Discovery of Naturally Etched Fission Tracks and Alpha-Recoil Tracks in Submarine Glasses: Reevaluation of a Putative Biosignature for Earth and Mars
Joint Authors
Blake, David F.
French, Jason E.
Source
International Journal of Geophysics
Issue
Vol. 2016, Issue 2016 (31 Dec. 2016), pp.1-50, 50 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2016-02-17
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
50
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Over the last two decades, conspicuously “biogenic-looking” corrosion microtextures have been found to occur globally within volcanic glass of the in situ oceanic crust, ophiolites, and greenstone belts dating back to ~3.5 Ga.
These so-called “tubular” and “granular” microtextures are widely interpreted to represent bona fide microbial trace fossils; however, possible nonbiological origins for these complex alteration microtextures have yet to be explored.
Here, we reevaluate the origin of these enigmatic microtextures from a strictly nonbiological standpoint, using a case study on submarine glasses from the western North Atlantic Ocean (DSDP 418A).
By combining petrographic and SEM observations of corrosion microtextures at the glass-palagonite interface, considerations of the tectonic setting, measurement of U and Th concentrations of fresh basaltic glass by ICP-MS, and theoretical modelling of the present-day distribution of radiation damage in basaltic glass caused by radioactive decay of U and Th, we reinterpret these enigmatic microtextures as the end product of the preferential corrosion/dissolution of radiation damage (alpha-recoil tracks and fission tracks) in the glass by seawater, possibly combined with pressure solution etch-tunnelling.
Our findings have important implications for geomicrobiology, astrobiological exploration of Mars, and understanding of the long-term breakdown of nuclear waste glass.
American Psychological Association (APA)
French, Jason E.& Blake, David F.. 2016. Discovery of Naturally Etched Fission Tracks and Alpha-Recoil Tracks in Submarine Glasses: Reevaluation of a Putative Biosignature for Earth and Mars. International Journal of Geophysics،Vol. 2016, no. 2016, pp.1-50.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1106196
Modern Language Association (MLA)
French, Jason E.& Blake, David F.. Discovery of Naturally Etched Fission Tracks and Alpha-Recoil Tracks in Submarine Glasses: Reevaluation of a Putative Biosignature for Earth and Mars. International Journal of Geophysics No. 2016 (2016), pp.1-50.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1106196
American Medical Association (AMA)
French, Jason E.& Blake, David F.. Discovery of Naturally Etched Fission Tracks and Alpha-Recoil Tracks in Submarine Glasses: Reevaluation of a Putative Biosignature for Earth and Mars. International Journal of Geophysics. 2016. Vol. 2016, no. 2016, pp.1-50.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1106196
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1106196