Tuesday, 6 August 2024

Phosphorus Presence Leads to Macrofossils?

 Phosphorus Presence leads to Macrofossils?

It is thought that the lack of phosphorus (P) was what stopped the evolution of unicellular life into complex life in the Pre-Cambrian. The increase in P allowed the Ediacarian and Cambrian fossils to evolve.

In Gabon, the 2100 Ma Paleoproterozoic Francevillian formation, due to peculiar circunstances had high phosphorus (and other element) concentrations. And there are structures which have been interpreted as macrofossils.

Did complex life start 1500 Ma before the Ediacarian and Cambrian? If it did, it was a false start as the peculiar conditions ended and life resumed it unicellular course until the Ediacarian.

As you can imagine, there is much controversy about this. You can see examples of the suspected biota HERE. Some say they are colonial organisms, others that they are not.

You can read all about it HERE. This based on THIS PAPER.


The Fraceville "biota". Are they fossils or are they something else?

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