Gangtok: Fossils older than the Himalayas have been discovered in Mamley village, Namchi district, Sikkim. Despite the area being recognized in 2014 as one of India’s 32 geo-heritage sites by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the site has received little attention until now.
On September 19, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay acknowledged the significance of the find and announced plans to transform the site.
In a social media post, Golay stated, “Our government is committed to transforming this remarkable site into a world-class, cutting-edge fossil theme park under the Department of Mines & Geology. The park will offer an immersive experience with a captivating light and sound show narrating the history of our planet, a geological museum housing invaluable specimens, and exhibits showcasing index fossils from across the globe. Similarly, we plan to develop a geopark village that will serve as a hub for researchers, scientists, and tourists alike, making Sikkim a destination of international significance in the fields of geology and paleontology.”
Mamley village, located 6 kilometers northeast of Namchi town with a population of 1,079, may soon become home to a stromatolite fossil park. The Sikkim government has already acquired 4.312 hectares of land for the project, aiming to establish a hub for researchers and scientists—something uncommon in the entire North-Eastern region. This park will preserve rare evidence of early life and evolution. However, nearby hydroelectric power projects, road and tunnel construction, and other developmental activities pose potential threats to the area.
Other stromatolite-bearing dolomites have been identified in Tatopani, 20 kilometers upstream along the Rangit River. Tatopani, also known as Phur Cha Chu, is a hot spring and a popular tourist spot. Currently, the site remains untouched, though concerns are rising about the potential degradation of these priceless geo-heritage assets.
Dicky Yangzom, Secretary of Mines and Geology, expressed optimism about the developments. “We are happy that the discovery made in 2008 has finally been publicized, and the whole area, stretching almost 50 square kilometers, can be developed as a geopark. For the geopark, the people living in these areas will not be displaced. It is just a matter of conserving what is there. Much depends on the local people who may want to explore geo-tourism or sustainable livelihoods. There has to be awareness on this issue. Together with the Tourism Department, we will work to establish a geo-heritage tourism belt. This is new for us, and we will train together with the local community to develop the geo-heritage park.”
The fossils in question are stromatolites—structures formed by colonies of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which played a critical role in shaping Earth’s atmosphere by producing oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen. The stromatolites are believed to be more than 1.5 billion years old and have been well-preserved in the Buxa Dolomite formation of the Rangeet River Valley, spanning from Tatopani to Reshi and Namchi town to Mamley village. The diameter of the stromatolites ranges from 10 to 80 centimeters, and the structures appear ellipsoidal in shape.
The discovery of circular structures on the dolomite boulders at Mamley village was first made by Sikkim’s Mines and Geology Department in collaboration with Professor V.C. Tewari of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, in 2007-08. It was confirmed that the Conophyton fossils found in the Buxa Dolomite are around 1.5 billion years old.
Keshar Luitel, Joint Director of Sikkim’s Mines and Geology Department, emphasized the importance of the discovery. “These are remnants of the first unicellular living organisms, preserved in the Meso-Neoproterozoic Dolomite of the Buxa formation, which is 1.5 billion years old. This is even older than the formation of the Himalayas, which began about 35 million years ago. We believe these are remnants from the ancient Tethys Sea, trapped in the rocks after the formation of the Himalayas.”
He added, “These stromatolites could extend over an area of 20-40 square kilometers, from Mamley village to Kholaghari and as far as Reshi in Geyzing district. There could be more than just stromatolites in the area—there may also be remnants of the Tethys Sea, including shallow marine conditions like current bedding, all preserved in the rocks and boulders. We believe the entire area holds significant paleontological value. A detailed micro-level study under the guidance of the Geological Survey of India is required.”
This groundbreaking discovery and the planned development of a fossil park promise to bring global attention to Sikkim, placing it on the map as a key site for geological and paleontological research. The project will not only preserve these ancient fossils but also create opportunities for sustainable tourism, research, and education.
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