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Fossil Microorganisms and Formation of Early Precambrian Weathering ProfilesWeathering crusts are the only reliable evidences of the existence of continental conditions. Often they are the only source of information about exogenous processes and subsequently about conditions under which the development of the biosphere occurred. A complex of diverse fossil microorganisms was discovered as a result of Scanning Electron Microscope investigations. The chemical composition of the discovered fossils is identical to that of the host rocks and is represented by Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg. Probably, the microorganisms fixed in rocks played the role of catalyst. The decomposition of minerals comprising the rocks and their transformation into clayey (argillaceous) minerals, most likely occurred under the influence of microorganisms. And may be unique weathering crusts of Early Precambrian were formed due to interaction between specific composition of microorganism assemblage and conditions of hypergene transformations. So it is possible to speak about colonization of land by microbes already at that time and about existence of single raw from weathering crusts (Primitive soils) to real soils.
Document ID
20090034150
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rozanov, A. Yu
(Academy of Sciences (Russia) Moscow, Russian Federation)
Astafieva, M. M.
(Academy of Sciences (Russia) Moscow, Russian Federation)
Vrevsky, A. B.
(Academy of Sciences (Russia) Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation)
Alfimova, N. A.
(Academy of Sciences (Russia) Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation)
Matrenichev, V. A.
(Academy of Sciences (Russia) Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation)
Hoover, R. B.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
August 2, 2009
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
M09-0590
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 1, 2009
End Date: August 6, 2009
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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