Videos

Video resources

The following is a list of video resources. Click on the link to view or download the video. Each video is also linked to a transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses some hypotheses regarding the origins of this area and the purpose of this field trip to the Pilbara region. (16.9 MB) Transcript

• Professor Malcolm Walter talks about the field trip's relevance to astrobiology (5.2 MB). Transcript.

• Professor Malcolm Walter talks about the Pilbara's relevance to Mars (4.2 MB). Transcript.

• Professor Malcolm Walter talks about the history of the Dresser formation (11.4 MB). Transcript.

• Professor Malcolm Walter describes the stromatolites at the Dresser formation (8.5 MB). Transcript.

• Professor Malcolm Walter and Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discuss alternative explanations for the Dresser stromatolites (13.1 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Bruce Runnegar talks about why the Pilbara is unique (1.6 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Bruce Runnegar talks about NASA's interest in the Pilbara (1.1 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Bruce Runnegar talks about how to look for ancient life in the Pilbara (1.6 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Bruce Runnegar talks about the multidisciplinary nature of astrobiology (3.1 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Jack Farmer discusses the probability of finding past or present life on Mars (7.3 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Jack Farmer discusses geology on Mars (5.1 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Jack Farmer talks about the nature of geology (2.8 MB). Transcript.

• Abby Allwood talks about the significance of the Pilbara region (2.8 MB). Transcript.

• Abby Allwood shows some of the evidence for early life in the Pilbara. QuickTime movie (3.1 MB), wmv file (2.4 MB). Transcript.

• Abby Allwood discusses the stratigraphy of the Strelley Pool Chert (14 MB). Transcript

• Abby Allwood describes the Trendall locality (5.5 MB). Transcript

• Abby Allwood talks about the focus of her research (10.8 MB). Transcript

• Abby Allwood defines a stromatolite (0.7 MB). Transcript.

• Abby Allwood talks about how a stromatolite is a result of biological and non-biological processes (3.1 MB). Transcript.

• Abby Allwood discusses the difficulties of an abiological explanation for the stromatolites (8.3 MB). Transcript

• Abby Allwood talks about the difference between belief and proof in science (2.0 MB). Transcript.

• Abby Allwood describes an Archaean Earth (2.7 MB). Transcript

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk briefs field trip participants prior to travelling to Marble Bar about the need to carry water (3.5 MB) (Transcript) and the dangers of animals on the road. (6.3 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the geology of the North Pole Dome. (30.8 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk describes the geology of the North Pole Dome as seen from the vehicle (7.0 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses how the Marble Bar area was formed over three billion years ago (6.9 MB) (Transcript) and about how that environment has been preserved through time. (2.7 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk introduces field trip participants to some of the geological processes that formed the Marble Bar area. (4.9 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the colour of the basalt (3.3 MB) (Transcript) at Marble Bar.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the formation of the Marble Bar chert. (22.0 MB) (Transcript)

• Professor Paul Knauth presents an alternative hypothesis for the formation of the Marble Bar chert. (40.3 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk explains how the rocks are dated. (2.2 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses felsic and mafic rock. (14.3 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk explains why the hills in the area have flat tops. (6.9 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk talks about the ore deposits (2.4 MB) (Transcript) near Marble Bar.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the formation of pillow basalts. (29.8 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the history of the Schopf locality. (24.4 MB) (Transcript)

• Professor Malcolm Walter discusses the significance of the Schopf locality. (7.2 MB) (Transcript)

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the context of the Trendall locality within the Strelley Pool Chert (82.5 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk discusses the evidence for an ancient environment (2.7 MB) at the Dresser formation. Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk compares the geology of the Dresser formation (6.4 MB) with Yellowstone. Transcript.

• Martin Van Kranendonk compares stromatolites at the Dresser formation (5.3 MB) with Shark Bay. Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk examines stromatolites on top of ripple marks (21.2 MB) at the Dresser formation. Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk talks about exporting fossils (1.4 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk compares ripple marks at the Dresser formation (4.6 MB) with Shark Bay. Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk describes the context of the backside ridge at the Dresser formation. (14.8 MB) Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk describes evidence of hydrothermal activity (8.2 MB) at the Dresser formation. Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk describes hydrothermal veins (3.4 MB) at the Dresser formation. Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk introduces field trip participants to the Dresser formation (14.3 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk describes stromatolites at the Dresser formation (12.4 MB). Transcript.

• Dr Martin Van Kranendonk describes a domical structure (7.9 MB) at the Dresser formation. Transcript.

• Dr Craig Marshall discusses sampling in the Pilbara. (2.3 MB) Transcript.

• Adrian Brown discusses the question of how easy is it for life to start (7.0 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown talks about the geology of the early Earth (5.2 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown talks about the need for biology and geology (8.4 MB) to work together to investigate stromatolites in the Pilbara. Transcript.

• Adrian Brown talks about why he studies science (9.7 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown talks about why science is fun (6.0 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown discusses the relevance of Shark Bay to ancient Earth (19.3 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown discusses the mark.mov significance of ripple marks in Shark Bay (2.0 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown and Stefan Leuko discuss the microbial mats in Shark Bay (3.7 MB). Transcript.

• Adrian Brown and Stefan Leuko discuss the mushroom shaped stromatolites in Shark Bay (1.8 MB). Transcript.

• Stefan Leuko looks at a mushroom stromatolite in Shark Bay (4.3 MB). Transcript.

• Stefan Leuko discusses the purpose of his stromatolite study in Shark Bay (3.6 MB). Transcript.

• Stefan Leuko looks at a pustular mat in Shark Bay (4.6 MB). Transcript.

• Stefan Leuko samples a pustular mat (12.1 MB) in Shark Bay. Transcript.

• Stefan Leuko samples a smooth mat (6.0 MB) in Shark Bay. Transcript.

• Stefan Leuko discusses the results of sample testing (9.8 MB) at Shark Bay in a follow-up interview recorded in May 2006. Transcript.

• Ross Mack gives an overview of Shark Bay (11.5 MB). Transcript.

• A virtual visit to Hamelin Pool (8.3 MB)

• Seth Shostak places the Pilbara in the context of the formation of the universe (22.6 MB). Transcript.

Demonstration of Virtual Field Trip tools

These video clips were recorded at the Macquarie ICT Innovations Centre in 2006 when Carol Oliver, from the Australian Centre for Astrobiology, demonstrated the tools for high school students.

• Introduction to the virtual field trip project (48.8 MB) Transcript

• Demonstration of World Wind (18.8 MB) Transcript

• Demonstration of the Virtual Field Trip (13.5 MB) Transcript

• Demonstration of What's the Difference? (12.7 MB) Transcript

• Demonstration of Virtual Lab (16.5 MB) Transcript

Contents

Introduction

Context

• Planetary Science and Origins

Early Life

• Abby's Reef
  • Reef FAQ

Evidence

• Localities
  • Trendall Locality
  • Dresser Formation
  • Schopf Locality
  • Shark Bay
• Geology
  • Maps
  • Stratigraphy
  • Sedimentology
    • Normal marine environment
    • Hydrothermal vent systems
  • Geochemical evidence
    • Isotopic
    • Biomarkers
  • Stromatolites
  • Microfossils
  • Tree of Life
    • Archaea
    • Cyanobacteria
    • DNA
    • 16S rRNA

Acknowledgements