The mid-Proterozoic Vindhyan macrobiota from Chopan, Southeast Uttar Pradesh

Macrobiota comprising body fossils and trace fossils are reported from the Semri and Kaimur Groups of the Vindhyan Supergroup exposed around Chopan. Carbonaceous compressions of Chuaria minima and Tawuia dalensis, impressions of Sekwia excentrica and moulds of Longfengsahnia chopanensis sp. nov. are reported from the Rohtas Limestone Formation, Semri Group. Beside these, Longfengsahnia stiplala and epirelief of trace fossils belonging to possibly annelids are reported from the Ghurma Shale Formation of Kaimur Group. The macrobiota record indicates that during the Rohtas time free planktonic forms were present in the entire Vindhyan region particularly the genus Chuaria which may be considered as an index fossil of that period.