The Miocene Atastra Creek sinter (Bodie Hills volcanic field, California and Nevada): 4D evolution of a geomorphically intact siliceous hot spring deposit

Campbell, Kathleen A.; Guido, Diego M.; John, David A.; Vikre, Peter G.; Rhys, David A.; Hamilton, Ayrton

doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.12.006

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The low pH fumarolic gases alter the host materials, producing an overprint of acid sulfate alteration. Such overprinting may have occurred within the Home Plate hydrothermal system, a scenario that has not been previously proposed but is widely recognized on the Earth (e.g., Bignall and Browne, 1994;Lynne and Campbell, 2004;Van Kranendonk and Pirajno, 2004;Van Kranendonk, 2006;Lynne et al, 2007;Campbell et al, 2019).…”

Section: Proximity To S-rich Soilsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Because hot springs commonly host extensive microbial communities, the role of microbes in facilitating silica precipitation has long been debated (e.g., Weed, 1889;Allen, 1934;White et al, 1956;Walter et al, 1972) and continues to be investigated (e.g., personal communication; Tobler et al, 2008;Orange et al, 2013;Murphy et al, personal communication). The potential for sinter deposits to entomb and preserve biomaterials and textures over geological timescales is well documented (e.g., Campbell et al, 2019;Campbell et al, 2001;Djokic et al, 2017;Guido et al, 2010;Rice et al, 1995;Teece et al, 2020 in this issue;Walter et al, 1996;White et al, 1989), which is a primary reason that they are a favored target in the search for ancient life on Mars (e.g., Walter and Des Marais, 1993;Farmer and Des Marais, 1999;Cady et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Case for Ancient Hot Springs in Gusev Crater, Mars

et al. 2020

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The origin and age of opaline silica deposits discovered by the Spirit rover adjacent to the Home Plate feature in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater remains debated, in part because of their proximity to sulfur-rich soils. Processes related to fumarolic activity and to hot springs and/or geysers are the leading candidates. Both processes are known to produce opaline silica on Earth, but with differences in composition, morphology, texture, and stratigraphy. Here, we incorporate new and existing observations of the Home Plate region with observations from field and laboratory work to address the competing hypotheses. The results, which include new evidence for a hot spring vent mound, demonstrate that a volcanic hydrothermal system manifesting both hot spring/ geyser and fumarolic activity best explains the opaline silica rocks and proximal S-rich materials, respectively. The opaline silica rocks most likely are sinter deposits derived from hot spring activity. Stratigraphic evidence indicates that their deposition occurred before the emplacement of the volcaniclastic deposits comprising Home Plate and nearby ridges. Because sinter deposits throughout geologic history on Earth preserve evidence for microbial life, they are a key target in the search for ancient life on Mars.

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Section: Proximity To S-rich Soilsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Case for Ancient Hot Springs in Gusev Crater, Mars

et al. 2020

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“…The matrix surrounding the geyseritic spicule is darker in colour, and represents low-to mid-temperature silica that infilled the spaces between spicules as the spring discharge cooled, following waning of vent geyser activity, a common occurrence in geothermal areas (cf. Campbell et al 2015aCampbell et al , 2019. Raman spectroscopy shows the presence of carbonaceous material in the three different temperature-dependent facies studied from the Loma Alta sinter (Fig.…”

Section: Carbonaceous Materials In Sintermentioning

confidence: 97%

“…At the Earth's surface, spring vents emit thermal fluids which cool (~100°C to ambient) as they discharge along channels into pools, and over aprons and terraces, finally spreading out in their distal reaches to create geothermally influenced wetlands, all the while precipitating opaline silica that entombs the in situ biota and preserves a record of the local geothermal landscape (e.g. Walter, 1976;Jones et al 1997;Guido & Campbell, 2009, 2014Guido et al 2010;Campbell et al 2019). This gradient in temperature, together with pH and fluid composition, collectively controls the formation of the various sinter facies associations representing vent-to-marsh (palaeo) environments, many of which are microbially dominated, especially in mid-slope and distal apron areas (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life is everywhere in sinters: examples from Jurassic hot-spring environments of Argentine Patagonia

