@article{Gumbley:2026:10.1038/s44453-026-00046-9,
author = {Gumbley, JJ and Watson, JS and Sephton, M},
doi = {10.1038/s44453-026-00046-9},
journal = {npj Space Exploration},
title = {Serpentinization-driven redox disequilibria in the Jezero paleolake as a potential energy source for primitive life on early Mars},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44453-026-00046-9},
volume = {2},
year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - We propose fracture-localized serpentinization of the olivine-rich Seitah formation in Jezero crater on Mars could have delivered hydrogen to sustain a redox potential. Using Perseverance data, we calculate the formation could have generated 0.7–1.3 mol H per kg of serpentinized rock. H-rich and CO-poor fluids introduced to Jezero's circumneutral paleolake bottom waters would have created a redox disequilibrium with dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). At this pH, carbonate equilibria maintain DIC predominantly as bicarbonate (HCO, 80–95% of DIC) with dissolved CO(aq) suppressed (5–20%). Under low-temperature paleolake conditions (0–10 °C) the reaction is kinetically inhibited allowing H–CO redox disequilibria to persist. We use a sensitivity-based kinetic framework to show H2-CO2 disequilibria lifetimes within Jezero extend from centuries to millions of years under representative activation energy bounds. Chemoautotrophs can exploit H–CO/HCO redox gradients. We apply an energy-flux framework, calculate chemical affinities of 10–30 kJ mol¹ H and estimate that individual serpentinization vent fields could support microbial populations of 10¹–10¹ cells. Our results demonstrate the paleolake possessed the conditions necessary to produce a redox battery that could power primitive life. Similar environments on early Mars could have had the same potential.
AU  - Gumbley,JJ
AU  - Watson,JS
AU  - Sephton,M
DO  - 10.1038/s44453-026-00046-9
PY  - 2026///
SN  - 3059-3700
TI  - Serpentinization-driven redox disequilibria in the Jezero paleolake as a potential energy source for primitive life on early Mars
T2  - npj Space Exploration
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44453-026-00046-9
UR  - https://www.nature.com/npjspaceexplor/
VL  - 2
ER  - 

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