1
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Cai W, Yu K, Yang W, Mu R, Lian C, Xie L, Yan Y, Liao S, Wang F. Prokaryotic Community Structure, Abundances, and Potential Ecological Functions in a Mars Analog Salt Lake. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:550-562. [PMID: 37130293 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Barkol Lake, situated northeast of the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, is a hypersaline lake with abundant sulfate and chloride minerals, which can be a potential analog for microbial saline paleolakes on Mars. The lake water, sediments, and surrounding soils of Barkol Lake were sampled for geochemical analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the prokaryotic community structure, abundances, interactions, and ecological functions. Results show that (1) prokaryotic community structure differs significantly between biotopes (water, sediment, and soil), with the highest abundances of archaea occurring in water samples and highest prokaryotic diversities in soil samples; (2) archaeal communities are dominated by Halobacterota, Nanoarchaeota, Thermoplasmatota, and Crenarchaeota, while bacterial communities are mainly Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Desulfobacterota, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, and Cyanobacteria; (3) the prokaryotic community network for soil is far more complicated and stable than those for water and sediment; (4) soil prokaryotic communities could be significantly affected by environmental factors such as salinity, pH, total sulfur, and Ca2+; (5) archaeal communities may play an important role in the nitrogen cycle, while bacterial communities may mainly participate in the sulfur cycle. This study extends the data set of prokaryotic communities for hypersaline environments, which will provide perspectives into identification of the counterparts and help to understand potential microbial interactions and biogeochemical cycles occurring on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Cai
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean System, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ke Yu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wanting Yang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Rong Mu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunang Lian
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Luhua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shibin Liao
- Xinjiang Research Center for Mineral Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Fan Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean System, Ministry of Education, Zhuhai, China
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2
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Wijnhorst R, Demmenie M, Jambon-Puillet E, Ariese F, Bonn D, Shahidzadeh N. Softness of hydrated salt crystals under deliquescence. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1090. [PMID: 36841912 PMCID: PMC9968288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36834-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Deliquescence is a first-order phase transition, happening when a salt absorbs water vapor. This has a major impact on the stability of crystalline powders that are important for example in pharmacology, food science and for our environment and climate. Here we show that during deliquescence, the abundant salt sodium sulfate decahydrate, mirabilite (Na2SO4·10H2O), behaves differently than anhydrous salts. Using various microscopy techniques combined with Raman spectroscopy, we show that mirabilite crystals not only lose their facets but also become soft and deformable. As a result, microcrystals of mirabilite simultaneously behave crystalline-like in the core bulk and liquid-like at the surface. Defects at the surface can heal at a speed much faster than the deliquescence rate by the mechanism of visco-capillary flow over the surface. While magnesium sulfate hexahydrate (MgSO4⋅6H2O) behaves similarly during deliquescence, a soft and deformable state is completely absent for the anhydrous salts sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium sulfate thenardite (Na2SO4). The results highlight the effect of crystalline water, and its mobility in the crystalline structure on the observed softness during deliquescence. Controlled hydrated salts have potential applications such as thermal energy storage, where the key parameter is relative humidity rather than temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozeline Wijnhorst
- Institute of Physics, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098, XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Demmenie
- Institute of Physics, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098, XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Etienne Jambon-Puillet
- Institute of Physics, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098, XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Laboratory for Soft and Living Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Freek Ariese
- LaserLaB, Biophotonics and Medical Imaging, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Bonn
- Institute of Physics, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098, XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Noushine Shahidzadeh
- Institute of Physics, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098, XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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3
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Guglielmin M, Azzaro M, Buzzini P, Battistel D, Roman M, Ponti S, Turchetti B, Sannino C, Borruso L, Papale M, Lo Giudice A. A possible unique ecosystem in the endoglacial hypersaline brines in Antarctica. Sci Rep 2023; 13:177. [PMID: 36604573 PMCID: PMC9814585 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27219-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we present the results related to a new unique terrestrial ecosystem found in an englacial hypersaline brine found in Northern Victoria Land (Antarctica). Both the geochemistry and microbial (prokaryotic and fungal) diversity revealed an unicity with respect to all the other known Antarctic brines and suggested a probable ancient origin mainly due a progressive cryoconcentration of seawater. The prokaryotic community presented some peculiarities, such as the occurrence of sequences of Patescibacteria (which can thrive in nutrient-limited water environments) or few Spirochaeta, and the presence of archaeal sequences of Methanomicrobia closely related to Methanoculleus, a methanogen commonly detected in marine and estuarine environments. The high percentage (35%) of unassigned fungal taxa suggested the presence of a high degree of undiscovered diversity within a structured fungal community (including both yeast and filamentous life forms) and reinforce the hypothesis of a high degree of biological uniqueness of the habitat under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Guglielmin
- grid.18147.3b0000000121724807Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Via Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy ,grid.18147.3b0000000121724807Climate Change Research Center, Insubria University, Via Regina Teodolinda, 37, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - M. Azzaro
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri. 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - P. Buzzini
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - D. Battistel
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri. 86, 98122 Messina, Italy ,grid.7240.10000 0004 1763 0578Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172 Mestre, VE Italy
| | - M. Roman
- grid.7240.10000 0004 1763 0578Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice, Via Torino, 155, 30172 Mestre, VE Italy
| | - S. Ponti
- grid.18147.3b0000000121724807Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Insubria University, Via Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - B. Turchetti
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - C. Sannino
- grid.9027.c0000 0004 1757 3630Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - L. Borruso
- grid.34988.3e0000 0001 1482 2038Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 9100 Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - M. Papale
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri. 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - A. Lo Giudice
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Spianata S. Raineri. 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
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4
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Wynne JJ, Titus TN, Agha‐Mohammadi A, Azua‐Bustos A, Boston PJ, de León P, Demirel‐Floyd C, De Waele J, Jones H, Malaska MJ, Miller AZ, Sapers HM, Sauro F, Sonderegger DL, Uckert K, Wong UY, Alexander EC, Chiao L, Cushing GE, DeDecker J, Fairén AG, Frumkin A, Harris GL, Kearney ML, Kerber L, Léveillé RJ, Manyapu K, Massironi M, Mylroie JE, Onac BP, Parazynski SE, Phillips‐Lander CM, Prettyman TH, Schulze‐Makuch D, Wagner RV, Whittaker WL, Williams KE. Fundamental Science and Engineering Questions in Planetary Cave Exploration. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2022; 127:e2022JE007194. [PMID: 36582809 PMCID: PMC9787064 DOI: 10.1029/2022je007194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now acquired cave data across our solar system-including the identification of potential cave entrances on the Moon, Mars, and at least nine other planetary bodies. These discoveries gave rise to the study of planetary caves. To help advance this field, we leveraged the expertise of an interdisciplinary group to identify a strategy to explore caves beyond Earth. Focusing primarily on astrobiology, the cave environment, geology, robotics, instrumentation, and human exploration, our goal was to produce a framework to guide this subdiscipline through at least the next decade. To do this, we first assembled a list of 198 science and engineering questions. Then, through a series of social surveys, 114 scientists and engineers winnowed down the list to the top 53 highest priority questions. This exercise resulted in identifying emerging and crucial research areas that require robust development to ultimately support a robotic mission to a planetary cave-principally the Moon and/or Mars. With the necessary financial investment and institutional support, the research and technological development required to achieve these necessary advancements over the next decade are attainable. Subsequently, we will be positioned to robotically examine lunar caves and search for evidence of life within Martian caves; in turn, this will set the stage for human exploration and potential habitation of both the lunar and Martian subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Judson Wynne
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Adaptable Western LandscapesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | | | | | - Armando Azua‐Bustos
- Centro de AstrobiologíaCSIC‐INTAUnidad María de MaeztuInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Ctra de Torrejón a AjalvirMadridSpain
- Instituto de Ciencias BiomédicasFacultad de Ciencias de la SaludUniversidad Autónoma de ChileSantiagoChile
| | | | - Pablo de León
- Human Spaceflight LaboratoryDepartment of Space StudiesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNDUSA
| | | | - Jo De Waele
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Heather Jones
- Robotics InstituteCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Michael J. Malaska
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Ana Z. Miller
- Laboratório HERCULESUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y AgrobiologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasSevilleSpain
| | - Haley M. Sapers
- Department of Earth and Space Science and EngineeringYork UniversityTorontoONCanada
| | - Francesco Sauro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Derek L. Sonderegger
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Kyle Uckert
