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Terraforming Mars: dissolution of carbonate rocks by cyanobacteria
E I Friedmann1, M Hua, R Ocampo-Friedmann
1Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee 32306-2043, USA.
Abstract:
One of the most difficult tasks in terraforming Mars is the release into the atmosphere of CO2 bound by the surface of Mars. Even if a sufficiently dense CO2 atmosphere can be created by appropriate technology, the maintenance of CO2 concentration remains a problem. As Mars lacks plate tectonics as well as active volcanism, an Earth-like carbon cycle cannot be reproduced there. We suggest that Matteia sp., a lime-boring cyanobacterium isolated from Negev desert rocks, be used to dissolve carbonate rocks both for initial release of CO2 and in design of a Martian carbon cycle.
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