Abstract

For the first time, a rich fossil assemblage of tapic carbonaceous metaphytes referable to eukaryotic algae, preserved on the bedding surface of grey carbonaceous shales belonging to Saraipali Formation of Singhora Group, Chhattisgarh Supergroup, is being recorded in and around Tushgaon village, Mahasamund District, Chhattisgarh state. The present enigmatic bona-fide fossil assemblage includes 12 taxa: Tuanshanzia fasciaria, Tuanshanzia lanceolata, Tuanshanzia platyphylla, Changechengia stipitata, Phascolites imparilis, Eopalmaria prinstina, Proterotaenia aff. montana, Aggregatosphaera sp.Tyrasotaenia podolica and along with cf. Chuaria circularis, Tawuia dalensis and broad tubular empty sheath cf. Siphonophycus solidum belonging to Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta algae. Correlation of the present incredible findings (association of multicellularity and extracellular matrix) with earlier known varied type assemblages of biocommunities in well dated Proterozoic sediments represent a testimony to the biotic explosion and diversified fossil carbonaceous plantae records from the terminal Neoproterozoic sediments that could be preserved in such a small window of the latest Palaeoproterozoic and support the advent of multicellularity in algal communities in south of Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ) and indicative of intertidal, marine mid neritic stable shelf, warm environment for the Saraipali sedimentary deposits.

Key words: multicellular, eukaryotes, metaphytes, Saraipali formation, Singhora group, Chhattisgarh supergroup.