023413   Bajpai S;Thewissen J G M (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667) : New, diminutive eocene whale from Kachchh (Gujarat, India) and it implications for locomotor evolution of cetaceans. Curr Sci 2000, 79(10), 1478-82.

Recent paleontological field work in the middle Eocene Harudi Formation of Kachchh (western India) has yielded a partial skeleton of a new species of Eocene cetaceans, here named Kutchicetus minimus. The new species represents a new genus in the family Remingtonocetidae and is smaller than any other Eocene whale. The skeleton includes teeth, skull fragments, limb bones and a relatively complete vertebral column. Vertebral proportions indicate that the vertebral column of the new cetacean functioned in different ways from any other known Eocene or Recent cetacean. It suggests that the mobility of the back may have approximated that of otters.

11 ref

021491   Bagai K K (Anthropological Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, , 2963, Gokulam Road, Mysore-570 002) : Further fossil evidence of earliest ethnic Indian from Madhya Pradesh : palaeonthropological imperatives 2001. Proc Indian Sci Congr Ass - Pt IV, Sect-I 1999, (NULL), 14-18(abstr).

018259   Narayana A C;Priju C P;Chakrabarti A (Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lakeside Campus, Kochi-682 016) : Identification of a palaeodelta near the mouth of Periyar river in central Kerala. J Geol Soc India 2001, 57(6), 545-7.

Geomorphologic studies along the coastal tract between Thrissur in the north and Kollam (Quilon) in the south, reveals several morphometric units that have a bearing on the Neogene evolution of this region. Of particular interest is the existence of a palaeodelta in the coastal zone.

^ssc

017092   Srinivasan M S;Sinha D K (Department of Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005) : Ocean circulation in the tropical Indo-Pacific during early Pliocene (5.6-4.2 Ma). Paleobiogeographic and isotopic evidence. Proc Indian Acad Sci-Earth Planet Sci 2000, 109(3), 315-28.

Study reveals that the late Neogene planktic foraminiferal data from the eastern and western sides of the Indonesian Seaway are very similar. The only distinct inter-ocean difference however is the absence of Pulleniatina spectabilis from the Indian Ocean. This species makes its first evolutionary appearance in the Equatorial Pacific at about 5.6 Ma (Early Gilbert reversed) and ranges up to 4.2 Ma (Top Cochiti subchron). The complete absence of Pulleniatina spectabilis from the Indian Ocean is attributed to blocking of westward flow of tropical waters of the Pacific to the Indian Ocean resulting in a major change in ocean circulation in the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans during 5.6 to 4.2 Ma. In order to understand the nature of this blockage, isotopic depth ranking of selected planktic foraminifera was carriede out which reveals that the Indonesian Seaway became an effective biogeographic barrier to deep dwelling planktic foraminifera and thus it may be interpreted that the shallow sills that mark the Seaway in modern times were present as early as 5.6 Ma. The distribution of Pulleniatina spectabilis throughout the Equatiorial Pacific reveals that Modern Equatorial Pacific Under current (Cromwell Current) flowing towards east at a depth of 200-300 m (which is also the depth habitat of Pulleniatina spectabilis) was present at the beginning of the Pliocene (5.6 Ma).

44 ref

016050   Singh M K;Gupta S D (Department of Anthropology, Delhi University, Delhi-110 007) : Fresh prehistoric evidence from Kharagpur Hills of Bihar. Proc Indian Sci Congr Ass - Pt III(YS abstr), Sect-I 1999, (NULL), 22-3.

Surface occurrence of prehistoric evidence often poses a chain of problems of both context and content. Not withstanding these problems one tries to make an assessment of the evidences in terms of their culture relevance. During a recent field work three different types of occurrence were discovered by the senior author from Mungher district in Bihar. Focused on the prehistoric occupational spread in the region as it is based on surface finds, horizontal dispersal of the prehistoric population is attempted at and in retinuance their foraging activities and strategies adaptation comprehended. On examination, due to demographic pressure. The Mesolithic sites is evident of the fact. One may agree that the suitability of all the raw material could have been the cause behind the closing off of the foraging route, but the well established fact that for strategic survival adaptations prehistoric men always preferred the high mountain slopes over the forested lower valleys, invalidates such argument.

^aabstr

016049   Selvakumar V (Department of Archaeology, Deccan College, Pune-411 006) : Context of the lithic industries from Southern Tamil Nadu. Proc Indian Sci Congr Ass - Pt III(YS abstr), Sect-I 1999, (NULL), 23.

Ever since the discovery of lithic artifacts on the red sand-dunes known as `Teris' and at a few other locations by Foote (1983, 1916) in the second half of the nineteenth century, several sites having lithic artifacts in different cultural and chronological contexts have been reported from southern Tamil Nadu (Aiyappan 1945; Zeuner and Allchin 1956; Raghunath 1966; Raman 1970; Sridharan 1978; Rajendran 1983; Vedachalam 1985; Gardner 1986, 1995; Gardner and Martingell 1990; Balachandran 1994; Rajavelu and Thirumoorthy 1996). An early attempt to provide a culture-chronological framework to these findings was made by Zeuner and Allchin in the 1950;s. when they postulated a sequence of three industries for this region, viz., "an earlier Teri industry consisting of flake and core toos: a later, or main, Teri industry similar to the former but including blades and geometric forms: and a neolithic blade-industry, accompanied by stone axes and pottery" (1956 : 20), on the basis of their study of the lithic artifacts from the Teri sites. However, Raman (1970 : 503), who reports of two sites with evidence.

^aabstr

016048   Margabandhu C (NO, , ) : Art of clay modelling in early historic Tamil Nadu (C - 300BC - 300A). Proc Indian Sci Congr Ass - Pt III(YS abstr), Sect-I 1999, (NULL), 23-4.

