Geochemical Cycles of Bio‐essential Elements on the Early Earth and Their Relationships to Origin of Life

Kakegawa, Takeshi; Noda, Masakazu; Nannri, Hideyuki

doi:10.1111/j.1751-3928.2002.tb00121.x

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…The proportion of the CO 2 depended on the balance between inputs from volcanic emissions and redissolution in the deep ocean and outputs via carbonation of the crust and of the dust thrown up by meteorite impacts (Alt and Teagle, 1999;Nisbet and Sleep, 2001). Transition metals and phosphate contributed by very hot springs remained in solution in this acidulous ocean (Kakegawa et al, 2002). Particularly important is Fe 2+ , some of which was photo-oxidized to insoluble flocs of FeOOH at the ocean's surface (Braterman et al, 1983;Gaffey, 1997;Russell and Hall, 2002).…”

Section: The Volatispherementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Temperatures in modern hydrothermal convective systems, which bottom at an overall water column depth of 4 km or so, tend to peak at ∼400 • C. The fluids in the downdrafts become acidic (pH ∼3) through the release of protons while Mg 2+ is fixed in serpentine and brucite (Janecky and Seyfried, 1983;Douville et al, 2002). These acidic solutions dissolve, transport and exhale the transition metals, some phosphate, H 2 S and H 2 , at black smokers (Table 1) (Von Damm, 1990;Kakegawa et al, 2002).…”

Section: Modern Hydrothermal Systems -How They Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geodynamic and metabolic cycles in the Hadean

2005

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Abstract. High-degree melting of hot dry Hadean mantle at ocean ridges and plumes resulted in a crust about 30 km thick, overlain in places by extensive and thick mafic volcanic plateaus. Continental crust, by contrast, was relatively thin and mostly submarine. At constructive and destructive plate boundaries, and above the many mantle plumes, acidic hydrothermal springs at ∼400 • C contributed Fe and other transition elements as well as P and H 2 to the deep ocean made acidulous by dissolved CO 2 and minor HCl derived from volcanoes. Away from ocean ridges, submarine hydrothermal fluids were cool (≤100 • C), alkaline (pH ∼10), highly reduced and also H 2 -rich. Reaction of solvents in this fluid with those in ocean water was catalyzed in a hydrothermal mound, a natural self-restoring flow reactor and fractionation column developed above the alkaline spring. The mound consisted of brucite, Mg-rich clays, ephemeral carbonates, Fe-Ni sulfide and green rust. Acetate and glycine were the main products, some of which were eluted to the ocean. The rest, along with other organic byproducts were retained and concentrated within Fe-Ni sulfide compartments. These compartments, comprising the natural hydrothermal reactor, consisted partly of greigite (Fe 5 NiS 8 ). It was from reactions between organic modules confined within these inorganic compartments that the first prokaryotic organism evolved. These acetogenic precursors to the bacteria diversified and migrated down the mound and into the ocean floor to inaugurate the "deep biosphere". Once there they were protected from cataclysmic heating events caused by large meteoritic impacts. Geodynamic forces led to the eventual obduction of the deep biosphere into the photic zone where, initially protected by a thin veneer of sediment, the use of solar energy was mastered and photosynthesis emerged. The further evolution to oxygenic photosynthesis was effected as catalytic [Mn,Ca] -bearing molecules that otherwise wouldCorrespondence to: N. T. Arndt (arndt@ujf-grenoble.fr) have been interred in minerals such as ranciéite and hollandite in shallow marine manganiferous sediments, were sequestered and invaginated within the cyanobacterial precursor where, energized by light, they could oxidize water. Thus, a chemical sedimentary environment was required both for the emergence of chemosynthesis and of oxygenic photosynthesis, the two innovations that did most to change the nature of our planet.

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Section: The Volatispherementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Modern Hydrothermal Systems -How They Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geodynamic and metabolic cycles in the Hadean

2005

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“…The LHB enhanced the hydrothermal alteration reactions between ocean water and the komatiitebasalt crust because of fracturing and heating effects (Cockell 2006). Hydrothermal solutions and ocean water were enriched in dissolved transition metals and phosphate (Kakegawa et al 2002). Particularly, the amount of dissolved Fe 2+ and other transition metal ions was higher than today.…”

Section: Earth's Crust Composition and Surface Conditions During The mentioning

confidence: 96%

The Fe-Rich Clay Microsystems in Basalt-Komatiite Lavas: Importance of Fe-Smectites for Pre-Biotic Molecule Catalysis During the Hadean Eon

