GSI-CHQ-30691

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

NOMENCLATURE OF CAMBRIAN STRATIGRAPHY OF INDIA

(Progress report for Field Season 1989 - 90)

By

Dr. A. K. Pal and Dr. K. Ayyasami,

Geologists (Sr.)

STRATIGRAPHY DIVISION, CHQ, CALCUTTA

1992
 GSI-CHQ-30691

CONTENTS

PAGE

1. Introduction 1

2. Babeh Group 2

3. Badami Group 2

4. Bhima Group 4

5. Chandpur Formation 5

6. Chhatargul Formation 5

7. Deoban Formation 6

8. Garbyang Formation 7

9. Haimanta Group 7

10. Hapatnar Group 9

11. Hundwara Formation 9

12. Jutogh Formation 9

13. Kaira Formation 11

14. Karihul Formation 11

15. Kunzam La Formation 12

16. Kurnool Group 13

17. Lihinwan Formation 13

18. Lolab Formation 14

19. Mudhol Formation 15

28. Nanda Kot Formation 16

21. Niri Conglomerate 16

22. Parahio Group 16

23. Phe Formation 18

24. Ralam Formation 18

25. Ramgarh Formation 18

26. Sarju valley quartzite Formation 18

27. Shali Formation 19

28. Shams Abari Formation 19

29. Shumahal Formation 19

30. Simla Formation 20

 GSI-CHQ-30691

31. Sundarnagar Formation 20

32. Tal Formation 20

33. Tejam Formation 21

34. Vindhyan Supergroup 21

35. Acknowledgement 26

36. References cited 27

37. A list of Cambrian mega-fossils 33

 GSI-CHQ-30691

NOMENCLATURE OF CAMBRIAN STRATIGRAPHY OF INDIA

Dr. A. K. Pal and Dr. K. Ayyasami,

Geologists (Sr.), Stratigraphy Division,
Geological Survey of India. Calcutta

INTRODUCTION

In pursuance of the FSP item No. RP/-/STR-CHQ/-/80/5 entitled Preparation of Indian

Stratigraphic nomenclature vis-a-vis International. Commission's recommendations, a review of
lithostratigraphic units, their nomenclature and compilation of lexicographic details were taken up.
The first phase of the work included the status and details of Cambrian Stratigraphy of India.
Periodical syntheses of stratigraphical and palaeontological data are essential for the proper
dissipation of latest records and notes as many interesting results on various projects in India and
abroad are being published frequently and all of them may not be available at a given time. Such
attempts will help many workers currently dealing with their respective field of activity and also will
give a fillip to the researches of beginners who initially require to get old and new references and data
at one source. This principle has been adopted in the present report, where initiation is made to
present the lithostratigraphic subdivisions of the Cambrian horizon in India. The treatment of valuable
data on the Cambrian rocks is in the style of the stratigraphic lexicon on the Gondwana sediments of
India published by the GSI, Additions are made to this format wherever necessary.

The first work in this line was "Indian Geological Terminology" by T. H. Holland and G. H.
Tipper published in 1913 which was revised by Holland in 1926. The work was revised by G. de P.
Cotter and later on by M. S. Krishnan et al for the "Lexique Stratigraphique International" published
in 1957. More recently, Gupta (1973) published a useful compilation entitled "Indian Stratigraphical
Nomenclature".

The Cambrian system is well developed in the extra-peninsular part of India in Kashmir,
Ladakh, Lahaul, Spiti and Kumaon where fossils are available for the purpose of dating the strata. On
the basis of stratigraphic position some unfossiliferous sequence in Spiti, Lahaul-Ladakh, Kashmir,
Simla, Dalhousie-Chamba and Kumaon have also been referred to this system.

The Cambrian rocks in Peninsular India have been identified mainly by the occurrence of
microfossils, with the exception of the Vindhyan rocks where supposed body-fossils have been
reported. All the lithostratigraphic units that have been assigned to Cambrian at one time or the other
finds entry in this presentation.

The work was carried out under the guidance of Sri. P. R. Chandra, Director (presently Dy.
 2 GSI-CHQ-30691

Director General) and Sri. S. N. Das, Director.

BABEH GROUP (BABEH SERIES)

Definition: The name was proposed by Stoliczka (1865) for a series of sedimentary rocks in the
Central Himalayas.

Etymology: The series is named after the Babeh Pass (31°43’ N: 73°4’ E) in Central Himalayas.

Type area and distribution: The rocks are exposed in the Babeh Pass area are known to continue up
to Kumaun in the Central Himalayan range.

Lithology: Sandstone, slate, quartzite and phyllite are the principal constituent rocks.

Subdivisions: Stoliczka (1865) divided the rocks into three units, though no -formal name had been
proposed -for these. These are as follows:

Upper: Green bluish micaceous and laminated sandstone

Middle: Grey siliceous sandstone with occasional calcareous beds (dolomites) with blue and red
shales

Lower: Blue-grey slate and sandstone

Thickness: The thickness had been estimated as 1200 m. (3000)

Fossils and age: No de-finite fossil had been found by Stoliczka (op. cit.) and he assigned these rocks
to Azoic (Precambrian) and Hayden (1904) reported Lower Palaeozoic fossils.

Remarks: Hayden (1904) rejected the term Babeh series for the supposed un-fossiliferous sequences,
when he -found arthropod fauna in these rocks and proposed a new term - Parahio series.

BADAMI GROUP

Definition: The upper part of the sedimentary sequence in the Kaladgi basin, Karnataka has been
separated by Viswanathiah (1968) to constitute a separate and younger sequence lying
unconformably over the rest of the Kaladgi Group. This younger sequence was named by
Viswanathiah as the Badami Group. On the basis of fossil evidence, mostly fossil acritarchs,
and other micro-fossils, Viswanathiah and Venkatachalapathy (1987) assigned Ordovician
age to this sequence.

Etymology: The name was derived from the Badami township in Belgaum district, Karnataka.
 3 GSI-CHQ-30691

Type area and distribution: The Badami Group of sediments rests with a clear-cut unconformity on
the steeply dipping elastics and carbonate rocks of the Kaladgi Group at the type sections
exposed in the chains of hills north and northwest of B. N. Jalihal on the Badami-Patadkal
Road. The Badami sediments occupy an area of about 2600 sq. km. in Bijapur and Belgaum
districts, extending into Maharashtra at the west and northwest of Belgaum.

Lithology: Horizontal to gently dipping (3°-5°) sequence of sedimentary strata with current bedding
are comprised of conglomerates, quartzarenites, dolomites and argillites.

Subdivisions: Viswanathiah (1977) divided the group into two units with transitional facies contact in
between. Those are:

2. Katageri 2 b. Halkurki Argillite

2 a. Konkankop Dolomite

Badami -------------------Transitional facies contact------------

1. Ramdurg 1 c. Torgal Quartzarenite

1 b. Temple Quartzitearenite
1 a. Murgod conglomerate

--------------------------------------------------------Unconformity----------------------------------------------------------

Mudhol formation of Kaladgis /schists and granites basements

Bruce Foote (1876) regarded these horizontal to gently inclined strata as part o-f the Kaladgis
left unfolded and lying outside the basin. But it has now shown to be totally different phase of post
Kaladgi sedimentation, stratigraphically and structurally, unrelated to the Kaladgis (Viswanathiah,
1968).

Thickness: The maximum thickness of the lower formation was recorded as 195 m and of the upper
formation as 50m.

Contact relations: The horizontal to gently dipping granule-conglomerates and quartzarenites of the
Badami Group of rocks rest unconformably on the Kaladgi quartzarenites and chert breccia,
dipping at 45° -50° due north. Near Gokak falls, however, the basal Murgod conglomerate
rests on gneissic rock and encloses cluster of quartz, chert and gneissic rock at a sharp
contact.

Fossils and age: The Badami Group of rocks are devoid of any recognisable animal fossils.

However, discovery of 19 taxa of microplanktonic and 23 taxa of Scolecodontes and 15

species of Chitinozoa from the Temple quartzarenite (Viswanathiah, 1976; 1977; 1980) and 25 taxa of
microplanktonics and 22 microfossil taxa from the younger Gokak quartzarenite (Viswanathiah, 1974;
1977) suggest an age of Ordovician for the Badami Group, as Scolecodontes and Chitinozoa have not
 4 GSI-CHQ-30691

so far been recorded from rocks older than Ordovician (500 - 430 ma) in age. Raha (1987), however,
has correlated it to Vendian, on the basis of stromatolite zonation.

