ACADEMIC BUN FIGHT! Potential PaleoArchean Trace Fossils Mimic Biogenic Cenozoic Microbial Corrosion

Paleoarchean trace fossils in altered volcanic glass

Authors:

Staudigel et al

Abstract:

Microbial corrosion textures in volcanic glass from Cenozoic seafloor basalts and the corresponding titanite replacement microtextures in metamorphosed Paleoarchean pillow lavas have been interpreted as evidence for a deep biosphere dating back in time through the earliest periods of preserved life on earth. This interpretation has been recently challenged for Paleoarchean titanite replacement textures based on textural and geochronological data from pillow lavas in the Hooggenoeg Complex of the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa. We use this controversy to explore the strengths and weaknesses of arguments made in support or rejection of the biogenicity interpretation of bioalteration trace fossils in Cenozoic basalt glasses and their putative equivalents in Paleoarchean greenstones. Our analysis suggests that biogenicity cannot be taken for granted for all titanite-based textures in metamorphosed basalt glass, but a cautious and critical evaluation of evidence suggests that biogenicity remains the most likely interpretation for previously described titanite microtextures in Paleoarchean pillow lavas.

But are disputed!

Questioning the biogenicity of titanite mineral trace fossils in Archean pillow lavas

Authors:

Grosch et al

Abstract:

Staudigel et al. (1) compare early Archean titanite microtextures to recent microtubules in Cenozoic volcanic seafloor glass to support a biogenic origin. However, given the 3.5 billion years of Earth history since eruption of the Archean lavas, many geological processes have affected these rocks, complicating the simple case for trace fossils. Using hollow and partially mineralized microtextures in modern seafloor basalt as an analog for argued microbial alteration of Archean glass is, in our opinion, a weak line of argument and an overextrapolated interpretation in support of biogenicity. The many assumptions required in their proposed bioalteration model are not supported by microbiological experiments or geological observations. For example, Staudigel et al. (1) require that hollow microbial tunnels are filled in by some process forming titanite, but when and how this occurs is not substantiated. The authors also contradict earlier work by abandoning organic carbon linings to the microtextures as evidence in support of biogenicity. Staudigel et al. provide no new data to support a biogenic origin, and we highlight that they have further complicated their lines of argument.

And then the original authors counter!

Reply to Grosch and McLoughlin: Glass bioalteration trace fossils can be preserved by titanite in Paleoarchean greenstones

Authors:

Staudigel et al

Abstract:

Before debating the criticism that Grosch and McLoughlin (1) extend toward our paper (2), we point out that we agree on important issues, such as the difficulty of interpreting titanite textures in greenstones with complex metamorphic histories. We further agree with them that their images are too ambiguous to be certain of the presence of any biotextures.

We welcome Grosch and McLoughlin’s (1) clarification of their textural continuum of titanite textures in figure 1 of ref. 1, even though we are missing a genetic interpretation. We distinguish two types of titanite textures: (i) well-crystallized blade-like titanite crystals that have no resemblance to Cenozoic glass bioalteration and (ii) some “filamentous” textures that indeed closely resemble candidate biotextures. Lumping two visually distinct texture types into one group does not automatically give license to infer one process for their formation. Furthermore, we suggest here that none of the images conjure any simple metamorphic or biotic interpretations. In particular the candidate biotextures lack any obvious connections to glass surfaces or cracks in the glass, prohibiting a direct morphological comparison with Cenozoic biotextures.