GSI-CHQ-14825
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE FIELD SEASON 1963-64 & 1964-65
EXAMINATION OF GONDWANA SEDIMENTS OF
MADHYA PRADESH AND INVESTIGATIONS
OF POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS OF MARINE
PALAEOZOIC FOSSIL HORIZONS
By
S. C. SHAH,
Geologist
and
GOPAL SINGH,
Assistant Geologist,
Geological Survey of India.
GSI-CHQ-14825
Progress Report for the Field Seasons 1963-64 & 1964-65
Examination of Gondwana sediments of Madhya Pradesh
and
Investigations of possible extensions of marine Palaeozoic fossil horizons
By
S.C. Shah,
Geologist
&
Gopal Singh,
Asstt. Geologist,
Geological Survey of India.
GSI-CHQ-14825
CONTENTS
Summary
Page
Introduction
1
Physiography
1
Previous work
2
Lithology & Distribution of rocks
2
Fossils
4
Discussion on the age of some of the Gondwana beds of Satpura basin
8
Suggestions
10
Index to localities
References
GSI-CHQ-14825
Progress Report for the Field Seasons 1963-64 & 1964-65
Examination of Gondwana sediments of Madhya Pradesh
and
Investigations of possible extensions of marine Palaeozoic fossil horizons
By
S.C. Shah,
Geologist
&
Gopal Singh,
Asstt. Geologist,
Geological Survey of India.
Summary
The important sections of the Gondwanas of Satpura basin between Morand river and
Jabalpur (23°01' : 79°09') were examined during 1963-64 and 1964-65. The exhaustive collection of
the fossil flora from Mohpani coalfield area has been made and the characteristic Karharbari forms
viz. Gondwanidium validium and Buriadia sewardi are reported for the first time from this area. The
search for fossils in Bagra-Denwas was made but only one addition to tae very-poorly known fauna
from these beds could be made.
A good collection of fossils was also made from Morand valley area. Some new forms are
reported for the first time and definite Jabalpur age is being assigned to them. Earlier there was a
record of Aruucarites oldhami from this area. This form was revised as Moranocladus oldhami by
Seward & Sahni as the beds from which the fossil was derived, was considered as Lower Gondwanas.
The present study indicates that there was some confusion. The beds are now assigned to Upper
Gondwanas and in view of this and the study of the type specimens, the old name has been revived.
The occurrence of this conifer from Lower Gondwanas was posing a palaeobotanical problem.
Some new fossil localities from Jabalpur series are reported and from the already known
localities, some new forms are recorded for the first time. Mention may be made of the record of a
new species, Hausmannia crookshanki and Glossopteris sp. from Jabalpur series near Jatamao. One
complete unionid shell is reported for the first time from Jabalpurs of Sehora ghat or Sher river
section. The detailed study of the collection is in progress.
GSI-CHQ-14825
INTRODUCTION
The Gondwana rocks in the Satpura basin stretch between Morand river in the west and
Jabalpur in the east and so far very little detailed palaeontological work has been done in this area.
Crookshank (1936) gave the geology of the northern slopes of Satpuras between Sher and Morand
rivers. In this basin are exposed the type sections of Pachmarhis and Jabalpurs. The beds of BagraDerwas are known so far for its very poor fossil content while its equivalent beds of Naleris are well
known for vertebrate fossils. With a view to know more about the stratigraphy and fossil contents of
these Gondwanas of Satpura basin, the systematic examination of the Gondwana sediments,
particularly the Upper Gondwanas, was taken up by the authors. In addition, the Talchirs and the
overlying Barakars were examined for any probable marine contents. This latter examination was
taken up by the first author and in a few traverses, the second author also accompanied. Only some
selected sections were studied and the collections of fossils were made.
The first author left for field or 25.1.64 and returned or 1.4.64 during 1963-64 and in 1964-65,
left or 1.2.65 and returned on 4.4.65 while the second author left for field on 11.2.64 and returned on
1.4.64 in 1963-64 and in 1964-65, he left or 3.2.65 and returned on 28.2.65.
The investigation was carrier out under the guidance and supervision of Shri M.V.A. Sastry,
Palaeontologist-in-Charge, Geological Survey of India who also visited the field between 9th and 13th
March, 1965. The authors wish to express their thanks to the Superintending-Geologist-in-Charge,
Madhya Pradesh and to various local authorities for the cooperation and the help rendered during the
course of the present work.
