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2013 Annual Science Report

University of Wisconsin Reporting  |  SEP 2012 – AUG 2013

Project 3B: Carbon Isotope Analysis of Archean Microfossils

Project Summary

We have completed a study of petrography, Raman microspectroscopy, and in situ analyses of carbon isotope and H/C ratios using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) of diverse organic microstructures, including possible microfossils. This work has focussed on two localities of the 3.4-billion-year-old Strelley Pool Formation (Western Australia). For the first time, we show that the wide range of carbon isotope ratios recorded at the micrometer scale correlates with specific types of texture for organic matter (OM), arguing against abiotic processes to produce the textural and isotopic relations. These results support the biogenicity of OM in the Strelley Pool Formation.

4 Institutions
3 Teams
2 Publications
2 Field Sites
Field Sites

Project Progress

Abundant cell-like organic structures have been proposed as microfossils in Paleoarchean (3.2–3.5Ga) cherts. The wide range of δ13C(C-org) values recorded in Paleoarchean organic matter (OM), including some of these possible microfossils, is difficult to reconcile with the smaller range observed in living cells and younger microfossils. Metamorphic and metasomatic effects on δ13C(C-org) have been recognized in Paleoarchean rocks, but have never been assessed for cell-like structures. Migrations of OM, of which the textures can mimic microfossils, are also difficult to constrain in Paleoarchean cherts that are often cut by sub-millimeter- to meter-scale OM-bearing veins. Here, we present the results of petrography, Raman microspectroscopy, and in situ analyses of δ13C(C-org) and H/C using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) of diverse organic microstructures, including possible microfossils, from two localities of the 3.4-billion-year-old Strelley Pool Formation (Western Australia, SPF).For the first time, we show that the wide range of δ13C(C-org) values recorded at the micrometer scale correlates with specific OM-texture types in the SPF. The crosscutting texture and lower structural order show that the OM in micro-veins of one sample from the Goldsworthy greenstone belt (WF4) post-dates all other OM-texture types. Possible microfossils (spheres, lenses), clots and micrometer-scale globules all show a higher structural order reached during peak metamorphism. Other than late micro-veins, textures indicative of OM migration beyond the millimeter-scale are absent; hence the source of clots, lenses, spheres and globules is indigenous to the cherts. A weak positive relation between δ13C(C-org) and H/C demonstrates that the 10‰ range in δ13C(C-org) recorded in indigenous OM is not metamorphic or metasomatic in origin. Texture-specific isotopic compositions strongly argue against fully abiotic OM synthesis. Spherical cell-like structures have distinct δ13C(C-org) values compared to all other organic textures: their distribution peaks between -35 and -36‰ in WF4 and averages -35.7‰ in sample PAN1-1A from the Panorama greenstone belt. Lenses are composed of a network of nanoscale OM with a relatively high H/C and δ13C(C-org) (average= -32‰ inWF4), and include globules with lower H/C and δ13C(C-org) down to -40‰. Similar globules also appear as isolated clusters. In both WF4 and PAN1-1A, δ13C(C-org) of OM clots shows a bimodal distribution, the lower values overlapping with those of lenses. These heterogeneities can be explained by different carbon-fixation metabolisms, e.g., photosynthetic high δ13C(C-org) lenses versus methanogenic low δ13C(C-org) spheres. Alternatively, heterogeneities can be explained by selective diagenetic preservation of the distinct isotopic fractionations inherited from different precursor biomolecules. Selective preservation is supported by (i) coupled δ13C(C-org)–H/C heterogeneities, (ii) the δ13C(C-org) differences between cell-like structures and recondensed clots, (iii) internal isotopic heterogeneities in SPF lenses similar to heterogeneities in modern and fossil cells. These results support the interpretation of biogenicity of morphologically cellular structures in the SPF.

Representative Raman spectra of OM in samples WF4, PAN1-1A, and WFL2-1. The two upper spectra in the right section were recorded on polished OM intersecting the surface of thin sections. All other spectra were recorded on unpolished OM occurring below the surface under quartz grains. Arrows highlight the changes in Raman spectra caused by artefacts occurring in polished OM, compared to the same unpolished OM.
Fig.2. Synthesis of the data and interpretations. (A) d13C vs. 13CH/13Cdata from sample WF4 and WFL2-1. Values distinguishing different types of organic matter have been highlighted. The general positive trend recorded in WF4 opposes that expected from matrix effects caused by variable hydrogen concentration in OM,and metamorphism, indicating that the heterogeneities observed in our samples are real and predate metamorphism. These heterogeneities can be explained either by different carbon-fixation metabolisms (e.g. photosynthesis versus methanogenesis),or by selective preservation of the distinct isotopic fractionations inherited from different precursor biomolecules. (B) In a single cell, different biomolecules form by distinct biosynthetic pathways that can impart molecule-selective isotopic fractionations. (C) SIMS studies have shown that intracellular isotopic heterogeneities can be preserved in ancient microfossils. Some 740 Ma old Glenobotrydion cells preserve internal globules with a d13C lower than that of the surrounding cell. Accordingly, these globules may have formed from alipid-rich precursor (Williford et al.,2013 ). (D–H) Images of the different types of OM observed in sample WF4, associated with average d13C and 13CH/13C values, and interpretation of their organic precursor are based on coupled textural and isotopic criteria compared with Band C.

  • PROJECT INVESTIGATORS:
  • PROJECT MEMBERS:
    John Valley
    Project Investigator

    James Schopf
    Co-Investigator

    Martin Van Kranendonk
    Co-Investigator

    Kenneth Williford
    Co-Investigator

    Noriko Kita
    Collaborator

    Kouki Kitajima
    Collaborator

    Reinhard Kozdon
    Collaborator

    Navot Morag
    Collaborator

    Ken Sugitani
    Collaborator

    Takayuki Ushikubo
    Collaborator

  • RELATED OBJECTIVES:
    Objective 1.1
    Formation and evolution of habitable planets.

    Objective 2.1
    Mars exploration.

    Objective 4.1
    Earth's early biosphere.

    Objective 4.2
    Production of complex life.

    Objective 5.2
    Co-evolution of microbial communities

    Objective 6.2
    Adaptation and evolution of life beyond Earth

    Objective 7.2
    Biosignatures to be sought in nearby planetary systems