Problems of Morphology and Classification in Bacterial Paleontology

Abstract

Bacterial paleontology studies the role of bacteria and other microorganisms in the genesis of sedimentary rocks and ores. Two model objects of bacterial paleontology (the Early Cambrian phosphorites and modern geyserites) are examples of the objects of research that have an extremely small number of morphological features (they are therefore almost not used in classification). For bacterial paleontology, it is important to find organic residues that were involved in sedimentation processes, in rocks and ores, and to determine to which groups of bacteria the forms found could be assigned. For this purpose, it is necessary to study rock, conditions of its genesis, and its mineral composition.