Inpaleontology,Doushantuo preservation is a type offossilization unique to theDoushantuo formation. It involves very earlyphosphatisation on a cellular level - with cells being replaced byphosphate before they degrade.[1]
The mode of preservation is typically found in shallow, high energy waters, as lenses of phosphate in carbonate rocks.[1] Its occurrence is assisted by high concentrations ofphosphate, which are presumably led to precipitate around the degradation products of cells and cell walls.[1]
Cells are preserved at a cellular level, with arguments that sub-cellular structures may even representcell nuclei.
Although the preservational window is open pretty continually from about580 million years ago[verification needed] through most of theCambrian, it tends to preserve microscopic things, such asembryos andbacteria.[1]
Modes of preservation in the Cambrian | ||
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional |  | |
| Conventional | ||