BHIMA GROUP

Definition: This group was named by King (in Foote, 1876) and described by Foote (1876, p.139) in
the Bhima valley of Gulburga and Bijapur districts of Karnataka and was considered to be
equivalent of Kurnools and Lower Vindyans.

Etymology: The name was derived from the Bhima river which cuts across these strata and joins
Krishna river.

Lithology: The lower unit of this group consists of quartzite, grits, sandstones and red, purple and
green shales and shaly sandstones. The upper unit consists of limestone, quartzite, shale and
flaggy limestone.

Type area and distribution: The eastern and southern parts of the basin contain only the lower and
middle divisions while the upper division is found in the north and west. These rocks are
exposed over an area of about 2000 sq. m., lying on the Archaean metamorphics.

Subdivisions: Foote (1876) divided the group in to two divisions and are as follows:

Upper: 5. Red shale

4. Flaggy limestone

3. Buff shale

2. Quartzite

1. Limestone

Lower: 2. Red, purple and green shales and shaly sandstone

1. Quartzites, grit and sandstone

Mahadevan (1947) suggested the -following classification for the rocks of the Bhima Group,
exposed in Gulburga district.

Karnataka:

Upper: Black, blue, buff and purple shales with local sandstone at the bottom and flaggy
limestone at the top.

Middle: Creamy, grey, bluish and buff limestones and flaggy limestone

Lower: Sandstones and green and purple shale. The bottom beds are conglomeratic while the
topmost bed is often calcareous.
 5 GSI-CHQ-30691

Thickness: The thickness is estimated to be 357 m. (1200')

Contact relations: The Bhima Group rests unconformably over the Archaean rocks and are in turn
overlain by Deccan trap volcanics.

Fossils and age: The Bhima Group of rocks are devoid of any recognisable animal fossils. However,
recent palynological study made known some microplanktons that may be useful in assigning
age to these strata. Saluja et. al. (1970) recorded Archaeofavosina compta, Granomarginata
sp., Lophosphaeridium reticulatum, Oodium sp., Tasmanites sp. and Vavosphaeridiurn
reticulaturn sp. in addition to dasycladacean algae in the Bhima sediments. Venkatachala
(1976) recorded the presence of Costatosphaerina, Leiosphaerida, Leiovalia.
Lophosphaeridium. Lophotriletes, Menneria, Protosphaeridium. Schismatoshpaeridium and
Trachysphaeridium apart from some algal filaments from the Bhimas for which he suggested
Upper Precambrian to Lower Cambrian age. In addition to the above fossils. Viswanathiah et
al. (1976, 1979) described Archaeohystrichosphaeridium accerosum, Granomarginata vetula,
Granomarginata sp., Priscotheca sp. and Schismatosphaeridium bhirnai. etc. from this basin
and assigned Late Precambrian to Cambrian age for the rocks of the Bhima basin based on
these microfossils.

CHANDPUR FORMATION

Remarks: Auden (1934) instituted the name Chandpur Stage for a group of rocks characterised by
banded association of quartzite and phyllite and the presence of abundant green beds exposed
at Chandpur (40°30’ :77°40’, a village west of Chakrata. The quartzite and phyllite shown
ripple marks and current bedding. Auden (op. cit.) considered the "Stage" to be Middle
Jaunsar. However, he called it a "Series" constituting a separate unit which is separated by
thrust planes from the underlying Mandhali and the overlying Nagthat (Jaunsar).

The name Chandpur Formation of persumably of Cambrian age is published by Ramji (1982)
for a series of rocks in the Krol belt in the Uttar Pradesh Himalaya, but details on the stratigraphic unit
are wanting.

CHHATARGUL FORMATION (CHHATARGUL MUDSTONE)

Definition: Typically exposed around Chhatargul in the Haribal valley in Anantnag district of Jammu
and Kashmir state. This litho-unit was named by Shah (1972) as a part o-f the Cambrian
sequence of the area.

Etymology: The formation is named after the village of Chhatargul (34°15’N: 74°50’E),
Jammu and Kashmir.
 6 GSI-CHQ-30691

Type area and distribution: The formation is typically developed around Chhatargul in the Haribal
valley in the southeasten part of Kashmir. Good exposures are also found to the north of
Gurdraman in the Naubag valley and near Khaiyar in the Hapatnar valley.

Lithology: The formation consists of homogeneous succession of fine grained, pyritous mudstone and
slate of varying shades from pale to dark blue. Towards the top, silt content increases rapidly
and the formation grades into younger Lihinwan Sandstone.

Thickness: The formation is about 1130 m thick

Subdivisions: Shah (1972) divided the formation into three distinct units.

3. Dark silty shale with a few sandy lenticles (500 m)

Chhatragul Mudstone (2000 m) 2. dark cream coloured and bleached thin bedded splintery shales (230 m)

1. Pale green to dark green pyritous slated (640 m) and greenish mudstone
(400 m.)

Contact relations: The base is not exposed and the relation with the underlying bed is unknown.
Towards the top, silt content increases rapidly and the formation grades to younger Lihinwan
Sandstone. The Chhatargul Formation is faulted against the younger rocks towards southwest
by the Gurdraman strike fault of considerable magnitude. The fault brings the Chhatargul
Mudstone in contact with the Margan Shale Formation in the northwest, whereas the former
abuts against the Muth Quartzite in the southeast along this fault and is finally overlapped by
the Punjal trap.

Fossils and age: The formation contains trace fossils like Astropolithon sp., Berqaueria sp., Planolites
sp., etc. Cambrian age is inferred from these trace fossils. It appears that parts of the Lolab
Formation of the northwest Kashmir are equivalent to this formation (as indicated by their
fossil content) and for which Early Cambrian age has been suggested (Kumar et al. 1984).

Remarks: The Chhatargul Formation may be partly equivalent to the Lolab Formation of the Lolab
valley. Though extension of this formation in the Lidder valley has been shown by Kumar et
al.(1984), its relation with the Chhatargul Formation is not clearly defined and is being
interpreted in this report.

DEOBAN FORMATION

Remarks: Oldham (1883) named a sequence of pale grey limestone, often dolomitic, with cherty
concretions as Deoban limestone. These are best developed near the Deoban peak (30°45’N:
77°56’E), north of Chakrata. Pilgrim and West (1928) regarded them as intermediate between
Blaini Boulder Bed (Talchir or Upper Carboniferous) and the Jaunsar (age unknown, believed
 7 GSI-CHQ-30691

to be Precambrian).

Stromatolites show a profuse development in the dolomites and limestones of the Deoban
Formation. The major forms in the lower Deoban are Colonnella elongatus. C. of. discreta, Kussiella
kussiensis and Omachtenia sp., indicating Early Riphean age. The upper limestone horizon contains
Late Riphean assemblage of Jurasania major and Gymnosolen sp. (Raha and Sastry, 1982).

Ramji (1932), however, assigned Deoban limestone (Formation) to Cambrian, without

substantiating this assignment.

GARBYANG FORMATION

Definition: Heim and Gansser (1939) named this unit as Garbyang 'Series' after the village Garbyang
(30°07’30”N: 80°52’E) in the Kali valley in the Kumaun Himalayas.

Etymology: The name is derived from Garbyang village.

Type area and distribution: The formation is best developed around Garbyang.

Lithology: The formation consists of rhythmic alternations of sandy, argillaceous dolomitic limestone
and calcareous, sericitic phyllite with chloritic layers.

Contact relations: In the easternmost part in the Kumaon Himalayas, the contact with the underlying
Martoli Group is transitional and no clear division can be made. But in the western areas, the
Ralam Conglomerate transgresses unconformably onto the steeply dipping Martoli phyllites.
This unconformity, though local, is significant since it would fall approximately into the basal
Cambrian, assuming Cambrian age for the overlying Garbyang Formation, which is intern
overlain by Silurian strata.

Fossil and age: Within the calcareous phyllites of the Garbyang Formation occur badly preserved
large, flat gastropods and some crinoid fragments (Heim and Gansser, 1939). This indicates
that the Garbyangs are certainly not Precambrian and that, most probably, are of Cambrian
age.

