Serpentinization as a route to liberating phosphorus on habitable worlds

A general assumption about the geochemical behavior of phosphorus (P) is that it exists exclusively in +5 oxidation as phosphate. However, extremely reducing environments, other states such +3 may also be stable. Such environments—if prevalent globally—may determine planetary habitability, which part governed by nutrient availability, including availability element phosphorus. Here we show a route to P liberation from water-rock reactions are thought common throughout Solar System. We report speciation several serpentinite rocks and muds include ion phosphite (HPO32− with P3+) reduction phosphate predicted thermodynamic models serpentinization. Furthermore, amount exceeds amounts three nine samples analyzed. As result, olivine silicates ultramafic alter serpentine minerals, significantly more soluble reactive should released under low redox conditions, liberating this key for life. Thus, accessible developing life where water direct contact rock, providing source potentially habitable worlds.