Several sites have been excavated in Tamil Nadu some of them well known historically which have revealed material artefacts in quite a large number datable to the Early Historic period of the third century B.C. to the third century A.D. Foremost among them are those of terracotta which include a variety of decorative, ornamental and artistic objects of every day life that throw immense light on the cultural life on the people. An attempt has been made to study the objects from the point of view of technology and evaluate their chrono-cultural significance and inter cultural links with the contemporary sites of the neighbouring regions.

^aabstr

015085   Parmar S N S;Rao G V (Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur-482 001) : DNA finger printing in poultry using multilocus probe Bkm-2 (8). Proc Indian Sci Congr Ass - Pt IV, Sect-I 1997, (NULL), 23.

In this study the use of banded Krait Minor Satellite Probe Bkm-2(8) for estimating genetic variability and determining individual identification between and within four lines of White Leghorn layers and two synthetic broiler lines have been examined. The high band sharing value (0.66) observed between individuals of the same line was due to low level of genetic variation between them. However the band sharing between individuals of four layer strains ranged from 0.33 to 0.66. This indicates that the line specific DNA finger print bands representing genetic differences between lines was the resultant of divergent selection with absence of gene flow betwen them developed over many generations. The greatest genetic distance between the individuals of White Leghorn and Synthetic broiler lines was found among all pairwise comparisons. The large differences noticed between DNA finger print patterns was due to high genetic variation between leghorns and synthetic broiler strains.

015084   Arya R;Guleria J S;Srivastava R (NO, , 168 Adath Bazar, Kasauli-172 304) : New records of plant fossils from the kasauli sediments of Himachal Pradesh, north-west India. Phytomorphology 2001, 51(1), 63-9.

Two new plant fossils from the Kasauli formation of Himachal Pradesh are reported. One of them is represented by leaf remains of the angiosperm Syzygium Gaertn. and a fern genus Arthromeris J. Smith. The latter is reported for the first time from India; its occurrence as aftar west as Kasauli is phytogeographically significant. The two fossil genera indicate the existence of tropical moist conditions and low elevations around Kasauli during the early Miocene in contrast to the present day higher elevation and cooler conditions of this area today, thereby indicating uplift of the Himalayas since then.

35 ref

013998   Manoj Kumar;Trivedi S P;Banerjee I;Soni A (Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007) : Influence of anionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulphonate on ovarian phosphatase activity in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). Himalayan J Envir Zool 2000, 14(1), 53-8.

Impairment in the activity of Acid phosphatase (ACP) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the ovarian tissue of fresh water cat fish, Heteropneustes fossilis treated with Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate (LAS) manifests the toxic effects of detergent chemicals LAS. A significant rise in the activity of ACP and a fall in ALP was recorded in ovarian tissue. An increase in the activity of ACP suggests the architectural damage of the tissue which in turn affects the developmental process of ovaries, while fall in the alkaline phosphatase suggests reproductive impairment as ALP is involved in maturity and growth of ovarian follicles.

22 ref

013032   Sachdev A K;Ram Gopal (NO, Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122) : Storage quality changes in cooked chicken rolls. Indian J Poult Sci 2000, 35(3), 364-6.

Cooked chicken rolls were processed through four replicates and evaluated for storage quality changes till 14 days of refrigerated (4± 1°C) and 28 days of frozen storage (-18°C). Significant (P<60>0.05) increase in pH and thiobarbituric acid values (TBA) was observed with the prolonged storage. Decline in moisture with higher contents of crude protein and ether extract was recorded in refrigerated samples on 14th day whereas the frozen samples showed reverse trends. Regular screening of samples for total aerobic plate counts (TPC), coliforms, anaerobes, yeast and moulds, on 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage revealed persistant but insignificant increase in these microbial parameters with the extended storage. However, the higher counts were recorded under refrigeration as compared to the frozen product. Calculated energy output (cal/100 g) was higher in the stored samples. Sensory evaluations showed significant (P<60>0.05) reduction in scores of colour, tenderness and texture with the prolonged storage. Nevertheless, the flavour, juiciness and overall acceptability of product was insignificantly lower on 28th day of frozen storage. It was concluded that cooked chicken rolls could be consumed till 14 and 28th day of refrigerated and frozen storage respectively.

^ssc

012008   Baruah H;Dey T;Das P K;Sarma K P (Department of Geological Sciences, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781 014) : Strain analyses of the deformed fossils from the Prang limestones in and around Sylveta, Karbi-Anglong district, Assam, India. Bull pure appl Sci-Sect F 1998, 17(1-2), 1-4.

The magnitude and orientation of the strain markers notably foraminifers hosted in the plastically deformed limestone are calculated using K-graph and Fry's method and observed that the initial spherical nummulite have been deformed and rotated. The elipticity of the markers are confined mostly in the field of constriction with a slight affinity towards the plane strain type.

010878   Mitra S;Banerjee M (Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta-700 019) : On the occurrence of epiphyllous deuteromycetous fossil fungi Palaeocercospora siwalikensis Gen. et sp. nov. and Palaeocolletotrichum graminioides Gen. et sp. nov. from neogene sediments of Darjeeling foot hills, Eastern Himalaya. J mycopathol Res 2000, 38(1), 7-11.

Two Deuteromycetous epiphyllous fungi viz., Palaeocercospora siwalikensis Gen. et sp. nov. and Palaeocolletotrichum graminioides Gen. et sp. nov. on dicotylendonous and monocotyledonous leaf cuticles respectively are described from Siwalik Foredeep Basin of Darjeeling foothills. Eastern Himalaya. Affinity of the new taxa with extant genera and environment of the sediments recovering the taxa have been discussed.

16 ref

007968   Chaudhary V;Bhattacharyya A (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Tree ring analysis of Larix griffithiana from the Eastern Himalayas in the reconstruction of past temperature. Curr Sci 2000, 79(12), 1712-6.

Tree ring analysis of Larix griffithiana (Lindl. et Gord.) Hort ex Carr., a subalpine deciduous conifer growing in Sange, Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya has been taken up to understand past climatic changes of this region. Rings in this tree have been found very distinct, with clear demarcation of early wood and late wood cells and have characters suitable for dendroclimatic studies. Analysis of tree growth and records of climatic parameters suggest that May temperature is the most important factor in controlling growth of this tree. Reconstruction of May temperature using ring width data of this tree has been done.

