Fossil microorganisms and formation of Early Precambrian weathering crusts

M. M. Astafieva; A. Yu. Rozanov; A. B. Vrevsky; N. A. Alfimova; V. A. Matrenichev; R. B. Hoover

doi:10.1117/12.824535

10 September 2009 Fossil microorganisms and formation of Early Precambrian weathering crusts

M. M. Astafieva, A. Yu. Rozanov, A. B. Vrevsky, N. A. Alfimova, V. A. Matrenichev, R. B. Hoover

Proceedings Volume 7441, Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII; 744107 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.824535
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Weathering crusts are the only reliable evidences of continental conditions existence, and often are the only source of information about exogenous processes and subsequently about conditions under which the development of biosphere occurred. Complex of diverse fossil microorganisms was discovered in result of electronic-microscope investigations. Chemical composition of discovered fossils is identical to that of the host rocks and is represented by Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg. Probably, microorganisms fixed in rocks played role of catalyst. Decomposition of minerals, comprising rocks, and their transformation into clayey (argillaceous) minerals, occurred most likely under influence of microorganisms. And may be unique weathering crusts of Early Precambrian were formed due to interaction between specific composition of microorganism assemblage and conditions of hypergene transformations. So it is possible to speak about colonization of land by microbes already at that time and about existence of single raw from weathering crusts (Primitive soils) to real soils.

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M. M. Astafieva, A. Yu. Rozanov, A. B. Vrevsky, N. A. Alfimova, V. A. Matrenichev, and R. B. Hoover "Fossil microorganisms and formation of Early Precambrian weathering crusts", Proc. SPIE 7441, Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII, 744107 (10 September 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.824535

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