Textural and mineralogical biosignatures in an unusual microbialite from Death Valley, California

For in situ astrobiological studies of Mars or other planets, we must employ strategies that will enable us to verify whether our approach and prototype instruments are actually capable of distinguishing life from non-life. This must be done against a background of rigorously conducted scientific characterization of the environment or sample types being considered for measurement by the instruments under development. In this study we show how a combination of mineralogical and textural features can be considered a biosignature in an early Mars analogue environment, Death Valley, California. We propose that it is a combination of features in context of the geologic matrix which allows determination of biogenicity to be made. Polymineralic microbialites (organosedimentary formations constructed by microorganisms) from a spring pool at Badwater, within Death Valley National Park, are composed of alternating biogenic and abiogenic minerals in a distinct triplet sequence related to wet and dry seasons. A microbial community, occurring as a black biofilm, produced paired layers of two different mineral types: manganese oxyhydroxides and calcite. These biogenic layers are separated from the next pair by a gypsum layer and appear to be laid down in the wet season, with the gypsum (a mineral positively identified on Mars) precipitating in the dry part of the year, abiogenically (i.e., not dependent on microbial metabolic activity for its deposition). In addition, textural features (smaller grain size and less geometric morphology) unique to the biogenic vs the abiogenic layers, were consistently observed so that texture served as a biosignature in this environment.     

Mojave Mars simulant—Characterization of a new geologic Mars analog

We have identified and characterized a basaltic Mars simulant that is available as whole rocks, sand and dust. The source rock for the simulant is a basalt mined from the Tertiary Tropico Group in the western Mojave Desert. The Mojave Mars Simulant (MMS) was chosen for its inert hygroscopic characteristics, its availability in a variety of forms, and its physical and chemical characteristics. The MMS dust and MMS sand are produced by mechanically crushing basaltic boulders. This is a process that more closely resembles the weathering/comminution processes on Mars where impact events and aerodynamic interactions provide comminution in the (relative) absence of water and organics. MMS is among the suite of test rocks and soils that was used in the development of the 2007/8 Phoenix Scout and is being used in the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) missions. The MMS development team is using the simulant for research that centers on sampling tool interactions in icy soils. Herein we describe the physical properties and chemical composition of this new Mars simulant.     

Area-Averaged Surface Fluxes Over the Litfass Region Based on Eddy-Covariance Measurements

Micrometeorological measurements (including eddy-covariance measurements of the surface fluxes of sensible and latent heat) were performed during the LITFASS-2003 experiment at 13 field sites over different types of land use (forest, lake, grassland, various agricultural crops) in a 20 × 20 km² area around the Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg (MOL) of the German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst, DWD). Significant differences in the energy fluxes could be found between the major land surface types (forest, farmland, water), but also between the different agricultural crops (cereals, rape, maize). Flux ratios between the different surfaces changed during the course of the experiment as a result of increased water temperature of the lake, changing soil moisture, and of the vegetation development at the farmland sites. The measurements over grass performed at the boundary-layer field site Falkenberg of the MOL were shown to be quite representative for the farmland part of the area. Measurements from the 13 sites were composed into a time series of the area-averaged surface flux by taking into account the data quality of the single flux values from the different sites and the relative occurrence of each surface type in the area. Such composite fluxes could be determined for about 80% of the whole measurement time during the LITFASS-2003 experiment. Comparison of these aggregated surface fluxes with area-averaged fluxes from long-range scintillometer measurements and from airborne measurements showed good agreement.     

Experimental determination of turbulent fluxes over the heterogeneous LITFASS area: Selected results from the LITFASS-98 experiment

Summary ?During the LITFASS-98 experiment, local flux measurements were performed over five different types of underlying surface (grass, barley, triticale, pine forest, water) in a heterogeneous landscape using eddy covariance and profile techniques over a three week time period in June, 1998. Estimates of the area-integrated sensible heat flux during daytime were obtained from continuous measurements with a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) along a 4.7 km path. The calculation of a mean diurnal cycle of the fluxes during the experiment revealed significant differences between the main land use classes. A land-use weighted average of the sensible heat flux was found to be in good agreement with the LAS based estimate, which in turn was supported by other regionally integrated flux estimates from budget considerations and aircraft measurements for a few case studies. The profiles of turbulent quantities measured along a 99 m-tower significantly deviate from “idealised” profiles measured over homogeneous terrain. Peculiarities in the profile structure could be attributed to the heterogeneity of the terrain, namely to the differences in the surface characteristics of the footprint areas for the different tower levels. Received June 6, 2001; revised January 15, 2002; accepted April 4, 2002     

