Banerjee et al., 2007
| Author(s): | Banerjee, N. R., Simonetti, A., Furnes, H., Muehlenbachs, K., Staudigel, H., Heaman, L., Van Kranendonk, M. J. |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2007 |
| Title: | Direct dating of Archean microbial ichnofossils |
| Journal: | Geology |
| Volume: | 35 |
| Number: | 6 |
| Pages: | 487 |
| Abstract | Well-preserved Archean pillow lavas from the ca. 3.35 Ga Euro Basalt of the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, contain micron-sized tubular structures mineralized by titanite (CaTiSiO4) with residual organic carbon preserved along their margins. Direct U-Pb dating of titanite in the tubular structures demonstrates an Archean age. These tubular microstructures are identical to microbial ichnofossils in modern basalts, ophiolites, and greenstone belts, and are interpreted as a biogenic signature in these ancient rocks. Microbial colonization of basaltic glass thus appears to have been part of a deep subsurface biosphere established early in Earth's history |
| Keywords: | Bioerosion, Microbioerosion, Paleontology, Precambrian |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1130/G23534A.1 |