DOCSLIB.ORG

Pilbara Supergroup of the East Pilbara Terrane, Pilbara Craton

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pilbara Supergroup of the East Pilbara Terrane, Pilbara Craton 118° 119° 120° INDIAN 20° OCEAN ? Phanerozoic cover M W C MB 21° E Y I O S MCB 22° MB WP EP KURRANA MCB 100 km TERRANE FHB KT SI AHH416 22.11.10 WA Mount Bruce Supergroup East Pilbara Terrane Fortescue and Hamersley Sulphur Springs Group Groups (2780–2450 Ma) (3270–3235 Ma) De Grey Supergroup Kelly Group Croydon Group and Mosquito (3350–3315 Ma) Perth Creek Formation (2970–2930 Ma) Strelley Pool Formation Gorge Creek Group (3426–3350 Ma) 500 km (3050–3020 Ma) Pilbara Supergroup Pilbara Warrawoona Group (3525–3427 Ma) Rift-related successions Soanesville Group Undivided granitic rocks FHB Fortescue and Hamersley Basins (c.3200–3160 Ma) (various ages) MB Mallina Basin Granitic rocks outside the Faults; MCB Mosquito Creek Basin East Pilbara Terrane exposed, concealed SI Sylvania Inlier KT Kurrana Terrane WP West Pilbara Superterrane EP East Pilbara Terrane Figure 1. Simplified geological map of the East Pilbara Terrane showing eight granite–greenstone domes. Most of the domes are separated by Paleoarchean–Mesoarchean boundary faults within the greenstones. Dome names: C = Carlindi; M = Muccan; W = Warrawagine; Y = Yule; E = Mount Edgar; S = Shaw; O = Corunna Downs; I = Yilgalong. Modified from Van Kranendonk et al. (2006, fig. 1). 50 GeologicalGeological SurveySurvey of WesternWestern AustraliaAustralia New geoscience Pilbara Supergroup of the East Pilbara Terrane, Pilbara Craton: updated lithostratigraphy and comments on the influence of vertical tectonics by AH Hickman Abstract Since the entire lithostratigraphy of the northern Pilbara Craton Introduction was formally revised in a Geological Survey of Western Australia 2ECORDIN EVIDENCEFROMNEWMAPPINGANDGEOCHRONOLOGICAL )N THELITHOSTRATIGRAPHYOFTHENORTHERN data has led to various lithostratigraphic revisions, in particular Pilbara Craton was formally revised and redefined FORTHE'A0ILBARA3UPERGROUP4HISPAPERPROVIDESA 6AN+RANENDONKETAL A .EW summary of the changes and briefly introduces the question of the evidence from university researchers, additional relationship between the stratigraphy of the Pilbara Supergroup geochronology, and ongoing evaluation of data and its tectonic environment. from the Pilbara Craton mapping project, have resulted in further revisions for the Pilbara 4HELITHOSTRATIGRAPHICCHANGESMADESINCETHEPUBLICATION Supergroup, which comprises the greenstone are: succession of the Paleoarchean East Pilbara i) the Soanesville Group has been removed from the Pilbara Terrane (Hickman, 2008, 2010; Hickman and Supergroup because it marks the commencement of Van Kranendonk, 2008; Hickman et al., 2010; plate-tectonic processes Van Kranendonk et al., 2010). The accumulated ii) the Budjan Creek Formation, previously assigned to the changes to the lithostratigraphy of the Pilbara 'A3ULPHUR3PRINGS'ROUP ISREASSIGNEDTO Supergroup are now causing a problem because the the Soanesville Group based on its sedimentology and most comprehensive lithostratigraphic reference interpreted tectonic setting WORKS6AN+RANENDONKETAL A ARE iii) the Strelley Pool Formation has been removed from the now partly out-of-date. This paper summarizes and Kelly Group briefly explains the recent revisions, and presents iv) the Dresser Formation has been correlated with the them