Mineralbestand und Genesis des Eisgarner Granits im niederösterreichischen Waldviertel

Zusammenfassung Der jüngste Granit im österreichischen Moldanubikum ist der im nordwestlichen Waldviertel aufgeschlossene Eisgarner Granit.Das Gestein ist ein Zweiglimmergranit. Der Plagioklas (20–28 Vol.-%), selten zonar gebaut, hat einen durchschnittlichen An-Gehalt von 13%; daneben treten basischere Plagioklase (An bis 30%) als Einschlüsse im Mikroklin auf. Der Alkalifeldspat (25–38 Vol.-%) ist ein gegitterter, perthitisch entmischter Mikroklin mit Or 67–72%, Ab 24–28%, An 1,8–2,8%. Durch den Gehalt an Spurenelementen unterscheidet er sich stark von dem der älteren moldanubischen Granite. Die Triklinität liegt meist unter 0,90. Quarz tritt stellenweise als frühes Kristallisat auf, gehört aber im allgemeinen zu den Letztausscheidungen. Biotit (4–7 Vol.-%) bildel 2M-Polymorphe, ebenso Muskowit (6,5–7,5%), der entweder durch Reaktion von Andalusit mit der Schmelze oder aus Alkalifeldspat durch Reaktion mit der fluiden Phase hervorgegangen ist. Die Akzessorien Spinell, Rutil, Granat und Andalusit weisen darauf hin, daß der Granit durch Anatexis hochmetamorpher Gesteine (Silimanitgneise?) entstanden ist. Die Kristallisation verlief im Temperaturbereich zwischen ca 700° und 600°C bei einem Wasserdampfdruck von ca 5000 bar.

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Summary The youngest granite in the Moldanubian zone of Austria is theEisgarn granite which is exposed in the northwestern part of the Lower Austrian Waldviertel.The rock is a two-mica granite. The plagioclase (20–28 vol.-%) has an average An-content of 13% and shows only a weak zonary structure. Also more basic plagioclases (up to An 30) occur as inclusions in microcline. The alkalifeldspar (25–38 vol.-%) is a cross-hatched microcline perthite with the composition Or 67–72, Ab 24–28, An 1,8–2,8. It is distinguished from the microcline perthites of older granites by its content in trace elements. Its obliquity lies below 0,90. Partly the quartz is an early crystallisate, it is commonly a very late product, however. Biotite (4–7 vol.-%) forms the 2M polymorphe, as well as muscovite (6,5–7,5 vol.-%) which may develop by reaction of andalusite with the melt or from alkalifeldspar by reaction with the fluid phase. The accessories rutile, spinel, garnet and andalusite indicate a development of the granite by anatexis of high-metamorphic rocks (sillimanite-bearing gneisses?). Crystallization took place in the temperature range of 700° to 600°C under a water-vapor-pressure of 5000 bars.

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Mit 11 Texiabbildungen

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Herrn Prof. Dr.H. Leitmeier zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Hydrological behaviour of a small catchment in the dehesa landuse system (Extremadura, SW Spain)

Investigations of the hydrological processes operating in a small experimental catchment representative of the dehesa ecosystem were carried out. The dehesa constitutes a system of agro-silvo-pastoral landuse, which is characterized by a Mediterranean, semi-arid climate. The study includes an analysis of the relationships between rainfall, soil water content and discharge, as well as the establishment of the annual water budget. The results demonstrate a complex hydrological response. The relationships between the factors involved and the operating processes are difficult to explain because of the decisive role played by the valley bottoms. These areas typically possess a sediment fill, and contrast with the shallow soils developed on the hillslopes. Genesis and quantity of runoff (Hortonian or saturation) measured at the outlet depend on the antecedent moisture conditions of the valley bottoms because of their water-retention capacity. Annual runoff coefficients are similar to those reported from other semi-arid areas. The analysis of the annual water budget shows that rainfall is positively related with both actual evapotranspiration and discharge.     

Three-dimensional strain produced by >50 My of episodic extension, Horse Prairie basin area, SW Montana, U.S.A.

The Horse Prairie basin of southwestern Montana is a complex, east-dipping half-graben that contains three angular unconformity-bounded sequences of Tertiary sedimentary rocks overlying middle Eocene volcanic rocks. New mapping of the basin and its hanging wall indicate that five temporally and geometrically distinct phases of normal faulting and at least three generations of fault-related extensional folding affected the area during the late Mesozoic (?) to Cenozoic. All of these phases of extension are evident over regional or cordilleran-scale domains. The extension direction has rotated 90° four times in the Horse Prairie area resulting in a complex three-dimensional strain field with 60% east–west and >25% north–south bulk extension. Extensional folds with axes at high angles to the associated normal fault record most of the three-dimensional strain during individual phases of extension (phases 3a, 3b, and 4). Cross-cutting relationships between normal faults and Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks constrain the ages of each distinct phase of deformation and show that extension continued episodically for more than 50 My. Gravitational collapse of the Sevier fold and thrust belt was the ultimate cause of most of the extension.     