Meunier

Petit

Cockell

et al. 2010

Orig Life Evol Biosph

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During the Hadean to early Archean period (4.5-3.5 Ga), the surface of the Earth's crust was predominantly composed of basalt and komatiite lavas. The conditions imposed by the chemical composition of these rocks favoured the crystallization of Fe-Mg clays rather than that of Al-rich ones (montmorillonite). Fe-Mg clays were formed inside chemical microsystems through sea weathering or hydrothermal alteration, and for the most part, through post-magmatic processes. Indeed, at the end of the cooling stage, Fe-Mg clays precipitated directly from the residual liquid which concentrated in the voids remaining in the crystal framework of the mafic-ultramafic lavas. Nontronite-celadonite and chlorite-saponite covered all the solid surfaces (crystals, glass) and are associated with tiny pyroxene and apatite crystals forming the so-called "mesostasis". The mesostasis was scattered in the lava body as micro-settings tens of micrometres wide. Thus, every square metre of basalt or komatiite rocks was punctuated by myriads of clay-rich patches, each of them potentially behaving as a single chemical reactor which could concentrate the organics diluted in the ocean water. Considering the high catalytic potentiality of clays, and particularly those of the Fe-rich ones (electron exchangers), it is probable that large parts of the surface of the young Earth participated in the synthesis of prebiotic molecules during the Hadean to early Archean period through innumerable clay-rich micro-settings in the massive parts and the altered surfaces of komatiite and basaltic lavas. This leads us to suggest that Fe,Mg-clays should be preferred to Al-rich ones (montmorillonite) to conduct experiments for the synthesis and the polymerisation of prebiotic molecules.

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“…As we have seen, high temperature acidic solutions (pH $3) are capable of dissolving iron and other transition metals, introducing them to the ocean through very hot springs (Kakegawa et al 2002). In the Hadean much of the metal in these springs would have dispersed directly into the relatively reduced and acidulous carbonic ocean, rendering it a reservoir of the transition elements.…”

Section: Moderate Temperature Springsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The Hadean Ocean was the sink for soluble atmospheric gases, particularly CO 2 , but also of P 4 O 10 , nitrogen oxides and minor HCl (Yamagata et al 1991;Kakegawa et al 2002). Sulfide (as S 8 ) and sulfate aerosols, sourced from SO 2 of volcanic derivation (with input from photolysis) were rained out in large quantities (Maurette et al 2004).…”

Section: The Hadean Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alkaline Solution to the Emergence of Life: Energy, Entropy and Early Evolution

Russell

2007

Acta Biotheor

112

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The Earth agglomerates and heats. Convection cells within the planetary interior expedite the cooling process. Volcanoes evolve steam, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and pyrophosphate. An acidulous Hadean ocean condenses from the carbon dioxide atmosphere. Dusts and stratospheric sulfurous smogs absorb a proportion of the Sun's rays. The cooled ocean leaks into the stressed crust and also convects. High temperature acid springs, coupled to magmatic plumes and spreading centers, emit iron, manganese, zinc, cobalt and nickel ions to the ocean. Away from the spreading centers cooler alkaline spring waters emanate from the ocean floor. These bear hydrogen, formate, ammonia, hydrosulfide and minor methane thiol. The thermal potential begins to be dissipated but the chemical potential is dammed. The exhaling alkaline solutions are frustrated in their further attempt to mix thoroughly with their oceanic source by the spontaneous precipitation of biomorphic barriers of colloidal iron compounds and other minerals. It is here we surmise that organic molecules are synthesized, filtered, concentrated and adsorbed, while acetate and methane--separate products of the precursor to the reductive acetyl-coenzyme-A pathway-are exhaled as waste. Reactions in mineral compartments produce acetate, amino acids, and the components of nucleosides. Short peptides, condensed from the simple amino acids, sequester 'ready-made' iron sulfide clusters to form protoferredoxins, and also bind phosphates. Nucleotides are assembled from amino acids, simple phosphates carbon dioxide and ribose phosphate upon nanocrystalline mineral surfaces. The side chains of particular amino acids register to fitting nucleotide triplet clefts. Keyed in, the amino acids are polymerized, through acid-base catalysis, to alpha chains. Peptides, the tenuous outer-most filaments of the nanocrysts, continually peel away from bound RNA. The polymers are concentrated at cooler regions of the mineral compartments through thermophoresis. RNA is reproduced through a convective polymerase chain reaction operating between 40 and 100 degrees C. The coded peptides produce true ferredoxins, the ubiquitous proteins with the longest evolutionary pedigree. They take over the role of catalyst and electron transfer agent from the iron sulfides. Other iron-nickel sulfide clusters, sequestered now by cysteine residues as CO-dehydrogenase and acetyl-coenzyme-A synthase, promote further chemosynthesis and support the hatchery--the electrochemical reactor--from which they sprang. Reactions and interactions fall into step as further pathways are negotiated. This hydrothermal circuitry offers a continuous supply of material and chemical energy, as well as electricity and proticity at a potential appropriate for the onset of life in the dark, a rapidly emerging kinetic structure born to persist, evolve and generate entropy while the sun shines.

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Geochemical Cycles of Bio‐essential Elements on the Early Earth and Their Relationships to Origin of Life

Cited by 20 publications

References 38 publications

Geodynamic and metabolic cycles in the Hadean

Geodynamic and metabolic cycles in the Hadean

The Fe-Rich Clay Microsystems in Basalt-Komatiite Lavas: Importance of Fe-Smectites for Pre-Biotic Molecule Catalysis During the Hadean Eon

The Alkaline Solution to the Emergence of Life: Energy, Entropy and Early Evolution

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