"Hairy Blobs:" Microbial Suspects Preserved in Modern and Ancient Extremely Acid Lake Evaporites

Abstract

"Hairy blobs" are unusual clumps of organic bodies and sulfate crystals that have been found in evaporite minerals grown in acid saline lakes. Here, we document modern hairy blobs in halite and gypsum from 5 modern acid saline lakes in southern Western Australia, and Permian hairy blobs trapped in halite from the mid-Permian Opeche Shale in the subsurface of North Dakota. These are among the first microbial remains described from acid saline lake environments. They give clues about the role of microorganisms in the acidity, geochemistry, and mineralogy of these extreme environments. This study also may add to the inventory of life in extreme environments and help predict possible martian life-forms and the method of preservation.

Department(s)

Biological Sciences

Sponsor(s)

Petroleum Research Fund
Central Michigan University
Kansas Geological Survey
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
University of Kansas

Keywords and Phrases

Evaporites; Exobiology; Halophilic organisms; Salt lakes

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1531-1074

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2008 Mary Ann Liebert, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

09 Oct 2008

Link to Full Text

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