Comment on “Biochronological continuity of the paleogene sediments of the Himalayan foreland basin: Paleontological and other evidences” – Bhatia, S.B. & Bhargava O.N., 2006, JAES 26, 477–487

Abstract

A number of studies have documented a major disconformity in the Himalayan foreland basin, separating marine facies extending to Lutetian age, from alluvial facies dated <31 Ma. Due to the unfossiliferous nature of the alluvial facies, dating has been achieved largely by isotopic methods. Recently, Bhatia and Bhargava (JAES 2006 v26, 477–487) called into question the validity of the isotopic dates obtained for these rocks, and proposed a conformable contact between the marine and alluvial facies, based on biostratigraphic evidence. In this discussion article, I review the biostratigraphic evidence presented by Bhatia and Bhargava, respond to their comments on the validity of the isotopic data, and conclude that the contact between the marine and alluvial facies is disconformable, as a number of previous studies document.