3.5-Billion-Year-Old Rock in Jharkhand May Hold Oldest Signs of Life
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Discovery | 3.5-billion-year-old carbon-rich chert found near Bhitardari village, Singhbhum Craton, Jharkhand. |
| Location | ~20 km south of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. |
| Age Determination | Dated to ~3.497 billion years using uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating of zircon crystals. |
| Rock Type | Chert with alternating layers of silica and carbon-based material. |
| Possible Evidence | Layered structure resembles microbial mats (communities of bacteria/archaea). |
| Carbon Isotope Analysis | Enrichment of carbon-12 over carbon-13, suggesting biological carbon fixation. |
| Geological Era | Paleoarchaean Era (~3.5 billion years ago). |