithos and Cruziana ichnofacies indicating that the Dwarka Formation was deposited in shallow marine water conditions. Dominance of Ophiomorpha burrows and their geometric relationship with the country rock clearly indicate that the Adatiana Member of the Miliolite Formation was deposited under near-shore environment.

2 illus, 1 table, 23 ref

002154   Kumar S;Pandey S K (Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Lucknow Univ, Lucknow-226 007, Email: surendra100@hotmail.com ) : Arumberia and associated fossils from the neoproterozoic maihar sandstone, Vindhyan supergroup, Central India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 83-91.

Three types of microbial mats, one body fossil and one unnamed form are reported from the Maihar Sandstone, the youngest lithostratigraphic unit of the Bhandcr Group (Upper Vindhyans). These are Arumberia banksi Glaessner and Walter, Arumberia vindhyanensis n. form, Rameshia rampurensis n. group and n. form, Beltanelliformis minutu Mcllroy, Crimes & Paulcy and Form A. Arumberia and Rameshia arc considered as organoscdimcntary structures formed by the interaction of microbial community with the siliciclastic sediments. They flourished in shallow marine tidal setting. On the basis of the presence of Arumberia, an Ediacaran age is suggested for the Maihar Sandstone.

3 illus, 2 tables, 51 ref

002153   Kalia P;Rabha S;Kintso R (Geology Dep, Delhi Univ, Delhi-110 007) : Foraminiferal evidence for the eocene faulting in the sub surface section near sam, Jaisalmer basin, Rajasthan. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 169-75.

The cores from the subsurface section located in the Kanoi fault zone near Sam village (27°30':70°30'), Jaisalmer district, record a sequence of carbonaceous shale and lignite at the base overlain by the pale carbonate and bentonitic clay units. These core samples contain well - preserved planktic and benthic foraminifers in the carbonaceous shale and bentonitic clay units. The carbonaceous shale consists of an assemblage of planktic foraminifera indicative of Zones P7-P8 (early Eocene), while the overlying bentonitic clay unit contains the assemblage characteristic of Zone P2 (Early Palseocene), These age assessments are further supported by the occurrence of Assilina granulosa (d'Archiac, 1857) and A. subdaviesi Gill, 1953 in the carbonaceous shale and Laffitteina bibfnsis Marie, 1946 (index species of SBZ1) in the overlying bentonitic claystone. The ages indicated by the planktic and the larger foraminiferal species confirm the stratigraphic inversion due to fault in the subcrops.

4 illus, 13 ref

002152   Jha N (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: neerjajha@yahoo.co.uk) : Permian-triassic palynofloral transition in the sattupalli area, Chintalapudi sub-basin, Godavari graben, Andhra Pradesh, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 159-68.

Palynological investigation of sub-surface sediments of the borecore SSP-133 from the Sattupalli area, Chintalapudi Sub-basin has revealed presence of three palynoassemblages, one belonging to Late Permian (Raniganj) paiynoflora and two belonging to Early Triassic (Panchet) palynoflora. Assemblage-I characterised by dominance of striate disaccate pollen chiefly, Striatopodocarpites and Faunipollenites alongwith presence of rare but stratigraphically significant taxa viz., Strotersporites, Verticipollenites, Corisaccites, Guttulapollenites, Hamiapollenites, Faldsporites, Chordasporites, Crescemipollenites, Striatites, Striomonosaccites, Lunatisporites represents Late Permian. Assemblage II is characterised by high percentage, of taeniate disaccates chiefly, Lunatisporites, while Assemblage III is characterised by abundance of cingulate-cavate trilete spores, chiefly, Lundbladispora and Densoisporites. Striate disaccates show a sharp decline in these two assemblages. Early Triassic palynoflora has been recorded for the first time in the Sattupalli area indicating existence of the Panchet sediments in the Chintalapudi Sub-basin. The study further supports the view studies of Jha and Srivastava. (1996) that the Kamthi Formation represents Early Triassic (=Panchet Formation) overlying the Raniganj-equivalent sediments with a gradational contact.

