University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Science
  • School of Earth Sciences
  • School of Earth Sciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Science
  • School of Earth Sciences
  • School of Earth Sciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Reduction spheroids preserve a uranium isotope record of the ancient deep continental biosphere

    Thumbnail
    Download
    Published version (799.8Kb)

    Citations
    Scopus
    Web of Science
    Altmetric
    2
    2
    Author
    McMahon, S; Hood, AVS; Parnell, J; Bowden, S
    Date
    2018-10-29
    Source Title
    Nature Communications
    Publisher
    NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Hood, Ashleigh
    Affiliation
    School of Earth Sciences
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    McMahon, S., Hood, A. V. S., Parnell, J. & Bowden, S. (2018). Reduction spheroids preserve a uranium isotope record of the ancient deep continental biosphere. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 9 (1), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06974-9.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/253117
    DOI
    10.1038/s41467-018-06974-9
    Abstract
    Life on Earth extends to several kilometres below the land surface and seafloor. This deep biosphere is second only to plants in its total biomass, is metabolically active and diverse, and is likely to have played critical roles over geological time in the evolution of microbial diversity, diagenetic processes and biogeochemical cycles. However, these roles are obscured by a paucity of fossil and geochemical evidence. Here we apply the recently developed uranium-isotope proxy for biological uranium reduction to reduction spheroids in continental rocks (red beds). Although these common palaeo-redox features have previously been suggested to reflect deep bacterial activity, unequivocal evidence for biogenicity has been lacking. Our analyses reveal that the uranium present in reduction spheroids is isotopically heavy, which is most parsimoniously explained as a signal of ancient bacterial uranium reduction, revealing a compelling record of Earth's deep biosphere.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [45770]
    • School of Earth Sciences - Research Publications [416]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors