Reconstructing ancient vegetation, climate, depositional setting and ecology of the West Bokaro Coalfield, India: Insights from megafloristics and palynofacies

Abstract

This study investigates the ancient vegetation, climate, depositional setting, and ecology of the West Bokaro Coalfield, with a focus on megafloral and palynofacies analyses from the Parej East Open Cast Project (OCP). The floral assemblage includes 23 taxa, notably 17 species of Glossopteris, along with Noeggerathiopsis hislopii and Equisetales. This research records two new species of Glossopteris (i.e., Glossopteris lanceolatus and Glossopteris subtilis) and a new record of Noeggerathiopsis hislopii from this coalfield. The palynofacies study, indicates a low-energy, distal depositional environment with flooded palaeomires during the late Artinskian age. The palaeofloral assemblage represents a systematic morphological evolution in a comparatively cooler climate with enough rainfall, calm wind conditions and moderate intensity of light throughout the lower Barakar sedimentation in the Parej East area of West Bokaro Coalfield. The presence of Karharbari flora indicates the survival of older floral elements during the early Barakar sedimentation. The findings provide new insights into the palaeoenvironment of this important Gondwana basin, enriching our understanding of the interplay between climate, vegetation, and depositional processes during the Permian.