Discovery of Organic Matter and Palynomorphs from the Neoproterozoic Zor Diamictite of the Ramsu Formation in the Ramban District, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Authors
-
Postgraduate Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (UT) - 180 006
Sumeet Khullar -
Postgraduate Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (UT) - 180 006
Sundeep K. Pandita
-
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Keele University, Keele
Guido Meinhold
-
Postgraduate Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (UT) - 180 006
Ghulam M. Bhat
-
62 Ashok Nagar, Canal Road, Jammu and Kashmir (UT) - 180 016
Brij K. Raina
-
Earth Sciences Department, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
Bindra Thusu
-
Palynological Laboratory Services Ltd., Anglesey (North Wales)
Malcolm J. Jones
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-020-1461-9Keywords:
No Keywords.Abstract
The presence of medium-grade organic matter confirmed by Raman spectroscopy is reported for the first time from the Zor diamictite of the Ramsu Formation, Tethyan Himalaya. The organic matter has undergone overmature thermal evolution. The sediment shows low total organic carbon (TOC) and low total sulfur (TS) values of <0.25% and <0.01%, respectively. Low TS/TOC < 0.08 suggests oxic bottom waters during the deposition of the Zor diamictite. The recovered palynomorph assemblage includes Leiosphaeridia spp., Kildinosphaera verrucata, Trachyhystrichosphaera sp., the filamentous cyanophyte Taeniatum sp., the clusters of simple, spheroidal forms Myxococcoides sp., and the colonial cyanobacteria Synsphaeridium sp. This palynomorph assemblage suggests a Neoproterozoic age for the Zor diamictite of the Ramsu Formation.
Downloads
Metrics
Issue
Section
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
References
Adams, A.E., MacKenzie, W.S., and Guilford, C. (1984) Atlas of sedimentary rocks under the microscope. Harlow: Longman Group Ltd.
Bhat, G.M. (2019) Hydrocarbons exploration and production in India: Future Prospect. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.94, pp.113–116.
Bhat, G.M., Raina, B.K., Pandita, S.K., Singh, Y., Hakhoo, N., and Sharma, V. (2008) Coeval Neoproterozoic "Diamictites” of the southeast Kashmir and Bhadarwah Basins, Northwest Himalaya. International Conference on Geology and hydrocarbon potential of Neoproterozoic– Cambrian Basins in India, Pakistan and the Middle East, pp.74–77.
Craig, J., Hakhoo, N., Bhat, G.M., Hafiz, M., Khan, M.R., Misra, R., Pandita, S.K., Raina, B.K., Thurow, J., Thusu, B., Ahmed, W., and Khullar, S. (2018) Petroleum systems and hydrocarbon potential of the NorthWest Himalaya of India and Pakistan. Earth Sci. Rev., v.187, pp.109– 185.
Dobrzinski, N., Bahlburg, H., and Strauss, H. (2004) Geochemical climate proxies applied to the Neoproterozoic glacial succession on the Yangtze platform, South China. In: Jenkins, G., McMenamin, M.A.S., McKay, C.P., and Sohl, L. (Eds.), The extreme Proterozoic: Geology, Geochemistry, and Climate. Amer. Geophys. Union Monograph Series, v.146, pp.13– 32.
Heim, C., Simon, K., Ionescu, D., Reimer, A., De Beer, D., Quéric, N.-V., Reitner, J., and Thiel, V. (2015) Assessing the utility of trace and rare earth elements as biosignatures in microbial iron oxyhydroxides. Frontiers in Earth Sciences, v.3.
Hutchinson, C.S. (1974) Laboratory handbook of petrographic techniques, New York: Wiley.
Kouketsu, Y., Mizukami, T., Mori, H., Endo, S., Aoya, M., Hara, H., Nakamura, D., and Wallis, S. (2014) A new approach to develop the Raman carbonaceous material geothermometer for low-grade metamorphism using peak width. Island Arc, v.23, pp.33–50.
Kwatra, S.K., and Bhanot, V.B. (1988) Whole rock Rb-Sr age for gneissic rocks of Ramban area, Kashmir Himalaya, India. Proceedings of the 4th National Symposium on Mass Spectrometry, Bangalore. Earth Planet. Sci., v.6, pp.1–4.
Le Heron, D.P., and Craig, J. (2012) Neoproterozoic deglacial sediments and their hydrocarbon source rock potential. In: Huuse, M., Redfern, J., Le Heron, D. P., Dixon, R. J., Moscariello, A., and Craig, J. (Eds.), Glaciogenic Reservoirs and Hydrocarbon Systems. Geol. Soc., London, Spec.Publ., no.368, pp.381–393.
Lindgren, S. (1982) Algal coenobia and leiospheres from the Upper Riphean of the Turukhansk region, eastern Siberia. Stockholm Contrib. Geol., v.38, pp.35–45.
Meijun, L.I., Tieguan, W., Chunjiang, W., and Weibiao, Z. (2006) Molecular composition and indigenity of organic matter in Late Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks from the Yangtze region, South China. Chinese Jour. Geochem., v.25, pp.318–327.
Naumova, S.N. (1949) Spores from the Lower Cambrian. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geologicheskaya, v.4, pp.49–56.
Oehler, D.Z., and Cady, L. (2014) Biogenicity and syngeneity of organic matter in ancient sedimentary rocks: Recent advances in the search for evidence of past life. Challenges, v.5, pp.260–283.
Raina, B.K., Bhatt, D.K., and Gupta, B.K. (1988) Discovery of skeletal microfossils of the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary beds in the Paristan area, Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, no.6, pp.33–40.
Raina, B.K., Gupta, B.L., Sharma, A.W., and Dhiman, L.C. (1990) A review of the stratigraphy and structure of a part of Kashmir Basin in BanihalRamban-Desa-Chhatru belt, Doda District, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Jour. Paleont. Soc. India, v.35, pp.77–89.
Tang, Q., Pang, K., Xiao, S., Yuan, X., Ou, Z., and Wan, B. (2013) Organicwalled microfossils from the early Neoproterozoic Liulaobei Formation in the Huainan region of North China and their biostratigraphic significance. Precambrian Res., v.236, pp.157–181.
Vidal, G., and Siedlecka, A. (1983) Planktonic, acid-resistant microfossils from the upper Proterozoic strata of the Barents Sea Region of Varanger Peninsula, East Finnmark, Northern Norway. Norges Geologiske Undersí¸kelse, v.382, pp.45–79.
Wignall, P.B. (1994) Black shales. Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics, v.30, pp.127.
