Scientists discover unexpected wrinkle patterns indicating ancient life in Morocco seafloor rocks

Scientists have discovered unexpected wrinkle patterns preserved in ancient seafloor rocks in Morocco that may indicate microbial life from 180 million years ago. Researchers exploring turbidite deposits in the Dadès Valley found the structures on top of ripple marks in rocks formed at least 180 meters below the ocean surface. Wrinkle structures are typically linked to microbial mats in shallow, sunlit waters, but the team concluded chemosynthetic microbes created these features in darkness. The findings come from a study published in the journal Geology. Dr. Rowan Martindale of The University of Texas at Austin led the work with colleagues including Stéphane Bodin of Aarhus University. According to the Geological Society of America, the discovery suggests deep-ocean microbial ecosystems may have been more widespread than previously thought. The research appears in ScienceDaily on June 26, 2026.