3 illus, 1 table, 23 ref

002151   Garg R;Ateequzzaman K;Prasad V;Tripathi S K M;Singh T B;Jauhri A K;Bajpai S (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007, Email: rahulsip@gmail.com) : Age-diagnostic dinoflagellate cyst from the lignite-bearing sediments of the vastan lignite mine, Surat District, Gujarat, Western India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1), 99-105.

The lignite-bearing succession (corresponding to Cambay Shale) of the Vastan lignite mine, Gujarat has been extensively studied in the past few years for its rich vertebrate fauna. However, no age-diagnostic fossils with chronological significance are reported. In the present study, several dinoflagellate cysts from different levels in the lignite-bearing sediments (Succession A) of the Vastan lignite mine are identified which are age diagnostic. Occurrence of Muratodinium fimbriatum, Heteraulacacysta granulata and Operculodinium severinii in the lower part indicates an age not older than late Thanetian/Sparnacian (~55 Ma). Presence of rich Kenleyia complex including LAD of Kenleyia lophophora in the upper half of the succession indicates basal Ypresian age (~54 Ma). Occurrence of Lanternosphaeridium lanosum in the upper part suggests an age not younger than middle Ypresian (~52 Ma) for the topmost part of the Vastan succession. Thus, in terms of traditional European stages, the succession ranges from Ilerdian to basal Cuisian (~55-52 Ma) corresponding to upper SBZ7 to basal SBZ10 larger foraminifera zones. Age of the mammal fossil horizons in the lower part of the succession appears to be Sparnacian (~55-54 Ma).

2 illus, 1 table, 28 ref

002150   Bhargava O N (NO, , 103, Sector 7, Panchkula-134 109, Email: onbhargava@yahoo.co.in) : Updated introduction to the spiti geology. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 113-29.

Discusses controversies pertaining to the nomenclatures of the Ordovician Thango (Shian), Ordovician-Silurian Takche (Pin) and Triassic-Jurassic Lilang sequences. The latest classification of the Lilang, raised to supergroup level and various time boundaries with in the Triassic are also described. Also listed are the latest palaeontological contributions to the Early-Middle Cambrian (Kunzam La Formation), Ashgill-Wenlock (Takche Formation), Givetian-Tournaisian (Lipak Formation) and Induan-Early Carnian (Mikin, Kaga and Chomule formations). A short review of the entire sequence together with that of the structure updates the geology of the Spiti Valley.

7 illus, 1 table, 110 ref

002149   Bajpai S;Kapur V K (Earth Sciences Dep, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-246 667, Email: sunilfes@iitr.ernet.in) : Earliest cenozoic frogs from the Indian subcontinent: implications for out-of-India hypothesis. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(1) , 65-71.

Describes the earliest Cenozoic anurans from the Indian subcontinent, recovered from the early Eocene Cambay Shale deposits (~53.5 Ma) of the Vastan Lignite Mine, Gujarat, western India. The fauna comprises representatives of three distinct groups with Laurasian (Discoglossidae) and Gondwanan (Ranoidea and Leptodactylidae) affinities. The ranoids, previously recorded from the terminal Cretaceous of peninsular India, are particularly significant as they support an Out-of-India dispersal.

1 illus, 56 ref

002148   Agarwal A;Ambwani K (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: anilagarwal_in@yahoo.com) : First record of anacardiaceous fossil fruit from neyveli lignite deposits, Tamil Nadu, India. J Palaeont Soc India 2008, 53(2), 215-50.

A carbonised fossil fruit (drupe) belonging to the family Anacardiaceae has been recorded from the Lignite deposits of Neyveli (Mine- I). The fruit is small, bilaterally convex with prominent dehiscence suture. It is 17 mm long and 07 mm broad. On splitting, the fruit shows pericarp divisible into two parts: an outer thin epicarp and inner thick mesocarp. The mesocarp is further divisible into outer and inner layers. The outer layer is composed of compact parenchymatous cells with scanty air spaces, whereas inner part is spongy in nature. Endocarp represented as a compact thin layer of indistinguishable cellular detail. The seed is disintegrated, represented by a cavity in the fruit. The single loculed drupe with thin epicarp, spongy mesocarp and thin compact endocarp constitutes first report of the family Anacardiaceae from the Miocene deposits in the penninsular India.

