Mircro-organisms and the presence of syngenetic pyrite

Abstract

Summary Certain beds of the Scottish Lower Carboniferous Oil Shale Group contain numerous small granules of pyrite. Isolation and subsequent solution of this pyrite has revealed the presence of a hitherto unknown group of microfossils clearly contained within the pyrite. Two new monotypic genera, Pyritosphaera and Pyritella , are described and their essential role in the production of hydrogen sulphide is suggested in relationship to the formation of syngonetic pyrite.