Microfossils

Comptes Rendus - Palevol

Volumn 8, Issue 7, 2009, Pages 605-615

  Javaux, Emmanuelle J ^a   Benzerara, Karim ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LIÈGE   (Belgium)

^b UNIVERSITÉ PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE   (France)

Author keywords

Biogenicity; Endogenicity; Geobiology; Microfossils; Syngeneity; Taphonomy

Indexed keywords

BIOSIGNATURES; CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS; DIAGNOSIS CRITERIA; EARLY EARTH; EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS; GEOBIOLOGY; LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS; MICROFOSSILS; PRECAMBRIAN; PRIMARY STRUCTURES; TAPHONOMY;

GEOCHEMISTRY; SEDIMENTOLOGY;

EARTH (PLANET);

BIOMARKER; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; FOSSILIZATION; GEOLOGICAL RECORD; METAMORPHISM; MICROFOSSIL; SAMPLE PREPARATION; TAPHONOMY;

EID: 70450257675     PISSN: 16310683     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.crpv.2009.04.004     Document Type: Article

References (74)

1. Bartley J.K. Actualistic taphonomy of Cyanobacteria: implications for the Precambrian fossil record. Palaios 11 (1996) 571-586
2. D.J. Batten, Palynofacies and petroleum potential, in: J. Jansonius, D.C. McGregor (Eds.), Palynology: Principles and Applications, 3, American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, 1996, Texas A&M University, Texas, pp. 1065-1084.
3. Benzerara K., Menguy N., Guyot F., Dominici C., and Gillet P. Nanobacteria-like calcite single crystals at the surface of the Tataouine meteorite. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100 (2003) 7438-7442
4. Benzerara K., Yoon T.H., Tyliszczak T., Constantz B., Spormann A.M., and Brown Jr. G.E. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy study of microbial calcification. Geobiology 2 (2004) 249-259
5. Benzerara K., Menguy N., López-García P., Yoon T.H., Kazmierczak J., Tyliszczak T., Guyot F., and Brown Jr. G.E. Nanoscale detection of organic signatures in carbonate microbialites. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103 (2006) 9440-9445
6. Benzerara K., Menguy N., Banerjee N.R., Tyliszczak T., Guyot F., and Brown Jr. G.E. Alteration of submarine basaltic glass from the Ontong Java Plateau: a STXM and TEM study. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 260 (2007) 187-200
7. Bernard S., Benzerara K., Beyssac O., Menguy N., Guyot F., Brown Jr. G.E., and Goffé B. Exceptional preservation of fossil plant spores in high-pressure metamorphic rocks. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 262 (2007) 257-272
8. Bernard S., Benzerara K., Beyssac O., Brown Jr. G.E., Grauvogel Stamm L., and Duringer P. Ultrastructural and chemical study of modern and fossil sporoderms by Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM). Rev. Palaeobotany Palynol. (2008) 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2008.09.002
9. Beyssac O., Goffé B., Petitet J.P., Froigneux E., Moreau M., and Rouzaud J.N. On the characterization of disordered and heterogeneous carbonaceous materials by Raman spectroscopy. Spectrochim. Acta Part A Mol. Biol. Spectrosc. 59 (2003) 2267-2276
10. Botta O., Bada J.L., Gomez-Elvira J., Javaux E., Selsis F., and Summons R. Strategies of life detection: summary and outlook. ISSI Space Sci. Ser. 135 (2008) 371-380
11. Brasier M.D. Critical testing of earth's oldest putative fossil assemblage from the similar to 3.5 Ga Apex Chert, Chinaman Creek, western Australia. Precambrian Res. 140 (2005) 55-102
12. Brasier M.D., McLoughin N., Green O., and Wacay D. A fresh look at the fossil evidence for early Archaean cellular life. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 361 (2006) 887-902