15 ref

004461   Pratap Singh;Porwal D K (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Regional Geoscience Laboratories, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Makarpura Road, Vadodara-390 009) : Palaeogene ostracods from the Cambay-Tarapur block, Cambay basin. Geosci J 1999, 20(2), 93-141.

Palaeogene subsurface sequence of West Bhalada well-A Cambey well-K, Kalamsar well-A, Uneli well-A and Chaklasi well-D of the Cambay-Tarapur Block, Cambay Basin has yielded a fairly rich assemblage of ostracods. The ostracod assemblage is represented by thirtynine species and out of which twentytwo species are new and seven species including a genus are left under upen nomenclature. Remaining eleven species have already been recorded from the different Indian basins. Two new general of ostracod Ganeshela and Shankarella are being proposed.

17 ref

003408   Kundal P (Department of Geology, Nagpur University, Nagpur-440 001) : First record of bryozoa from late miocene limestone of Baratang Island, Andaman, India. J Geol Soc India 2000, 56(4), 441-4.

Two Bryozoa, Crisia elongata Milne-Edwards and Crisulipora (?) sp. indet. are being recorded for the first time from Late Miocene limestone exposed at Middle Strait, Baratang Island, Andaman.

16 ref

003407   Bhatt D K;Ravindra Kumar (Geological Survey of India, , Jaipur-302 004) : Record of marine microfauna younger than palaeogene from Rajasthan. J Geol Soc India 2000, 56(4), 453-8.

Pertains to record of microfauna that indicates the presence of sediments of Miocene-Quaternary age in western Rajasthan. The recovered microfauna consist mainly of foraminifera and ostracoda. The dwarf nature of microfauna indicates stressed palaeoenvironment.

002229   Vijaya;Roy A (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Late lower jurassic palynomorph assemblage in the Dubrajpur sediments, Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 43-9.

This is the first palynological study of the Dubrajpur sediments exposed near the village Murgadangal within the Birbhum Coalfield of West Bengal. The grey shales and off-white sandy claystones have yielded characteristic palynomorph assemblages. At the base of the succession, which consist of coaly shales, the genus Densipollenites is prominent along with striate bisaccate pollen (Palynozone I). In the same assemblage, the first occurrence of Kremipollenites indicus, Arcuatipollenites pellucidus and Goubinispora indica, is significant. This suggests the end Permian level for the Barakar coal deposits. Subsequently genus Callialasporites makes its first occurrence at the transition of barakar and Dubrajpur formations and attains fair presentation in the up-section (Palynozone II) replacing Densipollenites. Definite occurrence of Callialasporites turbatus/dampieri in the presently investigated Dubrajpur strata along with Foraminisporis tribulosus, Klukisporites sp. suggest late Lower Jurassic age for Dubrajpur Formation, and the non-diverified palynomorph composition evidences shallow deposition for this outcrop section.

11 ref.

002228   Van-konijnenburg-Van cittert J H A (Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, University of Utrecht, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht. The Netherlands) : Parameters in leaf and cuticle morphology. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 9-15.

Consistent and variable factors in leaf and cuticle morphology are being discussed, in the light of fossil higher plant species described exclusively on the basis of leaf characters.

19 ref.

002227   Tewari R;Srivastava A K (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Plant fossil assemblage from the Talchir formation, Auranga coalfield, Bihar, India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 23-30.

Investigations on the Talchir sediments of Auranga Coalfield have yielded well preserved plant fossils from Jaitri river section situated about 1.5 km northeast of Latehar town of Palamau District, Bihar. The assemblage is represented by the species of Gangamopteris (G. cyclopteroides, G. fibrosa, G. clarkeana, G. major, G. angustifolia, G. karharbariensis, Gangamopteris sp.) and Glossopteris (G. talchirensis, G. indica, G. communis, G. stenoneura, G. tenuifolia, G. spatulata) besides a number of scale leaves and equisetaleanstem axes. The known records of plant fossils from the Talchir Formation indicate dominance of Gangamopteris leaves (10 sp.) whereas, Glossopteris leaves are recorded by only two species. Occurrence of six species of Glossopteris and seven species of Gangamopteris demonstrates simultaneous settlement and diversification of the two types of glossopterid leaves i.e., midrib-less forms of Gangamopteris and midrib possessing forms of Glosopteris, during the early Phase (the Talchir Formation) of Glossopteris flora.

34 ref.

002226   Singh S M (Taxonomy & Biodiversity Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001) : On the genera Pantophyllum, Euryphyllum & Kawizophyllum from Karanpura and Bokaro coalfields, India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 31-42.

Contains description of a new species of Pantophyllum (P. gidiensis sp. nov.) and further investigations made on a species of Euryphyllum (E. whittianum). The cuticle of Euryphyllum whittianum is a new contribution. Besides also includes two species of genus Kawizophyllum viz. K. dunpathriensis sp. nov. and K. barakarensis sp. nov. Kawizophyllum is a characteristic fossil of Dunpathri Member of the Mamal Formation in Kashmir but now found in South Karanpur Coalfield constitute only record from the peninsula.

22 ref.

002225   Shuang-xing G (NO, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academia Sinica, Chi-Ming-Su, Nanjing-210 008, P.R. China) : Evolution palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology of Eucommiaceae. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 65-83.

