Biomarker Signatures in Cretaceous Sediments of An Island Continent

Summary The unique position of Indian plate during the Early Cretaceous draws our attention to study the paleofloral diversity on the Indian continent. An attempt has been made to investigate the distribution of biological markers of Early Cretaceous shale of Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin, Early Cretaceous coal and shale of Kutch Basin and Late Cretaceous shale from Deccan Intertrappean sediments. The terpenoid composition of Early Cretaceous samples of Kutch and KG Basin is represented by the significant occurrence of diterpenoids in both aliphatic and aromatic fractions. However, the Late Cretaceous sediments are dominated by angiosperm derived triterpenoids. Therefore, the present study clearly suggests that the angiosperms evolved in the island continent during the Late Cretaceous.