Self-assembled versus biological pattern formation in geology

TL;DR

This paper compares abiotic self-organization and biological processes in geological pattern formation, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between them to understand Earth's history and search for extraterrestrial life.

Contribution

It provides a framework to differentiate geological self-organization from biological patterns in geological structures, aiding in understanding their origins.

Findings

Identifies key features distinguishing biological from abiotic patterns.

Highlights the significance of pattern analysis in detecting biological activity.

Supports the development of criteria for interpreting geological structures.

Abstract

Both abiotic self-organization and biological mechanisms have been put forward as the origin of a number of geological patterns. It is important to comprehend the formation mechanisms of such structures both to understand geological self-organization and in order to differentiate them from biological patterns -- fossils and bio-influenced structures -- seen in geological systems. Being able to distinguish the traces of biological activity from geological self-organization is fundamental both for understanding the origin of life on Earth and for the search for life beyond Earth.