Deep Microbial Colonization in 2-Billion-Year-Old Ultramafic Rock from the Bushveld Complex
Taro Kido, Susan Jane Webb, Mariko Kouduka, Hiroki Suga, Hanae Kobayashi, Toshiaki Ina, Takahiro Kawai, Takanori Wakita, Takuma Kaneko, Tomoya Uruga, Masaki Oura, Julio Castillo, Jens Kallmeyer, Kgabo Lydia Maureen Moganedi, Amy J. Allwright, , Yohey Suzuki
The paper identifies microbial colonization in 2-billion-year-old ultramafic rock, showing that aqueous alteration sustains microbial life over geological timescales.
bioRxiv · Apr 14, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology