Microbial Communities that are Concealed Within Mineral Deposits: Expanding our Detection of Life

Northup, D. E.; Spilde, M. N.; Hathaway, J. J. M.; Moya, M.; Garcia, M. G.; Boston, P. J.
Bibliographical reference

Astrobiology Science Conference 2010: Evolution and Life: Surviving Catastrophes and Extremes on Earth and Beyond, held April 26-20, 2010 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1538, p.5489

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4
2010
Number of authors
6
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
In addition to clearly biological microbial mats, lava tubes contain many non-biological appearing mineral deposits that contain life. The discovery that such deposits contain abundant life can help guide our detection of life on other extrater-restrial bodies.