Hydrothermal endobiosphere in the Miocene-Pliocene lava piles of Iceland as evidenced by mineral structures

Alfred R. Geptner; Hrefna Kristmannsdottir

doi:10.1117/12.486687

30 January 2003 Hydrothermal endobiosphere in the Miocene-Pliocene lava piles of Iceland: evidenced by minderal structures

Alfred R. Geptner, Hrefna Kristmannsdottir

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4939, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VI; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.486687
Event: Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology V, 2002, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract

In this paper, the microscopic textures of clay minerals resemble of recent biomorphous layer silicate precipitates are described and the possible environment for their formation discussed. Fossilized biomorphous-like microstructures in clay precipitates in the Miocene and Pliocene basalt piles were identified by comparison with published data on bacterial forms, both living and fossilized. The sizes, shapes, and fabric of the mineral precipitates are the key factors in a successful analysis of biomorphous-like microstructures. The studied morphological types of biomorphous-like microstructures were: rod-like, spheres, filaments, hemispheres and films. The nature of formerly existing hydrothermal systems in the lava piles, has been reconstructed by studies of the present mineral paragenesis and by the analogy with modern hydrothermal mineral precipitation.

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Alfred R. Geptner and Hrefna Kristmannsdottir "Hydrothermal endobiosphere in the Miocene-Pliocene lava piles of Iceland: evidenced by minderal structures", Proc. SPIE 4939, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VI, (30 January 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.486687

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