BIFs are layers of sediment that are rich in iron and date to the Precambrian. Theories suggest that they are resulted from the interplay of microbial metabolisms that involved the biogeochemical cycling of iron and organic matter (OM). However, BIFs found on Earth today are depleted in OM. The new study examines whether or not the depletion of OM could be the result of the oxidation of this material during the process of iron reduction. The study, “Minimal biomass deposition in banded iron formations inferred from organic matter and clay relationships,” was published in the journal Nature Communications on November 4, 2019. The work was supported by NASA Astrobiology through the Exobiology Program and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. This newly-revealed science is also a critical part of NASA’s work to understand the Universe, advance human exploration, and inspire the next generation. As NASA’s Artemis program moves forward with human exploration of the Moon, the search for life on other worlds remains a top priority for the agency. Reference: “Minimal biomass deposition in banded iron formations inferred from organic matter and clay relationships” by Matthew S. Dodd, Dominic Papineau, Franco Pirajno, Yusheng Wan and Juha A. Karhu, 4 November 2019, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12975-z
