Structural controls on coal fire distributions — Remote sensing based investigation in the Raniganj coalfield,West Bengal

Coal fires are serious problem in Raniganj coalfield as it is the case for some of the other coalfields of India like Jharia coalfield. Earlier efforts were made to map the coal fires of this coal-field based on satellite observation. But the restricted distribution of major coal fires in the particular portion of the coalfield makes the basis for finding the geological control if responsible for coal fire distribution. In present study, night time thermal data of ASTER (Advance spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer) is used to map the latest distribution (December, 2006) of coal fires in the Raniganj coalfield. Coal fire map shows that most significant zone affected by fire is at the north-western portion of the coalfield; where NE-trending open cast mines are affected by fire. This fire zone is associated with high grade coal of the Barakar Formation. Coal fires are also mapped in open cast pits of Jambad-Mangalpur area occurring over rocks of the Raniganj Formation. By integrating geological map and satellite-derived coal fire map of Raniganj coal field, it is observed that the coal fires detected by remote sensing study are spatially associated with intraformational faults. These faults may have played significant role in supplying oxygen to these coal-fires and allowing them to propagate down the depth along the trends of the faults.     

Geophysical Log-based Coal Characterization of Middle Permian Barakar Formation from North Karanpura Coal Field,India

North Karanpura coal field is the western most marginal coal bearing segment of east-west trending Damodar valley basin. It consists of middle Permian Barakar Formation with sandstone, siltstone, coal and shale being the dominant lithofacies, deposited in a fluvial meandering environment, giving rise to repetitive fining upwards cycles. Study of geophysical logs, the drilled core holes were used to identify lithofacies, correlate coal seams with splitmerge behavior; which has been used to understand lateral and vertical facies disposition. Geophysical logs have been employed to compute various coal assay parameters–ash, fixed carbon, moisture, volatile content, cleat porosity, vitrinite reflectance seam wise. Study of log based coal assay parameters, calibrated with lab based values depicts lateral coal quality variation, i.e. decreasing ash content, higher fixed carbon from east to west, which can be a great proxy for future development of field or mine planning.     

Palynodating of subsurface sediments,Raniganj Coalfield,Damodar Basin,West Bengal

The Gondwana sediments comprising fine-grained shales, carbonaceous shales, sandstones and the coal horizon in borecore RT-4 (approximately 547.00m thick) from Tamra block, Raniganj Coalfield, Damodar Basin, are analyzed palynologically. Based on the distribution pattern of marker palynotaxa, two assemblage zones are identified. In the Barren Measures Formation, dominance of enveloping monosaccate (Densipollenites) along with striate bisaccate (Striatopodocarpites, Faunipollenites) pollen taxa, and the FAD’s of Kamthisaccites and Arcuatipollenites observed at 30.75, have equated this strata (30.75–227.80 m thick) with the Raniganj Formation of Late Permian in age. Downwards in the Barakar Formation, between 423.80–577.70 m depths, an abundance of non-striate (Scheuringipollenites) and striate (Faunipollenites and Striatopodocarpites) bisaccate pollen taxa is observed, that dates late Early Permian in age.     

Permian macro- and miofloral diversity,palynodating and palaeoclimate implications deduced from the coal-bearing sequences of Singrauli coalfield,Son–Mahanadi Basin,central India

