(Table 1) Chemistry of low-mineralized structures from ODP Sample 158-957M-1R-2,10-12

Scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analysis have been used to examine microstructures recovered from a hydrothermal mound at the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse. Our analyses of hydrothermally precipitated Fe-rich cherts shows strong evidence for silicified microorganisms at depths of less than...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Al-Hanbali, Hakam, Sowerby, Stephen J, Holm, Nils G
Format: Dataset
Language:English
Published: PANGAEA 2001
Subjects:
158-957M
Calculated
Carbon
total
DEPTH
sediment/rock
DRILL
Drilling/drill rig
Electron microprobe (EMP)
Iron
Joides Resolution
Leg158
Nitrogen
Nitrogen/Carbon ratio
North Atlantic Ocean
Ocean Drilling Program
ODP
Oxygen
gas
Phosphorus
Silicon
Sulfur
Sulfur/Iron ratio
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.710994
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.710994
Description
Summary:Scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analysis have been used to examine microstructures recovered from a hydrothermal mound at the Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse. Our analyses of hydrothermally precipitated Fe-rich cherts shows strong evidence for silicified microorganisms at depths of less than 1 m. The criteria for biogenicity are morphological similarities to living bacteria and an elevated carbon and nitrogen content with an N/C ratio consistent with marine microbes. The absence of calcium means they can not be confused with abiological carbonate or sulfate artifacts. As a modern analog of Archean hydrothermal sites, our results are informative about the mode of microbial preservation, and because of the shallow extraction and proximity to distinctive topographical features, investigation of hydrothermal sites should optimize future explorations for detecting past or present life on the surface of Earth and other planets.

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