Dispersed Organic Matter (DOM) Types and Depositional Environment of Neogene Sediments of Mahuadanr Valley, Palamu, Bihar

The organic matter dispersed in the upper Tertiary sediments of Mahuadanr valley has been studied in detail. It has been observed that the amorphous, structured terrestrial and biodegraded terrestrial organic matter represent the dominant types followed by black debris and fungal fruiting bodies. The dominance of amorphous organic matter suggests the prevalence of reducing conditions in the basin, patticularly during the deposition of the lower part of the sequence. The conditions gradually transformed into oxidising environment during the deposition of upper part of the succession. Besides this, the presence of black debris indicates moderate oxidising environment in the source area and also during the transport of the organic matter.