<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachyhystrichosphaera</Emphasis>: An age-marker acanthomorph from the Bhander group,upper Vindhyan,Rajasthan

A highly diversified, advanced and exceptionally well preserved microfossil assemblage, dominated by a planktic community, has been recorded from petrographic thin sections of chert belonging to the Sirbu Shale Formation, Bhander group, upper Vindhyans, Rajasthan. Recently, it was noticed that the assemblage also contains well preserved, large-sized acanthomorphic acritarchs, Trachyhystrichosphaera considered to be an age-marker microfossil of the Cryogenian (850-630 Ma). It is reported for the first time from any Indian microfossil assemblage of Proterozoic succession. The other microfossils of the Sirbu Shale Formation are: well preserved simple, small and large-sized sphaeromorphs; complex acanthomorphs, cyanobacterial community; especially a very small-sized but exceptionally well preserved Obruchevella, a form resembling Volvox colonies; cf. vase-shaped microfossils and morphologies, possibly inclining towards fungal affinity, or lichenlike symbiotic associations of algae and fungi. Till date, Trachyhystrichosphaera has so far not been reported from successions older than the Tonian (1000850 Ma). It is believed that acanthomorphs attained maximum size in Ediacaran (630-542 Ma), and further decreased in size in the Cambrian. The global paleontological literature indicates that Trachyhystrichosphaera ranges in age from Tonian-Ediacaran (1000-542 Ma). The present record of Trachyhystrichosphaera as well as the earlier studies of micro and megascopic life of the Bhander Group in general and the Sirbu Shale in particular (aided by the absence of any Cambrian fossil record) indicate that in all possibilities, age of the Sirbu Shale should lie near Cryogenian (850-630 Ma) and the uppermost Bhander group, may incline towards the Ediacaran (630-542 Ma).     

Age of the Vindhyan Supergroup: A review of recent findings

The Vindhyan Supergroup of India is one of the largest and thickest sedimentary successions of the world. Deposited in an intra-cratonic basin, it is composed mostly of shallow marine deposits. It is believed to have recorded a substantial portion of Proterozoic time and therefore, likely to contain valuable information on the evolution of the atmosphere, climate, and life on our planet. It also contains some of the most disputed fossils of earliest animal life. Despite their importance, the absolute age of these rocks had remained unknown until recently. In this work I evaluate all the recent chronological information and discuss their implications. From the present findings it appears that the issues surrounding the age of the Lower Vindhyans in the Son valley are now resolved, whereas problems with the age of the Upper Vindhyans and that with the stratigraphic correlations remain to be answered.     

Paleomagnetism of Bhander sediments from Bhopal Inlier, Vindhyan Supergroup

Paleomagnetic investigations have been carried out on poorly determined radiometric age controls of Bhander sandstones within the vicinity of Bhopal Inlier of the Upper Vindhyan Supergroup. Available ages assigned to the Upper Vindhyan sequence range from Cambrian to the Mesoproterozoic and are derived from a variety of sources and methods. Paleomagnetic data generated from the Bhander Group of Bhopal Inlier yielded a mean declination of 357° and mean inclination of 58° (k=17.69, α₉₅ = 16.38) with a Virtual Geomagnetic Pole (VGP) at 74° N, 69.0° E. This pole position is falling close to the Malani Igneous Suite (MIS) mean palaeomagnetic pole of 67.8° N and 72.5° E (A₉₅=8.8°) by Gregory et al. (2009). The results obtained from this study and previous work on the 1073 Ma Majhgawan kimberlite, as well as detrital zircon geochronology of the Upper Bhander sandstone suggest that the Upper Vindhyan sequence may be older than is commonly thought earlier.     

Paleomagnetic analysis of the Marwar Supergroup,Rajasthan, India and proposed interbasinal correlations

