Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life
Identifying microbial fossils in the rock record is a difficult task because they are often simple in morphology and can be mimicked by non-biological structures. Biosignatures are essential for identifying putative fossils as being definitively biological in origin, but are often lacking due to geo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/2/142 |
| _version_ | 1797396603895545856 |
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| author | Andrew Gangidine Malcolm R. Walter Jeff R. Havig Clive Jones Daniel M. Sturmer Andrew D. Czaja |
| author_facet | Andrew Gangidine Malcolm R. Walter Jeff R. Havig Clive Jones Daniel M. Sturmer Andrew D. Czaja |
| author_sort | Andrew Gangidine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Identifying microbial fossils in the rock record is a difficult task because they are often simple in morphology and can be mimicked by non-biological structures. Biosignatures are essential for identifying putative fossils as being definitively biological in origin, but are often lacking due to geologic effects which can obscure or erase such signs. As such, there is a need for robust biosignature identification techniques. Here we show new evidence for the application of trace elements as biosignatures in microfossils. We found elevated concentrations of magnesium, aluminum, manganese, iron, and strontium colocalized with carbon and sulfur in microfossils from Drummond Basin, a mid-Paleozoic hot spring deposit in Australia. Our results also suggest that trace element sequestrations from modern hot spring deposits persist through substantial host rock alteration. Because some of the oldest fossils on Earth are found in hot spring deposits and ancient hot spring deposits are also thought to occur on Mars, this biosignature technique may be utilized as a valuable tool to aid in the search for extraterrestrial life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:53:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac93d7958fe143d391d69795227d69e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:53:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac93d7958fe143d391d69795227d69e82023-12-11T17:01:00ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-02-0111214210.3390/life11020142Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for LifeAndrew Gangidine0Malcolm R. Walter1Jeff R. Havig2Clive Jones3Daniel M. Sturmer4Andrew D. Czaja5Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USASchool of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2033, AustraliaDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USADepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63105, USADepartment of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USADepartment of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USAIdentifying microbial fossils in the rock record is a difficult task because they are often simple in morphology and can be mimicked by non-biological structures. Biosignatures are essential for identifying putative fossils as being definitively biological in origin, but are often lacking due to geologic effects which can obscure or erase such signs. As such, there is a need for robust biosignature identification techniques. Here we show new evidence for the application of trace elements as biosignatures in microfossils. We found elevated concentrations of magnesium, aluminum, manganese, iron, and strontium colocalized with carbon and sulfur in microfossils from Drummond Basin, a mid-Paleozoic hot spring deposit in Australia. Our results also suggest that trace element sequestrations from modern hot spring deposits persist through substantial host rock alteration. Because some of the oldest fossils on Earth are found in hot spring deposits and ancient hot spring deposits are also thought to occur on Mars, this biosignature technique may be utilized as a valuable tool to aid in the search for extraterrestrial life.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/2/142biosignaturesbiogeochemistrytrace elementsmicrofossilshot springs |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Gangidine Malcolm R. Walter Jeff R. Havig Clive Jones Daniel M. Sturmer Andrew D. Czaja Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life Life biosignatures biogeochemistry trace elements microfossils hot springs |
| title | Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life |
| title_full | Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life |
| title_fullStr | Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life |
| title_short | Trace Element Concentrations Associated with Mid-Paleozoic Microfossils as Biosignatures to Aid in the Search for Life |
| title_sort | trace element concentrations associated with mid paleozoic microfossils as biosignatures to aid in the search for life |
| topic | biosignatures biogeochemistry trace elements microfossils hot springs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/2/142 |
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