After reading the paper I must say I have my doubts. The structures he found do resemble the organisms he mentions. But I could also see potential ways for them to arise abiotically and I don’t believe he has done enough to rule them out.

I am not even remotely an expert in analyzing electron microscope images. Most of my microscope time is in darkfield transmitted light on the absolutely fantastic Leitz Orthoplan microscope.

With that said though, I can’t help but imagine ways for these structures to have arisen through chemical processes. The structures resembling sheathed trichomes also resemble extrusions - the shape of the orifice determining the size of the extrusion and the presence or absence of longitudinal striations. The slight increase in size nearest the substrate reinforcing that impression. The transverse striations could be interpreted as biological structures or as cracks arising from forces perpendicular to the extrusion.

The most compelling images are 4a and 5a. I can’t quite imagine an extrusion process, or other chemical process, that would generate those structures. Though it might be a failure of imagination/knowledge on my part. However, If these images do represent fossilized life then I put forth that the author failed to mention the spherical structures in 3a,b that superficially resemble cocci bacteria.

Quite interesting. Wait for a consensus before deciding if this is true or not. There will be a lot of followup investigation of such a controversial claim. It could take years. But meanwhile, it could be fun discussing if we think this is a real finding and what the implications would be if true.