Early Life on Earth: Evolution, Diversification, and Interactions

355 Pages·2022·33.158 MB·English

by  Kenichiro Sugitani

Early Life on Earth

Early Life on Earth
Evolution, Diversification, and
Interactions
Kenichiro Sugitani
First edition published 2022
by CRC Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Sugitani, Kenichiro, author.
Title: Early life on earth : evolution, diversification, and interactions /
Kenichiro Sugitani.
Description: First edition. | Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, 2021. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2021040198 (print) | LCCN 2021040199 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367425647 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032198484 (paperback) |
ISBN 9780367855208 (ebook)
Subjects: MESH: Biological Evolution | Biodiversity | Archaea | Origin of
Life | Fossils
Classification: LCC QH366.2 (print) | LCC QH366.2 (ebook) | NLM QH 366.2 |
DDC 576.8—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021040198
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021040199
ISBN: 978-0-367-42564-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-19848-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-85520-8 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9780367855208
Typeset in Times
by codeMantra
Contents
Prefacexv
Author xxi
Chapter 1 Space, Solar System, and the Earth 1
11 I ntroduction 1
12 Elements in the Universe and Their Origins 1
13 Evolution of Our Solar System 3
14 Evolution of the Earth’s Inner Structure 5
15 Origins of the Oceans and the Atmosphere 6
Column: Meteorite 8
References 9
Chapter 2 Solid Earth 11
21 I ntroduction 11
22 Plate Tectonics, Driving Force of Dynamism of the Earth 12
23 Igneous Rocks 13
231 Classification Scheme 13
232 Granitic Rocks (Granitoids) 14
233 B asaltic Rocks 15
24 Sedimentary Rocks 16
241 V olcaniclastic (Pyroclastic) Rocks 16
242 T errigenous Clastic Rocks 17
2421 Factors Controlling Chemistry and
Mineralogy of Terrigenous Clastic Rocks 18
2422 Sedimentary Structures of Terrigenous
Clastic Rocks and Their Implications 20
243 Biogenic, Chemical, and Biochemical
Sedimentary Rocks 21
2431 B iogenic Sedimentary Rocks 21
2432 Chemical Sedimentary Rocks 22
2433 Biochemical Sedimentary Rocks 24
25 M etamorphic Rocks 24
Column: Geochemistry of Igneous Rocks and of
Magmatic Processes 26
References 27
Chapter 3 Life on the Earth 1 29
31 I ntroduction 29
32 Chemical Evolution and Emergence of Life on the Earth 29
v
vi Contents
321 Revisit to Miller’s Experiment 30
322 Delivery of Building Blocks of Life from Space 31
323 Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Systems and
Origin of Life 32
324 Terrestrial Hydrothermal Systems (Hot Springs):
Another Candidates for Birthplace of Life 34
33 Classification of Life on the Earth 35
34 Diversity in Metabolisms38
341 A utotrophy and Heterotrophy 38
342 Chemistry of Autotrophy 38
343 Chemistry of Heterotrophy 39
35 Ecosystem: Complex System of Life and Environment 40
Column: Discovery of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Systems 41
References 42
Chapter 4 Life on the Earth 2 45
41 I ntroduction 45
42 C arbon 45
421 Deep Carbon Cycle 46
422 Modern Surface Carbon Cycle 46
4221 Terrestrial Carbon Cycle 46
4222 Oceanic Carbon Cycle 47
4223 Sediment Carbon Cycle 49
423 Archean Carbon Cycle 50
43 Sulfur 52
431 Modern Sulfur Cycle 52
432 Archean Sulfur Cycle 53
44 N itrogen 56
441 M odern Nitrogen Cycle 56
442 Archean Nitrogen Cycle 58
45 P hosphorous 61
451 M odern Phosphorous Cycle 61
452 A rchean Phosphorous Cycle 62
Column: Isotope and Isotope Fractionation 64
References 64
Chapter 5 Topics of the Early Precambrian Earth 1 71
51 I ntroduction 71
52 Archean Cratons 71
521 D istributions and Compositions of Archean Cratons 71
522 Origins of Archean Cratons 74
53 Early Continental Growth and Its Implications 74
531 Models of Continental Growth 74
532 Plate Tectonics and Continental
Growth and Implications  75
Contents vii
54 Komatiite Volcanism and Its Significance 76
541 Komatiite and Its Origin 76
542 S erpentinization of Komatiite and Its Implications 77
55 Large Asteroid Impact and Its Implications 79
551 P aleo- and Mesoarchean Records of Asteroid
Impacts 79
552 Identification of Large Asteroid Impacts 79
553 Implications of Large Asteroid Impacts 80