et al. 2019

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Jurassic siliceous hot-spring (sinter) deposits from Argentine Patagonia were evaluated to determine the distribution and preservation quality of their entombed microbial fabrics. Detailed study showed that the Claudia palaeo-geothermal field hosts the best-preserved sinter apron in the Deseado Massif geological province, where we also found hot-spring silica–biotic interactions extending into hydrothermally influenced fluvial and lacustrine settings. Carbonaceous material was identified by petrography and Raman spectroscopy mapping; it is inter-laminated with silica across proximal vent to distal marsh facies. The ubiquitous presence of microbial biosignatures has application to studies of hydrothermal settings of early life on Earth and potentially Mars.

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“…; Guido and Campbell , , ; Campbell et al. ). Mapping diagenetic stage (e.g., Lynne and Campbell ; Jones and Renaut ), textural quality, and geochemical concentrations of relevant minerals and elements—at the microbial scale (e.g., Westall et al.…”

Section: Objective 1: Interpret the Primary Geologic Processes And Himentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return

Beaty¹,

Grady²,

McSween³

et al. 2019

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Executive Summary Return of samples from the surface of Mars has been a goal of the international Mars science community for many years. Affirmation by NASA and ESA of the importance of Mars exploration led the agencies to establish the international MSR Objectives and Samples Team (iMOST). The purpose of the team is to re‐evaluate and update the sample‐related science and engineering objectives of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The iMOST team has also undertaken to define the measurements and the types of samples that can best address the objectives. Seven objectives have been defined for MSR, traceable through two decades of previously published international priorities. The first two objectives are further divided into sub‐objectives. Within the main part of the report, the importance to science and/or engineering of each objective is described, critical measurements that would address the objectives are specified, and the kinds of samples that would be most likely to carry key information are identified. These seven objectives provide a framework for demonstrating how the first set of returned Martian samples would impact future Martian science and exploration. They also have implications for how analogous investigations might be conducted for samples returned by future missions from other solar system bodies, especially those that may harbor biologically relevant or sensitive material, such as Ocean Worlds (Europa, Enceladus, Titan) and others. Summary of Objectives and Sub‐Objectives for MSR Identified by iMOST This objective is divided into five sub‐objectives that would apply at different landing sites. 1.1 Characterize the essential stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and facies variations of a sequence of Martian sedimentary rocks. 1.2 Understand an ancient Martian hydrothermal system through study of its mineralization products and morphological expression. 1.3 Understand the rocks and minerals representative of a deep subsurface groundwater environment. 1.4 Understand water/rock/atmosphere interactions at the Martian surface and how they have changed with time. 1.5 Determine the petrogenesis of Martian igneous rocks in time and space. This objective has three sub‐objectives: 2.1 Assess and characterize carbon, including possible organic and pre‐biotic chemistry. 2.2 Assay for the presence of biosignatures of past life at sites that hosted habitable environments and could have preserved any biosignatures. 2.3 Assess the possibility that any life forms detected are alive, or were recently alive. Summary of iMOST Findings Several specific findings were identified during the iMOST study. While they are not explicit recommendations, we suggest that they should serve as guidelines for future decision making regarding planning of potential future MSR missions. The samples to be collected by the Mars 2020 (M‐2020) rover will be of sufficient size and quality to address and solve a wide variety of scientific questions. Samples, by definition, are a statistical representation of a larger entity...

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The Miocene Atastra Creek sinter (Bodie Hills volcanic field, California and Nevada): 4D evolution of a geomorphically intact siliceous hot spring deposit

Cited by 21 publications

References 49 publications

The Case for Ancient Hot Springs in Gusev Crater, Mars

The Case for Ancient Hot Springs in Gusev Crater, Mars

Life is everywhere in sinters: examples from Jurassic hot-spring environments of Argentine Patagonia

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return

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