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Controls on authigenic mineralization in experimental Ediacara-style preservation.

Silvina Slagter1,2, Kurt O Konhauser3, Derek E G Briggs1

  • 1Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

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|August 16, 2024
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ediacara-style preservation of early complex life involved rapid silicate mineral precipitation. Experiments show how silica and clay coatings on soft tissues, influenced by seawater silica, led to fossilization in diverse sediments.

Keywords:
Ediacara Biotaclaysexperimentsfossilizationsilica cycling

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Geochemistry
  • Sedimentology

Background:

  • Ediacara-style preservation represents the earliest evidence of complex macroscopic life.
  • The fossilization mechanisms of these soft-bodied organisms in siliciclastic deposits remain debated.
  • This preservation occurs in various sandstone facies, from quartzose to clay-rich types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms behind Ediacara-style preservation.
  • To test the role of dissolved silica and mineral substrates in fossilization.
  • To understand the preservation potential of soft tissues in early Earth environments.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental simulation using diverse mineral substrates (quartz, kaolinite, iron oxides).
  • Testing with various soft-bodied organisms (microalgae, cyanobacteria, invertebrates).
  • Varying dissolved silica (DSi) concentrations to mimic Ediacaran seawater conditions (0.5–2.0 mM).

Main Results:

  • Observed extensive amorphous silica and authigenic clay coatings on organic substrates.
  • Documented a progressive drawdown of dissolved silica in experimental solutions.
  • Demonstrated rapid preservation of soft tissues under varied conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Silicate mineral precipitation, influenced by seawater DSi, rapidly preserves soft tissues.
  • Substrate composition and DSi levels are key factors in Ediacara-style fossilization.
  • These interactions provide plausible mechanisms for the preservation of early complex ecosystems.