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | | | - E. Calvin Alexander
- Earth and Environmental Sciences DepartmentUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Leroy Chiao
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringRice UniversityHoustonTXUSA
| | - Glen E. Cushing
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - John DeDecker
- Center for Mineral Resources ScienceColorado School of MinesGoldenCOUSA
| | - Alberto G. Fairén
- Centro de AstrobiologíaCSIC‐INTAUnidad María de MaeztuInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Ctra de Torrejón a AjalvirMadridSpain
- Department of AstronomyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | - Amos Frumkin
- Institute of Earth SciencesThe Hebrew UniversityJerusalemIsrael
| | - Gary L. Harris
- Human Spaceflight LaboratoryDepartment of Space StudiesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNDUSA
| | - Michelle L. Kearney
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary SciencesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Laura Kerber
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Richard J. Léveillé
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Geosciences DepartmentJohn Abbott CollegeSte‐Anne‐de‐BellevueQCCanada
| | | | - Matteo Massironi
- Dipartimento di GeoscienzeUniversità degli Studi di PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - John E. Mylroie
- Department of GeosciencesMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMSUSA
| | - Bogdan P. Onac
- School of GeosciencesUniversity of South FloridaTampaFLUSA
- Emil G. Racoviță InstituteBabeș‐Bolyai UniversityCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | | | | | | | - Dirk Schulze‐Makuch
- Astrobiology GroupCenter of Astronomy and AstrophysicsTechnische Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
- Section GeomicrobiologyGFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdamGermany
- Department of Experimental LimnologyLeibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)StechlinGermany
| | - Robert V. Wagner
- School of Earth and Space ExplorationArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - William L. Whittaker
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Kaj E. Williams
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
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5
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Zhao W, Xu WW, Jiang J, Zhao X, Duan X, Sun Y, Francisco JS, Zeng XC. Evidence of Formation of Monolayer Hydrated Salts in Nanopores. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:18976-18985. [PMID: 36197785 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite much effort being devoted to the study of ionic aqueous solutions at the nanoscale, our fundamental understanding of the microscopic kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors in these systems remains largely incomplete. Herein, we reported the first 10 μs molecular dynamics simulation, providing evidence of the spontaneous formation of monolayer hexagonal honeycomb hydrated salts of XCl2·6H2O (X = Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg) from electrolyte aqueous solutions confined in an angstrom-scale slit under ambient conditions. By using both the classical molecular dynamics simulations and the first-principles Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations, we further demonstrated that the hydrated salts were stable not only at ambient temperature but also at elevated temperatures. This phenomenon of formation of hydrated salt in water is contrary to the conventional view. The free energy calculations and dehydration analyses indicated that the spontaneous formation of hydrated salts can be attributed to the interplay between ion hydration and Coulombic attractions in the highly confined water. In addition to providing molecular-level insights into the novel behavior of ionic aqueous solutions at the nanoscale, our findings may have implications for the future exploration of potential existence of water molecules in the saline deposits on hot planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Wen Wu Xu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaorong Zhao
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xiangmei Duan
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Joseph S Francisco
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States.,Department of Materials Science & Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
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6
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Buffo JJ, Brown EK, Pontefract A, Schmidt BE, Klempay B, Lawrence J, Bowman J, Grantham M, Glass JB, Plattner T, Chivers C, Doran P. The Bioburden and Ionic Composition of Hypersaline Lake Ices: Novel Habitats on Earth and Their Astrobiological Implications. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:962-980. [PMID: 35671513 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We present thermophysical, biological, and chemical observations of ice and brine samples from five compositionally diverse hypersaline lakes in British Columbia's interior plateau. Possessing a spectrum of magnesium, sodium, sulfate, carbonate, and chloride salts, these low-temperature high-salinity lakes are analogs for planetary ice-brine environments, including the ice shells of Europa and Enceladus and ice-brine systems on Mars. As such, understanding the thermodynamics and biogeochemistry of these systems can provide insights into the evolution, habitability, and detectability of high-priority astrobiology targets. We show that biomass is typically concentrated in a layer near the base of the ice cover, but that chemical and biological impurities are present throughout the ice. Coupling bioburden, ionic concentration, and seasonal temperature measurements, we demonstrate that impurity entrainment in the ice is directly correlated to ice formation rate and parent fluid composition. We highlight unique phenomena, including brine supercooling, salt hydrate precipitation, and internal brine layers in the ice cover, important processes to be considered for planetary ice-brine environments. These systems can be leveraged to constrain the distribution, longevity, and habitability of low-temperature solar system brines-relevant to interpreting spacecraft data and planning future missions in the lens of both planetary exploration and planetary protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J Buffo
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emma K Brown
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Pheonix, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | - Justin Lawrence
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jeff Bowman
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Meg Grantham
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer B Glass
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Taylor Plattner
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chase Chivers
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peter Doran
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiung State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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7
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Li Q, Kölbel J, Davis MP, Korter TM, Bond AD, Threlfall T, Zeitler JA. In Situ Observation of the Structure of Crystallizing Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate Solutions with Terahertz Transmission Spectroscopy. CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2022; 22:3961-3972. [PMID: 35673396 PMCID: PMC9165030 DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.2c00352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in a transmission geometry combined with visual analysis was used to investigate the crystallization process of MgSO4 solution. Careful spectral analysis of both a feature at 1.6 THz and the overall magnitude of absorption allowed the extraction of information about the liquid phase before and during crystallization, aiding the investigation of solvation dynamics and the behavior of molecular species at phase boundaries. The method was reproducibly applied to a number of measurements on a series of solutions of three chosen concentrations at different temperatures. When increasing temperature at the end of the measurement, the dissolution of crystals was observed as well. The temperature-dependent absorption data of the semicrystalline systems were converted to the solvent concentrations using a recently developed method. Solutions of a series of concentrations were also investigated in the temperature range of 4-25 °C. The results were compared to the theoretical calculated values, and the consistent differences proved the existence of a hydration shell around the salt ions whose behavior is different from bulk water. Future work will focus on triggering nucleation at specific positions in order to study the very beginning of the crystallization process. MgSO4 heptahydrate is used as a model system in this study, while the concept and the setup can be applied to other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
| | - Johanna Kölbel
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
| | - Margaret P. Davis
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, 1-046 Center for Science and Technology, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Timothy M. Korter
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, 1-046 Center for Science and Technology, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Andrew D. Bond
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Terrence Threlfall
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K.
| | - J. Axel Zeitler
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
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8
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Hatakeyama T, Okamoto NL, Otake S, Sato H, Li H, Ichitsubo T. Excellently balanced water-intercalation-type heat-storage oxide. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1452. [PMID: 35301294 PMCID: PMC8931080 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28988-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance of heat storage materials has recently been increasing. Although various types of heat storage materials have been reported to date, there are few well-balanced energy storage materials in terms of long lifetime, reversibility, energy density, reasonably fast charge/discharge capability, and treatability. Here we report an interesting discovery that a commonly known substance, birnessite-type layered manganese dioxide with crystal water (δ-type K0.33MnO2 ⋅ nH2O), exhibits a water-intercalation mechanism and can be an excellently balanced heat storage material, from the above views, that can be operated in a solid state with water as a working pair. The volumetric energy density exceeds 1000 MJ m−3 (at n ~ 0.5), which is close to the ideally maximum value and the best among phase-change materials. The driving force for the water intercalation is also validated by the ab initio calculations. The proposed mechanism would provide an optimal solution for a heat-storage strategy towards low-grade waste-heat applications. There are few well-balanced heat storage materials up to date. Here, the authors report that δ-type K0.33MnO2 ∙ nH2O can be an excellently balanced heat storage material exhibiting a “water-intercalation mechanism”.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Hatakeyama
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.,Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University 6-6-01 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Norihiko L Okamoto
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Otake
- Rigaku Corporation, 3-9-12 Matsubara-cho, Akishima, Tokyo, 196-8666, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Sato
- Rigaku Corporation, 3-9-12 Matsubara-cho, Akishima, Tokyo, 196-8666, Japan
| | - Hongyi Li
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Tetsu Ichitsubo
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.
