Constraining geochemical boundary conditions of Hadean hydrothermal systems and the implications for early life (P07)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 364653263

The main goal of this project is to constrain prebiotic COHS element enrichment in magmas and their potential to provide life-sustaining volatiles at hydrothermal vents to test aspects of the alkaline hydrothermal vent hypothesis for the emergence of life. Laboratory testing of hydrothermal chimneys forming along an eH-pH gradient under anoxic conditions will test the role of H2 and CO2 partial pressures in sustaining early metabolism and high pressure high temperature geochemical experiments will constrain the potential concentrations of COHS volatiles in Hadean magmas. In doing so, we will constrain the deep subsurface mechanisms controlling CO2 and H2 partial pressures in alkaline hydrothermal systems and the role of these volatiles to provide energy required during the emergence of life and sustaining early life.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 235: Emergence of Life: exploring mechanisms with cross-disciplinary experiments
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Dieter Braun, until 6/2022; Professor Dr. William Orsi, Ph.D., since 7/2022; Professorin Dr. Petra Schwille, until 6/2022; Professor Dr. Daniel Weidendorfer, since 7/2022