A Mars-analog sulfate mineral, mirabilite, preserves biosignatures
نویسندگان
چکیده
Various sulfate minerals exist on Mars; except for gypsum, they are understudied Earth. Extremophiles have been documented in modern gypsum and halite ancient halite, but other chemical sediments not evaluated biosignatures. Here, we present the first observations analysis of microorganisms organic compounds primary fluid inclusions Mars-analog mineral mirabilite, Na2SO4∙10H2O, from Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA. Microscopy by transmitted light ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light, Raman spectroscopy, show abundant bacteria and/or Archaea, algae, fungi, diatoms, protozoa, such as beta-carotene. This discovery expands our current knowledge biological materials trapped salt aids search life Mars, both sample selection rover analyses return samples
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ژورنال
عنوان ژورنال: Geology
سال: 2023
ISSN: ['0091-7613', '1943-2682']
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/g51256.1