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9
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Csitári B, Bedics A, Felföldi T, Boros E, Nagy H, Máthé I, Székely AJ. Anion-type modulates the effect of salt stress on saline lake bacteria. Extremophiles 2022; 26:12. [PMID: 35137260 PMCID: PMC8825391 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-022-01260-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Beside sodium chloride, inland saline aquatic systems often contain other anions than chloride such as hydrogen carbonate and sulfate. Our understanding of the biological effects of salt composition diversity is limited; therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of different anions on the growth of halophilic bacteria. Accordingly, the salt composition and concentration preference of 172 strains isolated from saline and soda lakes that differed in ionic composition was tested using media containing either carbonate, chloride or sulfate as anion in concentration values ranging from 0 to 0.40 mol/L. Differences in salt-type preference among bacterial strains were observed in relationship to the salt composition of the natural habitat they were isolated from indicating specific salt-type adaptation. Sodium carbonate represented the strongest selective force, while majority of strains was well-adapted to growth even at high concentrations of sodium sulfate. Salt preference was to some extent associated with taxonomy, although variations even within the same bacterial species were also identified. Our results suggest that the extent of the effect of dissolved salts in saline lakes is not limited to their concentration but the type of anion also substantially impacts the growth and survival of individual microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianka Csitári
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ecology and Genetics/Limnology, Uppsala University EBC, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Bedics
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Depatment of Molecular Ecology, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Tamás Felföldi
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina u. 29, 1113, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Emil Boros
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina u. 29, 1113, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hajnalka Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/c, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Máthé
- Department of Bioengineering, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Piaţa Libertăţii 1, 530104, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
| | - Anna J Székely
- Department of Ecology and Genetics/Limnology, Uppsala University EBC, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7050, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
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10
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Sivakumar A, Sahaya Jude Dhas S, Thirupathy J, Reddy KPJ, Kumar RS, Almansour AI, Chakraborty S, Martin Britto Dhas SA. Switchable crystal–amorphous states of NiSO 4·6H 2O induced by a Reddy tube. NEW J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2nj00129b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic shock wave induced switchable phase transitions between crystal and amorphous states of NiSO4·6H2O is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Sivakumar
- Shock Wave Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Abdul Kalam Research Center, Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur 635 601, Tamilnadu, India
| | - S. Sahaya Jude Dhas
- Department of Physics, Kings Engineering College, Chennai 602 117, Tamilnadu, India
| | - J. Thirupathy
- Department of Physics, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641 021, Tamiladu, India
| | - K. P. J. Reddy
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, Karnataka, India
| | - Raju Suresh Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman I. Almansour
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shubhadip Chakraborty
- Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR CNRS 6251, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - S. A. Martin Britto Dhas
- Shock Wave Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Abdul Kalam Research Center, Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur 635 601, Tamilnadu, India
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11
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Lai H, Xu J, Lin J, Su B, Zha D. Chemo-selective control of Ritter-type reaction by coordinatively unsaturated inorganic salt hydrates. Org Chem Front 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1qo01832a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We used a readily available water source, MgSO4·2H2O, to realize the control of the chemo-selectivity of the Ritter-type reaction efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifang Lai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jiexin Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jin Lin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
| | - Biling Su
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
| | - Daijun Zha
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, Fujian Medical University, China
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12
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Thompson SP, Kennedy H, Butler BM, Day SJ, Safi E, Evans A. Laboratory exploration of mineral precipitates from Europa's subsurface ocean. J Appl Crystallogr 2021; 54:1455-1479. [PMID: 34667451 PMCID: PMC8493616 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576721008554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The precipitation of hydrated phases from a chondrite-like Na-Mg-Ca-SO4-Cl solution is studied using in situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, under rapid- (360 K h-1, T = 250-80 K, t = 3 h) and ultra-slow-freezing (0.3 K day-1, T = 273-245 K, t = 242 days) conditions. The precipitation sequence under slow cooling initially follows the predictions of equilibrium thermodynamics models. However, after ∼50 days at 245 K, the formation of the highly hydrated sulfate phase Na2Mg(SO4)2·16H2O, a relatively recent discovery in the Na2Mg(SO4)2-H2O system, was observed. Rapid freezing, on the other hand, produced an assemblage of multiple phases which formed within a very short timescale (≤4 min, ΔT = 2 K) and, although remaining present throughout, varied in their relative proportions with decreasing temperature. Mirabilite and meridianiite were the major phases, with pentahydrite, epsomite, hydrohalite, gypsum, blödite, konyaite and loweite also observed. Na2Mg(SO4)2·16H2O was again found to be present and increased in proportion relative to other phases as the temperature decreased. The results are discussed in relation to possible implications for life on Europa and application to other icy ocean worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P. Thompson
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Hilary Kennedy
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin M. Butler
- Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J. Day
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Emmal Safi
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Astrophysics Group, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
| | - Aneurin Evans
- Astrophysics Group, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
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13
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Merging Perspectives on Secondary Minerals on Mars: A Review of Ancient Water-Rock Interactions in Gale Crater Inferred from Orbital and In-Situ Observations. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11090986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Phyllosilicates, sulfates, and Fe oxides are the most prevalent secondary minerals detected on Mars from orbit and the surface, including in the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover’s field site at Gale crater. These records of aqueous activity have been investigated in detail in Gale crater, where Curiosity’s X-ray diffractometer allows for direct observation and detailed characterization of mineral structure and abundance. This capability provides critical ground truthing to better understand how to interpret Martian mineralogy inferred from orbital datasets. Curiosity is about to leave behind phyllosilicate-rich strata for more sulfate-rich terrains, while the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is in its early exploration of ancient sedimentary strata in Jezero crater. It is thus an appropriate time to review Gale crater’s mineral distribution from multiple perspectives, utilizing the range of chemical, mineralogical, and spectral measurements provided by orbital and in situ observations. This review compares orbital predictions of composition in Gale crater with higher fidelity (but more spatially restricted) in situ measurements by Curiosity, and we synthesize how this information contributes to our understanding of water-rock interaction in Gale crater. In the context of combining these disparate spatial scales, we also discuss implications for the larger understanding of martian surface evolution and the need for a wide range of data types and scales to properly reconstruct ancient geologic processes using remote methods.
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14
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Rawool SA, Belgamwar R, Jana R, Maity A, Bhumla A, Yigit N, Datta A, Rupprechter G, Polshettiwar V. Direct CO 2 capture and conversion to fuels on magnesium nanoparticles under ambient conditions simply using water. Chem Sci 2021; 12:5774-5786. [PMID: 35342542 PMCID: PMC8872847 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc01113h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Converting CO2 directly from the air to fuel under ambient conditions is a huge challenge. Thus, there is an urgent need for CO2 conversion protocols working at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, preferentially without any external energy input. Herein, we employ magnesium (nanoparticles and bulk), an inexpensive and the eighth-most abundant element, to convert CO2 to methane, methanol and formic acid, using water as the sole hydrogen source. The conversion of CO2 (pure, as well as directly from the air) took place within a few minutes at 300 K and 1 bar, and no external (thermal, photo, or electric) energy was required. Hydrogen was, however, the predominant product as the reaction of water with magnesium was favored over the reaction of CO2 and water with magnesium. A unique cooperative action of Mg, basic magnesium carbonate, CO2, and water enabled this CO2 transformation. If any of the four components was missing, no CO2 conversion took place. The reaction intermediates and the reaction pathway were identified by 13CO2 isotopic labeling, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and in situ attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and rationalized by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. During CO2 conversion, Mg was converted to magnesium hydroxide and carbonate, which may be regenerated. Our low-temperature experiments also indicate the future prospect of using this CO2-to-fuel conversion process on the surface of Mars, where CO2, water (ice), and magnesium are abundant. Thus, even though the overall process is non-catalytic, it could serve as a step towards a sustainable CO2 utilization strategy as well as potentially being a first step towards a magnesium-driven civilization on Mars. We demonstrated the use of magnesium nanoparticles (and bulk) to convert CO2 (pure & also from the air) to methane, methanol, formic acid and green cement without external energy within a few minutes, using only water as the sole hydrogen source.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushma A Rawool
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai India +91 8452886556
| | - Rajesh Belgamwar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai India +91 8452886556
| | - Rajkumar Jana
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science Kolkata India
| | - Ayan Maity
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai India +91 8452886556
| | - Ankit Bhumla
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai India +91 8452886556
| | - Nevzat Yigit
- Institute of Materials Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien Getreidemarkt 9/BC/165 1060 Vienna Austria
| | - Ayan Datta
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science Kolkata India
| | - Günther Rupprechter
- Institute of Materials Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien Getreidemarkt 9/BC/165 1060 Vienna Austria
| | - Vivek Polshettiwar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai India +91 8452886556
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15
