The aim of the experiment is to establish that exceptional and rare microfilaments discovered in 2012 in one of the two oldest outcrops on Earth showing life indications are bona fide fossils of microbial cells. This would demonstrate that life was already spread out in different focii in the very early ages of the Earth. We want to show that the unique microstructures, well-characterized, are composed of 3D cylindrical organic walls having a “microbial” elemental composition. In this perspective, S K edge XANES and sub-micrometer-XRF mapping of the S-organic molecules and the trace (>300ppm) of low and high Z elements (Ca, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni) will be carried out at the ID21 beamline on transverse and parallel FIB-cuts of the filaments. Nano-XRF mapping of the same elements and absorption and phase contrast nanotomography of one filament will be carried out at the ID16B.
ES-108 - SXRF nanoimaging of one of the oldest bona fide microbial cell fossils (rinnovato per il 2014)
CAVALAZZI, BARBARA
2014
Abstract
The aim of the experiment is to establish that exceptional and rare microfilaments discovered in 2012 in one of the two oldest outcrops on Earth showing life indications are bona fide fossils of microbial cells. This would demonstrate that life was already spread out in different focii in the very early ages of the Earth. We want to show that the unique microstructures, well-characterized, are composed of 3D cylindrical organic walls having a “microbial” elemental composition. In this perspective, S K edge XANES and sub-micrometer-XRF mapping of the S-organic molecules and the trace (>300ppm) of low and high Z elements (Ca, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni) will be carried out at the ID21 beamline on transverse and parallel FIB-cuts of the filaments. Nano-XRF mapping of the same elements and absorption and phase contrast nanotomography of one filament will be carried out at the ID16B.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