Remarks: Gupta (1973) opined that the Garbyang Formation is devoid of fossils and considered this
to range in age from Precambrian (?) to Early Ordovician.

HAIMANTA GROUP (HAIMANTA SYSTEM)

Definition: The term Haimanta 'System'' was first used by Griesbach (1891) to designate the
sedimentary sequence overlying the Precambrian Vaikrita System and underlying the Lower
Silurian in the snow-clad Central Himalayan mountains. Hayden (1984), however, did not
 8 GSI-CHQ-30691

favour this term but proposed a new term - Parahio series - to include some unfossiliferous
strata as well as fossiliferous Cambrian strata.

Etymology: The name Haimanta was derived from the Sanskrit word 'Hima' meaning snow.

Type area and distribution: The beds are particularly well exposed in the valley of the Parahio river
(32°02’N: 77°55’E) in the Spiti basin of Himachal Pradesh.

Lithology: The rocks of this group consist essentially of argillaceous and siliceous sediments which
are intercalated at places with dolomites.

Subdivisions: Greisbach (1891) suggested the following classification of the Haimanta Group:

3. Series of quartz shales and slates

Haimanta 2. Shales and silky phyllites with great thickness of quartzite

1. Quartzites, generally purple with great thickness of conglomerate

Vaikritas and older gneiss

Hayden (1904), however, divided this sequence into Lower, Middle and Upper divisions, but
discarded the term 'Haimanta' for lack of evidence for the presence of thick conglomeratic sequence
indicated by Griesbach (1891):

Upper: Micaceous quartzite, thin slate and grey dolomites with rich trilobite fauna, brachiopods, etc.

Middle: Red and black shales with some quartzites

Lower: Dark slate and quartzite (highly folded) which probably may include some Precambrians.

Srikantia (1981) divided the group into three formations- Batal, Kunzam La and Thango
Formations in the ascending order.

Thickness: The maximum thickness of the strata is about 1200 m. (5000').

Contact relations: The contact between the underlying Salkhala Group is a little indefinite, though
recognisable. The overlying rocks belong to the Takche Formation.

Fossils and age: The oldest member, i.e. the Batal Formation is devoid of fossils. However, it is
assigned to Proterozoic age because it normally underlies a sequence of sediments in the
upper part of which there are Cambrian fossils. The Kunzam La Formation contains Olenus
haimantensis, Oryctocephalus salteri. Ptychoparia spitiensis, Redlichia noetlinqi, etc. which
are of Middle to Upper Cambrian age. The uppermost part of the group, namely the Thango
Formation contains fossils like Orthis (Dalmanella) testudinaria. Orthis (Dinorthis) thaki.
 9 GSI-CHQ-30691

Rafinesquina umbrella , etc. and is assigned Ordovician to Lower Silurian age. Thus, the
group includes strata ranging in age from Late Proterozoic to Lower Silurian.

HAPATNAR GROUP

Definition: The basal part of the Liddar valley, consisting of Palaeozoic sequence was designated as
Hapatnar Group by Srikantia and Bhargava (1983).

Etymology: It is named after the Hapatnar stream which cuts through an excellent section of this
group.

Lithology and thickness: The Group is about 4400 m thick and is divisible into i) Shumahal
Formation, ii) Rangmal Formation, and iii) Rishkobal Formation. It consists of shale,
siltstone, quartzarenite and diarnictite.

Contact relations: The base of this sequence is not exposed in the Lidder valley area. However, in
the Lolab valley of Kashmir, it rests over a thick sequence of carbonaceous slate, phyllite and
quartzarenite which can be compared with the Batal Formation of the Haimanta Group in the
Spiti-Zanskar basin (Srikantia et. al. 1978; Srikantia, 1981). The Hapatnar Group is overlain
by Chorgali Group in the Lidder valley area.

Fossils and age: No body -fossil was mentioned from Shumahal Formation of Hapatnar Group by
Srikantia and Bhargava (1983) who opined that the reported early Ordovician graptolites of
Berry and Gupta (1967) are probably from the Rangmal Formation. The Rishkobal Formation
contains the Silurian fossils described by Reed (1912) and Gupta et. al. (1967). Therefore, the
Hapatnar Group ranges in age from? Cambrian to Silurian or Lowermost Devonian, if the
limestone from which Gupta et. al. (1967) reportedly recovered conodonts is really part of the
Rishkobal Formation.

HUNDWARA FORMATION

Remarks: The name Hundwara Formation has been mentioned by Goel and Nair (1982) as a term
used by Wadia (1944). However, it may be mentioned that no such name is found in the
mentioned publication, though Wadia (op. cit.) maintained that the Cambrian sediments are
best developed in this area.

JUTOGH FORMATION

Definition: The name 'Jutogh' was first proposed by Oldham (1887) to a sequence of limestone,
calcareous schist and quartzite exposed at the Jutogh cantonment (31°06’N: 77°07’E) near
Simla in Himachal Pradesh. He coined the term Jutogh carbonaceous slates and limestones'.
 10 GSI-CHQ-30691

Pilgrim and West (1928) proposed the term Jutogh Series for a sequence of quartzite, schist,
hornblende schist and gneiss of the Simla hills. Srikantia et al. (1975) used the term Jutogh
Formation for the above sequence of strata.

Etymology: The formation derives its name from Jutogh town near Simla.

Lithology: Pilgrim and West (1928) gave the following classification of the rocks of the Jutogh
Series:

(Order of superposition uncertain)

1. Quartzite and schist

2. Crushed and banded dolomitic limestone, generally carbonaceous and often containing actinolite

3. Carbonaceous slate and phyllite (often garnetiferous)

4. Quartzite and mica-schist. Hornblende schist and gneiss are frequently intruded.

More recently, Sah et. al. (1977) subdivided the Jutogh clippe of Simla into the following
members:

Member Lithology Thickness (m)

E Member Carbonaceous schist, garnetiferous schist, staurolite schist, limestone and 450
garnetiferous amphibolite

D Member Cross-bedded, pale white to grey quartzite with interstratified 500

carbonaceous phyllite in upper part

C Member Chlorite-sericite phyllite, minor quartzite 1100

B Member Pale grey to white ripple-marked quartzite with carbonaceous phyllite 200
interstratified in the upper part

A Member Carbonaceous phyllites/schists, limestone, little quartzite 250

Jutogh Thrust

Thickness: The formation is about 2450 m thick.

Fossils and age: Sah et al. (1977) reported the following acritarch genera from B Member of the
Jutogh Formation: Anguloplanina, Barlinella. Ellipsaletes. Protosphaeridium and Pulvinomorpha
along with plate-like organic remains. According to these authors, Anguloplanina, Bavlinella and
Pulvinomorpha are restricted to Early Cambrian, i. e., along the Riphean-Cambrian boundary and they
assign Lower Cambrian age for B Member of the Jutogh Formation.

Remarks: Based mainly on the high grade of metamorphism displayed by the Jutogh rocks, Pilgrim
and West (1928), regarded them to be Archaean - an age more or less accepted by subsequent
workers. Gansser (1964) correlated the Jutogh rocks with those of the Salkhalas of Kashmir. Srikantia
and Bhargava (1978), however, considered that the Jutogh and the Salkhalas were two different
 11 GSI-CHQ-30691

entities. Recent palynological work suggest Lower Cambrian age for a part of this sequence (Sah et.
al., 1977).

KAIRA FORMATION

Remarks: This -formation is shown to overlie the Sundarnagar Formation of supposedly Cambrian
age in the table accompanying the publication by Ramji (1982). However, no formal proposal is
given.

KARIHUL FORMATION

Definition: A 600 m sequence overlying the Lolab Formation (Khaiyar Formation of Kumar et al.,
1984) in Lidder valley was named Karihul Formation by Kumar et. al. (1984).

Etymology: The formation is named after the Karihul village in Lidder val1ey.

Type area and distribution: The area around Karihul village in Lidder valley is designated as the
type area in the northern limb of the Lidder valley anticline. It is exposed in Danor Karihul
and north of Shumahal in the southern limb of the anticline and to the north of Veil. The
formation has been traced in the Lolab valley in northwestern Kashmir where it is about 600
m thick.