The Marwar Supergroup refers to a 1000–2000 m thick marine and coastal sequence that covers a vast area of Rajasthan in NW–India. The Marwar Basin uncomformably overlies the ∼750–770 Ma rocks of the Malani Igneous Suite and is therefore considered Late Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian in age. Upper Vindhyan basinal sediments (Bhander and Rewa Groups), exposed in the east and separated by the Aravalli–Delhi Fold Belt, have long been assumed to coeval with the Marwar Supergroup. Recent studies based on detrital zircon populations of the Marwar and Upper Vindhyan sequences show some similarity in the older populations, but the Vindhyan sequence shows no zircons younger than 1000 Ma whereas samples taken from the Marwar Basin show distinctly younger zircons. This observation led to speculation that the Upper Vindhyan and Marwar sequences did not develop coevally.While there are alternative explanations for why the two basins may differ in their detrital zircon populations, paleomagnetic studies may provide independent evidence for differences/similarities between the assumed coeval basins. We have collected samples in the Marwar Basin and present the paleomagnetic results. Previous paleomagnetic studies of Marwar basinal sediments were misinterpreted as being indistinguishable from the Upper Vindhyan sequence. The vast majority of our samples show directional characteristics similar to the previously published studies. We interpret these results to be a recent overprint. A small subset of hematite-bearing rocks from the Jodhpur Formation (basal Marwar) exhibit directional data (Dec = 89° Inc = −1° α95 = 9°) that are distinct from the Upper Vindhyan pole and may offer additional support for temporally distinct episodes of sedimentation in these proximal regions. A VGP based upon our directional data is reported at 1°S 344°E (dp = 5°, dm = 9°). We conclude that the Marwar Supergroup developed near the close of the Ediacaran Period and is part of a larger group of sedimentary basins that include the Huqf Supergroup (Oman), the Salt-Range (Pakistan), the Krol–Tal belt (Himalayas) and perhaps the Molo Supergroup (Madagascar).     

Ediacaran fossils in Meso- and Paleoproterozoic rocks in peninsular India extend Darwin

Typically or arguably Ediacaran fossils (635 Ma to 543 Ma) are reported by several research groups from one unit of the Chhattisgarh and two units of the Vindhyan Supergroups in peninsular India. Depositional ages of the host sediments, however, are inferred to be ∼1000 Ma and ∼ 1630 Ma as determined by U-Pb dating of magmatic and detrital zircons in rhyolitic tuff (∼ porcellanite) and sandstones, provenance considerations and paleopole positions. The contradiction of absolute ages results from inferring the Ediacaran age strictly on the basis of fossils. I argue that the fossils reported from the Chhattisgarh and Vindhyan Supergroups should be considered mostly Mesoproterozoic and late Proterozoic in age. I also argue that although the Ediacaran Period records explosive diversity of preserved fossils, many forms very likely appeared much earlier with variable degrees of preservation or none at all at times, and, that their age-ranges extend to the Paleoproterozoic. I hypothesize that the rate of increase of biological diversity was lower than the rate of preservation in certain geological intervals, especially immediately after extinction events.     

Taxonomy and affinity of Early Mesoproterozoic megascopic helically coiled and related fossils from the Rohtas Formation, the Vindhyan Supergroup, India

A well preserved assemblage of compressed, straight, circular to sinuously coiled megascopic and helical carbonaceous fossils and other varied megascopic morphoforms are known from the Early Mesoproterozoic Rohtas Formation, Semri Group within Vindhyan Supergroup exposed in Katni district of central India. These megascopic remains are preserved as impressions, compressions, partially mineralized remains, and/or epi-relief. Some of the forms are typical filamentous empty sheaths and others are trichomes, with cell like entities under various stages of degradation. This study, based on fresh collections and also of the topotype material of the helically coiled megascopic fossils, straight forms and related fossilized remains occurring as epi-relief from Katni indicate that the two morphotaxa are distinct entities and possibly appear to be prokaryotes. Grypania spiralis and Katnia singhii are most likely of cyanobacterial origin. Spirally coiled and circular fossils, with epi-relief, and which probably represents a tissue grade organism, are considered as Spiroichnus beerii Mathur, 1983. Linear sheet-like carbonaceous solitary form has been placed in the morphotaxon Proterotainia and described as P. katniensis n. sp. Certain rare circular, carbonaceous forms are considered as Chuaria sp. A few circular disc-like forms found in the assemblage are treated as dubiofossils.     

Organic walled microbiota from the silicified algal clasts, Bhander limestone, Satna area, Madhya Pradesh

A good assemblage of organic-walled microbiota has been discovered from the petrographic thin sections of the black-bedded chert of the Bhander limestone, exposed at Sajjanpur area of Satna district and Ramnoi area of Rewa District, Madhya Pradesh. The assemblage is made up of the following forms: Synodophycus euthemos, Myxococcoides minor, Coniunctiophycus gaoyuzhuangense, Siphonophycus kestron, Siphonophycus robustum, Eoentophysalis magna, Glenobotrydion aenigmatis and Huroniospora microreticulata. The assemblage comprises both filamentous as well as coccoidal forms of cyanobacterial affinity. The forms are associated with algal clasts.     

