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The rocky road to organics needs drying

Author

Listed:
  • Muriel Andreani

    (CNRS UMR5276, ENS de Lyon, LGL-TPE
    Institut Universitaire de France)

  • Gilles Montagnac

    (CNRS UMR5276, ENS de Lyon, LGL-TPE)

  • Clémentine Fellah

    (CNRS UMR5276, ENS de Lyon, LGL-TPE)

  • Jihua Hao

    (University of Science and Technology of China
    University of Science and Technology of China
    Blue Marble Space Institute of Science)

  • Flore Vandier

    (CNRS UMR5276, ENS de Lyon, LGL-TPE)

  • Isabelle Daniel

    (CNRS UMR5276, ENS de Lyon, LGL-TPE)

  • Céline Pisapia

    (CNRS UMR 7154)

  • Jules Galipaud

    (CNRS UMR 5513, 36
    CNRS UMR 5510)

  • Marvin D. Lilley

    (University of Washington)

  • Gretchen L. Früh Green

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Stéphane Borensztajn

    (CNRS UMR 7154)

  • Bénédicte Ménez

    (CNRS UMR 7154)

Abstract

How simple abiotic organic compounds evolve toward more complex molecules of potentially prebiotic importance remains a missing key to establish where life possibly emerged. The limited variety of abiotic organics, their low concentrations and the possible pathways identified so far in hydrothermal fluids have long hampered a unifying theory of a hydrothermal origin for the emergence of life on Earth. Here we present an alternative road to abiotic organic synthesis and diversification in hydrothermal environments, which involves magmatic degassing and water-consuming mineral reactions occurring in mineral microcavities. This combination gathers key gases (N2, H2, CH4, CH3SH) and various polyaromatic materials associated with nanodiamonds and mineral products of olivine hydration (serpentinization). This endogenous assemblage results from re-speciation and drying of cooling C–O–S–H–N fluids entrapped below 600 °C–2 kbars in rocks forming the present-day oceanic lithosphere. Serpentinization dries out the system toward macromolecular carbon condensation, while olivine pods keep ingredients trapped until they are remobilized for further reactions at shallower levels. Results greatly extend our understanding of the forms of abiotic organic carbon available in hydrothermal environments and open new pathways for organic synthesis encompassing the role of minerals and drying. Such processes are expected in other planetary bodies wherever olivine-rich magmatic systems get cooled down and hydrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Muriel Andreani & Gilles Montagnac & Clémentine Fellah & Jihua Hao & Flore Vandier & Isabelle Daniel & Céline Pisapia & Jules Galipaud & Marvin D. Lilley & Gretchen L. Früh Green & Stéphane Borensztaj, 2023. "The rocky road to organics needs drying," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36038-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36038-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marie Catherine Sforna & Daniele Brunelli & Céline Pisapia & Valerio Pasini & Daniele Malferrari & Bénédicte Ménez, 2018. "Abiotic formation of condensed carbonaceous matter in the hydrating oceanic crust," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Alberto Vitale Brovarone & Isabelle Martinez & Agnès Elmaleh & Roberto Compagnoni & Carine Chaduteau & Cristiano Ferraris & Imène Esteve, 2017. "Massive production of abiotic methane during subduction evidenced in metamorphosed ophicarbonates from the Italian Alps," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, April.
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