Lithology: The formation consists of greenish grey micaceous sandstone, siltstone, shale with
lenticular grey to white limestone and dolomite. The upper part is greenish grey sandy shale
with lenticular limestone bands. In the Lolab valley, the lithology is mostly sandstone and
siltstone with limestone and shale interbands and lenses at different levels.

Subdivisions: Kumar et. al. (1988) subdivided the Karihul Formation as follows:

Late Cambrian to Ordovician Greenish grey sandy shale with lenticular limestone interbands

Middle Cambrian Greenish grey micaceous sandstone, siltstone, (shale with

lenticular grey to white limestone/ dolomite occasionally oolitic
and pisolitic, occasional brown oval fucoid markings along
bedding surfaces. Fossiliferous in the upper part with Ptychoparia
sp. and worm tubes.

Contact relations: The lower and upper contacts of the formation in the Lidder valley is rather
transitional. In the Lolab valley an erosional contact is noted at the lower contact with the
Lolab Formation marked by the development of a conglomerate bed.
 12 GSI-CHQ-30691

Fossils and age: Kumar et. al. (1984) reported Ptychoparia sp. of Middle Cambrian age from the
lower part of the formation. They showed the upper part of the formation to be
unfossiliferous. Thus, the formation ranges in age from Middle Cambrian to ? Ordovician.

KUNZAM LA FORMATION

Definition: The middle part of the Haimanta Group overlying the Batal Formation and underlying the
Thango Formation in Spiti basin was named Kunzarn La Formation by Srikantia et. al (1978).

Etymology: The formation is named after the famous mountain pass Kunzarn La (32°23’30”N:
77°38’E) along the water divide between Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh.

Type area and distribution: The formation is typically developed around Kunzarn La in Spiti basin
of Himachal Pradesh.

Lithology: The formation comprises shale, slate, quartzite, siltstone, greywacke and dolomite.
Lithologically, it is divisible into five members from A to E (Srikantia, 1981) which will be
detailed in the subsequent paragraph.

Subdivisions: Srikantia (1981) subdivided Kunzarn La Formation into 5 members, A to E, in the

ascending order. Member A with a thickness of 750 m consists of flaggy to massive, grey quartzite
with slate partings. Member B comprises greyish green shale, slate, siltstone and greywacke with
intercalations of thinly bedded quartzite. Member C consists dominantly of flaggy quartzite. Member
D comprises an alternation of slate and quartzite, locally with thin bands of dolarenite and calcareous
slate. Member E comprises pale pink and brown quartzite, dolomite, shale and siltstone with
interbedded quartzite and calcareous quartzite with lenticular interbands of limestone and is
fossiliferous. The Members A, B and C are considered as Lower Kunzarn La Formation representing
a deeper water sequence with a flyschoid character. The Members D and E are considered shallow
water deposits.

Contact relations: The lower contact with Batal Formation is gradational and the upper contact with
the overlying Thango Formation is conformable.

Fossils and age: Member E of Kunzarn La Formation in the Parahio river section of Spiti contains
fossils of trilobites and brachiopods, namely, Redlichia noetlingi, Oryctocephalus salteri, Ptychoparia
spitiensis, Olenus haimantensis and Lingulella haimantensis. This assemblage indicates Middle to
Late Cambrian age for the rocks.

Remarks: As mentioned by Srikantia (1981) the Proterozoic - Palaeozoic boundary is largely

imperceptible in this section.
 13 GSI-CHQ-30691

KURNOOL GROUP (KURNOOL SYSTEM)

Definition: King (1869) named a thick succession of sandstone, limestone, shale and quartzite
developed along the Krishna river near Kurnool (15°50’N: 78°03’E) as Kurnool system. These strata
overlie unconformably the Cuddapah Group. The outcrops are seen in two detached patches, one in
the Kundair valley stretching up to the Krishna river and the other in the Palnad tract.

Etymology: The group derives its name from nearby Kurnool town.

Lithology: The rocks comprise coarse-grained sandstone, limestone and quartzite.

Classification: King (op. cit.) divided the rocks into 4 stages which are now being considered as -
formations. These are as follows:

Kundair Format ion (Nandyal shale Koilkkuntla limestone

Kurnool Group Paniam Formation Pinnacled quartzite Plateau quartzite

Jammalamadugu (Formation Auk (Owk) shale Narji limestone

Banganapalli Formation Banganapalli sandstone

Contact relations: The Kurnool Group of rocks rest unconformably on the Cuddapah Group.

Thickness: The thickness is estimated to be about 400 m.

Fossils and age: The Kurnool Group was considered un-fossiliferous as no recognisible fossils were
reported. However, subsequent palynological studies by Venkatachala (1979) are suggestive of
Cambrian age and the palynological assemblage is considered to compare well with the one found in
the Lower Vindyan Super Group.

Rajurkar (1963) reported discoidal impressions akin to Fermoria - from the Auk Shale of
Kurnool Group. He regards Kurnool Group as Upper Precambrian age.

LIHINWAN FORMATION (LIHINWAN SANDSTONE)

Definition: This formation was named by Shah (1972) to represent the Upper Cambrian to Middle
Ordovician of Anantnag district in southeast Kashmir. This possibly represents the sequence named as
"Greywacke Group" by Middlemiss (1910).

Etymology: The formation is named after the village of Lihinwan (33°45’N: 75°25’30”E) in
Gurdraman valley.

Type area and distribution: The formation is typically developed around Lihinwan in Naubag
valley. The rocks show a great degree o-f metamorphism to the northwest in Hapatnar valley,
especially near Shumahal and comprises sandy phyllite with copper mineralisation. The grade of
 14 GSI-CHQ-30691

metamorphism is also higher to the southeast in the Razpariyan valley where these rocks are
eventually overlapped by the Panjal trap.

Lithology: The formation consists of a heterogeneous succession of greywacke, banded sandstone

and sandy phyllite with varying sandstone/shale ratios laterally and vertically, but is uniformly
characterised by the predominance of sandstone over shale. The grade of metamorphism is higher in
the northwest in Hapatnar valley and in the southeast in Razpariyan valley. Towards the middle and
upper part of the formation, impersistent bands of massive and occasionally graded bedded greywacke
and dark pyritous shale are common.

Subdivisions: Shah (1972) subdivided the -formation into three distinct units as follows:

Graded bedded greywacke with interbedded shale massive pyritous

greywacke
Lihinwan Formation
Sandy slate and phyllite with interbedded sandstone

Thickness: The formation is estimated to be about 2370 m thick.

Contact relation: The lower contact with the Chhatargul Mudstone is gradational.

Fossil and age: Though nobody fossils were recorded, Shah (1972) suggested Cambro-Ordovician
age for the Lihinwan Sandstone.

Trace fossils are reported to be commonly found in these strata.

LOLAB FORMATION

Definition: A 3175 m thick rock sequence in Lolab valley comprising siltstone, sandstone and
conglomerate was name Lolab Formation by Kumar et al. (1984).

Type area and distribution: Lolab valley (34°30’N: 74°20’E) was designated as the type area for
this formation. Extensions of it are reported to occur in the Lidder valley in southeast Kashmir.

Lithology: The lithology is dominantly a siltstone with minor sandstone interbands and a thick
conglomerate in the lower part. The upper part is mainly siltstone with minor lenses and interbands of
sandstone and conglomerate.

Subdivisions: The Lolab Formation has been subdivided into two members as follows:

Member-B: Dominantly siltstone with sandstone and shale in the upper part with trilobites and
brachiopods

Member-A: Siltstone with ripple marks and interbands of sandstone; thick sandstone band in the
upper part with trace fossils
 15 GSI-CHQ-30691

Contact relations: The lower contact with Machhal Formation is conformable. The upper contact
with Karihul Formation is marked by an unconformity.

