Articles | Volume 38, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-305-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-305-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Formation of black opal in the pegmatites from Volyn (Ukraine) – an example for interaction of silica with organic matter
Gerhard Franz
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Vladimir Khomenko
The National Academy of Sciences, M. P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation, 34, Palladina av., Kyiv, 03142, Ukraine
Vsevolod Chornousenko
Mineraleks Inc. Company, 3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City, CA 91460, USA
Armin Zeh
KIT Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Angewandte Geowissenschaften – Mineralogie und Petrologie, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Ferry Schiperski
Department of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Simon Gouzy
Gemological Institute of America, 50 W. 47th Street, New York, NY 10036, USA
Ulrich Gernert
Zentraleinrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Jörg Nissen
Zentraleinrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Related authors
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, and Ulrich Struck
Biogeosciences, 21, 4119–4131, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4119-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4119-2024, 2024
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The Volyn biota (Ukraine), previously assumed to be an extreme case of natural abiotic synthesis of organic matter, is more likely a diverse assemblage of fossils from the deep biosphere. Although contamination by modern organisms cannot completely be ruled out, it is unlikely, considering all aspects, i.e., their mode of occurrence in the deep biosphere, their fossilization and mature state of organic matter, their isotope signature, and their large morphological diversity.
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, Ulrich Struck, Ulrich Gernert, and Jörg Nissen
Biogeosciences, 20, 1901–1924, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023, 2023
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This research describes the occurrence of Precambrian fossils, with exceptionally well preserved morphology in 3D. These microfossils reach a size of millimeters (possibly up to centimeters) and thus indicate the presence of multicellular eukaryotes. Many of them are filamentous, but other types were also found. These fossils lived in a depth of several hundred meters and thus provide good evidence of a continental the deep biosphere, from a time generally considered as the
boring billion.
Gerhard Franz, Peter Lyckberg, Vladimir Khomenko, Vsevolod Chournousenko, Hans-Martin Schulz, Nicolaj Mahlstedt, Richard Wirth, Johannes Glodny, Ulrich Gernert, and Jörg Nissen
Biogeosciences, 19, 1795–1811, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1795-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1795-2022, 2022
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In pegmatites from Ukraine Precambrian fossils between 1.5 Ga and 1.76 Ga were preserved in cavities connected to the surface in a geyser system. The fossilization process is silicification of the outermost rim of the fossils, stabilizing the remaining part of the organisms. The variety of organisms points to an ecosystem of several microorganisms which was active in the continental environment, and igneous rocks such as the pegmatites seem to be an ideal habitat for the deep biosphere.
Gerhard Franz, Masafumi Sudo, and Vladimir Khomenko
Eur. J. Mineral., 34, 7–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, 2022
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The age of formation of buddingtonite, ammonium-bearing feldspar, can be dated with the Ar–Ar method; however, it may often give only minimum ages due to strong resetting. In the studied example it gives a Precambrian minimum age of fossils, associated with this occurrence, and the age of the accompanying mineral muscovite indicates an age near 1.5 Ga. We encourage more dating attempts of buddingtonite, which will give valuable information of diagenetic or hydrothermal events.
Leonid Shumlyanskyy, Gerhard Franz, Sarah Glynn, Oleksandr Mytrokhyn, Dmytro Voznyak, and Olena Bilan
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 703–716, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, 2021
Short summary
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In the paper we discuss the origin of large chamber pegmatite bodies which contain giant gem-quality crystals of black quartz (morion), beryl, and topaz. We conclude that these pegmatites develop under the influence of later intrusions of mafic rocks that cause reheating of the partly crystallized granite massifs and that they supply a large amount of fluids that facilitate the
inflationof pegmatite chambers and crystallization of giant crystals of various minerals.
Gerhard Franz, Martin Kutzschbach, Eleanor J. Berryman, Anette Meixner, Anselm Loges, and Dina Schultze
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 401–423, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, 2021
Short summary
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Metamorphic rocks contain information about their original rocks and thus provide insight into the earlier stages of a region of interest. Here, we used the whole-rock chemical composition and stable boron isotopes of a suite of rocks from the Alps (Italy–Austria), which were deposited in a restricted intramontane basin before the Alpine orogeny. It is possible to reconstruct the depositional conditions for these sediments, which are now common metamorphic rocks such as schists and gneisses.
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, and Ulrich Struck
Biogeosciences, 21, 4119–4131, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4119-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4119-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Volyn biota (Ukraine), previously assumed to be an extreme case of natural abiotic synthesis of organic matter, is more likely a diverse assemblage of fossils from the deep biosphere. Although contamination by modern organisms cannot completely be ruled out, it is unlikely, considering all aspects, i.e., their mode of occurrence in the deep biosphere, their fossilization and mature state of organic matter, their isotope signature, and their large morphological diversity.
Ferdinand J. Hampl, Ferry Schiperski, Christopher Schwerdhelm, Nicole Stroncik, Casey Bryce, Friedhelm von
Blanckenburg, and Thomas Neumann
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 511–528, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-511-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-511-2023, 2023
Short summary
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We investigated the mineral content and geochemical composition of the upper 6 m of regolith, formed by weathering of granitic rocks in Mediterranean and humid climate zones. We found that the development of the upper regolith in the Mediterranean climate is controlled by secondary minerals which cause fracturing and thus facilitate fluid infiltration to depth. The upper regolith in the humid climate is controlled by secondary minerals that cause a reduction of fluid infiltration to depth.
Gerhard Franz, Vladimir Khomenko, Peter Lyckberg, Vsevolod Chournousenko, Ulrich Struck, Ulrich Gernert, and Jörg Nissen
Biogeosciences, 20, 1901–1924, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1901-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This research describes the occurrence of Precambrian fossils, with exceptionally well preserved morphology in 3D. These microfossils reach a size of millimeters (possibly up to centimeters) and thus indicate the presence of multicellular eukaryotes. Many of them are filamentous, but other types were also found. These fossils lived in a depth of several hundred meters and thus provide good evidence of a continental the deep biosphere, from a time generally considered as the
boring billion.
Gerhard Franz, Peter Lyckberg, Vladimir Khomenko, Vsevolod Chournousenko, Hans-Martin Schulz, Nicolaj Mahlstedt, Richard Wirth, Johannes Glodny, Ulrich Gernert, and Jörg Nissen
Biogeosciences, 19, 1795–1811, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1795-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1795-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In pegmatites from Ukraine Precambrian fossils between 1.5 Ga and 1.76 Ga were preserved in cavities connected to the surface in a geyser system. The fossilization process is silicification of the outermost rim of the fossils, stabilizing the remaining part of the organisms. The variety of organisms points to an ecosystem of several microorganisms which was active in the continental environment, and igneous rocks such as the pegmatites seem to be an ideal habitat for the deep biosphere.
Gerhard Franz, Masafumi Sudo, and Vladimir Khomenko
Eur. J. Mineral., 34, 7–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-34-7-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The age of formation of buddingtonite, ammonium-bearing feldspar, can be dated with the Ar–Ar method; however, it may often give only minimum ages due to strong resetting. In the studied example it gives a Precambrian minimum age of fossils, associated with this occurrence, and the age of the accompanying mineral muscovite indicates an age near 1.5 Ga. We encourage more dating attempts of buddingtonite, which will give valuable information of diagenetic or hydrothermal events.
Leonid Shumlyanskyy, Gerhard Franz, Sarah Glynn, Oleksandr Mytrokhyn, Dmytro Voznyak, and Olena Bilan
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 703–716, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-703-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In the paper we discuss the origin of large chamber pegmatite bodies which contain giant gem-quality crystals of black quartz (morion), beryl, and topaz. We conclude that these pegmatites develop under the influence of later intrusions of mafic rocks that cause reheating of the partly crystallized granite massifs and that they supply a large amount of fluids that facilitate the
inflationof pegmatite chambers and crystallization of giant crystals of various minerals.
Gerhard Franz, Martin Kutzschbach, Eleanor J. Berryman, Anette Meixner, Anselm Loges, and Dina Schultze
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 401–423, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-401-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Metamorphic rocks contain information about their original rocks and thus provide insight into the earlier stages of a region of interest. Here, we used the whole-rock chemical composition and stable boron isotopes of a suite of rocks from the Alps (Italy–Austria), which were deposited in a restricted intramontane basin before the Alpine orogeny. It is possible to reconstruct the depositional conditions for these sediments, which are now common metamorphic rocks such as schists and gneisses.
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Short summary
Black opal, a rare amorphous SiO2 variety, results from the interaction of silica with organic matter and therefore hints at traces of life, including the early Earth and Mars. The Volyn occurrence is one of the few examples of black opal worldwide and is the unique case of a pegmatitic occurrence in a granite; its age is at least 200 Ma. The structure consists of micrometer-large sphere-like arrangements of nano-sized grains and shows shape relicts of fossils, known from Volyn as "kerite".
Black opal, a rare amorphous SiO2 variety, results from the interaction of silica with organic...