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2009 Annual Science Report

NASA Ames Research Center Reporting  |  JUL 2008 – AUG 2009

Mineralogical Traces of Early Habitable Environments

Project Summary

The goal of our work is to discern the habitability (potential to support life) of ancient Martian environments, with an emphasis on understanding which environments could have supported life more abundantly than others. This information will help to guide the selection of sites on the Martian surface, for future missions designed to seek direct evidence of life. Our approach has two main parts: 1. We will use the presence of specific minerals or groups of minerals – an analysis that can be performed robotically on Mars — to constrain the chemical and physical conditions of the ancient environments in which they formed. 2. We will work to understand how the ability of environments on Earth to support more or less biomass depends on these same physical and chemical conditions.

4 Institutions
3 Teams
33 Publications
1 Field Site
Field Sites

Project Progress

The initial stages of this project have focused principally on the initial characterization of field sites and on early development of reaction-transport models that calculate cellular energy balance as a function of geochemical environment.

We conducted a preliminary field expedition to the Josephine Ophiolite Complex (JOC) of Northern California in May 2009. Samples representing differing extents and styles of parent rock alteration were collected from each type section of the exposed ocean crust. For a subset of samples, we conducted XRD/XRF analyses in the field using a commercial version of the CheMin instrument that will fly on Mars Science Laboratory. Preliminary site observations and mineralogical characterization were presented at the 2009 GSA (Geological Society of America) meeting. Samples are presently being analyzed by Moessbauer, and thin sections have been prepared for spatially-resolved mineralogical analysis. The results of these analyses, along with bulk scale and contextual observations conducted on site, will help to direct a follow-up field trip to the JOC during spring/summer 2010.

Figure 1. Collecting samples from an alteration deposit associated with weathering peridotite rocks (Eight Dollar Mountain, Josephine Ophiolite Complex, CA).

A preliminary cell-scale reaction transport model for calculating “energetic habitability” has been developed. In its initial form, the model calculates methanogenic energy yields for a single spherical cell in an infinite medium of defined physics and chemistry (temperature, salinity, pH, and concentrations of H2 and ΣCO2). Energy yields are divided by estimates of cell-specific energy demand (initially treated a function of pH and temperature). This basic model has been applied to examine the habitability of fluids affected by serpentinization (i.e., elevated H2 and pH, and potentially decreased ΣCO2), across a range of relevant parameter space. A manuscript (“Bioenergetic and mass-transport constraints on microbial ecology in hydrothermal flow: a case study of methanogenesis in serpentinizing systems”) is being prepared for submission to JGR Biogeosciences.

Publications

  • (no authors found) (2008). Science Priorities for Mars Sample Return. Astrobiology, 8(3), 489–535. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0759

  • (no authors found) (2009). Crystal ball – 2009. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 1(1), 3–26. doi:10.1111/j.1758-2229.2008.00010.x

  • Blank, J. G., Green, S. J., Blake, D., Valley, J. W., Kita, N. T., Treiman, A., & Dobson, P. F. (2009). An alkaline spring system within the Del Puerto Ophiolite (California, USA): A Mars analog site. Planetary and Space Science, 57(5-6), 533–540. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.11.018

  • Blum, J. S., Han, S., Lanoil, B., Saltikov, C., Witte, B., Tabita, F. R., … Oremland, R. S. (2009). Ecophysiology of “Halarsenatibacter silvermanii” Strain SLAS-1T, gen. nov., sp. nov., a Facultative Chemoautotrophic Arsenate Respirer from Salt-Saturated Searles Lake, California. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 75(7), 1950–1960. doi:10.1128/aem.02614-08

  • Des Marais, D. J., Allamandola, L. J., Benner, S. A., Boss, A. P., Deamer, D., Falkowski, P. G., … Yorke, H. W. (2003). The NASA Astrobiology Roadmap. Astrobiology, 3(2), 219–235. doi:10.1089/153110703769016299

  • Dupraz, C., Reid, R. P., Braissant, O., Decho, A. W., Norman, R. S., & Visscher, P. T. (2009). Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats. Earth-Science Reviews, 96(3), 141–162. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2008.10.005

  • Fike, D. A., Finke, N., Zha, J., Blake, G., Hoehler, T. M., & Orphan, V. J. (2009). The effect of sulfate concentration on (sub)millimeter-scale sulfide δ34S in hypersaline cyanobacterial mats over the diurnal cycle. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73(20), 6187–6204. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.07.006

  • Fike, D. A., Gammon, C. L., Ziebis, W., & Orphan, V. J. (2008). Micron-scale mapping of sulfur cycling across the oxycline of a cyanobacterial mat: a paired nanoSIMS and CARD-FISH approach. ISME J, 2(7), 749–759. doi:10.1038/ismej.2008.39

  • Hausrath, E. M., Treiman, A. H., Vicenzi, E., Bish, D. L., Blake, D., Sarrazin, P., … Brantley, S. L. (2008). Short- and Long-Term Olivine Weathering in Svalbard: Implications for Mars. Astrobiology, 8(6), 1079–1092. doi:10.1089/ast.2007.0195

  • Jahnke, L. L., Orphan, V. J., Embaye, T., Turk, K. A., Kubo, M. D., Summons, R. E., & Des Marais, D. J. (2008). Lipid biomarker and phylogenetic analyses to reveal archaeal biodiversity and distribution in hypersaline microbial mat and underlying sediment. Geobiology, 6(4), 394–410. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2008.00165.x

  • Orphan, V. J., & House, C. H. (2009). Geobiological investigations using secondary ion mass spectrometry: microanalysis of extant and paleo-microbial processes. Geobiology, 7(3), 360–372. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2009.00201.x