in the context of an updated interpretation McPhee Formation, based on reinterpretation of its age of the evolution of the Pilbara Supergroup. The FROM'ATO'A revised lithostratigraphy has been incorporated into v) a basaltic succession underlying the Dresser Formation Geological Survey of Western Australia’s (GSWA’s) is correlated with the North Star Basalt instead of the Explanatory Notes database, and is being used in Coonterunah Subgroup. GSWA’s GIS products. The stratigraphy of the Pilbara Supergroup must have been influenced by its depositional setting within an environment of vertical tectonics. This paper reports an example where the Previous interpretation of the Pilbara distribution of one formation — the Apex Basalt — provides Supergroup some support for this concept, and examination of the variable distribution of several other formations, combined with thickness The Paleoarchean East Pilbara Terrane of the and facies data, is expected to provide additional evidence. Pilbara Craton (Fig. 1) is distinguished by its KEYWORDS: Pilbara Supergroup, lithostratigraphy, Soanesville structural style, which has no close analogues Group, Budjan Creek Formation, Strelley Pool Formation, Dresser in terranes formed by plate-tectonic processes. Formation, Apex Basalt, vertical tectonics, East Pilbara Terrane, .UMEROUSPUBLICATIONSOVERTHELASTYEARSHAVE Pilbara Craton, tectonic environment, plate tectonics, depositional explained its characteristic ‘dome-and-syncline’ setting, Sulphur Springs Group. pattern, well displayed on geological maps and satellite imagery, as the product of vertical tectonic processes; earliest accounts were by Hickman ANDRECENTCONTRIBUTIONS have included those by Van Kranendonk et al. A B '37!GEOLOGICALMAPPING BETWEENANDREVEALEDTHAT RATHERTHAN consisting of alternating domes and synclines, the regional outcrop pattern was produced by a cluster of adjoining granite–greenstone domes (Van Kranendonk et al., 2002). Boundary faults within the greenstones separate these domes (Fig. 1). In total, there are eight granite–greenstone domes, and there are 20 greenstone belts (Fig. 2). Annual Review 2009–10 51 118° 120° 20° Greenstone belts INDIAN 1 Pilbara Well 2 Cheearra Phanerozoic cover OCEAN 3 Wodgina 4 Abydos 50 km 5 Pincunah 6 East Strelley 20 7 Soanesville 8 Panorama WPS 9 North Shaw MALLINA 10 Emerald Mine greenstone complex BASIN M 11 Tambina greenstone complex C 12 Western Shaw W 19 13 Coongan 14 Kelly 18 15 McPhee 16 Mount Elsie 17 17 17 Marble Bar 18 Doolena Gap 6 8 E 19 Warralong 1 3 20 Goldsworthy 5 7 4 13 17 9 Fortescue Group 2 13 14 Y 10 I De Grey Supergroup 11 O 15 16 12 Greenstone belt/complex HAMERSLEYFORTESCUE BASINS AND S MOSQUITO CREEK Granitic rocks 14 BASIN Geological boundary 13 22° AHH415 22.11.10 Figure 2. Greenstone belts and complexes of the East Pilbara Terrane. Dome names as in Figure 1. WPS = West Pilbara Superterrane. Modified from Van Kranendonk et al. (2006, fig. 4). !SDElNEDBY6AN+RANENDONKETAL presents the revised stratigraphic column for the the Pilbara Supergroup comprises the greenstone Pilbara Supergroup. This lithostratigraphy is succession of the East Pilbara Terrane, and is described as ‘generalized’ because the thicknesses DIVIDEDINTOFOURGROUPS ASSHOWNIN&IGURE and compositions of the formations vary between different greenstone belts. With the exception of s n-A7ARRAWOONA'ROUP the change to the Budjan Creek Formation (below) (predominantly