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Molecular preservation of 1.88 Ga Gunflint organic microfossils as a function of temperature and mineralogy

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  • Julien Alleon

    (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Universités - CNRS UMR 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UPMC Univ Paris 06, IRD UMR 206)

  • Sylvain Bernard

    (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Universités - CNRS UMR 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UPMC Univ Paris 06, IRD UMR 206)

  • Corentin Le Guillou

    (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Universités - CNRS UMR 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UPMC Univ Paris 06, IRD UMR 206)

  • Johanna Marin-Carbonne

    (Univ Lyon, UJM Saint Etienne, Laboratoire Magma et Volcans, UBP, CNRS)

  • Sylvain Pont

    (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Universités - CNRS UMR 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UPMC Univ Paris 06, IRD UMR 206)

  • Olivier Beyssac

    (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Universités - CNRS UMR 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UPMC Univ Paris 06, IRD UMR 206)

  • Kevin D. McKeegan

    (Planetary and Space Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles)

  • François Robert

    (Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Universités - CNRS UMR 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UPMC Univ Paris 06, IRD UMR 206)

Abstract

The significant degradation that fossilized biomolecules may experience during burial makes it challenging to assess the biogenicity of organic microstructures in ancient rocks. Here we investigate the molecular signatures of 1.88 Ga Gunflint organic microfossils as a function of their diagenetic history. Synchrotron-based XANES data collected in situ on individual microfossils, at the submicrometre scale, are compared with data collected on modern microorganisms. Despite diagenetic temperatures of ∼150–170 °C deduced from Raman data, the molecular signatures of some Gunflint organic microfossils have been exceptionally well preserved. Remarkably, amide groups derived from protein compounds can still be detected. We also demonstrate that an additional increase of diagenetic temperature of only 50 °C and the nanoscale association with carbonate minerals have significantly altered the molecular signatures of Gunflint organic microfossils from other localities. Altogether, the present study provides key insights for eventually decoding the earliest fossil record.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien Alleon & Sylvain Bernard & Corentin Le Guillou & Johanna Marin-Carbonne & Sylvain Pont & Olivier Beyssac & Kevin D. McKeegan & François Robert, 2016. "Molecular preservation of 1.88 Ga Gunflint organic microfossils as a function of temperature and mineralogy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11977
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11977
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