• Search Research Projects
  • Search Researchers
  • How to Use
  1. Back to previous page

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the oldest microfossils from the 3.5Ga Pilbara craton, western Australia

Research Project

Project/Area Number 11691119
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section海外学術
Research Field 地球化学
Research InstitutionTokyo Institute of Technology

Principal Investigator

MARUYAMA Shigenori  Tokyo Institute of Technology Professor, 大学院・理工学研究科, 教授 (50111737)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) KATO Yasuhiro  Yamaguchi University Assoc. Professor, 理学部, 助手 (40221882)
TERABAYASHI Masaru  Kagawa University Assoc. Professor, 工学部, 助教授 (40243745)
ISOZAKI Yukio  University of Tokyo Professor, 大学院・総合文化研究科, 教授 (90144914)
HIROSE Kei  Tokyo Institute of Technology Assoc. Professor, 大学院・理工学研究科, 助教授 (50270921)
Project Period (FY) 1999 – 2001
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2001)
Budget Amount *help
¥13,480,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥4,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥4,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,600,000)
Keywordshydrothermalcirculation / microfossi / western Australia, Pilbara / mid-oceanic ridge / Archean / Early .life / barite / photo-synthesis / 世界最古微化石 / 海水組成 / 地下生物圏 / 二酸化炭素濃度 / 深海
Research Abstract

Geologic mapping and systematic samplings have been completed in the Pilbara area, Australia in this calendar year. They are, (1) the 3.5 Ga old North Pole region where the oldest microfossils have been recognized, (2) 3.0 Ga old Cleaverville region, and (3) 2.7 Ga old Richmond region where shallow marine black shale and stromatolite are present. The collected samples were all thin-sectioned, and observed under the microscope. Some were chemically analyzed in major and trace elements by XRF, as well as REE by laser ICP-MS. Separated zircons were dated by laser ICP-MS at TIT. Metamorphic mineral assemblages were determined and their P-T conditions were estimated. Fluid inclusions were also investigated to make it clear the physico-chemical environment of early life. The results are as follows.
(1) The microfossil-bearing unit forms a part of accretionary complex.
(2) The physico-chemical environment where microfossils were survived was reconstructed ; it was at 2000m deep under XCO2-rich hyfrothermal system.
(3) Microfossils are not cyanobacteria but chemo-fossils which had already differentiated to some extent by 3.5 Ga.
(4) Microfossils formed a sub-seafloor community down to 800m along the fracture system related to hydrothermal fluid circulation.
(5) New micro fossils were found from the 3.0 Ga Cleaverville region. Those are extremely large and well-preserved, suggesting a possibility of birth of eukaryotes at 3.0 Ga.
(6) New microfossils were also identified from the 3.5 Ga seamount-top sediments. These may be fossils which may have begun photo-synthesis under the shallow marine environment.
(7) Paleoenvironment of stromatolite-bearing unit at 2.7 Ga was reconstructed (presented at AGU, 2001 ).
(8) Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of 2.7 Ga old sediments from shallow marine to deep-sea. The microfossils were newly found from those deep-sea sediments.
(9) A brief summary of the history of life and the Earth was published.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2001 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2000 Annual Research Report
  • 1999 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (24 results)

All Other

All Publications (24 results)