The coal-bearing sequences of Barakar and Raniganj formations exposed in Bina and Jhingurdah open-cast collieries, respectively, are analysed for their macro- and miofloral content. The sediment successions primarily comprise of sandstones, shales, claystones and coal seams. In addition to the diverse glossopterid assemblage, four palynoassemblage zones, namely Zones I and II in Bina Colliery and Zones III and IV in Jhingurdah Colliery, have also been recorded in the present study. The megafossil assemblage from the Barakar strata of Bina Colliery comprises of three genera, namely Gangamopteris, Glossopteris and cf. Noeggerathiopsis. Palynoassemblage-I is characterised by the dominance of non-striate bisaccate pollen genus Scheuringipollenites and subdominance of striate bisaccate Faunipollenites and infers these strata to be of Early Permian (Artinskian) age (Lower Barakar Formation). The palynoassemblage has also yielded a large number of naked fossil spore tetrads, which is the first record of spore tetrads from any Artinskian strata in the world and has a significant bearing on the climatic conditions. The palynoassemblage-II is characterised with the dominance of Faunipollenites over Scheuringipollenites and is indicative of Kungurian age (Upper Barakar Formation). The megafossil assemblage from the Raniganj Formation of Jhingurdah Colliery comprises of five genera with 26 species representing four orders, viz., Equisetales, Cordaitales, Cycadales and Glossopteridales. The order Glossopteridales is highly diversified with 23 taxa and the genus Glossopteris, with 22 species, dominates the flora. The mioflora of this colliery is represented by two distinct palynoassemblages. The palynoassemblage-III is correlatable with the palynoflora of Early Permian (Artinskian) Lower Barakar Formation. The assemblage suggests the continuity of older biozones into the younger ones. The palynoassemblage-IV equates the beds with composition V: Striatopodocarpites–Faunipollenites–Gondisporites assemblage zone of Tiwari and Tripathi (1992) of Late Permian (Lopingian) Raniganj Formation in Damodar Basin. The FAD’s of Alisporites, Klausipollenites, Falcisporites, Arcuatipollenites pellucidus and Playfordiaspora cancellosa palynotaxa in this assemblage enhance the end Permian level of the Jhingurdah Top seam, as these elements are the key species to mark the transition of Permian into the Lower Triassic.     

Early Permian transgressive–regressive cycles: Sequence stratigraphic reappraisal of the coal-bearing Barakar Formation,Raniganj Basin,India

The present research is an attempt to assess the Barakar Formation of the Raniganj Gondwana Basin, India, in the frame of fluvio-marine (estuarine) depositional systems using sequence stratigraphic elements. Analysis of predominant facies associations signify deposition in three sub-environments: (i) a river-dominated bay-head delta zone in the inner estuary, with transition from braided fluvial channels (FA-B1) to tide-affected meandering fluvial channels and flood plains (FA-B2) in the basal part of the succession; (ii) a mixed energy central basin zone, which consists of transitional fluvio-tidal channels (FA-B2), tidal flats, associated with tidal channels and bars (FA-B3) in the middle-upper part of the succession; and (iii) a wave-dominated outer estuary (coastal) zone (FA-B4 with FA-B3) in the upper part of the succession. Stacked progradational (P1, P2)–retrogradational (R1, R2) successions attest to one major base level fluctuation, leading to distinct transgressive–regressive (T–R) cycles with development of initial falling stage systems tract (FSST), followed by lowstand systems tract (LST) and successive transgressive systems tracts (TST-1 and TST-2). Shift in the depositional regime from regressive to transgressive estuarine system in the early Permian Barakar Formation is attributed to change in accommodation space caused by mutual interactions of (i) base level fluctuations in response to climatic amelioration and (ii) basinal tectonisms (exhumation/sagging) related to post-glacial isostatic adjustments in the riftogenic Gondwana basins.     

Permian megaspores from Kuraloi Area,Ib-River coalfield,Mahanadi Basin,Orissa

Heterogenous megaspores recovered from the Upper Permian sediments of Kuraloi Area, Ib-River coalfield, have been systematically described. The megaspore assemblage includes seven genera with seventeen species viz. Bokarosporites rotundus, Banksisporites indicus, B. utkalensis, Biharisporites spinosus, Biharisporites sp.A, Biharisporites sp.B, Jhariatriletes baculosus, J. srivastavae, J. damudicus, Manumisporites distinctus, Singhisporites baculatus, S. radialis, S. surangei, Ramispinatispora indica, R. nautiyalii and Ramispinatispora sp. Additionally, a new species of Ramispinatispora viz. R.mahanadiensis has been identified. Associated spore pollen assemblages are suggestive of a Late Permian age corresponding to Raniganj/Kamthi Formation. Raniganj megaspores are known from Damodar and Godavari Basins. The newly recorded megaspore assemblage from the Ib-River coalfield is comparable to that of Raniganj/Kamthi Formation of Godavari Graben. The diversity in exosporium ornamentations indicates structural diversity. Moreover, their prolific presence ultimately points towards occurrence of heterosporous source vegetation in the area.     

Petrology and geochemistry of high-titanium and low-titanium mafic dykes from the Damodar valley,Chhotanagpur Gneissic Terrain,eastern India and their relation to Cretaceous mantle plume(s)

The Damodar valley within the Chhotanagpur Gneissic terrain at the northern-most margin of the Singhbhum craton, eastern India, is perhaps the only geological domain in the entire Indian shield which hosts the early Cretaceous Rajmahal as well as the late Cretaceous Deccan igneous activities. A number of Cretaceous mafic dykes intrude the Gondwana sedimentary formations and are focus of the present study. One set of these dykes strike NNE to ENE, are very fresh and mainly exposed within the Jharia, Bokaro and Karanpura basins; whereas the other set of dykes (including the well-known Salma mega dyke) trend NW to NNW, intrude mainly the Raniganj basin and show meagre hydrothermal alteration. Majority of the samples from both these dyke groups display ophitic or sub-ophitic textures and are essentially composed of augite/titan augite and plagioclase. On the basis of petrographic and geochemical characteristics the NNE to ENE dykes are identified as high-Ti dolerite (HTD) dykes and the NW to NNW dykes are referred to as low-Ti dolerite (LTD) dykes. Apart from the first-order distinction on their titanium contents, both these groups also show conspicuous geochemical differences. The HTD dykes contain relatively high values of iron, and high-field strength elements than those from the LTD dykes with an overlapping MgO contents.Although available field, paleomagnetic and limited geochronological data for most of the studied dykes suggests their emplacement during early Cretaceous period (110–115 Ma), the Salma dyke, dated to be of Deccan-age at ∼65 Ma, is an exception. Geochemically all the studied samples show an undoubted plume-derived character but their unequivocal affinity to either the early Cretaceous Kerguelen (Rajmahal) or the late-Cretaceous Reunion (Deccan) plume is not straightforward since they share bulk-rock characteristics of rocks derived from both these plumes. Even though, the spatial and temporal association of the mafic dykes of present study with the Rajmahal Traps are suggestive of their linkage to the Kerguelen plume activity, robust geochronological and paleomagnetic constraints are clearly required to understand the relative contributions of the two Cretaceous mantle plumes in the genesis of the mafic igneous activity in this interesting domain.     

Subcrop Gondwana of Bengal basin and their reservoir characteristics

In Bengal basin the subcrop Gondwana sediments occur in N-S trending elongated grabens originated largely by the graben forming tectonisms of the Gondwanaland which overlie the crystalline basement in the sub-surface in an intra-cratonic setup. So far five wells in shelf part of Bengal Basin have penetrated Gondwana sediments, out of which three wells i.e.,G1, G3 and G2 have been drilled up to Precambrian basement. In subcrop Gondwana graben, glacial to glacio-fluvial Talchir Formation of Early Permian age was deposited above the basement. Early Permian Barakar Formation overlies Talchir Formaion. Flood basin model of deposition is postulated for this coal rich unit. In the absence of Barren Measure Formation, coal bearing Raniganj Formation overlies Barakar Formation. The fluvial set up changed over to arid environment during deposition of Panchet/Supra Panchet Formation (undifferentiated). The deposition of Panchet Formation is followed by eruption of doleritic rocks in both subcrop and outcrop Bengal Gondwana whereas lamprophyres are absent in subcrop of Bengal Gondwana. Rifting as well as pull-apart basin model due to transtensional movement is postulated for Gondwana basins. Detailed lithostratigraphic analysis of the core / cutting samples of the Gondwana sediments reveal that the sediments are mainly fine to coarse grained, poorly sorted sandstone. These sediments are characterized as poor reservoir and needs some treatment for permeability enhancement for hydrocarbon production.     