13. Buick R. Microfossil recognition in Archean rocks: an appraisal of spheroids and filaments from a 3500 M.Y. old chert-barite unit at North Pole, western Australia. Palaios 5 (1990) 441-459
14. Butterfield N.J., Knoll A.H., and Swett N. Paleobiology of the Neoproterozoic Svanbergfjellet formation, Spitsbergen. Fossils Strata 34 (1994) 1-84
15. Cady S.L., Farmer J.D., Grotzinger J.P., Schopf J.W., and Steele A. Morphological biosignatures and the search for life on Mars. Astrobiology 3 (2003) 351-368
16. Cockell C.S., and Herrera A. Why are some microorganisms boring?. Trends Microbiol. 16 (2008) 101-106
17. Daughney C.J., Chatellier X., Chan A., Kenward P., Fortin D., Suttle C.A., and Fowle D.A. Adsorption and precipitation of iron from seawater on a marine bacteriophage (PWH3A-P1). Marine Chemistry 91 (2004) 101-115
18. Deamer D., Singaram S., Rajamani S., Kompanichenko V., and Guggenheim S. Self-assembly processes in the prebiotic environment. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 361 (2006) 1809-1818
19. Fernandez-Remolar D., Gomez-Elvira J., Gomez F., Sebastian E., Martin J., Manfredi J.A., Torres J., Kesler C.G., and Amils R. The Tinto River, an extreme acidic environment under control of iron, as an analog of the Terra Meridiani hematite site of Mars. Planet. Space Sci. 52 (2004) 239-248
20. Fernandez-Remolar D., and Knoll A.H.K. Fossilization potential of iron-bearing minerals in acidic environments of Rio Tinto, Spain: Implications for Mars exploration. Icarus 1941 (2008) 72-85
21. Forterre P. The origin of viruses and their possible roles in major evolutionary transitions. Virus Res. 117 (2006) 5-16
22. Fortin F. What biogenic minerals tell us. Science 303 (2004) 1618-1619
23. Furnes H., Banerjee N.R., Muehlenbachs K., Staudigel H., and de Wit M. Early life record in Archean pillow lavas. Science 304 (2004) 578-581
24. Furnes H., Banerjee N.R., Staudigel H., Muehlenbachs K., McLoughlin N., de Wit M., and van Kranendonk M. Comparing petrographic signatures of bioalteration in recent to Mesoarchean pillow lavas: Tracing subsurface life in oceanic igneous rocks. Precambrian Res. 158 (2007) 156-176
25. Furnes H., Staudigel H., Horseth I.H., Torsvik T., Muehlenbachs K., and Tumyr O. Bioalteration of basaltic glass in the oceanic crust. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 2 (2001) ARTN 2000GC000150
26. Galimov E.M. Isotope organic geochemistry. Org. Geochem. 37 (2006) 1200-1262
27. Garcia-Ruiz J.M., Carnerup A., Christy A.G., Welham N.J., and Hyde S.T. Morphology: an ambiguous indicator for biogenicity. Astrobiology 2 (2002) 335-351
28. Garcia-Ruiz J.M., Hyde S.T., Carnerup A.M., Christy A.G., Van Kranendonk M.J., and Welham N.J. Self-assembled silica-carbonate structures and detection of ancient microfossils. Science 302 (2003) 1194-1197
29. Golubic S., Campbell S.E., Drobne K., Cameron B., Balsam W.L., Cimerman F., and Dubois L. Microbial Endoliths: a benthic overprint in the sedimentary record, and a paleobathymetric cross-reference with foraminifera. J. Paleontol. 58 (1984) 351-361
30. Hofmann H.J. Precambrian microflora, Belcher Islands, Canada: significance and systematics. J. Palaeontol. 50 (1976) 1040-1073
31. Hofmann H.J. Archean microfossils and abiomorphs. Astrobiology 4 (2004) 135
32. Javaux E.J., Knoll A.H., and Walter M.R. Morphological and ecological complexity in early eukaryotic ecosystems. Nature 412 (2001) 66-69
33. Javaux E.J., Knoll A.H., and Walter M.R. Recognizing and interpreting the fossils of early eukaryotes. Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 33 (2003) 75-94
34. Javaux E.J., Knoll A.H., and Walter M.R. TEM evidence for eukaryotic diversity in mid-Proterozoic oceans. Geobiology 2 (2004) 121-132
35. Jehlicka J., Urban O., and Pokorny J. Raman spectroscopy of carbon and solid bitumens in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Spectrochim. Acta A 59 (2003) 2341-2352
