Fossil Wood From Miocene Epoch (Manchar Formation, Sindh): Reconstruction Of Paleo-Climate And Paleoecology With The Help Of Morphological And Stable Carbon (13c) Isotopic Studies; Comparison Of Climate With The Same Age Wood Specimens In The World

Abstract

Sedimentary docks are found worldwide and include a variety of fossils, including wood, plant, and invertebrate fossils, as well as imprints that provide insight into the planet's prehistoric climatic and geographical conditions. The petrified wood fossils collected from the Manchar Formation of Miocene in age, to reconstruct the paleo-environment Paleoecology of the area with help of morphological and stable carbon isotopic studies of δ13C. 115 fragmented wood fossil specimens collected from the study area buried into soil and exposed on the surface from the Manchar Formation. After careful examination, seven specimens probably the part of stem, clean and not weathered have been selected for the anatomical and isotopic studies. For the purpose of anatomical studies, three types of thin sections i.e. Transverse, Radial and Tangential were prepared. These 21 thin sections from seven wood fossils specimens were studied under simple Polarizing Microscope. On the basis of anatomical studies five species including four new wood fossils species reported from the study area. On basis of anatomical features, identified wood fossils species compared with the modern hard wood species. Seven pulverized wood fossils specimens sent to the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, Pakistan for (Solid-state Cross-Polarization Magic Angle Spinning Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance CPMAS δ13C NMR analysis. Results of isotopic analysis of δ13C ‰VPDB values are ranging from -22.16‰ to -28.35‰. With the help of the range of δ13C ‰VPDB values specified for the C3, C4 and CAM plants, it is observed that analyzed wood fossils specimens belong to the C3 plants. C3 plants also referred as a ―Temperate plants. Both anatomical observations and Carbon Isotopic analysis confirmed that Sindh had temperate climate during Miocene time and received sufficient rainfall with wet climate. Climate of Sindh has changed with the passage of time and became arid, desert and hot type.VII