Organic geochemistry of impactites from the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

Parnell, John; Bowden, Stephen; Osinski, G. R.; Lee, Pascal; Green, Paul; Taylor, Colin W.; Baron, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2007.01.006

Cited by 26 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Given a ~10,000 yr cooling time modeled for the hydrothermal system by Osinski et al (2005b), and for which there is independent evidence from kinetically based biomarkers (Parnell et al, 2007), the temperature data imply sulfi de precipitation, and hence thermophilic microbial activity, within 10,000 yr from impact. The pervasive precipitation implies colonization of a volume of impact breccia over 20 km 3 , all within a few hundred meters of the surface, on a time scale that is geologically very rapid.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The groundwaters in the crater are sulfate-rich today (Lim and Douglas, 2003) and have probably been so since the impact. The impact breccias yield organic biomarkers, but they are attributable to the preimpact bedrock or modern contamination rather than the sulfi de deposits (Parnell et al, 2007). No organic matter is specifi cally associated with the sulfi des, but the breccias are ubiquitously methane rich.…”

Section: Sulfates and Sulfides In The Haughton Impact Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Sulfur isotope signatures for rapid colonization of an impact crater by thermophilic microbes

Parnell

Boyce

Thackrey

et al. 2010

Geology

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In the 23-km-diameter Haughton impact structure, Canadian High Arctic, in sulfate-rich bedrock, widespread hydrothermal sulfi de mineralization occurred in breccias formed during the impact. The sulfi des exhibit extreme sulfur isotopic fractionation relative to the original sulfate, requiring microbial sulfate reduction by thermophiles throughout the crater. This evidence of widespread microbial activity demonstrates that colonization could occur within the lifetime of a moderately sized, impact-induced hydrothermal system. The pyrite was subsequently oxidized to jarosite, which may also have been microbially mediated. The successful detection of evidence for microbial life suggests that it would be a valuable technique to deploy in sulfate-rich impact terrain on Mars.on June 5, 2015 geology.gsapubs.org Downloaded from

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sulfates and Sulfides In The Haughton Impact Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Sulfur isotope signatures for rapid colonization of an impact crater by thermophilic microbes

Parnell

Boyce

Thackrey

et al. 2010

Geology

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“…What can be said is that data from the Haughton Crater in the Canadian High Arctic show biomarker thermal maturities that were only elevated in the central uplift and effectively unchanged elsewhere (Parnell et al. 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The preservation of fossil biomarkers during meteorite impact events: Experimental evidence from biomarker‐rich projectiles and target rocks

Parnell

Bowden

Lindgren

et al. 2010

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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Abstract-A Devonian siltstone from Orkney, Scotland, shows survival of biomarkers in high-velocity impact experiments. The biomarkers were detected in ejecta fragments from experiments involving normal incidence of steel projectiles at 5-6 km s )1 , and in projectile fragments from impact experiments into sand and water at 2-5 km s )1 . The associated peak shock pressures were calculated to be in the range of 110-147 GPa for impacts of the steel projectiles into the siltstone target, and hydrocode simulations are used to show the variation of peak pressure with depth in the target and throughout the finite volume projectiles. Thermally sensitive biomarker ratios, including ratios of hopanoids and steranes, and the methylphenanthrene ratio, showed an increase in thermal maturity in the ejecta, and especially the projectile, fragments. Measurement of absolute concentrations of selected biomarkers indicates that changes in biomarker ratios reflect synthesis of new material rather than selective destruction. Their presence in ejecta and projectile fragments suggests that fossil biomarkers may survive hypervelocity impacts, and that experiments using biomarker-rich rock have high potential for testing survival of organic matter in a range of impact scenarios.

