Fossil creation from small-scale oxygen limitation in sediments

What is it about?

The traditional view of sediment, is as a system who's chemistry and biology steadily changes with depth. Little consideration was given to localised biology/chemistry that differed from what was expected at that depth. This study involved the use of a model developed in previous work, which allows us to predict what happens when highly reactive organic matter micro-environments occur in sediments.

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Why is it important?

This is important as the existence of these environments could alter our view of how sediments are formed and layered and how organic matter is preserved - and ultimately fossilised. This also shows a route where dead organisms could be changed into pyrite and preserved in the sediment - even in oxygenated sediment where they would not be predicted to exist. This paper look at the range of conditions necessary for this preservation to occur.