Gurha opencast lignite mine (HNB Garhwal University collection) (Eocene of India)

Where: Rajasthan, India (27.9° N, 72.9° E: paleocoordinates 1.9° N, 65.3° E)

• coordinate stated in text

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Palana Formation, Ypresian (56.0 - 47.8 Ma)

• Kirejtshuk et al. (2023) and Patel et al. (2023) gave a brief statement assigning the formation to the early Eocene, based on palynological evidence for the sedimentary succession exposed at the Gurha opencast lignite mine (Kumar et al., 2016).

•Patel et al. (2019) favored a late Paleocene age, with a broader discussion. On the basis of stratigraphic correlation (with the Ranikot beds in Sind, Pakistan), Khosla (1971) and Pareek (1984) have assigned Palana Formation to the Paleocene age. On the basis of palynomorph assemblage and fish fossils, Kulshreshtha et. al. (1989) and Kumar et al. (2005) have also favoured the Paleocene age (~ 60 My BP). An early Eocene age has been assigned for the Gurha lignite mine based on its palynoassemblage and its comparison with that of Vastan lignite mine (Shukla et al. 2014). The Paleocene age seems more appropriate for the formation because the overlying Marh ⁄Kolayat Formation is considered to be late Paleocene–early Eocene on the basis of planktonic foraminifers (Singh 1971, Kalia & Sharma 1985) and lower vertebrates which are quite similar to those from the early–middle Eocene (~ 47 My BP) Subathu Formation of northwest Outer Himalaya (Jolly & Loyal 1985, Kumar & Loyal 1987). Detailed palynological studies being carried out on various lignite mines from Bikaner and Barmer areas also support an older age (for the lignite deposits, personal communication of Dr. Vandana Prasad).

• bed-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: lacustrine; lithified, gray shale

• thin, laminated, pale gray shale

Size class: macrofossils

Preservation: adpression

Collection methods: Repository: Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University Srinagar Uttarakhand, India

Primary reference: R. Patel, R. S. Rana, and P. A. Selden. 2019. An orb-weaver spider (Araneae, Araneidae) from the early Eocene of India. Journal of Paleontology 93:98-104 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham/M. Clapham]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 198876: authorized by Matthew Clapham, entered by Matthew Clapham on 16.01.2019

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Insecta
 Coleoptera - Elmidae
Elmidae indet.1 Curtis 1830 riffle beetle
GU/R/B/G 3008
 Hemiptera - Aphelocheiridae
Aphelocheirus (Aphelocheirus) sp.3 Westwood 1833 true bug
GU/R/B/G/3015
 Dicondylia -
Blattodea indet.2 Latreille 1810 cockroach
GU/R/B/G/3004, 3009
Arachnida
 Araneae - Araneidae
? Nephila sp. Leach 1815 golden silk orb-weaver
GU/SP/B-101