X-ray tomography of Archean putative trace fossils and microfossils (Old ID 23652)
Australian Synchrotron
Role
Principal Investigator
Description
The 2700 Ma metasediments from the Tanzania lCratpon contain centimeter size structures that resemble Phanerozoic trace fossils. They have a tube-like shape with an s-like curcature and are more than 15 centimeters long. Thin section studies and elemental mapping revealed that the grain size and comp;osition of the 'concretions' are very different from the surrounding matrix. They contain a complex internal structure which is inconsistent with an inorganic origin opening the extraoredinary possibility for the existence of complex life forms 2700 Ma ago.
Date
01 Sep 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
Project Type
GRANT
Keywords
Archaean fossils;Imaging;origin of life;x-ray tomography
Funding Body
Australian Synchrotron
Amount
1650
Project Team
Paul Dirks