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Velbel MA, Zolensky ME. Thermal metamorphism of CM chondrites: A dehydroxylation-based peak-temperature thermometer and implications for sample return from asteroids Ryugu and Bennu. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 2021; 56:546-585. [PMID: 34262245 PMCID: PMC8252763 DOI: 10.1111/maps.13636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The target bodies of C-complex asteroid sample return missions are carbonaceous chondrite-like near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), chosen for the abundance and scientific importance of their organic compounds and "hydrous" (including hydroxylated) minerals, such as serpentine-group phyllosilicates. Science objectives include returning samples of pristine carbonaceous regolith from asteroids for study of the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals, organic material, and other volatiles. Heating after the natural aqueous alteration that formed the abundant phyllosilicates in CM and similar carbonaceous chondrites dehydroxylated them and altered or decomposed other volumetrically minor constituents (e.g., carbonates, sulfides, organic molecules; Tonui et al. 2003, 2014). We propose a peak-temperature thermometer based on dehydroxylation as measured by analytical totals from electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of matrices in a number of heated and aqueously altered (but not further heated) CM chondrites. Some CM lithologies in Maribo and Sutter's Mill do not exhibit the matrix dehydroxylation expected for surface temperatures expected from insolation of meteoroids with their known orbital perihelia. This suggests that insolated-heated meteoroid surfaces were lost by ablation during passage through Earth's atmosphere, and that insolation-heated material is more likely to be encountered among returned asteroid regolith samples than in meteorites. More generally, several published lines of evidence suggest that episodic heating of some CM material, most likely by impacts, continued intermittently and locally up to billions of years after assembly and early heating of ancestral CM chondrite bodies. Mission spectroscopic measures of hydration can be used to estimate the extent of dehydroxylation, and the new dehydroxylation thermometer can be used directly to select fragments of returned samples most likely to contain less thermally altered inventories of primitive organic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Velbel
- Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesMichigan State University288 Farm Lane, Room 207, Natural Sciences BuildingEast LansingMichigan48824–1115USA
- Division of MeteoritesDepartment of Mineral SciencesNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20013–7012USA
| | - Michael E. Zolensky
- X12 Astromaterials Research and Exploration ScienceNASA Johnson Space CenterHoustonTexas77058USA
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16
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Bishop JL, Yeşilbaş M, Hinman NW, Burton ZFM, Englert PAJ, Toner JD, McEwen AS, Gulick VC, Gibson EK, Koeberl C. Martian subsurface cryosalt expansion and collapse as trigger for landslides. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabe4459. [PMID: 33536216 PMCID: PMC7857681 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe4459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
On Mars, seasonal martian flow features known as recurring slope lineae (RSL) are prevalent on sun-facing slopes and are associated with salts. On Earth, subsurface interactions of gypsum with chlorides and oxychlorine salts wreak havoc: instigating sinkholes, cave collapse, debris flows, and upheave. Here, we illustrate (i) the disruptive potential of sulfate-chloride reactions in laboratory soil crust experiments, (ii) the formation of thin films of mixed ice-liquid water "slush" at -40° to -20°C on salty Mars analog grains, (iii) how mixtures of sulfates and chlorine salts affect their solubilities in low-temperature environments, and (iv) how these salt brines could be contributing to RSL formation on Mars. Our results demonstrate that interactions of sulfates and chlorine salts in fine-grained soils on Mars could absorb water, expand, deliquesce, cause subsidence, form crusts, disrupt surfaces, and ultimately produce landslides after dust loading on these unstable surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Bishop
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
- Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - M Yeşilbaş
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - N W Hinman
- Department of Geosciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Z F M Burton
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - P A J Englert
- Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - J D Toner
- Department of Earth & Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - A S McEwen
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - V C Gulick
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
- Space Science and Astrobiology, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - E K Gibson
- Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - C Koeberl
- Department of Lithospheric Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Chen L, Ren G, Liu L, Guo P, Wang E, Zhou L, Zhu Z, Zhang J, Yang B, Zhang W, Li Y, Zhang W, Gao Y, Zhao H, Han J. Terahertz Signatures of Hydrate Formation in Alkali Halide Solutions. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:7146-7152. [PMID: 32787323 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We systematically studied the ability of 20 alkali halides to form solid hydrates in the frozen state from their aqueous solutions by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We experimentally observed the rise of new terahertz absorption peaks in the spectral range of 0.3-3.5 THz in frozen alkali halide solutions. The DFT calculations prove that the rise of observed new peaks in solutions containing Li+, Na+, or F- ions indicates the formation of salt hydrates, while that in other alkali halide solutions is caused by the splitting phonon modes of the imperfectly crystallized salts in ice. As a simple empirical rule, the correlation between the terahertz signatures and the ability of 20 alkali halides to form a hydrate has been established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligang Chen
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute Zhangjiang Lab, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Guanhua Ren
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute Zhangjiang Lab, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Liyuan Liu
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Pan Guo
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Endong Wang
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Lu Zhou
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongjie Zhu
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Jianbing Zhang
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute Zhangjiang Lab, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Chester, Thornton Science Park, Chester, U.K. CH2 4NU
| | - Wentao Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information Processing, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yanfeng Li
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Weili Zhang
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, United States
| | - Yi Gao
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute Zhangjiang Lab, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute Zhangjiang Lab, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Jiaguang Han
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
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18
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Capacity of Chlorate to Oxidize Ferrous Iron: Implications for Iron Oxide Formation on Mars. MINERALS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/min10090729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chlorate is an important Cl-bearing species and a strong potential Fe(II) oxidant on Mars. Since the amount of oxychlorine species (perchlorate and chlorate) detected on Mars is limited (<~1 wt.%), the effectiveness of chlorate to produce iron oxides depends heavily on its oxidizing capacity. Decomposition of chlorate or intermediates produced during its reduction, before reaction with Fe(II) would decrease its effective capacity as an oxidant. We thus evaluated the capacity of chlorate to produce Fe(III) minerals in Mars-relevant fluids, via oxidation of dissolved Fe(II). Each chlorate ion can oxidize 6 Fe(II) ions under all conditions investigated. Mass balance demonstrated that 1 wt.% chlorate (as ClO3−) could produce approximately 6 to 12 wt.% Fe(III) or mixed valent mineral products, with the amount varying with the formula of the precipitating phase. The mineral products are primarily determined by the fluid type (chloride- or sulfate-rich), the solution pH, and the rate of Fe(II) oxidation. The pH at the time of initial mineral nucleation and the amount of residual dissolved Fe(II) in the system exert important additional controls on the final mineralogy. Subsequent diagenetic transformation of these phases would yield 5.7 wt.% hematite per wt.% of chlorate reacted, providing a quantitative constraint on the capacity of chlorate to generate iron oxides on Mars.
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19
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Huang W, Ertekin E, Wang T, Cruz L, Dailey M, DiRuggiero J, Kisailus D. Mechanism of water extraction from gypsum rock by desert colonizing microorganisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:10681-10687. [PMID: 32366642 PMCID: PMC7245118 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001613117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms, in the most hyperarid deserts around the world, inhabit the inside of rocks as a survival strategy. Water is essential for life, and the ability of a rock substrate to retain water is essential for its habitability. Here we report the mechanism by which gypsum rocks from the Atacama Desert, Chile, provide water for its colonizing microorganisms. We show that the microorganisms can extract water of crystallization (i.e., structurally ordered) from the rock, inducing a phase transformation from gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) to anhydrite (CaSO4). To investigate and validate the water extraction and phase transformation mechanisms found in the natural geological environment, we cultivated a cyanobacterium isolate on gypsum rock samples under controlled conditions. We found that the cyanobacteria attached onto high surface energy crystal planes ({011}) of gypsum samples generate a thin biofilm that induced mineral dissolution accompanied by water extraction. This process led to a phase transformation to an anhydrous calcium sulfate, anhydrite, which was formed via reprecipitation and subsequent attachment and alignment of nanocrystals. Results in this work not only shed light on how microorganisms can obtain water under severe xeric conditions but also provide insights into potential life in even more extreme environments, such as Mars, as well as offering strategies for advanced water storage methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Emine Ertekin
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Taifeng Wang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Luz Cruz
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Micah Dailey
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | | | - David Kisailus
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521;
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
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20
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Cockell CS. Persistence of Habitable, but Uninhabited, Aqueous Solutions and the Application to Extraterrestrial Environments. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:617-627. [PMID: 32105517 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In most environments on Earth, habitable environments contain life. Experiments were conducted to investigate the decoupling of the presence of habitable conditions and life. A set of microcosms habitable for known groups of organisms, but uninhabited (i.e., uninhabited habitats), was exposed to external environmental conditions to test the hypothesis that extreme habitable environments can remain uninhabited for sustained time periods. These microcosms were made of tubes containing liquid water and inorganic N, P, and S. Organics (used as electron donors and as a C source) were provided as L and D amino acids. One set of uninhabited habitats contained no additional salts, one set contained saturated NaCl, and one set contained saturated MgSO4. A ddH2O control and a complex medium for Halobacterium were used as controls. The presence of organisms was tested by enumeration of colonists and sequencing of extracted DNA. At each time point, inoculation into fresh medium was used to test for growth of organisms. After 1 week, the "no salt" and saturated MgSO4 solutions were colonized. After 6 months, both the NaCl-saturated and Halobacterium solutions remained uninhabited, but all other samples were colonized. These experiments demonstrate that certain types of habitable liquid water environments exposed to microbial atmospheric inoculation, even on Earth, can remain devoid of reproducing life for many months. On other planetary bodies, such as Mars, these data imply the possibility of preserved transient water bodies that would record habitable conditions, but no evidence of life, even if life existed elsewhere on the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, James Clerk Maxwell Building, The King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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21
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Nepal S, Kumar P. Growth, Cell Division, and Gene Expression of Escherichia coli at Elevated Concentrations of Magnesium Sulfate: Implications for Habitability of Europa and Mars. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E637. [PMID: 32349403 PMCID: PMC7285182 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8050637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
We perform quantitative studies of the growth, death, and gene expression of Escherichia coli in a wide range of magnesium sulfate (MgSO 4 ) concentrations (0-2.5 M). Elevated concentration of MgSO 4 causes the inhibition of cell growth, leading to an increase in the population doubling time. We find that cells exhibit three distinct morphological phenotypes-(i) normal, (ii) filamentous, and (iii) small cells at 1 . 25 M MgSO 4 . Filamentous cells arise due to the lack of cell division, while the small cells arise due to the partial plasmolysis of the cells. We further find that cell death starts for salt concentrations >1.25 M and increases with an increasing concentration of MgSO 4 . For salt concentrations ≥1.66 M, the growth of cells stops and all the cells become smaller than the control cells, suggesting the plasmolysis of the population. Cells grown at salt concentration up to 2 . 07 M are reversible in both the growth rate and morphology upon the removal of the salt stress. The time scale of reversibility increases with increasing salt concentration. Finally, we investigate the expression of an osmotically inducible gene (osmC), genes involved in magnesium transport (corA), sulfate transport (cysP), and osmotically driven transport of water (aqpZ). We find that a high concentration of magnesium sulfate leads to the upregulation of cysP and osmC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudip Nepal
- Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA;
- Microelectronics and Photonics Graduate Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA;
- Microelectronics and Photonics Graduate Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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Wilks JM, Chen F, Clark BC, Schneegurt MA. Bacterial Growth in Saturated and Eutectic Solutions of Magnesium Sulphate and Potassium Chlorate with Relevance to Mars and the Ocean Worlds. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 18:502-509. [PMID: 33776587 PMCID: PMC7992186 DOI: 10.1017/s1473550418000502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Liquid water on Mars might be created by deliquescence of hygroscopic salts or by permafrost melts, both potentially forming saturated brines. Freezing point depression allows these heavy brines to remain liquid in the near-surface environment for extended periods, perhaps as eutectic solutions, at the lowest temperatures and highest salt concentrations where ices and precipitates do not form. Perchlorate and chlorate salts and iron sulfate form brines with low eutectic temperatures and may persist under Mars near-surface conditions, but are chemically harsh at high concentrations and were expected to be incompatible with life, while brines of common sulfate salts on Mars may be more suitable for microbial growth. Microbial growth in saturated brines also may be relevant beyond Mars, to the oceans of Ceres, Enceladus, Europa and Pluto. We have previously shown strong growth of salinotolerant bacteria in media containing 2 M MgSO4 heptahydrate (~50% w/v) at 25 °C. Here we extend those observations to bacterial isolates from Basque Lake, BC and Hot Lake, WA, that grow well in saturated MgSO4 medium (67%) at 25 °C and in 50% MgSO4 medium at 4 °C (56% would be saturated). Psychrotolerant, salinotolerant microbes isolated from Basque Lake soils included Halomonas and Marinococcus, which were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and characterized phenetically. Eutectic liquid medium constituted by 43% MgSO4 at -4 °C supported copious growth of these psychrotolerant Halomonas isolates, among others. Bacterial isolates also grew well at the eutectic for K chlorate (3% at -3 °C). Survival and growth in eutectic solutions increases the possibility that microbes contaminating spacecraft pose a contamination risk to Mars. The cold brines of sulfate and (per)chlorate salts that may form at times on Mars through deliquescence or permafrost melt have now been demonstrated to be suitable microbial habitats, should appropriate nutrients be available and dormant cells become vegetative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M. Wilks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
| | - Fei Chen
- Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA
| | | | - Mark A. Schneegurt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
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Crisler JD, Chen F, Clark BC, Schneegurt MA. Cultivation and characterization of the bacterial assemblage of epsomic Basque Lake, BC. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2019; 112:1105-1119. [PMID: 30737709 PMCID: PMC6548648 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-019-01244-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Athalassohaline waters that are rich in divalent ions are good analogues for the chemical environments of Mars and the ocean worlds. Sulfate salts, along with chlorides, are important in Mars regolith with Ca, Fe, Mg, and Na counterions. Certain lakes in the Pacific Northwest are saturated with MgSO4 as epsomite. Here we report on the microbial community of Basque Lake, BC, a group of playas that is saturated with MgSO4. More than 60 bacterial isolates were obtained from Basque Lake soils by enrichment culture and repetitive streak-plating using media containing 10% (~ 1.7 M) NaCl or 50% (~ 2 M) MgSO4. Most of the isolates (~ 75%) were Gram-positive, motile, and produced endospores. Isolates related to Marinococcus halophilus and Virgibacillus marismortui dominated the collection. Halomonas and Salinivibrio were Gram-negative genera found at Basque Lake. Nearly all of the Basque Lake isolates grew at 50% MgSO4, with 65% growing at 60% MgSO4. Several isolates could grow in saturated (67%) MgSO4 (aw = 0.90). All of the isolates grew at 10% NaCl with 70% growing at 20% salinity (~ 3.5 M NaCl; aw = 0.82). Basque Lake isolates grew better at basic pH than acidic pH, with 80% growing at pH 9 and 30% growing at pH 10. Only 20% of the isolates grew at pH 5. Numerical taxonomy dendrograms based on 44 phenetic characteristics showed a strong correspondence to phylogenetic trees constructed from 16S rRNA gene sequences. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene sequences from direct DNA extracts of Basque Lake soils recovered predominantly Proteobacteria (60%), Firmicutes (11%), and unclassified bacteria (27%). Microbes capable of growth under the extreme chemical conditions of Mars are a particular concern for forward planetary protection should they contaminate a spacecraft.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Crisler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, 26, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Mark A Schneegurt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, 26, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260, USA.
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24
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Martin‐Cuadrado A, Senel E, Martínez‐García M, Cifuentes A, Santos F, Almansa C, Moreno‐Paz M, Blanco Y, García‐Villadangos M, Cura MÁG, Sanz‐Montero ME, Rodríguez‐Aranda JP, Rosselló‐Móra R, Antón J, Parro V. Prokaryotic and viral community of the sulfate‐rich crust from Peñahueca ephemeral lake, an astrobiology analogue. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:3577-3600. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ece Senel
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of Alicante Alicante Spain
- Department of BiologyGraduate School of Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University Yunusemre Campus, Eskisehir 26470 Turkey
| | - Manuel Martínez‐García
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Ana Cifuentes
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Marine Microbiology GroupMediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC‐UIB) Esporles Spain
| | - Fernando Santos
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Cristina Almansa
- Research Technical Services (SSTTI), Microscopy UnitUniversity of Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Mercedes Moreno‐Paz
- Department of Molecular EvolutionCentro de Astrobiología (INTA‐CSIC) Madrid Spain
| | - Yolanda Blanco
- Department of Molecular EvolutionCentro de Astrobiología (INTA‐CSIC) Madrid Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Ramon Rosselló‐Móra
- Department of BiologyGraduate School of Sciences, Eskisehir Technical University Yunusemre Campus, Eskisehir 26470 Turkey
| | - Josefa Antón
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Víctor Parro
- Department of Molecular EvolutionCentro de Astrobiología (INTA‐CSIC) Madrid Spain
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25
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Xue H, Lu Y, Geng H, Dong B, Wu S, Fan Q, Zhang Z, Li X, Zhou X, Wang J. Hydroxyl Groups on the Graphene Surfaces Facilitate Ice Nucleation. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:2458-2462. [PMID: 31038967 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although it is crucial to the formation of cirrus clouds and consequently the climate on Earth, the unambiguous effect of carbonaceous materials (CM) on ice nucleation remains to be unveiled as the chemical variation on the surface of CM is always complicated by the change in morphology. Here, we separately investigate the effects of the surface chemistry and morphology of CM on ice nucleation by studying ice nucleation on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surfaces treated with different types of plasmas. We discover unambiguously that increasing the density of hydroxyl groups leads to an increased activity of ice nucleation on the surface of graphene, while no observable effects are found when carboxylic groups are introduced. Analysis based on the classical nucleation theory reveals that the increase in the density of hydroxyl groups on the graphene surface results in an increased binding energy between the ice nucleus and the graphene surface, which consequently facilitates the formation of the critical ice nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Xue
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Youhua Lu
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Hongya Geng
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Bin Dong
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Shuwang Wu
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Qingrui Fan
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Xiaojun Li
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Xin Zhou
- School of Physical Sciences , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
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26
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Belov AA, Cheptsov VS, Vorobyova EA. Soil bacterial communities of Sahara and Gibson deserts: Physiological and taxonomical characteristics. AIMS Microbiol 2018; 4:685-710. [PMID: 31294242 PMCID: PMC6613332 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.4.685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate the structure of soil bacteria communities present in the Gibson (Australia) and the Sahara (Egypt) deserts, as well as to estimate strain survivability under different environmental factors. It should be noticed that the screening of bacterial resistance to wide spectra of principally different stress conditions was performed for the first time. Experiments were conducted with culturable bacterial communities. Strains were identified using 16S rRNA sequencing, and stress-tolerance was estimated by growing strains in various nutrient media. In order to characterize the community the epifluorescent microscopy and multisubstrate testing were also performed. High bacterial abundance in the desert soils was detected, and there was seen a significant proportion of culturable cells. The close numbers of psychotropic and mesophilic bacteria in arid ecosystems were revealed. The representatives of the Actinobacteria phylum were dominant in the microbial communities, and Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla representatives were also identified. Tolerance of the axenic bacterial cultures, isolated from arid desert ecotopes, to temperature, pH, salts (KCl, NaCl, MgSO4, NaHCO3), strong oxidizers (Mg(ClO4)2), and antibiotics (ampicillin, cephalexin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, doxycycline, kanamycin, rifampicin) was studied. The bacterial isolates were characterized by polyextremotolerance and by the ability to maintain metabolic activity in vitro while influenced by a wide range of physicochemical and biotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A. Belov
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir S. Cheptsov
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena A. Vorobyova
- Soil Science Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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27
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Pfitzner KS, Harford AJ, Whiteside TG, Bartolo RE. Mapping magnesium sulfate salts from saline mine discharge with airborne hyperspectral data. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 640-641:1259-1271. [PMID: 30021291 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Managing saline water discharges from mining operations is a global environmental challenge. Measuring the location and extent of surface efflorescence can indicate solute movement before changes in electrical conductivity (EC) are detected in waterways. We hypothesised through the use of a case study that ground-based reflectance spectrometry and airborne hyperspectral (450-2500 nm) analysis of surface efflorescence could be a rapid method for monitoring large regions of the surrounding environment, including downstream of remote mines. X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence were used to determine mineralogy and elemental composition of surface salts around a uranium mine. Salt samples were found to be mixtures of magnesium sulfate. The reflectance of field spectra varied depending on the hydration of the mineral, mainly hexahydrite and starkeyite. A constrained energy minimisation technique was used to match the field reflectance spectra to the airborne data. Airborne matches were confirmed at the field sampling sites and surrounds. Salts were also detected at lower matches at mine water irrigation areas where excess mine water had previously been applied. Hence, hyperspectral remote sensing is a potentially rapid and sensitive method for mapping magnesium sulfates over large areas in operating and rehabilitated mines. It was successfully demonstrated as a tool for monitoring and assessment of efflorescence as a result of saline processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirrilly S Pfitzner
- Department of the Environment and Energy, Supervising Scientist Branch, PO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia.
