A microbial mat in India, dated directly
3.5-billion-year-old organic carbon, pinned down by dating the rock around it rather than guessing.
- When
- Known to
- ± 50 million years
- Era
- Paleoarchean, Archean
Biogenic carbon in a preserved microbial mat remnant from the Singhbhum Craton has been dated directly to about 3.5 billion years, avoiding the ambiguity that dogs most early-life claims. It joins the Australian and South African evidence to show that microbial communities were widespread across separate continents this early, not confined to one exceptional locality.