volcanic); all of the individual changes summarized in this paper have already been published but with little s n-A+ELLY'ROUPVOLCANIC or no explanation, except for the changes involving formations above a thin basal sedimentary the Strelley Pool Formation (Hickman, 2008). formation of the group, the Strelley Pool ‘Chert’); s n-A3ULPHUR3PRINGS'ROUP Soanesville Group (volcanic formations overlying a basal sedimentary formation, the Leilira Formation); The Soanesville Group outcrops in the western part of the East Pilbara Terrane where it overlies s n-A3OANESVILLE'ROUP THEn'A3ULPHUR3PRINGS'ROUP4HE (predominantly sedimentary). lower part of the Soanesville Group is composed OFAM THICKSUCCESSIONOFSILICICLASTIC sedimentary rocks containing minor chert and Revisions to the Pilbara Supergroup BIF; in contrast, the upper part of the group is composed of volcanic rocks in the formally &IGURESHOWSANOLDERVERSIONOFTHE defined Honeyeater Basalt (references in Van lithostratigraphy (modified from Van Kranendonk +RANENDONKETAL ANDMAYINCLUDE ETAL WITHlVELITHOSTRATIGRAPHICUNITS unnamed volcanic formations in the Wodgina and DISCUSSEDINTHISPAPERHIGHLIGHTEDINRED&IGURE Pilbara Well greenstone belts (Van Kranendonk 52 Geological Survey of Western Australia New geoscience et al., 2010). Stratigraphic relations between the Schematic stratigraphic Formation Group unnamed formations and the Soanesville Group section DE GREY SUPERGROUP will remain uncertain without further mapping and PYRAMID HILL FM geochronology. HONEYEATER BASALT SOANESVILLE 6AN+RANENDONKETAL REMOVEDTHE PADDY MARKET FM Soanesville Group from the Gorge Creek Group ,IPPLE 6AN+RANENDONKETAL CORBOY FM because recent mapping had indicated an erosional CARDINAL FM unconformity between the two successions. BUDJAN CREEK FM SULPHUR SPRINGS Previously, the Gorge Creek Group had been KANGAROO CAVES FM 3251–3235 Ma included in the Pilbara Supergroup, and the KUNAGUNARRINA FM REVISIONBY6AN+RANENDONKETAL RETAINED the Sulphur Springs Group in this supergroup while moving the Gorge Creek Group into the De LEILIRA FM 3273–3255 Ma 'REY3UPERGROUP6AN+RANENDONKETAL CHARTERIS The contact between the Soanesville Group and the BASALT underlying Sulphur Springs Group was described as WYMAN FM ADISCONFORMITYBY6AN+RANENDONKETAL 3325–3319 Ma Based on an interpretation that hydrothermal 3346–3335 Ma alteration at the top of the underlying Sulphur EURO KELLY Springs Group extends into the lower part of the BASALT 3OANESVILLE'ROUP 6AN+RANENDONKETAL inferred no significant age difference between the two groups. However, a transition between the Sulphur Springs Group and the Soanesville Group was questioned when Rasmussen et al. 3350 Ma (2007) dated monazite within the Soanesville S.P.C. PANORAMA FM 'ROUPATC'A ANDINTERPRETEDTHISTOBE 3458–3426 Ma the approximate age of deposition. This result APEX INDICATESTHATTHE3OANESVILLE'ROUPISMILLION
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pillow Basalts from the Mount Ada Basalt, Warrawoona Group, Pilbara Craton: Implications for the Initiation of Granite-Greenstone Terrains D
