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AuthorEdwards, Howell G.M.
AuthorSadooni, Fadhil
AuthorVítek, Petr
AuthorJehlička, Jan
Available date2023-09-10T10:43:31Z
Publication Date2010-07-13
Publication NamePhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2010.0101
CitationEdwards, H. G., Sadooni, F., Vítek, P., & Jehlička, J. (2010). Raman spectroscopy of the Dukhan sabkha: identification of geological and biogeological molecules in an extreme environment. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 368(1922), 3099-3107.‏
ISSN1364503X
URIhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=77955209497&origin=inward
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/47356
AbstractThe characterization of minerals and biogeological deposits in a terrestrial Arabian sabkha has a direct relevance for the exploration of Mars since the discovery by the NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity of evaporate minerals on Mars that could have arisen from aquifers and subsurface water movement. The recognition of carbonates and sulphates in Gusev Crater has afforded an additional impetus to these studies, as relict or extant microbial extremophilic organisms could have colonized these geological matrices, as has been recorded on Earth. Here, we describe the Raman spectroscopic analysis of specimens of evaporitic materials sampled from the Dukhan sabkha, the largest inland sabkha in the Persian Gulf. With daily temperatures reaching in excess of 60°C and extreme salinity, we have identified the characteristic Raman signatures of keybiomolecular compounds in association with evaporitic minerals and geological carbonate and sulphate matrices, which indicate that extremophilic cyanobacterial colonies are existent there. This evidence, the first to be acquired spectroscopically from such a region, establishes a platform for further studies using remote, portable Raman instrumentation that will inform the potential of detection of similar systems on the Martian surface or subsurface in future space missions. A comparison is made between the results from this study and the previous analysis of a gypsum/halite sabkha where the extremophilic molecular signatures were better preserved. © 2010 The Royal Society.
Languageen
PublisherThe Royal Society
SubjectCyanobacteria
Evaporites
Extremophiles
Raman spectroscopy
Sabkha
TitleRaman spectroscopy of the Dukhan sabkha: identification of geological and biogeological molecules in an extreme environment
TypeArticle
Pagination3099-3107
Issue Number1922
Volume Number368
dc.accessType Open Access


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