Enigmatic tubular features in impact glass

Research Article| June 01, 2014 Enigmatic tubular features in impact glass H.M. Sapers; H.M. Sapers 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G.R. Osinski; G.R. Osinski 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada2Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar N.R. Banerjee; N.R. Banerjee 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L.J. Preston L.J. Preston 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada3Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information H.M. Sapers 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada G.R. Osinski 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada2Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada N.R. Banerjee 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada L.J. Preston 1Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada3Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Nov 2013 Revision Received: 21 Feb 2014 Accepted: 25 Feb 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (6): 471–474. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35293.1 Article history Received: 13 Nov 2013 Revision Received: 21 Feb 2014 Accepted: 25 Feb 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation H.M. Sapers, G.R. Osinski, N.R. Banerjee, L.J. Preston; Enigmatic tubular features in impact glass. Geology 2014;; 42 (6): 471–474. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35293.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We describe the first putative microbial trace fossils hosted in meteorite impact glass. We conducted optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on postimpact tubular features hosted in impact glasses from the Ries impact structure (Germany). The morphologies of the tubules are inconsistent with known mineralogical crystallization mechanisms, and combined with evidence of organic molecules suggest that these tubules cannot be formed through purely abiotic processes. The simplest and most consistent explanation of the data is that biological activity played a role in the formation of the tubular textures in the Ries glasses, likely during postimpact hydrothermal activity. As impact glass is a ubiquitous substrate on rocky bodies throughout the Solar System and likely common on the early Earth, the preservation of biological activity in impact glass has significant astrobiological implications for life on early Earth as well as for the search for life on other planets. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.