    Goldschmidt2015 Abstracts Pillow basalts from the Mount Ada basalt, Warrawoona group, Pilbara Craton: Implications for the initiation of granite-greenstone terrains D. T. MURPHY1*, J. TROFIMOVS1, R. A. HEPPLE1, D. WIEMER1, A. I. S. KEMP2 AND A. H. HICKMAN3 1Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 4001, Australia (correspondence: [email protected]) 2School of Earth and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 6009, Australia 3Department of Mines and Petroleum, Western Australia The Pilbara Craton represents the archetypal Archean granite-greenstone terrain in which mafic volcanic dominated supercrustals are intruded by granitic domes. This crustal morphology reflects distinct tectonic settings that formed in a hotter early Earth. The ambient temperature in the Paleoarchean mantle is estimated to be 1600oC [1] and corresponds with the liquidus temperature of Barberton komatiites [2]. In the Paleoarchean mantle a pyrolite composition at depths of less than 100 km is expected to melt and generate ultramafic magmas. Here we present volcanology, petrology and geochemistry data of well-preserved basaltic lavas ascribed to the Mount Ada Basalt, Warrawoona Group from the Doolena Gap Greenstone Belt. The Mount Ada Basalt was coeval with the Callina plutonic event that marks the initiation of dome formation in the Pilbara Craton [3]. The Doolena Gap sequence is exclusively pillow basalts with MgO < 10%. Isotopically the basalts are indistinguishable from contemporary non-chondritic Bulk Earth (εNd, 1.0 ± 0.2 and εHf, 2.3 ± 0.2). Here we address the implications of Paleoarchean basalts with MgO% < 10 derived from melting of a source indistinguishable from non-chondritic Bulk Silicate Earth to the initiation and subsequent evolution of the Pilbara Craton.
    [Show full text]
  • Thomas Spring Thesis (PDF 7MB)
    RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PHYSICAL VOLCANOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND PETROGENESIS OF THE 3.5GA WARRAWOONA GROUP PILLOW BASALT OF THE WARRALONG GREENSTONE BELT, PILBARA CRATON WESTERN AUSTRALIA Thomas Frederick David Spring Bachelor of Applied Science (Geology) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science (Geoscience) School of Earth, Environment and Biological Science Faculty of Science and Engineering Queensland University of Technology 2017 Abstract The formation of Earth’s continental crust initiated in the early Archean and has continued to the present day. In the early Archean, the Earth was substantially hotter than the present day leading to dramatically different tectonic processes. Early Archean tectonic processes have to be inferred from the rare well-preserved remnants of Archean crust. Models for the formation of Archean crust include large scale mantle melting associated with mantle plumes to generate thick basaltic to ultramafic crust. This crust than undergoes partial melting and internal differentiation to more felsic compositions. The Pilbara craton provides an ideal area for research into the Archean crust, with some of Earth oldest crust being preserved in relatively low strain and low metamorphosed greenstone belts. The volcanic cycles preserved in the greenstone belts of the Paleoarchean East Pilbara Terrane of the Pilbara craton represent the type example of plume-derived volcanism in the early Earth. Here I investigate the lithostratigraphy, volcanology and depositional environment of a volcanic and sedimentary succession ascribed to the Warrawoona group of the East Pilbara Supergroup from the Eastern Warralong Greenstone belt of the East Pilbara Terrane. In addition, I investigate the petrogenesis of well-preserved basaltic samples from the pillow basalt sequence ascribed to the Mt Ada Basalts in the study area.
