Research Projects

The Mesozoic era marked the fragmentation of the Supercontinent Pangaea into Laurasia and Gondwana, resulting in a complex tectonic history in India. The Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period saw significant diversity and evolution in flora, with sedimentation patterns and palynoassemblages reflecting these changes. Palynology is a promising tool for understanding biostratigraphy and dating the late Gondwana period. India's peninsular and extra-peninsular parts have extensive Upper Gondwana deposits, but there is a gap in correlating these stratigraphic sequences. Palynological studies show that precise age assignments of palynofossils are lacking in some sections. A thorough study is needed to assign accurate ages to these formations. The research proposal incorporates palynological studies from the Upper Gondwana basins of western India (Kutch, Saurashtra, and Narmada basin) to address this gap. The study proposes a palynological analysis of the Western Indian Upper Gondwana sequence from Jhuran/ Bhuj Formation (Kutch), Dhrangadhra Formation (Saurashtra Basin), and Nimar Formation (Narmada Basin), focusing on the palynofloral distribution and changes from the Western region. Most palynostratigraphic studies from the Upper Gondwana rock strata are quantitative and have limited value for interbasinal correlation. This study aims to address the gaps in age assignment and correlation of palynological data from the Western Indian Upper Gondwana sequences.