| | - Andrew J Harford
- Department of the Environment and Energy, Supervising Scientist Branch, PO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia
| | - Timothy G Whiteside
- Department of the Environment and Energy, Supervising Scientist Branch, PO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia
| | - Renee E Bartolo
- Department of the Environment and Energy, Supervising Scientist Branch, PO Box 461, Darwin, NT 0801, Australia
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28
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Wang A, Sobron P, Kong F, Zheng M, Zhao YYS. Dalangtan Saline Playa in a Hyperarid Region on Tibet Plateau: II. Preservation of Salts with High Hydration Degrees in Subsurface. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1254-1276. [PMID: 30152704 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Based on a field expedition to the Dalangtan (DLT) saline playa located in a hyperarid region (Qaidam Basin) on the Tibet Plateau and follow-up investigations, we report the mineralogy and geochemistry of the salt layers in two vertical stratigraphic cross sections in the DLT playa. Na-, Ca-, Mg-, KCaMg-sulfates; Na-, K-, KMg-chlorides; mixed (K, Mg)-chloride-sulfate; and chlorate and perchlorate were identified in the collected samples. This mineral assemblage represents the last-stage precipitation products from Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl-SO4 brine and the oxychlorine formation from photochemistry reaction similar to other hyperarid regions on Earth. The spatial distributions of these salts in both stratigraphic cross sections suggest very limited brine volumes during the precipitation episodes in the Holocene era. More importantly, sulfates and chlorides with a high degree of hydrations were found preserved within the subsurface salt-rich layers of DLT saline playa, where the environmental conditions at the surface are controlled by the hyperaridity in the Qaidam Basin on the Tibet Plateau. Our findings suggest a very different temperature and relative humidity environment maintained by the hydrous salts in a subsurface salty layer, where the climatic conditions at surface have very little or no influence. This observation bears some similarities with four observations on Mars, which implies not only a large humidity reservoir in midlatitude and equatorial regions on Mars but also habitability potential that warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alian Wang
- 1 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McDonnell Center for Space Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Pablo Sobron
- 2 SETI Institute , Mountain View, California
- 3 Impossible Sensing , St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Fanjing Kong
- 4 MLR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Environments and Resources, Institute of Mineral Resources , Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mianping Zheng
- 4 MLR Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Environments and Resources, Institute of Mineral Resources , Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Yan Sara Zhao
- 5 Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
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29
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Fox-Powell MG, Cockell CS. Building a Geochemical View of Microbial Salt Tolerance: Halophilic Adaptation of Marinococcus in a Natural Magnesium Sulfate Brine. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:739. [PMID: 29713317 PMCID: PMC5911959 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current knowledge of life in hypersaline habitats is mostly limited to sodium and chloride-dominated environments. This narrow compositional window does not reflect the diversity of brine environments that exist naturally on Earth and other planetary bodies. Understanding the limits of the microbial biosphere and predicting extraterrestrial habitability demands a systematic effort to characterize ionic specificities of organisms from a representative range of saline habitats. Here, we investigated a strain of Marinococcus isolated from the magnesium and sulfate-dominated Basque Lakes (British Columbia, Canada). This organism was the sole isolate obtained after exposure to exceptionally high levels of Mg2+ and SO42- ions (2.369 and 2.840 M, respectively), and grew at extremes of ionic strength not normally encountered in Na+/Cl- brines (12.141 mol liter-1). Its association at the 16S rDNA level with bacterial halophiles suggests that ancestral halophily has allowed it to adapt to a different saline habitat. Growth was demonstrated in media dominated by NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2, and MgSO4, yet despite this plasticity the strain was still restricted; requiring either Na+ or Cl- to maintain short doubling times. Water activity could not explain growth rate differences between media, demonstrating the importance of ionic composition for dictating microbial growth windows. A new framework for understanding growth in brines is required, that accounts for the geochemical history of brines as well as the various stresses that ions impose on microbes. Studies such as this are required to gain a truly universal understanding of the limits of biological ion tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G Fox-Powell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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30
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Valdespino-Castillo PM, Hu P, Merino-Ibarra M, López-Gómez LM, Cerqueda-García D, González-De Zayas R, Pi-Puig T, Lestayo JA, Holman HY, Falcón LI. Exploring Biogeochemistry and Microbial Diversity of Extant Microbialites in Mexico and Cuba. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:510. [PMID: 29666607 PMCID: PMC5891642 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbialites are modern analogs of ancient microbial consortia that date as far back as the Archaean Eon. Microbialites have contributed to the geochemical history of our planet through their diverse metabolic capacities that mediate mineral precipitation. These mineral-forming microbial assemblages accumulate major ions, trace elements and biomass from their ambient aquatic environments; their role in the resulting chemical structure of these lithifications needs clarification. We studied the biogeochemistry and microbial structure of microbialites collected from diverse locations in Mexico and in a previously undescribed microbialite in Cuba. We examined their structure, chemistry and mineralogy at different scales using an array of nested methods including 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, elemental analysis, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Synchrotron Radiation-based Fourier Transformed Infrared (SR-FTIR) spectromicroscopy. The resulting data revealed high biological and chemical diversity among microbialites and specific microbe to chemical correlations. Regardless of the sampling site, Proteobacteria had the most significant correlations with biogeochemical parameters such as organic carbon (Corg), nitrogen and Corg:Ca ratio. Biogeochemically relevant bacterial groups (dominant phototrophs and heterotrophs) showed significant correlations with major ion composition, mineral type and transition element content, such as cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper and nickel. Microbial-chemical relationships were discussed in reference to microbialite formation, microbial metabolic capacities and the role of transition elements as enzyme cofactors. This paper provides an analytical baseline to drive our understanding of the links between microbial diversity with the chemistry of their lithified precipitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia M Valdespino-Castillo
- Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Ping Hu
- Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Martín Merino-Ibarra
- Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luz M López-Gómez
- Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniel Cerqueda-García
- Laboratorio de Ecología Bacteriana, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Teresa Pi-Puig
- Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio Nacional de Geoquímica y Mineralogía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Julio A Lestayo
- Centro de Investigaciones de Ecosistemas Costeros, Cayo Coco, Cuba
| | - Hoi-Ying Holman
- Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.,Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Luisa I Falcón
- Laboratorio de Ecología Bacteriana, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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31
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Shellnutt JG. Derivation of intermediate to silicic magma from the basalt analyzed at the Vega 2 landing site, Venus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194155. [PMID: 29584745 PMCID: PMC5870967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Geochemical modeling using the basalt composition analyzed at the Vega 2 landing site indicates that intermediate to silicic liquids can be generated by fractional crystallization and equilibrium partial melting. Fractional crystallization modeling using variable pressures (0.01 GPa to 0.5 GPa) and relative oxidation states (FMQ 0 and FMQ -1) of either a wet (H2O = 0.5 wt%) or dry (H2O = 0 wt%) parental magma can yield silicic (SiO2 > 60 wt%) compositions that are similar to terrestrial ferroan rhyolite. Hydrous (H2O = 0.5 wt%) partial melting can yield intermediate (trachyandesite to andesite) to silicic (trachydacite) compositions at all pressures but requires relatively high temperatures (≥ 950°C) to generate the initial melt at intermediate to low pressure whereas at high pressure (0.5 GPa) the first melts will be generated at much lower temperatures (< 800°C). Anhydrous partial melt modeling yielded mafic (basaltic andesite) and alkaline compositions (trachybasalt) but the temperature required to produce the first liquid is very high (≥ 1130°C). Consequently, anhydrous partial melting is an unlikely process to generate derivative liquids. The modeling results indicate that, under certain conditions, the Vega 2 composition can generate silicic liquids that produce granitic and rhyolitic rocks. The implication is that silicic igneous rocks may form a small but important component of the northeast Aphrodite Terra.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Gregory Shellnutt
- National Taiwan Normal University, Department of Earth Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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32
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Sklute EC, Rogers AD, Gregerson JC, Jensen HB, Reeder RJ, Dyar MD. Amorphous salts formed from rapid dehydration of multicomponent chloride and ferric sulfate brines: Implications for Mars. ICARUS 2018; 302:285-295. [PMID: 29670302 PMCID: PMC5901898 DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2017.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Salts with high hydration states have the potential to maintain high levels of relative humidity (RH) in the near subsurface of Mars, even at moderate temperatures. These conditions could promote deliquescence of lower hydrates of ferric sulfate, chlorides, and other salts. Previous work on deliquesced ferric sulfates has shown that when these materials undergo rapid dehydration, such as that which would occur upon exposure to present day Martian surface conditions, an amorphous phase forms. However, the fate of deliquesced halides or mixed ferric sulfate-bearing brines are presently unknown. Here we present results of rapid dehydration experiments on Ca-, Na-, Mg- and Fe-chloride brines and multi-component (Fe2 (SO4)3 ± Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cl, HCO3) brines at ∼21°C, and characterize the dehydration products using visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy, mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We find that rapid dehydration of many multicomponent brines can form amorphous solids or solids with an amorphous component, and that the presence of other elements affects the persistence of the amorphous phase under RH fluctuations. Of the pure chloride brines, only Fe-chloride formed an amorphous solid. XRD patterns of the multicomponent amorphous salts show changes in position, shape, and magnitude of the characteristic diffuse scattering observed in all amorphous materials that could be used to help constrain the composition of the amorphous salt. Amorphous salts deliquesce at lower RH values compared to their crystalline counterparts, opening up the possibility of their role in potential deliquescence-related geologic phenomena such as recurring slope lineae (RSLs) or soil induration. This work suggests that a wide range of aqueous mixed salt solutions can lead to the formation of amorphous salts and are possible for Mars; detailed studies of the formation mechanisms, stability and transformation behaviors of amorphous salts are necessary to further constrain their contribution to Martian surface materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C. Sklute
- Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - A. Deanne Rogers
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - Jason C. Gregerson
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - Heidi B. Jensen
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - Richard J. Reeder
- Department of Geoscience, Stony Brook University, 255 Earth and Space Science Building, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA
| | - M. Darby Dyar
- Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
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Pedreira-Segade U, Michot LJ, Daniel I. Effects of salinity on the adsorption of nucleotides onto phyllosilicates. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:1938-1952. [PMID: 29297910 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp07004g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
In the context of the origin of life, phyllosilicate surfaces might favor the adsorption, concentration and reactivity of otherwise diluted prebiotic molecules. The primitive oceanic seafloor was certainly rich in Fe-Mg-rich phyllosilicates. The salinity of the primitive seawater remains largely unknown. Values ranging from 1 to 15 times modern salinity have been proposed and the salt composition of the primitive ocean also remains elusive although it may have played a role in the interactions between nucleotides and mineral surfaces. Therefore we studied the adsorption of 5'-monophosphate deoxyguanosine (dGMP) as a model nucleotide onto a Fe-rich swelling clay, i.e. nontronite, and an Al-rich phyllosilicate, i.e. pyrophyllite, for comparison. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure, 25 °C and natural pH, with a series of salts NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, MgSO4, NaH2PO4 and LaCl3 in order to evaluate the effect of cations and anions on dGMP adsorption. The present study shows that nucleotides are adsorbed on both phyllosilicates via a ligand exchange mechanism. The phosphate group of the nucleotide is adsorbed on the lateral metal hydroxyls of the broken edges of phyllosilicates. The presence of divalent cations or molecular anions, such as phosphate or sulfate, tends to inhibit this interaction on mineral surfaces. However, in the presence of divalent cations, cationic bridging on the basal surfaces of the swelling clay also occurs and could induce a higher retention capacity of the swelling clays compared to non-swelling phyllosilicates in primitive and modern natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulysse Pedreira-Segade
- Univ Lyon, Ens de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5276 LGL-TPE, F-69342, Lyon, France.
