Charbonnier, Sylvain

Derenne, Sylvie

Nguyen Tu, Thanh Thuy

Odin, Giliane P.

English

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Sulfur sedimentary processes and fossilization

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Goldschmidt2019 Abstract 
 
 
Sulfur sedimentary processes and 
fossilization 
GILIANE P. ODIN1-2, THANH THUY NGUYEN TU1, SYLVIE 
DERENNE1, SYLVAIN CHARBONNIER2 
1METIS, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, Faculté 
des Sciences et d’ingénierie, Paris, France. 
2CR2P, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, CNRS, Muséum 
national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France.  
 
Fossils are unique witnesses of ancient organisms, 
opening windows into the diversity of ancient life on 
Earth. Involved into both organic and inorganic 
preservation of organisms, sulfur is a key element in 
fossilization. Replication in pyrite (FeS2) is a common 
process of mineralization; in addition, the organic 
matter of carcasses can be sulfurized, increasing the 
preservation potential of the molecules. However, the 
controls and mechanisms of these reactions are 
incompletely understood. To address this issue, we 
experimentally degrade crustacean in various controlled 
laboratory conditions during several months. 
Preliminary experiments have shown that sulfates 
initially present in the water are effectively consumed 
by sulfato-reducing microorganisms within a few 
weeks, while sulfur content increases within the 
sediment. Py-GC-MS, performed on untreated and 
decayed crustaceans, evidences some structural 
modifications. Differences in sulfur distribution were 
imaged through SEM-EDS. For comparison, fossil 
crustaceans will also be analyzed to compare the results 
with the fossil record, so as to obtain a comprehensive 
view of the organic and mineralogical modifications. 
 
Sulfur content obtained after 2 and 5 weeks of decay 


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Sulfur sedimentary processes and fossilization

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