Fossils and age: In the Lolab Formation, two horizons of trace fossils, one at its base and the other at
1400 m above the base, are met with. The lower horizon of Member A contains Planolites of
beverieyensis, P. of. reticulatus, Planolites sp . and Bergaueria sp. while the upper horizon yielded
Gordia sp., Monomorphichnus sp., Phycodes sp. and Skolithos sp. Shah and Sudan (1983) also
recorded forms such as Monomorphichnus monolinearis, Phycodes palmatum, P. pedum, Planolites
corrugatus and trilobate scratch marks- Kupwaria fusiformis. Rusophycus sp. and Skolithos sp. which
appear to occupy a higher stratigraphic position than the upper horizon but are below 'Redlichia' zone.
Member A also contains microbiota, mainly cryptarchs, like Granornarginata, Kildinella,
Lophosphaeridium, Orygmatosphaeridium, ?Shahraidia; algae, like Myxococcoides sp.,
Palaeoanacystis sp., Sphaerophycus sp., etc. Thus, the lower part o-f Member A is Late Riphean to
Vendian in age whereas the upper part of Member A with trace fossils like Gordia sp, Phycodes sp.
and Skolithos sp. are basal Cambrian. The upper part of Member B contains trilobite fossils like
Redlichia notelingi, R. of. kanjazeri, Tungusella obesa and brachiopods like Botsfordia granulata and
Neobolus sp. This assemblage from the upper part of the formation is of Cambrian age.

MUDHOL FORMATION

Definition: Viswanathiah (1977) coined the stratigraphic unit Mudhol Formation for the upper part of
the Kaladgi Group exposed in Karnataka. The formation consists of a series of clastic and chemically
precipitated sediments, resting conformably on Yadahalli Argillite Member of the Lokapur
Formation.

Etymology: The formation derives its name from a place named Mudhol (16°20’N: 75°17’E) on the
Krishna river in Karnataka.

Lithology: This is a 205 m thick sequence comprising argillite, dolomite, breccia and quartzarenite.

Contact relations: The Mudhol Formation has a transitional facies contact with the underlying
Lokapur Formation. It is overlain by the Bhima Group with an unconformable contact.

Subdivisions: Based on the order of younging sequence, the Kaladgi Group is divided into 3
formations, namely, the Bagalkot Formation, Lokapur Formation and Mudhol Formation. The
Mudhol Formation is subdivided into four members based on distinctive internal lithological
variations of the constituent types.

Bhima Group

-----------------------------------------------Unconformity------------------------------------------------------------
 16 GSI-CHQ-30691

Mudhol Formation Machhkandi Argillite

Laksanhati Dolomite

Niralkeri Breccia

Vajramatti Quartzarenite

----------------------------------------Transitional facies contact--------------------------------------------------

Lokapur Formation

Thickness: The format ion is estimated to be 205 m in thickness.

Fossil and age: Viswanathiah et al. (1980) reported the following palynofossi1s from the Mudhol
Formation:

Calyptothrix, sp., Cephalophytarion sp. Eomycetopsis robusta, Eomucetopsis, sp.,Fibularix

mendlsohnii F. Funicula, Fibularix, sp., Gunflintia minuta, Heliconema sp., and Paleoanacrysists sp.
According to Viswanathia et. al. (1980, 1987) the fossil assemblage suggest middle to Late Cambrian
age for the Mudhol Formation.

NAN DA KOT FORMATION (NANDA KOT CONGLOMERATE)

Definition: Heirn and Gansser (1939) named a coarse conglomerate found on the Lwanl glacial
valley near Nanda Kot peak as Nanda Kot Conglomerate.

Etymology: The name is derived from the hill peak of Nanda Kot (30°15’N: 80°05’E) in the Central
Himalayas.

Lithology: The formation consists of a greenish quartzitic groundmass in which globular to oval
pebbles of a pale pinkish quartzite, up to the size of a head are embedded. The pebbles are partly
stretched. According to the size of the blocks, the corresponding layer must be at least 10 m thick.

Contact relations: This conglomerate is locally developed within Martoli Phyllites.

Fossils and age: No fossil is reported from this litho-unit and Ganssar (1964) considers it to represent
Precambrian-Cambrian transition.

NIRI CONGLOMERATES

Remarks: This is an informal term introduced by Goel and Nair (1982) as a unit of Cambrian rocks
in the Central/Tethys Himalayas, without substantial information on the stratigraphic characters.

PARAHIO GROUP (PARAHIO SERIES)

Definition: A series of sedimentary rocks previously described by Stoliczka (1865) and Greisbach
 17 GSI-CHQ-30691

(1891) was renamed as Parahio series by Hayden (1904) as he found the series to be particularly
different from the descriptions made by the previous authors.

Etymology: The name Parahio series was derived from the Parahio river (32°02’N: 77°55’E) where it
is typically exposed.

Type area and distribution: Left bank of Parahio river above Maopo. The lateral distribution of
these rocks up to Spiti area, has been mentioned by Hayden (1904).

Lithology: The series comprises slate, quartzite, shale and bands of dolomite, overlying slate and
quartzites of Precambrian age.

Subdivisions: Hayden (op. cit.) divided the Parahio series into two divisions in the Central
Himalayan range as follows:

Upper: Black shale and slate, with green and brown quartzites, and (locally) bands of dolomite, red
and green quartzites at base

Lower: Blue and black slates (weathering bright red) with carbonaceous slate.

The following subdivisions were proposed by Hayden (op. cit.) for the Spiti area where the
series is equally well developed:

Upper: Fossiliferous series of slate, quartzite and dolomite and only the lowest bed had been found in
the areas examined by previous workers (Stoliczka, Greisbach, etc.)

Middle: Bright red and black (ferruginous and carbonaceous) slates, with some quartzites.

Lower: Dark slate and quartzite.

Thickness: This is estimated to be 300 m (1188’) in Parahio valley and the total thickness of the
rocks would be between 600-1000 m (2000'-3000') in Spiti area.

Fossils and age: Many typical Cambrian trilobites were reported by Hayden and were identified by
Reed (1910) separately. These include Redlichia noetlinqi, Microdiscus griesbachi. Zacanthoides
indicus, Oryctocephalus of. reynoldsi, Ptychoparia pervulgata, Agrauloa aff. roberti, A.? fervidus,
Ptychoparia civicus. P. spitiensis, P. stracheyi, P. ureolata, P. defossa, P? himalaica, Agrau1os?
simulans, Microdiscus haimantensis. Orygtocephalus salteri , Ptychopar ia consociali s, P. admissa, P.
maopoensis, P. nobilis, P.? proeterica, P. memor, Bathyuriscus? stoliczkai . Dicel1ocephalus?
interpres and Olenus haimantensis.

Remarks: Though Hayden (1904) gave a detailed description of the rock types and eloquently argued
in favour of recognition of the name Parahio series, the term has not been favourably considered in
 18 GSI-CHQ-30691

the Indian geological literature and later authors favour the name Haimanta Group/system.

PHE FORMATION

Remarks: The term Phe Formation which requires a formal lithostratigraphic status in geological
literature, has been mentioned as a lithological unit of Cambrian age in the table presented by Goel
and Nair (1982.).

RALM FORMATION (RALAN CONGLOMERATE)

Definition: Heim and Gansser (1939) named this litho-unit after the Ralam Pass where it is best
developed.

Etymology: The name is derived from Ralam Pass (30°19’N: 80°17’E) in the Central Himalayas.

Lithology: The formation consists of rounded quartzite pebbles up to head size in a black to reddish
quartzite to greywacke-like ground mass.

Type area and distribution: The formation is best developed in the Ralam pass in the Central
Himalayas.

Thickness: About 1000 m.

Contact relations: Locally the conglomerate, which can be up to 1000 m thick, transgresses
unconformably on to the steeply dipping Martoli Phyllites.

Fossils and age: No fossil is reported from this conglomerate. However, it indicates a local
unconformity that corresponds to the base of Cambrian. The overlying Garbyang Formation has been
assigned to Cambrian.

Remarks: Mamgain and Mishra (1989) opined that this conglomerate is of Odovician age.

RAMGARH FORMATION

Remarks: The name Ramgarh Formation has been mentioned by Goel and Nair (1982) for a part of
Cambrian rocks in Himachal Pradesh. However, a formal introduction o-f this lithological term is still
awaited.

SARJU VALLEY QUARTZITE FORMATION

Remarks: This formation belongs to the upper part of the Calcareous. Zone of Pithoragarh in the
Badolisera area and consists of purple, green, violet and red slates and light coloured quartzite. These
are considered equivalent of the Shali Quartzites of the Simla hills (Misra and Sharma, 1968).
 19 GSI-CHQ-30691

The rocks underlying the Tejam Formation of supposedly Cambrian age was mentioned as
Sarju Formation by Ramji (1982) in the table accompanying the publication.

