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23 August 2026

Microbial life traces in Indian rock

This discovery provides scientific context regarding the geological history of the Indian subcontinent and early life evolution, which can be used as illustrative material in geography or science-related answers.

1 min read 1 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Researchers have identified microbial life traces in the Singhbhum Craton, eastern India, dating back at least 3.5 billion years.
  • The discovery involves a black-and-white banded chert rock from Bhitardari, Jharkhand/Odisha.
  • The age of 3,497 million years was determined by dating zircon crystals trapped within the volcanic ash that settled during the rock's formation.
  • Zircons act as natural clocks due to the decay of uranium into lead at a known rate.
  • Evidence for biological origin includes carbon isotope ratios matching those captured by living cells and the presence of degraded organic matter.
  • The Singhbhum Craton is an ancient, stable block of continental crust containing rocks formed over 4 billion years ago.
  • This discovery provides insights into the early evolution of life, suggesting life may emerge readily on habitable worlds.
  • The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers from the Geological Survey of India and UCLA.

Questions

  1. Discuss the significance of the Singhbhum Craton in understanding the geological history of the Indian subcontinent and the early evolution of life on Earth. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00

Prelims

  1. Which of the following methods was primarily used to determine the age of the rock containing microbial traces in the Singhbhum Craton?

  2. The Singhbhum Craton, known for containing some of the oldest rocks in India, spans which of the following states?

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Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-08-23/microbial-life-traces-in-indian-rock