A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment
Abstract Subglacially erupted Neogene basaltic hyaloclastites in lava-fed deltas in Antarctica were found to contain putative endolithic microborings preserved in fresh glass along hydrous alteration boundaries. The location and existence over the past 6 Ma of these lava deltas has exposed them to s...
Published in: | International Journal of Astrobiology |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2009
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550408004369 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550408004369 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s1473550408004369 2024-04-07T07:47:04+00:00 A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment Cousins, Claire R. Smellie, John L. Jones, Adrian P. Crawford, Ian A. 2009 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550408004369 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550408004369 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms International Journal of Astrobiology volume 8, issue 1, page 37-49 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 2009 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550408004369 2024-03-08T00:34:48Z Abstract Subglacially erupted Neogene basaltic hyaloclastites in lava-fed deltas in Antarctica were found to contain putative endolithic microborings preserved in fresh glass along hydrous alteration boundaries. The location and existence over the past 6 Ma of these lava deltas has exposed them to successive interglacials and subsequent percolation of the hyaloclastite with marine water. A statistical study of the hyaloclastites has found that endolithic microborings are distinctly more abundant within samples that show evidence for marine alteration, compared with those that have remained in a strictly freshwater (glacial) environment. Additionally, correlation between elevation and the abundance of microborings shows endolithic activity to be more prolific within lower elevation samples, where the hyaloclastites were influenced by marine fluids. Our study strongly suggests that endolithic microborings form more readily in marine-influenced, rather than freshwater environments. Indeed, marine fluids may be a necessary precondition for the microbial activity responsible. Thus, we suggest that the chemistry and origin of alteration fluids are controlling factors on the formation of endolithic microborings in basaltic glass. The study also contributes to the understanding of how endolithic microborings could be used as a biosignature on Mars, where basaltic lavas and aqueous alteration are known to have existed in the past. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Cambridge University Press International Journal of Astrobiology 8 1 37 49 |
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Open Polar |
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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 |
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Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Space and Planetary Science Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Cousins, Claire R. Smellie, John L. Jones, Adrian P. Crawford, Ian A. A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
topic_facet |
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Space and Planetary Science Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract Subglacially erupted Neogene basaltic hyaloclastites in lava-fed deltas in Antarctica were found to contain putative endolithic microborings preserved in fresh glass along hydrous alteration boundaries. The location and existence over the past 6 Ma of these lava deltas has exposed them to successive interglacials and subsequent percolation of the hyaloclastite with marine water. A statistical study of the hyaloclastites has found that endolithic microborings are distinctly more abundant within samples that show evidence for marine alteration, compared with those that have remained in a strictly freshwater (glacial) environment. Additionally, correlation between elevation and the abundance of microborings shows endolithic activity to be more prolific within lower elevation samples, where the hyaloclastites were influenced by marine fluids. Our study strongly suggests that endolithic microborings form more readily in marine-influenced, rather than freshwater environments. Indeed, marine fluids may be a necessary precondition for the microbial activity responsible. Thus, we suggest that the chemistry and origin of alteration fluids are controlling factors on the formation of endolithic microborings in basaltic glass. The study also contributes to the understanding of how endolithic microborings could be used as a biosignature on Mars, where basaltic lavas and aqueous alteration are known to have existed in the past. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cousins, Claire R. Smellie, John L. Jones, Adrian P. Crawford, Ian A. |
author_facet |
Cousins, Claire R. Smellie, John L. Jones, Adrian P. Crawford, Ian A. |
author_sort |
Cousins, Claire R. |
title |
A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
title_short |
A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
title_full |
A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
title_fullStr |
A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
title_full_unstemmed |
A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
title_sort |
comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial–marine environment |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1473550408004369 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1473550408004369 |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_source |
International Journal of Astrobiology volume 8, issue 1, page 37-49 ISSN 1473-5504 1475-3006 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550408004369 |
container_title |
International Journal of Astrobiology |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
37 |
op_container_end_page |
49 |
_version_ |
1795671336839806976 |