The internal structure of the Arosa Zone (Swiss-Austrian Alps)

The Arosa Zone, part of the main Alpine suture zone between the Austroalpine and the Penninic realms, forms a heterogeneous unit composed of rocks of oceanic and continental origin. It exhibits mélange character due to minor sedimentary mixing and local penetrative tectonic deformation during Cretaceous and Early Tertiary imbrication. Competent blocks of both Austroalpine and Penninic origin, covering up to 2.5 km², are embedded in incompetent serpentinitic or shaly-calcareous matrix. On a mesoscale, disrupted strata occur in and adjacent to thrust and shear zones. Contrasting competence between blocks and matrix partitioned deformation into brittle and ductile processes. Extension veins and shear fractures affected the competent strata whereas the matrix developed a penetrative foliation during ductile flow and accommodated high strain. Flow was mainly non-coaxial in the matrix, and coaxial extension prevailed in the blocks.In a regional tectonic setting, we define the Arosa Zone as the tectonostratigraphic unit sandwiched between the Austroalpine and Penninic units. It forms a narrow and highly imbricated zone containing both South Penninic ophiolitic and sedimentary rocks as well as blocks and slices of Austroalpine origin.

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Zusammenfassung Die Arosa Zone ist Teil der Alpinen Suturzone zwischen Ostalpin und Pennimkum und bildet eine lithologisch heterogene Einheit aus kontinentalen und ozeanischen Gesteinen. Sie zeigt den Charakter einer Melange, die aus, untergeordnet, sedimentärer Durchmischung und lokaler, aber penetrativer tektonischer Deformation während kretazisch und alttertiärer Tektonik resultiert. Kompetente Blöcke ostalpiner und penninischer Herkunft, die bis zu 3 km im Streichen verfolgbar sind, schwimmen in einer inkompetenten serpentinitischen oder tonig-karbonatischen Matrix. Im Mesobereich treten zerbrochene Gesteinsabfolgen in oder direkt an Überschiebungs- und Scherzonen auf. Unterschiedliche Kompetenz zwischen Blöcken und Matrix teilt die Deformation in spröde und duktile Prozesse auf. Die kompetenten Gesteine zeigen Extensionsspalten und Scherbrüche, in der Matrix entwickelte sich durch duktiles Fließen eine penetrative Schieferung bei hoher Strainintensität. Die Deformation in der Matrix war hauptsächlich nicht-koaxial, koaxiale Extension herrschte in den Blöcken.Im regionalen tektonischen Rahmen definieren wir die Arosa Zone als tektonostratigraphische Einheit zwischen Ostalpin und Penninikum. Sie bildet eine schmale, stark imbrikierte Zone die, aus südpenninischen ophiolithischen und sedimentären Gesteinen, sowie aus Blöcken und Spänen ostalpiner Herkunft aufgebaut wird.

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Résumé La Zone d'Arosa, partie de la zone de suture alpine entre l'Austro-alpin et le Pennique, forme une unité hétérogène composée de roches d'origines océanique et continentale. Elle présente le caractère d'un mélange qui résulte d'un brassage sédimentaire mineur, et de déformations tectoniques, locales mais pénétratives, au cours du Crétacé et du Tertiaire ancien. Des blocs compétents de l'Austro-alpin et du Pennique qui couvrent jusqu'à 2.5 km², sont enrobés dans une matrice incompétente serpentineuse ou argilo-calcaire. A moyenne échelle, les couches disloquées se rencontrent dans les zones charriées et cisaillées, ou y sont adjacentes. La différence de compétence entre les blocs et la matrice répartit la déformation en processus cassants et ductiles. Les roches compétentes montrent des fentes d'extension et des fractures de cisaillement, alors que dans la matrice, sous l'action d'un flux ductile et d'une intensité de contrainte élevée, se développe une foliation pénétrative. La déformation fut principalement non coaxiale dans la matrice et coaxiale dans les blocs d'extension.Dans un cadre tectonique régional, nous définissons la Zone d'Arosa comme une unité tectonostratigraphique prise entre l'Austro-alpin et le Pennique. Elle constitue une zone étroite et fortement imbriquée composée aussi bien de roches ophiolitiques du Sud-Pennique et de roches sédimentaires, que de blocs et d'écaillés de l'Austro-alpin.

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