engleski

Relicts of living organisms on feldspar from Spitzkoppe, Namibia

During the investigation of green feldspar (amazonite) from the Spitzkoppe pegmatite, Namibia, relicts of living organisms were found in cavities on the surface of the crystals. The images produced by scanning electron microscopy show at least four different morphologies, which can be related to living organisms. The first finding is a plate approximately 1 μ m × 1.2 μ m large with round pores regularly distributed in basically equidistant rows. This plate could be a fragment of foraminiferal skeleton. The second finding is presumably a living organism remnant. It is elongated section of possible skeleton bearing organism about 10 μ m × 2 μ m large. The third structure consists of a few agglomerated subspherical individuals about 1 μ m in diameter. The agglomerations have a fishbone-type pattern and resemble either blue-green algae or cocci. The last finding consists of a few oval-shaped individuals about 1 μ m long, which could be remnants of blue-green algae or an aggregate of fermentation bacteria. These living organisms on feldspar are rather unusual, especially if their origin is considered. It is likely that these organisms have been transported by wind from other environment to the desert area, although some of them could also have lived under local circumstances.

relics of living organisms; feldspar; Spitzkoppe; Namibia

nije evidentirano