Subaerial magma-driven hydrothermal systems in the Hadean as physical and chemical factory (P04)

• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 364653263

The quest of the most probable environment(s) is amongst the most challenging and heavily debated topics on the emergence of life. After many decades of research, we are yet to identify environments favorable for a plethora of reactions allowing to progress from the synthesis of small molecules forming the simple building block of life, to complex organic molecules and finally to functional polymers with the ability to metabolism and replication. Here we plan to test subaerial hydrothermal environments driven by magmatic and volcanic activity on their potential as interconnected physical and chemical reactors where prebiotic reactions are catalyzed by mineral reactions.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 235: Emergence of Life: exploring mechanisms with cross-disciplinary experiments
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Dr. Claudia Huber, until 6/2022; Professorin Dr. Bettina Scheu, since 7/2022; Professor Dr. Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, until 6/2022; Professor Dr. Oliver Trapp, since 7/2022