PALAEONTOLOGY LABORATORIES

  • Study of fossils and its biostratigraphic implication started since inception of GSI.
  • Sub-units of Palaeontology Laboratories include Invertebrate, Vertebrate, Micropalaeontology, Palaeobotany and Palynology.
  • Other than Central palaeontological Laboratories each region has its laboratory engaged in research work.

  • Repository of Indian type fossils covering India as well as adjacent countries like Sind, Baluchistan, Myanmar, Persian Gulf, Salt Range, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Arabia, Bashar, Nepal is located at CHQ, Calcutta, provides scope to study these fossils to researchers of Indian as well as foreign Universities/Institutions.

  • Palaeontological Laboratories provided enormous data to build up the Phanerozoic biostratigraphic framework of the Indian geology specially for Himalaya and Gondwana.

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Significant Recent Finds :

  • Discovery of cyanobacteria in the BHJ of Orissa, pushes back the date of photosynthesis to at least 3.2 Ga.

  • Precambrian-Cambrian boundary has been demarcated in the Krol belt of UP & HP. Himalaya on the basis of cyanobacteria, calcareous algae & shelly microfauna and ichnological study.

  • The invaluable collection of vertebrate fossils viz. Siwalik mammals and primates.

  • Gondwana vertebrates are well known to the researchers worldwide.

  • Discovery of the dinosaurian bones from different horizons of Gujarat and A.P. deserves special mention. Dinosaur nests of megallotithed affinity and a possible tract site have been located in the Lameta sediments which ultimately aims to understanding the palaeobiology of the dinosaurs which existed in the late cretaceous of central India.

  • Avian Tibio-tarsal have been recorded in the Quaternary vertebrate assemblage of Pampa river basin of south India.

  • Discovery of the marine fossils within Gondwana sediments helped in palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Indian sub-continent during Gondwana period.

  • Micropalaeontological research dictated to resolve some tectonostratigraphic problems of India, such as, discovery of benthic foraminifera from the lower Siwalik of Raun-Udhampur, J&K indicate the role played by the MBF in neogene marine transgression in Himalaya; radiolaria has been used to resolve the tectonostratigraphic problems of Naga-Andaman ophiolite sequence. Diatoms have been used to resolve stratigraphic problem of Karwa Group in Kashmir Valley.

  • Palynological studies have established biozonations of Gondwana and Tertiary sequence of India.

  • Besides research work, Laboratory also provide services to the other wings of GSI i.e. Coal and Marine.

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Some fossil finds from India

Equipment:
  • High resolution transmitted light microscopes with photographic attachment.
  • Low power binocular stereozoom microscope with photographic attachments.
  • Scanning Electron microscope.

Services Available
  • Identification of fossil - both mega & micro..
  • Interpretation on the palaeo-biotic assemblage, in terms of palaeoecology & palaeo-environment.
  • Lab can provide casts, moulds of fossils on the basis of nominal charges. Also provide models of extinct megafossils.
  • Imparts training to the students of different institutions and organisations.

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Mail to Dy. Director General (Op.III) for further information.
Last modified: 8th October, 2004