  • [Publications] Ueno, Y., Yurimoto, H., Yoshioka, H., Komiya, T., Maruyama, S.: "Ion microprobe analysis of graphite from ca 3.8 Ga metasediments, Isua supracrustal belt, West Greenland : Relationship between metamorphism and carbon isotopic composition"Geochim.Cosmochim.Acta.. 66. 153-164 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitajima, K., Maruyama, S., Utsunomiya, S., Liou, J.G.: "Seafloor hydrothermal alteration at Archean mid-ocean ridge. Journal of Metamorphic"Geology. 19. 583-600 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Ueno, Y., Isozaki, Y., Yurimoto, H., Maruyama, S.: "Carbon isotopic signatures of individual Archean probable microfossils (?) from Western Australia"International Geology Review. 43. 196-212 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Maruyama, S., Isozaki, Y., Nakashima, S., Windley B.F.: "History of the Earth and life. In Geochemistry and the Orign of Life (ed.S.Nakshima et al.)"Universal AcademyPress, Tokyo, Japan (in press). (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Ueno, Y., Yurimoto, H. Yoshioka, H., Komiya, T., and Maruyama, S.: "Ion microprobe analysis of graphite from ca 3.8 Ga metasediments, Isua supracrustal belt. West Greenland: Relationship between metamorphism and carbon is otopic composition"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.. 66. 153-164 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Kitajima, K., Maruyama, S., Utsunomiya, S. and Liou, J.: "Seafloor hydrothermal alteration at Archean mid-ocean ridge. Journal of Metamorphic"Geology. 19. 583-600 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Ueno, Y., Isozaki, Y., Yurimoto, H. and Maruyama, S.: "Carbon isotopic signatures of individual Archean probable microfossils (?) from Western Australia"International Geology Review. 43. 196-212 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mamoru Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Komiya, Yasuo Nakamura, and Shigenori Maruyama: "Archean Regional Metamorphism of the Isua supracrustal belt, southern West Greenland implications for a driving force for Archean plate tectonics"International Geology Review. 42. 1055-1115 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Okamoto, K., Maruyama, S. and Isozaki, Y: "Accretionary complex origin of the Sanbagawa, high P/T metamorphi rocks, Central Shiokoku, Japan Layer-parallel shortening structure and green-stone geochemistry"Journal of the Geological Society of Japan. 106(1). 70-86 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Ueno, Y., Yurimoto, H., Yoshioka, H., Komiya, T., Maruyama, S.: "Ion microprobe analysis of graphite from ca 3.8 Ga metasediments, Isua supracrustal belt, West Greenland: Relationship between metamorphism and carbon isotopic composition"Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.. 66. 153-164 (2002)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Kitajima, K., Maruyama, S., Utsunomiya, S., Liou, J.G.: "Seafloor hydrothermal alteration at Archean mid-ocean ridge. Journal of Metamorphic"Geology. 19. 583-600 (2001)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Ueno, Y., Isozaki, Y., Maruyama, S.: "Carbon isotopic signatures of individual Archean probable microfossils (?) from Western Australia"International Geology Review. 43. 196-212 (2001)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Maruyama, S., Isozaki, Y., Nakashima, S., Windley B.F.: "History of the Earth and life. In Geochemistry and the Origin of Life (ed. S. Nakshima et al.)"Universal Academy Press, Tokyo, Japan (in press). (2002)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Yuichiro Ueno,Yukio Isozaki,Hisayoshi Yurimoto and Shigenori Maruyama: "Carbon isotopic signatures of individual Archean probable microfossil from Western Australia"Journal of Geology. (submitted). (2001)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] K.KITAJIMA,S.MARUYAMA,S.UTSUNOMIYA AND J.G.LIOU: "Seafloor Hydrothermal Alteration at Archean Mid-Ocean Ridge"Journal of Metamorphic Geology. (submitted). (2001)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Mamoru Hayashi,Tsuyoshi Komiya,Yasuo Nakamura,and Shigenori Maruyama: "Archean Regional Metamorphism of the Isua supracrustal belt, southern West Greenland implications for a driving force for Archean plate tectonics."Internatinal Geology Review. 42. 1055-1115 (2000)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Okamoto,K.,Maruyama,S.and Isozaki,Y.: "Accretionary complex origin of the Sanbagawa, high P/T metamorphic rocks, Central Shiokoku, Japan-Layyer-parallel shortening structure and green-stone geochemistry-"Journal of the Geological Society of Japan.. 106(1). 70-86 (2000)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Katayama,I.,Parkinson,C.D.,Okamoto,K.Nakajima,Y.and Maruyama,S.: "Supersilicic clinopyroxene and silica exsolution in UHPM eclogite and pelitic gneiss from the Kokchetav Massif, Kazakhstan"American Mineralogist,. 85(10). 1368-1374 (2000)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Isozaki Y.,Ueno Y.,Yurimoto H.and Maruyama S.: "3.5 Ga kerogen-rich silica dikes from North Pole area, Western Australia subseafloor biosphere in the Archean?"EOS. 80・46. 87-88 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Ueno Y.,Maruyama S.,Yurimoto H.and Komiya T.: "Ion microbrobe analysis of graphite from 3.8 Ga metamorphosed sediments, Isua Supracrustal Belt, West Greenland relation between metamorphism and carbon isotopic composition"EOS. 80・46. 1079 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Kouki KITAJIMA,Shigenori MARUYAMA: "Phisico-chemical Environment of Archean Mid-Ocean Ridge Estimate of seawater depth and hydrothermal fluid composition"EOS. 80・46. 1079 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] H.Ohta,T.Kabashima,M.Terabayashi,H.Yurimoto and S.Maruyama: "REE ultra-enriched hot spot rhyolite from 3.5 Ga North Pole accretionary complex, East Pilbara, Western Australia"EOS. 80・46. 1080 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Ueno Y.,Isozaki Y.,Yurimoto H.and Maruyama S.: "The earh's oldest (3.5Ga) fossil bacteria from Western Australia and their carbon isotopic signature"Earth and Planetary Science Letters. (submitting.). (2000)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] KITAJIMA K.,S.MARUYAMA and A.UTSUNOMIYA: "Seafloor Hydrothermal Alteration at Archean Mid-Ocean Ridge"Earth and Planetary Science Letters. (submitting.). (2000)

    • Related Report
      1999 Annual Research Report

URL: 

Published: 1999-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

Information User Guide FAQ News Terms of Use Attribution of KAKENHI

Powered by NII kakenhi