Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer-review
Fossil microorganisms and formation of early precambrian weathering crusts. / Astafieva, M. M.; Rozanov, A. Yu; Vrevsky, A. B.; Alfimova, N. A.; Matrenichev, V. A.; Hoover, R. B.
Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII. 2009. 744107 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 7441).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer-review
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TY - GEN
T1 - Fossil microorganisms and formation of early precambrian weathering crusts
AU - Astafieva, M. M.
AU - Rozanov, A. Yu
AU - Vrevsky, A. B.
AU - Alfimova, N. A.
AU - Matrenichev, V. A.
AU - Hoover, R. B.
PY - 2009/11/19
Y1 - 2009/11/19
N2 - Weathering crusts are the only reliable evidence of the existence of continental conditions,. often they are the only source of information about exogenous processes and subsequently about conditions under which the development of biosphere occurred. A diverse complex of fossil microorganisms was discovered by Scanning Electron Microscope investigations. The chemical composition of the discovered fossils is identical to that of the host rocks and is represented by Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg. Probably, the microorganisms embedded in the rocks played the role of a catalyst. Decomposition of minerals, comprising rocks, and their transformation into clayey (argillaceous) minerals, occurred most likely under the influence of microorganisms. Perhaps the 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 the colonization of land by microbes already at that time and about existence of single series from weathering crusts (primitive soils) to real soils.
AB - Weathering crusts are the only reliable evidence of the existence of continental conditions,. often they are the only source of information about exogenous processes and subsequently about conditions under which the development of biosphere occurred. A diverse complex of fossil microorganisms was discovered by Scanning Electron Microscope investigations. The chemical composition of the discovered fossils is identical to that of the host rocks and is represented by Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg. Probably, the microorganisms embedded in the rocks played the role of a catalyst. Decomposition of minerals, comprising rocks, and their transformation into clayey (argillaceous) minerals, occurred most likely under the influence of microorganisms. Perhaps the 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 the colonization of land by microbes already at that time and about existence of single series from weathering crusts (primitive soils) to real soils.
KW - Archaean
KW - Bacteria
KW - Cyanobacteria
KW - Eukaryotes
KW - Paleosols
KW - Precambrian
KW - Proterozoic
KW - Weathering Crust
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449494265&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.824535
DO - 10.1117/12.824535
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:70449494265
SN - 9780819477316
T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
BT - Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII
T2 - Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII
Y2 - 4 August 2009 through 6 August 2009
ER -
ID: 40628568