MICROFAUNA FROM QUILON FORMATION (MIOCENE), KERALA

Abstract

The Padappakara type locality and Pozhikkara cliff section of the Quilon Beds where visited and studied. The samples of the carbonaceous shale of the Quilon Beds in Pozhikkara cliff section where analyzed to derive fossil microfauna, dominated by benthic foraminifers, ostracods and fish otoliths mainly gobiids. The microfaunal assemblage almost confirms the Lower Miocene age suggested for the Quilon Beds by previous authors ( Rao et al, 1975; Mehrotra, 1982; Reuter et al, 2010). The Fossil microfauna also points .a shallow marine environment as said by previous authors like Rao et al (1975) and Reuter et al (2010). Supporting the fossil data, the strontium isotope dating conducted in a few Pelecypod shells derived from the carbonaceous shale of the Quilon Beds in Pozhikkara cliff section gave result of 17.43 Ma confirming a late Burdigalian age. The Burdigalian age of the Quilon Beds was suggested previously by Reuter et a] (2010).