X-ray fluorescence microscopy of Archean macro and microfossils (Old ID 23649)
Role
Principal Investigator
Description
The 2700 Ma metasediments from the Archean Tanzania Craton contain centimeter size “concretionary” structures that resemble Phanerozoic trace fossils and unusually large and complexly shaped microfossils. Thin section studies and EPMA elemental mapping revealed that the grain size and composition of the “concretions” are very different from the surrounding matrix. They contain a complex internal structure, which is inconsistent with an inorganic origin suggesting the existence of complex life forms 2700 Ma ago. Herein we ask for beam-time to collect detailed high resolution and high sensitivity compositional data for the macrofossils and the microfossils.
Date
01 Sep 2017 - 30 Nov 2017
Project Type
GRANT
Keywords
Archaean fossils;imaging;Origin of life;x-ray fluorescence microscopy
Funding Body
Australian Synchrotron
Amount
1473
Project Team
Paul Dirks