Life's Dawn on Earth / Being the history of the oldest known fossil remains, and their relations to geological time and to the development of the animal kingdom

This study surveys the oldest putative animal remains found in highly altered Laurentian rocks, recounting their geological setting and the discovery history of Eozoon Canadense. It analyzes the fossil's morphology, internal canal structures, and modes of mineral preservation, compares it with contemporaneous and slightly younger reef-building forms, and evaluates competing interpretations and objections to its organic origin. Technical discussions address mineralogy, microscopic structure, and sampling localities, while illustrations and microscopic plates support the arguments. The concluding chapters consider the implications of recognizing such ancient life for interpreting geological time and for questions about the emergence and early evolution of animal organization.