Alga-Like Fossils from the Early Precambrian of South Africa

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - Tập 156 Số 3774 - Trang 508-512 - 1967
J. William Schopf1, Elso S. Barghoorn2
1Department of Biology and Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
2Department of Biology and Botanical Museum, Harvard University

Tóm tắt

Micropaleontological studies of carbonaceous chert from the Fig Tree Series of South Africa (> 3.1 × 10 9 years old) revealed the presence of spheroidal microfossils, here designated Archaeosphaeroides barbertonensis , interpreted as probably representing the remnants of unicellular alga-like organisms. The presumed photosynthetic nature of these primitive microorganisms seems corroborated by organic geochemical and carbon isotopic studies of the Fig Tree organic matter, and is consistent with the geologically and mineralogically indicated Early Precambrian environment. These alga-like spheroids, together with a bacterium-like organism previously described from the Fig Tree chert, are the oldest fossil organisms now known.

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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Tập 156 Số 3774

508-512

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