Archaean Stromatolites from Dodguni Belt of Karnataka Craton, India

Long, straight columnar stromatolite structures showing concentric arrangement of laminae in cross-sections are reported from the dolomitic marble of Chitradurga Group from Dodguni, An Archaean age, not less than 2600Ma and not more than 3000 Ma (the minimum and maximum possible age-limits of the Chitradurga Group) has been assigned to the stromatolite-bearing horizon. Presence of organic microstructures and organic carbon in the sediments provided the earlier indirect and controversial evidence of primitive life in this area. The find of these stromatolites undoubtedly confirms the existence of Archaean life in the Dodguni belt.