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Tumbiana Formation (Pilbara, Western Australia)

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

The Tumbiana Formation is a 2,724 ± 5 Ma old, well-preserved series of calcareous and micaceous sandstones interlayered with volcanogenic siltstone in the Fortescue Group of the Pilbara craton of Western Australia. The sediments were deposited in a shallow marine or lacustrine environment associated with the influx of riverine freshwater from the continent. The Tumbiana Formation has been the focus of most astrobiological studies for its content of well-developed, genuine biogenic stromatolites and possible filamentous microfossils. Carbon and sulfur isotopes show large variations at a fine, centimeter to meter scale. Very depleted δ13C values down to −60 ‰ suggest carbon cycling by various anaerobic or aerobic methane pathways, particularly aerobic or anaerobic methanotrophy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maison des Géosciences, LGCA, Université J. Fourier, 1381, rue de la Piscine, 38400, St-Martin d’Hères, France

    Nicholas Arndt

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  1. Nicholas Arndt
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Correspondence to Nicholas Arndt .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Arndt, N. (2014). Tumbiana Formation (Pilbara, Western Australia). In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1621-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1621-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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  1. Latest

    Tumbiana Formation (Pilbara, Western Australia)
    Published:
    11 March 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1621-4

  2. Original

    Tumbiana Formation (Pilbara, Western Australia)
    Published:
    05 May 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1621-3

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