The area covered occurs as isolated patches in Hoshangabad, Betul, Nar-singhpur and
Jabalpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. It falls in the Survey of India topo sheets 55 F/7, 11, 14, and 15;
55 J/6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16, 55 N/5 and 55 M/16. Wherever, the one inch sheets were not
available, quarter-inch sheets were made use of.
Physiography
The sections examined are in isolated patches found over a wide area. The topography is
gently undulating, near Budhimai, Paraspani and Gottitoria. Pachmarhi with a height of 1476 metres
is the highest point in Madhya Pradesh. These are mostly flat topped hillocks. The areas examined are
mostly forested consisting of teak, sal and bamboo trees. The wild life is varied and in recent years,
some of the carnivores have become menacing catte lifters. The rock exposures are very scanty since
the strata are concealed by abnormally thick recent alluvium.
The area is drained by Morand, Tawa, Sitareva, Sher and Narbada rivers and Dudhi nala.
Monsoonal streams are many. It is a common feature in Pachmarhi sandstones to find springs giving
2
GSI-CHQ-14825
rise to some small perennial stream-letes. The hot spring near Anhoni is an important place of
pilgrimage.
Previous work
The most recent and exhaustive geological account of the Satpura basin is that of Crookshank
(1936). The unpublished report of Jabalpur beds of Morand river, Paraspani and Sher river by C.
Nageswara Rao and R.N. Shrivastava (1952-53) also gives a good account. Recently, there has been
some valuable contributions on the palaeobotany of the Jabalpur beds, the important ones being that
of Bose & Sukhdev (1959), Sukhdev (1959) and Agarwal (1963).
Lithology and Distribution of rocks
The geological formations in the area are as follows:Alluvium
Deccan Trap with intertrappeans
Upper
Jabalpurs including Chaugan stage
Bagra - Denwas
Mahadevas
Pachmarhis
Gondwanas
Lower
Bijoris including Almods
Moturs
Barakars
(Karharbaris)
Talchirs
Metamorphics
Metamorphics
They are seen exposed near north of Budhimai, Kaveli, Piparia, Fatehpur, Mohpani,
Lametaghat and Jabalpur and are represented by granite-gneisses and schistose rocks. The granitegneisses are leucocratic, medium grained to coarse grained; and consist of quartz, felspar, biotite, and
muscovite. The schistose rocks are seen near Kaveli and Lametaghat.
Talchirs
They are noted near Gotabari, south of Pipariya along the Pipariya-Pachmarhi road, Fatehpur
and Mohpani area. They are represented by green boulder clays, lenses of sandstones and avoid
masses of secondary limestones. Among the boulders are varieties of granites, quartzites and
3
GSI-CHQ-14825
limestones.
The Talchir exposures are seen only in a small area. No organic remains of any kind were
found in these rocks.
Barakars (including Karharbari)
Barakars are exposed in Sitareva sections near Mohpani. They are represented by sandstones,
shales, carbonaceous shales and coal-seams. The rocks are fossiliferous, the carbonaceous shales
being highly fossiliferous. These rocks are highly inclined and form the southern limb of an anticline.
The flora contains Glossopteris, Gangamopteris. Buriadia sewardi, Gondwanidium validium, etc.
Moturs
Moturs are seen only in a few places and are represented by sandstones and red clays.
Bijoris including Almod beds
They are seen exposed near Khora, Tamia, Ranipura and Almod and are represented by buff
and olive coloured clays with occasional sandy horizons. Near Khora and near Tamia they are highly
fossiliferous. The microfloral assemblage of the samples from the type area is being studied in the
laboratory.
Pachmarhis
Pachmarhis are exposed in the main Mahadeva range and are studied near Pachmarhi. They
are represented by coarse white sandstones separated from one another by white quartz pebbles. The
sandstones are very uniform and are mostly coarse to medium grained. Iron infiltrations are noted in
them. No fossil of any kind is seen in the sandstones in the area examined.
Bagra-Denwas
The Bagras are chiefly conglomeratic and the pebbles and boulders are mostly of granites,
quartzites, jasperoid conglomerates, etc. The matrix is usually argillaceous and at times calcareous.
Bagras are highly calcareous around Kaveli. The Denwas consist of sandstones and variegated clays,
Bagra-Denwas are seen north of Budhimai, Kaveli and near Shahavan and Matkuli.
Jabalpurs
They are represented by conglomerates, sandstones, clays, earthy haematite, coal
carbonaceous shale, red clays and chert. Jabalpurs are chiefly developed between Jirnapura-Pipalgota
around Paraspani and near Jabalpur. They show slight northerly dip.
