Palynofloral Record from Singpur Intertrappean, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh: Implication for Late Cretaceous Stratigraphic Correlation and Resolution

A diversified palynoassemblage has been recorded from the Singpur intertrappean of Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh, that has earlier yielded megafloral remains. The section is strategic as it is located between the Chhindwara-Mandla-Jabalpur(CMJ) sector to the north and Nand-Dongargaon (ND) basin to the south, that have so far produced a majority of the palynologically studied intertrappean sections associated with the Deccan Volcanic Sequence (DVS). In this context the palynological assessment of the Singpur intertrappean is critical for establishing a spatio-temporal correlations of the sediments of the two widely separated volcanic sub-Provinces/regions.

The Singpur palynoassemblage shows presence of marker Late Cretaceous (Maastnchtian) palynotaxa viz. Aquilapollemtes bengalensis, Anadnaespontes sp., Gabonisports spp. and Pulcheripollemtes cauvenana associated with primitive stephanocolpate pollen. The appearance of polyaperturate pollen grains in the central India is significant as it suggests the evolutionary trend in the angiosperms during latest Cretaceous. The overall assemblage of the Singpur is indicated to be coeval with the Sindhi intertrappean bed of ND basin, and younger than the dinosaur bearing intertrappean beds of Mohagaon kalan (well section) and Ranipur of CMJ sector in the north. It is also indicated that the famous iridium bearing intertrappean section at Anjar (Kutch) associated with dinosaurs (Titanosaurus indicus) and deposited during 29 R, is older to the Singpur intertrappean bed.