2025 • In Martin Homann (Editor), Aubrey Zerkle (Editor), Alex Webb (Editor), Wladyslaw Altermann (Editor), Richard R. Ernst (Editor) (Ed.) The Archean Earth Tempo and Events
[en] Deciphering early life on Earth is a highly pursued topic in Earth Science. At the frontiers of multiple arrays of investigation, objects that could be considered as the oldest microfossils on Earth are analyzed with caution. The aim is to observe directly the oldest forms of life that arose on the primitive Earth, and possibly document their metabolism and/or ecology. Possible early traces of life and ecosystems have been found in the shape of large organo-sedimentary structures called stromatolites. Constraints on the metabolisms and/or paleoenvironmental conditions that attended the accretion of stromatolites (as well as other rock types) have been sought using isotope ratio and chemical element analysis. Only a few cases of mineral molds of microfossils in Neoarchean stromatolites show cellular evidence of microbial participation in their accretion. Nevertheless, candidate microfossils may be assessed in Archean clastic (e.g., shales) and chemical (e.g., cherts) rocks. Due to preservation biases, the existence of biomorphic carbonaceous and/or mineral microstructures, and limits introduced by observation techniques and actualism, it appears that not all fossillike microstructures may derive from the bodies of ancient microorganisms. Multiscale investigations showed that some of the oldest claimed microfossil populations could have been shaped by abiotic processes. When abiotic morphogenesis is demonstrated, fossillike structures are classified as pseudofossils. Dubiofossils include the fossil-like microstructures of uncertain origin. Challenges thus remain in order to consider true Archean microfossils without any doubt. The following chapter reviews the major debates and interpretations about microstructures that could be considered as the oldest microfossils found on Earth.
Disciplines :
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
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