SHALI FORMATION

Remarks: The bluish limestone covering the southern flank of Shali ridge north of Simla was named
Shali limestone by Palmer (1921). McMohan (1877) had doubtfully correlated these rocks with the
Infra-Blaini or with the Krol series. Pilgrim and West (1928) regarded the position of the Shali
Limestone as uncertain but in their table (op. cit, p.3) it is placed between the Simla Slates and the
Blaini Boulder Bed. Later work by West (1940) suggested that the Shali Series might probably be
homotaxial with the Krol series. The stromatolite assemblages suggested Lower to Middle Riphean
age (Raha and Sastry, 1982) for the formation. It encompasses four biostratigraphic zones as follows:

Baicalia assemblage Zone

Conophyton - Colonnella assemblage Zone

Colonella - Baicalia assemblage Zone

Colonella - Kusiella assemblage Zone

Its lithostratigraphy has been worked out by Srikantia and Sharma (1977) subdividing it into
eight members. It is overlain by the Simla Group followed up by the Blaini Formation.

SHAMS ABARI FORMATION

Remarks: The name Shams Abari Formation, that has been assigned to Cambrian, has been utilised
by Goel and Nair (1982) in the table accompanying the text. The authorship of this term has been
awarded to Wadia (1944). However, a careful reading of this publication reveals non-existence of any
such term and only a mention about the good outcrops of Cambrian sediments near Shams Abari had
been made.

SHUHAHAL FORMATION

Definition: The oldest formation exposed in the Lidder valley was named Shuumahal Formation by
Srikantia and Bhargava (1983).

Etymology: The formation was named after the village Shurnahal in the Hapatnar valley.

Lithology and thickness: The formation is about 3500 m thick and is divisible into two members as
shown below:
 20 GSI-CHQ-30691

Member B A thick sequence of alternate beds of olive green to grey banded siltstone, shale,
greywacke, micaceous sandstone showing graded bedding, load casts and current ripple
marks

Member A siltstone, argillite with local interbeds of arenite and carbonaceous shale

Base not exposed

Contact relations: The base of the sequence is not exposed in Lidder valley. It is conformably
overlain by Rangmal Formation.

Fossils and age: No body fossil is known from Shumahal Formation. However, on the basis of the
reported occurrence of Ordovician graptolites (Berry and Gupta (1967) in the overlying Rangmal
Formation, the age was extrapolated to Cambrian age by Srikantia and Bhargava (1983).

SIMLA FORMATION

Remarks: The name Simla Formation of Cambrian age has been mentioned by Goel and Nair (1982)
in the table accompanying the paper. However, a formal proposal of this lithological term is wan ting.

SUNDARNAGAR FORMATION

Remarks: The name Sundarnagar Formation for a sequence of rocks of presumably Cambrian age in
Simla area has been mentioned by Ramji (1982) in the table accompanying the publication and formal
proposal is wanting.

TAL FORMATION (TAL BEDS)

Definition: The rocks originally considered to be yielding the only Pre-Tertiary fossils, overlying the
Nummulitic rocks in the Tal valley immediately east of Ganges in this part of Lesser Himalaya in
southwestern Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, are named as Tal Beds by Medlicott (1878).

Etymology: The formation is named after the type section in the Tal valley (30°00’N: 78°19’E).

Lithology: Soft, dark shale, greywacke and pale cliff forming quartzite.

Type area and distribution: Medlicott (1878) originally discovered the rocks to the east of Ganges
in the Garhwal area. Pilgrim and West (1928) showed the occurrence of these beds in four separate
basins, extending a length of over 170 km.

Classification: Middlemiss (1910) originally described the Tal beds into lower and upper divisions.
However, Auden (1933) proposed the following classifications including both the lower and upper
Tals in his upper Tal beds, though Auden's lower Tal is typically absent in the area mapped by
Middlemiss, i.e., in Garhwal.
 21 GSI-CHQ-30691

Upper Tals Dark limestone and calcareous sandstone; quartzite shale

Massive arkosic sandstone or quartzite; pebble beds shale

Lower Tals Micaceous shale or slate with a few quartzites

Thick series of carbonaceous shale and dark greywacke, in massive beds marked out by
finer bedding and current bedding. These pass laterally in tough phyllites.

Black chert beds and carbonaceous shale or slate.

In a more recent classification, after the discovery of trilobite fauna in the Tal Formation,
Kumar et al. (1983) divided this formation into Lower and Upper Tals, dividing them further into
members. This classification is as follows:

Tal Formation Upper Pulchatti Quartzite Member

Lower Calcareous Member

Arenaceous Member

Argillaceous Member

Chert Phosphorite Member

Thickness: Auden (1933) estimated the thickness to be 540 m (1800) at the western end and 1050 m
(3500) at the eastern end in Garhwal area.

Fossils and age: With the discovery of small size fossil corals, gastropods, bivalves and cephalopoda
in the rocks by Middlemiss (op. cit.), these rocks were considered to be Mesozoic - probably Jurassic
age. On the basis of recent discoveries of trilobite and shelly faunas in the Lower Tal Formation by
Kumar et. al. (1983) and Tripathi et. al. (1986). it is now accepted that the Tal Formation is of
Cambrian age.

TEJAM FORMATION

Remarks: Tejam Formation of the Garhwal Group is a name mentioned by Ramji (1982) for a
sequence of rocks in Almora district of Uttar Pradesh but no formal proposal is given. Except for
stromatolites of Proterozoic age, the Garhwal Group does not contain any body fossil. However, some
workers consider them to belong to Cambrian for no obvious reason.

VINDHYAN SUPERGROUP

Definition: Oldham (1856) proposed the name Vindhyan 'System' for a sequence mainly comprising
sandstone, shale and limestone which overlie the Bijawars and/or equivalent strata in Central India.

Etymology: The supergroup derives its name from the Vindhyan mountain range in Central India.
 22 GSI-CHQ-30691

Lithology: The supergroup consists mainly of sandstone, shale and limestone with minor
conglomerate and thin porcellanic shale in its lower part.

Thickness: 1180 m.

Contact relations: The Lower Vindhyan rocks in the Son valley have localised, but conspicuous,
discordant relation with the Bijawar rocks. In Rajasthan, the Lower Vindhyan strata are seen to
overlie the Aravalli and/or the pre-Aravalli rocks with distinct discordance (Prasad, 1975). The Lower
Vindhyan rocks are unconformably overlain by the Upper Vindhyan rocks, but mostly, the Kaimur
Group overlaps the Lower Vindyans and directly rests over the Bijawar and/or Araval1i rocks.

Type area and distribution: The Vindhyan Supergroup occupies a large basin extending from Dehri-
on-son to Housangabad and from Chittaurgarh to Agra.

Subdivisions: Oldham (1856) divided the Vindhyan rocks into three units for the central Indian area.
These are:

3. Bhander Series

2. Rewa Series

1. Kaimur Series

Below these divisions, there was a series of limestone, shale and sandstone which was named
Semri 'series’ in Bundelkhand (Medlicott, 1860) and sub-Kaimur in the Son valley (Medlicott in
Oldham,( 1856). Mallet (1869) proposed the following classification for the Vindhyan rocks:

Upper Vindyans:

Upper Bhander Upper Bhander sandstone

Lower Bhander Sirbu shale

Lower Bhander sandstone

Bhander limestone

Ganurgarh shale

Upper Rewah Upper Rewah sandstone

Lower Rewah Jhiri shale

Lower Rewah sandstone

Panna shale

Upper Kaimur Upper Kaimur sandstone

Kaimur conglomerate
 23 GSI-CHQ-30691

Lower Kaimur Bijaigarh shale

Lower Kaimur sandstone

Lower Vindyans: 11. Limestone

10. Shale

9. Limestone

8. Shaly sandstone

7. Limestone

6. Shaly sandstone

5. Porcellanic shale

4. Trappoid shale

3. Porcellanic shale

2. Limestone

1. Conglomerate and calcareous sandstone

Following the work of Dutta (1895) and Vredenburg (1906), Auden (1933) worked out the
following sequence for the Vindhyan Supergroup in the Son valley:

Upper Kaimur stage Dhandraul quartzite

Scarp sandstone

Kaimur 'series' Lower Kaimur stage Bijaigarh shale

Upper quartzite

Susnai conglomeritic breccia

Silicified shale

Lower quartzite

Rohtas stage Limestone and shale

Nodular limestone and shale

Banded shale

Limestone

Nodular limestone and shale

Semri 'series' Kheinjua 'stage' Glauconite beds

Fawn limestone

Olive series

Porcellanite 'stage' Porcellanite, etc.

