Earth Science Academic Archive - Project 17974925
Study of Archaean prokaryotic mat ecology, Belingwe Belt, Zimbabwe

Nisbet, Professor E G

This proposal is to study archaean ecology, and in particular the early nitrogen cycle, by using new high resolution laser stable isotope techniques and REE geochemistry to investigate the geochemical and isotopic fingerprints of prokaryotic life. The intention is to use extremely well preserved 2.7-3.0 ga old biologically-formed rocks (carbon-sulphur mat deposits, stromatolites, and carbon-rich shales) from Belingwe, Zimbabwe (including drillcore) and also rocks from Steep Rock, Canada, to identify consortia of bacteria and so map out trophic chains. The results will be interpreted in the light of RNA phylogeny, to deduce the circumstances in which early anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic communities developed

Keywords

'Pollution', 'Volcanology', 'Biogeochemistry'

Principal Investigator

Nisbet, Professor E G

Earth Sciences,
Royal Holloway, University of London,


Download

One file available for download (see note below):
The project contains the following datasets:
  • Study of Archaean prokaryotic mat ecology, Belingwe Belt, Zimbabwe
    This proposal is to study archaean ecology, and in particular the early nitrogen cycle, by using new high resolution laser stable isotope techniques and REE geochemistry to investigate the geochemical and isotopic fingerprints of prokaryotic life. The intention is to use extremely well preserved 2.7-3.0 ga old biologically-formed rocks (carbon-sulphur mat deposits, stromatolites, and carbon-rich shales) from Belingwe, Zimbabwe (including drillcore) and also rocks from Steep Rock, Canada, to identify consortia of bacteria and so map out trophic chains. The results will be interpreted in the light of RNA phylogeny, to deduce the circumstances in which early anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic communities developed
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