Decoding Permian Karharbari Ecosystems: Integration of Palynology, Palynofacies and Carbon Isotopes From the Devpahari Section, Mahanadi Basin, India

ABSTRACT The Permian sedimentary sequences provide valuable information on biostratigraphy, palaeoecology, palaeoclimate and depositional environments integrating palynology, palynofacies, and stable carbon isotope (δ 13 C) analyses to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Indian Gondwana system. Palynological, palynofacies, and stable isotopic analyses provide vital information for vegetation, precise age, depositional setting, and climatic signals. In the present study, the recovered palynoassemblage is dominated by Parasaccites and sub‐dominated by the trilete spore Callumispora , along with Plicatipollenites , Barakarites , Scheuringipollenites , Faunipollenites and Chordasporites . Based on the assemblage, an Artinskian (Early Permian) age holding the significance of Crucisaccites monoletus Assemblage Zone has been assigned. The floral composition is characterized by the predominance of Glossopteridales and Filicales, with subordinate Equisetales, Cordaitales and Coniferales, suggesting a diverse terrestrial vegetation and continental setup. Palynofacies analysis reveals the depositional environments corresponding with the Karharbari Formation. The four distinct palynofacies assemblages identified reflect fluctuations in organic matter preservation, taphonomy, transport and depositional conditions. The ternary plots reveal deposition in a proximal shelf environment strongly influenced by terrestrial input, as evidenced by phytoclasts abundance. The occurrence of opaque phytoclasts with preserved internal structures suggests long‐distance transport and recurrent palaeowildfire activity in the region. High palynomorph abundance reflects elevated floral diversity under moderately oxidizing conditions. The variations in δ 13 C values record significant changes in the carbon cycle and climatic regime, indicating episodes of environmental and climatic instability. Collectively, the palynological, palynofacies, and isotopic data provide a comprehensive reconstruction of vegetation dynamics, depositional settings, and palaeoclimatic conditions during the Early Permian (Artinskian).