Abstract For the first time, a series of long-term taphonomic experiments (1–5 years) has shown iron deposition during the formation of fossils of soft-bodied animals. Based on the set of measurements, it is concluded that the deposition of iron is not a factor of preservation of soft-bodied animal remains, and pyritization itself is a consequence of chemical processes in iron-containing sediments. These reactions are triggered by the decomposition of organic matter and are accompanied by the destruction of minerals and saturation of the liquid medium with dissolved iron. The nonexclusive, common nature of these reactions in the sediments explains the cosmopolitan distribution of pyritized fossils of soft-bodied organisms. Such an explanation is an alternative to the prevailing opinion on pyritization: iron serves as the main preservation agent and pyritization takes place with the participation of sulfate reducers accelerating the deposition of iron on the organic matrix.

中文翻译：

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铁在软体生物化石形成中的作用：长期实验的结果

摘要 一系列长期埋藏学实验（1-5 年）首次表明软体动物化石形成过程中存在铁沉积。根据这组测量结果，得出结论，铁的沉积不是软体动物遗骸保存的因素，而黄铁矿化本身是含铁沉积物中化学过程的结果。这些反应是由有机物分解引发的，并伴随着矿物质的破坏和溶解铁的液体介质饱和。沉积物中这些反应的非排他性、共同性解释了软体生物黄铁矿化化石的世界性分布。这种解释是对黄铁矿化流行观点的替代：