Biogenic Contamination and Mineral Pseudo-Biogenic Structures in Earth Rocks and Astromaterials

Abstract

Bacterial paleontology studies the roles played by organisms in the genesis of sediments and ores. It is, therefore, important to clearly distinguish in-situ biological objects present in the rock material from various contaminants of later origin and from mineral structures that merely resemble organisms. The same is crucial for correct interpretation of alleged biogenic structures found in meteorites. The use of a scanning electron microscope equipped with an EDX microanalysis system and designation of model objects from previously studied rock samples allows us to address this problem. This approach also needs to be applied to previously discovered structures.