Abstract
The bulk of the organic matter constituting the terrestrial carbosphere is present in a more or less finely divided state within water-deposited sediments. The oldest known sedimentary rocks, of some 3. 1 to 3.5 Bi. Y. Radiogenic Age, are from the Swaziland System of South Africa. Some structures in these sedimentary shales and cherts have been interpreted as possible micro-fossils (1), although the possibility that the particles in question may be inorganic microconcretions or organic artifices cannot be excluded. The small quantities of amino acids detected in the rocks (1) may be of ultimate pre-biological or biological origins, or they may be more recent contaminants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Schopf, J. N., and Barghorn, E. S., Science 152, 758 (1967).
Barghoorn, E. S., and Tyler, S. A., Science 147, 563 (1965).
Cloud, P. E., Jr., and Hagen, H., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 54, 1 (1965).
Mueller, G., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 4, 1 (1953).
Fox, S. W., Harada, K., Hare, P. E., Hinsch, G., and Mueller, G., Science 167, 767 (1970).
Hare, P. E., Harada, K., and Fox, S. W., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, Supplement 1, Volume 2, 1799 (1970).
Bateman, A. M., “The Formation of Mineral Deposits,” p. 273. John Wiley and Sons, New York, and Chapman and Hall Ltd., London, 1951.
Martin, H., “The Precambrian Geology of South West Africa,” Publ. Pre-Cambrian Research Unit, University of Cape Town, 1966. p. 133.
Kvenvolden, K. A., and Roedder, E., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 35, 1209 (1071).
Stroher, G. K., and Wolken, J. J., Science 130, 1084 (1959).
Oparin, A. I., “The Chemical Origin of Life,” Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1964. p. 42.
Oparin, A. I., in “The Origin of Prebiological Systems” (S. W. Fox, ed.), p. 331. Academic Press, New York, 1965.
Fox, S. W., Harada, K., and Kendrick, J., Science 129, 1221 (1959).
Miguel, J., Brooke, S., and Fox, S. N., Currents in Modern Biology 3, 299 (1971).
Young, R. S., in “The Origin of Prebiological Systems” (S. W. Fox, ed.), p. 347. Academic Press, New York, 1955.
Dana, E. S., and Ford, W. E., “A Textbook of Mineralogy,’ John Wiley and Sons, New York, London, Sydney, 4th Ed., 1966. p. 775.
Ellsworth, H. V., Amer. Min. 13, 419 (1928).
Spence, H. S., Amer. Min. 15, 430 (1930).
Mueller, G., Compt. Rend. 19th Cong. Int. Geol. Sec. 12, Fas. 12, p. 279, (1954).
Mueller, G., in “Advances in Organic Geochemistry” ( G. D. Hobson, ed.), p. 443, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1970.
Mueller, G., Compt. Rend. 19-e Cong. Geol. Int., ’(Alger), Sec. 13, Fas. 15, p. 523 (1954).
Baxter, J. W., Potter, P. E., and Doyle, F. L., Ill. State Geol. Survey, Circular 342, p. 1, 1963.
Roedder, E., Sci. American 207, 38 (1962).
Wright, F. E., and Allen, E. T., Amer. Min. 15, 169 (1926).
Bailey, E. H., Bull. Geol. Soc. America 70, 661 (1959).
Calvin, M., “Chemical Evolution, ” p. 26. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford, 1969.
Fox, S. W., Harada, K., Krampitz, G., and Mueller, G., Chem. Eng. News 48, 80 (1970).
Dunham, K. C., Amer. Min. 22, 468 (1937).
Mueller, G., Bol. Soc. Biol. Concepcion 40, 161 (1965–66).
Mueller, G., Nature 235, 90 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1972 Plenum Press
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mueller, G. (1972). Hydrothermally Associated Organic Microspheres from S. W. Africa and Elsewhere. In: Rohlfing, D.L., Oparin, A.I. (eds) Molecular Evolution. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2019-7_31
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2019-7_31
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2021-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2019-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive