Science

Snowball Earth's iron deposits may have formed through microbes living without sunlight

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Briefings

A 2026 article suggests that massive iron deposits on Earth may have formed via microbial processes rather than photosynthesis, challenging the long-held theory that ancient photosynthetic bacteria oxidized iron in the oceans. The evidence indicates that microbes living in deep, dark environments could have accessed iron directly, bypassing the need for sunlight. This hypothesis offers a potential alternative explanation for the timing and distribution of iron-rich sedimentary layers found in geological records. However, the study remains preliminary and relies on limited data from a single geological snapshot, with significant uncertainties regarding the scale and duration of these microbial activities. The research does not confirm a causal link between specific microbial groups and the formation of these deposits, but it opens new avenues for investigating prebiotic chemistry and early Earth biogeochemical cycles.

Key points

• Microbes living in deep, dark environments may have accessed iron directly, bypassing the need for sunlight to oxidize it.
• The study relies on limited data from a single geological snapshot, with significant uncertainties regarding the scale and duration of microbial activities.

Context and limitations

The research relies on limited data from a single geological snapshot, with significant uncertainties regarding the scale and duration of microbial activities.

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