Direct dating of Archean microbial ichnofossils

Neil R. Benerjee; Antonio Simonetti; Harald Furnes; Karlis Muehlenbachs; Hubert Staudigel; Larry Heaman; Martin J. Van Kranendonk

doi:10.1130/G23534A.1

Direct dating of Archean microbial ichnofossils

Neil R. Benerjee, Antonio Simonetti, Harald Furnes, Karlis Muehlenbachs, Hubert Staudigel, Larry Heaman, Martin J. Van Kranendonk

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

71 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	487-490
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geology
Volume	35
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/G23534A.1
Publication status	Published - Jun 1 2007
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Astrobiology
Early life
Geochronology
Greenstone belt
Ichnofossil
Pilbara craton

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geology

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10.1130/G23534A.1

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Benerjee, N. R., Simonetti, A., Furnes, H., Muehlenbachs, K., Staudigel, H., Heaman, L., & Van Kranendonk, M. J. (2007). Direct dating of Archean microbial ichnofossils. Geology, 35(6), 487-490. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23534A.1

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AU - Simonetti, Antonio

AU - Furnes, Harald

AU - Muehlenbachs, Karlis

AU - Staudigel, Hubert

AU - Heaman, Larry

AU - Van Kranendonk, Martin J.

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