Cretaceous Chert-Hosted Microfossils Visualized With Synchrotron Ptychographic X-Ray Computed Tomography (PXCT).

ABSTRACT: Silicification of microfossils is an important taphonomic process that provides a record of microbial life across a range of environments throughout Earth history. However, questions remain regarding the mechanism(s) by which silica precipitated and preserved delicate organic material and detailed cellular morphologies. Constraining the different mechanisms of silica precipitation and identifying the common factors that allow for microfossil preservation is the key to understanding ancient microbial communities and fossil-preserving mechanisms. Here, we use synchrotron ptychographic X-ray computed tomography (PXCT) as a novel technique to analyze microfossils from the Cretaceous Barra Velha Formation and better characterize their diverse morphologies and preservation styles. Through this t

SUBMITTER: Moore KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12066158 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature