Fossil Gymnosperms from Barakar Formation of Raniganj Coalfield, West Bengal, India

The present paper deals with the fossil gymnosperms collected from Kalipahari Colliery (Barakar Formation, Early Permian) under the Raniganj Coalfield in the state of West Bengal, India. Systematic descriptions of the fossil gymnosperms collected from this colliery namely Macrotaeniopteris feddenii Feistmantel belonging to Cycadales, Vertebraria indica Royle, Glossopteris communis Feistmantel, Glossopteris damudica Feistmantel, Glossopteris indica Schimper, Glossopteris intermedia Bunbury, Glossopteris rhabdotaenioides Pant and Singh and Glossopteris vulgaris Pant and Gupta belonging to Glossopteridales have been presented herein. In the present study the fossil assemblage is dominated mainly by the species of Glossopteris, although some species of the pteridophytes were also observed which indicates that this study area belongs to fossiliferous Upper Barakar Formation of Early Permian. The dominance of Glossopteris leaves and complete absence of gymnospermous seeds (associated or dispersed) further supports that the flora is mainly comparable with that of the Upper Barakar Formation. As the assemblage of Kalipahari Colliery shows dominance of glossopterids and includes Macrotaeniopteris, a member of Cycadales, along with some pteridophytes, it becomes evident, therefore, that the palaeoclimate of this area was warm and humid that facilitated the growth of gymnosperms. The species of gymnosperms occurring in Kalipahari Colliery, Barakar Formation when compared with the flora of Barren Measures and Raniganj Formation studied by different authors, the occurrence of very similar plant assemblage was evident which indicate that the flora existed in the study area belonging to Barakar Formation continued to Barren Measures and became multifarious in Raniganj Formation with the development of many types of Glossopteris leaves and fructification. Keywords: Fossil Gymnosperms, Early Permian, Kalipahari Colliery, Raniganj Coalfield, Barakar Formation, Damodar Basin