Preservation potential of carbon–sulfur biomorphs in the geological record

Investigate whether carbon–sulfur biomorphs, consisting of elemental sulfur cores encapsulated by organic shells formed during sulfide oxidation and sulfurization, can persist and be preserved in the geological record despite sulfur’s diagenetic instability, and determine conditions that enable preservation (e.g., silicification of organic envelopes).

Background

Carbon–sulfur biomorphs self-assemble in sulfidic, organic-containing solutions, producing lifelike morphologies. Their cores are elemental sulfur, while their shells are organic macromolecules formed via sulfurization.

While experimental work suggests organic shells can silicify, the broader preservation potential of these biomorphs in natural sediments remains unclear, complicating their recognition as environmental or biological proxies.