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Oceanic Pillow Lavas and Hyaloclastites as Habitats for Microbial Life Through Time – A Review

  • Chapter
Links Between Geological Processes, Microbial Activities&Evolution of Life

Part of the book series: Modern Approaches in Solid Earth Sciences ((MASE,volume 4))

Abstract

This chapter summarizes research undertaken over the past 15 years upon the microbial alteration of originally glassy basaltic rocks from submarine environments. We report textural, chemical and isotopic results from the youngest to the oldest in-situ oceanic crust and compare these to data obtained from ophiolite and greenstone belts dating back to c. 3.8 Ga. Petrographic descriptions of the granular and tubular microbial alteration textures found in (meta)-volcanic glasses from pillow lavas and volcanic breccias are provided and contrasted with textures produced by abiotic alteration (palagonitization). The geological setting in particular the degree of deformation and metamorphism experienced by each study site is documented in outcrop photographs, geological maps and stratigraphic columns (where possible). In addition, X-ray mapping evidence and carbon isotopic data that are consistent with a biogenic origin for these alteration textures is explained and a model for their formation is presented. Lastly, the petrographic observations and direct radiometric dating techniques that have been used to establish the antiquity and syngenicity of these microbial alteration textures are reviewed.

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  1. Department of Earth Science&Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen, Allegaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway

    Harald Furnes

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  1. Department of Geology, Miami University, 114 Shideler Hall, Oxford OH 45056, USA

    Yildirim Dilek

  2. Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allegaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway

    Harald Furnes

  3. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Bldg, Edmonton AB T6G 2E3, Canada

    Karlis Muehlenbachs

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Furnes, H. et al. (2008). Oceanic Pillow Lavas and Hyaloclastites as Habitats for Microbial Life Through Time – A Review. In: Dilek, Y., Furnes, H., Muehlenbachs, K. (eds) Links Between Geological Processes, Microbial Activities&Evolution of Life. Modern Approaches in Solid Earth Sciences, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8306-8_1

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