Reworked Permian and Cretaceous Palynofossils from Miocene Sediments of Mangalore, Karnataka

Palynological study of the Miocene sediments exposed along Kullur-Kavur Road section, Mangalore, Karnataka revealed the occurrence of 11 genera and 16 species of reworked palynofossils. Of these, Permian palynotaxa (8 genera and 11 species) are better represented than the Cretaceous ones (3 genera and 5 species). The important reworked palynotaxa are Parasaccites, Striatopodocarpites, Rhizomaspora, Scheuringipollenites, Callialasporites and Alisporites and these palynomorphs usually occur in Palaeozoic and Cretaceous rocks and do not extend to Tertiary. Based on the reworked palynofossils, occurrence of Permian and Cretaceous deposits in Mangalore basin has been postulated. The occurrence of reworked palynofossils might have been derived by the erosion of some Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sediments existing at the time of sedimentation. Presence of huge Permian sediments in western India, which could have been the other source for the reworked palynomorphs. The other possibility is that these fossils might have also come from Middle East Countries. Permian and particularly the Mesozoic rocks are well developed in these countries and of the Mesozoic rocks are abundantly rich in oil Sediments. These sediments could have eroded and redeposited in the eastern coast of the Arabian sea.