 24 GSI-CHQ-30691

Basal 'stage' Kajrahat limestone

Basal conglomerate

Sastry and Moitra (1984) proposed a generalised classification for the Vindhyan Supergroup
and this has been updated by Mathur (1987), the latter incorporating more-frequently-used names of
formations/members than the former classification. Mathur's (op. cit.) classification is as follows:

Bhander Group:

Kuarpura Shale (Upper Bhander Shale)

Lakheri Limestone (Upper Bhander Limestone)

Maihar Sandstone (Upper Bhander Sandstone)

Sirbu Shale

Bundi Sandstone (Lower Bhander Sandstone)

Samria Shale

Nagode Limestone (Lower Bhander Limestone)

Ganurgarh Shale (Simrawal Shale)

Rewah Group:

Karauli Quartzite (Upper Rewah Sandstone)

Jhiri Shale

Itwa Quartzite (Lower Rewah Sandstone)

Panna Shale

Paisuni Formation

Kaimur Group:

Dhandraul Quartzite (Kaimur Quartzite or Sandstone)

Bijaigarh Shale

Markundi Quartzite (Upper Quartzite)

Gurma Shale (Silicified Shale)

 25 GSI-CHQ-30691

Ghaghar Quartzite (Lower Quartzite)

Pipartola Conglomerate (Kaimur Conglomerate)

Semri Group:

Son valley Bundelkhand Rajasthan

Rohtas limestone Tirohan Limestone Suket Shale, Nimbahera Limestone, Bari

Shale (Nimbahera Shale)

Basuhari Sandstone Flaggy glauconitic beds Jiran Sandstone

Bargawan Limestone (Fawn Palkawan Shale Binota Shale

Limestone)
(Palkao Schist) Palri Sawa Sandstone
Kheinjua Shale (Olive Shales)
Chopan Porcellanite (Porcellani te
Stage)

Kajrahat Limestone Ken Limestone Bhagwanpura Limestone

Arangi Formation (Basal beds) Pandwa Fall Khardeola Sandstone

Quartzite

(Semri Sandstone)

Presence of glacial environment during Pre-Vindhyan time to early Cambrian period has been
postulated by several workers while discussing the sedimentary structure, environment of deposition,
palaeogeography, etc. Ahmed (1971) reported occurrence of ice-crystal pseudomorphs and considered
that the shales probably indicate a cold climate. Ice-crystal marks have been reported from Rohtas
Shales by Rao and Neel Kantarn (1970) (quoted in Gupta, 1982), besides other evidences for cold
climate.

Glacial origin of Semri basal conglomerate of the Vindhyan and of Gangau Tillite of Bijawar
Group was proposed by Dubey and Chaudhary (1951, quoted in the unpublished report of the
Geological Survey of India by Gupta, 1982). Mathur (1954) and others while placing the Gangau
Tillites in the Bijawar Group consider it as tillite bed between Bijawar and Vindhyan and correlate
this with the world-wide refrigeration, which had prevailed during the pre-Vindhyan time,
correlatable to Sturtian Tillite of Australia and Numees-Griguo town Tillite of Africa.

Fossils and age: The Vindyans yielded only doubtful animal fossils. Some small and minute organic
bodies were found by Middlemiss and Jones (1909) in the Suket shales at the top of Semri Group near
Rampura (24°28’N: 75°27’E). Sahni and Srivastava (1954) summarised the different opinions on
these fossils and identified Chauria or Obolella circularis, Fermoria sp., Krishnania acuminata and
Protobolella sp. from the Vindhyan rocks. Misra (1949) reported algal remains referable to
dasycladaceae and the forms identified are Apidium, Coelosphaeridium and Cyclocrinus. Bose
 26 GSI-CHQ-30691

(1956), Ghosh and Bose (1950), Misra and Awasthi (1962), Misra and Bhatnagar (1950), Misra and
Dubey (1952), Shitholey et al (1953) and others reported various forms of organic remains from this
supergroup Saluja et al. (1971) reported 25 microfossil species in them. The significant forms are:
Baltisphaeridium scilatum, Leiosphaeridia pellucida. Leiosphaeridia tenella. Lophosphaeridium
jansonius. Michrystridium shitholeyi. Oodium ventricosum, Protoleiosphaeridium diatretus.
Pterospermopsis typicus, Tasmanites sp. and Zonosphaeridium dignatum and the authors suggested
Cambrian age for the biota. Venkatachala (1976) reviewed the microbiota of the Vindhyan
Supergroup and suggested Cambrian age for the Lower Vindyans and Late Cambrian to Silurian age
for the Upper Vindyans. Maithy and Shukla (1977) recorded a rich microbiota consisting of algae,
fungi and acritarchs from the Suket Shales. The assemblage reported include Archaeofavosina,
Granomarginata, Kildinella, Nucellosphaeridium, Orygmatosphaeridium, Protosphaeridium,
Symplassosphaeridium, Tasmanites, Vavosphaeridium and Zonosphaeridium.

However, they did not comment on the age.

Singh and Chandra (1987) have described fossil jellyfish Rohtasia tandoni (gen. et. sp. nov.)
from the Rohtas Limestone Formation of the Semri Group, Lower Vindhyan at Murali Hill, Bihar and
placed it in middle part of the Late Pre-Cambrian.

Valdiya (1980) mentioned that the assemblage of stromatolites in the Mindhyan like Baicalia.
Calomella, Kussiella and Conophyton cylindericus indicate a mid-Riphean age. Minjaria, Collania,
Parva, Tungussia, Platella and Irreqularia were Upper Riphean to Vendian forms. Srivastava and
Mehrotra (1980) described Collenia cylinderica, C. frequens, C. kusienns, Mammicus or Panis
collania from Fawn Limestone (Dolostone) and assigned Pre-Cambrian age to the assemblage.

Khan (1973) recorded a cast of a brachiopod comparable to the Salt Range genus Orthis from
the Jodhpur Sandstone (Marwar Supergroup). Burman (1980) has also reported cast of primitive
bivalves of Cambrian affinity from the rocks of Jodhpur Group (Marwar Supergroup).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors thank the Director General and the Senior Deputy Director General (Op.) for
constant encouragement and guidelines, to Sri. P. R. Chandra, Director, Stratigraphy Cell, for
guidance and advice, to S/Shri. K. Adhikary, S.T.A. (Geol.) and B. Rajakumar, J.T.A.(Geol.) for
assistance, and to Dr. P. K. Raha, Geologist (Sr.) for valuable suggestions and help in useful
discussions.
 27 GSI-CHQ-30691

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 29 GSI-CHQ-30691

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 30 GSI-CHQ-30691

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 31 GSI-CHQ-30691

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 32 GSI-CHQ-30691

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 33 GSI-CHQ-30691

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'Window' near Simla.

A LIST OF CAMBRIAN MEGA-FOSSILS

SPECIES LOCALITY HORIZON

** PHYLUM : ANNILIDA

* GENERIC NAME : Allonia

1 erromenosa On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

2 sp .of .erromenosa On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME : Anabarites

3 trisulcatus On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME: Auriculatespira

4 andunca On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali village on the Rishikesh-
Deoprayag Highway in Uttar Pradesh.

5 madianensis On the right bank o-f the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME: Berqaueria

6 sp. Kashmir Cambrian, Kashmir

*GENERIC NAME : Circotheca

7 sp. On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Lit tar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME : Didymaulichnus

8 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Dimidia

9 simpleca On the right bank o-f the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Lit tar
 34 GSI-CHQ-30691

Pradesh.

10 sp. of. simpleca On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME : Dimorphichnus

11 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Diplichnites

12 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Diplocraterion

13 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME: Gyrochorte

14 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME: Hyolithellus

15 sp. On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar-Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME: Laevicyclus

16 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur ; Kumaun Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME: Lenneia

17 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun

* GENERIC NAME: Lorenzia

18 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun

* GENERIC NAME: Monomorphichnus

19 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME: Olivoides

20 alveus On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME: Pelaqiellaus

21 lorenzi On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar-Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME: Phycodes

22 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun .

 35 GSI-CHQ-30691

* GENERIC NAME: Plaqioqmus

23 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Planolites

24 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur; Kumaun Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Pycodes

25 pedum Spiti and Kinnaur Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Rouaultia

26 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun

* GENERIC NAME : Rusophycus

27 sp. Kashmir Cambrian, Kashmir

28 sp. Spiti and Kinnaur; Kumaun Cambrian, Zanskar

* GENERIC NAME : Scolicia

29 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun

* GENERIC NAME : Scoyena

30 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun

* GENERIC NAME : Spirellusa

31 columnorus On the right bank o-f the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME : Teichichnus

32 sp. Kumaun Cambrian, Kumaun

* GENERIC NAME: Tiksitheca

33 korobovi On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the
Rishikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Lit tar
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME: : Turkutheca

34 sp. On the right bank of the Ganga river between Cambrian, Uttar Pradesh
Kauriyala and Singtali villages on the Ri
shikesh-Deoprayag Highway in Uttar Pradesh.

** PHYLUM: ARTHROPODA

GENERIC NAME: Agnostus

35 of rankurensis Middle Cambrian shales of Hundwara in Middle Cambrian, Kashmir

Kashmir

36 sp. 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

 36 GSI-CHQ-30691

37 spitiensis Changnu encamping ground, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: Agraulos

38 simulans Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: Agraulos?

39 aff. Roberti Horizon no. 2, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

40 fervidus Horizon no. 2, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Anomocare

41 conjunctiva Changnu encamping ground, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

42 dimotum Rainawari -foot-path, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

43 hundwarense Rainawari foot-path, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

44 novatum 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

45 perfunctum 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

46 perfunctum Junction of Rainawari foot-path with main road Cambrian, Kashmir

to Hundwara

47 sp. 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

48 sp. Changnu encamping ground, Spiti Cambrian ,Spiti

49 suspectum 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Anomocarella

50 memor Middle Cambrian shales of Hundwara in Middle Cambrian, Kashmir

Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Bathyuriscus

51 stoliczkai Horizon no. 13, Parahio valley Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Blountia

52 sp. 4.0 km north of Marhaurn (Pishaltong pass), Cambrian, Kashmir

Hundwara

* GENERIC NAME : Changshania

53 nupera 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Chuangia

54 sp. 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

55 subangulata 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

56 wadapurensis 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

 37 GSI-CHQ-30691

* GENERIC NAME : Conocoryphe

57 frangtenqensis Foot of Frangteng Hill (2,090)Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

58 sejuncta 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

59 sejuncta Junction of Rainawari foot-path with main road Cambrian, Kashmir

to Hundwara

60 sejuncta Near Sultanpur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Conocoryphe (Ctenocephalus)

61 sp. 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Conocoryphe (Ctenocephalus)

62 sp. Rainawari foot-path, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Corynexochus

63 sp. Rainawari foot-path, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

64 sp. Junction of Rainawari foot-path with main road Cambrian, Kashmir

to Hundwara

* GENERIC NAME: Dicel1ocephalus ?

65 interpres Horizon no. 13, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: Dolichometopus

66 subtuberculatus 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME: Hundwarella

67 personata 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

68 personata Near Sultanpur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

69 remota 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME: Microdiscus

70 qriesbachi Horizon no. 2, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

71 haimantensis Horizon no9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

72 sp. 2.4 km southeast of Dardapur Forest Rest Cambrian, Kashmir

House, on road to Nagmarg

* GENERIC NAME: Olenus

73 haimantensis Horizon no. 13, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: Oryctocephalus

74 of reynoldsi Horizon no. 2, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

75 salteri Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: Prosaukia

 38 GSI-CHQ-30691

76 middlemissi 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

77 middlernissi Junction of Rainawari foot-path with main road Cambrian, Kashmir

to Hundwara

* GENERIC NAME : Ptychoparia

78 admissa Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

79 consocialis Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

80 dardapurensis 2.4 km southeast of Dardapur Forest Rest Cambrian, Kashmir

House, on road to Nagmarg

81 defossa Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

82 himalaica Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

83 hostilis Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

84 maopoenis Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

85 pervulgata Horizon no. 2, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

86 praeterita Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

87 spitiensis Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

88 stracheyi Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

89 urceolata Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Ptychoparia (Conocephalites)

90 hesterna Horizon no. 6, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

91 memor Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Ptychoparia (Liostracus)

92 civica Horizon no. 4, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Redlichia

93 noet1ingi Ravine, WSW of Muth Cambrian, Spiti

94 noetlingi In the western part of the Nigalidhar syncline on Cambrian, Himachal

southern slopes of the ridge about 808 m. N Pradesh
70°E of Ganog, Sirmur district, Himachal
Pradesh.

95 sp. In the western part of the Nigalidhar syncline on Cambrian, Himachal

southern slopes of the ridge about 800 m. N Pradesh
70°E of Ganog, Sirmur district, Himachal
Pradesh

* GENERIC NAME: Saukia (Briscoia?)

96 vagans 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : : Saukia (Briscoia)

97 vaqans Rainawari foot-path, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

 39 GSI-CHQ-30691

* GENERIC NAME : : Schangtungia

98 of. freguens Horizon no. 9, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: : Solenopleura

99 lydekkeri Rainawari foot-path, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME: Solenopleura ?

100 sp. 2.4 km southeast of Dardapur Forest Rest Cambrian, Kashmir

House, on road to Nagmarg

* GENERIC NAME: Tonkinella

101 breviceps 8.0 km -from Hundwara on the road to Cambrian, Kashmir

Zachaldor in the Talar valley

102 kashmirica 40 km north of Marhaum (Pishaltong pass), Cambrian, Kashmir

Hundwara

103 kashmirica 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

104 kashmirica Junction of Rainawari -foot-path with main road Cambrian, Kashmir
to Hundwara

105 quadrifida 2.8 km WNW of Wadapur, Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Zacanthoides

106 indicus Horizon no. 2, Parahio valley, Spiti Cambrian, Spiti

** PHYLUM : BRACHIOPODA

* GENERIC NAME :Acrothele

107 aff .subsidua? Zachaldar-Hundwara Teshil Cambrian, Kashmir

108 of. spurii Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

109 praestans Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

110 sp. Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

111. vertex Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Acrotreta

112 parahioens: Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Botsfordia

113 of. Caelata? Frangteng Hill Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME: Diadongia

114. sp. of pista Cambrian, Garhwal

* GENERIC NAME: Dicellomus

115. sp. of. politus Near Saltanpur-Hundwara tehsil CambrianKashmir

116. sp. Near Saltanpur-Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

 40 GSI-CHQ-30691

* GENERIC NAME: Linqulella

117. of. caelata Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

118 haimantensis Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

119 sp. Frangteng Hill-Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

120 sp. Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

121 sp. In the western part of the Nigalidhar syncline on Cambrian, Himachal
southern slopes of the ridge about 800 m. N Pradesh
70°E of Ganog, Sirmur district, Himachal
Pradesh.

122 spitiensis Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Lingulepis

123 sp. Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

* GENERIC NAME: Lingulepis ?

124 sp. WNW of Wadapur-Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME: Nisusia

125 depsaensis Depsa Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

* GENERIC NAME : Obolella

126 cf. atlantica Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

127 cf. crassa Parahio river Cambrian, Kanaur and Spiti

128 sp. In the western part of the Nigalidhar syncline on Cambrian, Himachal
southern slopes o-f the ridge about 800 m. N Pradesh
70°E of Ganog, Sirmur district, Himachal
Pradesh.

* GENERIC NAME : Obolus

129 kashmiricus WNW of Wadapur-Hundwara tehsil Cambrian, Kashmir

130 sp. Near Shubrial-Lolah valley Cambrian, Kashmir

* GENERIC NAME : Obulus (Westonia)

131 sp. Parahio river Cambrian, Kashmir