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Images of the Earth's earliest fossils?

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  • Jill Dill Pasteris

    (Washington University)

  • Brigitte Wopenka

    (Washington University)

Abstract

Fossil remains of the most ancient, minute forms of life on Earth and other planets are hard to recognize. Schopf et al.1 claim to have identified the biological remnant material known as kerogen in microscopic entities in rock by using Raman spectroscopic analysis. On the basis of a substantial body of published evidence, however, we contend that the Raman spectra of Schopf et al.1 indicate that these are disordered carbonaceous materials of indeterminate origin. We maintain that Raman spectroscopy cannot be used to identify microfossils unambiguously, although it is a useful technique for pinpointing promising microscopic entities for further investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jill Dill Pasteris & Brigitte Wopenka, 2002. "Images of the Earth's earliest fossils?," Nature, Nature, vol. 420(6915), pages 476-477, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:420:y:2002:i:6915:d:10.1038_420476b
    DOI: 10.1038/420476b
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