Hydrothermal vents and the supply of nutrient metals for the origin and early evolution of life

热液喷口以及为生命起源和早期进化提供营养金属

• 批准号: EP/Y026497/1
• 负责人: Eva Stueeken
• 金额: $ 23.84万
• 依托单位: University of St Andrews
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FY026497%2F1
• 关键词: Hydrothermal; vents; supply; nutrient; metals

The origin, survival, and early evolution of life on the Earth, and if exists, on Enceladus must require transition metals (e.g., Ni, Mo, Cu etc.). Weathering of continental crust followed by riverine transport, which is the main source of metals in the present Earth, was/is limited on the Early earth/present-day Enceladus. Instead, hydrothermal vents (HTVs) and/or weathering of the sub-oceanic rocks are proposed to be the main source of metal on these planetary bodies, however, the metal concentrations in these vents are highly speculative and unconstrained. Furthermore, the existing models that tried to quantify the metal contents in the early ocean on Earth and Enceladus are theoretical and lack the consideration of critical parameters (e.g., organic ligands) that influence metal solubility. The proposed research aims to quantify the metal contents in HTVs and in the ocean on the early earth and Enceladus by performing hydrothermal experiments followed by thermodynamic and mass-balance (Box) modelling. Together these methods would replicate the interaction between early Earth Crust/Enceladus core with corresponding ocean water at various pressures (P) and temperatures (T) and the mixing of HTV fluids with ocean water. Experiments will be performed using novel set-up comprising hydrothermal reactor and syringe pump, which will allow performing multiple experiments in controlled T, P, and redox conditions. The modelling will be done using computer-based software. The proposed research will finally be able to constrain if obtained metal concentrations (in vents and ocean) are sufficient to trigger biologic pathways required for the origin and early evolution of life in these planetary bodies. The results are therefore critical for future space exploration targeting the existence of extra-terrestrial life. With the expertise of the researcher and the host, available facilities at the host institution, the project can be finished within proposed time (24 months).

地球上生命的起源、生存和早期进化，以及土卫二上生命的起源、生存和早期进化都必须需要过渡金属（例如镍、钼、铜等）。大陆地壳的风化以及随后的河流运输是当今地球金属的主要来源，在早期地球/当今的土卫二上受到/限制。相反，热液喷口（HTV）和/或海底岩石的风化被认为是这些行星体上金属的主要来源，然而，这些喷口中的金属浓度是高度推测性的且不受限制。此外，试图量化地球和土卫二早期海洋中金属含量的现有模型都是理论模型，缺乏对影响金属溶解度的关键参数（例如有机配体）的考虑。拟议的研究旨在通过进行热液实验以及热力学和质量平衡（Box）建模来量化早期地球和土卫二的 HTV 和海洋中的金属含量。这些方法将共同复制早期地壳/土卫二核心与相应海水在不同压力 (P) 和温度 (T) 下的相互作用以及 HTV 流体与海水的混合。实验将使用包括水热反应器和注射泵的新颖装置进行，这将允许在受控的 T、P 和氧化还原条件下进行多个实验。建模将使用基于计算机的软件完成。拟议的研究最终将能够限制所获得的金属浓度（在喷口和海洋中）是否足以触发这些行星体中生命起源和早期进化所需的生物途径。因此，这些结果对于未来针对外星生命存在的太空探索至关重要。凭借研究人员和主办方的专业知识以及主办机构的可用设施，该项目可以在建议的时间内（24 个月）完成。