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Preservation characteristics of biosignatures in sulfates and their implications for the search for life on Mars

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Abstract

Sulfate minerals are widely distributed across various geological settings on Earth and provide critical insights into a range of geochemical processes and environmental evolution. Both modern and ancient sulfates possess exceptional potential for preserving biosignatures. Recent studies utilizing remote sensing and in situ exploration techniques have identified extensive sulfate-bearing deposits on the Martian surface. Investigating the habitability and the potential for biosignature preservation in these regions is a key focus in the search for life on Mars. Therefore, this review synthesizes the types, distribution, and formation environments of terrestrial sulfate minerals and summarizes the occurrence and preservation characteristics of biosignatures within both modern and ancient terrestrial sulfates. In light of the current understanding of the occurrence of Martian sulfates, the study further explores the potential for biosignature preservation within Martian sulfate deposits. Finally, drawing on results from current in situ life-detection missions and the objectives of forthcoming Mars sample return missions, this paper provides scientific recommendations for biosignature detection strategies and landing site selection in future Mars exploration missions.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank Prof. Wei LIN from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for his invaluable suggestions during the preparation of this study. We are also grateful to Miaosen XIA, a Ph.D. candidate at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), for his assistance with the Martian sulfate-related sections. Additionally, we deeply appreciate the constructive comments and suggestions provided by the two anonymous reviewers, which significantly improved the quality of this work. This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2022YFF0504000), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42272274), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2021YFA0716100), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (Grant No. 2024AFB692), and the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) (Grant No. 0052/2024/RIA1).

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  1. SKL Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078, China

    Yihao Xie, Ting Huang & David C. Fernández-Remolar

  2. CNSA Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science, Macao, 999078, China

    Yihao Xie, Ting Huang & David C. Fernández-Remolar

  3. Key Laboratory of Geological Exploration and Assessment, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jiannan Zhao

  4. Institute of Planetary Science, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jiannan Zhao

  5. State Key Laboratory of Geomicrobiology and Environmental Changes, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China

    Yihao Xie

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Xie, Y., Huang, T., Zhao, J. et al. Preservation characteristics of biosignatures in sulfates and their implications for the search for life on Mars. Sci. China Earth Sci. 68, 2867–2890 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-024-1645-5

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