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Nisson, Devan M.; Walters, Clifford C.; Chacón-Patiño, Martha L.; Weisbrod, Chad R.; Kieft, Thomas L.; Sherwood Lollar, Barbara; Warr, Oliver; Castillo, Julio; Perl, Scott M.; Cason, Errol D.; Freifeld, Barry M.; Onstott, Tullis C.

Radiolytically reworked Archean organic matter in a habitable deep ancient high-temperature brine

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  • Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Radiolytically reworked Archean organic matter in a habitable deep ancient high-temperature brine
  • Contributor: Nisson, Devan M.; Walters, Clifford C.; Chacón-Patiño, Martha L.; Weisbrod, Chad R.; Kieft, Thomas L.; Sherwood Lollar, Barbara; Warr, Oliver; Castillo, Julio; Perl, Scott M.; Cason, Errol D.; Freifeld, Barry M.; Onstott, Tullis C.
  • imprint: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023
  • Published in: Nature Communications
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41900-8
  • ISSN: 2041-1723
  • Keywords: General Physics and Astronomy ; General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ; General Chemistry ; Multidisciplinary
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Investigations of abiotic and biotic contributions to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) are required to constrain microbial habitability in continental subsurface fluids. Here we investigate a large (101–283 mg C/L) DOC pool in an ancient (&gt;1Ga), high temperature (45–55 °C), low biomass (10<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>−10<jats:sup>4</jats:sup> cells/mL), and deep (3.2 km) brine from an uranium-enriched South African gold mine. Excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), negative electrospray ionization (–ESI) 21 tesla Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), and amino acid analyses suggest the brine DOC is primarily radiolytically oxidized kerogen-rich shales or reefs, methane and ethane, with trace amounts of C<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>–C<jats:sub>6</jats:sub> hydrocarbons and organic sulfides. δ<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>H and δ<jats:sup>13</jats:sup>C of C<jats:sub>1</jats:sub>–C<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> hydrocarbons are consistent with abiotic origins. These findings suggest water-rock processes control redox and C cycling, helping support a meagre, slow biosphere over geologic time. A radiolytic-driven, habitable brine may signal similar settings are good targets in the search for life beyond Earth.</jats:p>
  • Access State: Open Access