Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Problematic fossils from the Palaeo-Neoproterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup, India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fossils of the Vindhyan Supergroup exhibit extensive diversity and variable biologic affinities represented by: bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, acritarchs, metaphytes and metazoans (including members of the Ediacaran Fauna) and ranging from less than a micron to almost a metre in size. Besides identified fossils, a number of bizarre morphologies (due to deviation of morphology from conventional structures), present in various stratigraphic horizons, have been observed. It is very difficult to identify and decide their biologic affinities. In thin sections of Lower Vindhyan cherts, microfossils resembling lichen-like or fungal forms in which a sac encompassing a coiled filament may possibly indicate a symbiotic relationship, a Volvox colony-like structure and a vase-shaped body without an opening are unique. Among the carbonaceous fossils, very unusual and interesting fossil is a transparent disc comprising numerous appendages of an unidentified mesoscopic insect-like organism. Megascopic branching and associated Grypania-like structure is another form preserved as impression on micritic limestone. Petrographic thin sections of chert belonging to the Sirbu Shale Formation, exhibit presence of microscopic bizarre forms. The assemblage includes acritarchs and acanthomorphs of variable morphology and a dividing cell-like structure interpreted to be of rhodophycean affinity or a cleaving embryo of an animal affinity. Other peculiar morphologies among the carbonaceous fossils are: branched filaments that have attached sporangia-like vesicles, Chuaria-like body comprising cluster of very small-sized spheroids resemble scale-like structure, a chrysophycean alga or a multicellular tissue of a metaphyte. Another carbonaceous fossil represents a possible metazoan exhibiting an elongate body and a mid-gut-like structure or a Vaucheriacean alga. Although the biologic affinities of these bizarre forms can be a matter of debate, their biogenic nature is almost undoubted. The presence of such forms in the Vindhyans indicates advancement in morphology and a gradual evolution of life during the Palaeoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic period. In addition, presence of Ediacaran fossils in Bhander Group and large-sized acritarchs especially Trachyhystrichosphaera sp. in petrographic thin section of chert from the Sirbu Shale Formation, Bhander Group, Upper Vindhyans, suggests Ediacaran age as an upper age limit of the Vindhyan Supergroup.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison CW, Hilgert JW (1986) Scale microfossils from the Early Cambrian of northwest Canada. J Paleontol 60:973–1015

    Google Scholar 

  • Auden JB (1933) Vindhyan sedimentation in Son Valley, Mirzapur district. Mem Geol Surv Ind 62:141–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Azmi RJ (1998) Discovery of Lower Cambrian small shelly fossils and Brachiopods from the Lr. Vindhyan of Son Valley, Central India. J Geol Soc India 52:381–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartley JK (1996) Actualistic taphonomy of cyanobacteria: implications for the Precambrian fossil record. Palios 11:571–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brasier M (1999) Discovery of Lower Cambrian small shelly fossils and Brachiopods from the Lr. Vindhyan of Son Valley, Central India. Discussion. J Geol Soc India 53:727–730

    Google Scholar 

  • Butterfield NJ (2000) Bangiomorpha pubescens n. gen., n. sp.: Implications for the evolution of sex, multicellularity and the Mesoproterozoic/Neoproterozoic radiation of eukaryotes. Palaeobiology 26(3):386–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butterfield NJ (2001) Palaeobiology of the late Mesoproterozoic (ca 1200) Hunting Formation, Somerset Island, Arctic Canada. Precamb Res 111(2001):235–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butterfield NJ, Rainbird RH (1998) Diverse organic-walled fossils, including possible “dinoflagellates” from the early Neoproterozoic of Arctic Canada. Geology 26(11):963–966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corsetti FA, Awramik SM (2003) A complex microbiota from snowball Earth times: Microfossils from the Neoproterozoic Kingston Peak Formation, Death Valley, USA. PNAS 100(8):4399–4404, Geol Soc London 125:351–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford AR, Compston W (1970) The age of the Vindhyan system of peninsular India. J Geol Soc London 125:351–371

    Google Scholar 

  • De C (2006) Ediacara fossil assemblage in the upper Vindhyans of Central India and its significance. J Asian Earth Sci 27:660–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixion J (1974) Revised stratigraphy of the Hunting Formation (Proterozoic), Somerset Island, Northwest Territories. Canad Jour Earth Sci 11:635–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann HJ (2005) Palaeoproterozoic dubiofossils from India: revisited—Vindhyan triploblastic animal burrows or pseudofossils? J Palaeontol Soc Ind 50:2