Comprehensive treatise incorporating morphology, ecology, stratigraphy and systematics of Eucommia belonging to family Eucommiaceae, based on extant and extinct records, is presented. Fifteen species of megafossil leaves and fruits of Eucommia and about one hundred localities from the northern hemisphere are known. Pollen of Eucommidites troedssonii Erdtman was widely distributed in the Mesozoic sediments of Europe. Authentic pollen records of Eucommia, Eucommiaceaopollenites eucommides Sun and E. minor Sun are known from China. They first appeared in East China in the Paleocene. The validity of Eucommia leaves knwon from the Paleocene of the western United States is doubtful. Other records include Eucommia brevirostria from south China, Eucommia kobayashi from northern Japan, Eucommia sp. from Alaska, United States, E. browni, E. montana from the Oligocene of United States, E. sibirica from the Miocene and Oligocene of Siberia. Several indeterminable species fo Eucommia were recorded from the Neogene of Poland, Germany, France and Italy. One species of Eucommia was found in the Pleistocene of Itlay. An evaluation of these records, their geographical distribution, endemism and environmental impact have been discussed.

99 ref.

002224   Samant B (Department of Geology, Nagpur University, Law College Campus, Nagpur-440 001) : Palynostratigraphy and age of the Bhavnagar Lignite, Gujarat, India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 101-18.

Good frequency of pollen and spore taxa are recovered during the palynological study of the Bhavnagar Lignite of Gujarat. Pollen assemblage consist of 66 genera and 85 species. Of these, eight general and 12 species are of pteridophytic spores, one genus of gymnosperms and 57 genera and 74 species of angiosperms. Amongt these, one genus and nine species are described as new. On the basis of abundance, the Bhavnagar palynoassemblage is divided into two cenozones in ascending order as Triplanosporites sinuous Cenozone and Arengapollenites achinatus cenozone. Palynoflora suggests deposition of this lignite during Early Eocene period under warm humid tropical climatic conditions.

29 ref.

002223   Bonde S D (NO, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune-411 004) : Rhodospathodendron tomlinsonii gen. et sp. nov., an araceous viny axis from the Nawargaon intertrappean beds of India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 85-92.

Rhodospathodendron tomlinsonii gen. et. sp. nov. a monocotyledonous viny axis has been described from the Decan intertrappean beds exposed at Nawargaon, Wardha District, Maharashtra, India. The fossil represents a thin aerial stem, endogenous roots and leaf sheaths. Externally it shows scars of roots. Broad and well differentiated cortex of the setem with a distinct vascular system and trichosclereids; vascular region with compact arrangement of amphivasal, compound and trace bundles and angular vessels suggest its close resemblance with Rhodospatha (Subfamily - Monsteroideae) of Araceae.

49 ref.

002222   Banerji J;Jana B N (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road) : Early cretaceous megaflora from Bartala hill, Rajmahal basin, India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 51-6.

Deals with megafloral investigation of Bartala locality of Rajmahal Basin. Nine taxa are recorded for the first time from this locality : Hausmannia, Taeniopteris, Anomozamites, Pterophyllum, Pseudoctenis, Dictyozamites, Ginkgoites, Desmiophyllum Elatocladus and Brachyphyllum. The assemblage is dominated by cycadophytes, pteridophytes and conifers are scarcely represented. Predominance of Anomozamites in this assemblage perhaps shows the local variation. On the basis of assemblage correlation, an Early Cretaceous age has been suggested.

32 ref.

002221   Agarwal A;Ambwani K (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of palaeobotany, 53 University Road) : Canariocarpon ratnagiriensis gen. et sp. nov. from Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. Palaeobotanist 2000, 49(1), 93-100.

Fossil carbonised angiospermous fruit Canariocarpon ratnagiriensis gen. et. sp. nov. has been described from the Miocene sediments of Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. The detailed morphological characters indicate its affinites with extant Canarium of Burseraceae. Occurrence of Canarium type fruits in these sediments signifies warm-humid climate prevailing during the time of deposition.

41 ref.

001147   Tiwari M;Pant C C;Tewari V C (NO, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33, General Mahadev Singh Road, Dehradun-248 001) : Neoproterozoic sponge spicules and organic-walled microfossils from the gangolihat dolomite, lesser Himalaya, India. Curr Sci 2000, 79(5), 651-4.

Isolated hexactinellid and monaxon sponge spicules with cyanobacterial filaments have been discovered in the Gangolihat Dolomite. The microfossils described were recovered in the thin sections of cherty dolomite and phyllite. Comparable sponge spicules are reported so far from lower Vendian sediment; therefore an early Vendian age can be suggested for the Gangolihat Dolomite. The main purpose of this communication is to document the presence of sponge spicules and silica biomineralization during the sedimentation of Gangolihat Dolomite in the Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India.

22 ref

001146   Chauhan M S;Mazari R K;Rajagopalan G (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007) : Vegetation and climate in upper Spiti region, Himachal Pradesh during late holocene. Curr Sci 2000, 79(3), 373-7.

Pollen analysis of Sitikher bog near Kunzum Pass (Himachal Pradesh) indicates that between 2300 and 1500 yr BP, cold and dry climate prevailed in the upper Spiti region and glaciers advanced towards the lower elevations. Between 1500 and 900 yr BP the climate changed to warm and moist, which resulted in the retreat of glaciers and shift of tree line towards the higher elevations. From 900 yr BP onwards the mountain glaciers/tree line descended with the return of cold climate which continues until the present time.

13 ref

021626   Lim J D;Martin L D;Baek K S (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea-151 742) : The first megalosaurid tooth from South Korea. Curr Sci 2002, 82(3), 326-8.

A theropod tooth from the Early Cretaceous of South Korea has been described. It is similar to the teeth of Prodeinodon from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia and Guangxi, China and the teeth of Szechuanosaurus campi from the Late Jurassic of Kuangyuan, N. Sichuan, China. The tooth is slender antero-posteriorly and its posterior margin is straight. This discovery confirms that megalosaurids survived beyond the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary and occurred in Europe, North America and East Asia.

3 illus, 2 tables, 32 ref

020511   Kulkarni K G;Borkar V D (NO, Agharkar Research Institute, G G Agarkar Road, Pune-411 004) : Trace fossils and pseudofossils from the proterozoic Cuddapah Supergroup. J Geol Soc India 2002, 59(6), 531-6.

