EARLY PERMIAN (ASSELIAN-SAKMARIAN) PALYNOFLORA FROM CHINTALAPUDI AREA, GODAVARI GRABEN, SOUTH INDIA AND ITS PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

This article integrates palynological, palaeobotanical and palynofacies analysis to evaluate the stratigraphy, palaeovegetation and palaeoenvironment of the deposited sediments. The palynological investigation has been done in the 100m terrestrially derived sedimentary succession of bore core MCP-9, Chintalapudi area, located on the western margin of Chintalapudi Sub-basin. The quantitative and qualitative analysis indicates a rich palynofloral assemblage dominated by gymnosperm pollens, chiefly radial monosaccates, viz. Parasaccites and Plicatipollenites. Parasaccites dominates over Plicatipollenites. Based on the recovered palynoflora, Parasaccites + Plicatipollenites Assemblage zone is framed which corresponds to the upper Talchir palynological assemblage of the Gondwana succession. On the basis of palynocomposition of the assemblage and its correlation with the early Permian palynoflora of India and other Gondwana continents, an early Permian (late Asselian-early Salcmarian) age has been assigned to the studied succession. The palynofacies studies for the Talchir deposits in the Chintalapudi Sub-basin have also been attempted to interpret the palaeoenvironmental conditions during the deposition of these sediments. The organic matter analysis represent swamp dominated conditions under two different sedimentary environments (Palynofacies-I and II). Palynofacies-I is dominated by degraded organic matter and represents low energy, dysoxic to anoxic environmental conditions. Palynofacies-II is characterized by the dominance of palynomorphs representing low energy, anoxic, water-logged environmental conditions. The recovered palynofacies represent dominance of Cordaites monosaccate pollen (Parasaccites, Plicatipollenites) along with occasionally growing pteridophytic plant spores indicating colder climatic conditions with intermittent spells of cooler (slightly warmer) and humid environments.