Interspecific association of heavy minerals in late Paleozoic Gondwana sandstones of Singrauli sub-basin,central India: Implications for provenance

Heavy mineral analysis of the late Paleozoic Barakar and Raniganj sandstones from the Singrauli Gondwana sub-basin shows relative abundance of garnet, epidote, zircon, tourmaline and muscovite in the Raniganj Sandstone and epidote, garnet, rutile and tourmaline in the Barakar sandstones. Stratigraphically, the heavy mineral crops donot exhibit marked variation in their relative abundance, though garnet, epidote and muscovite form the bulk of the heavy minerals. Significant interspecific association among heavy minerals and provenance of the Barakar and Raniganj sandstones are evaluated by using σ-M multivariate model. Quantitative result suggests that the Barakar Sandstone are characterized by the basic pair match significantly more than expected due to chance alone (p value <<0.05) are garnet-tourmaline and epidote-rutile, whereas, the succeeding Raniganj sandstone are characterized by zircon-rutile and epidote-garnet. These basic pairs may be regarded as interspecific association among the heavy minerals. The basic pairs deduced from heavy mineral suites suggest that the source rocks of late Paleozoic Barakar and Raniganj sandstones have been principally derived from the acid plutonic rocks and low to high grade metasediments lying to the south and southeast of the Singrauli Gondwana sub-basin.     

Facies analysis and depositional model of late Permian Raniganj formation: Study from Raniganj coal bed methane block

The Raniganj Formation (late Permian) forms the uppermost economic coal-bearing unit of the Gondwana succession. The dominant facies interpreted from analysis of cores from the Raniganj formation are classified as Sandstone dominated facies, Sandstone - shale heterolith facies, Shale facies and Coal facies. The natural Gamma response of Raniganj Formation shows predominance of repetitive fining upwards cycles. Integration of core analysis and geophysical log data of the Raniganj formation indicates meandering fluvial environment. The lower part of Raniganj Formation is channel dominated which corresponds to thick amalgamated sand bodies while the upper part represent overbank shows predominance of channel avulsion indicating a gradual change in accommodation space. Five major fining upward depositional sequences, bounded by sub-aerial unconformities (sequence boundaries) have been dentified in Raniganj formation, based on changes in depositional style that are correlated regionally. Each sequence comprises of Low accommodation system tract (LAST) at base and high accommodation system tract (HAST) at top. LAST is characterized by vertically stacked, multistory amalgamated channel sandstone dominated facies, while floodplain dominated facies characterize HAST. The coal seams deposited in LAST are thicker and relatively more continuous than the frequent thin seams of HAST. Such facies distribution study would be helpful for the development strategy for CBM blocks based on production priority.     

Coal correlation and intrabasinal differential subsidence — A case study from the Barakar Formation of Talchir Gondwana Basin,Orissa

In case of autocyclic sedimentation, direct relationship exists between net thickness of strata and number of coal cycles. Many of the coal basins including coal bearing Gondwana basins of India are good examples of autocyclic sedimentation, in which the cyclicity is attributed to intrabasinal differential subsidence of the basin floor. In the present work an attempt has been made to quantify the intrabasinal subsidence in a part of the Barakar Formation of the Talchir Gondwana basin. Eight undisturbed intervals were delineated in the Barakar stratigraphy. During different phases of sedimentation, different parts of the study area subsided with varying magnitudes. The areas of maximum subsidence accommodated thicker sediment column in comparison to the areas of slow subsidence rate.     