  • Orphan, V. J., Jahnke, L. L., Embaye, T., Turk, K. A., Pernthaler, A., Summons, R. E., & Des Marais, D. J. (2008). Characterization and spatial distribution of methanogens and methanogenic biosignatures in hypersaline microbial mats of Baja California. Geobiology, 6(4), 376–393. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4669.2008.00166.x

  • Parenteau, M. N., & Cady, S. L. (2010). MICROBIAL BIOSIGNATURES IN IRON-MINERALIZED PHOTOTROPHIC MATS AT CHOCOLATE POTS HOT SPRINGS, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, UNITED STATES. PALAIOS, 25(2), 97–111. doi:10.2110/palo.2008.p08-133r

  • Vogel, M. B., Des Marais, D. J., Parenteau, M. N., Jahnke, L. L., Turk, K. A., & Kubo, M. D. Y. (2010). Biological influences on modern sulfates: Textures and composition of gypsum deposits from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sedimentary Geology, 223(3-4), 265–280. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2009.11.013

  • Vogel, M. B., Des Marais, D. J., Turk, K. A., Parenteau, M. N., Jahnke, L. L., & Kubo, M. D. Y. (2009). The Role of Biofilms in the Sedimentology of Actively Forming Gypsum Deposits at Guerrero Negro, Mexico. Astrobiology, 9(9), 875–893. doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0325

  • Blake, D., Treiman, A.H. & Robinson, K.L.  (2009, in preparation).  CheMin detectability of carbonate and clay minerals in altered ultramafic rocks (tentative title).  Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 41.
  • Blake, D.F., Vaniman, D., Anderson, R., Bish, D.L., Chipera, S., Chemtob, S., Crisp, J., Des Marais, D.J., Downs, R., Farmer, J.D., Gailhanou, M., Ming, D., Morris, D., Stolper, E., Sarrazin, P., Treiman, A. & Yen, A.  (2009).  The CHEMIN Mineralogical Instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory Mission. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 23-27, 2009, The Woodlands, TX. Abstract No. 1484.
  • Cardace, D. & Hoehler, T.M.  (2009).  Serpentinizing Fluids Craft Microbial Habitat.  In: Favolise-Stanton, A. (Eds.).  Soil and Biota of Serpentine: A World View. Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference of Serpentine Ecology.  Vol. 5.  Northeastern Naturalist (Steuben, Maine) Special Issue.
  • Des Marais, D.J. & Vogel, M.B.  (2008).  Interpreting biosignatures in the context of marine evaporitic environments. AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008. Abstract No. P53D-08.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2008).  Assessing the nature, distribution and duration of Noachian habitable environments. AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008. Abstract No. P43D-08.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009).  Hints of habitable environments on Mars challenge our studies of Mars-Analog sites on Earth [Abstract], Goldschmidt Conference 2009.  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73(13, Supp. 1 (June 2009)): A285.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009).  Origins and Cycling of CO2 on Earth during the Archean and Proterozoic Eons [Abstract]. AAPG Conference, June 7-10, 2009, Denver, CO.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009).  Potential lifestyles in ancient environments characterized by the Mars Exploration Rovers. The New Martian Chemistry Workshop (LPI), July 27-28, 2009, Medford, MA. Abstract No. 8031.
  • Des Marais, D.J.  (2009, in press).  Marine hypersaline Microcoleus-dominated cyanobacterial mats in the saltern at Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Cellular Origins, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology (COLE) Series.  In: Seckbach, J. (Eds.).  In Microbial Mats.  Springer.
  • Des Marais, D.J., Jakosky, B.M. & Hynek, B.M.  (2008).  Astrobiological implications of Mars surface composition and properties.  In: Bell, J.A. (Eds.).  In The Martian Surface: Composition, Mineralogy and Physical Properties.  Vol. 9, Chapter 26.  Cambridge Planetary Science.
  • Green, S.J. & Jahnke, L.L.  (2009, in press).  Microbial Mats.  In: Oren, A. & Seckbach, J. (Eds.).  Springer-Verlag.
  • Hoehler, T.M.  (2008).  Energy as a constraint on habitability in the subsurface. [ABSTRACT] (Invited).  EOS Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl: B52B-01.
  • Hoehler, T.M., Alperin, M.J., McCollom, T.M. & Rogers, K.L.  (2008).  Habitability of serpentinizing systems for methanogenic microorganisms: an energy balance model. [ABSTRACT].  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 72(12), Supplement 1: 383.
  • Parenteau, M.N., Jahnke, L.L., Boomer, S.M., Cady, S.L. & Pierson, B.K.  (2009).  Do cyanobacteria use Fe2+ as an electron donor for photosynthesis.  Abstr. Ann. Mtg. Am. Soc. Microbiology.
  • Treiman, A.H.  (2009).  Martian aqueous alterations in ALH 84001 and the nakhlite meteorites [abstract #4031]. Workshop on Modeling Martian Hydrous Environments.
  • Visscher, P.T., Dupraz, C., Braissant, O., Gallagher, K.L., Glunk, C., Casillas, L. & Reed, R.E.S.  (2009, in press).  Biogeochemistry of carbon cycling in hypersaline mats: Linking the present to the past through biosignatures.  In: Seckbach, J. (Eds.).  Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology.  Sprnger Verlag.
  • Vogel, M.B., Des Marais, D.J., Jahnke, L.L. & Parenteau, M.N.  (2009).  Distinctive accessory minerals, textures and crystal habits in biofilm associated gypsum deposits.  EOS Transactions, AGU Fall Meeting Supplement, 89(53): P51A-1406.
  • Vogel, M.B., Des Marais, D.J., Jahnke, L.L., Turk, K.A., Kubo, M. & Parenteau, M.N.  (2008).  Biosignatures in modern sulfates: texture and composition of gypsum from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2008. Abstract No. P51A-1406.