830-million-year-old microorganisms in primary fluid inclusions in halite.

Abstract

Primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the 830-m.y.-old Browne Formation of central Australia contain organic solids and liquids, as documented with transmitted light and ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) petrography. These objects are consistent in size, shape, and fluorescent response with cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and with organic compounds. This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite for hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks.

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Interesting. Intriguingly, some may still be alive.
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https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/50/8/918/613521/830-million-year-old-microorganisms-in-primary

Michael V said:

830-million-year-old microorganisms in primary fluid inclusions in halite.

Abstract

Primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the 830-m.y.-old Browne Formation of central Australia contain organic solids and liquids, as documented with transmitted light and ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) petrography. These objects are consistent in size, shape, and fluorescent response with cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and with organic compounds. This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite for hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks.

——————————————————————————————————————————
Interesting. Intriguingly, some may still be alive.
——————————————————————————————————————————

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/50/8/918/613521/830-million-year-old-microorganisms-in-primary

Getting further back all the time. I’m old enough to remember then finding microorganisms (possibly alive) from the time of the dinosaurs in halite was a big thing.

830 million years ago is mind-boggling.

mollwollfumble said:

Michael V said:

830-million-year-old microorganisms in primary fluid inclusions in halite.

Abstract

Primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the 830-m.y.-old Browne Formation of central Australia contain organic solids and liquids, as documented with transmitted light and ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) petrography. These objects are consistent in size, shape, and fluorescent response with cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and with organic compounds. This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite for hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks.

——————————————————————————————————————————
Interesting. Intriguingly, some may still be alive.
——————————————————————————————————————————

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/50/8/918/613521/830-million-year-old-microorganisms-in-primary

Getting further back all the time. I’m old enough to remember then finding microorganisms (possibly alive) from the time of the dinosaurs in halite was a big thing.

830 million years ago is mind-boggling.

The paper is a good, easy read. Permian microorganisms in halite have been shown to be alive.

“The oldest known halite from which living prokaryotes have been extracted and cultured is Permian (ca. 250 Ma; Vreeland et al., 2000). Therefore, it is plausible that microorganisms from the Neoproterozoic Browne Formation are extant.”

Interesting but I’ll brace for rebuttals.

Michael V said:

mollwollfumble said:

Michael V said:

830-million-year-old microorganisms in primary fluid inclusions in halite.

Abstract

Primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the 830-m.y.-old Browne Formation of central Australia contain organic solids and liquids, as documented with transmitted light and ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) petrography. These objects are consistent in size, shape, and fluorescent response with cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and with organic compounds. This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite for hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks.

——————————————————————————————————————————
Interesting. Intriguingly, some may still be alive.
——————————————————————————————————————————

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/50/8/918/613521/830-million-year-old-microorganisms-in-primary

Getting further back all the time. I’m old enough to remember then finding microorganisms (possibly alive) from the time of the dinosaurs in halite was a big thing.

830 million years ago is mind-boggling.

The paper is a good, easy read. Permian microorganisms in halite have been shown to be alive.

“The oldest known halite from which living prokaryotes have been extracted and cultured is Permian (ca. 250 Ma; Vreeland et al., 2000). Therefore, it is plausible that microorganisms from the Neoproterozoic Browne Formation are extant.”

Isolation of a 250 million-year-old halotolerant bacterium from a primary salt crystal

Abstract

Bacteria have been found associated with a variety of ancient samples1, however few studies are generally accepted due to questions about sample quality and contamination. When Cano and Borucki2 isolated a strain of Bacillus sphaericus from an extinct bee trapped in 25–30 million-year-old amber, careful sample selection and stringent sterilization techniques were the keys to acceptance. Here we report the isolation and growth of a previously unrecognized spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus species, designated 2-9-3) from a brine inclusion within a 250 million-year-old salt crystal from the Permian Salado Formation. Complete gene sequences of the 16S ribosomal DNA show that the organism is part of the lineage of Bacillus marismortui and Virgibacillus pantothenticus. Delicate crystal structures and sedimentary features indicate the salt has not recrystallized since formation. Samples were rejected if brine inclusions showed physical signs of possible contamination. Surfaces of salt crystal samples were sterilized with strong alkali and acid before extracting brines from inclusions. Sterilization procedures reduce the probability of contamination to less than 1 in 10^9.

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https://www.nature.com/articles/35038060

Michael V said:

830-million-year-old microorganisms in primary fluid inclusions in halite.

Abstract

Primary fluid inclusions in bedded halite from the 830-m.y.-old Browne Formation of central Australia contain organic solids and liquids, as documented with transmitted light and ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) petrography. These objects are consistent in size, shape, and fluorescent response with cells of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and with organic compounds. This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite for hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial chemical sedimentary rocks.

——————————————————————————————————————————
Interesting. Intriguingly, some may still be alive.
——————————————————————————————————————————

https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/50/8/918/613521/830-million-year-old-microorganisms-in-primary

The earliest time that life forms first appeared on Earth is at least 3.77 billion years ago, possibly as early as 4.28 billion years, or even 4.41 billion years —not long after the oceans formed 4.5 billion years ago, and after the formation of the Earth 4.54 billion years ago.
Earliest known life forms – Wikipedia

But for some, if only their spores to possibly be alive after such an unimaginable time scale is truly amazing. There is still so much on our world to discover.

PermeateFree said:

The earliest time that life forms first appeared on Earth is at least 3.77 billion years ago, possibly as early as 4.28 billion years, or even 4.41 billion years —not long after the oceans formed 4.5 billion years ago, and after the formation of the Earth 4.54 billion years ago.
Earliest known life forms – Wikipedia

But for some, if only their spores to possibly be alive after such an unimaginable time scale is truly amazing. There is still so much on our world to discover.

I totally agree.

Michael V said:

Isolation of a 250 million-year-old halotolerant bacterium from a primary salt crystal

Abstract

Bacteria have been found associated with a variety of ancient samples1, however few studies are generally accepted due to questions about sample quality and contamination. When Cano and Borucki2 isolated a strain of Bacillus sphaericus from an extinct bee trapped in 25–30 million-year-old amber, careful sample selection and stringent sterilization techniques were the keys to acceptance. Here we report the isolation and growth of a previously unrecognized spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus species, designated 2-9-3) from a brine inclusion within a 250 million-year-old salt crystal from the Permian Salado Formation. Complete gene sequences of the 16S ribosomal DNA show that the organism is part of the lineage of Bacillus marismortui and Virgibacillus pantothenticus. Delicate crystal structures and sedimentary features indicate the salt has not recrystallized since formation. Samples were rejected if brine inclusions showed physical signs of possible contamination. Surfaces of salt crystal samples were sterilized with strong alkali and acid before extracting brines from inclusions. Sterilization procedures reduce the probability of contamination to less than 1 in 10^9.

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https://www.nature.com/articles/35038060

Thanks for that.