56 Archean Seawater Compositions and Products 1:
Iron Formations 82
561 Clues to Archean Seawater Compositions 82
562 What Are Iron Formations? 82
563 I ron- Rich and Anoxic Deep Seawaters 85
564 Origins of Early to Mesoarchean Iron Formations 87
57 A rchean Seawater Compositions and Products 2:
Cherts 88
571 Silica and Chert 88
572 Archean Primary Cherts, Indicative of
Silica-R ich Ocean 88
573 Formation Processes of Secondary Cherts 89
5731 H ydrothermal Alteration of Oceanic Crusts 89
5732 Syndepositional Silicification 90
5733 Pervasive Silicification 90
5734 Chert Formation and Element
Remobilization 90
58 How Was the Earth’s Atmosphere Oxidized 92
581 Archean Atmosphere 92
582 Microbial Consumption and Production of
H  and CH 92
2 4
583 H ydrogen Escape 93
584 Archean Ocean Temperature and pH 94
5841 Temperature: Hot or Temperate? 94
5842 A cidic, Neutral, or Alkaline? 94
Column: Zircon, Windows to the Hadean (46–40 Ga) 95
References 95
Chapter 6 Topics of the Early Precambrian Earth 2 103
61 I ntroduction 103
62 Photosynthesis and Its Evolution 103
621 A noxygenic and Oxygenic Photosynthesis 103
622 Oxygenic Photosynthesis: Energetic and
Physiological Perspective 105
623 O xygenic Photosynthesis: Nutritional Perspective 106
63 Geochemical and Mineralogical Records of the Great
Oxidation Event (GOE) and Earlier Oxygenation 108
viii Contents
631 Occurrrences of Redox-S ensitive Minerals and
Related Sediments 108
6311 U raninite, Pyrite, and Siderite 109
6312 Red Beds 110
632 Black Shales and Molybdenum 111
633 Paleosol, Clue to Oxygen in the Atmosphere
and Implications? 111
6331 Concept of Paleosol Geochemistry 111
6332 Classical Controversy on Paleosol
Records 112
6333 Recent Controversies on Archean
Oxygenic Atmosphere and Isotopic
Approach to Paleosol 113
634 Identification of Sulfur Mass- Independent
Isotopic Fractionation (S- MIF) 114
64 Sedimentary Records of Oxygenic Photosynthesis:
Stromatolite and MISS 116
Column: Oxygen is a Double- Edged Sword 118
References 119
Chapter 7 Biosignatures in Ancient Rocks and Related Issues 123
71 I ntroduction 123
72 Organic Matter 123
721 Kerogen and Its Isotopic Compositions 123
722 Hydrocarbons and Others – Archean Oils 126
73 Pyrite and Sulfur 128
74 Sedimentary Structures and Deposits 130
741 M icrobially- Induced Sedimentary Structures 130
742 S tromatolites 132
7421 What are Stromatolites? 132
7422 Skepticisms to Archean Stromatolites 134
7423 The Oldest Stromatolites? – The 34
Ga-o ld Strelley Pool Formation 135
7424 The Oldest Stromatolites? –
The 35 Ga Dresser Formation 137
75 Ichnofossils in Volcanic Rocks 140
76 S ystematic Approach to Biogenicity Assessment of
Cell-Like Structures 142
761 Geological Context 142
762 S yngenicity 143
763 Biological Context: Size and Its Range 144
764 Biological Context: Shape 145
765 Biological Context: Occurrence 145
766 Biological Context: Taphonomy 145
Contents ix
767 Biological Context: Chemical and
Isotopic Compositions 146
Column: Biofilm 146
References 147
Chapter 8 Early (Paleo- to Meso-) Archean Cellularly Preserved
Biosignatures 155
81 I ntroduction 155
82 Isua Supracrustal Belt, Greenland (Denmark) 155
821 G eological Background 155
822 Cellularly Preserved Biosignatures 155
83 The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, Canada 157
831 G eological Background 157
832 Cellularly Preserved Biosignature 158
84 Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa 159
841 The Onverwacht Group 160
8411 T he Hoogenoeg Formation 160
8412 The Kromberg Formation 161
842 The Fig Tree Group 163
843 The Moodies Group 164
85 Pilbara Craton, Western Australia 166
851 The Warrawoona Group 166
8511 The Dresser Formation 166
8512 The Mount Ada Basalt 168
8513 The Apex Basalt 168
8514 The Panorama Formation 169
852 The Strelley Pool Formation 170
853 The Sulfur Springs Group 171
854 The Gorge Creek Group and Others 172
8541 The Farrel Quartzite 172
8542 The Dixon Island Formation
(Not Official) 172
Column: Rare-Earth Elements and Significance of
Shale (PAAS)-Normalization 172
References 173
Chapter 9 Overview of the Pilbara Microstructures 1: The Farrel
Quartzite Assemblage 179
91 I ntroduction 179
92 Local Geology and Lithostratigraphy of the Goldsworthy
Greenstone Belt 179
921 Local Geology 179
922 Overview of Lithostratigraphy 181