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Pontefract A, Zhu TF, Walker VK, Hepburn H, Lui C, Zuber MT, Ruvkun G, Carr CE. Microbial Diversity in a Hypersaline Sulfate Lake: A Terrestrial Analog of Ancient Mars. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1819. [PMID: 29018418 PMCID: PMC5623196 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Life can persist under severe osmotic stress and low water activity in hypersaline environments. On Mars, evidence for the past presence of saline bodies of water is prevalent and resulted in the widespread deposition of sulfate and chloride salts. Here we investigate Spotted Lake (British Columbia, Canada), a hypersaline lake with extreme (>3 M) levels of sulfate salts as an exemplar of the conditions thought to be associated with ancient Mars. We provide the first characterization of microbial structure in Spotted Lake sediments through metagenomic sequencing, and report a bacteria-dominated community with abundant Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, as well as diverse extremophiles. Microbial abundance and functional comparisons reveal similarities to Ace Lake, a meromictic Antarctic lake with anoxic and sulfidic bottom waters. Our analysis suggests that hypersaline-associated species occupy niches characterized foremost by differential abundance of Archaea, uncharacterized Bacteria, and Cyanobacteria. Potential biosignatures in this environment are discussed, specifically the likelihood of a strong sulfur isotopic fractionation record within the sediments due to the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria. With its high sulfate levels and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles, Spotted Lake is an analog for ancient paleolakes on Mars in which sulfate salt deposits may have offered periodically habitable environments, and could have concentrated and preserved organic materials or their biomarkers over geologic time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pontefract
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ting F Zhu
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Holli Hepburn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Clarissa Lui
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Maria T Zuber
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Gary Ruvkun
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Christopher E Carr
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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dC Rubin SS, Marín I, Gómez MJ, Morales EA, Zekker I, San Martín-Uriz P, Rodríguez N, Amils R. Prokaryotic diversity and community composition in the Salar de Uyuni, a large scale, chaotropic salt flat. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:3745-3754. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 07/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio S. dC Rubin
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; CNIB; Bolivia
- Departamento de Biología Molecular; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco; Madrid 28049 Spain
| | - Irma Marín
- Departamento de Biología Molecular; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco; Madrid 28049 Spain
| | - Manuel J. Gómez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Melchor Fernández Almagro 3; Madrid 28029 Spain
| | - Eduardo A. Morales
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; CNIB; Bolivia
- Herbario Criptogámico; Universidad Católica Boliviana; Cochabamba Bolivia
| | - Ivar Zekker
- Institute of Chemistry; University of Tartu; Tartu Estonia
| | | | - Nuria Rodríguez
- Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz; Madrid 28055 Spain
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; CNIB; Bolivia
- Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz; Madrid 28055 Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM); Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid 28049 Spain
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Martian slope streaks as plausible indicators of transient water activity. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7074. [PMID: 28765566 PMCID: PMC5539097 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07453-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Slope streaks have been frequently observed in the equatorial, low thermal inertia and dusty regions of Mars. The reason behind their formation remains unclear with proposed hypotheses for both dry and wet mechanisms. Here, we report an up-to-date distribution and morphometric investigation of Martian slope streaks. We find: (i) a remarkable coexistence of the slope streak distribution with the regions on Mars with high abundances of water-equivalent hydrogen, chlorine, and iron; (ii) favourable thermodynamic conditions for transient deliquescence and brine development in the slope streak regions; (iii) a significant concurrence of slope streak distribution with the regions of enhanced atmospheric water vapour concentration, thus suggestive of a present-day regolith-atmosphere water cycle; and (iv) terrain preferences and flow patterns supporting a wet mechanism for slope streaks. These results suggest a strong local regolith-atmosphere water coupling in the slope streak regions that leads to the formation of these fluidised features. Our conclusions can have profound astrobiological, habitability, environmental, and planetary protection implications.
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37
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Perchlorates on Mars enhance the bacteriocidal effects of UV light. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4662. [PMID: 28684729 PMCID: PMC5500590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04910-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Perchlorates have been identified on the surface of Mars. This has prompted speculation of what their influence would be on habitability. We show that when irradiated with a simulated Martian UV flux, perchlorates become bacteriocidal. At concentrations associated with Martian surface regolith, vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis in Martian analogue environments lost viability within minutes. Two other components of the Martian surface, iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide, act in synergy with irradiated perchlorates to cause a 10.8-fold increase in cell death when compared to cells exposed to UV radiation after 60 seconds of exposure. These data show that the combined effects of at least three components of the Martian surface, activated by surface photochemistry, render the present-day surface more uninhabitable than previously thought, and demonstrate the low probability of survival of biological contaminants released from robotic and human exploration missions.
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Kereszturi A, Bradak B, Chatzitheodoridis E, Ujvari G. Indicators and Methods to Understand Past Environments from ExoMars Rover Drills. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2016; 46:435-454. [PMID: 27029794 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-016-9492-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Great advances are expected during the analysis of drilled material acquired from 2 m depth by ExoMars rover, supported by the comparison to local context, and the joint use of different instruments. Textural information might be less detailed relatively to what is usually obtained at outcrops during classical geological field work on the Earth, partly because of the lack of optical imaging of the borehole wall and also because the collected samples are crushed. However sub-mm scale layering and some other sedimentary features might be identified in the borehole wall observations, or in the collected sample prior to crushing, and also at nearby outcrops. The candidate landing sites provide different targets and focus for research: Oxia Planum requires analysis of phyllosilicates and OH content, at Mawrth Vallis the layering of various phyllosilicates and the role of shallow-subsurface leaching should be emphasized. At Aram Dorsum the particle size and fluvial sedimentary features will be interesting. Hydrated perchlorates and sulphates are ideal targets possibly at every landing sites because of OH retention, especially if they are mixed with smectites, thus could point to even ancient wet periods. Extensive use of information from the infrared wall scanning will be complemented for geological context by orbital and rover imaging of nearby outcrops. Information from the context is especially useful to infer the possible action of past H2O. Separation of the ice and liquid water effects will be supported by cation abundance and sedimentary context. Shape of grains also helps here, and composition of transported grains points to the weathering potential of the environment in general. The work on Mars during the drilling and sample analysis will provide brand new experience and knowledge for future missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kereszturi
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - B Bradak
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Planetology, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | | | - G Ujvari
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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He Z, Xie WJ, Liu Z, Liu G, Wang Z, Gao YQ, Wang J. Tuning ice nucleation with counterions on polyelectrolyte brush surfaces. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1600345. [PMID: 27386581 PMCID: PMC4928907 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous ice nucleation (HIN) on ionic surfaces is ubiquitous in a wide range of atmospheric aerosols and at biological interfaces. Despite its great importance in cirrus cloud formation and cryopreservation of cells, organs, and tissues, it remains unclear whether the ion-specific effect on ice nucleation exists. Benefiting from the fact that ions at the polyelectrolyte brush (PB)/water interface can be reversibly exchanged, we report the effect of ions on HIN on the PB surface, and we discover that the distinct efficiency of ions in tuning HIN follows the Hofmeister series. Moreover, a large HIN temperature window of up to 7.8°C is demonstrated. By establishing a correlation between the fraction of ice-like water molecules and the kinetics of structural transformation from liquid- to ice-like water molecules at the PB/water interface with different counterions, we show that our molecular dynamics simulation analysis is consistent with the experimental observation of the ion-specific effect on HIN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan He
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Wen Jun Xie
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhenqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guangming Liu
- Department of Chemical Physics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zuowei Wang
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AX, UK
| | - Yi Qin Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Corresponding author. (J.W.); (Y.Q.G.)
