Biosignature Preservation in Stromatolites From the Carri Laufquen Lakes System, Patagonia: Implications for Martian Palaeolacustrine Environments
Abstract
The Carri Laufquen Lakes System is a highly alkaline, basalt-hosted lacustrine environment in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Diverse morphologies of Late Pleistocene sub-fossil stromatolites occur along the lakeshores. Using detailed optical and electron microscopy, spectroscopy and organic geochemical analyses, this study shows that stromatolite growth and early diagenetic processes were strongly influenced by microbially controlled organomineralisation. Mineralisation of extracellular polymeric substances and cyanobacterial sheaths promoted early lithification and exceptional preservation of stromatolite fabrics and biosignatures. Organic matter is closely associated with Al-bearing silicate minerals at the micro-nanoscale, enhancing fossilisation potential and preserving biogeochemical signatures. The resulting mineral assemblage in the Carri Laufquen stromatolites, dominated by Mg-carbonate with minor Al-silicates and carbonaceous material, resembles the geochemistry of ancient lacustrine deposits around the margins of Jezero crater, highlighting the propensity of such deposits for biosignature preservation, and providing a framework for detailed characterisation of such materials following Mars Sample Return.
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BibTeX
@article{dorneles2026biosignature,
title = {{Biosignature Preservation in Stromatolites From the Carri Laufquen Lakes System, Patagonia: Implications for Martian Palaeolacustrine Environments}},
author = {Victor Amir Cardoso Dorneles and Maëva Millan and Fernando J Gómez and Primož Šket and Jens Najorka and Cindy Broderick and Wren Montgomery and Barbara Cavalazzi and Keyron Hickman‐lewis},
journal = {Geobiology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1111/gbi.70063},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05752284v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biosignature Preservation in Stromatolites From the Carri Laufquen Lakes System, Patagonia: Implications for Martian Palaeolacustrine Environments
AU - Victor Amir Cardoso Dorneles
AU - Maëva Millan
AU - Fernando J Gómez
AU - Primož Šket
AU - Jens Najorka
AU - Cindy Broderick
AU - Wren Montgomery
AU - Barbara Cavalazzi
AU - Keyron Hickman‐lewis
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
JO - Geobiology
DO - 10.1111/gbi.70063
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05752284v1
AB - The Carri Laufquen Lakes System is a highly alkaline, basalt-hosted lacustrine environment in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Diverse morphologies of Late Pleistocene sub-fossil stromatolites occur along the lakeshores. Using detailed optical and electron microscopy, spectroscopy and organic geochemical analyses, this study shows that stromatolite growth and early diagenetic processes were strongly influenced by microbially controlled organomineralisation. Mineralisation of extracellular polymeric substances and cyanobacterial sheaths promoted early lithification and exceptional preservation of stromatolite fabrics and biosignatures. Organic matter is closely associated with Al-bearing silicate minerals at the micro-nanoscale, enhancing fossilisation potential and preserving biogeochemical signatures. The resulting mineral assemblage in the Carri Laufquen stromatolites, dominated by Mg-carbonate with minor Al-silicates and carbonaceous material, resembles the geochemistry of ancient lacustrine deposits around the margins of Jezero crater, highlighting the propensity of such deposits for biosignature preservation, and providing a framework for detailed characterisation of such materials following Mars Sample Return.
SN - 1472-4677
SN - 1472-4669
ER -