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The Diversity of Fossil Microorganisms in Archaean-Age Rocks

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Book cover Journey to Diverse Microbial Worlds

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats ((COLE,volume 2))

Abstract

Archaean-age rocks (3.9–2.5 b.y.) on Earth are uncommon owing to the destructive nature of the plate tectonics which characterizes this planet. Furthermore, much of the surviving Archaean-age material has been subjected to severe metamorphism. Since this is the period when life developed, these problems pose serious limitations on the search for early life. However, the situation is not entirely gloomy and sufficient rock material has been preserved in usable form to provide a preliminary impression of Archaean life. The environmental setting for early life on Earth, however, was very different from today’s environment and even from the succeeding Proterozoic era (2.5–0.54 b.y.). The different environmental conditions had important implications for early life and its diversity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SN2-NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, 77058, USA

    F. Westall

  2. Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana State University, 42 Atkinson Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-5705, USA

    M. M. Walsh

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  1. F. Westall
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Joseph Seckbach

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Westall, F., Walsh, M.M. (2000). The Diversity of Fossil Microorganisms in Archaean-Age Rocks. In: Seckbach, J. (eds) Journey to Diverse Microbial Worlds. Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4269-4_2

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