K-rich titanate from the Jharia ultrapotassic rock, Gondwana coal fields, eastern India, and its petrological significance

We report a rare accessory groundmass mineral of K-rich titanate, having a composition close to that of potassium triskaidecatitanate (K₂Ti₁₃O₂₇), from an underground drill-core sample of ultrapotassic rock from southwestern part of the Jharia coal field in the Damodar valley, at the northern margin of the Singhbhum craton, Eastern India. Potassium triskaidecatitanate is regarded as a typomorphic mineral of orangeites (Group II kimberlites) of Kaapvaal craton, southern Africa, and its occurrence in the Jharia ultrapotassic rock is significant since ultrapotassic suite of rocks elsewhere from the Damodar valley have been recently suggested to be peralkaline lamproites based on mineral-genetic classification. The important role played by a unique geodynamic setting (involving a thinned metasomatised lithospheric mantle and inheritance of an Archaean subduction component) at the northern margin of the Singhbhum craton in deciding the petrological diversity of the early Cretaceous ultrapotassic intrusives from the Damodar valley is highlighted in this study.     

Role of Storm in Ramgarh and West Bokaro Coalfields and Its Implication in Adjacent Peninsular Gondwana Coalfields, India

The Permian Gondwana sediments in the Damodar-Koel Valley, Rajmahal and Deoghar basins were deposited on a northwest palaeoslope in broad valleys within uplands (e.g. Aravalli-Vindhyan, Chattisgarh, Chotanagpur and Santhal Parganas upland). The main winds during Permian Period were mostly the westerly winds coming from the northwest low pressure belt in the Tethys, which found no barrier between the Vindhyan and Santhal Parganas uplands and then changing its direction, moving towards east. Frequent storm activity also took place from the northwest Tethyan low pressure belt and followed the same path of wind. Possibly there was a barrier in the form of a dense rain forest or elevated land at the place of East Bokaro coalfield and its adjoining southern part, which acted as a deterrent and minimized the effect of storm towards further east of the Damodar Valley. Intense tropical hurricanes for the generation of storm generated bedforms, cannot be ruled out, which probably, in some cases, causes marine inundation/flooding deep into the landmass and also mass (?) uprooting of trees.     

Sedimentological synthesis of permian fluviatile sediments of East Bokaro basin,Bihar, India

The early Permian Karharbari and Barakar formations of East Bokaro basin comprise the following lithofacies:Lithofacies A, consisting of monomictic cobble- and pebble-conglomerate including pebbly sandstone, with faint crossbeds; deposited mainly by high-velocity aqueous currents as channel-lag deposit or longitudinal bars.Lithofacies B, coarse to medium sandstone, profusely crossbedded; interpreted as channel facies formed by downcurrent migration of sand bars in low-sinuosity streams.Lithofacies C, mainly fine sandstone with interbedded siltstone, characterised by small-scale ripple-lamination; formed in a low-energy environment such as swale-fill and/or overbank deposits.Lithofacies D, including carbonaceous shale and coal, with lack-of-current structures, indicating quiet-water deposition; interpreted as backswamp and lacustrine deposits.The overall context of the Karharbari and Barakar assemblage with relative abundance of pebbly coarse sandstone in the former and fine clastics in the latter, the presence of fining-upward cycles, widespread development of tabular and trough crossbedding and sample to sample variation of foreset azimuths, all suggest a generally alluvial environment. Analysis of crossbedding dip azimuth and dimensional fabric suggest that the sediment milieu in either case consisted of streams flowing persistently from the south-southeast to north-northwest direction. It is inferred that the unidirectional system of streams flowing across the East Bokaro basin changes systematically in channel sinuosity through time.     

