Journal: Scientific Reports

Article Title: The role of volcanic-derived clays in the preservation of Ediacaran biota from the Itajaí Basin (ca. 563 Ma, Brazil)

doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84433-0

Figure Lengend Snippet: Geochemical analyses of the fossil-related clays (FBCs) in three-dimensionally preserved microbial mats. ( a ) SEM image and EDS maps of a region diagonally crosscutting a 3D preserved tufted microbial mat (see Supplementary Fig. ), highlighting the concentration of Al and K in the biogenic structure. ( b ) SR-µXRF maps of the same region, showing increased intensities of K, Fe, Ti, Mg and Al in the fossil-bearing clays. ( c ) SEM image and EDS maps of a cross-section through a 3D preserved Arumberia-type microbial mat (see Supplementary Fig. ), revealing relatively higher intensities of Al and K in the fossil. ( d ) SR-µXRF of the same region as in ( c ), showing enrichments and spatial relations of K, Fe and Ti with the microbial mat. ( e ) Representative Raman spectra of FBCs (F) and rock matrix (M). An anatase, I illite, Q quartz, Hem disordered hematite (see Ref. ), G ker possible G band of kerogen, Phot artifact of photoluminescence from the glass. ( f , g ) Raman mapping of anatase (red), quartz (blue) and plagioclase (yellow) of the Arumberia sample. Note the concentration of disseminated and fine-grained anatase in the fossil. ( h ) XRD patterns (air-dried) and NEWMOD modeling of the FBCs, the tuff sample, and a distal delta-front mudstone sample. Figures created using INCA ( a , c ; https://www.etas.com/en/products/inca_software_products.php ), PyMCA 5.4.0 ( b , d ; http://pymca.sourceforge.net/ ), WiRE ( e – g ; https://www.renishaw.com/ ) and NEWMOD 2.0 ( h ) software.

Article Snippet: Figures created using INCA ( a , c ; https://www.etas.com/en/products/inca_software_products.php ), PyMCA 5.4.0 ( b , d ; http://pymca.sourceforge.net/ ), WiRE ( e – g ; https://www.renishaw.com/ ) and NEWMOD 2.0 ( h ) software.

Techniques: Concentration Assay, Software