Acid saline lake systems give clues about past environments and the search for life on Mars

Benison, Kathleen C.; Bowen, Brenda B.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2006.02.018

Cited by 93 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Modern and Permian acid saline lakes and associated environments on Earth, including Lake Magic, are analogues for Mars sedimentary deposits (Benison and LaClair, 2003;Benison, 2006;Benison and Bowen, 2006). Mineralogy and chemistry, sedimentary textures and sedimentary structures, and early diagenetic features on Mars are consistent with those throughout southern Western Australia.…”

Section: Implications For Life On Marsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Acidophilic Halophilic Microorganisms in Fluid Inclusions in Halite from Lake Magic, Western Australia

Conner

Benison

2013

Astrobiology

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Lake Magic is one of the most extreme of hundreds of ephemeral acid-saline lakes in southern Western Australia. It has pH as low as 1.7, salinity as high as 32% total dissolved solids, temperatures ranging from 0°C to 50°C, and an unusually complex aqueous composition. Optical petrography, UV-vis petrography, and laser Raman spectrometry were used to detect microorganisms and organic compounds within primary fluid inclusions in modern bedded halite from Lake Magic. Rare prokaryotes appear as 1-3 lm, bright cocci that fluoresce green with UV-vis illumination. Dimpled, 5-7 lm yellow spherules that fluoresce blue with UV-vis illumination are interpreted as Dunaliella algae. Yellow-orange beta-carotene crystals, globules, and coatings are characterized by orange-red fluorescence and three distinct Raman peaks. Because acid saline lakes are good Mars analogues, the documentation of prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and organic compounds preserved in the halite here has implications for the search for life on Mars. Missions to Mars should incorporate such in situ optical and chemical examination of martian evaporites for possible microorganisms and/or organic compounds in fluid inclusions.

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Section: Implications For Life On Marsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Acidophilic Halophilic Microorganisms in Fluid Inclusions in Halite from Lake Magic, Western Australia

Conner

Benison

2013

Astrobiology

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“…A direct precipitation of the Fe-minerals hematite and also goethite at our two field sites is possible 351 (Benison and Bowen, 2006). In particular during evaporation and desiccation salts such as halide, 352 but also hematite and goethite are known to precipitate from lake waters and can form small mm-353 and cm-sized patches of e.g.…”

Section: ) or Against An Alkaline Backdrop In The African Rift Vamentioning

confidence: 88%

Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Western Australian Salt Lake Sediments: Implications for Meridiani Planum on Mars

et al. 2016

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21Hypersaline lakes are characteristic for Western Australia and display a rare combination of 22 geochemical and mineralogical properties which make these lakes potential analogues for past 23 conditions on Mars. In our study we focused on the geochemistry and mineralogy of Lake Orr and 24 Lake Whurr. While both lakes are poor in organic carbon (<1%) the sediments' pH values differ 25 and range from 3.8 to 4.8 in Lake Orr and from 5.4 to 6.3 in Lake Whurr sediments. Lake Whurr 26 sediments were dominated by orange and red sediment zones in which the main Fe minerals were 27 identified as hematite, goethite, and tentatively jarosite and pyrite. Lake Orr was dominated by 28 brownish and blackish sediments where the main Fe minerals were goethite and another 29 paramagnetic Fe(III)-phase that could not be identified. Furthermore, a likely secondary Fe(II)-30 phase was observed in Lake Orr sediments. The mineralogy of these two salt lakes in the sampling 31 area is strongly influenced by events such as flooding, evaporation and desiccation, processes 32 that explain at least to some extent the observed differences between Lake Orr and Lake Whurr. 33The iron mineralogy of Lake Whurr sediments and the high salinity make this lake a suitable 34 analogue for Meridiani Planum on Mars and in particular the tentative identification of pyrite in 35 Lake Whurr sediments has implications for the interpretation of the Fe mineralogy of Meridiani 36 Planum sediments. 37 38

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“…the GANOVEXexpedition). Acid-Saline Lakes of Western Australia The acid-saline lakes of the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia were considered to have the most similar bulk physical and mineralogical content to the Meridiani Planum on Mars (Grotzinger et al 2005, Benison and Bowen 2006, Bowen et al 2008). In addition, microorganisms were found in the surface of the acid-saline lakes (Hong et al 2006;Mormile et al 2007Mormile et al , 2009).…”

Section: Planetary Field Analogues Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

et al. 2017

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Scientists use the Earth as a tool for astrobiology by analyzing planetary field analogues (i.e. terrestrial samples and field sites that resemble planetary bodies in our Solar System). In addition, they expose the selected planetary field analogues in simulation chambers to conditions that mimic the ones of planets, moons and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space conditions, as well as the chemistry occurring in interstellar and cometary ices. This paper reviews the ways the Earth is used by astrobiologists: (i) by conducting planetary field analogue studies to investigate extant life from extreme environments, its metabolisms, adaptation strategies and modern biosignatures; (ii) by conducting planetary field analogue studies to investigate extinct life from the oldest rocks on our planet and its biosignatures; (iii) by exposing terrestrial samples to simulated space or planetary environments and producing a sample analogue to investigate changes in minerals, biosignatures and microorganisms. The European Space Agency (ESA) created a topical team in 2011 to investigate recent activities using the Earth as a tool for astrobiology and to formulate recommendations and scientific needs to improve ground-based astrobiological research. Space is an important tool for astrobiology (see Horneck et al. in Astrobiology, 16:201-243, 2016;Cottin et al., 2017), but access to space is limited. Complementing research on Earth provides fast access, more replications and higher sample throughput. The major conclusions of the topical team and suggestions for the future include more scientifically qualified calls for field campaigns with planetary analogy, and a centralized point of contact at ESA or the EU for the organization of a survey of such expeditions. An improvement of the coordinated logistics, infrastructures and funding system supporting the combination of field work with planetary simulation investigations, as well as an optimization of the scientific return and data processing, data storage and data distribution is also needed. Finally, a coordinated EU or ESA education and outreach program would improve the participation of the public in the astrobiological activities.

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Acid saline lake systems give clues about past environments and the search for life on Mars

Cited by 93 publications

References 21 publications

Acidophilic Halophilic Microorganisms in Fluid Inclusions in Halite from Lake Magic, Western Australia

Acidophilic Halophilic Microorganisms in Fluid Inclusions in Halite from Lake Magic, Western Australia

Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Western Australian Salt Lake Sediments: Implications for Meridiani Planum on Mars

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

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