Deep-sea chemosynthetic wrinkles rewrite clues to ancient life
In Morocco’s Dadès Valley, researchers found wrinkle-like textures preserved on 180-million-year-old deep-water turbidites. Rather than photosynthetic algae, these textures appear to be created by chemosynthetic microbial mats that thrived below the photic zone. Evidence included carbon enrichment beneath the wrinkles and modern deep-sea observations of chemo-mats. The finding suggests such wrinkle structures can form in aphotic environments, broadening where scientists search for ancient microbial life and prompting a reevaluation of early-life indicators in the rock record.
