Biomineralization of mirabilite deposits of Barkol Lake, China

Dong-yan, Wei; Liu, Zhenmin; Xiaolin, Deng; Shaokang, XU

doi:10.1007/bf03175437

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Viable microbial life at the limit of salt saturation-even inside halite and mirabilite crystals (Wei-Dongyan et al 1998)-is a geologically ancient adaptation. Microbial stromatolitebuilding communities were often formed in association with halite and imply high levels of ancient biological production at salinities exceeding halite saturation (Friedman 1980).…”

Section: Salt Ph and Metal Tolerances Of Terrestrial Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Europa's Crust and Ocean: Origin, Composition, and the Prospects for Life

Kargel

Kaye

Head

et al. 2000

Icarus

413

411

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We have considered a wide array of scenarios for Europa's chemical evolution in an attempt to explain the presence of ice and hydrated materials on its surface and to understand the physical and chemical nature of any ocean that may lie below. We postulate that, following formation of the jovian system, the europan evolutionary sequence has as its major links: EUROPA'S OCEAN 227 evolution scenarios differ greatly in detailed predictions, but they generally call for a highly impure and chemically layered crust. Some of these models could lead also to lateral chemical heterogeneities by diapiric upwellings and/or cryovolcanism. We describe some plausible geological consequences of the physical-chemical structures predicted from these scenarios. These predicted consequences and observed aspects of Europa's geology may serve as a basis for further analysis and discrimination among several alternative scenarios. Most chemical pathways could support viable ecosystems based on analogy with the metabolic and physiological versatility of terrestrial microorganisms.

show abstract

Section: Salt Ph and Metal Tolerances Of Terrestrial Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Europa's Crust and Ocean: Origin, Composition, and the Prospects for Life

Kargel

Kaye

Head

et al. 2000

Icarus

413

411

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria such as Thiobacillus in acidic environments have shown the ability to facilitate formation of jarosite, NaFe 3 (SO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6 and scorodite, FeAsO 4 ·2H 2 O (21). A role for microorganisms has been proposed for the formation of mirabilite (22), but to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of direct evidence for a biogenic origin of this mineral. This leads to the possibility that related sulfate minerals, such as those reported on the Mars surface, may have a biogenic origin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

The sulfur cycle in a permanently meromictic haloalkaline lake

et al. 2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soap Lake is a haloalkaline lake located in central Washington. This lake is a remnant of the Missoula flood events that created the landscape of western Montana, the southeastern portion of Washington state, and much of Oregon. It is 15,000 -20,000 years old, and has maintained a stable meromixis for the last 10,000 years. This carbonate lake is characterized by a brackish mixolimnion, and a monimolimnion with a salinity of ~14%. The pH of both layers of the lake is approximately 10. Both layers also have a high concentration of dissolved sulfate, with the mineral mirabilite (Na 2 SO 4 ·10H 2 O) found in the monimolimnion sediments. Sulfide concentrations in the monimolimnion exceed 100 mM. As part of the mission of the NSF Soap Lake Microbial Observatory, microorganisms involved in the sulfur cycle in this lake were studied in terms of their diversity and function. High rates of sulfate reduction were measured in both layers of the lake, with new species of sulfate-reducing bacteria seen in both areas. A particularly novel psychrophilic sulfur oxidizer was isolated from the monimolimnion. This organism has the ability to induce the formation of mirabilite, which was assumed to be an abiotically deposited evaporite mineral. This is the first evidence for a biogenic origin of this mineral. This leads to the possibility that related sulfate minerals, such as those reported on the Mars surface, may have a biogenic origin.

show abstract