Magnesium silicate chimneys at the Strytan hydrothermal field, Iceland, as analogues for prebiotic chemistry at alkaline submarine hydrothermal vents on the early Earth ...

Abstract The Strytan Hydrothermal Field (SHF) in basaltic terrain in Iceland is one of the extant alkaline submarine hydrothermal vent systems favoured as analogues for where life on Earth may have begun. To test this hypothesis we analyse the composition, structure, and mineralogy of samples from h...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gutiérrez-Ariza, Carlos, Barge, Laura M., Ding, Yang, Cardoso, Silvana S. S., McGlynn, Shawn Erin, Nakamura, Ryuhei, Giovanelli, Donato, Price, Roy, Lee, Hye Eun, Huertas, F. Javier, Sainz-Díaz, C. Ignacio, Cartwright, Julyan H. E.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: figshare 2024
Subjects:
Biophysics
Biochemistry
Physiology
FOS: Biological sciences
Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Ecology
Astronomical and Space Sciences not elsewhere classified
Inorganic Chemistry
FOS: Chemical sciences
Mental Health
The Chimney
Iceland
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7099414.v1
https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Magnesium_silicate_chimneys_at_the_Strytan_hydrothermal_field_Iceland_as_analogues_for_prebiotic_chemistry_at_alkaline_submarine_hydrothermal_vents_on_the_early_Earth/7099414/1
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Summary:Abstract The Strytan Hydrothermal Field (SHF) in basaltic terrain in Iceland is one of the extant alkaline submarine hydrothermal vent systems favoured as analogues for where life on Earth may have begun. To test this hypothesis we analyse the composition, structure, and mineralogy of samples from hydrothermal chimneys generated at the SHF. We find that the chimney precipitates are composed of Mg-silicates including clays of the saponite-stevensite group (high Mg and Si, low Fe and Al), Ca-carbonates and Ca-sulfates. The chimneys comprise permeable structures with pores sizes down to 1 µm or less. Their complex interiors as observed with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and X-ray CT (computed tomography scanning), exhibit high internal surface areas. EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analysis reveals an increase in the Mg/Si ratio toward the chimney exteriors. Chemical garden analogue experiments produce similar Mg–silicate chimneys with porous internal structures, indicating that ...

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