International Journal of Astrobiology

Table of Contents - April 2012 - Volume 11, Issue 02  

Research Article

Evidence for life in the isotopic analysis of surface sulphates in the Haughton impact structure, and potential application on Mars

John Parnella1 c1, Adrian J. Boycea2, Gordon R. Osinskia3, Matthew R.M. Izawaa3, Neil Banerjeea3, Roberta Flemminga3 and Pascal Leea4

a1 Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

a2 Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Glasgow, UK

a3 University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

a4 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

Abstract

The analysis of sulphur isotopic compositions in three sets of surface sulphate samples from the soil zone in the Haughton impact structure shows that they are distinct. They include surface gypsum crusts remobilized from the pre-impact gypsum bedrock (mean δ34S +31‰), efflorescent copiapite and fibroferrite associated with hydrothermal marcasite (mean δ34S −37‰), and gypsum-iron oxide crusts representing weathering of pyritic crater-fill sediments (mean δ34S +7‰). Their different compositions reflect different histories of sulphur cycling. Two of the three sulphates have isotopically light (low δ34S) compositions compared with the gypsum bedrock (mean δ34S +31‰), reflecting derivation by weathering of sulphides (three sets of pyrite/marcasite samples with mean δ34S of −41, −20 and −8‰), which had in turn been precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. Thus, even in the absence of the parent sulphides due to surface oxidation, evidence of life would be preserved. This indicates that on Mars, where surface oxidation may rule out sampling of sulphides during robotic exploration, but where sulphates are widespread, sulphur isotope analysis is a valuable tool that could be sensitive to any near-surface microbial activity. Other causes of sulphur isotopic fractionation on the surface of Mars are feasible, but any anomalous fractionation would indicate the desirability of further analysis.

(Received April 14 2011)

(Accepted December 05 2011)

(Online publication January 09 2012)

Key words

Correspondence:

c1 e-mail: J.Parnell@abdn.ac.uk