Cryogenic Minerals in Hawaiian Lava Tubes: A Geochemical and Microbiological Exploration

Author:

Teehera, Kimberly B., Jungbluth, Sean P., Onac, Bogdan P., Acosta-Maeda, Tayro E., Hellebrand, Eric, Misra, Anupam K., Pflitsch, Andreas, Rappe, Michael S., Smith, Stephen M., Telus, Myriam, Schorghofer, Norbert

Title:

Cryogenic Minerals in Hawaiian Lava Tubes: A Geochemical and Microbiological Exploration

Periodical:

Geomicrobiology Journal

Year:

2018

Volume:

35

Subject:

Mauna Loa Volcano Geochemistry lava tubes Mineralogy

Summary:

Two high altitude lava tubes, Mauna Loa Icecave (MLIC) and the Arsia Cave, on Mauna Loa volcano were explored. Secondary minerals and ice were sampled from both caves to explore their geochemical and microbiological characteristics. The minerals sampled from the deep parts of the caves, where near freezing temperatures prevail, are all multi-phase and consist mainly of secondary amorphous silica SiO2, cryptocrystalline calcite CaCO3, and gypsum CaSO4·2H2O. The microbial diversity of a silica and calcite deposit in the MLIC and from ice pond water in the Arsia Cave was explored by analysis of ∼50,000 small subunit ribosomal RNA gene fragments via amplicon sequencing. Analyses reveal that the Hawaiian ice caves harbor unique microbial diversity distinct from other environments, including cave environments, in Hawaii and worldwide.

Label:

Geology

Date:

2018

Collection:

Periodicals