2 illus, 55 ref

001340   Sengupta S;Nielsen J K (Geology Dep, Calcutta Univ, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700 019, Email: ssggeol@rediffmail.com) : Bioerosion in middle eocene larger foraminifera Nummulites obtusus (Sowerby) from Lakhpat, northwest Kutch, Gujarat, India. Indian J Geosci 2009, 63(1), 81-6.

Evidence of bioerosion in Middle Eocene larger foraminifera Nummulites obtusus (Sowerby) from Lakhpat, NW Kutch, India is documented here. Examined ichnofossils are shallow cylindrical borings in N. obtusus Form-B tests. These borings fall within the morphological range of ichnogenus Oichnus Bromley. Naming, behavioural interpretation (ethology) and possible biological affinity of borings in N. obtusus are discussed. Ichnofossils indicate that the sedimentation regime was characterised by a low rate.

6 illus, 35 ref

001339   Lahiri A (Palaeontolog Div, , Marine Wing, Geological Survey of India, Bhu-Vijnan Bhawan, DK-6, Sector-II, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700 091, Email: amitabhaa_lahiri1@rediffmail.com) : Secondary features of smaller benthonic foraminifers of shelf areas of Bay of Bengal and their significance. Indian J Geosci 2009, 63(1), 107-14.

The Recent smaller bentbonic foraminifers from the sea-floor sediment of shelf areas of Bay of Bengal exhibit distinct secondary features. These features are formed by taphonomic alterations. The main mechanisms of taphonomic alterations identified on the surfaces of benthonic foraminifers are bioerosion. mechanical abrasion, fragmentation, mechanical breakage and encrustations. All the above features some way or other hide or obscure the genetic features and pose hindrance to proper taxonomic identification of each faunal unit. Further, some features resembling certain genetic morphologic features of benthonic foraminifers cause improper identification in specific level and even generic level and in this way an apparent population size of each faunal taxa is conceived.

3 illus, 25 ref

001338   Jain R L (NO, , Type 4/1, GSI Officers Colony' Indira Nagar, Near Gopalpura Mod, Tonk Road, Jaipur-302 018, Email: rljaingsi@yahoo.co.in) : Signatures of early life from proterozoic rocks of western India. Indian J Geosci 2009, 63(1), 115-23.

The biogenic status of so-called life signatures obtained from western Indian Proterozoic basins has been re-evaluated in the light of standing concepts of early organic evolution. Algal mats and stromatolites are very well-known from the Palaeoproterozoic Aravalli Supergroup and younger Vindhyan and Marwar Supergroups. Early metazoan life-signature is not so far reported from the Aravalli and Delhi Supergroups. Definite soft-bodied metazoan fossil assemblages similar to that of Ediacaran hills of Australia and Bhander Group of Vindhyans of Son valley have not been reported from the Neoproterozoic of western India except for some medusoidal/jelly fish-like impressions from the Marwar Supergroup. An attempt has been made to review the doubtful structures, majority of which are abiogenic. It is concluded that late Vindhyan Ediacaran sea of the central India extended over western India. More fossil evidences in favour of this conclusion are yet to come. The present status of our knowledge on early organic evolution demands further rigorous search in the Marwar Supergroup of rocks particularly in western India.

20 illus, 33 ref

001337   De C (Geological Survey of India, Central Palaeontology Div, , 15 Kyd Street, Kolkata-700 016, Email: chirananda@rediffmail.com) : Vindhyan ediacaran fossil and trace fossil assemblages : their insight into early metazoan palaeobiology, palaeobiogeography and Vindhyan biostratigraphy. Indian J Geosci 2009, 63(1), 11-40.

An Ediacaran fossil assemblage defining two faunal zones E-l in the Lakheri Limestone and E-2 in the Sirbu Shale Formations of the Bhander Group of Vindhyan Supergroup of Madhya Pradesh has been discovered. E-1 and E-2 are separated by stromatolitic limestones suggesting interruption of Ediacaran environments by lime-rich quieter water settings favouring selective growth of metaphytes. The Ediacaran assemblage is represented by ten medusoid coelenterate genera (Tribrachidium, Eoporita, Kaisalia, Cyclomedusa, Ediacaria, Nimbia, Paliella, Medusinites, Hiemalora and Irridinitus), one arthropod genus Spriggina, three frondose Petalonamae genera (Swartpuntia, Charniodiscus and Pteridinium), two un-named varieties of sponge (Porifera) and a number of unassigned discoidal coelenterates. The fossils possess taxonomic, ecological and preservational affinities to the typical Ediacaran assemblages of Australia, Canada, British Columbia and Russia, thereby extending their biogeographic extension to Indian Peninsula. The biodiversity, population density and preservation of the Vindhyan Ediacarans were favoured by widespread growth of microbial mats in wave-, tide- and storm-induced shallow marine siliciclastic facies. They show both Nemiana (higher relief forms without finer features in sandstones, e.g. Cyclomedusa and Ediacaria) and Beltanelliformis (lower relief forms with finer features in shales, e.g. Hiemalora and Kaisalia) types of preservation. Wide biogeographic extension and ecological uniformity qualify the Vindhyan metazoans as a biostratigraphically significant group that fixes the age of the Lakheri - Sirbu segment within the Ediacaran period (543-635 Ma) and allow an intercontinental correlation of the Bhander Group with the upper part of the Windermere Supergroup of Canada, Miette Group of British Columbia and Nama Group of Namibia. The Ediacaran zones focus the supra-Sirbu (above E-2) and infra-Lakheri (below E-1) sequences as potential stratigraphic levels for searching fossil evidences of Pc-C boundary and physical evidences of Laplandian glaciation (tillites, cap carbonates etc.), respectively. The morphology of the Vindhyan diploblastic coelenterates provides a deep insight of their evolutionary history. The Cyclozoa represented by Cyclomedusa, Ediacaria and Medusinites in E-l forms an archaic group having monaxonic heteropolar symmetry of infinitely high order. Development of body plan with higher order radial symmetry in the Inordozoa is a later phenomenon. The transitional phase is represented by Eoporita in E-2 with both concentric and radial features. Indordozoa in E-2 are represented by Hiemalora, Irridinitus and an un-named coelenterate. Fixed order radial symmetry (quadrilateral Scyphozoa, triradial Trilobozoa and Bilateralia) appeared next in quick succession. The Trilobozoa and Bilateralia are represented by the coelenterate Tribrachidium and triploblastic arthropod Spriggina in E-2. Spriggina is regarded as transitional between Annelida and Arthropoda. Phyletic diversity of the Vindhyan faunas as represented by Cyclozoa, Inordozoa, Trilobozoa, Arthropoda, Annelida, Porifera and frondose Petalonamae suggests coexistence of several separate evolutionary branches during the Ediacaran Period. Majority of these highly developed phyletic groups must have Cryogenian and Tonian prehistory. The Vindhyan trace fossils, representing largely the activities of primitive worm-grade creatures, occur at two distant stratigraphic levels: ~1-1.2 Ga old Rohtasgarh unit and 543-635Ma old Lakheri-Sirbu Ediacaran zones. The traces exhibit temporal development of morphological complexity and behavioural sophistication of the trace makers. Eight behavioural groups have been recognized. The Rohtasgarh traces (1st group) are simple, curvilinear, self-crossingPlanolites burrows produced by non-segmented and feebly thigmotactic (directional sense) worms. The 2nd and 3rd groups are represented respectively by tightly meandered Yelovichnus and irregular first order branching hurrows Palaeophycus in E-l produced possibly by segmented strophotactic (sense of reversal of body movement.

12 illus, 1 table, 123 ref

001336   Bhattacharjee D (NO, , OPEC-I, Marine Wing, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata-700 032, Email: debajyoti1955@yahoo.com) : Benthic foraminiferal distribution in the holocene sedmients off Matla river in the continental shelf region, Bay of Bengal. Indian J Geosci 2009, 63(1), 53-66.