Epeiric Sea Formation on Neoproterozoic Supercontinent Break-up: A Distinctive Signature in Coastal Storm Bed Amalgamation

Literature review underlines uncertainty in the configuration of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent, (with Rodinia and Palaeopangaea reconstructions enjoying wide support), that stems primarily from inadequate palaeomagnetic data. Nonetheless, breakup of this supercontinent at ca. 0.65 Ga was conducive for epeiric sea formation globally. In the Vindhyan basin, India, a carbonate depositing sea developed over a fluvial-aeolian plain, at approximately 0.6 Ga. The top part of the Vindhyan Supergroup, the Upper Bhander Sandstone, was, however, able to prograde because of a decline in the rate of relative sea level rise. Within this general setting, temporal increases in this rate caused storm deposition at the coastline, largely in a supralittoral setting. Bizarre amalgamation of these storm beds without erosion likely owes its origin to severe curtailment of the velocity of the downwelling flow on the very gentle, muddy coastal slopes, and is thought to be a hallmark of deposition in an open epeiric setting. The storm domination in the Bhander embayment shelf is compatible with the Palaeopangaea supercontinental configuration.     

Late Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran)-Early Paleozoic (Cambrian) acritarchs from the Marwar Supergroup,Bikaner-Nagaur Basin,Rajasthan

Characteristic latest Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic acritarchs and associated organic-walled microfossils are recorded from the sediments of Marwar Supergroup encountered in BGW-A well (Bikaner-Nagaur Basin) from 1123–481 m depth. Six distinct acritarch assemblages, broadly comparable with globally known Ediacaran (Vendian) and Cambrian assemblages are recognised. The recovered microfossils provide precise age for different units of the Marwar Supergroup whose ages, till now, were poorly understood due to absence or paucity of invertebrate and other mega and microfossils.     

Field and laboratory tests for recognition of Ediacaran paleosols

Not a single paleosol had been described from rocks of Ediacaran age until 2011, but 354 Ediacaran paleosols have been described by 20 different authors since then. Some of these newly recognized paleosols have proven controversial, so this paper reviews 20 distinct tests to determine whether a particular Ediacaran bed could be a paleosol, or not. One problem has been that Ediacaran paleosols are not precisely like modern soils because they lack root traces, a diagnostic feature of Silurian and geologically younger paleosols. The principal problem for recognition of some Ediacaran paleosols is the occurrence in them of megafossils assumed to have been marine, although most of these fossils remain problematic for both biological and ecological affinities. Not all the tests discussed here are diagnostic of paleosols, some are ranked permissive or persuasive. Permissive conditions for paleosols include ripple marks, hummocky bedding, pyritic limestones, acritarchs or thalloid fossils, low strontium isotopic ratios, high δ²⁶Mg ratios, and red color. Persuasive tests include loessites, tsunamites, desert playa minerals, low boron content, high δ¹⁰B isotopic ratios, high carbon/sulfur ratios, and very low total/reactive iron ratios. Diagnostic tests include matrix-supported lapilli or crystal tuff parent materials, ice wedges and other cryoturbation, sepic birefringence fabrics, evaporitic sand crystals, and negative geochemical strain and mass transfer, and highly correlated δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O. Like other geological periods, the Ediacaran is known from a variety of marine and non-marine paleoenvironments     

Acanthomorph Biostratigraphic Succession of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the East Yangtze Gorges, South China

