Abstract
AbstractThere are different criteria that are usually analysed independently before identifying a new trace fossil, such as morphological regularity, completeness, dispersion, recurrence and complexity, surface morphology, and context. The synthesis of these criteria, as utilized in paleosol ichnology, composes a protocol that is presented herein for the first time and can be used for testing the ichnogenicity of trace-like structures in any paleoenvironment of Earth or Mars. As a study case, the Martian ‘stick-like structures’ do not fulfil any of the requirements posed by this protocol to be postulated as trace fossils. The ichnogenicity test, focussed exclusively on morphology and context, is simpler but equally useful as the biogenicity ones. It may be applied in the future with other potential cases before carrying on more complex analyses or to evaluate the astrobiological interest of trace-like structures.
Funder
Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous),Space and Planetary Science,Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous),Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Reference42 articles.
1. On Biogenicity Criteria for Endolithic Microborings on Early Earth And Beyond
2. Heydari, E , Parker, TJ , Calef, FJ , Schroeder, JF , Van Beek, J , Rowland, SK and Fairen, AG (2018) Characteristics and the origin of the Vera Rubin Ridge, Gale Crater, Mars. In: Proceedings of the 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018, The Woodlands, LPI Contrib No. 2083.
3. PALEOETHOLOGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOGLYPHS: FINGERPRINTS OF THE SUBTERRANEANS
4. The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars
5. Ichnology
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献