Distribution pattern of benthic foraminifera in the surficial sediments in the 2135 sq km area of the continental shelf region of Bay of Bengal reveals the presence of three foraminiferal biofacies between 5m and 112m water depth. Astrorotalia trispinosa biofacies occurs in the northern part between 5m and 16m isobaths, Astrorotalia -Ammonia biofacies in the central part of the area within the water depths ranging from 12m to 25m isobath and Nonion biofacies occurs in the southeastern side of the area within 25m to 112m water depth respectively. The first and second biofacies are mainly confined in sand and silty sand sediments while the third biofacies in the clayey silt. A total of 46 benthic foraminiferal taxa had been identified from the study area. Large extent of Astrorotalia trispinosa and Astrorotalia -Ammonia biofacies is due to the presence of sand shoals, sand ridges and huge supply of sandy materials by Hoogly and Muriganga rivers. Abundance of euryhaline taxa with thick tests, well preserved and fragmented shells suggests favourable condition for the booming of the rounded/symmetrical morpho-group in the western and northern sides of the area. On the other hand, less supply of sand and more availability of clayey silt by Gosaba and Matla rivers support the proliferation of Nonion biofacies and abundance of angular/asymmetrical morpho-group in the southeastern side of the area. Benthic assemblage of this biofacies is generally stenohaline taxa which flourish well in the fine sediment in relatively tranquil condition. A distinct change in the behaviour of benthic taxa is observed between the above-said domains. Diversity index of benthic foraminifera, Biogenic (B): Terrigenous (T) ratio of sediments and foraminiferal density are low in the western and northern side than the southeastern part of the area indicating a higher rate of sedimentation in the former domain than the latter. Plotting of benthic foraminiferal assemblage in the triangular diagrams of three major subgroups (Rotalina-Miliolina -Textularina) suggests a changing environmental set-up in the prodeltaic region, near-shelf to outer-shelf environment, from north to south of the survey area. The inferred foraminiferal biofacies contact is fairly conformable to the bathymetric contour except in the western side of the area due to presence of two tidal ridges.

8 illus, 3 tables, 36 ref

021534   Sarate O S;Budhraja N (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007, Email: ossarate@yahoo.co.in) : A marchantialean thallus from the lower gondwana sequence of Godavari basin, Andhra Pradesh. J Geol Soc India 2007, 70(1), 90-6.

: The critical observation of a thallus section recorded in one of the samples prepared for the coal petrographic study (Pellet No.3). Sample represents a coal band lying above the 'Queen seam" from Koyagudem area of the Godavari valley coalfield, Andhra Pradesh. The shape of this specimen in transverse section and its cel ular organization very closely resemble the anatomical features of extant thalli of the bryophytic (liverwort) family Rebouliaceae, a big group of Marchantiales (Hepaticopsida). A thallus with cellular details assignable to Hepaticae is recorded from the Lower Gondwana Sequence og Godavari valley coalfield.

4 illus, 1 table, 54 ref

019651   Jain S (Paleobiology Dep, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington DC 20560, USA, Email: jains@si.edu) : Integrated jurassic biostratigraphy: a closer look at nannofossil and ammonite evidences from the Indian subcontinent. Curr Sci 2008, 95(3), 326-31.

Old and outdated use of ammonite and nannofossil literature indicates that nannofossils are better in defining the Bathonian-Callovian boundary in the Jurassic sediments of Jaisalmer basin, western India. However, globally and with an updated biozonatwnjrom more recent literature, it is the other way round. This paradox is an example where standardization is urgently needed. In light of new nannofossil data, age assignments based on nannofossil records are critically assessed and a globally updated composite Bajocian-Callovian biozonation of ammonites and marker nannofossil species is given to encourage use of more updated literature.

3 illus, 2 tables, 30 ref

017511   Parcha S K;Sabnis S V;Saraswati P K (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun-248 001, Email: parchask@wihg.res.in) : Taxonomic application of classification and regression tree (CART) and random forests (RF): a case study of middle cambrian trilobites. J Geol Soc India 2007, 70(6), 1033-8.

Morphological variables often have non-normal distribution. The statistical analysis of such variables by imposing normal assumption invariably yields unreliable results. Classification and Regression Trees (CART) and Random Forests (RF) are nonparametric techniques that are alternative to conventional classification methods such as cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis used in morphometric research. Uses the afore-mentioned non-parametric techniques to the variables of the cranidial features of the trilobite genera Hundwarella and Iranoleesia. It is found that misclassification rates in CART and cluster analyses are comparable, whereas they are reduced substantially by the use of Random Forests.

2 illus, 2 tables, 21 ref