Late Cretaceous and Tertiary palynological succession in India

Abstract

The Late Cretaceous and Tertiary palynological assemblages of India are divided into several phytogeoprovinces and cenozones. The Senonian palynofloral of India is clubbed with Brazil and West African palynoflora as Constantinisporis phytogeoprovince characterized by the presence of Constantinisporis, Victorisporis and Andreisporis. The Danian to Middle Eocene palynofloral of India are placed under pantropical Proxapertites operculatus zone and this is further subdivided into Acrostichumsporites meghalayensis subzone, Dandotiaspora dilata subzone, Kielmeyerapollenites syncolporatus subzone, Lakiapollis ovatus subzone, Tricolporopilites robustus subzone and Pellicieroipollis langenheimii subzone. The Oligocene and Miocene palynofossils are placed under Trisyncolpites ramanujamii subzone and Hibisceaepollenites robustispinosus subzone respectively and come under Striatriletes susannae pantropical zone. A comparison of the Indian palynological succession with Borneo, Caribbean and Atlantic Tertiary palynological assemblages reveal that the trans-Atlantic palynological assemblages have closer similarity than others.