Microfossil-like objects from the Archaean of Greenland: A cautionary note

D. Bridgwater; J. H. Allaart; J. W. Schopf; C. Klein; M. R. Walter; E. S. Barghoorn; P. Strother; A. H. Knoll; B. E. Gorman

doi:10.1038/289051a0

Microfossil-like objects from the Archaean of Greenland: A cautionary note

D. Bridgwater^*, J. H. Allaart, J. W. Schopf, C. Klein, M. R. Walter, E. S. Barghoorn, P. Strother, A. H. Knoll, B. E. Gorman

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent reports^1-4 have described "yeast-like microfossils" (Isuasphaera isua Pflug²) in 3,800-Myr old ⁵ metaquartzites from the Isua supracrustal belt of south-west Greenland. A biogenic interpretation of these objects is inconsistent with the tectonic history of the Isua region^6-8, with the petrology of the metaquartzites, and with the morphology of the microstructures themselves. The putative microfossils are indistinguishable from limonite-stained fluid inclusions: microstructures which are demonstrably inorganic and post-depositional in origin. As such, we contend here that these objects should not be regarded as evidence of early Archaean life forms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	51-53
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nature
Volume	289
Issue number	5793
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/289051a0
Publication status	Published - 1981
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Microfossil-like objects from the Archaean of Greenland: A cautionary note",

abstract = "Recent reports1-4 have described {"}yeast-like microfossils{"} (Isuasphaera isua Pflug2) in 3,800-Myr old 5 metaquartzites from the Isua supracrustal belt of south-west Greenland. A biogenic interpretation of these objects is inconsistent with the tectonic history of the Isua region6-8, with the petrology of the metaquartzites, and with the morphology of the microstructures themselves. The putative microfossils are indistinguishable from limonite-stained fluid inclusions: microstructures which are demonstrably inorganic and post-depositional in origin. As such, we contend here that these objects should not be regarded as evidence of early Archaean life forms.",

author = "D. Bridgwater and Allaart, {J. H.} and Schopf, {J. W.} and C. Klein and Walter, {M. R.} and Barghoorn, {E. S.} and P. Strother and Knoll, {A. H.} and Gorman, {B. E.}",

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doi = "10.1038/289051a0",

language = "English",

volume = "289",

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T1 - Microfossil-like objects from the Archaean of Greenland

T2 - A cautionary note

AU - Bridgwater, D.

AU - Allaart, J. H.

AU - Schopf, J. W.

AU - Klein, C.

AU - Walter, M. R.

AU - Barghoorn, E. S.

AU - Strother, P.

AU - Knoll, A. H.

AU - Gorman, B. E.

PY - 1981

Y1 - 1981

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AB - Recent reports1-4 have described "yeast-like microfossils" (Isuasphaera isua Pflug2) in 3,800-Myr old 5 metaquartzites from the Isua supracrustal belt of south-west Greenland. A biogenic interpretation of these objects is inconsistent with the tectonic history of the Isua region6-8, with the petrology of the metaquartzites, and with the morphology of the microstructures themselves. The putative microfossils are indistinguishable from limonite-stained fluid inclusions: microstructures which are demonstrably inorganic and post-depositional in origin. As such, we contend here that these objects should not be regarded as evidence of early Archaean life forms.

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Microfossil-like objects from the Archaean of Greenland: A cautionary note

Abstract

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