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Impact of diagenesis and acidic alteration on microbial fabrics and trace element distributions in fossilised siliceous hot spring deposits.

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Title: Impact of diagenesis and acidic alteration on microbial fabrics and trace element distributions in fossilised siliceous hot spring deposits.
Authors: Lyon, Barbara J.1,2 (AUTHOR) Barbara.lyon@auckland.ac.nz, Rowe, Michael C.1,2 (AUTHOR), Langendam, Andrew3 (AUTHOR), Campbell, Kathleen A.1,2 (AUTHOR), Guido, Diego M.4 (AUTHOR), Hamilton, Ayrton R.1,2 (AUTHOR), Nersezova, Ema E.1,2 (AUTHOR), Galar, Amanda4 (AUTHOR), Stallard, Dominique A.1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Apr2026, Vol. 418, p265-287. 23p.
Subjects: Diagenesis, Hydrothermal alteration, Trace elements, Biosignatures (Origin of life), Geothermal engineering, Taupo Volcanic Zone (N.Z.), Silica analysis, Microbial mats
Geographic Terms: New Zealand
Abstract: Siliceous hot spring deposits, or sinters, are important targets in the search for evidence of early life on Earth and possibly Mars, as organic material may be preserved with high fidelity by rapid silicification. Despite a high preservation potential in terrestrial environments, sinters undergo numerous physical, mineralogical, and chemical changes over time, leading to alteration and potential destruction of microfossils and other evidence of past life. In the absence of definitive preservation of organics, trace metals have been suggested as potential biosignatures to support inferences of past biological influence in sinters. However, it is unclear how these trace metals are preserved or modified by diagenesis in the 'deep time' geologic record. This study utilises optical, scanning electron and synchrotron x-ray fluorescence microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis to investigate the relationship between trace metals and changes in preservation state of microbial fabrics from the Subrecent fossilised Ohakuri hydrothermal system, Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Our results show that trace metals record a complex association with variably preserved microbial fabrics, resulting from multiple diagenetic and hydrothermal alteration overprinting events. Gallium exemplifies this complexity, with distinct spatial correlations to primary microbial fabrics, while also being tied to multiple, late-stage overprinting processes, thereby complicating its utility as a biosignature. Overall, our results suggest that Ga may provide new insights into silicification processes in sinter-forming hydrothermal systems. Understanding the behaviour of Ga in these settings aids in unravelling site specific, hydrothermal fluid histories and interpreting silicification processes. Therefore, Ga may potentially play a limited role in the search for past life in Earth's earliest rocks or in future returned samples from Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 192353100
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Impact of diagenesis and acidic alteration on microbial fabrics and trace element distributions in fossilised siliceous hot spring deposits.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lyon%2C+Barbara+J%2E%22">Lyon, Barbara J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> Barbara.lyon@auckland.ac.nz</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rowe%2C+Michael+C%2E%22">Rowe, Michael C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Langendam%2C+Andrew%22">Langendam, Andrew</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Campbell%2C+Kathleen+A%2E%22">Campbell, Kathleen A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guido%2C+Diego+M%2E%22">Guido, Diego M.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hamilton%2C+Ayrton+R%2E%22">Hamilton, Ayrton R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nersezova%2C+Ema+E%2E%22">Nersezova, Ema E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Galar%2C+Amanda%22">Galar, Amanda</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stallard%2C+Dominique+A%2E%22">Stallard, Dominique A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Geochimica+et+Cosmochimica+Acta%22">Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 418, p265-287. 23p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diagenesis%22">Diagenesis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydrothermal+alteration%22">Hydrothermal alteration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trace+elements%22">Trace elements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biosignatures+%28Origin+of+life%29%22">Biosignatures (Origin of life)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geothermal+engineering%22">Geothermal engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taupo+Volcanic+Zone+%28N%2EZ%2E%29%22">Taupo Volcanic Zone (N.Z.)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Silica+analysis%22">Silica analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbial+mats%22">Microbial mats</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Zealand%22">New Zealand</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Siliceous hot spring deposits, or sinters, are important targets in the search for evidence of early life on Earth and possibly Mars, as organic material may be preserved with high fidelity by rapid silicification. Despite a high preservation potential in terrestrial environments, sinters undergo numerous physical, mineralogical, and chemical changes over time, leading to alteration and potential destruction of microfossils and other evidence of past life. In the absence of definitive preservation of organics, trace metals have been suggested as potential biosignatures to support inferences of past biological influence in sinters. However, it is unclear how these trace metals are preserved or modified by diagenesis in the 'deep time' geologic record. This study utilises optical, scanning electron and synchrotron x-ray fluorescence microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis to investigate the relationship between trace metals and changes in preservation state of microbial fabrics from the Subrecent fossilised Ohakuri hydrothermal system, Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Our results show that trace metals record a complex association with variably preserved microbial fabrics, resulting from multiple diagenetic and hydrothermal alteration overprinting events. Gallium exemplifies this complexity, with distinct spatial correlations to primary microbial fabrics, while also being tied to multiple, late-stage overprinting processes, thereby complicating its utility as a biosignature. Overall, our results suggest that Ga may provide new insights into silicification processes in sinter-forming hydrothermal systems. Understanding the behaviour of Ga in these settings aids in unravelling site specific, hydrothermal fluid histories and interpreting silicification processes. Therefore, Ga may potentially play a limited role in the search for past life in Earth's earliest rocks or in future returned samples from Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=192353100
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.gca.2026.02.022
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 265
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Diagenesis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hydrothermal alteration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trace elements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biosignatures (Origin of life)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Geothermal engineering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Taupo Volcanic Zone (N.Z.)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Silica analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microbial mats
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New Zealand
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Impact of diagenesis and acidic alteration on microbial fabrics and trace element distributions in fossilised siliceous hot spring deposits.
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 418
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