Experimental studies on three potassium-rich ultramafic rocks from Damodar Valley, East India

Summary An experimental study on the phase relationships of three potassium-rich ultramafic rocks from the Damodar Valley, Gondawana basins, has been performed under upper mantle P–T conditions (1.0–2.5 GPa, 700–1200 °C). The Mohanpur lamproite and Satyanarayanpur minette, both from the Raniganj basins, have been investigated with the addition of 15 wt% H₂O. No water was added in the experiments done on an olivine minette from the Jarangdih coal mine, Bokaro Basin, which originally contains 15 wt% CO₂ and 2.86 wt% H₂O. In all cases, olivine is the liquidus phase followed by phlogopite. The subsolidus assemblage for the three rocks is a phlogopite-bearing harzburgite, associated with apatite, Mg-ilmenite and carbonates for the Jarangdih rock; apatite, chromian spinel and carbonates and priderite (only between 1.0 and 1.2 GPa) in the case of the Mohanpur lamproite, and finally apatite, chromian spinel, rutile, and carbonate in the Satyanarayanpur sample. Although orthopyroxene is absent in the natural potassium-rich ultramafic rocks, its presence in the run products of the Jarangdih rock is possibly related to a reaction between olivine and a CO₂-bearing fluid phase. The presence of orthopyroxene in the run products of Mohanpur and Satyanarayanpur rocks may be due to a reaction between K-feldspar, olivine and a vapour phase to produce phlogopite and orthopyroxene. On the basis of present experimental investigation and isotopic studies made by previous investigators, it has been suggested that these K-rich rocks have crystallized from melts derived by vein-plus-wall-rock melting of a phlogopite-bearing harzburgite source rock. Received December 15, 1999; revised version accepted June 17, 2001     

Palyno-petrographical facet and depositional account of Gondwana sediments from East Bokaro coalfield,Jharkhand

Palynological and petrological studies have been undertaken on the Gondwana coal and associated lithologies encountered in borehole EBM-2 of East Bokaro coalfield of Damodar Basin, India. The palynological investigation resulted in the recognition of Assemblage–III (Densipollenites, 27.9 m–214.30 m), Assemblage–II (Striatopodocarpites + Faunipollenites, 225.00 m–297.60 m) and Assemblage–I (Faunipollenites + Scheuringipollenites, 307.00m–433.00 m). Lithofacies study was also done for better understanding of the preservation and abundance/paucity of the spores and pollen in different lithologies as the current borehole has significant thickness of mudstones, shales and siltstone. Palynofacies study and Petrographical studies of coal samples encountered in the borehole were used to determine the depositional environment of the coal precursor peat swamp. Palynological data has revealed the presence of younger Raniganj palynoflora between 27.00-214.30 m depth that is lithologically defined as Barren Measures Formation. This spore pollen study has proved that these sediments were deposited during late early Permian to late Permian period. Further the maceral analysis of organic sediments as well as the Thermal Alteration Index (TAI) has revealed that the coaly shale at 336.5 m depth has hydrocarbon generation potential.     

Basin provenance and post-depositional thermal history along the continental P/T boundary of the Raniganj basin,eastern India: Constraints from apatite fission track dating

Apatite fission-track analysis has been applied to the Raniganj and Panchet formations of Raniganj basin of Gondwana Supergroup to unravel its thermal and provenance history. Apatite fission track age population from both Raniganj and Panchet formations indicate partial annealing and point to a maximum temperature of around ～100-110°C during their post depositional evolution. The sandstone of Raniganj Formation has five peak ages at 26.3, 59.3, 109.7, 173.7 and 299.9 Ma, while Panchet Formation has three peak ages at 25.4, 143.5 and 281.3 Ma. This implies that the provenance of the Raniganj Formation of late Permian and Panchet Formation of early Triassic changed obviously. According to thermotectonic evolution of the Gondwana basin, these apatites with different FT ages possibly represent different source components, although partial annealing had occurred to these apatites. Possibly all the apatites had transported from the Precambrian basement which was undergoing deformation due to Gondwana rifting initiated during Carboniferous period. Due to this, the basement was undergoing inhomogeneous thermal history which became source of sediments for Raniganj basin. Apatite FT ages of both Raniganj and Panchet formations have peak ages between 25 and 60 Ma, which perhaps recorded the cooling/uplift history during Cenozoic Alpine-Himalayan orogeny. Given a palaeo-thermal gradient of 40° C/km, it can be deduced that the Raniganj basin has uplifted about 3km at an average rate of about 0.09mm/a since 25–60 Ma.     

