INORGANIC SELF-ORGANIZATION IN PRECAMBRIAN CHARTS

Silica biomorphs are inorganic self-organized precipitates resulting f rom a crystal aggregation process controlled by a metal silicate membr ane. They display morphological and symmetric properties of living org anisms and form under physico-chemical conditions similar to some geoc hemical conditions suggested for the chemical precipitation of Precamb rian chert precursors. In consequence, these inorganic precipitates ar e proposed as an alternative interpretation to be considered when tryi ng to decipher the biogenicity of putative Precambrian microbiotas.