Diverse Microstructures from Archaean Chert from the Mount
Precambrian Research 158 (2007) 228–262 Diverse microstructures from Archaean chert from the Mount Goldsworthy–Mount Grant area, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia: Microfossils, dubiofossils, or pseudofossils? Kenichiro Sugitani a,∗, Kathleen Grey b,c, Abigail Allwood c,1, Tsutomu Nagaoka d, Koichi Mimura e, Masayo Minami f, Craig P. Marshall c,g, Martin J. Van Kranendonk b,c, Malcolm R. Walter c a Department of Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan b Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Industry and Resources, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia c Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia d School of Informatics and Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan e Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan f Nagoya University Center for Chronological Research, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan g School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Received 7 February 2007; received in revised form 16 March 2007; accepted 16 March 2007 Abstract A diverse assemblage of indigenous carbonaceous microstructures, classified here as highly probable microfossils to pseudomi- crofossils, is present in the >ca. 2.97 Ga Farrel Quartzite (Gorge Creek Group) at Mount Grant and Mount Goldsworthy, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. The microstructures are an integral part of the primary sedimentary fabrics preserved in black chert beds. The interbedding of chert with layers of large silicified crystal pseudomorphs and fine to coarse grained volcaniclastic/clastic beds indicate deposition in a partially evaporitic basin with terrigenous clastic and volcaniclastic input.
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