4
GSI-CHQ-14825
The conglomerates include small rounded pebbles of jasper, quartz in a sandy matrix. The
sandstones are massive and coarse to medium grained. At places the sandstones are micaceous,
ferruginous or carbonaceous. Twigs of plants are seen preserved in these sandstones. At some places,
the sandstones are highly ferruginous. Earthy haematitic shales are very common near Budhimai,
Pipalgota and Paraspani. They are highly fossiliferous. Coal is seen in Morand, and Sher river
sections as well as north of Jatamao. No coal or carbonaceous shales were noted around Paraspani.
White clays are very predominent around Imjhiri and Jabalpur and. are also seen around Paraspani.
Cherty beds are seen near Golanpura. In addition to plant fossils, the complete shell of Unio is
reported for the first time from the Jabalpurs, from Sehore ghat, Sher river section.
Deccan trap with Intertrappeans
They occur as regular flows as dykes and sills and overlie the Jabalpurs unconformably. They
are represented by hard compact basaltic rocks. Spheroidal weathering is seen in them.
The Intertrappeans are particularly developed near Deothan and Napupura and they are highly
fossiliferous. The preservation is not good.
Fossils
The Barakars, Bijoris, Bagra-Denwas, Jabalpurs and Intertrappeans have yielded fossils. The
plant fossils, invertebrates and vertebrates found in these beds are listed below:Gondwanas
I.
Vertebrate
(A) In Denwa clays near Shahavan portion of
Labyrinthodont.
II.
Invertebrate
(B) On the Sehora ghat Sher river ----- Unio sp.
section.
III.
Plant fossils
(A) BARAKARS
Siterva river section near Mohpani : (22°45' : 78º 50')
Schizoneura gondwanensis
Glossopteris indica
Gangamopteris cyclopteroides
Vertebraria indica
Gondwanidium validium
Noegerrothiopsis hislopi
------ Condylar
5
Buriadia sewardi
Samaropsis Sp.
(B) JABALPURS
i) Morand river sections :
Equisetaceous stem
Sphenopteris of arguta
Dicksonia sp.
Ptilophyllum acutifolium
P. cutchense
Dictvozamites sp;
? Nilssonia sp.
? Ctenis sp.
Desmiophyllum indicum
Elatocladus jabalpurensis
E. (? Torreyites) sp.
Retinosporites indica
Brachyphyllum of. rhombicum
Araucarites cutchenais
ii) Near Budhimai (22°22' : 77°32' ) on the Road to Pipalgota.
Suhenopteris sp.
Ptilophyllum acutifolium
P. cutchense
Bucklandia indica
Thinnfeldia sp.
Dictyozamites sp.
iii) 1 km east of Jatamao (22°23' : 77°33')
Sphenopteris sp.
Hausmannia dichotama
H. buchii
H. crookshankii sp. nov.
GSI-CHQ-14825
6
Ptilophyllum. acutifolium
P. cutcherse
Bucklandia indica
Dictyozamites falcatus
D. indicus
Glossopteris sp. of. taeniopteroides
Desmiophyllum indicum
Retinosporites indica
Araucarites cutchensis
iv) Paraspani: About 2 km in the nala east of the village.
Sphenopteris ? arguta
Sphenopteris sp.
Hausmannia dichotoma
Ptilophyllum acutifolium
P. cutchense
Dictyozamites sp.
Nilssonia fissa
N. rajmahalensis
N. sp.
Williamsonia of. gigas
Desmiophyllum indica
Araucarites cutchensis
v) Imjhiri: In the white clays of abandoned clay pit near the Forest line.
Cladophlebis sp .
Nilssonia meddlicottiana
N. sp.
Ptilophyllum acutifolium
vi) Sehora ghat in the Sher river section
Cladophlebis sp.
Glossopteris sp.
Ptilophyllum acutifolium
P. cutchense
GSI-CHQ-14825
7
GSI-CHQ-14825
Coniferocaulon rajmahalense
Elatocladus sp.
vii) In the white clays near Bara Simla, near Jabalpur.
Ptilophyllum acutifolium
P. cutchense
P. jabalpurerse
Williamsonia of. gigas
Araucarites cutchensis
Retinosporites indica
Eladocladus jabalpurensis
Brachyphyllum rhombicum
Pagiophyllum of peregrinum
List of plant fossils from Jabalpur series of Satpura basin from above localities
1)
Equisetaceous stem
2)
Sphenopteris sp. of. arguta
3)
Sphenopteris sp.
4)
Dicksonia sp.
5)
Cladophlebis sp.
