Palyonology of the Shillong front: Part II- Paleogenes of Khasi and Jaintia hills

Abstract

Palynological study of 90 samples of the Palaeogene sediments collected from five traverses on the south of Khasi and Jaintia hills has yielded a rich assemblage of spores, pollen and microplankton including a few dinoflagellates and fungal spores. In this area, sediments of mainly shelf facies are exposed but near Haflong both shelf and geosynclinals facies lie very close. Stratigraphic sequence of the shelf facies consists of Langpar, Therria, Sylhet Limestone, Kopili and the undifferentiated Barail Sediments. In the geosynclinal part, over the Disangs lie the Barails which are differentiated into Laisong, Jenam and Renji Formations. The palynofossils recovered here are assigned to 41 genera and 67 species, out of which 23 species are newly proposed. Based on quantitative assessment of the marine and terrestrial forms, palaeoecological interpretations are made. The sediments studied here are homotaxial with the Palaeogene sediments of the Garo hills. The Disangs which were hitherto reported to be barren have yielded a good number of fossils.