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Earliest signs of life on land preserved in ca. 3.5 Ga hot spring deposits

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  • Tara Djokic

    (Australian Centre for Astrobiology, PANGEA Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales
    Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS), Macquarie University)

  • Martin J. Van Kranendonk

    (Australian Centre for Astrobiology, PANGEA Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales
    Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS), Macquarie University
    Big Questions Institute, University of New South Wales Australia)

  • Kathleen A. Campbell

    (School of Environment, University of Auckland)

  • Malcolm R. Walter

    (Australian Centre for Astrobiology, PANGEA Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales)

  • Colin R. Ward

    (School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Australia)

Abstract

The ca. 3.48 Ga Dresser Formation, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, is well known for hosting some of Earth’s earliest convincing evidence of life (stromatolites, fractionated sulfur/carbon isotopes, microfossils) within a dynamic, low-eruptive volcanic caldera affected by voluminous hydrothermal fluid circulation. However, missing from the caldera model were surface manifestations of the volcanic-hydrothermal system (hot springs, geysers) and their unequivocal link with life. Here we present new discoveries of hot spring deposits including geyserite, sinter terracettes and mineralized remnants of hot spring pools/vents, all of which preserve a suite of microbial biosignatures indicative of the earliest life on land. These include stromatolites, newly observed microbial palisade fabric and gas bubbles preserved in inferred mineralized, exopolymeric substance. These findings extend the known geological record of inhabited terrestrial hot springs on Earth by ∼3 billion years and offer an analogue in the search for potential fossil life in ancient Martian hot springs.

Suggested Citation

  • Tara Djokic & Martin J. Van Kranendonk & Kathleen A. Campbell & Malcolm R. Walter & Colin R. Ward, 2017. "Earliest signs of life on land preserved in ca. 3.5 Ga hot spring deposits," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15263
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15263
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel R. Colman & Lisa M. Keller & Emilia Arteaga-Pozo & Eva Andrade-Barahona & Brian Clair & Anna Shoemaker & Alysia Cox & Eric S. Boyd, 2024. "Covariation of hot spring geochemistry with microbial genomic diversity, function, and evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Steffen Buessecker & Marike Palmer & Dengxun Lai & Joshua Dimapilis & Xavier Mayali & Damon Mosier & Jian-Yu Jiao & Daniel R. Colman & Lisa M. Keller & Emily St. John & Michelle Miranda & Cristina Gon, 2022. "An essential role for tungsten in the ecology and evolution of a previously uncultivated lineage of anaerobic, thermophilic Archaea," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Cook, David & Malinauskaite, Laura & Davíðsdóttir, Brynhildur, 2022. "Peering into the fire – An exploration of volcanic ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).

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