Biology
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufm.p11d..02g&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #P11D-02
Biology
[0406] Biogeosciences / Astrobiology And Extraterrestrial Materials, [0424] Biogeosciences / Biosignatures And Proxies, [5470] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Surface Materials And Properties, [6221] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Europa
Scientific paper
Europa is a high priority for astrobiological investigations. Future missions to the icy surface of this moon will query the arguably sulfur-rich materials for potential indications of the presence of life carried to the surface by mobile ice or partial melt. Cold sulfur-rich environments are rare on the Earth, and the potential for the generation and preservation of biosignatures under these conditions remains largely unconstrained. Here we describe investigations into the biogenicity of analogous sulfur deposits from the surface of an Arctic glacier at Borup Fiord pass, Ellesmere Island. Optical and electron microscopy indicate that the sulfur in field samples is present in the form of clumps of mineral grains and spherical mineral aggregates, in close association with microbial sheaths. The morphologies of these materials are consistent with observations of the sulfur generated by sulfide-oxidizing bacteria cultivated from field samples in previous studies. X-ray diffraction measurements provide some evidence for the presence of rosickyite, a metastable form of sulfur previously recognized to be associated with the presence of life. Infrared spectroscopy reveals the presence of organics at parts per million levels, and organic functional groups diagnostic of proteins and fatty acids are identified. Organic components were below the detection limit for Raman spectra, which were dominated by sulfur peaks. These combined investigations indicate that sulfur minerals have the potential to contain identifiable biosignatures that low-temperature conditions help stabilize and preserve. Borup Fiord Pass represents a useful testing ground for instruments and techniques relevant to future astrobiological exploration at Europa.
Anderson Steven Matthew
Gleeson Damhnait Fagan
Grasby Stephen E.
Pappalardo Robert T.
Templeton Alexis S.
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