Recently, a large stromatolites — dating back to 600 million years unearthed in the pine-clad ridges of Chambaghat in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.
About Stromatolites:
Stromatolites are organo-sedimentary structures formed from the entrapment of calcium carbonate precipitates by algae and cyanobacteria.
They are bio sedimentary structures produced in shallow marine seas.
These structures are usually characterized by thin, alternating light and dark layersthat may be flat, hummocky, or dome-shaped.
Stromatolites were common in Precambrian time(i.e., more than 542 million years ago).
Most stromatolites are marine, but some forms from Proterozoic strata more than 2 ½ billion years old are interpreted as inhabiting intertidal areas and freshwater ponds and lakes.
Living stromatolites are found in only a few salty lagoons or bays on Earth.
The stromatolites at Chambaghat lie within the Krol Group of sedimentary rocks, comprising limestone, shale, and sandstone, formed in a shallow marine environment of what was once the Tethys Sea.
This region was once part of Gondwana, the southern supercontinent that included India, South America, Africa, and others.
The Indian plate’s northward drift and collision with Eurasia lifted marine sediments, including stromatolites, thousands of meters skyward.
Significance
These ancient structures offer a window into a time when Earth’s atmosphere was dominated by greenhouse gases, and oxygen was nonexistent.
Their presence in the Himalayas, far from any current coastline, reveals a story of tectonic shifts, lost oceans, and the microbial origins of life.
Stromatolites in India
Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh: Known for columnar stromatolites in Vindhyan limestones.
Morni Hills, Haryana: Features well-preserved stromatolite beds in dolomite formations.
Mussoorie and Nainital, Uttarakhand: Sites in the Krol Belt showcase Precambrian marine sedimentation.
Jaisalmer Fossil Park, Rajasthan: A protected area highlighting a range of Mesozoic fossils, including marine life.
Dharwar Supergroup, Karnataka:Neoarchean stromatolites in the Chitradurga schist belt, over 2.6 billion years old.
Bhima Basin, Karnataka: Precambrian stromatolites preserved in shallow marine limestones.
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