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Biosignatures of ancient microbial life are present across the igneous crust of the Fennoscandian shield
Linnaeus University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biology and Environmental Science. Linnaeus University, Linnaeus Knowledge Environments, Water.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7230-6509
British Geological Survey, UK.
Linnaeus University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biology and Environmental Science.
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden.
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2021 (English)In: Communications Earth & Environment, E-ISSN 2662-4435, Vol. 2, no 1, article id 102Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Earth's crust contains a substantial proportion of global biomass, hosting microbial life up to several kilometers depth. Yet, knowledge of the evolution and extent of life in this environment remains elusive and patchy. Here we present isotopic, molecular and morphological signatures for deep ancient life in vein mineral specimens from mines distributed across the Precambrian Fennoscandian shield. Stable carbon isotopic signatures of calcite indicate microbial methanogenesis. In addition, sulfur isotope variability in pyrite, supported by stable carbon isotopic signatures of methyl-branched fatty acids, suggest subsequent bacterial sulfate reduction. Carbonate geochronology constrains the timing of these processes to the Cenozoic. We suggest that signatures of an ancient deep biosphere and long-term microbial activity are present throughout this shield. We suggest that microbes may have been active in the continental igneous crust over geological timescales, and that subsurface investigations may be valuable in the search for extra-terrestrial life. Cenozoic signatures of life in calcite and pyrite deposits suggest deep biosphere activity throughout the Fennoscandian Shield, as revealed by isotopic, molecular and morphological analyses of mineral specimens.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer, 2021. Vol. 2, no 1, article id 102
National Category
Geology
Research subject
Natural Science, Environmental Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-104473DOI: 10.1038/s43247-021-00170-2ISI: 000660870700001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85120054861Local ID: 2021OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-104473DiVA, id: diva2:1563795
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2017-00766Available from: 2021-06-10 Created: 2021-06-10 Last updated: 2023-02-01Bibliographically approved

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Drake, HenrikReinhardt, Manuel

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