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“…Although chemolithoautotrophic carbon fixation processes are of high interest for extraterrestrial settings, it is likely that phototrophic microorganisms were important (perhaps dominant) contributors to primary productivity in the Haughton postimpact environment. Heterotrophic microorganisms were also likely abundant, given the availability of organic compounds from organic material derived from the target rocks (e.g., Parnell et al, 2005aParnell et al, , 2005bParnell et al, , 2007Eglinton et al, 2006), as well as from primary production, both phototrophic and chemolithoautotrophic. In addition to the above-mentioned anaerobic metabolic pathways, processes that include anaerobic iron oxidation (using nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor), sulfur reduction, and iron reduction may be supported by primary hydrothermal mineral assemblages or their weathering products, or by materials (e.g., sulfate) mobilized in the post-impact hydrothermal environment.…”

Section: Mineral Constraints On Possible Geomicrobiology Of the Haughmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weathering of Post-Impact Hydrothermal Deposits from the Haughton Impact Structure: Implications for Microbial Colonization and Biosignature Preservation

et al. 2011

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Meteorite impacts are among the very few processes common to all planetary bodies with solid surfaces. Among the effects of impact on water-bearing targets is the formation of post-impact hydrothermal systems and associated mineral deposits. The Haughton impact structure (Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada, 75.2 °N, 89.5 °W) hosts a variety of hydrothermal mineral deposits that preserve assemblages of primary hydrothermal minerals commonly associated with secondary oxidative/hydrous weathering products. Hydrothermal mineral deposits at Haughton include intra-breccia calcite-marcasite vugs, small intra-breccia calcite or quartz vugs, intra-breccia gypsum megacryst vugs, hydrothermal pipe structures and associated surface "gossans," banded Fe-oxyhydroxide deposits, and calcite and quartz veins and coatings in shattered target rocks. Of particular importance are sulfide-rich deposits and their associated assemblage of weathering products. Hydrothermal mineral assemblages were characterized structurally, texturally, and geochemically with X-ray diffraction, micro X-ray diffraction, optical and electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Primary sulfides (marcasite and pyrite) are commonly associated with alteration minerals, including jarosite (K,Na,H(3)O)Fe(3)(SO(4))(2)(OH)(6), rozenite FeSO(4)·4(H(2)O), copiapite (Fe,Mg)Fe(4)(SO(4))(6)(OH)(2)·20(H(2)O), fibroferrite Fe(SO(4))(OH)·5(H(2)O), melanterite FeSO(4)·7(H(2)O), szomolnokite FeSO(4)·H(2)O, goethite α-FeO(OH), lepidocrocite γ-FeO(OH) and ferrihydrite Fe(2)O(3)·0.5(H(2)O). These alteration assemblages are consistent with geochemical conditions that were locally very different from the predominantly circumneutral, carbonate-buffered environment at Haughton. Mineral assemblages associated with primary hydrothermal activity, and the weathering products of such deposits, provide constraints on possible microbial activity in the post-impact environment. The initial period of active hydrothermal circulation produced primary mineral assemblages, including Fe sulfides, and was succeeded by a period dominated by oxidation and low-temperature hydration of primary minerals by surface waters. Active hydrothermal circulation can enable the rapid delivery of nutrients to microbes. Nutrient availability following the cessation of hydrothermal circulation is likely more restricted; therefore, the biological importance of chemical energy from hydrothermal mineral deposits increases with time. Weathering of primary hydrothermal deposits and dissolution and reprecipitation of mobile weathering products also create many potential habitats for endolithic microbes. They also provide a mechanism that may preserve biological materials, potentially over geological timescales.

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Organic geochemistry of impactites from the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

Cited by 26 publications

References 79 publications

Sulfur isotope signatures for rapid colonization of an impact crater by thermophilic microbes

Sulfur isotope signatures for rapid colonization of an impact crater by thermophilic microbes

The preservation of fossil biomarkers during meteorite impact events: Experimental evidence from biomarker‐rich projectiles and target rocks

Weathering of Post-Impact Hydrothermal Deposits from the Haughton Impact Structure: Implications for Microbial Colonization and Biosignature Preservation

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