Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:40pm on 21 Aug 2026,Friday Science
A team of Indian geologists has discovered evidence of ancient microbial life dating back around 3.5 billion years in rocks from Jharkhand’s Singhbhum Craton. The study, led by Geological Survey of India geologist Trisrota Chaudhuri, found fossilised microbial mats near Jamshedpur. Researchers studied carbon preserved in the ancient rocks and used Raman spectroscopy to confirm it was part of the original rock. Analysis of zircon crystals helped establish the age of the material. The findings suggest primitive microorganisms survived in a chemically extreme environment alongside volcanic activity, in an ocean rich in iron and silica. (PC: X)
