Palynology of the uppermost Cretaceous to lowermost Paleocene Deccan volcanic associated sediments of the Mandla Lobe, Central India

Palynological study of the <b>uppermost</b> Cretaceous<b>–lowermost</b> Paleocene sequences of the Deccan volcanic province in the Mandla Lobe of central India was carried out to understand floral diversity, paleoecology and paleoclimate during Deccan volcanic activity <b>(67. 4–62.5 Ma).</b> The study involved 17 intertrappean sedimentary beds at 13 stratigraphic levels. The analysis shows the presence of a rich and diverse palynoflora represented by 47 genera and 61 species of pteridophytes, gymnosperms, algae, and fungi. <b>Amongst these, we recognized three</b> new genera and <b>10</b> new species. At the lower stratigraphic levels, <b>(582–602 meters above sea level),</b> Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age marker palynomorphs, namely <i>Azolla cretacea</i>, <i>Farabeipollis minutus, Jiangsupollis striatus</i> and <i>J. intertrappea</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. and dominance of <i>Gabonisporis vigourouxii</i> and <i>Aquilapollenites bengalensis</i> were recorded. At the higher stratigraphic levels, <b>(698–858 meters above sea level)</b> Early Paleocene (Danian) age marker palynoassemblage<b>s</b>, such as <i>Haloragacidites amolosus, Longapertites vaneendenburgi, Mulleripollis bolpurensis</i>, <i>Palmaepollenites nadhamunii,</i> and <i>P. eocenicus</i> were recorded. Palyno<b>assemblag</b>e and associated clay minerals indicate deposition of intertrappean <b>beds</b> in a fluctuating climate, ranging from humid and semiarid to arid and the prevalence of estuarine to freshwater depositional environments at the time of deposition. Palynofloral assemblages suggests <b>prevalence of warm humid tropical climate</b> with high precipitation during the <b>deposition of intertrappean beds.</b>

针对印度中部曼达岩舌（Mandla Lobe）德干火山省（Deccan volcanic province）晚白垩世最顶部（uppermost Cretaceous）至古新世最底部（lowermost Paleocene）地层序列开展的孢粉学研究（Palynological study），旨在厘清德干火山活动（Deccan volcanic activity，67.4~62.5 Ma）时期的植物群多样性（floral diversity）、古生态学（paleoecology）及古气候（paleoclimate）特征。本研究共采集13个地层层面的17层岩间沉积层（intertrappean sedimentary beds）。分析结果显示，研究区发育丰富多样的孢粉植物群（palynoflora），涵盖蕨类植物（pteridophytes）、裸子植物（gymnosperms）、藻类（algae）及真菌（fungi）共计47属61种。其中，本研究识别出3个新属（new genera）及10个新种（new species）。

在下段地层层面（海拔582~602米），研究记录到晚白垩世（马斯特里赫特期，Maastrichtian）标志性孢粉型（marker palynomorphs），包括*Azolla cretacea*、*Farabeipollis minutus*、*Jiangsupollis striatus*及新种*J. intertrappea* sp. nov.，同时以*Gabonisporis vigourouxii*与*Aquilapollenites bengalensis*为优势类群。在上段地层层面（海拔698~858米），记录到早古新世（达宁期，Danian）标志性孢粉组合（palynoassemblages），包括*Haloragacidites amolosus*、*Longapertites vaneendenburgi*、*Mulleripollis bolpurensis*、*Palmaepollenites nadhamunii*及*P. eocenicus*。

孢粉组合与伴生黏土矿物分析表明，岩间沉积层形成于气候波动的环境中，气候类型涵盖湿润、半干旱至干旱，沉积时期的沉积环境以河口至淡水环境为主。孢粉植物群组合进一步揭示，岩间层沉积时期整体处于温暖湿润的热带气候背景，且降水量充沛。