In situ laser-Raman imagery of Precambrian microscopic fossils

Laser-Raman imagery is a sensitive, noninvasive, and nondestructive techniq ue that can be used to correlate directly chemical composition with optical ly discernable morphology in ancient carbonaceous fossils. By affording mea ns to investigate the molecular makeup of specimens ranging from megascopic to microscopic, it holds promise for providing insight into aspects of org anic metamorphism and biochemical evolution, and for clarifying the nature of ancient minute fossil-like objects of putative but uncertain biogenicity .