Evidence of biological activity in Hawaiian subsurface basalts

摘要: [1] The Hawaii Scientific Drilling Program (HSDP) cored and recovered igneous rock from the surface to a depth of 3109 m near Hilo, Hawaii. Much deeper parts hole is composed hyaloclastite (fractured basalt glass that has been cemented in situ with secondary minerals). Some units have altered manner attributed microorganisms volcanic rocks. Samples one such unit (1336 1404 below sea level) were examined test hypothesis alteration was associated microorganisms. Deep ultraviolet native fluorescence resonance Raman spectroscopy indicate nucleic acids aromatic amino are present clay inside spherical cavities (vesicles) within glass. Chemical mapping shows phosphorus carbon enriched at boundary between vesicles. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) reveals two three micrometer coccoid structures these same boundaries. ESEM-linked energy dispersive demonstrated carbon, phosphorous, chloride, magnesium bodies significantly differing unoccupied neighboring regions basalt. These observations taken together presence primary clays. Amino extracted bulk samples unit. acid abundance low, if derived rock, then there less than 100,000 cells per gram rock. Most sequences closely related Crenarchaeota collected subsurface ocean floor.