analysis of thin sections of "arumberia" show remarkable resistance to compaction, which may have been due to the presence of a pyrite sole-veneer. the diagenetic oxidation of pyrite to hematite can remove all traces of the pyrite sole-veneer, so it is difficult to determine the true influence of pyritization on burial compaction in "arumberia". alternatively, the remarkable resistance to burial compaction may be due to the presence of a resistant biopolymer like chitin which is typical in marine and terrestrial lichens alike exactly how the fossils are preserved remains controversial, and more research into the taphonomy of arumberia and other ediacarans is needed.