Abstract Those nanometer-scale spherical-，rod-，or ovoid-shaped objects in the 25～300 nm range，which are visible in rocks and minerals by high-magnification(>50000×) scanning electron microscope(SEM)，atomic force microscope(AFM)，or transmission electron microscope(TEM)analyses，attract the geologists attention.For the origin of these nanometer-scale objects，different views result in a strong disputation.Because of the general resemblance between these objects and eubacterial cocci or bacilli，and because of their tendency to occur in chains or clusters，it was initially proposed that the objects were “dwarf forms” of bacteria，“nannobacteria”，or their fossilized equivalents，“nannofossils”.The focus of geologic objections to the actuality of nannobacteria is that features of this scale may have many possible origins，e.g.，micromineral inclusions or crystallographic edge effects;further，a sphere <140 nm diameter is biologically thought to be too small to contain all the components necessary for an independent life.Therefore，this disputation that occurred at the turn of centuries and had continued thus far became an important impetus promoting the studies of the origin of limestones although an affirmative conclusion remains uncertain.
About author: Mei Mingxiang，born in 1965， graduated from China University of Geosciences(Beijing) in 1993，and obtained Ph.D.degree.Now he is a professor at School of Earth Sciences and Resources，China University of Geosciences(Beijing)，and is engaged in sedimentology and stratigraphy.
Cite this article:
Mei Mingxiang. Disputation of “nannobacteria”: An impetus promoting studies of origin of limestones[J]. JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY, 2011, 13(4): 363-374.
Mei Mingxiang. Disputation of “nannobacteria”: An impetus promoting studies of origin of limestones[J]. JOPC, 2011, 13(4): 363-374.
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