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Figure 1–10. Distribution of microfossils in carbonaceous laminae of the Swartkoppie Formation, South Africa (a). Arrows designate discernible individuals; (b—e) — stages in cell division; (f, k) — dyads; (g—j) Aphanocapsa sp., illustrating binary cell division in modern prokaryotes. Bar 10 μm (After Knoll, Barghoorn, 1977).
The Swaziland system in South Africa is a remarkable earth formation. It is
17 km deep and is divided into three groups: upper — Fig Tree (2150 m); lower
— Onverwacht (15 200 m) and the adjoining to them Moodies (3000 m). Its age
determined after the rubidium-stroncium method amounts to 3.4—3.1 bln. years.
Photosynthesizing bacteria and cyanobacteria are discovered also in