6)
Huasmannia dichotoma
7)
H. buchii
8)
H. crookshanki sp. nov.
9)
Glossopteris sp. of. taeniopterides
10)
G. sp.
11)
Thinfeldia sp.
12)
Ptilophylum acutifolium
13)
P. cutchense
14)
P. jabalpurense
15)
Bucklandia indica
16)
Williamsonia sp. of. gigac
17)
Nilssonia meddlicottiana
18)
N. fissa
19)
N. rajmahalensis
8
20)
N. sp.
21)
Dictvozamites falcatus
22)
D. indicus
23)
D. sp.
24)
? Ctenis sp.
25)
Desmiophyllum indicum
26)
Elatocladus jabalpurensis
27)
E. (? Torreyitcs) sp.
28)
Retinosporites indica
29)
Brachyphllum of. rhombicum
30)
Pagiophyllum of. peregrinum
31)
Araucarites cutchensis
GSI-CHQ-14825
Discussion of the age of some of the Gondwana beds of Satpura basin
I
Barakars of Mohpani coalfield
Feistmantel (1879) gave the first palaeontological account and compared the flora with that of
Karharbari coalfield and assigned a Karharbari age to them. Fox (1933) gave a geological account of
the area and expressed that there was no doubt about the Barakar age of these coalmeasures. Crookshank (1936) observed that since none of the fossils characteristic of Karharbari horizon in these
coalmeasures is present, Karharbari horizon be dropped and the beds be referred as Barakars.
The present collection includes two typical Karharbari forms, Gondwanidium validium and
Buriadia sewardi which are being reported for the first time. Microfloral assemblage also indicates a
Karharbari age to these coalmeasures.
II
Upper Gondwanas of Morand Valley
J.G. Medlicott (1860) and W.T. Blanford considered these formations to be Damudas while
H.B. Medlicott (l871) gave a different view and regarded them as either Damudas or even possibly
Mahadevas. Fox (see Pascoe 1926) referred these beds not only to Damudas but suggested a possible
Barakar affinity. But Crookshank (1936) was the first to assign them as Upper Gondwanas and
possibly to Jabalpurs.
The present collection includes typical Jabalpur forms. Definite Jabalpur age is being
confirmed to these coal-bearing formations of Morand valley - (Shah & Gopal Singh, 1965). Earlier
there was a record of Araucarites oldhami from Morand valley. It was revised as Moranocladus
oldhami by Seward & Sahni since the beds from which it was collected was considered to be Lower
9
GSI-CHQ-14825
Gondwanas, and that the conifer Auracarites is not referred from the geologically lower horizons.
However the recent field study indicates that there is no Lower Gondwana patch present in the area.
Accordingly the old name Araucarites oldhami has been revised (Shah and Gopal Singh 1965). This
has solved the problem of the occurrence of this conifer from Lower Gondwanas of India, which
remained a palaeobotanical problem.
III
Jabalpurs of Satpura basin
Medlicott (1869) described the Upper Gondwana beds near Jabalpur as Upper Damudas.
Feistmantel (1878) showed that the Jabalpur flora has an affinity both with Rajmahals and Umia beds
of Cutch and is probably intermediate between the two in age. The flora is believed to be of Upper
Jurassic age. Matley (1921) after studying the field relationships of Jabalpur and Lameta beds in the
neighbourhood of Jabalpur showed that the former are probably also Cretaceous in age. Basing his
arguments on Crookshank's work, Fox (1931) recognised two floral stages in the 'Jabalpur Series' with
Jabalpur stage above and Chaugan (Kota) stage below. Regarding the age of Jabalpurs, Crookshank
(1936) observed that it is almost certain that the Jabalpur series is Middle or Lower Jurassic in age.
Jacob (1951) favours an Upper Jurassic age and according to him the subdivisions of Jabalpurs into
two stages seems unnecessary. Agarwal (1963) after the discovery of some forms also favours the
idea that the subdivisions of Jabalpurs into two stages seems unnecessary. Sukhdev (1959) observed
that in the micro-fossils of Jabalpurs there is an abundance of conifer pollen grains and that of
cycadophytes are poorly represented. Bose and Sukhdev (1959) have reported the Wealden forms
from Jabalpurs of this basin.
The preliminary palaeobotanical studies of Jabalpur series of the present collection have
thrown some additional light on the age and classification. The record of various cycadophytes fronds
like Ptilonhyllum, Dictyozamites, Nilssonia and Taeniopteris shows a clear affinity towards Rajmahal
flora on one hand and some definite presence of characteristic Wealden ferns viz., Onychiopsis and
Weichselia on the other hand is probably suggestive of Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous age to the
Jabalpurs. However, detailed work on the Jabalpurs in these areas would fix the age limit of the
Jabalpurs more clearly.
