@edgarblythe,
they have a place called "The Autonomous University of Madrid"??
Talk about self -starters.
Ill bet this will lead to a scientific dust up for several years.
I remember the hot streams in those mexican gypsum caves were about 2.5 pH and yet there were little reddish fish with long fins that seemed to have evolved so as to be able to keep thir positions in the hot acidic waters.
Id propose they do a stat model an compile the sites on earth wherein xtremophiles DO exist and compare their environments to this place.
Ive been to the Danakil a bout three times looking at sulfide metal deposits ( These are much easier to smelt compared to silicate ores).It stinks as bad as youd expect.