Only three ichnoforms are recorded from the Cuddapah Supergroup so far. Two of them were described from the Gulcheru Quartzite without specific determination, while the third, identified as Planolites sp. was discovered near Nagarjuna Sagar. The claim that the so called horizontal burrows from the Gulcheru Quartzite resemble ichnogenus Arthrophycus is incorrect, as in reality they are trace fossils of `inorganic origin', referable to the forms Rhysonetron or Manchuriophycus. Also, the pock marks constituting `vertical and inclined burrows' from the Gulcheru Quartzite are, in fact, a weathering feature. Hence, the opinion that these `trace fossils' are useful for local correlation is not tenable. Planolites sp. reported from the Nagarjuna Sagar area is now identified under the specific name P. beverleyensis (Billings). The sandstone sequence yielding Planolites sp. was traditionally believed to be a part of the Srisailam Formation. There was a suggestion that it may be considered as belonging to the Banganapalle Sandstone of Kurnool Group, in view of the occurrence of Planolites sp. and intcrealations of shales and limestones. Since the sediments in question are not laterally conteinuous with any outcrop of the Kurnool Group, it is suggested here that it be recognised as a separate lithostratigraphic entity and correlated with Banganapalle Sandstone.

6 illus, 19 ref

018364   Ghosal S;Muruganandam A V;Satyan K S;Chauahan S (R&D Centre, Indian Herbs Ltd, , Sharda Nagar, Saharanpur-247 001) : Chemistry of fossils of Ginkgo and its ancestors. Indian J Chem-Sect B 2002, 41(4), 845-53.

Chemical analysis of organic solvent extractives of ten fossil-taxa (Gymnosperms) of the Paleozoic - Mesozoic eras indicate the chemical preservation of five main classes of naturally occurring compounds, viz. ginkgolic acids, terpenoidal lactones (ginkgolides A & B, bilobalide), biflavones (amentoflavone, bilobetin), procyanidins and anthocyanidins, in nine of them. The contents of these compounds are highest in Ginkgo biloba-fossil. The survival feat of G. biloba is remarkable. It is the last surviving representative of a race that, ages before the evolution of man, occupied a central position among the floras of the world. The preservation of the consortium of organic compounds and the longevity of G. biloba must in part be due to the potent antioxidant function of some of these compounds and the robust cage structures/molecular laminates of the metal ion complexes of the terpenoidal lactones and the lipophilic phenolic acids. The possible progenitor-progeny relationship between Glossopteris/Dadoxylon and Ginkgo was considered on the basis of similarities of their chemical constituents.

4 tables, 24 ref

016995   Kumar V;Sivakumar K (P.G. & Research Department of Geology, National College, Tiruchirapalli-620 001) : Influence of estuarine environment on the benthic foraminifera - a case study from the Uppanar river estuary, Tamil Nadu. J envir Pollut 2001, 8(3), 277-83.

To study the influence of estuarine environment on Benthonic foraminifera, sediment samples and botton water samples were collected at 9 stations in the Uppanar river estuary of Tamil Nadu. Out of 25 foraminiferal species identified, 7 are arenaceous agglutinated, 4 are calcareous inperforate and the remaining 14 are calcareous perforate. Detailed study on the distribution, diversity and ecology of these foraminifera was carried out. Reveals that the first four samples stations from the mouth are densely populated and have higher diversity of fauna. Ammonia tepida, and Quinqueloculina seminulam are the two wide-spread and abudant species and their distribution and ecology in the study are reveal that they have a positive correlation with salinity of botton water and Calcium Carbonate and Organic matter contents of the sediments. Salinity is the main influencing parameter on the foramineferal fauna in the estuary. Silty clay sand is considered to be the favourable substrate for the abundance of foraminiferal population.

1 illus, 3 tables, 9 ref

016994   Ghosal S;Muruganandam A V;Satyan K S;Chauahan S (R&D Centre, Indian Herbs Ltd, , Sharda Nagar, Saharanpur-247 001) : Chemistry of fossils of Ginkgo and its ancestors. Indian J Chem-Sect B 2002, 41(4), 845-53.

Chemical analysis of organic solvent extractives of ten fossil-taxa (Gymnosperms) of the Paleozoic - Mesozoic eras indicate the chemical preservation of five main classes of naturally occurring compounds, viz. ginkgolic acids, terpenoidal lactones (ginkgolides A & B, bilobalide), biflavones (amentoflavone, bilobetin), procyanidins and anthocyanidins, in nine of them. The contents of these compounds are highest in Ginkgo biloba-fossil. The survival feat of G. biloba is remarkable. It is the last surviving representative of a race that, ages before the evolution of man, occupied a central position among the floras of the world. The preservation of the consortium of organic compounds and the longevity of G. biloba must in part be due to the potent antioxidant function of some of these compounds and the robust cage structures/molecular laminates of the metal ion complexes of the terpenoidal lactones and the lipophilic phenolic acids. The possible progenitor-progeny relationship between Glossopteris/Dadoxylon and Ginkgo was considered on the basis of similarities of their chemical constituents.

4 tables, 24 ref

014213   Saha A K;Gupta R P;Arora M K (Dept. Earth Sci, University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667) : GIS-based Landslide hazard zonation in the Bhagirathi (Ganga) valley, Himalayas. Int J Remote Sens 2002, 23(2), 357-69.

Study utilized different types of data including Survey of India topographic maps, geological (lithological and structural) maps, IRS-1B and -1D multispectral and PAN satellite sensor data and field observations. The processing of multi-geodatasets was carried out in a raster GIS environment. The various data layers generated and co-registered were : landuse/landcover, buffer map of thrusts, buffer map of photolineaments, lithology, buffer map of drainage, slope angle and relative relief. Data integration was carried out using the ordinal scale (qualitative) relative weighting rating technique to give a landslide Hazard Index (LHI) value. The breaks in the LHI frequency diagram were used to delineate various landslide hazard zones, namely, very low, low moderate, high and very high. Field data on landslides were employed to evaluate and validate landslide hazard zonation map. It is interpreted that the distribution of landslides is largely governed by a combination of geoenvironmental conditions like proximity (<62> 500 m) to the thrust zone, presence of Munsiari Formation and barren or less-vegetated areas.

