Ancient Gondwana wildfires recorded in Indian coal
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BSIP (DST) researchers reported molecular evidence of massive wildfires in Gondwana forests nearly 250 million years ago. Using palynofacies analysis with Raman and FTIR spectroscopy on Godavari Valley Coalfield sediments, they separated high- and low-intensity fire-derived microcharcoal from other opaque particles. The study is in Geological Journal (Wiley).
- Release
- 25 May 2026, DST / BSIP
- Age
- nearly 250 million years ago (Permian)
- Place
- Gondwana coal-bearing sediments, Godavari Valley Coalfield
- Methods
- palynofacies + Raman spectroscopy + FTIR spectroscopy
- Finding
- high-intensity (h-PAL-CH) vs low-intensity (l-PAL-CH) fire microcharcoal
- Journal
- Geological Journal (Wiley)
Permian palaeofires in Gondwana coal: what happened?
Most Indian coal is Gondwana coal from the Permian. Showing that wildfires shaped those forests helps explain how coal formed and how climate and vegetation interacted long before humans.
- Earlier work relied mainly on microscopy and struggled to tell OX-CH (oxidised opaque phytoclasts) from PAL-CH (fire-induced opaque phytoclasts).
- Molecular clues include second-order Raman features linked to structural ordering (PAHs) and FTIR groups of thermal alteration.
- Aim: sharper palaeofire reconstructions and better long-term climate models for Gondwana basins.
What is BSIP?
- Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology.
Why does Permian palaeofires in Gondwana coal matter?
- Environment / geography: Fire history of Gondwana coal basins.
- Method: Molecular tools added to charcoal microscopy.
What can Prelims ask on Permian palaeofires in Gondwana coal?
- Permian palaeofires ~250 million years ago in Godavari Valley Coalfield Gondwana sediments.
- BSIP multi-proxy: palynofacies, Raman, FTIR.
- Distinguishes h-PAL-CH and l-PAL-CH from OX-CH.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-05-25): researchers found molecular evidence of massive wildfires in Gondwana forests about 250 million years ago, preserved in Indian Permian coal.
- Palaeofires shaped climate and coal formation.
Quotable data pointResearchers found molecular evidence of massive wildfires in Gondwana forests about 250 million years ago, preserved in Indian Permian coal.
PIB: DST: palaeofires in coal, 25 May 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: Gondwana vs Tertiary coal.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
The BSIP palaeofire study focuses on coal-bearing sediments of the
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (DST), 25 May 2026.
PAL-CH in the study refers to
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (DST), 25 May 2026.
Questions students ask about this
Where were the palaeofire sediments studied?
Gondwana coal-bearing sediments of the Godavari Valley Coalfield.
Which institute led the work?
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (DST).
What do h-PAL-CH and l-PAL-CH mean?
High- and low-intensity palaeofire-derived microcharcoal particles.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: DST: palaeofires in coal, 25 May 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending