MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Life Found in the Deepest layer of Earth's Crust

kennyc · 11-19-2010, 05:02 PM

From New Scientist:

Life is found in deepest layer of Earth's crust
18 November 2010 by Michael Marshall

IT'S crawling with life down there. A remote expedition to the deepest layer of the Earth's oceanic crust has revealed a new ecosystem living over a kilometre beneath our feet. It is the first time that life has been found in the crust's deepest layer, and an analysis of the new biosphere suggests life could exist lower still.

On a hypothetical journey to the centre of the Earth starting at the sea floor, you would travel through sediment, a layer of basalt, and then hit the gabbroic layer, which lies directly above the mantle. Drilling expeditions have reached this layer before, but as the basalt is difficult to pierce it happens rarely.
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Rest here: http://www.newscientist.com/article/...ths-crust.html

Source Paper here: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%...l.pone.0015399

11-19-2010, 05:02 PM	#1
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Life Found in the Deepest layer of Earth's Crust From New Scientist: Life is found in deepest layer of Earth's crust 18 November 2010 by Michael Marshall IT'S crawling with life down there. A remote expedition to the deepest layer of the Earth's oceanic crust has revealed a new ecosystem living over a kilometre beneath our feet. It is the first time that life has been found in the crust's deepest layer, and an analysis of the new biosphere suggests life could exist lower still. On a hypothetical journey to the centre of the Earth starting at the sea floor, you would travel through sediment, a layer of basalt, and then hit the gabbroic layer, which lies directly above the mantle. Drilling expeditions have reached this layer before, but as the basalt is difficult to pierce it happens rarely. .... Rest here: http://www.newscientist.com/article/...ths-crust.html Source Paper here: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%...l.pone.0015399