17 ref

014212   Roy A;Sarkar A;Jeyakumar S;Aggrawal S K; Ebihara M (Dept. Appl Geol, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad-826 004) : Mid-proterozoic plume-related thermal event in eastern Indian craton : evidence from trace elements, REE geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotope systematics of basic-ultrabasic intrusive from Dalma volcanic belt. Gondwana Res 2002, 5(1), 133-46.

Trace, REE, Sr and Nd isotope studies have been carried out on gabbro-pyroxenite intrusive of the Dalma volcanic belt from eastern India craton. Primitive mantle-normalised trace element patterns show a general depletion of high field strength elements and LREE but more or less flat pattern in most compatible elements. Chondrite-normalised REE plots show depleted LREE-flat HREE patterns strikingly similar to the komatiitic and tholeiitic lavas from this belt. Nd isotopic data with mean values indicate that the source of these rocks was depleted in LREE for considerably long time. When plotted on the global E-Nd evolution path for the upper mantle the Dalma intrusives fall exactly around the depleted MORB-type mantle at 1.6 Ga. Enrichment in some LILE like Rb, Ba, Th is found both in the tholeiitic lavas and the residues indicating them to be source characteristics. Positive Delta Nb values of most of the mafic-ultramafic units of this belt indicate that they originated from a mantle plume with thick envelope of hot upper mantle producing MORB-like depleted komatiites, tholeiites and intrusives. The mid-Proterozoic plume eventually rifted the continent above, forming a rapidly subsiding basin which was subsequently collapsed and compressed. The Plume also caused widespread thermal events reccorded in charnockitisation, migmatisation and granitisation around 1.6 Ga. This was possibly part of a global similar to 1.6 Ga thermal animaly which affected the pre-existing.

71 ref

014211   Rasmussen B;Bose P K;Sarkar S;Banerjee S; Fletcher I R;McNaughton N J (NO, , ) : 1.6 GaU-Pb zircon age for the Chorhat sandstone, lower Vindhyan, India : possible implications for early evolution of animals. J Geol 2002, 30(2), 103-06.

Bedding-plane markings in the Chorhat Sandstone (lower Vindhyan), central India, were recently interpreted as burrows produced by triploblastic animals. Because the rocks were thought to be older than 1000 Ma, these structures were regarded as the oldest fossil evidence for metazoan life. However, the biological origin of the markings has been questioned, as has their age. Current age estimates are based on K-Ar, Rb-Sr, and fission-track dates, though some contentious evidence suggests that the rocks may be only 540 Ma. Provides the first robust age data for the lower Vindhyan by using SHRIMP (sensitive, high-resolution ion microprobe) U-Pb zircon geochronology to date silicified tuffs bounding the Chorhat Sandstone. Results show that the sediments were deposited between 1628+/- 8 Ma and 1599 +/- 8 Ma. If the Chorhat markings are burrows left by worm-like animals, then the data suggest that complex metazoans had evolved before 1600 Ma, 1 b.y. before the "Cambrian explosion" when animals rapidly diversified and became ecologically dominant. However, given the doubts expressed about the origin of the bedding-plane structures, as well as lie suprisingly "old" age of the host rocks, further studies are urgently required to provide supportive evidence.

30 ref

014210   Mukhopadhyay S;Roy S;Fukuoka M;Dasgupta S (Department of Geological Science, Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032) : Controls of evolution of mineral assemblages in the Eastern Ghats Belt, India. Eur J Miner 2002, 14(1), 73-83.

Unique suite of Mn-silicate-carbonate rocks from the Eastern Ghats Belt, India, were metamorphosed under ultrahigh temperature and exhibit contrasting mineral assemblages in closely spaced domains. Development of contrasting assemblages under isothermal-isobaric conditions is attributed to initial variations in fluid composition particularly a(C02), and bulk-rock Mn:Mg:Al:Si:Ca ratios. The fo(2) was buffered near the QFM buffer during peak metamorphism. Garnet shows a sharp increase in Fell content towards the rim, which is interpreted to be the result of increased a(CO2) during later stages of evolution of the rocks due to channeled fluid flux. At the terminal stage of evolution the rocks suffered hydration at lower temperatures.

35 ref

014209   Mukherjee A;Das S (NO, , 25-1, Subodh Park, Calcutta-700 070) : Anorthosites, granulites and the supercontinent cycle. Gondwana Res 2002, 5(1), 147-56.

All over the Grenville age mobile belt, approximately within 1500 - 1000 Ma, two successive, back-to-back episodes can be recognized. A continent-continent collisional episode with massive sedimentation, great crustal shortening and thickening with large folds and nappes, metamorphism and calcalkaline magmatism, and accretion of juvenile crust was followed within little over a hundred million years or so by an extensional episode, beginning with large scale mantle-derived basic magma invasion, ponding and differentiation at the base of the thickened orogen, anorthosite diapirism and pervasive thermal overprinting of the lower and middle crust producing granulite belts. Cooling, unroofing and erosion of the orogen coincided with the later stages of the extension, which ended with splitting of the supercontinent. It is argued that the first episode marks the phase of closing in an amalgamation of the converging continental lithospheric plates and the second episode represents the phase of reversal, rifting, plate separation and drifting away of the post-split continental blocks. Believes that the supercontinental closing and opening cycles provide realistic force fields and origin of the Proterozoic massif-type anorthosites and the associated granulites and an explanation for the spatially overlapping but apparently conflicting evidence of both collisional and extensional tectonic signatures in the Grenville age orogenic belts.

69 ref

014208   Meissner B;Deters P;Srikantappa C;Kohler H (NO, Inst. Mineral Petrog & Geochem, University of Munich, Theresienstr, 41 D-80333, Munich, Germany) : Geochronological evolution of the Moyar, Bhavani and Palghat shear zones of southern India : implication for east Gondwana correlations. Precambrian Res 2002, 114(1-2), 149-75.

