This thesis reports the application of geological techniques to astrobiological questions about hydrogen-consuming, methane-producing life in planetary crusts, particularly on Earth and Mars. I report original contributions to the following areas of knowledge: (1) the size of Earth's continental deep biosphere; (2) the effect of subsurface habitability on circumstellar habitable zones; (3) the habitability of martian vesicular basalt; (4) the role of methane clathrates in “Snowball Earth” deglaciation; (5) the retention of methane by rocks and minerals, with implications for deep habitats on Earth and Mars, and sampling techniques adaptable for Mars missions; (6) the volatile content of martian meteorites, with implications for life; and (7) sources of hydrogen for subsurface life or abiotic methanogenesis on Earth and Mars.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:629394 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | McMahon, Sean |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=214837 |
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