The Emergence of Life from Iron Monosulphide Bubbles at a Submarine Hydrothermal Redox and pH Front

Russell, M. J., Hall, A. J., Journal of the Geological Society

Abstract: Here we argue that life emerged on Earth from a redox and pH front at c. 4.2 Ga. This front occurred where hot (c. 150 deg C), extremely reduced, alkaline, bisulphide-bearing, submarine seepage waters interfaced with the acid. warm (c. 90 deg C), iron-bearing Hadean ocean. The low pH of the ocean was imparted by the ten bars of CO ^ sub 2^ considered to dominate the Hadean atmosphere/hydrosphere. Disequilibrium between the two solutions was maintained by the spontaneous precipitation of a colloidal FeS membrane. Iron monosulphide bubbles comprising this membrane were inflated by the hydrothermal solution upon sulphide mounds at the seepage sites. Our hypothesis is that the FeS …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: The Emergence of Life from Iron Monosulphide Bubbles at a Submarine Hydrothermal Redox and pH Front. Contributors: Russell, M. J. - Author, Hall, A. J. - Author. Journal title: Journal of the Geological Society. Volume: 154. Publication date: May 1997. Page number: 377+. © Geological Society Publishing House Jan 2009. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.