Demonstrating deep biosphere activity in the geological record of lake sediments, on Earth and Mars

John Parnell; Sean McMahon; Adrian Boyce

doi:10.1017/S1473550417000337

Demonstrating deep biosphere activity in the geological record of lake sediments, on Earth and Mars

John Parnell^*, Sean McMahon, Adrian Boyce

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

The investigation of Gale Crater has highlighted the occurrence of lake sediments in the geological record of Mars. Lacustrine basins include a diversity of potential habitats for life. An analogue terrestrial lacustrine basin of Devonian age in Scotland contains sulphide minerals in several settings where subsurface microbial colonization can be envisaged. Sulphur isotope compositions for the sulphides imply that they were precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. The data suggest that the search for life in martian lacustrine basins should include investigation of potential subsurface habitats, and that any sulphides in martian lacustrine basins could be useful indicators in the search for life.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	380-385
Number of pages	6
Journal	International Journal of Astrobiology
Volume	17
Issue number	4
Early online date	2 Oct 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550417000337
Publication status	Published - Oct 2018

Keywords

deep biosphere
gale crater
lake sediments
Mars
Orcadian Basin
Scotland
sulphur isotopes

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This article has been published in a revised form in International Journal of Astrobiology, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550417000337. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © Cambridge University Press 2017
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Cite this

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title = "Demonstrating deep biosphere activity in the geological record of lake sediments, on Earth and Mars",

abstract = "The investigation of Gale Crater has highlighted the occurrence of lake sediments in the geological record of Mars. Lacustrine basins include a diversity of potential habitats for life. An analogue terrestrial lacustrine basin of Devonian age in Scotland contains sulphide minerals in several settings where subsurface microbial colonization can be envisaged. Sulphur isotope compositions for the sulphides imply that they were precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. The data suggest that the search for life in martian lacustrine basins should include investigation of potential subsurface habitats, and that any sulphides in martian lacustrine basins could be useful indicators in the search for life.",

keywords = "deep biosphere, gale crater, lake sediments, Mars, Orcadian Basin, Scotland, sulphur isotopes",

author = "John Parnell and Sean McMahon and Adrian Boyce",

note = "Acknowledgements. The sample of gypsum was kindly provided by John Marshall, University of Southampton. SM was funded by an STFC Aurora studentship (grant ST/1506102/1) and by the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NNA13AA90A Foundations of Complex Life). AJB is funded by NERC support of the Isotope Community Support Facility at SUERC.",

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AU - Parnell, John

AU - McMahon, Sean

AU - Boyce, Adrian

N1 - Acknowledgements. The sample of gypsum was kindly provided by John Marshall, University of Southampton. SM was funded by an STFC Aurora studentship (grant ST/1506102/1) and by the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NNA13AA90A Foundations of Complex Life). AJB is funded by NERC support of the Isotope Community Support Facility at SUERC.

PY - 2018/10

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N2 - The investigation of Gale Crater has highlighted the occurrence of lake sediments in the geological record of Mars. Lacustrine basins include a diversity of potential habitats for life. An analogue terrestrial lacustrine basin of Devonian age in Scotland contains sulphide minerals in several settings where subsurface microbial colonization can be envisaged. Sulphur isotope compositions for the sulphides imply that they were precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. The data suggest that the search for life in martian lacustrine basins should include investigation of potential subsurface habitats, and that any sulphides in martian lacustrine basins could be useful indicators in the search for life.

AB - The investigation of Gale Crater has highlighted the occurrence of lake sediments in the geological record of Mars. Lacustrine basins include a diversity of potential habitats for life. An analogue terrestrial lacustrine basin of Devonian age in Scotland contains sulphide minerals in several settings where subsurface microbial colonization can be envisaged. Sulphur isotope compositions for the sulphides imply that they were precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. The data suggest that the search for life in martian lacustrine basins should include investigation of potential subsurface habitats, and that any sulphides in martian lacustrine basins could be useful indicators in the search for life.

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KW - gale crater

KW - lake sediments

KW - Mars

KW - Orcadian Basin

KW - Scotland

KW - sulphur isotopes

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JO - International Journal of Astrobiology

JF - International Journal of Astrobiology

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ER -

Demonstrating deep biosphere activity in the geological record of lake sediments, on Earth and Mars

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Keywords

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