| Abstract: | The oldest sedimentary rocks on Earth, the 3.8-Ga Isua Iron-Formation in southwestern Greenland, are metamorphosed past the point where organic-walled fossils would remain. Acid residues and thin sections of these rocks reveal ferric microstructures that have filamentous, hollow rod, and spherical shapes not characteristic of crystalline minerals. Instead, they resemble ferric-coated remains of bacteria. Because there are no earlier sedimentary rocks to study on Earth, it may be necessary to expand the search elsewhere in the solar system for clues to any biotic precursors or other types of early life. A study of morphologies of iron oxide minerals collected in the southern highlands during a Mars sample return mission may therefore help to fill in important gaps in the history of Earth‘s earliest biosphere. -from Authors |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70014931 |
| Citation Author: | Iberall, Robbins, E.; Iberall, A. S. |
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| Citation End Page: | 66 |
| Citation Issue: | 1 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Geomicrobiology Journal |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 16 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Mineral remains of early life on Earth? On Mars?; 1991; Article; Journal; Geomicrobiology Journal; Iberall, Robbins, E.; Iberall, A. S. |
| Citation Start Page: | 51 |
| Citation Volume: | 9 |
| Citation Year: | 1991 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Mineral remains of early life on Earth? On Mars?; 1991; Article; Journal; Geomicrobiology Journal; Iberall, Robbins, E.; Iberall, A. S. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Tue, 1 Jan 1991 00:00 -0600 |
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