The following notes on this Project, have been published so far :1.
Hausmannia crookshanki sp. nov. from Jabalpur Series of India, Current Science, Vol. 33, No.
24, 1964.
2.
Observation on Moranocladus oldhami (Zeiller) - an appraisal of the genus, Moranocladus,
Current Science. Vol. 34, No. 7, 1965.
3.
Fossil flora of coal-bearing formations of Morand Valley, Satpura basin. Madhya Pradesh,
10
GSI-CHQ-14825
Abstr. Proc. Ind. Sci. cong. 51st and 52nd session, 1965.
4.
On the occurrence of Glossopteris from Jabalpur Series (In press).
5.
Discovery of Karharbari plants from Mohpani Coalfield Madhya Pradesh (In press).
Suggestions
The following important suggestions are made here for further work:-
1.
A thorough search of all Bagra-Denwas of Satpura basin to be taken up, as the equivalents
Maleri beds are well known for their vertebrate fossils.
2.
The stratigraphy and fossils of Jabalpurs to be worked out in greater detail and the upper and
lower age limits of the Jabalpurs be more precisely defined.
Index to the localities
Almod
(22°23' : 78°22')
Anhoni
(22°38' : 78°22' )
Bachai
(22°52' : 79°18' )
Bagra-Tawa
(22°38' : 77°57' )
Budhimai
(22°22' : 77°32' )
Deothan
(22°20' : 77°34')
Fatehpur
(22°41' : 78°33')
Golanpura
(22°17' : 77°41')
Gotabari
(22°27' : 77°37')
Gottitoria
(22°44' : 78°48')
Imjhiri
(22°50' : 79°18')
#####
(23º61' : 77º09')
#####
(22º23' : 77º09')
Jiranapura
(22°19' : 77°28')
Kaveli
(22°31' : 77°49')
Khora
(22°20' : 77°43')
Lametaghat
(23°07' : 79°50')
Mohpani
(22°45' : 78°50')
Matkuli
(22°55' : 78°36')
Napupura
(22°21' : 77º37')
11
GSI-CHQ-14825
Pachmarhi
(22°27' : 77°27')
Paraspani
(22°37' : 78º02')
Pipalgota
(22°24' : 77°40' )
Pipariya
(22°46' : 78°21')
Ranipura
(22°34' : 77°59')
Sehora
(22°52' : 79°21')
Sohagpur
(22º42' : 78°21')
References
Agarwal, A.P.
1963
A note on Stratigraphy of Palaeontology of Jabalpur. Curr,
Sci., 32, 411.
Bose, M.N & Sukh Dev
1959
Occurrence of two characteristic Wealden forms in the Jabalpur Series. Nat. 183 : 130-131.
Blanford, W.T.
1869
On the Geology of the Taptee and Nerbudda valleys and some
adjoining District. Mem. Geol. Surv. Ind., VI, i-xii, and 163384.
Crookshank, H.
1936
Geology of the Northern slope of the Satpuras between the
Morand and the Sher rivers. Mem. Geol. Surv. Ind., 66. Pt. 2.
Feistmantel, 0.
1876
Fossil flora of Jabalpur group (Upper Gondwana) in the SoneNarbada region. Pal. Indica Series XI, Vol. 11, pt. 2.
Fox, C.S.
1932
The Gondwana System and the related formations. Mem.
Geol. Surv. Ind., 58.
--------
1933
The Lower Gondwana coalfields of India. Mem. Geol. Surv.
Ind., LIX.
Jacob, K.
1951
Dictyozamites bagjoriensis sp. nov. from the Mesozoic of
Rajmahal hills, with notes on the distribution of the genus.
Proc. Nat, Inst. Sci. India, 17 : 7-14.
Medlicott, J.G.
1860
On the Geological Structure of the Central portion of the Nerbudda dist. Mem, Geol. Surv. Ind., II, 97-278.
---------------
1871
Note on the Narbada Coal-basin. Rec. Geol. Surv. Ind., IV.
66-69.
Nageshwara Rao, C. & Srivastava, 1952-53
R.N.
Progress Report for 1952-53 (Unpublished)
Pascoe, E.H.
1926
General Report for 1925. Rec. Geol. Surv. Ind., LIX. Pt. I. 8587.
Sukh Dev
1959
The fossil flora of the Jabalpur series - 3. Spores and pollen
grains. Palaeobotanist, 8 : 43-56.