The Proterozoic Biosphere: A Multidisciplinary Study

1375 Pages·1992·113.62 MB·English

by  J. William Schopf, Cornelis Klein

THE PROTEROZOIC
BIOSPHERE
A Multidisciplinary Study
Edited by
J. WILLIAM SCHOPF AND CORNELIS KLEIN
CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RP
40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA
10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia
© Cambridge University Press 1992
First published 1992
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The proterozoic biosphere: a multidisciplinary study /edited by
J. William Schopf and Cornelis Klein.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-521-36615-1
1. Paleontology-Proterozoic. I. Schopf, J. William, 1941-
II. Klein, Cornelis, 1937-
QE724.5.P76 1992
56OM71-dc2O 91-15085
CIP
ISBN 0-521-36615-1 hardback
THIS MONOGRAPHIC WORK IS DEDICATED TO
ROBERT M. GARRELS (1916-1988),
COLLEAGUE, FRIEND, TEACHER.
A contribution of the Center for the Study of
Evolution and the Origin of Life (CSEOL),
University of California, Los Angeles.
Contents
List of Contributors xxi 1.4.4 The Archean Atmosphere 23
1.4.5 The Archean Terrigenous Environment 23
Preface xix 1.4.6 The Environmental Influence of Archean
Impact Events 23
1.5 Paleobiology of the Archean 25
PARTI
J. William Schopf
1.5.1 Introduction 25
1. Geology and Paleobiology of the Archean Earth 5
1.5.2 Recent paleobiological studies of the Early
J. William Schopf, Sherwood Chang,
Archean Fig Tree and Onverwacht
W. Gary Ernst, Heinrich D. Holland,
Groups (Swaziland Supergroup),
James F. Kasting, Donald R. Lowe
South Africa 25
1.5.3 Controversial Microfossils Previously
1.1 Introduction 7
Described from the Early Archean
J. William Schopf
Warrawoona Group, Western Australia 27
1.5.4 Newly Discovered Microfossils from the
1.2 Formation of the Earth and the Origin of Life 9
Early Archean Apex Basalt (Warrawoona
James F. Kasting, Sherwood Chang
Group), Western Australia 28
1.2.1 Origin and Development of the Early
Atmosphere 9 1.5.5 The Early Archean Microbiota 37
1.2.2 Timing and Environmental Setting of the 1.5.6 Conclusions 39
Origin of Life 10
1.2.3 Chemical Evolution and the Origin of Life 10
1.6 Geology and Paleobiology of the Archean Earth:
1.2.4 Paleoenvironmental Considerations 11
Current Status and Future Research Directions 41
1.2.5 Geologic and Paleobiologic Considerations 11
J. William Schopf
1.6.1 Archean Paleobiology: Problems and
1.3 The Archean Geologic Record 13
Perspectives 41
Donald R. Lowe, W. Gary Ernst
1.3.1 Formation and Evolution of the
Pre-Archean Earth 13
1.3.2 Principal Archean Geologic Terranes 14
1.3.3 Archean Crustal Evolution 16
2. Geological Evolution of the Proterozoic Earth 43
1.3.4 Conclusions 18
Donald R. Lowe, Nicolas J. Beukes,
John P. Grotzinger, Raymond V. Ingersoll,
1.4 The Environment of the Archean Earth 21
Joseph L. Kirschvink, Cornelis Klein,
Heinrich D. Holland, James F. Kasting
Ian B. Lambert, and Jan Veizer
1.4.1 Introduction 21
1.4.2 Evidence for Liquid Water and the Early
Archean Surface Temperature 21 2.1 Introduction
1.4.3 Archean Ocean Chemistry 21 Donald R. Lowe 45
vii