Large acanthomorphic acritarchs have been found in chert of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation at several localities in South China, including the East Yangtze Gorges of Hubei Province, Weng’an area of Guizhou Province, and elsewhere. However, their potential for biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of Ediacaran successions is limited by facies control, taphonomic biases, and taxonomic problems. In the Yangtze Gorges, the Doushantuo Formation is generally subdivided into four lithologic members. However, in the Weng’an area, the Doushantuo Formation comprises just a lower and upper part separated by a mid-Doushantuo erosional surface. In the Yangtze Gorges at the Zhangcunping section, the Doushantuo succession is similar to that at Weng’an. So far, the correlation between the Yangtze Gorges and Weng’an area, and elsewhere has been an issue of debate. To resolve the debate, we selected eight sections in the Yangtze Gorges area and systemically sampled chert nodules of the Doushantuo Formation, focusing in particular on the upper Doushantuo Formation. Our data confirm two different assemblages appearing separately in the second and third members, which are separated by a negative δ13C excursion (EN2). The lower assemblage is characterized by Tianzhushania and a diverse suite of large acanthomorphic acritarchs. The upper assemblage is distinguished from the lower assemblage, by (1) absence of Tianzhushania; (2) occurrence of abundant, 100–150 μm, smooth-walled spherical microfossils; (3) occurrence of highly diverse acanthomorphic acritarchs including species extending from the second member and new forms in this member; (4) occurrence of unnamed new forms of protist; and (5) occurrence of the tubular microfossil Sinocyclocylicus guizhouensis. Since the Tianzhushania-dominated assemblage is not present in Australia, it seems that only the upper acanthomorph assemblage is present and thus the lower Doushantuo acanthomorph assemblage is missing in Australia.     

瓮安生物群中后生动物化石研究进展及问题讨论

贵州瓮安埃迪卡拉（震旦）纪陡山沱期磷酸盐化生物群具有生物多样性特征，包含有蓝菌、多细胞藻类、疑源类、后生动物休眠卵及胚胎、可疑的海绵动物、管状后生动物和微小两侧对称的后生动物等化石类型，是迄今为止全球保存最为完好的晚前寒武纪磷质化石库。瓮安陡山沱组磷质岩提供了早期生命从简单到复杂进化过程中的重要化石记录，展示了埃迪卡拉生物群出现以前早期多细胞生物的生命景观，为研究晚前寒武纪生物圈面貌提供了一个重要的埋葬学窗口。近来，通过醋酸浸解法，在贵州瓮安陡山沱期含磷地层中发现了大量疑似后生动物的实体化石（包含了所有已经报道的类型或与之相似的化石类型）新材料，为了解这些化石的内部构造特征，将一些化石包埋后制作了定向薄片。基于上述化石新材料，结合定向薄片的研究和前人的研究成果，本文详细介绍了瓮安生物群中后生动物化石研究的新进展和存在的问题。     

Modal analysis and geochemistry of two sandstones of the Bhander Group (Late Neoproterozoic) in parts of the Central Indian Vindhyan basin and their bearing on the provenance and tectonics

The Neoproterozoic Bhander Group in the Son Valley, central India conformably overlying the Rewa Group, is the uppermost subdivision of the Vindhyan Supergroup dominantly composed of arenites, carbonates and shales. In Maihar-Nagod area, a thick pile of unmetamorphosed clastic sedimentary rocks of Bhander Group is exposed, which provides a unique opportunity to study Neoproterozoic basin development through provenance and tectonic interpretations. The provenance discrimination and tectonic setting interpretations are based on modal analysis and whole rock geochemistry. The average framework composition of the detrital sediments composed of quartz and sedimentary lithic fragments are classified as quartz arenite to sublitharenite. The sandstone geochemically reflects high SiO₂, moderate Al₂O₃ and low CaO and Na₂O type arenite. The high concentration of HFSE such as Zr, Hf, and Th/Sc, Th/U ratios in these sandstones indicate a mixed provenance. The chondrite normalized REE pattern shows moderate to strong negative Eu anomaly which suggests that major part of the sediments were derived from the granitic source area. The sandstone tectonic discrimination diagrams and various geochemical plots suggest that the provenance of the lower and upper Bhander sandstone formations was continental interior to recycled orogen.     

Quantitative evaluation of the biostratigraphic distribution of acanthomorphic acritarchs in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area, South China

Doushantuo acanthomorphic acritarchs are large morphologically complex organic-walled microfossils broadly constrained between the 635 Ma Nantuo glaciation and the 551 Ma Miaohe Biota. They are potential biostratigraphic tools for subdivision and correlation of the Ediacaran System in South China. However, major variations in sedimentary facies and stratigraphic thickness present challenges in understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of these acritarchs. Further, the distribution of acritarchs in the Doushantuo Formation is associated with the presence of early diagenetic chert and phosphate, implying a certain degree of preservational bias and/or environmental control. The purpose of this paper is to document the stratigraphic distribution of Doushantuo acritarchs and to quantitatively evaluate their biostratigraphic significance and possible taphonomic–environmental biases, based on high-resolution paleontological data from six sections over 100 km in the Yangtze Gorges area, South China.A total of 1082 acritarch fossils were recorded from 84 chert horizons in the six sections of the study area. These chert horizons are not uniformly distributed throughout the Doushantuo Formation, thus the presence/absence of early diagenetic chert does play a role in controlling the distribution of acritarchs. The sampled chert horizons can be grouped into two stratigraphic intervals in the lower and upper Doushantuo Formation, respectively, based on regional stratigraphic correlation. Quantitative analysis shows that the two intervals are distinct taxonomically and largely independent of taphonomic or facies controls. Thus, the two intervals can be regarded as assemblage biozones. The lower biozone (biozone 1) is numerically dominated by Tianzhushania spinosa (n = 587; 68.3%) and Meghystrichosphaeridium magnificum (n = 74; 8.6%), whereas the upper biozone (biozone 2) is dominated by Ericiasphaera rigida (n = 104; 47.1%) and Tianzhushania spinosa (n = 34; 14.1%). The three most common genera, Meghystrichosphaeridium, Tianzhushania, and Ericiasphaera, have been identified in all sections. Correspondence analysis (CA), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and pairwise comparisons of samples (Spearman rank coefficient and Jaccard–Chao index), all consistently support biostratigraphic zonations. Thus, the distribution of the Doushantuo acanthomorphs is primarily controlled by biostratigraphic position of samples, with facies and taphonomic differences playing a secondary role. Our case study suggests that acanthomorphic acritarchs can offer a viable tool for regional correlation of the Ediacaran System.     

关于峡东陡山沱组具刺疑源类化石研究的补充

在峡东陡山沱组黑色燧石中前人报道了多种多样的具刺疑源类化石，笔者最近重新研究了陡山沱组岩石切片中的具刺疑源类，发现微化石三维地保存了几乎没蚀变的条件下，这个生物群落包括Filis phaeridi-um,Baltisphaeridium,Comasphaeridium和Tianzhushania等分子，它们中的Tianzhushania在外表及形态上可与产自挪威斯瓦尔巴德群岛晚里菲岩层中的Trachyhstrichosphaera aimika比较，Trachyhystrichosphaera aimika是晚前寒武纪最特殊和分布最广的一个分子，目前已知至少产自世界上15个地区的晚里菲岩层中，对于新古元代前文德地层似乎是一个出色的指示化石，产自陡山沱组的Tianzhushania似乎支持Butterfield的观点，即：陡山沱组硅化碳酸盐沉积的年代早于伊迪卡拉后生物多样化的时期，但是，由于化石只发展于少数岩石薄片中，因此，这些化石或许只代表峡东陡山沱组局部的生态环境。文中还讨论了陡山沱组的沉积环境及化石的保存。     

Palaeobiology of Mesoproterozoic Salkhan Limestone, Semri Group, Rohtas, Bihar, India: Systematics and significance

Mesoproterozoic (∼ 1600 Ma old) Salkhan Limestone (Semri Group) of the Vindhyan Supergroup, exposed in Rohtas district of Bihar, India, preserves an abundant and varied ancient microbial assemblage. These microfossils are recorded in three distinctly occurring cherts viz., bedded chert, stromatolitic chert and cherty stromatolites. 27 morphoforms belonging to 14 genera and 21 species have been recognized. Six unnamed forms are also described. The microbial assemblage, almost exclusively composed of the remnants of cyanobacteria, is dominated by entophysalidacean members and short trichomes and can be termed as ‘typical Mesoproterozoic microbiotas’. The assemblage includes characteristic mat-forming scytonematacean and entophysalidacean cyanobacteria.Eoentophysalis is the dominant organism in the assemblage. Ellipsoidal akinetes of nostocalean cyanobacteria(Archaeollipsoides) and spherical unicells also occur; both are distinct from mat forming assemblage, allochthonous and possibly planktic. Co-occurrence of the microbiotas and precipitates is related to the depositional environment of the Mesoproterozoic tidal flats with high carbonate saturation.     