36. Jones B., and Renaut R.W. Microstructural changes accompanying the opal-A to opal-CT transition: new evidence from the siliceous sinters of Geysir, Haukadalur, Iceland. Sedimentology 54 (2007) 921-948
37. Kaiser K., and Guggenberger G. The role of DOM sorption to mineral surfaces in the preservation of organic matter in soils. Org. Geochem. 31 (2000) 711-725
38. Katagiri H., and Ishida A. Ishitani Raman-spectra of graphite edge planes. Carbon 26 (1988) 565-571
39. Knoll A.H. Overview. Proceedings of the workshop on size limits of very small organisms, space studies board, National Research Council (1999), National Academies Press, Washington, DC 1-5
40. Knoll A.H. Life on a Young Planet (2003), Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ 277 p
41. Knoll A.H., and Golubic S. Living and fossil cyanobacteria. In: Schidlowski M., et al. (Eds). Early organic evolution: implications for mineral and energy resources (1992), Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 450-462
42. Knoll A.H., Javaux E.J., Hewitt D., and Cohen P. Eukaryotic organisms in Proterozoic oceans. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 361 (2006) 1023-1038
43. Konhauser K.O. Introduction to geomicrobiology (2007), Blackwell Publ. 425 p
44. Konhauser K.O., Jones B., Phoenix V., Ferris G., and Renaut R. The microbial role in hot spring silicification. Ambio 33 (2004) 552-558
45. Konhauser K.O., Jones B., Reysenbach A.L., and Renaut R.W. Hot spring sinters: keys to understanding Earth's earliest life forms. Can. J. Earth Sci. 40 (2003) 1713-1724
46. Kyle J.E., Pedersen K., and Ferris F.G. Virus Mineralization at Low pH in the Rio Tinto, Spain. Geomicrobiol. J. 25 (2008) 338-345
47. Lee S.J., Golubic S., and Verrecchia E. Epibiotic relationships in Mesoproterozoic fossil record: Gaoyuzhuang Formation, China. Geology 27 (1999) 1059-1062
48. Lepot K., Benzerara K., Brown Jr. G.E., and Philippot P. Microbially influenced formation of 2,724-million-year-old stromatolites. Nature Geosci. 1 (2008) 118-121
49. Marshall C.P., Javaux E.J., Knoll A.H., and Walter M.R. Combined micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Micro-Raman spectroscopy of Proterozoic acritarchs: a new approach to palaeobiology. Precambrian Res. 138 (2005) 208-224
50. Marshall C.P., Love G.D., Snape C.E., Hill A.C., Allwood A.C., Walter M.R., Van Kranendonk M.J., Bowden S.A., Sylva S.P., and Summons R.E. Structural characterization of kerogen in 3.4 Ga Archaean cherts from the Pilbara Craton, western Australia. Precambrian Res. 155 (2007) 1-23
51. McCollom T.M. Carbon isotope composition of organic compounds produced by abiotic synthesis under hydrothermal conditions. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 243 (2006) 74-84
52. McCollom T.M., and Seewald J.S. Abiotic synthesis of organic compounds in deep-sea hydrothermal environments. Chem. Rev. 107 (2007) 382-401
53. Miot J., Benzerara K., Morin G., Kappler A., Bernard S., Obst M., Férard C., Skouri-Panet F., Guigner J.M., Posth N., Galvez M., Brown Jr. G.E., and Guyot F. Iron biomineralization by anaerobic neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 73 (2008) 696-711
54. Nealson K.H. Nannobacteria: size limits and evidence. Science 276 (1997)
55. Pasteris J.D., and Wopencka B. Necessary, but not sufficient: Raman identification of disordered carbon as a signature of ancient life. Astrobiology 3 (2003) 727-738
56. Porter S.M., Meisterfeld R., and Knoll A.H. Vase-shaped microfossils from the Neoproterozoic Chuar Group, Grand Canyon: a classification guided by modern testate amoebae. J. Paleontol. 77 (2003) 409-429
57. Reid R.P., et al. The role of microbes in accretion, lamination and early lithification of modern marine stromatolites. Nature 406 (2000) 989-992
58. Sangely L., Chaussidon M., Michels R., Brouand M., Cuney M., Huault V., and Landais P. Micrometer scale carbon isotopic study of bitumen associated with Athabasca uranium deposits: Constraints on the genetic relationship with petroleum source-rocks and the abiogenic origin hypothesis. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 258 (2007) 378-396
59. Schopf J.W. Fossil evidence of Archaean life. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B-Biol. Sci. 361 (2006) 869-886
60. Schopf J.W., Kudryavtsev A.B., Czaja A.D., and Tripathi A.B. Evidence of Archean life: stromatolites and microfossils. Precambrian Res. 158 (2007) 141-155
61. Schopf J.W., Tripathi A.B., and Kudryavtsev A.B. Three-dimensional confocal optical imagery of Precambrian microscopic organisms. Astrobiology 6 (2006) 1-16
62. Schopf J.W., and Walter M.R. Archean microfossils: new evidence of ancient microbes. In: Schopf J.W. (Ed). Earth's Earliest Biosphere (1983), Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ 214-239
63. Skrzypczak-Bonduelle A., Binet L., Delpoux O., Vezin H., Derenne S., Robert F., and Gourier D. EPR of radicals in primitive organic matter: a tool for the search of biosignatures of the most ancient traces of life. Appl. Magn. Reson. 33 (2008) 371-397
64. K. Sugitani, K. Grey, A. Allwood, T. Nagaoka, K. Mimurae, M. Minamif, C.P. Marshall, M.J. Van Kranendonk, M.R. Walter, Diverse microstructures from Archaean chert from the Mount Goldsworthy -Mount Grant area, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia: microfossils, dubiofossils, or pseudofossils? Precambrian Res. 158 (2007) 228-262.
65. Talyzina N.M., and Moczydlowska M. Morphological and ultrastructural studies of some acritarchs from the Lower Cambrian Lukati Formation, Estonia. Rev. Palaeobotany Palynol. 112 (2000) 1-21
66. Toporski J.K.W., Steele A., Westall F., Thomas-Keprta K.L., and McKay D.S. Winner of the 2001 Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Award - The simulated silicification of bacteria - New clues to the modes and timing of bacterial preservation and implications for the search for extraterrestrial microfossils. Astrobiology 2 (2002) 1-26
67. Torsvik T., Furnes H., Muehlenbachs K., Thorseth I.H., and Tumyr O. Evidence for microbial activity at the glass-alteration interface in oceanic basalts. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 162 (1998) 165-176
68. van Zuilen M.A., Chaussidon M., Rollion-Bard C., and Marty B. Carbonaceous cherts of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa: Isotopic, chemical and structural characteristics of individual microstructures. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 71 (2007) 655-669
69. Westall F., and Folk R.L. Exogenous carbonaceous microstructures in Early Archaean cherts and BIFs from the Isua Greenstone belt: implications for the search for life in ancient rocks. Precambrian Res. 126 (2003) 313-330
70. Wierzchos J., Sancho L.G., and Ascaso C. Biomineralization of endolithic microbes in rocks from the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica: implications for microbial fossil formation and their detection. Env. Microbiol. 7 (2005) 566-575
71. Wopenka B. Structural characterization of kerogens to granulite-facies graphite- applicability of Raman microprobe spectroscopy. Am. Mineralogist 78 (1993) 533-557
72. Xiao S., Zhang Y., and Knoll A.H. Three-dimensionally preservation of algae and animal embryos in a Neoproterozoic phosphate. Nature 391 (1998) 553-558
73. Yin L.M., Zhu M.Y., Knoll A.H., Yuan X.L., Zhang J.M., and Hu J. Doushantuo embryos preserved inside diapause egg cysts. Nature 446 (2007) 661-663
74. Yui T.F. Raman spectrum of carbonaceous material: a possible metamorphic grade indicator for low-grade metamorphic rocks. J. Metamorphic Geology 14 (1996) 115-124