We combined nucleic acid-based molecular methods, biogeochemical measurements, and physicochemical characteristics to investigate microbial sedimentary ecosystems of Laguna Tebenquiche, Atacama Desert, Chile. Molecular diversity, and biogeochemistry of hypersaline microbial mats, rhizome-associated concretions, and an endoevaporite were compared with: The V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA...

Abstract Dawn revealed that Ceres is a compelling target whose exploration pertains to many science themes. large ice- and organic-rich body, potentially representative of the population objects brought water organics inner solar system, as well brine-rich body study can contribute ocean world science. The observations have led renewed focus on planetary brine physics chemistry based detection ...

The Mighan Playa is the largest playa in Markazi Province. Sedimentary and soil structures show that during all phases the playa was ephemeral. The duration and frequency of flooding varied causing variations in the relative amounts of accumulation, and soil formation. The clastic fraction of the playa sediment consists of quartz, mica and chlorite while the non-clastic evaporite fraction is do...

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is one of the driest regions on Earth, with areas that exclude plants and where soils have extremely low microbial biomass. However, in the driest parts of the desert there are microorganisms that colonize the interior of halite nodules in fossil continental evaporites, where they are sustained by condensation of atmospheric water triggered by the salt subst...

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico is the first geologic repository for disposal of transuranic nuclear waste from defense-related programs of the US Department of Energy. It is constructed within halite beds of the Permian-age Salado Formation. The Culebra Dolomite, confined within Rustler Formation evaporites overlying the Salado Formation, is a potential pathway for radionu...

Halite crystals were selected from a 186 m subsurface core taken from the Badwater salt pan, Death Valley, California to ascertain if halophilic Archaea and their associated 16S rDNA can survive over several tens of thousands of years. Using a combined microscope microdrill/micropipette system, fluids from brine inclusions were aseptically extracted from primary, hopper texture, halite crystals...