Experimental diagenesis reveals preservation of biosignatures in filamentous sulfur mats under hydrothermal conditions.

ABSTRACT: Filamentous microbial biosignatures associated with iron sulfides are among the prime targets in early life studies, but their formation and preservation are insufficiently understood. Here, we experimentally evaluated the taphonomy of filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria exposed to iron-sulfur-rich conditions and high temperatures (≤ 80 °C), mimicking burial diagenesis and/or hydrothermal alteration. The addition of ferrihydrite and sulfide at 22 °C resulted in a near-instantaneous formation of iron sulfides. Heating to 80 °C for 2-6 weeks resulted in the formation of polysulfides and magnetic Fe- and/or S-containing minerals, with low pyritization (~ 11%). Notably, Fe-S mineral formation was only loosely associated with the filaments. However, intracellular elemental sulfur released fro

SUBMITTER: Visic H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12578821 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature