Salkhan Fossil Park (Sonbhadra)

Current Context: Salkhan fossil park Added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in June 2025—step toward formal nomination.

ABOUT SALKHAN FOSSIL PARK

• Location: Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh; covering area. 15 km from Robertsganj; spans ~25 hectares near Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Geological Significance: Contains stromatolites (~1.4 billion years old) — fossilised cyanobacteria marking early oxygenation of the planet.
• Scientific Value: Offers rare window into Precambrian era (~85 % of Earth’s history) via domal, columnar, stratiform stromatolite varieties.
• UNESCO Status: Entry in Tentative List (June 2025); dossier under preparation, with full inscription expected by 2026–27.