Palynological and Molecular Imprints of Permian Palaeofires in Gondwana Coal‐Bearing Sediments

ABSTRACT The present study is a multi‐proxy approach combining palynofacies analysis and spectroscopic techniques including Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the investigation of the palaeofire signals and the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in the Artinskian sediments (Barakar Formation ~290–283 Ma) of the Godavari Valley coalfield (GVC), South India. Samples collected from the Godavari Khani Open Cast (GKOC) mine and borehole MSM show palaeofire intervals. These palaeofire intervals are recorded by high‐intensity or h ‐PAL‐CH and low‐intensity or l ‐PAL‐CH microcharcoal particles. There are high positive correlations of second‐order Raman spectroscopy with PAL‐CH and aromatic condensation. Complementary FTIR spectroscopy reveals some of the important functional groups in the palaeofire affected samples. Together, these proxies provide a high‐resolution reconstruction of Permian palaeofire regimes and their geochemical trails and advance the understanding of palaeoecology.