Cyanobacterial Inhabitation on Archean Rock Surfaces in the Pilbaran Craton, Western Australia

摘要

High abundances of 7- and 6-monomethylalkanes as well as C(17)n-alkane, indicative of cyanobacteria, have been discovered near the surfaces of Archean carbonate rocks of the Fortescue Group in the Pilbara region, Western Australia. The presence of cyanobacterial biomarkers is mostly limited to the surface layer (<1cm thickness) of the rocks, indicating that the cyanobacteria are an endolithic species. Biomarkers are found in bitumen I (solvent-extracted rock) and also in bitumen II (solvent-extr