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Diverse microfossils in Precambrian Onverwacht group rocks of South Africa

Abstract

WE report the discovery of some complex microfossils from the Kromberg formation of the Onverwacht group of South Africa. The samples, in which the microfossils were found, were collected by D.O.H. along the banks of the Komati River in the Barberton Mountain Land, at Skaapbrug, near the old JCI mining camp. The Kromberg formation lies in the Upper part of the Onverwacht group, above the Middle Marker Horizon, which has been dated as 3.355×109yr old1. The Onverwacht group is the oldest member of the Swaziland Supergroup and lies below the 3.1×109 yr old Fig Tree group. Microfossils have been reported from the Fig Tree group2,3, and simple spherical and filamentous forms from the Onverwacht4–6. Spherical and cup-shaped carbonaceous microstructures have been reported7–9 from the Onverwacht but were not regarded as biogenic in origin.

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MUIR, M., HALL, D. Diverse microfossils in Precambrian Onverwacht group rocks of South Africa. Nature 252, 376–378 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252376a0

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