Ambient Pyrite in Precambrian Chert: New Evidence and a Theory
| Title: | Ambient Pyrite in Precambrian Chert: New Evidence and a Theory |
| Author: |
Barghoorn, Elso S.; Knoll, Andrew Herbert
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. |
| Citation: | Knoll, Andrew H., and Elso S. Barghoorn. 1974. Ambient pyrite in Precambrian chert: New evidence and a theory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 71, no. 6: 2329-2331. |
| Access Status: | At the direction of the depositing author this work is not currently accessible through DASH. |
| Full Text & Related Files: |
Knoll_AmbientPyrite.pdf (1.916Mb; PDF) 
|
| Abstract: | Ambient pyrites of two distinct types were described from middle Precambrian rocks of the Lake Superior area. A new class of this phenomenon is here described from middle Precambrian chert from western Australia. The newly found ambient pyrites are quite minute and characteristically occur in groups forming a "starburst" pattern. All three types of ambient pyrite may be explained in terms of pressure solution initiated by gas evolution from organic material attached to the pyrite. Thermal degradation of the kerogen produces the gases which, due to the impermeability of the encompassing chert, build up the pressures necessary to initiate solution. Pyrite appendages bear a striking resemblance to micro-organisms and, thus, constitute the smallest pseudofossils known. |
| Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.71.6.2329 |
| Other Sources: | http://www.pnas.org/content/71/6/2329.full.pdf+html |
| Citable link to this page: | http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:3294653 |
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
-
FAS Scholarly Articles [5128]
Peer reviewed scholarly articles from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)
