Microflora of the Bitter Springs Formation, late Precambrian, central Australia

Abstract

Thirty new species, representing 24 new genera, of green algae, blue-green algae, colonial bacteria, fungus-like filaments, and possible pyrrophytes, are described from the bedded carbonaceous cherts of the late Precambrian Bitter Springs formation, Ross river area, central Australia. Chemical data and petrologic evidence indicate that the organisms are geochemically altered but are morphologically intact. The age of the microflora is considered to be approximately 1000 m.y.