Microbes discovered thriving in 2-billion-year-old South African rock

Written by Copernical Team Friday, 04 October 2024 20:35

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Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 04, 2024

Researchers have uncovered living microbes sealed within a 2-billion-year-old rock sample from the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) in South Africa, marking the oldest example of microbial life discovered in ancient rock. The sample was retrieved from 15 meters belowground, with the microbes found tightly packed into fractures, isolated from the outside environment by clay-filled gaps. The r

Microbes discovered thriving in 2-billion-year-old South African rock
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Oct 04, 2024

Researchers have uncovered living microbes sealed within a 2-billion-year-old rock sample from the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) in South Africa, marking the oldest example of microbial life discovered in ancient rock. The sample was retrieved from 15 meters belowground, with the microbes found tightly packed into fractures, isolated from the outside environment by clay-filled gaps.

The research team, led by Yohey Suzuki, associate professor at the University of Tokyo, employed advanced techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and fluorescent microscopy to confirm that the microbes were indigenous to the rock sample and not introduced during the retrieval process. "We didn't know if 2-billion-year-old rocks were habitable," said Suzuki.

"Until now, the oldest geological layer in which living microorganisms had been found was a 100-million-year-old deposit beneath the ocean floor, so this is a very exciting discovery. By studying the DNA and genomes of microbes like these, we may be able to understand the evolution of very early life on Earth."

The BIC, a massive underground formation known for its rich mineral deposits, including platinum, has undergone minimal changes since its formation, making it a stable environment for ancient microbes.

The findings also hold potential implications for astrobiology, as researchers prepare to study Martian rock samples from NASA's Perseverance rover. Suzuki expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of discovering similar life forms on Mars: "Finding microbial life in samples from Earth from 2 billion years ago and being able to accurately confirm their authenticity makes me excited for what we might be able to now find in samples from Mars."

Research Report:Subsurface Microbial Colonization at Mineral-Filled Veins in 2-Billion-Year-Old Mafic Rock from the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa