Microbial ecology of acidic, biogenic gypsum: community structure and distribution of extremophiles on freshly formed and relict sulfate deposits in a hydrogen sulfide-rich cave.

ABSTRACT: Sulfate minerals are abundant on the Martian surface, and many of these evaporite deposits are thought to have precipitated from acidic fluids. On Earth, gypsum (CaSO₄•2H₂O) and other sulfates sometimes form under acidic conditions, so exploring the extremophilic life that occurs in these mineral environments can help evaluate the astrobiological potential of acid sulfate depositional settings. Here, we characterized the microbial communities associated with acidic gypsum deposits in a sulfuric acid cave, where sulfate precipitation is driven by sulfide-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and cell counts to characterize gypsum-associated microorganisms in freshly formed and relict deposits throughout the cave, to test how microbial communi

SUBMITTER: Havlena ZE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12542670 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature