Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California

Autores
Kraus, Emily A.; Beeler, Scott R.; Mors, Rodolfo Agustín; Floyd, James G.; Stamps, Blake W.; Nunn, Heather S.; Stevenson, Bradley S.; Johnson, Hope A.; Shapiro, Russell S.; Loyd, Sean J.; Spear, John R.; Corsetti, Frank A.
Año de publicación
2018
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Hot spring environments can create physical and chemical gradients favorable for unique microbial life. They can also include authigenic mineral precipitates that may preserve signs of biological activity on Earth and possibly other planets. The abiogenic or biogenic origins of such precipitates can be difficult to discern, therefore a better understanding of mineral formation processes is critical for the accurate interpretation of biosignatures from hot springs. Little Hot Creek (LHC) is a hot spring complex located in the Long Valley Caldera, California, that contains mineral precipitates composed of a carbonate base (largely submerged) topped by amorphous silica (largely emergent). The precipitates occur in close association with microbial mats and biofilms. Geological, geochemical, and microbiological data are consistent with mineral formation via degassing and evaporation rather than direct microbial involvement. However, the microfabric of the silica portion is stromatolitic in nature (i.e., wavy and finely laminated), suggesting that abiogenic mineralization has the potential to preserve textural biosignatures. Although geochemical and petrographic evidence suggests the calcite base was precipitated via abiogenic processes, endolithic microbial communities modified the structure of the calcite crystals, producing a textural biosignature. Our results reveal that even when mineral precipitation is largely abiogenic, the potential to preserve biosignatures in hot spring settings is high. The features found in the LHC structures may provide insight into the biogenicity of ancient Earth and extraterrestrial rocks.
Fil: Kraus, Emily A.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados Unidos
Fil: Beeler, Scott R.. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados Unidos
Fil: Mors, Rodolfo Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina
Fil: Floyd, James G.. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Stamps, Blake W.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados Unidos
Fil: Nunn, Heather S.. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Stevenson, Bradley S.. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Johnson, Hope A.. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Shapiro, Russell S.. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Loyd, Sean J.. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Spear, John R.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados Unidos
Fil: Corsetti, Frank A.. University of Southern California; Estados Unidos
Materia
BIOSIGNATURE
CARBONATE-SILICATE MICROBIALITE
HOT SPRING BIOFILM
MICROBIAL MAT
STROMATOLITE
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/88845
Acceder
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network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, CaliforniaKraus, Emily A.Beeler, Scott R.Mors, Rodolfo AgustínFloyd, James G.Stamps, Blake W.Nunn, Heather S.Stevenson, Bradley S.Johnson, Hope A.Shapiro, Russell S.Loyd, Sean J.Spear, John R.Corsetti, Frank A.BIOSIGNATURECARBONATE-SILICATE MICROBIALITEHOT SPRING BIOFILMMICROBIAL MATSTROMATOLITEhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Hot spring environments can create physical and chemical gradients favorable for unique microbial life. They can also include authigenic mineral precipitates that may preserve signs of biological activity on Earth and possibly other planets. The abiogenic or biogenic origins of such precipitates can be difficult to discern, therefore a better understanding of mineral formation processes is critical for the accurate interpretation of biosignatures from hot springs. Little Hot Creek (LHC) is a hot spring complex located in the Long Valley Caldera, California, that contains mineral precipitates composed of a carbonate base (largely submerged) topped by amorphous silica (largely emergent). The precipitates occur in close association with microbial mats and biofilms. Geological, geochemical, and microbiological data are consistent with mineral formation via degassing and evaporation rather than direct microbial involvement. However, the microfabric of the silica portion is stromatolitic in nature (i.e., wavy and finely laminated), suggesting that abiogenic mineralization has the potential to preserve textural biosignatures. Although geochemical and petrographic evidence suggests the calcite base was precipitated via abiogenic processes, endolithic microbial communities modified the structure of the calcite crystals, producing a textural biosignature. Our results reveal that even when mineral precipitation is largely abiogenic, the potential to preserve biosignatures in hot spring settings is high. The features found in the LHC structures may provide insight into the biogenicity of ancient Earth and extraterrestrial rocks.Fil: Kraus, Emily A.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados UnidosFil: Beeler, Scott R.. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados UnidosFil: Mors, Rodolfo Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Floyd, James G.. Oklahoma State University; Estados UnidosFil: Stamps, Blake W.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados UnidosFil: Nunn, Heather S.. Oklahoma State University; Estados UnidosFil: Stevenson, Bradley S.. Oklahoma State University; Estados UnidosFil: Johnson, Hope A.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Shapiro, Russell S.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Loyd, Sean J.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Spear, John R.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados UnidosFil: Corsetti, Frank A.. University of Southern California; Estados UnidosFrontiers Media S.A.2018-05info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/88845Kraus, Emily A.; Beeler, Scott R.; Mors, Rodolfo Agustín; Floyd, James G.; Stamps, Blake W.; et al.; Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California; Frontiers Media S.A.; Frontiers in Microbiology; 9; MAY; 5-20181664-302XCONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5981138/info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00997info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00997/fullinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-29T09:34:59Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/88845instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-29 09:34:59.531CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
title Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
spellingShingle Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
Kraus, Emily A.
BIOSIGNATURE
CARBONATE-SILICATE MICROBIALITE
HOT SPRING BIOFILM
MICROBIAL MAT
STROMATOLITE
title_short Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
title_full Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
title_fullStr Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
title_full_unstemmed Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
title_sort Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Kraus, Emily A.
Beeler, Scott R.
Mors, Rodolfo Agustín
Floyd, James G.
Stamps, Blake W.
Nunn, Heather S.
Stevenson, Bradley S.
Johnson, Hope A.
Shapiro, Russell S.
Loyd, Sean J.
Spear, John R.
Corsetti, Frank A.
author Kraus, Emily A.
author_facet Kraus, Emily A.
Beeler, Scott R.
Mors, Rodolfo Agustín
Floyd, James G.
Stamps, Blake W.
Nunn, Heather S.
Stevenson, Bradley S.
Johnson, Hope A.
Shapiro, Russell S.
Loyd, Sean J.
Spear, John R.
Corsetti, Frank A.
author_role author
author2 Beeler, Scott R.
Mors, Rodolfo Agustín
Floyd, James G.
Stamps, Blake W.
Nunn, Heather S.
Stevenson, Bradley S.
Johnson, Hope A.
Shapiro, Russell S.
Loyd, Sean J.
Spear, John R.
Corsetti, Frank A.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv BIOSIGNATURE
CARBONATE-SILICATE MICROBIALITE
HOT SPRING BIOFILM
MICROBIAL MAT
STROMATOLITE
topic BIOSIGNATURE
CARBONATE-SILICATE MICROBIALITE
HOT SPRING BIOFILM
MICROBIAL MAT
STROMATOLITE
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Hot spring environments can create physical and chemical gradients favorable for unique microbial life. They can also include authigenic mineral precipitates that may preserve signs of biological activity on Earth and possibly other planets. The abiogenic or biogenic origins of such precipitates can be difficult to discern, therefore a better understanding of mineral formation processes is critical for the accurate interpretation of biosignatures from hot springs. Little Hot Creek (LHC) is a hot spring complex located in the Long Valley Caldera, California, that contains mineral precipitates composed of a carbonate base (largely submerged) topped by amorphous silica (largely emergent). The precipitates occur in close association with microbial mats and biofilms. Geological, geochemical, and microbiological data are consistent with mineral formation via degassing and evaporation rather than direct microbial involvement. However, the microfabric of the silica portion is stromatolitic in nature (i.e., wavy and finely laminated), suggesting that abiogenic mineralization has the potential to preserve textural biosignatures. Although geochemical and petrographic evidence suggests the calcite base was precipitated via abiogenic processes, endolithic microbial communities modified the structure of the calcite crystals, producing a textural biosignature. Our results reveal that even when mineral precipitation is largely abiogenic, the potential to preserve biosignatures in hot spring settings is high. The features found in the LHC structures may provide insight into the biogenicity of ancient Earth and extraterrestrial rocks.
Fil: Kraus, Emily A.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados Unidos
Fil: Beeler, Scott R.. Washington University in St. Louis; Estados Unidos
Fil: Mors, Rodolfo Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina
Fil: Floyd, James G.. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Stamps, Blake W.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados Unidos
Fil: Nunn, Heather S.. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Stevenson, Bradley S.. Oklahoma State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Johnson, Hope A.. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Shapiro, Russell S.. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Loyd, Sean J.. University of California; Estados Unidos
Fil: Spear, John R.. Colorado School Of Mines; Estados Unidos
Fil: Corsetti, Frank A.. University of Southern California; Estados Unidos
description Hot spring environments can create physical and chemical gradients favorable for unique microbial life. They can also include authigenic mineral precipitates that may preserve signs of biological activity on Earth and possibly other planets. The abiogenic or biogenic origins of such precipitates can be difficult to discern, therefore a better understanding of mineral formation processes is critical for the accurate interpretation of biosignatures from hot springs. Little Hot Creek (LHC) is a hot spring complex located in the Long Valley Caldera, California, that contains mineral precipitates composed of a carbonate base (largely submerged) topped by amorphous silica (largely emergent). The precipitates occur in close association with microbial mats and biofilms. Geological, geochemical, and microbiological data are consistent with mineral formation via degassing and evaporation rather than direct microbial involvement. However, the microfabric of the silica portion is stromatolitic in nature (i.e., wavy and finely laminated), suggesting that abiogenic mineralization has the potential to preserve textural biosignatures. Although geochemical and petrographic evidence suggests the calcite base was precipitated via abiogenic processes, endolithic microbial communities modified the structure of the calcite crystals, producing a textural biosignature. Our results reveal that even when mineral precipitation is largely abiogenic, the potential to preserve biosignatures in hot spring settings is high. The features found in the LHC structures may provide insight into the biogenicity of ancient Earth and extraterrestrial rocks.
publishDate 2018
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2018-05
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/88845
Kraus, Emily A.; Beeler, Scott R.; Mors, Rodolfo Agustín; Floyd, James G.; Stamps, Blake W.; et al.; Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California; Frontiers Media S.A.; Frontiers in Microbiology; 9; MAY; 5-2018
1664-302X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/88845
identifier_str_mv Kraus, Emily A.; Beeler, Scott R.; Mors, Rodolfo Agustín; Floyd, James G.; Stamps, Blake W.; et al.; Microscale biosignatures and abiotic mineral authigenesis in Little Hot Creek, California; Frontiers Media S.A.; Frontiers in Microbiology; 9; MAY; 5-2018
1664-302X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5981138/
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00997
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00997/full
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers Media S.A.
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers Media S.A.
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 13.070432

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