Articles | Volume 19, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1795-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1795-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
31 Mar 2022
Research article |
| 31 Mar 2022
| 31 Mar 2022
Fossilization of Precambrian microfossils in the Volyn pegmatite, Ukraine
Gerhard Franz
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Technische Universität Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Peter Lyckberg
Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History, 25 Rue Münster, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Vladimir Khomenko
M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation, The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 34, Palladina av., Kyiv, 03142, Ukraine
Vsevolod Chournousenko
Volyn Quartz Samotsvety Company, Khoroshiv (Volodarsk-Volynski), Ukraine
Hans-Martin Schulz
Section 3.5: Interface Geometry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Nicolaj Mahlstedt
Section 3.5: Interface Geometry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Richard Wirth
Section 3.5: Interface Geometry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Johannes Glodny
Section 3.5: Interface Geometry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Ulrich Gernert
Zentraleinrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Jörg Nissen
Zentraleinrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Related authors
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, and Ulrich Struck
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The Volyn biota (Ukraine), previously assumed to be an extreme case of natural abiotic synthesis of organic matter, is more likely a diverse assemblage of fossils from the deep biosphere. Although contamination by modern organisms cannot completely be ruled out, it is unlikely, considering all aspects, i.e., their mode of occurrence in the deep biosphere, their fossilization and mature state of organic matter, their isotope signature, and their large morphological diversity.
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, Ulrich Struck, Ulrich Gernert, and Jörg Nissen
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This research describes the occurrence of Precambrian fossils, with exceptionally well preserved morphology in 3D. These microfossils reach a size of millimeters (possibly up to centimeters) and thus indicate the presence of multicellular eukaryotes. Many of them are filamentous, but other types were also found. These fossils lived in a depth of several hundred meters and thus provide good evidence of a continental the deep biosphere, from a time generally considered as the
boring billion.
Gerhard Franz, Masafumi Sudo, and Vladimir Khomenko
Eur. J. Mineral., 34, 7–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, 2022
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The age of formation of buddingtonite, ammonium-bearing feldspar, can be dated with the Ar–Ar method; however, it may often give only minimum ages due to strong resetting. In the studied example it gives a Precambrian minimum age of fossils, associated with this occurrence, and the age of the accompanying mineral muscovite indicates an age near 1.5 Ga. We encourage more dating attempts of buddingtonite, which will give valuable information of diagenetic or hydrothermal events.
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Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 703–716, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, 2021
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In the paper we discuss the origin of large chamber pegmatite bodies which contain giant gem-quality crystals of black quartz (morion), beryl, and topaz. We conclude that these pegmatites develop under the influence of later intrusions of mafic rocks that cause reheating of the partly crystallized granite massifs and that they supply a large amount of fluids that facilitate the
inflationof pegmatite chambers and crystallization of giant crystals of various minerals.
Gerhard Franz, Martin Kutzschbach, Eleanor J. Berryman, Anette Meixner, Anselm Loges, and Dina Schultze
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 401–423, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, 2021
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Metamorphic rocks contain information about their original rocks and thus provide insight into the earlier stages of a region of interest. Here, we used the whole-rock chemical composition and stable boron isotopes of a suite of rocks from the Alps (Italy–Austria), which were deposited in a restricted intramontane basin before the Alpine orogeny. It is possible to reconstruct the depositional conditions for these sediments, which are now common metamorphic rocks such as schists and gneisses.
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Biogeosciences, 21, 4119–4131, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4119-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4119-2024, 2024
Short summary
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The Volyn biota (Ukraine), previously assumed to be an extreme case of natural abiotic synthesis of organic matter, is more likely a diverse assemblage of fossils from the deep biosphere. Although contamination by modern organisms cannot completely be ruled out, it is unlikely, considering all aspects, i.e., their mode of occurrence in the deep biosphere, their fossilization and mature state of organic matter, their isotope signature, and their large morphological diversity.
