Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms
Lichen-dominated cryptoendolithic communities from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica have been the subject of much research over recent years owing to their potential as analogues of Martian life forms. Their ability to mobilize iron compounds and organize themselves into distinct coloured biotic zones...
Published in: | International Journal of Astrobiology |
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ftopenunivgb:oai:oro.open.ac.uk:8051 2024-06-23T07:47:17+00:00 Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms Blackhurst, Rebecca L. Jarvis, Kym Grady, Monica M. 2004-04 application/pdf https://oro.open.ac.uk/8051/ https://oro.open.ac.uk/8051/1/Biologically%E2%80%93induced_elemental_variations_in_Antarctic_sandstones_-_a_potential_test_for_Martian_micro-organisms.pdf en eng https://oro.open.ac.uk/8051/1/Biologically%E2%80%93induced_elemental_variations_in_Antarctic_sandstones_-_a_potential_test_for_Martian_micro-organisms.pdf Blackhurst, Rebecca L.; Jarvis, Kym and Grady, Monica M. <https://oro.open.ac.uk/view/person/mmg67.html> (2004). Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms. International Journal of Astrobiology, 3(2) pp. 97–106. Journal Item PeerReviewed 2004 ftopenunivgb 2024-06-05T00:38:46Z Lichen-dominated cryptoendolithic communities from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica have been the subject of much research over recent years owing to their potential as analogues of Martian life forms. Their ability to mobilize iron compounds and organize themselves into distinct coloured biotic zones suggests that they may alter the chemistry of their host rock. By conducting a major, minor and trace element study utilizing inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques, we have been investigating the relationship between the microbes and the chemistry of the sandstones. Different layers within a suite of sandstones collected from six localities in the Dry Valleys have been analysed to establish if or how the microbes influence or directly affect the chemical composition of the rocks. Background petrographic studies have shown significant differences in mineralogical maturity between rocks colonized by the communities and those that are not, and the chemistry results have shown significant elemental disparity between colonized and uncolonized rocks. By obtaining accurate percentages of the minerals present in each sample the differences in elemental concentrations could be construed to be caused by the differences in mineralogy between samples. The nature and extent of the concentration differences has led to the conclusion that either the cryptoendolith communities are able to alter their host rock by the solubilization and mobilization of elements that are then subsequently removed or that the organisms are simple opportunists that can only successfully colonize rocks that provide the ideal substrate, being mineralogically mature with ample pore space and less concentrated in the elements tested for. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica The Open University: Open Research Online (ORO) Antarctic International Journal of Astrobiology 3 2 97 106 |
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The Open University: Open Research Online (ORO) |
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ftopenunivgb |
language |
English |
description |
Lichen-dominated cryptoendolithic communities from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica have been the subject of much research over recent years owing to their potential as analogues of Martian life forms. Their ability to mobilize iron compounds and organize themselves into distinct coloured biotic zones suggests that they may alter the chemistry of their host rock. By conducting a major, minor and trace element study utilizing inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques, we have been investigating the relationship between the microbes and the chemistry of the sandstones. Different layers within a suite of sandstones collected from six localities in the Dry Valleys have been analysed to establish if or how the microbes influence or directly affect the chemical composition of the rocks. Background petrographic studies have shown significant differences in mineralogical maturity between rocks colonized by the communities and those that are not, and the chemistry results have shown significant elemental disparity between colonized and uncolonized rocks. By obtaining accurate percentages of the minerals present in each sample the differences in elemental concentrations could be construed to be caused by the differences in mineralogy between samples. The nature and extent of the concentration differences has led to the conclusion that either the cryptoendolith communities are able to alter their host rock by the solubilization and mobilization of elements that are then subsequently removed or that the organisms are simple opportunists that can only successfully colonize rocks that provide the ideal substrate, being mineralogically mature with ample pore space and less concentrated in the elements tested for. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Blackhurst, Rebecca L. Jarvis, Kym Grady, Monica M. |
spellingShingle |
Blackhurst, Rebecca L. Jarvis, Kym Grady, Monica M. Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms |
author_facet |
Blackhurst, Rebecca L. Jarvis, Kym Grady, Monica M. |
author_sort |
Blackhurst, Rebecca L. |
title |
Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms |
title_short |
Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms |
title_full |
Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms |
title_fullStr |
Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms |
title_sort |
biologically–induced elemental variations in antarctic sandstones: a potential test for martian micro-organisms |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
https://oro.open.ac.uk/8051/ https://oro.open.ac.uk/8051/1/Biologically%E2%80%93induced_elemental_variations_in_Antarctic_sandstones_-_a_potential_test_for_Martian_micro-organisms.pdf |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
op_relation |
https://oro.open.ac.uk/8051/1/Biologically%E2%80%93induced_elemental_variations_in_Antarctic_sandstones_-_a_potential_test_for_Martian_micro-organisms.pdf Blackhurst, Rebecca L.; Jarvis, Kym and Grady, Monica M. <https://oro.open.ac.uk/view/person/mmg67.html> (2004). Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms. International Journal of Astrobiology, 3(2) pp. 97–106. |
container_title |
International Journal of Astrobiology |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
97 |
op_container_end_page |
106 |
_version_ |
1802651380256604160 |