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

• 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

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 ...