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntley JW, Xiao S, Kowalewski M (2006) 1.3 billion years of acritarch history: an empirical morphospace approach. Precamb Res 144:52–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kathal PK, Patel DR, Alexander PO (2000) An ediacaran fossil Spriggina (?) from the Semri Group and its implication on the age of the Proterozoic Vindhyan Basin, Central India. N Jb Geol Palaeontol Mh 6:321–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr RA (2002) Earliest animal trace or just mud cracks. Science 295:1209–1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knoll AH (1984) Microbiotas of the Late Precambrian Hunnberg, Formation, Nordoustlandet, Svalbard. J Paleontol V 58(1):131–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoll AH, Javaux EJ, Hewitt D, Cohen P (2006) Eukaryotic organisms in Proterozoic Oceans. Phil Trans Roy Soc B 361:1023–1038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Gopalan K, Rajagopalan G (2001) Age of the Lower Vindhyan sediments, Central India. Curr Sci 81(7):806–809

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S (2001) Mesoproterozoic megafossil Chuaria- Tawuia association may represent parts of multicellular plant, Vindhyan Supergroup, Central India. Precamb Res 106:187–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Srivastava P (1995) Microfossils from the Kheinjua Formation, Mesoproterozoic Semri Group, Newari area, Central India. Precamb Res 74:91–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Srivastava P (1997) A note on the carbonaceous megafossils from the Neoproterozoic Bhander Group, Maihar area. M P Jour Paleontol Soc Ind 42:141–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Srivastava P (2003) Carbonaceous megafossils from the Neoproterozoic Bhander Group, Central India. Palaeontol Soc India 48:139–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandal MEA, Goswami JN, Deomurari MP, Sharma KK (2002) Ion microprobe Pb/Pb ages of zircons from the Bundelkhand Massif, northern India: implications for crustal evolution of the Bundelkhand- Aravalli Supercontinent. Precamb Res 117:85–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menge C, Zongzheng X, Xunlai Y (1995) A great diversification of Macroscopic algae in Neoproterozoic. Sci Geol Sin 3(3):295–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris SC, Jensen S, Butterfield NJ (1998) Fossil discoveries in India: continued. Science 282:1265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad B (1984) Geology, sedimentation and palaeogeography of the Vindhayn Supergroup, southeastern Rajasthan. Mem Geol Surv Ind 116(1):1–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Rai V, Shukla M, Gautam R (1997) Discovery of carbonaceous megafossils (Chuaria- Tawuia assemblage) from the Neoproterozoic Vindhyan succession (Rewa Group), Allahabad- Rewa area, India. Curr Sci 73(a):783–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen B, Bose PK, Banerjee S, Fletcher IR, Mc Naughton NJ (2002) 1.6 Ga U-Pb zircon age for the Chorhat Sandstone, Lower Vindhyan, India: possible implications for early evolution of animals. Geology 30:103–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray J (2006) Age of the Vindhyan Supergroup: a review of recent findings. Jour Earth Sys Sci 115:149–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray JS, Martin MW, Veizer J, Bowring SA (2002) U- Pb zircon dating and Sr isotope systematics of the Vindhyan Supergroup, India. Geology 30:131–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray JS, Veizer J, Davis WJ (2003) C, O, Sr and Pb isotope systematics of carbonate sequences of the Vindhyan Supergroup, India: age, diagenesis, correlation and implication for global events. Precamb Res 121:103–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarangi S, Gopalan K, Kumar S (2004) Pb- Pb age of the earliest megascopic eukaryotic alga bearing Rohtas Formation, Vindhyan Supergroup, India: implication for Precambrian atmospheric oxygen evolution. Precamb Res 132(2004):107–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sastry MVA, Moitra AK (1984) Vindhyan Stratigraphy: a review. Mem Geol Surv India 116(part II):109–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Seilacher A, Bose PK, Pfluger F (1998) Triploblastic animals more than 1 billion years ago: trace fossil evidence from India. Science 282:80–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeev VN (1999) Silicified microfossils from the transitional Meso- Neoproterozoic deposits of the Turukhansk Uplift, Siberia. Bollettina Soc Paleontologica Ital 38(2–3):287–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Sergeev VN (2006) The importance of Precambria microfossils for modern Biostratigraphy. Palaeontol J 40(5):S664–S673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeev VN, Gerasimenko LM, Zavarzin GA (2002) The Proterozoic history and present state of Cyanobacteria. Microbiology 7(6):623–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sergeev VN, Joo LS (2006) Real eukaryotes and precipitates first found in the Middle Riphean Stratotype, Southern Urals. Stratigr Geol Correl 14(1):1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma M (2003) Age of Vindhyans-Palaeobiological evidence: a paradigm shift (?). Palaeontol Soc Ind 48:191–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma M (2006) Late Palaeoproterozoic (Statherian) Carbonaceous films from the Olive Shale (Koldaha Shale), Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup. India Jour Palaeontol Soc Ind 51(2):27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma M, Shukla Y (2009) Mesoproterozoic coiled megascopic fossil Grypania spiralis from the Rohtas Formation, Semri Group, Bihar, India. Curr Sci 96(12):1636–1640

