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