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Fossilized iron bacteria reveal a pathway to the biological origin of banded iron formation

Author

Listed:
  • Ernest Chi Fru

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History
    Nordic Centre for Earth Evolution (NordCEE))

  • Magnus Ivarsson

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History
    Nordic Centre for Earth Evolution (NordCEE))

  • Stephanos P. Kilias

    (Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis)

  • Stefan Bengtson

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History
    Nordic Centre for Earth Evolution (NordCEE))

  • Veneta Belivanova

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History)

  • Federica Marone

    (Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute)

  • Danielle Fortin

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Curt Broman

    (Stockholm University)

  • Marco Stampanoni

    (Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute
    Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zürich)

Abstract

Debates on the formation of banded iron formations in ancient ferruginous oceans are dominated by a dichotomy between abiotic and biotic iron cycling. This is fuelled by difficulties in unravelling the exact processes involved in their formation. Here we provide fossil environmental evidence for anoxygenic photoferrotrophic deposition of analogue banded iron rocks in shallow marine waters associated with an Early Quaternary hydrothermal vent field on Milos Island, Greece. Trace metal, major and rare earth elemental compositions suggest that the deposited rocks closely resemble banded iron formations of Precambrian origin. Well-preserved microbial fossils in combination with chemical data imply that band formation was linked to periodic massive encrustation of anoxygenic phototrophic biofilms by iron oxyhydroxide alternating with abiotic silica precipitation. The data implicate cyclic anoxygenic photoferrotrophy and their fossilization mechanisms in the construction of microskeletal fabrics that result in the formation of characteristic banded iron formation bands of varying silica and iron oxide ratios.

Suggested Citation

  • Ernest Chi Fru & Magnus Ivarsson & Stephanos P. Kilias & Stefan Bengtson & Veneta Belivanova & Federica Marone & Danielle Fortin & Curt Broman & Marco Stampanoni, 2013. "Fossilized iron bacteria reveal a pathway to the biological origin of banded iron formation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3050
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3050
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