    [Show full text]
  • 12.007 Geobiology Spring 2009
    MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu 12.007 Geobiology Spring 2009 For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms. Geobiology 2009 Lecture 10 The Antiquity of Life on Earth Homework #5 Topics (choose 1): Describe criteria for biogenicity in microscopic fossils. How do the oldest describes fossils compare? Use this to argue one side of the Brasier-Schopf debate OR What are stromatolites; where are they found and how are they formed? Articulate the two sides of the debate on antiquity and biogenicity. Up to 4 pages, including figures. Due 3/31/2009 Need to know • How C and S- isotopic data in rocks are informative about the advent and antiquity of biogeochemical cycles • Morphological remains and the antiquity of life; how do we weigh the evidence? • Indicators of changes in atmospheric pO2 • A general view of the course of oxygenation of the atm-ocean system Readings for this lecture Schopf J.W. et al., (2002) Laser Raman Imagery of Earth’s earliest fossils. Nature 416, 73. Brasier M.D. et al., (2002) Questioning the evidence for Earth’s oldest fossils. Nature 416, 76. Garcia-Ruiz J.M., Hyde S.T., Carnerup A. M. , Christy v, Van Kranendonk M. J. and Welham N. J. (2003) Self-Assembled Silica-Carbonate Structures and Detection of Ancient Microfossils Science 302, 1194-7. Hofmann, H.J., Grey, K., Hickman, A.H., and Thorpe, R. 1999. Origin of 3.45 Ga coniform stromatolites in Warrawoona Group, Western Australia. Geological Society of America, Bulletin, v. 111 (8), p.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Kosei.Pdf
    The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School Department of Geosciences GEOCHEMISTRY OF ARCHEAN–PALEOPROTEROZOIC BLACK SHALES: THE EARLY EVOLUTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE, OCEANS, AND BIOSPHERE A Thesis in Geosciences by Kosei Yamaguchi Copyright 2002 Kosei Yamaguchi Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2002 We approve the thesis of Kosei Yamaguchi Date of Signature ____________________________________ _______________________ Hiroshi Ohmoto Professor of Geochemistry Thesis Advisor Chair of Committee ____________________________________ _______________________ Michael A. Arthur Professor of Geosciences ____________________________________ _______________________ Lee R. Kump Professor of Geosciences ____________________________________ _______________________ Raymond G. Najjar Associate Professor of Meteorology ____________________________________ _______________________ Peter Deines Professor of Geochemistry Associate Head for Graduate Program and Research in Geosciences iii ABSTRACT When did the Earth's surface environment become oxic? The timing and mechanism of the rise of atmospheric pO2 level in the early Precambrian have been long debated but no consensus has been reached. The oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans has significant impacts on the evolution of the biosphere and the geochemical cycles of redox-sensitive elements. In order to constrain the evolution of the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, and geochemical cycles of elements, a systematic and multidisciplinary
    [Show full text]
  • Geobiology 2007 Lecture 4 the Antiquity of Life on Earth Homework #2
    Geobiology 2007 Lecture 4 The Antiquity of Life on Earth Homework #2 Topics (choose 1): Describe criteria for biogenicity in microscopic fossils. How do the oldest described fossils compare? How has the Brasier-Schopf debate shifted in five years? OR What are stromatolites; where are they found and how are they formed? Articulate the two sides of the debate on antiquity and biogenicity. Up to 4 pages, including figures. Due 3/01/2006 Required readings for this lecture Nisbet E. G. & Sleep N. H. (2001) The habitat and nature of early life, Nature 409, 1083. Schopf J.W. et al., (2002) Laser Raman Imagery of Earth’s earliest fossils. Nature 416, 73. Brasier M.D. et al., (2002) Questioning the evidence for Earth’s oldest fossils. Nature 416, 76. Garcia-Ruiz J.M., Hyde S.T., Carnerup A. M. , Christy v, Van Kranendonk M. J. and Welham N. J. (2003) Self-Assembled Silica-Carbonate Structures and Detection of Ancient Microfossils Science 302, 1194-7. Hofmann, H.J., Grey, K., Hickman, A.H., and Thorpe, R. 1999. Origin of 3.45 Ga coniform stromatolites in Warrawoona Group, Western Australia. Geological Society of America, Bulletin, v. 111 (8), p. 1256-1262. Allwood et al., (2006) Stromatolite reef from the Early Archaean era of Australia. Nature 441|, 714 J. William Schopf, Fossil evidence of Archaean life (2006) Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 361, 869–885. Martin Brasier, Nicola McLoughlin, Owen Green and David Wacey (2006) A fresh look at the fossil evidence for early Archaean cellular life. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 361, 887–902 What is Life? “Life can be recognized by its deeds — life is disequilibrium, leaving behind the signatures of disequilibrium such as fractionated isotopes or complex molecules.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrothermal Alteration at the Panorama Formation, North Pole Dome, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia
    Hydrothermal Alteration at the Panorama Formation, North Pole Dome, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia Adrian J. Brown*1, Thomas J. Cudahy,2,3 and Malcolm R. Walter3 1 SETI Institute, 515 N. Whisman Rd, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA 2 CSIRO Exploration and Mining, ARRC Centre, Kensington, WA 6102, Australia 3Australian Centre For Astrobiology, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia ABSTRACT An airborne hyperspectral remote sensing dataset was obtained of the North Pole Dome region of the Pilbara Craton in October 2002. It has been analyzed for indications of hydrothermal minerals. Here we report on the identification and mapping of hydrothermal minerals in the 3.459 Ga Panorama Formation and surrounding strata. The spatial distribution of a pattern of subvertical pyrophyllite rich veins connected to a pyrophyllite rich palaeohorizontal layer is interpreted to represent the base of an acid-sulfate epithermal system that is unconformably overlain by the stromatolitic 3.42Ga Strelley Pool Chert. KEYWORDS Pilbara, North Pole Dome, Panorama Formation, pyrophyllite, hydrothermal, hyperspectral, stromatolites, Strelley Pool Chert * corresponding author, email: [email protected] ~ 1 ~ Hydrothermal Alteration at the Panorama Formation, Pilbara Craton INTRODUCTION yperspectral remote sensing has been used in the past to successfully Hsurvey Archean regions of Western Australia (Cudahy, et al., 2000). As part of a combined Australian Centre for Astrobiology-CSIRO project to map the North Pole Dome in the Pilbara region, a remote sensing dataset was collected in October 2002 and has been analyzed in the years hence. The dataset was obtained using the reflectance spectrometer called HyMap (Cocks, et al., 1998), owned and operated by HyVista Corporation.
    [Show full text]
  • Stromatolites: Biogenicity, Biosignatures, and Bioconfusion
    Invited Paper Stromatolites: Biogenicity, Biosignatures, and Bioconfusion Stanley M. Awramikl*a d Kathleen Greyb a Departmentof Geological Sciences, Preston Cloud Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93 1 06, USA b Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Industry and Resources, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia ABSTRACT Stromatolites represent a multifarious system ofnested, physically, chemically, and biologically influenced components that range in scale from microscopic to macroscopic. These components can include microorganisms, organic compounds of microorganisms, sediment grains, precipitated sediment, sedimentary textures (fabrics), microstructure, laminae, domes, columns, branched columns, and cones. Millimeter to meter scale edifices (stromatolites) are the result. Stromatolites once played a significant role in establishing life's presence on the early Earth, but now a shift away from reliance on stromatolites is occurring. There is a perception that Archean stromatolite-like structures have low reliability to signal life. This is likely due to (1) no unified theory on stromatolite morphogenesis, (2) no valid or appropriate modern analog to use in the interpretation ofArchean stromatolites, and (3) disagreement on how to defme the word stromatolite. No single feature or line ofevidence has yet been found that can unequivocally indicate a biogenic nature for a stromatolite. However, a range of features and their combinations that are well documented for the vast majority offossil stromatolites and are found in some living stromatolites, are difficult, ifnot impossible, to account for by inorganic processes. Morphology remains a valid criterion to indicate biogenicity. Keywords: stromatolites, biogenicity, abiogenic, Archean 1. INTRODUCTION As the sedimentary layers of Earth's history are peeled away and Archean rocks (older than >2.5 Ga) are exposed, the record of sedimentary rocks becomes sparse and the evidence for life becomes meager and difficult to read.
