Edited by Sinopaleus
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Report Fossil
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By Sinopaleus (edited)
Kingdom: Incertae sedis
Phylum: Incertae sedis
Class: Incertae sedis
Order: Incertae sedis
Family: Incertae sedis
Genus: Grypania
Species: Grypania spiralis
Eon: Proterozoic
Era: Paleoproterozoic
Period: Orosirian
Sub Period: None
Epoch: None
Menominee Group
Negaunee Formation
Acquired by: Purchase/Trade
Width: 12.4 cm
Thickness: 1.8 cm
Empire Mine
Marquette County
Illinois
United States
Generally accepted to be one of the earliest eukaryotes, these spiral ribbons are also the oldest macroscopic body fossils known to date. The Negaunee Fm. has been dated to 2.11 billion years old, but new studies suggest the unit is 1.87 billion years old. These ribbons are most simply referred to as a form of archaic alga, and existed when increasing oxygen levels caused global rusting of the oceans, also resulting in the extinction of other lifeforms unable to adapt to the then-toxic levels of oxygen.
Edited by Sinopaleus
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