Summary. Laser Raman Spectroscopy (LRS) is a very powerful tool for the study of biological material (biomolecules) and inorganic minerals. LRS provides direct molecular structural information of terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials. Recent advances in Laser Raman spectroscopic and 3D imagery techniques have characterized the biogenicity of the earliest microscopic life on Earth. Laser Raman Spectroscopy for the characterization of NW and NE Lesser Himalayan microbial carbonates (Deoban , Lameri, Gangolihat, Blaini , Krol , Tal and Buxa Group) has been done. These carbonates are characterized by Meso- Neoproterozoic stromatolites , organic walled microfossils, sponge spicules, multicellular brown algae (Vendotaenids) and Ediacaran metazoans. The global bioevents of the rise and fall of Ediacaran life is recorded in these sedimentary rocks of the Lesser Himalaya of India.The Raman spectra of the microbial assemblages of the Precambrian cherts of the world have been compared and the astrobiological implications of the Laser Raman Spectroscopic study of these microfossils has been discussed.


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(*) Professor Vinod. C. Tewari is currently the Senior Scientist and Head of the Sedimentology Group at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology , Dehra Dun and a Senior Associate of International Centre for Theoretical Physics , Trieste, Italy.He obtained his Ph. D. from the University of Lucknow in Geology in 1986 and continued his research in Wadia Institute . Dr. Tewari taught Geology at Kumaon University , Nainital , Uttarakhand (U.K.), India as Professor of Geology. Professor Tewari's scientific interests are in the areas of Precambrian stromatolites , sedimentation, carbon isotope, chemostratigraphy, genesis , early evolution and diversification of life and its astrobiological significance. He is associated with the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life , California , USA and International Geological Correlation Programme (I.G.C.P.) Project 493 on The Rise and Fall of Vendian Biota. He has seventy research papers published to his credit, and edited several volumes of Himalayan Geology, India and Journal of Nepal Geological Society, Kathmandu, Nepal. Professor Tewari has organized first Indo - Soviet Symposium on Stromatolites and Stromatolitic Deposits and other IGCP conferences in India. He is one of the organizers of the World Summit on Ancient Microscopic Fossils to be held in University of California, Los Angeles, USA in 2008. Professor Tewari is member of various international and national expert committees.

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