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Corresponding author. (J.W.); (Y.Q.G.)
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40
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Fox-Powell MG, Hallsworth JE, Cousins CR, Cockell CS. Ionic Strength Is a Barrier to the Habitability of Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:427-42. [PMID: 27213516 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The thermodynamic availability of water (water activity) strictly limits microbial propagation on Earth, particularly in hypersaline environments. A considerable body of evidence indicates the existence of hypersaline surface waters throughout the history of Mars; therefore it is assumed that, as on Earth, water activity is a major limiting factor for martian habitability. However, the differing geological histories of Earth and Mars have driven variations in their respective aqueous geochemistry, with as-yet-unknown implications for habitability. Using a microbial community enrichment approach, we investigated microbial habitability for a suite of simulated martian brines. While the habitability of some martian brines was consistent with predictions made from water activity, others were uninhabitable even when the water activity was biologically permissive. We demonstrate experimentally that high ionic strength, driven to extremes on Mars by the ubiquitous occurrence of multivalent ions, renders these environments uninhabitable despite the presence of biologically available water. These findings show how the respective geological histories of Earth and Mars, which have produced differences in the planets' dominant water chemistries, have resulted in different physicochemical extremes which define the boundary space for microbial habitability. KEY WORDS Habitability-Mars-Salts-Water activity-Life in extreme environments. Astrobiology 16, 427-442.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G Fox-Powell
- 1 UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , UK
| | - John E Hallsworth
- 2 Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast , UK
| | - Claire R Cousins
- 3 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St. Andrews , UK
| | - Charles S Cockell
- 1 UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , UK
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41
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Sklute EC, Jensen HB, Rogers AD, Reeder RJ. Morphological, structural, and spectral characteristics of amorphous iron sulfates. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2015; 120:809-830. [PMID: 29675340 PMCID: PMC5903680 DOI: 10.1002/2014je004784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Current or past brine hydrologic activity on Mars may provide suitable conditions for the formation of amorphous ferric sulfates. Once formed, these phases would likely be stable under current Martian conditions, particularly at low- to mid-latitudes. Therefore, we consider amorphous iron sulfates (AIS) as possible components of Martian surface materials. Laboratory AIS were created through multiple synthesis routes and characterized with total X-ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, visible/near-infrared (VNIR), thermal infrared (TIR), and Mössbauer techniques. We synthesized amorphous ferric sulfates (Fe(III)2(SO4)3 · ~ 6-8H2O) from sulfate-saturated fluids via vacuum dehydration or exposure to low relative humidity (<11%). Amorphous ferrous sulfate (Fe(II)SO4 · ~1H2O) was synthesized via vacuum dehydration of melanterite. All AIS lack structural order beyond 11 Å. The short-range (<5 Å) structural characteristics of amorphous ferric sulfates resemble all crystalline reference compounds; structural characteristics for the amorphous ferrous sulfate are similar to but distinct from both rozenite and szomolnokite. VNIR and TIR spectral data for all AIS display broad, muted features consistent with structural disorder and are spectrally distinct from all crystalline sulfates considered for comparison. Mössbauer spectra are also distinct from crystalline phase spectra available for comparison. AIS should be distinguishable from crystalline sulfates based on the position of their Fe-related absorptions in the visible range and their spectral characteristics in the TIR. In the NIR, bands associated with hydration at ~1.4 and 1.9 μm are significantly broadened, which greatly reduces their detectability in soil mixtures. AIS may contribute to the amorphous fraction of soils measured by the Curiosity rover.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. C. Sklute
- Department of Geosciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Now at Department of Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, USA
| | - H. B. Jensen
- Department of Geosciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - A. D. Rogers
- Department of Geosciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - R. J. Reeder
- Department of Geosciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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42
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Lewis JMT, Watson JS, Najorka J, Luong D, Sephton MA. Sulfate minerals: a problem for the detection of organic compounds on Mars? ASTROBIOLOGY 2015; 15:247-58. [PMID: 25695727 PMCID: PMC4363818 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2014.1160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/27/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The search for in situ organic matter on Mars involves encounters with minerals and requires an understanding of their influence on lander and rover experiments. Inorganic host materials can be helpful by aiding the preservation of organic compounds or unhelpful by causing the destruction of organic matter during thermal extraction steps. Perchlorates are recognized as confounding minerals for thermal degradation studies. On heating, perchlorates can decompose to produce oxygen, which then oxidizes organic matter. Other common minerals on Mars, such as sulfates, may also produce oxygen upon thermal decay, presenting an additional complication. Different sulfate species decompose within a large range of temperatures. We performed a series of experiments on a sample containing the ferric sulfate jarosite. The sulfate ions within jarosite break down from 500 °C. Carbon dioxide detected during heating of the sample was attributed to oxidation of organic matter. A laboratory standard of ferric sulfate hydrate released sulfur dioxide from 550 °C, and an oxygen peak was detected in the products. Calcium sulfate did not decompose below 1000 °C. Oxygen released from sulfate minerals may have already affected organic compound detection during in situ thermal experiments on Mars missions. A combination of preliminary mineralogical analyses and suitably selected pyrolysis temperatures may increase future success in the search for past or present life on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M T Lewis
- 1 Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom
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43
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Zhang Y, Anim-Danso E, Dhinojwala A. The Effect of a Solid Surface on the Segregation and Melting of Salt Hydrates. J Am Chem Soc 2014; 136:14811-20. [DOI: 10.1021/ja5067866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Emmanuel Anim-Danso
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
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44
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Linnow K, Niermann M, Bonatz D, Posern K, Steiger M. Experimental Studies of the Mechanism and Kinetics of Hydration Reactions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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45
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Frost RL, López A, Scholz R, Xi Y, da Silveira AJ, Lima RMF. Characterization of the sulphate mineral amarantite - Fe2(3+)(SO4)O·7H2O using infrared, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2013; 114:85-91. [PMID: 23756259 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2013.04.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Revised: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The mineral amarantite Fe2(3+)(SO4)O·7H2O has been studied using a combination of techniques including thermogravimetry, electron probe analyses and vibrational spectroscopy. Thermal analysis shows decomposition steps at 77.63, 192.2, 550 and 641.4°C. The Raman spectrum of amarantite is dominated by an intense band at 1017 cm(-1) assigned to the SO4(2-) ν1 symmetric stretching mode. Raman bands at 1039, 1054, 1098, 1131, 1195 and 1233 cm(-1) are attributed to the SO4(2-) ν3 antisymmetric stretching modes. Very intense Raman band is observed at 409 cm(-1) with shoulder bands at 399, 451 and 491 cm(-1) are assigned to the ν2 bending modes. A series of low intensity Raman bands are found at 543, 602, 622 and 650 cm(-1) are assigned to the ν4 bending modes. A very sharp Raman band at 3529 cm(-1) is assigned to the stretching vibration of OH units. A series of Raman bands observed at 3025, 3089, 3227, 3340, 3401 and 3480 cm(-1) are assigned to water bands. Vibrational spectroscopy enables aspects of the molecular structure of the mineral amarantite to be ascertained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray L Frost
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia.
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46
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Anim-Danso E, Zhang Y, Dhinojwala A. Freezing and Melting of Salt Hydrates Next to Solid Surfaces Probed by Infrared–Visible Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:8496-9. [DOI: 10.1021/ja403437c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Anim-Danso
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
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47
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Dalton JB, Pitman KM. Low temperature optical constants of some hydrated sulfates relevant to planetary surfaces. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2011je004036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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48
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Weitz CM, Noe Dobrea EZ, Lane MD, Knudson AT. Geologic relationships between gray hematite, sulfates, and clays in Capri Chasma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2012je004092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Wang A, Freeman JJ, Chou IM, Jolliff BL. Stability of Mg-sulfates at −10°C and the rates of dehydration/rehydration processes under conditions relevant to Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011je003818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Jones EG, Lineweaver CH, Clarke JD. An extensive phase space for the potential martian biosphere. ASTROBIOLOGY 2011; 11:1017-1033. [PMID: 22149914 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2011.0660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We present a comprehensive model of martian pressure-temperature (P-T) phase space and compare it with that of Earth. Martian P-T conditions compatible with liquid water extend to a depth of ∼310 km. We use our phase space model of Mars and of terrestrial life to estimate the depths and extent of the water on Mars that is habitable for terrestrial life. We find an extensive overlap between inhabited terrestrial phase space and martian phase space. The lower martian surface temperatures and shallower martian geotherm suggest that, if there is a hot deep biosphere on Mars, it could extend 7 times deeper than the ∼5 km depth of the hot deep terrestrial biosphere in the crust inhabited by hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophs. This corresponds to ∼3.2% of the volume of present-day Mars being potentially habitable for terrestrial-like life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriita G Jones
- Planetary Sciences Institute, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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