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, Ulrich Struck, Ulrich Gernert, and Jörg Nissen
Biogeosciences, 20, 1901–1924, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This research describes the occurrence of Precambrian fossils, with exceptionally well preserved morphology in 3D. These microfossils reach a size of millimeters (possibly up to centimeters) and thus indicate the presence of multicellular eukaryotes. Many of them are filamentous, but other types were also found. These fossils lived in a depth of several hundred meters and thus provide good evidence of a continental the deep biosphere, from a time generally considered as the
boring billion.
Marion Roger, Arjan de Leeuw, Peter van der Beek, Laurent Husson, Edward R. Sobel, Johannes Glodny, and Matthias Bernet
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We study the construction of the Ukrainian Carpathians with LT thermochronology (AFT, AHe, and ZHe) and stratigraphic analysis. QTQt thermal models are combined with burial diagrams to retrieve the timing and magnitude of sedimentary burial, tectonic burial, and subsequent exhumation of the wedge's nappes from 34 to ∼12 Ma. Out-of-sequence thrusting and sediment recycling during wedge building are also identified. This elucidates the evolution of a typical wedge in a roll-back subduction zone.
Gerhard Franz, Masafumi Sudo, and Vladimir Khomenko
Eur. J. Mineral., 34, 7–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, 2022
Short summary
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The age of formation of buddingtonite, ammonium-bearing feldspar, can be dated with the Ar–Ar method; however, it may often give only minimum ages due to strong resetting. In the studied example it gives a Precambrian minimum age of fossils, associated with this occurrence, and the age of the accompanying mineral muscovite indicates an age near 1.5 Ga. We encourage more dating attempts of buddingtonite, which will give valuable information of diagenetic or hydrothermal events.
Victor V. Sharygin, Sergey N. Britvin, Felix V. Kaminsky, Richard Wirth, Elena N. Nigmatulina, Grigory A. Yakovlev, Konstantin A. Novoselov, and Mikhail N. Murashko
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 727–742, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-727-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-727-2021, 2021
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Ellinaite, a natural analog of β-CaCr2O4, was discovered at Hatrurim Basin, Israel, and in an inclusion within the super-deep diamond from the Sorriso Creek placer, Brazil. Chemical composition, structural data and physical properties are given for this mineral. It is related to multiple oxides AB2O4 with tunnel structure. This group now includes eight minerals. The overview of ellinaite from all localities suggests different PT–X–fO2 conditions for the mineral and its host rocks.
Leonid Shumlyanskyy, Gerhard Franz, Sarah Glynn, Oleksandr Mytrokhyn, Dmytro Voznyak, and Olena Bilan
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 703–716, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In the paper we discuss the origin of large chamber pegmatite bodies which contain giant gem-quality crystals of black quartz (morion), beryl, and topaz. We conclude that these pegmatites develop under the influence of later intrusions of mafic rocks that cause reheating of the partly crystallized granite massifs and that they supply a large amount of fluids that facilitate the
inflationof pegmatite chambers and crystallization of giant crystals of various minerals.
Gerhard Franz, Martin Kutzschbach, Eleanor J. Berryman, Anette Meixner, Anselm Loges, and Dina Schultze
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 401–423, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Metamorphic rocks contain information about their original rocks and thus provide insight into the earlier stages of a region of interest. Here, we used the whole-rock chemical composition and stable boron isotopes of a suite of rocks from the Alps (Italy–Austria), which were deposited in a restricted intramontane basin before the Alpine orogeny. It is possible to reconstruct the depositional conditions for these sediments, which are now common metamorphic rocks such as schists and gneisses.
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Short summary
In pegmatites from Ukraine Precambrian fossils between 1.5 Ga and 1.76 Ga were preserved in cavities connected to the surface in a geyser system. The fossilization process is silicification of the outermost rim of the fossils, stabilizing the remaining part of the organisms. The variety of organisms points to an ecosystem of several microorganisms which was active in the continental environment, and igneous rocks such as the pegmatites seem to be an ideal habitat for the deep biosphere.
In pegmatites from Ukraine Precambrian fossils between 1.5 Ga and 1.76 Ga were preserved in...
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