Cited by 325Planetary Science and ExplorationSpace Science and Extraterrestrial LifeAstro and Planetary Science

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On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars

Boston, Penelope J., Ivanov, Mikhail V., P. McKay, Christopher·1992·Icarus

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Abstract

We have reexamined the question of extant microbial life on Mars in light of the most recent information about the planet and recently discovered nonphotosynthetic microbial ecosystems on Earth--deep sea hydrothermal vent communities and deep subsurface aquifer communities. On Mars, protected subsurface niches associated with hydrothermal activity could have continued to support life even after surface conditions became inhospitable. Geochemical evidence from the SNC meteorites and geomorphological evidence for recent volcanism suggest that such habitats could persist to the present time. There are also extensive geological features that attest to the ubiquitous nature of volcano-ground ice interactions on Mars. We suggest a possible deep subsurface microbial ecology similar to those discovered to depths of several kilometers below the surface of the Earth. We focus on anaerobic systems utilizing CO2 as the primary source of carbon. Liquid water could be provided by the heat of geothermal or volcanic activity melting permafrost or other subsurface water sources. Gases from volcanic activity deep in the planet could provide reducing power (as CH4, H2, or H2S) percolating up from below and enabling the development of a microbial community based upon chemolithoautotrophy. We suggest a methanogen (or acetogen) and sulfur-based microbial ecology as one possible basis for microbial primary production. Our hypothetical ecosystem is neither supported, nor excluded, by current observations of Mars. Tests for such a subsurface system involve locating active geothermal areas associated with ground ice or detecting trace quantities of reduced atmospheric gases that would leak from such a system.

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Method
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Cockell, C. S. (2001) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-3486-7_8 · Cited by 2
Life in the Cold and Dry Limits: Earth, Mars and Beyond
Mckay, C. (2000) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-011-4269-4_26 · Cited by 2
The interplay between magmatic and sedimentary processes on Noachian Mars and its implications for habitability
Tuhi, S., & Wray, J. J. (2026) · Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences · doi:10.3389/fspas.2026.1695941 · Cited by 1
“The thermal energy from Noachian magmatic processes is seen as a key factor for maintaining subsurface habitability on early Mars (Boston et al., 1992; Onstott et al., 2019).”
The Microbial Inhabitants of the Corona Lava Tube: Astrobiological Insights from a Mars Analog Environment
Miller, A. Z., Gonzalez-Pimentel, J., de la Rosa, J. M., Gutierrez-Patricio, S., Jiménez-Morillo, N., Maurer, M., Stahl-Rommel, S., Castro-Wallace, S., Bessone, L., Martínez-Frías, J., et al. (2026) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1177/15311074251413229 · Cited by 1
“…emerging evidence suggests that lava tubes, liquid water, and organic molecules are present on Mars and other planetary bodies (Arnold et al., 2022; Boston et al., 1992; Honniball et al., 2020; Léveillé and Datta, 2010; Sauro et al., 2020; Titus et al., 2021; Westall et al., 2015; Wynne et al.,…”
Studies on Geomicrobiology in some Indian Caves
Baskar, S., & Baskar, R. (2022) · Journal of the Geological Society of India · doi:10.1007/s12594-022-2185-9 · Cited by 1
“Microbial metabolism under extreme conditions, can be used for theidentification of biomarkers for subsurface life on distant planets (Boston et al., 1992; McKay et al., 1994; Cunningham et al., 1995; Boston, 2000; Boston, 2001).”
Background
Subsurface hydrothermal systems as Havens for Martian life
Farmer, J. D. (2006) · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta · doi:10.1016/j.gca.2006.06.334 · Cited by 1
Where to search for martian biota?
Tasch, P. (1997) · Optics & Photonics · doi:10.1117/12.278771 · Cited by 1
Habitability Beyond Earth
Olsson-Francis, K. (2019) · Frontiers Research Topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-88945-765-6 · Cited by 1
6.4 Karst Geomorphology: Sulfur Karst Processes
Hose, L. (2013) · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374739-6.00117-2 · Cited by 1
“Some workers have projected discoveries of the robust sulfur-oxidizing and reducing microbial ecosystems in subsurface karst into models of potential life on other planets, particularly Mars (Boston et al., 1992, 2001).”
Background
Missions to Mars
Markley, R. (2013) · Palgrave Macmillan US eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137273178_12 · Cited by 1
Remote sensing for organics on Mars.
Davis, W. L., Mckay, C. P., & Hynes, S. F. (1999) · Advances in Space Research · doi:10.1016/s0273-1177(99)00083-6 · Cited by 1
Water in Extrasolar Planets and Implications for Habitability
Noack, L., Snellen, I. A. G., & Rauer, H. (2017) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-017-0413-1 · Cited by 36
“into the ground, where it is also shielded from surface radiation (Boston et al. 1992; Gold 1992).”
Background
Transport and modification of glaciovolcanic glass from source to sink on Mars
Vet, S. D. D. (2015) · Geologie & Mijnbouw · doi:10.1017/njg.2015.11
Mars Alteration on Earth: A Spectroscopic Study of Hydrated Silica and Biomarker Preservation in La Palma Lava Tubes
Alberquilla, F., Aramendia, J., Martínez‐Arkarazo, I., Gorla, G., Coloma, L., Arana, G., Gonzalez, A., Gisbert, R., Cobiella, P., Perestelo, M., et al. (2026) · Journal of Geophysical Research Planets · doi:10.1029/2026je009742
“When acting together, these processes can lead to the preservation of potential biosignatures within mineral deposits (Boston et al., 1992), such as opaline silica.”
Methane Production on Mars-Relevant Clay Minerals and Simulant Regolith
Mickol, R. L., Waddell, W. H., Wray, J., Pohlkamp, R., Kern, C., & Kral, T. A. (2026) · Microorganisms · doi:10.3390/microorganisms14071496
“Still, it is hard not to consider methanogenesis as a possible metabolism on early or extant Mars [21–38], considering carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere, and likely, subsurface sources of molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) [25,26,37,39–46].”
The Changing Concept of Habitability on Earth, the Solar System, and Beyond
McKay, C. P. (2026) · Geosciences · doi:10.3390/geosciences16050190
“The connection to Mars was immediate, as just a few years earlier, Boston and colleagues [42] had suggested the possibility of just such an ecosystem in the subsurface of Mars.”
Rare earth elements and stable isotope signatures from hydrothermal alteration in Vargeão Dome with implications for impact-generated hydrothermal systems on Mars
Noest, J. C., Sluis, M., Alsemgeest, J., van der Lubbe, J. J. L., Verdegaal-Warmerdam, S. J. A., & Brouwer, F. M. (2026) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117068
Crater-based Dating of Hebrus Valles and Hephaestus Fossae, Mars
Spurling, R., Nerozzi, S., & Hamilton, C. W. (2025) · The Planetary Science Journal · doi:10.3847/psj/ae0721
“In addition to possibly causing the HV and HF channels to form, magmatic intrusions may have created habitable hydrothermal systems ( P. J. Boston et al. 1992; V. C. Gulick 1993; F. Westall et al. 2015 ) , and heat transfer between lava flows and surface or near-surface water / ice could have…”
Environmental Drivers of Subterranean Radon Dynamics in Volcanic Systems: Modeling, Prediction, and Forecasting in a Warming World
Lario, J., Cuezva, S., Fernández-Cortés, Á., Martín-Pozas, T., Sánchez-Moral, S., & Herrero-Alcalde, A. (2025) · Earth Systems and Environment · doi:10.1007/s41748-025-00846-1
“…occupational safety risks in confined environ - ments (WHO 2009), improving conservation protocols in sensitive underground ecosystems (Fernandez-Cortes et al. 2013, 2022; Perrier et al. 2024), and even guiding analog research for human space exploration (Boston et al. 1992; Titus et al. 2021).”
WITHDRAWN due to Technical Error: Survivability and Growth Kinetics of Methanogenic Archaea at various pHs and Pressures: Implications for Deep Subsurface Life on Mars
Sinha, N., Nepal, S., Kral, T. A., & Kumar, P. (2016) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2016.10.002
Subsurface Microorganisms: Ecological significance
Fredrickson, J. K. (2003) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/0471263397.env302
Lithotrophic Microbial Ecosystems in the Subsurface
Stevens, T. (2003) · Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1002/0471263397.env153
Response : Hydrogen-Based Microbial Ecosystems in the Earth
Stevens, T., & McKinley, J. (1996) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.272.5263.896-c
地外有机物种类与分布及其天体生物学启示
Qiu, M., Xue, H., & Hu, S. (2024) · Earth Science-Journal of China University of Geosciences · doi:10.3799/dqkx.2024.067 · Cited by 1
Origin and Possibilities of Life on MARS Environment: Theoretical Overview
Dharshini, D., & Mishra, A. (2023) · International Journal of Engineering Technology and Management Sciences · doi:10.46647/ijetms.2023.v07i01.058
Astrobiology of Titan
Simakov, M. B. (2012) · Cellular origin and life in extreme habitats · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4966-5_19
Signatures of Life
Schulze-Makuch, D., & Irwin, L. (2008) · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-76817-3_11

Authors: Boston, P. J., Ivanov, M. V., & P. McKay, C.
Affiliations: Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union (RU)
ORCID: Boston, Penelope J.
Ivanov, Mikhail V.
Venue: Icarus
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1992-02
Volume: 95
Issue: 2
Pages: 300-308
ISSN: 0019-1035 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/0019-1035(92)90045-9
OpenAlex: W2039172699
Cited by: 325
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 5.27
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Icarus (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Planetary Science and Exploration
Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Astro and Planetary Science
Keywords: chemosynthetic ecosystems, subsurface microbial life, Mars, hydrothermal activity, Martian meteorites, permafrost, geothermal activity, chemolithoautotrophy, methanogenic archaea, acetogenic bacteria, hydrothermal vent communities
MeSH terms: Carbon Dioxide, Environmental Microbiology, Extraterrestrial Environment, Geology, Temperature, Solar System, Ecosystem, Mars, Exobiology, Volcanic Eruptions, Geological Phenomena

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On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars

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