RECORD OF LATE EOCENE (PRIABONIAN) NANNOFOSSILS FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE REWAK FORMATION, GARO HILLS, MEGHALAYA, NORTHEASTERN INDIA

We report here moderately diversified, fairly well-preserved calcareous nannofossil assemblage of Priabonian age comprising twenty three species from the Rewak Formation exposed along the Siju-Rewak road section, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Out of the fifty five samples, forty seven were collected from the lower part of the Rewak Formation and only one sample (SR 23) yielded identifiable calcareous nannofossils. Rare nannofossils occurring at few other levels in the profile are badly preserved precluding identification. The last occurrence (LAD) of Cribrocentrum reticulatum marks the zonal boundary between NNTe13 and NNTe14 zones of Varol (1998) in latest Priabonian (within NP21 Zone of Martini, 1971) and LAD of Pemma papillatum marks the Priabonian/ Rupelian boundary. Presence of P. papillatum in the recovered assemblage along with the absence of C. reticulatum suggests late Eocene (Priabonian) age corresponding with NP21 Zone of Martini (1971) and NNTe14 Zone of Varol (1998). Discoasters are absent in this assemblage. Reworking of Late Maastrichtian and Danian age nannotaxa is also recorded.