Presents Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic whole rock, mineral and small slab data for remnant granulites, mylonitic gneisses and granitoids that reveal a Neoproterozoic tectonothermal imprint in these shear zones. Sm-Nd garnet crystallisation agent and Rb-Sr mica cooling ages from reworked rocks suggest that Pan-African structurally-controlled retrogression and successive cooling in the Moyar shear zone (MSZ) predates tectonometamorphism in the Bhavani shear zone (BSZ) and Palghat shear zone (PSZ). A Rb-Sr small slab isochron age of similar to 624 Ma indicates that Pan-African retrogression in the MSZ also led to isotopic reequilibration of the Rb-Sr system on a cm-scale. A Sm-Nd garnet crystallisation age of 513 +/- 5 Ma reflects emplacement of a postdeformative pegmatite in the BSZ during late Cambrian. A Sm-Nd garnet age of 2355+/-18 Ma obtaind from a granulite remnant in the MSZ records early Palaeoproterozoic high-grade metamorphism, which may be related to the amalgamation of the Nilgiri Block and DC along the palaeo-Moyar Zone. A relict charnockite from the southern BSZ yielded a reproducible Sm-Nd garnet age of 1705+/- 11 Ma, presumably recording late Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism. Neoarchaean and Palaeoproterozoic Nd model ages (3.0-2.2 Ga) suggest that the shear zone rocks are mainly reworked material from the adjacent Nilgiri and Madurai crustal domains. Nd model ages of granites and tonalites, which intruded the MSZ syntectonically.

72 ref

014207   Lakshminarayan G (Operat Andhra Pradesh, Geol Survey India, , Hyderabad-500 068) : Evolution in basin fill style during the Mesozoic Gondwana continental break-up in the Godavari Triple Junction, SE India. Gondwana Res 2002, 5(1), 227-44.

The continental Gondwana is mainly cross-stratified sandstone and fossiliferous clay assemblage of alluvial environment. Palaeocurrent is towards NW in the Kamthi Formation. WNW in the Kota Formation and centripetal in the Gangapur Formation. The Raghavapuram Formation (KGCB) comprises of grey-carbonaceous clay-sandstone association of SE flowing delta plain distributories with inter-distributory swamps and fossiliferous white clay of prodelta/shallow marine environment. The succeeding sandstone-conglomerate facies of the Tirupati Formation with SE palaeocurrent indicates delta progradation whereas the infratrappean clay-limestone beds point to delta abandonment, prior to the K/T boundary volcanism. Tectno-sedimentary model presented incorporates that the change from the continental Gondwana to coastal Gondwana had occurred in four stages. During stage-I (late Carboniferous to early Jurassic) the sediments were deposited by a north-waterly flowing alluvial system whose distal source was located in southeast beyond the east coast of India. Stage-II (Middle to late Jurassic) is marked by Westerly shift in palaeocurrents attributed to an obstruction caused by an upliftment of the Mailaram high parallel to the NE-SW Eastern Ghat trend. Stage-III (early cretaceous) is heralded by the onset of deltaic sedimentation in SE due to separation of landmass that supplied detritus to the CG until the end of the Jurassic..

43 ref

014206   De Wit M J;Ghosh J G;De Villiers S; Rakotosolofo N;Alexander J;Tripathi A;Looy C (NO, , University Cape Town, CIGCES, ZA-7701 Rondebosch, South Africa) : Multiple organic isotope reversals across the Permo-Triassic boundary of terrestrial Gondwana sequences : clues to extinction patterns and delayed ecosystem recovery. J Geol 2002, 110(2), 227-46.

Organic materials across the palynologically defined Permian-Triassic (P-T) boundary from five major terrestrial basins in the interior of the former Gondwana Supercontinent show large to very large multiple negative spikes of delta (13)C, separated in places by sharp reversals of up to 20 parts per thousand. Large oscillations of delta(13)C(org) between -36 parts per thousand and -15 parts per thousand from mean values of similar to 24 +/- 2 in India, similar to 26 +/- 2 in Madagascar, and similar to 23 +/- 2 in South Africa occur before and after the P-T transition. The mean values are within the range of modern C3 plants (similar to -25 parts per thousand). The negative delta (13)C(org) spikes of the terrestrial plant remains complement similar spikes of smaller amplitude recorded globally in marine carbonates across the P-T bounary. Sensitivity analyses of carbon fluxes in a coupled atmosphere-ocean system indicate that the sharp declines in terrestrial and marine delta(13)C can be explained by episodic release of methane from clathrates either directly into the atmosphere or via the oceans, possibly during the disintegration of the southern continental shelf of Tethys. The rapid increases in delta (13)C may either signal aborted attempts of C4 plants to establish themselves at the expense of C3 plants or, more likely, reflect and punctuated increase in C3 biomass production related to elevated atmospheric CO2.

^iia113 ref

014205   Cione A L;Prasad G V R (Musco La Plata, Department of Cient Paleontol, , Vertebrados, RA-1900 LA Plata, Argentina) : Oldest known catfish (Teleostei : Siluriformes) from Asia (India, Late Cretaceous). J Palaeont Soc India 2002, 76(1), 190-3.

014204   Chaudhuri A K;Saha D;Deb G K;Deb S P; Mukherjee M K;Ghosh G (Geol Studies Unit, , ISI, 203 B T Road, Calcutta-700 035) : Purana basins of southern cratonic province of India - a case from mesoproterozic fossil rifts. Gondwana Res 2002, 5(1), 23-33.

PG basin and the Cuddapah basin host unconformity-bound, thick, sediment-dominated successions attesting to several cycles of fluvial-shallow marine to shelf-slope-basin sedimentation. Deposition was punctuated by block uplifts resulting in local hiatuses and/or volcanic upheavals leading to intercalation of thin but persistent basaltic flows and acid tuffs and ignimbrites. Basin-margin deep faults apparently played a role in the facies distribution in these basins. Based on these features, it is proposed that these basins initiated as continental rifts which, however, never opened up into a full-fledged ocean basin, but links with open seaway are evident from frequent occurrence of deposits representing tidal and storm influence particularly in upper part of the Chhattisgarh succession. Spatial distribution of facies and sediment thickness in the Cuddapah and PG basins suggest that an open seaway existed to the east of the south Indian cratonic province during the mesoproterozoic, while similar criteria point to the existence of an open seaway north of the Chhattisgarh basin. Development history, including nature of inversion, suggest that the southern cratonic province of India existed as a single large continental mass since the Mesoproterozoic, in spite of episodes of supercontinent buildup and fragmentation involving India and East Gondwana during the Proterozoic.

70 ref

013128   Prasad M;Tripathi P P (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow-226 007) : Plant megafossils the Siwalik sediments of Bhutan and their climatic significance. Biol Memo 2000, 26(1), 6-19.

Rich collection of plant megafossils has been recovered from the Siwalik sediments of south-easter part of Bhutan. Amongst these only two fossil woods and 5 leaf impression are identifiable which have been described here with their implications. The fossil woods resemble the modern taxa Dipterocarpus baudii Korth and Hopea sulcata syms. of family Dipterocarpaceae. These are characterised mainly by the presence of vertical gum canals, either soitary or in the rows. A comparative study of the leaf impressions has been done with the modern taxa mitrophora maingayi Hook and Th. (Anonaceae), Dipterocarpus sp. (Dipterocarpaceae), Toona ciliata roxb. (Meliaceae), Millettia macrostachya Coll. and Hemsl. (Fabaceae), and Combretum flagrocarpum (Combretaceae). The presence of dipterocarpaceous taxa along with other moist to evergreen elements in this assemblage indicates that tropical evergreen forest with a few moist deciduous plants may have flourished under warm humid climatic conditions in the Himalayan foot hills of Bhutan during Mio-Pliocene times.

3 illus, 1 table

010856   Sharma C;Bera S K;Upreti D K (NO, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226 007) : Modern pollen-spore rain in Shirmacher oasis, East Antarctica. Curr Sci 2002, 82(1), 88-91.

Pollen analyis of five moss cushions and three dry algal mat samples collected from the vicinity of Lake Priyadarshini in Antarctica has been carried out to elucidate the interplay of pollen and spores deposited in the sediments. The encounter of different pollen and spore types reflects their long-distance transport ranging from tropical to temperate floristic regions around Antarctica mainland which is devoid of any higher plant taxa, except for members of Poaceae and Caryophyllaceae. Lower plants such as mosses, lichens and algae do inhabit the region, often forming gregarious patches or colonies.

010855   Saraswati P K (Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay,, Powai, Mumbai-400 076) : Growth and habitat of some recent miliolid foraminifera: palaeoecological implications. Curr Sci 2002, 82(1), 81-4.

Miliolid foraminifera in reef flats of Akajima Island (Japan) are represented by the species of Marginopora, Amphisorus and Sorites. The species of Marginopora and Amphisorus settle freely on macrophytes and coral rubbles, while those of Sorites are permanently fixed to the blades of macroalgae and seagrass. This difference in the microhabitats of the three genera appears to be determined by the mechanism of attachment by the pseudopodia and the rates of growth and calcification. It is argued that thin tests of miliolids in fossil assemblage do not necessarily indicate a low-energy environment. Predominance of irregular tests of discoidal miliolids can be a supportive evidence of high-energy environments.

3 illus, 1 table, 8 ref

010854   Agashe S N;Shashi Kumar M S (Department of Botany, Bangalore University, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bangalore-560 056) : Record of new species of Prototaxoxylon from Indian lower Gondwana. Curr Sci 2002, 82(2), 138-40.

^ssc2 illus, 1 table, 16 ref

009888   Yadagiri P (Geol Survey India, , Hyderabad-500068) : The osteology of Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis, a sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Kota Formation of India. J Vertebrate Paleont 2001, 21(2), 242-52.

Extensive and well preserved sauropod material belonging to more than twelve individuals were recovered from the Early Jurassic Kota formation of India. The sauropod Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis is characterized by simple dorsal vertebrae and a low iliac blade. Detailed osteological description of Kotasaurus is presented. The characters that distinguish Kotasaurus from the primitive sauropods are provided. It is considered to be one of the earliest sauropods and has some primitive features. The character analysis revealed that Kotasaurus is a basal sauropod in addition to Vulcanodon, Shunosaurus, Barapasauras, and Omeisaurus.

29 ref

008765   Mohabey D M (Geological Survey of India, Palaeontology Division, Seminary Hills, Nagpur-440 006) : Indian dinosaur Eggs : a review. J Geol Soc India 2001, 58(6), 479-508.

Provides a brief historical review of the work on Indian dinosaurs. The stratigraphy, geology and geographical distribution of dinosaur-bearing sediments are discussed. The systematics of the Indian dinosaur species are briefly described. A wide diversity is observable in the Indian dinosaur eggs, which are parataxonomically assigned to family Megaoolithidae, Elongatoolithidae and Spheroolithidae. The problems involved in relating the varied Indian egg oospecies to their parent dinosaur are very challenging.

^iia7 illus, 6 tables, 157 ref

008764   Bhatia S B;Bhat G M;Pandita S K (House No 441, Sector 6, Panchkula-134 109, , ) : Microfossils from the nagrota formation, upper siwalik subgroup, Jammu hills. J Geol Soc India 2001, 58(6), 509-18.

Records for the first time a small, but interesting microfossil assemblage from the mudstone beds, underlying the bentonitized tuff band (2.8±0.56 Ma) of the Nagrota Formation, Upper Siwalik Subgroup, Jammu Hills at two localities - Bada Khetar and Uttarbehani. The assemblage comprising ostrascodes, charophyte gyrogonites and angiosperm seeds, indicates an Upper Tatrot (Late Pliocene) age and deposition in shallow alkaline lake(s) at depth ranging from 2 to 6 m.

4 illus, 45 ref