    [Show full text]
  • Stratigraphic Revision of the Warrawoona and Gorge Creek Groups in the Kelly Greenstone Belt, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia by L
    Technical papers Stratigraphic revision of the Warrawoona and Gorge Creek Groups in the Kelly greenstone belt, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia by L. Bagas1 variable than previously thought (Van Kranendonk et al., 2002). The Abstract following review and reinterpret- ation of the stratigraphy of the Kelly Mapping in the Kelly greenstone belt in the eastern part of the East greenstone belt is based on mapping Pilbara Granite–Greenstone Terrane of the Pilbara Craton indicates that and geochronology resulting from the stratigraphy of the Warrawoona Group requires significant revision. the National Geoscience Mapping Four stratigraphic revisions are proposed. The Warrawoona Group now Accord (NGMA) projects on the includes the redefined Salgash Subgroup and the newly defined Kelly SPLIT ROCK * (Bagas and Van Subgroup. The felsic volcanic rocks of the c. 3325–3320 Ma Wyman Kranendonk, in prep.), MOUNT EDGAR Formation conformably overlie the Euro Basalt and are now included in (Williams and Bagas, in prep.), and the Warrawoona Group. The 3324 ± 4 Ma Kelly porphyry, previously NULLAGINE (Bagas, in prep.) 1:100 000 thought to be a felsic volcanic interbed in the Euro Basalt, is now sheet areas. recognized as intruding the Euro Basalt and is associated with the overlying Wyman Formation. The Charteris Basalt, previously included in the Gorge Creek Group, is now included with the Kelly Subgroup and it conformably overlies the Wyman Formation. The redefined East Pilbara Granite– Warrawoona Group is unconformably overlain by sedimentary rocks of Greenstone Terrane the c. 3308 Ma Budjan Creek Formation and dominantly clastic sedimentary rocks of the 3240–2940 Ma Gorge Creek Group (locally The EPGGT is characterized by large redefined to exclude the Charteris Basalt).
    [Show full text]
  • Primary Silica Granules—A New Mode of Paleoarchean Sedimentation
    Primary silica granules—A new mode of Paleoarchean sedimentation Elizabeth J.T. Stefurak1*, Donald R. Lowe1, Danielle Zentner1, and Woodward W. Fischer2 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA 2Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91126, USA ABSTRACT SAMPLES AND METHODS In the modern silica cycle, dissolved silica is removed from sea- Outcrops, polished hand samples, and polished petrographic thin water by the synthesis and sedimentation of silica biominerals, with sections were used to examine silica granules. Some samples are from the additional sinks as authigenic phyllosilicates and silica cements. BARB4 core from the 2011 International Continental Scientifi c Drilling Fundamental questions remain, however, about the nature of the Program drilling project in the Barberton Greenstone Belt (South Africa). ancient silica cycle prior to the appearance of biologically mediated Elements of interest (Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, and P or Ti) were mapped in carbon- silica removal in Neoproterozoic time. The abundance of siliceous coated (~14 nm thick) polished thin sections using a JEOL JXA-8200 sedimentary rocks in Archean sequences, mainly in the form of chert, advanced electron probe microanalyzer at the Division of Geological strongly indicates that abiotic silica precipitation played a signifi - and Planetary Sciences Analytical Facility at the California Institute of cant role during Archean time. It was previously hypothesized that Technology (Pasadena, California, USA) and using the JEOL JXA-8230 these cherts formed as primary marine precipitates, but substantive SuperProbe electron probe microanalyzer at the School of Earth Sciences evidence supporting a specifi c mode of sedimentation was not pro- Mineral Analysis Facility at Stanford University (Stanford, California).