    Google Scholar 

  • Soni MK, Chakraborty S, Jain VK (1987) Vindhyan Supergroup- a review. In Purana Basins of India. Mem Geol Soc Ind 6:87–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava P (2002) Carbonaceous megafossils from the Dholpura Shale, Uppermost Vindhyan Supergroup, Rajasthan: an age implication. Jour Palaeontol Soc India 47:97–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava P (2004) Carbonaceous fossils from the Panna Shale, Rewa Group (Upper Vindhyans), Central India: a possible link between evolution from Micro- megascopic life. Curr Sci 86(5):644–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava P (2005) Vindhyan akinites: an indicator of mesoproterozoic biospheric evolution. Origin Life Biospheric Evolution Springer 35:175–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava P (2006) Possible Ediacaran fossils from the Bundi Hill Sandstone, Upper Vindhyans Rajasthan (Abst). Diamond Jubilee International Conference on Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied subjects, held at BSIP, Lucknow, Nov. p 187–188

  • Srivastava P (2009) Trachyhystrichosphaera: an age—marker acanthomorph from the Bhander Group, Uupper Vindhyan, Rajasthan. Earth Sys Sci 118(5):575–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava P (2011) Morpho-diversity, complexity and macroevolution: revealed by the megascopic life of the Palaeo-Neoproterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup, India. In: Mazumder R, Saha D (eds) Palaeoproterozoic of India, Geological Society of London, Special Publication (In press)

  • Srivastava P, Bali R (2006) Proterozoic Carbonaceous remains from the Chorhat Sandstone: oldest fossils of the Vindhyan Supergroup. Geobios 39:873–878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava P, Tewari VC (2011) Morphological Changes in micro- megascopic life during late Palaeoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic transition: the Vindhyan Supergroup, India. Springer, New York, Stromatolites in COLE Book Series

    Google Scholar 

  • Timofeev BV, Hermann TN, Mikhailova MS (1976) Microfossils of the Precambrian, Cambrian, and Ordovician. Institute of Geology and Geochronology, Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 106 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatachala BS, Sharma M, Shukla M (1996) Age and life of the Vindhyans- Facts and Conjectures. Mem Geol Soc Ind 36:137–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao S (2002) Mitotic topologies and mechanics of Neoproterozoic algae and animal embryos. Paleobiology 28(2):244–250, Science, 308: 1017–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Yu-Zhong (1995) Discovery and preliminary study of megascopic algae (1700) from Tuanshanzi Formation in Jixian. China Acta Micrpalaeontol Sinica 12:107–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan L, Zhu M, Knoll aH, Yuan X, Zhang J, Hu J (2007) Doushantuo Embryos preserved inside diapause egg cysts. Nature 446:661–663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan X, Xiao S, Taylor TN (2005) Lichen-like symbiosis 600 million years ago. Science 308:1017–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin C, Bengtson S, Zhao Y (2004) Silicified and phosphatised Tianzhushania spheroidal microfossils of possible animal origin from the Neoproterozoic of south China. Acta Palaeontol Sin 49(1):1–12

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

Author is indebted to the Head, Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Lucknow University, Lucknow, India for providing basic facilities to carry out present study. She is thankful to Prof. J. W. Schopf for inviting her for the “World Summit on Ancient Microscopic Fossils” at UCLA and providing her the opportunity to present the data before renowned Precambrian palaeobiologists. Special thanks are due Dr. R. Bali for his immense co-operation throughout the study. Financial assistance from Department of Science and Technology under Women Scientist Scheme (WOS) awarded to the author is thankfully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Lucknow University, Lucknow, 226020, India

    Purnima Srivastava

Authors
  1. Purnima Srivastava
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Purnima Srivastava.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Srivastava, P. Problematic fossils from the Palaeo-Neoproterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup, India. Arab J Geosci 5, 1411–1422 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0315-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-011-0315-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation