ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the role of hydrothermal systems in prebiotic evolution is exposed. Hydrothermal systems comprise multiple geological settings. Such diversity implies numerous geochemical and physical processes, and their natural characteristics could have favored the synthesis of organic compounds on primitive Earth. As submarine examples of hydrothermal systems were discovered, many unresolved questions in the field of the origin of life emerged. The wealth of knowledge about these systems, both actual and fossil, opened new possibilities to understand chemical evolution. Further, such knowledge was used to design improved experiments in prebiotic chemistry. In this chapter, selected types of hydrothermal environments in the geological record are explored as candidates for prebiotic chemical reactions, beyond those known in mid-ocean ridges. A compilation of representative experiments in prebiotic chemistry is provided, and the variables included in them are highlighted to put them into perspective. Finally, a summary of valuable variables and the relevance of gradients and heterogeneous phases in natural environments are presented. The intention is to appreciate the diversity of these natural settings and to ponder the variables that could be incorporated in future experiments to better figure out the role of these environments in prebiotic chemistry.