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Understanding fossilization: Experimental pyritization of plants

2001; Geological Society of America; Volume: 29; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029 2.0.co;2

1943-2682

Stephen T. Grimes, Fiona Brock, David Rickard, Kevin L. Davies, Dianne Edwards, Derek E. G. Briggs, R. John Parkes,

Plant Diversity and Evolution

Research Article| February 01, 2001 Understanding fossilization: Experimental pyritization of plants Stephen T. Grimes; Stephen T. Grimes 1Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE, Wales, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Fiona Brock; Fiona Brock 2Department of Earth Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David Rickard; David Rickard 3Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kevin L. Davies; Kevin L. Davies 3Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Dianne Edwards; Dianne Edwards 3Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Derek E.G. Briggs; Derek E.G. Briggs 4Department of Earth Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. John Parkes R. John Parkes 4Department of Earth Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2001) 29 (2): 123–126. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029 2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 01 Aug 2000 rev-recd: 31 Oct 2000 accepted: 02 Nov 2000 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Stephen T. Grimes, Fiona Brock, David Rickard, Kevin L. Davies, Dianne Edwards, Derek E.G. Briggs, R. John Parkes; Understanding fossilization: Experimental pyritization of plants. Geology 2001;; 29 (2): 123–126. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029 2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The process of fossilization is poorly understood. However, it is central to our understanding of the evolution of life. It is unclear how plant tissues become fossilized, whether fossilization is selective to specific biopolymers, or whether original organic constituents survive. We have replicated the fossilization process in the laboratory by using both microbial and chemical approaches to pyritize plant debris. These results demonstrate that initial pyritization can be an extremely rapid process (within 80 days) and is driven by anaerobic bacterial-mediated decay. Initially, pyrite precipitates on and within plant cell walls and in the spaces between them. Further decay and infilling at all scales preserves broad cellular anatomy. The results have implications for fossilization in general and the fidelity of the taxonomic and biomolecular information preserved in fossils. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.