东胜煤田北部延安组沉积体系及聚煤特征

鄂尔多斯盆地延安组在全盆地发育,是盆地内最重要的含煤、油、气地层之一,依据大量的钻井、测井资料,运用沉积学的方法,对东胜煤田艾来五库沟-台吉召延安组沉积体系及聚煤特征进行了分析。研究认为延安组为辫状河、曲流河及辫状河三角洲沉积,沉积微相主要发育有辫状河体系的河床滞留沉积及心滩、河漫滩和河漫沼泽沉积;曲流河体系的河床滞留沉积、边滩、天然堤、河漫滩、河漫沼泽和河漫湖泊沉积;辫状河三角洲体系的分支河道、天然堤和河漫沼泽沉积等。辫状河及曲流河垂向上表现为下粗上细的间断性正韵律或正旋回,为典型的河流二元结构特征。聚煤特征分析认为,辫状河和曲流河体系河漫沼泽环境是有利成煤场所,由于河道的冲刷、下切作用,辫状河道和曲流河道形成的煤层厚度较小、侧向连续性差;三角洲体系的三角洲平原是有利的成煤带,其煤层具有厚度较大、结构较为简单、分布范围较广、连续性较好的特征。     

Depositional Record of Tidal-Flat Sedimentation in the Permian Coal Measures of Central India: Barakar Formation, Mohpani Coalfield, Satpura Gondwana Basin

The Permian Barakar Formation in the Mohpani coalfield, Satpura Gondwana basin, is composed of three broad lithologies that occur repetitively and are iterdigitated: (1) several metres thick coarse- to medium-grained sandstone bodies with scoured bases, (2) 5-20 m thick medium- to fine-grained sandstone bodies and (3) 5-20 m thick mudstone-dominated packages with variable proportions of centimetre- to decimetre-scale, fine- to medium-grained sandstone, carbonaceous shale and coal. The Barakar strata were previously interpreted as deposits of braided rivers and associated inter-channel flood basin in a continental setting. However, this study recognizes signatures of tidal current from the mudstone-dominated packages implying marine influence during Barakar sedimentation.

The mudstone-dominated sediment bodies are the focus of this paper and comprise of three lithofacies that bear imprints of tidal processes during Barakar sedimentation: (1) heterolith, (2) sandstone, and (3) coal-carbonaceous shale, which alternate with one another within individual bodies. The heterolithic facies show interlayering of sandstone and claystone resembling flaser, wavy and lenticular bedding, as well as pinstripe stratification. Successive sandstone-mudstone couplets indicate periodic waxing and waning of flows. Within individual heterolithic packages, the sandstone:claystone ratio along with the bedding style, varies cyclically upwards giving rise to alternate sandstone-dominated and claystone-dominated intervals suggesting tidal velocity fluctuation reflective of spring-neap lunar cycle. Thickness plots of successive sand-mud couplets also reveal cyclic variation with a conspicuous periodicity of around 12 couplets per cycle, which corroborates the spring-neap-spring (or neap-spring-neap) lunar cycle. Presence of abundant desiccation cracks indicates periodic emergence and points towards an intertidal setting. The sandstone facies is characterized by a variety of wave-generated features such as bundled and chevron upbuilding of lamina, bi-directional foreset orientations, offshooting and draping laminae, scour-and-drape feature, swollen lens-like geometries suggesting their emplacement under storm-induced combined-flow on the tidal-flat. The coal-carbonaceous shale facies represent supratidal marsh environment.