Microstructure-specific carbon isotopic signatures of organic matter from ~3.5 Ga cherts of the Pilbara Craton support a biologic origin

Earth & Environmental Sciences

• chert 100%
• craton 84%
• microstructure 69%
• organic matter 60%
• carbon 51%
• isotopic fractionation 10%
• fixation 8%
• isotopic composition 7%
• shallow water 7%
• stylolite 6%
• lithification 6%
• ankerite 6%
• stromatolite 5%
• overprinting 5%
• host rock 4%
• rock 4%
• dome 4%
• water depth 3%
• mass spectrometry 3%
• microbial community 3%
• seafloor 3%
• texture 3%
• organism 3%
• ion 2%
• in situ 2%
• biomass 2%
• effect 1%

Chemical Compounds

• Organic Matter 97%
• Carbon Atom 42%
• Fractionation 10%
• Acetyl-CoA 7%
• Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy 6%
• Crystalline Texture 5%
• Microstructure 4%
• Environment 3%
• Modification 3%