A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial - marine environment
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...
Published in: | International Journal of Astrobiology |
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Cambridge University Press
2009
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18254/ |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:18254 2023-05-15T13:45:12+02:00 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://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18254/ unknown Cambridge University Press Cousins, Claire R.; Smellie, John L.; Jones, Adrian P.; Crawford, Ian A. 2009 A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial - marine environment. International Journal of Astrobiology, 8. 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550408004369 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550408004369> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550408004369 2023-02-04T19:31:38Z 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 Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive International Journal of Astrobiology 8 1 37 49 |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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ftnerc |
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description |
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. |
spellingShingle |
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 |
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 |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18254/ |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_relation |
Cousins, Claire R.; Smellie, John L.; Jones, Adrian P.; Crawford, Ian A. 2009 A comparative study of endolithic microborings in basaltic lavas from a transitional subglacial - marine environment. International Journal of Astrobiology, 8. 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550408004369 <https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550408004369> |
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_ |
1766216609752416256 |