Elements for the Origin of Life on Land: A Deep-Time Perspective from the Pilbara Craton of Western Australia

• DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2107
• Publication Date: 2021-01-06T17:49:10Z
• Authors: Martin J. Van Kra...; Raphael Baumgartner; Tara Djokic; Tsutomu Ota; Luke Steller; Ulf Garbe; Eizo Nakamura
• Keywords: Abiogenesis; Extraterrestrial Life; Early Earth; Chemical evolution; Hot spring

For decades, deep sea hydrothermal vents have been a preferred setting for the Origin of Life, but "The Water Problem" as relates to polymerization organic molecules, together with propensity dilute critical prebiotic elements well number other crucial factors, suggests that terrestrial hot spring field capacity wet-dry cycling and element concentration may represent more likely candidate. Here, we investigate 3.5 billion-year-old, anoxic from Pilbara Craton (Australia) show its veins compositionally varied pools springs concentrated all essential required chemistry (including B, Zn, Mn, K, in addition C, H, N, O, P, S). Temporal variability (seasonal decadal), known information exchange, would lead innovation peaks fitness developing molecules. An inference chemical complexity analogue is life could perhaps get started quickly on planets volcanoes, silicate rocks, an exposed land surface, water, ingredients should form backbone search Universe.