Parnell, J., McMahon, S. and Boyce, A. (2018) Demonstrating deep biosphere activity in the geological record of lake sediments, on Earth and Mars. International Journal of Astrobiology, 17(4), pp. 380-385. (doi: 10.1017/S1473550417000337)
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Abstract
The investigation of Gale Crater has highlighted the occurrence of lake sediments in the geological record of Mars. Lacustrine basins include a diversity of potential habitats for life. An analogue terrestrial lacustrine basin of Devonian age in Scotland contains sulphide minerals in several settings where subsurface microbial colonization can be envisaged. Sulphur isotope compositions for the sulphides imply that they were precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. The data suggest that the search for life in martian lacustrine basins should include investigation of potential subsurface habitats, and that any sulphides in martian lacustrine basins could be useful indicators in the search for life.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | SM was funded by an STFC Aurora studentship (grant ST/1506102/1) and by the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NNA13AA90A Foundations of Complex Life). AJB is funded by NERC support of the Isotope Community Support Facility at SUERC. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Boyce, Professor Adrian |
| Authors: | Parnell, J., McMahon, S., and Boyce, A. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre |
| Journal Name: | International Journal of Astrobiology |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
| ISSN: | 1473-5504 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1475-3006 |
| Published Online: | 02 October 2017 |
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