3.5-Billion-Year-Old Organic Chert Reveals One of Earth’s “Earliest Known Occurrences of Biologically Generated Organic Matter”

Indian scientists have discovered 3.5-billion-year-old organic chert containing evidence of biologically generated organic matter, potentially representing one of the earliest known signs of life on Earth. The chert, found in the Singhbhum Craton in eastern India, contains layers of carbonaceous and siliceous material that suggest a biological origin, with carbon isotope analysis indicating a biogenic origin of the kerogen. This discovery would place the emergence of life on Earth less than a billion years after the planet's formation, offering new insights into the early history of life and planetary habitability.

• The study notes that the chert is among the earliest known occurrences of biologically generated organic matter.
• The findings suggest that key biological processes were active on Earth by around 3.5 billion years ago.
• The research team used zircon grain characteristics and lead isotope analysis to date the material to 3.497 billion years ago.
• The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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