Glossopteris Fossils Discovered in Jharkhand | 23 Feb 2026

Why in News?

Open-cast coal mines in Jharkhand’s North Karanpura Basin have yielded an extraordinary collection of plant fossils, offering new insights into ancient ecosystems that existed nearly 290 million years ago, when India formed part of the southern supercontinent Gondwanaland.

Key Points:

• Fossil Discoveries: Researchers recovered fossils belonging to at least 14 species of Glossopteris and related plants from shale layers in the Ashoka Coal Mine. 
  • These include leaves, roots, spores, and pollen impressions indicating a rich prehistoric floral assemblage.
• Gondwanan Vegetation: Glossopteris was a dominant group of seed plants across the southern continents during the Permian period.
  • Its abundance in Jharkhand reflects dense swampy forests and interconnected river networks that once existed in the region.
• Juvenile Male Cone Discovery: A globally significant discovery at the site is the first documented juvenile male cone of Glossopteris in the Damodar Basin. 
• Marine Signatures: Petrographic and geochemical analyses (including framboidal pyrite and high sulphur content) suggest brackish water conditions and possible Permian marine incursions in the basin around 280–290 million years ago, advancing our understanding of past sea level changes.
• Scientific Importance: The findings were published in the International Journal of Coal Geology and contribute to reconstructing ancient climates and continental environments.