Adam’s roots planted in clay ... maybe
Scientists believe clay made early complex life possible on Earth. An increase in the rate of clay formation in the Earth’s surface boosted oxygen levels in the atmosphere, it is believed. This led to an outburst of diverse forms of animal life about 530 million years ago, known as the “Cambrian Explosion”.
Researchers have puzzled over the dramatic and permanent increase in oxygen levels that occurred on Earth during the Precambrian period between one billion and 540 million years ago. The new theory suggests that thicker layers of clay caused organic carbons to be buried at a faster rate, liberating oxygen. Scientists from the University of California believe colonisation of the land surface by primitive plant life accelerated clay formation. The clay helped to preserve large amounts of organic matter in marine sediments.
