Phenomenal Preservations of Stromatolites in Bilara Group of Marwar Supergroup, Western India: Implication for Establishment as Geosites

This study focuses on the establishment of geosites of stromatolites (traces or remains of a cynobacterial group of prokaryotic micro-organisms referred to as “Blue-Green Algae”) in the Late Ediacaran–Early Cambrian Bilara Group of the Marwar Supergroup, Rajasthan, Western India. Here, two ideally preserved stromatolite fossil sections have been recognized and proposed as geosites, viz., the Dhannapah Stromatolites Dolomite Section near Dhannapah Village in Nagaur District and the Gotan Stromatolites Limestone Section near Barna Village in Bilara Tehsil, Jodhpur District. In both sections, stromatolites show excellent preservation and bookish forms with variations of morphologies from circular to sub-circular, domal, cone-like, elliptical, and columnar forms with asymmetrical and symmetrical laminations. These geosites have enormous scientific significance (as direct evidence of Precambrian life) for academic (educational), cultural (geoheritage), and societal and commercial aspects (tourism) through geotourism. These proposed geosites may act as an Open Geological Field Museum in Western India.