华南伊迪卡拉纪“庙河生物群”的属性分析

我国南方伊迪卡拉（震旦）系陡山沱组页岩中,保存了以“庙河生物群”为代表的宏体碳质压膜化石群,以大量底栖固着的多细胞藻类为主,还包含推测的后生动物和海绵动物、可疑的遗迹化石等多门类生物化石,化石类型多样、分异显著,代表着新元古代“雪球”冰期之后和寒武纪早期后生动物大爆发前夕地球早期多细胞生物的一次大规模的进化辐射事件。本文通过比较湖北秭归庙河和贵州江口翁会两个典型产地的宏体化石优势属种的形态特征,以及两地所处的沉积古环境,分析探讨了这些优势类别与现生多细胞生物（包括红藻、褐藻和绿藻三大高级藻类）的亲缘关系。研究表明,寒武纪之前大约35～10 Ma间,各门类多细胞藻类广泛发育,与后生动物的先驱分子构成独特的古生态群落。     

先伊迪卡拉期的淮南生物群

在廿世纪中叶以前,人们对于先寒武纪的生物化石发现得很少,除藻类遗迹化石及一些可疑化石外,几乎没有什么可靠的生物化石。与此相反,在古生代地层中,特别是在早寒武世的地层中,却发现了极其丰富的发育较为高级的多门类的生物化石。当时,人们为了解释这种所谓突变现象,就提出了多种假说。但是,在廿世纪中叶以后,随着生产的发展和科学研究的深入,陆续地在晚先寒武纪地层中,发现了许多较大的生物化石、微古植物与微体化石等。由于晚先寒武纪生物化石资料的不断丰富,使得“灾变说”等不攻自破了。     

Lagoon–tidal flat sedimentation in an epeiric sea: Proterozoic Bhander Group,Son Valley,India

The Bhander Group, the uppermost stratigraphic unit of the Proterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup in Son Valley, exhibits in its upper part a 550 m thick, muddy siliciclastic succession characterized by features indicative of deposition in a wave‐affected coastal, lagoon–tidal flat environment suffering repeated submergence and emergence. The basic architecture of the deposit is alternation of centimetre‐ to decimetre‐thick sheet‐like interbeds of coarser clastics (mainly sandstone) and decimetre‐thick mudstones. The coarser interlayers are dominated by a variety of ripple‐formed laminations. The preserved ripple forms on bed‐top surfaces and their internal lamination style suggest both oscillatory and combined flows for their formation. Interference, superimposed, ladder‐back and flat‐topped ripples are also common. Synsedimentary cracks, wrinkle marks, features resembling rain prints and adhesion structures occur in profusion on bed‐top surfaces. Salt pseudomorphs are also present at the bases of beds. The mudstone intervals represent suspension settlement and show partings with interfaces characterized by synsedimentary cracks. It is inferred that the sediments were deposited on a coastal plain characterized by a peritidal (supratidal–intertidal) flat and evaporative lagoon suffering repeated submergence and emergence due to storm‐induced coastal setup and setdown in addition to tidal fluctuations. The 550 m thick coastal flat succession is surprisingly devoid of any barrier bar deposits and also lacks shoreface and shelfal strata. The large areal extent of the coastal flat succession (c. 100,000 km²) and its great thickness indicate an extremely low‐gradient epeiric basin characterized by an extensive coastal flat sheltered from the deeper marine domain. It is inferred that the Bhander coastal flat was protected from the open sea by the Bundelkhand basement arch to the north of the Vindhyan basin, instead of barrier bars. Such a setting favoured accumulation of a high proportion of terrigenous mud in the coastal plain, in contrast to many described examples from the Proterozoic. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

华南伊迪卡拉纪"庙河生物群"的属性分析

我国南方伊迪卡拉(震旦)系陡山沱组页岩中,保存了以"庙河生物群"为代表的宏体碳质压膜化石群,以大量底栖固着的多细胞藻类为主,还包含推测的后生动物和海绵动物、可疑的遗迹化石等多门类生物化石,化石类型多样、分异显著,代表着新元古代"雪球"冰期之后和寒武纪早期后生动物大爆发前夕地球早期多细胞生物的一次大规模的进化辐射事件。本文通过比较湖北秭归庙河和贵州江口翁会两个典型产地的宏体化石优势属种的形态特征,以及两地所处的沉积古环境,分析探讨了这些优势类别与现生多细胞生物(包括红藻、褐藻和绿藻三大高级藻类)的亲缘关系。研究表明,寒武纪之前大约35~10Ma间,各门类多细胞藻类广泛发育,与后生动物的先驱分子构成独特的古生态群落。