I.J.S.N., VOL.

7 (2) 2016: 316-321 ISSN 2229 – 6441

PALAEOCLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THECAMOEBIANS FROM

YELLANDU COALFIELD AREA, GODAVARI GRABEN, TELANGANA
STATE

Seetharam, D.S. & *Ramakrishna H.

Palaeobotany & Palynology Research Laboratory, Dept. of Botany, University College of Science, Saifabad, Osmania University,
Hyderabad, Telangana State, India, 500004.
*Corrosponding author’s email: [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT
The present preliminary palynological study deals with the first record of thecamoebians from sub-surface sediments of
bore hole Q-563 of Yellandu coalfield area (Jawahar Khani-5 coal block), kothagudem sub-basin, Telangana State and
used to determine the Palaeoclimatic significance and depositional environment of the study area. Total sixty samples were
analyzed from the Jawahar khani-5 for the palynological investigation thoroughly. About one taxon protist (thecamoebian)
Arcella artocrea belongs to the family Arcellidae was recorded. During palynological investigation, the dominance of non
striate bisaccates pollen grains followed by striate bisaccates and the other stratigraphically significant palynomorphs, viz.,
Scheuringipollentites, Faunipollenites, Rhizomospora, Ibisporites, Striatites and Microbaculispora etc. in the sediments
shows Barakar Formation of Early Permian affinity. The thecamoebian was recorded along with the palynostratigraphic
markers of Permian sediments of the study area also shows the Early Permian affinity. Presence of these microfossils
indicates the freshwater habitat and cooler climatic conditions prevailed at the time of deposition in the study area.

KEYWORDS: Thecamoebians, Palaeoclimate, Yellandu coalfield, Godavari graben and Telangana State.

INTRODUCTION Geology of Study area

Thecamoebians (testate amoebae) are eukaryotic Indian Gondwana basins occur in the form of linear belt
heterotrophic microfauna (protists) that are polyphyletic in along the present day river systems viz. Damodar,
origin. In modern environments, they colonize fresh to Wardha-Godavari, Son-Mahanadi Basins and Pech-
brackish water aquatic environments (Van Hengstum. P.J, Kanhan Tawa Valley coalfields etc. The Godavari Basin is
2008) and they form a simple secreted or agglutinated test further divided into four sub-basins, viz., from NW–SE
or shell that can be preserved in the sediments under Godavari sub-basin, Kothagudem sub-basin, Chintalapudi
favourable conditions along with their organic remain. A sub-basin and Krishna–Godavari sub-basin (coastal tract)
large number of these microfossils recorded in pollen (fig-1).The Gondwana deposition in Godavari valley
preparations (Farooqui et al., 2012) provide information to represents a rift valley having a NNW-SSE trend between
be useful in a multiproxy approach to palaeoenvironmental 16° 38' and 19° 32' latitudes and 79° 12' and 81° 39'
reconstruction (Payne et al., 2012). The oldest record of longitudes. The Singareni coal fields of Godavari valley
thecamoebians was described from the Neoproterozoic are one of the largest coal deposits of India, in which the
sediments of Grand Canayon, USA (Porter et al., 2003), Yellandu area is one of the coal belts of Kothagudem sub-
Early Permian sediments from Manjir Formation of the basin under Pranahita-Godavari basin. Yellandu coalfield
Himalayas of India (Kumar et al., 2011) and Late Permian an elongate, NNW-SSE trending basin parallel to the trend
sediments of Raniganj Formation from Godavari graben of Pranhita-godavari basin to the east. It is a graben
(Farooqui et al., 2014). Some important contributions on bounded by faults along the eastern and western margins.
palynology of Godavari basin done by D.C. Bharadwaj et Yellandu coal field area (Jawahar Khani-5 coal block)
al., 1986, Srivastava (1986, 1992), Srivastava and Jha situated about 40 km west of Kothagudem, outside the
(1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993), Jha (2008), Jha and western margin of Pranahita-Godavari basin. The
Aggarwal (2010, 2011, 2012), Jha et al. (2011) and Sabina Yellandu coal belt is bounded by northern latitude 17029'
and Jha (2014). The present palynological study is aimed 55'' to 17033' 59'' and eastern longitude 80019' 04'' to
to provide information regarding the first record of 80032' 45'' and falls in Survey of India toposheet no
thecamoebians from sub-surface sediments of bore hole Q- 65C/6/SW. The entire coal block (JK-5) is covered by
563 of Yellandu coalfield area (Jawahar Khani-5 coal Barakar formation. This formation consists of 6 coal
block), Kothagudem sub-basin, Telangana State (Figure. seams in B. H. Q-563 namely E/King Seam, seam D, seam
1) and used to determine the Palaeoclimatic significance, C, seam B, A/Queen seam and index seam in descending
relative age and depositional environment of the study order (Table 1). The Gondwana rocks (Permian sediments)
area. of the Yellandu coal field area overlie the Archaean-
proterozoic basement of Pakhal formation unconformably.

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 Palaeoclimatic significance of the camoebians from Yellandu Coalfield Area

They include lower to upper Permian of Talchir, Barakar, Period by King (1872, 1872a, 1881), Fox (1931, 1931a),
Barren Measures and upper Permian to lower Triassic Qureshy et al. (1968), Bhaskar Rao et al. (1970),
Kamthi Formations. Godavari valley coalfield is well Ramanamurthy (1976), Raja Rao (1982). The pioneering
known for the preservation of terrestrial, marine deposits, geological work has been done by King (1872, 1872a,
besides some important signatures of floral, faunal and 1873, 1877, 1881), Blanford (1871, 1871a).
also the tectonic events of the entire span of Gondwana

TABLE 1. Lithological succession in B.H. - Q563, Jawahar Khani-5 coal block, Yellandu coalfield area, Kothagudem
Basin, Telangana State.
Coal seam Thickness of coal seams with Formation
parting (m)
I seam 25-50 Kamthi Formation
Index Seam 1.10-4.40 Barakar Formation
A/Queen Seam 1.50-21.60 ”
B Seam 0.25-2.25 ”
C Seam 0.25-4.25 ”
D Seam 0.30-6.10 ”
E/King Seam 0.15-4.10 ”

FIGURE 1. Geological map of Pranhitha-Godavari basin along with Yellandu coal belt area (B.H. - Q563, Jawahar Khani-
5 coal block) of Kothagudem sub-basin, Telangana State.
MATERIAL & METHODS viz. coal, shaly coal, carbonaceous shale and dark grey
The coal samples for the present study have been collected shales and sand stones. The samples were processed by
from Borehole No. Q - 563, Jawahar Khani-5 coal block standard palynological method (Traverse. A, 1988) using
near Yellandu village. A total of 60 bore core samples acids like hydrochloric acid (HCL) for 1-2 days,
were collected from the Bore Hole no: Queen Seam – 563 hydrofluoric acid (HF) for 3–4 days, followed by
for palynological investigation. The lithology of samples concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) for 2–5 days, followed by

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10% alkali (KOH) treatment. The materials were sieved sample and microscopic observation has been made under
through 150 and 400 meshes and palynological slides were Olympus microscope. The prepared slides were kept and
prepared using DPX as mounting medium for the recovery stored in the Palaeobotany & Palynology Research
of palynomorphs from the coal samples. For the Laboratory, Department of Botany, University College of
palynological investigation 5 slides were prepared for each Science, Saifabad, Osmania University, Hyderabad.

FIGURE 2: Lithological details and Thecamoebians of B. H. No. Q-563, Jawahar Khani – 5, Yellandu area, Kothagudem
sub-basin, Godavari valley coalfield, Telangana State.

RESULTS sample no’s 2, 4, 18, 20, 21, 23 and 35 respectively (Fig

Sixty samples were analyzed from the Jawahar khani-5 for 2). Figure 3 shows the light microscopic
the palynological investigation. About one taxon protist photomicrographs of thecamoebians recorded from of JK-
(the camoebian) Arcella artocrea was recorded from the 5 coal block of Yellandu Coalfield.

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 Palaeoclimatic significance of the camoebians from Yellandu Coalfield Area

1-4 Arcella artocrea, 5-6 Unidentified

FIGURE 3: Lithological details of B. H. No. Q-563, Jawahar Khani – 5, Yellandu area, Kothagudem sub-basin, Godavari
valley coalfield, Telangana State.

Palynological analysis was between 20° and 45° S (Smith et al., 1981). As in other
During palynological investigation, the dominance of non basins of the Gondwana land, even in India initial
striate bisaccates pollen grains followed by striate sedimentation took place due to melting of glaciers. The
bisaccates and the other stratigraphically significant glaciers on the Indian peninsula were not of continental
palynomorphs, viz., Scheuringipollentites, Faunipollenites, sheet types, but of isolated lobe type (Datta et al., 1983)
Rhizomospora, Ibisporites, Striatites, Crucisaccites, originating from ice caps existing on highlands which
Striatopodocarpites, Parasaccites and Microbaculispora favoured floral components to thrive on open lands which
etc. in the sediments shows Barakar Formation of Early were free of ice. The Lower Barakar Formation in India
Permian affinity. Thecamoebians were also recorded along has been equated with these deposits (Mukhopadhyay et
with the palynostratigraphic markers of Barakar Formation al., 2010) and hosts the major coal deposits. Therefore,
from Jawahar Khani-5 coal block of Yellandu coal belt; cool temperate condition with high humidity may have
Godavari Graben also shows the Early Permian affinity. persisted during the early phase of Lower Barakar
Protists Formation.
Systematic description: Thecamoebians were testate protists that occur in a variety
Phylum: PROTOZOA Goldfuss, 1818 of freshwater habitats and brackish environments.
Subphylum: SARCODINA Schmarda, 1871 Thecamoebians are proving to be useful proxies for a
Class: RHIZOPODA von Siebold, 1845 variety of new environmental and climatic parameters also
Subclass: LOBOSA Carpenter, 1861 (Roe et al., 2010). Neville et al. (2010a) showed that they
Order: ARCELLINIDA Kent, 1880 can also be used to monitor seasonal environmental
Family Arcellidae Ehrenberg, 1843 changes. Presence of Arcellenids indicate the low
Genus: Arcella artocrea. humidity, low precipitation cooler conditions. Recently, it
Arcella artocrea Leidy, 1876: The shell diameter of fossil has been recorded that Arcellenids dominates in the low-
specimens varied from 9–34 microns (Fig 3). The surface humidity, low-precipitation cooler climatic conditions in
is mammillated or pitted, with a distinct and firm border, tropical and sub-tropical areas experiencing high
circular with a conical aboral region. The basal collar is seasonality (Farooqui et al., 2012). The palynoassemblage
generally distinct and smooth. The shell aperture ranges is characterized by the dominance of nonstriate bisaccate
from 3–12 micron in diameter, invaginated, circular, has a genus Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate
small lip which is surrounded by many small pores. These bisaccate genus Faunipollenites which typify the
pores are circular to slightly lalongate, arranged in palynoassemblage of Early Permian sediments of Barakar
systematic line around the apertural lip. The ratio of shell Formation. The age for the sequence at Q-563 is inferred
diameter and apertural diameter is 2.8–3 (Fig 3). as Early Permian age by comparison of the recorded flora
from JK-5 with other Gondwana palynofloras (Sabina and
DISCUSSION Jha, 2014). The present borehole Q-563 shows the sub
Palaeoclimate dominance morphology of big saccus and radial
During Lower Gondwana sedimentation, the Gondwana arrangement of Parasaccites and Plicatipollenites were
basins of India witnessed varied climatic conditions due to also found from the study area indicating cooler climatic
its latitudinal position, continentality and relief. During the conditions.
Permian period, the palaeo-latitudinal position of India

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CONCLUSION area, Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Palynological data reveals an interesting point to note that Palaeobotanist. 59: 71–80.
the Jawahar Khani -5 of Yellandu coalfield of Godavari
graben suggest very rich diverse assemblage prevailed Jha, N and Aggarwal, N. (2011) Palynological correlation
during the deposition of sediments. The palynoassemblage of coal bearing horizons in Gundala area, Godavari
is characterized by the dominance of nonstriate bisaccates graben, India. J. Earth Syst. Sci. 120 (4): 663–679.
and subdominance of striate bisaccates pollen grains
which typify the palynoassemblage of Barakar Formation. Jha, N. and Aggarwal, N. (2012) Permian–Triassic
The geological age for the sequence at Q-563 is inferred as palynostratigraphy in Mailaram area, Godavari Graben,
Early Permian. The sub dominance of monosaccate pollen Andhra Pradesh, India. J. Earth Syst. Sci. 121 (5): 1257–
grains were also found from the study area indicating 1285.
cooler climatic conditions. Presence of Arcellenids also
indicates the freshwater habitat and low humidity, low Jha, N., Pauline Sabina, K. and Mehrotra, N.C. (2011)
precipitation cooler climatic conditions prevailed at the Early Triassic palynomorphs from Manuguru area of
time of deposition in Yellandu coalfield area. Godavari Graben, Andhra Pradesh. J. Geol. Soc. India. 78:
167– 174.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
King, W. (1872) Note on a new coalfield in south eastern
Authors are thankful to Mr. Ravishankar, GM, HRD and
part of the Hyderabad territory. Rec. Geol. Survey. India. 5
Mr. K. K. Sharma, GM Exploration, Singareni Collieries,
(2): 41-74.
Co. Ltd (SCCL), Kothagudem, Telangana State, who has
granted permission to visit and collect samples from the King, W. (1872a) Note on possible field of Coal measures
Yellandu coalfield and Mr. D. N. Sharma, DGM in Godavari district, Madras Presidency. Rec. Geol.
(Exploration) and Pedda Raju, Geologist, SCCL, who Survey. India. 5 (4): 109-128.
gave all support and facilities to carry out the field
investigation. Thanks are also due to the head of the Dept. King, W. (1881) The geology of the Pranhita Godavari
and Principal of University College of Science, Saifabad, Valley. Mem. Geol. Survey. India. 18 (3): 150-311.
O.U. for providing all facilities to carry out this research
work. Finally to acknowledge the University Grants Kumar, A., Farooqui, A. and Jha, N. (2011) Early Permian
Commission for providing financial support under RGNF glacio-marine thecamoebian assemblages from the
fellowship to D.S. Seetharam. northwest Himalayas, India. J. Micropalaeontol. 30: 75–
89.
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