Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars
Hydrothermal gypsum deposits in the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canada, contain microbial communities in an endolithic habitat within individual gypsum crystals. Cyanobacterial colonies occur as masses along cleavage planes, up to 5 cm from crystal margins. The crystals are transparent,...
Published in: | International Journal of Astrobiology |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550404001995 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550404001995 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s1473550404001995 2024-04-07T07:52:05+00:00 Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars Parnell, J. Lee, P. Cockell, C.S. Osinski, G.R. 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550404001995 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550404001995 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms International Journal of Astrobiology volume 3, issue 3, page 247-256 ISSN 1473-5504 1475-3006 Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Space and Planetary Science Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2004 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550404001995 2024-03-08T00:35:50Z Hydrothermal gypsum deposits in the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canada, contain microbial communities in an endolithic habitat within individual gypsum crystals. Cyanobacterial colonies occur as masses along cleavage planes, up to 5 cm from crystal margins. The crystals are transparent, so allow transmission of light for photosynthesis, while affording protection from dehydration and wind. The colonies appear to have modified their mineral host to provide additional space as they expanded. The colonies are black due to UV-screening pigments. The relative ease with which microbial colonization may be detected and identified in impact-generated sulphate deposits at Haughton suggests that analogous settings on other planets might merit future searches for biosignatures. The proven occurrence of sulphates on the Martian surface suggests that sulphate minerals should be a priority target in the search for life on Mars. Article in Journal/Newspaper Devon Island Cambridge University Press Canada Devon Island ENVELOPE(-88.000,-88.000,75.252,75.252) International Journal of Astrobiology 3 3 247 256 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Space and Planetary Science Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Space and Planetary Science Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Parnell, J. Lee, P. Cockell, C.S. Osinski, G.R. Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars |
topic_facet |
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Space and Planetary Science Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Hydrothermal gypsum deposits in the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canada, contain microbial communities in an endolithic habitat within individual gypsum crystals. Cyanobacterial colonies occur as masses along cleavage planes, up to 5 cm from crystal margins. The crystals are transparent, so allow transmission of light for photosynthesis, while affording protection from dehydration and wind. The colonies appear to have modified their mineral host to provide additional space as they expanded. The colonies are black due to UV-screening pigments. The relative ease with which microbial colonization may be detected and identified in impact-generated sulphate deposits at Haughton suggests that analogous settings on other planets might merit future searches for biosignatures. The proven occurrence of sulphates on the Martian surface suggests that sulphate minerals should be a priority target in the search for life on Mars. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Parnell, J. Lee, P. Cockell, C.S. Osinski, G.R. |
author_facet |
Parnell, J. Lee, P. Cockell, C.S. Osinski, G.R. |
author_sort |
Parnell, J. |
title |
Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars |
title_short |
Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars |
title_full |
Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars |
title_fullStr |
Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
Microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, Haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on Mars |
title_sort |
microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal sulphate deposits, haughton impact structure, and implications for sulphates on mars |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550404001995 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550404001995 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-88.000,-88.000,75.252,75.252) |
geographic |
Canada Devon Island |
geographic_facet |
Canada Devon Island |
genre |
Devon Island |
genre_facet |
Devon Island |
op_source |
International Journal of Astrobiology volume 3, issue 3, page 247-256 ISSN 1473-5504 1475-3006 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550404001995 |
container_title |
International Journal of Astrobiology |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
247 |
op_container_end_page |
256 |
_version_ |
1795667279024750592 |