Preservation in microbial mats: mineralization by a talc-like phase of a fish embedded in a microbial sarcophagus
Microbial mats have been repeatedly suggested to promote early fossilization of macroorganisms.Yet, experimental simulations of this process remain scarce.Here, we report results of 5 year-long experiments performed onfish carcasses to document the influence of microbial mats on mineral precipitation during early fossilization.Carcasses were initia