    [Show full text]
  • Theory of the Origin, Evolution, and Nature of Life
    Life 2012, 2, 1-105; doi:10.3390/life2010001 OPEN ACCESS life ISSN 2075-1729 www.mdpi.com/journal/life Article Theory of the Origin, Evolution, and Nature of Life Erik D. Andrulis Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Wood Building, W212, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-216-368-0261; Fax: +1-216-368-3055 Received: 15 November 2011; in revised form: 10 December 2011 / Accepted: 13 December 2011 / Published: 23 December 2011 Abstract: Life is an inordinately complex unsolved puzzle. Despite significant theoretical progress, experimental anomalies, paradoxes, and enigmas have revealed paradigmatic limitations. Thus, the advancement of scientific understanding requires new models that resolve fundamental problems. Here, I present a theoretical framework that economically fits evidence accumulated from examinations of life. This theory is based upon a straightforward and non-mathematical core model and proposes unique yet empirically consistent explanations for major phenomena including, but not limited to, quantum gravity, phase transitions of water, why living systems are predominantly CHNOPS (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur), homochirality of sugars and amino acids, homeoviscous adaptation, triplet code, and DNA mutations. The theoretical framework unifies the macrocosmic and microcosmic realms, validates predicted laws of nature, and solves the puzzle of the origin and evolution of cellular life in the universe. Keywords: quantum; gyre; emergence; thermodynamics; singularity; natural law; adaptation; learning and memory 1. Introduction How life abides by the second law of thermodynamics yet evolutionarily complexifies and maintains its intrinsic order is a fundamental mystery in physics, chemistry, and biology [1].
    [Show full text]
  • A Rare Glimpse of Paleoarchean Life: Geobiology of an Exceptionally Preserved Microbial Mat Facies from the 3.4 Ga Strelley Pool Formation, Western Australia
    RESEARCH ARTICLE A Rare Glimpse of Paleoarchean Life: Geobiology of an Exceptionally Preserved Microbial Mat Facies from the 3.4 Ga Strelley Pool Formation, Western Australia Jan-Peter Duda1,2*, Martin J. Van Kranendonk3, Volker Thiel1, Danny Ionescu4, Harald Strauss5, Nadine Schäfer1, Joachim Reitner1,2 1 Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Centre, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany, 2 ‘Origin of Life’ Group, Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Theaterstraße 7, 37073, Göttingen, Germany, 3 Australian Centre for Astrobiology and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia, 4 Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Alte Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany, 5 Institut für Geologie und Paläontologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 24, 48149, Münster, Germany * [email protected] OPEN ACCESS Citation: Duda J-P, Van Kranendonk MJ, Thiel V, Ionescu D, Strauss H, Schäfer N, et al. (2016) A Rare Abstract Glimpse of Paleoarchean Life: Geobiology of an Exceptionally Preserved Microbial Mat Facies from Paleoarchean rocks from the Pilbara Craton of Western Australia provide a variety of clues the 3.4 Ga Strelley Pool Formation, Western to the existence of early life on Earth, such as stromatolites, putative microfossils and geo- Australia. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0147629. doi:10.1371/ chemical signatures of microbial activity. However, some of these features have also been journal.pone.0147629 explained by non-biological processes. Further lines of evidence are therefore required to Editor: John M. Senko, The University of Akron, convincingly argue for the presence of microbial life.
    [Show full text]
  • Subterranean Fauna Survey
    Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey Biologic Environmental Survey Report to Calidus Resources Limited August 2019 Page | 1 Warrawoona Gold Project: Subterranean Fauna Survey Document Status Revision Review / Approved for Approved for Issue to Author No. Issue Name Date Tabitha Rudin, Shae Callan, Dave Reeves 1 Brad Durrant August 2019 Dean Main Kate George 2 Dave Reeves Final Tabitha Rudin, Dean Main Brad Durrant August 2019 Kate George “IMPORTANT NOTE” Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (“Biologic”). All enquiries should be directed to Biologic. We have prepared this report for the sole purposes of Calidus Resources Ltd (“Client”) for the specific purpose only for which it is supplied. This report is strictly limited to the Purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and will not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter. In preparing this report we have made certain assumptions. We have assumed that all information and documents provided to us by the Client or as a result of a specific request or enquiry were complete, accurate and up-to-date. Where we have obtained information from a government register or database, we have assumed that the information is accurate. Where an assumption has been made, we have not made any independent investigations with respect to the matters the subject of that assumption.
    [Show full text]