IMPORTANCE OF THE IRON CYCLE, RELEVANCE TO MARS EXPLORATION

摘要

The geomicrobial characterization of the Tinto River (Iberian Pyritic Belt, Southwestern Spain) has recently proven the importance of the iron cycle, not only in the generation of the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH and high concentration of heavy metals), but also in the maintenance of a high level of microbial diversity. The presence of vast deposits of iron oxides on Mars and the physico-chemical properties of this element as a source of energy, as protection from radiation and oxidation as well as to control the pH the habitat, make the possible existence of an active geomicrobial iron system on the red planet worthy of study. In this paper these aspects are outlined and the current investigation using the Tinto River as a terrestrial analogue discussed.