Chapter 11. GEOMICROBIOLOGY OF SULFIDE MINERAL OXIDATION

Nordstrom, D. Kirk; Southam, Gordon

doi:10.1515/9781501509247-013

Cited by 197 publications

(175 citation statements)

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“…3.5 bya (Bibring et al 2006). This Martian, acid sulphate system is similar to acid mine drainage (Nordstrom and Southam 1997) or supergene enrichment (Enders et al 2006) environments on Earth, and therefore is still habitable.…”

Section: Marsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Geology and Habitability of Terrestrial Planets: Fundamental Requirements for Life

2007

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The current approach to the study of the origin of life and to the search for life elsewhere is based on two assumptions. First, life is a purely physical phenomenon closely linked to specific environmental conditions. From this, we hypothesise that when these environmental conditions are met, life will arise and evolve. If these assumptions are valid, the search for life elsewhere should be a matter of mapping what we know about the range of environments in which life can exist, and then simply trying to find these environments elsewhere. Second, life can be clearly distinguished from the non-living world. While a single feature of a living organism left in the rock record is not always sufficient to determine unequivocally whether life was present, life often leaves multiple structural, mineralogical and chemical biomarkers that, in sum, support a conclusion that life was present. Our understanding of the habitats that can sustain or have sustained life has grown tremendously with the characterisation of extremophiles. In this chapter, we highlight the range of environments that are known to harbour life on Earth, describe the environments that existed during the period of time when life originated on Earth, and compare these habitats to the suitable environments that are found elsewhere in our solar system, where life could have arisen and evolved.

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Section: Marsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Geology and Habitability of Terrestrial Planets: Fundamental Requirements for Life

2007

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“…The presence of these microorganisms provides a clear indication of the onset of an ARD phenomenon in the Pastoruri glacier retreat zone [42]. The natural oxidation and dissolution of sulfidic minerals exposed to oxygen and water result in acid production, and the process can be greatly enhanced by microbial metabolism [9,15]. In the Pastoruri area, oxidation of iron and sulfur from pyrite is catalyzed mainly by microorganisms such as Acidithobacillus and Leptospirillum, which would lead to a decrease in pH, as seen in the area near P1A, and facilitates the mobilization of iron, sulfur and heavy metals to an aqueous phase [9,15].…”

Section: Geomicrobiological Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The natural oxidation and dissolution of sulfidic minerals exposed to oxygen and water result in acid production, and the process can be greatly enhanced by microbial metabolism [9,15]. In the Pastoruri area, oxidation of iron and sulfur from pyrite is catalyzed mainly by microorganisms such as Acidithobacillus and Leptospirillum, which would lead to a decrease in pH, as seen in the area near P1A, and facilitates the mobilization of iron, sulfur and heavy metals to an aqueous phase [9,15]. Although the low temperature may slow oxidation kinetics, this process is detected even at relatively low temperatures [40,42,43].…”

Section: Geomicrobiological Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exposure of these fresh sulfide-rich lithologies to air and water by retreating glaciers is producing an uncontrolled oxidation of the exposed sulfide minerals, resulting in the acidification of the surface waters [9]. This natural phenomenon, known as acid rock drainage (ARD), has to be distinguished from acid mine drainage (AMD), which is the result of the appearance of acidic effluents produced by mining operations [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the extreme conditions found in these environments are exacerbated by the product of the metabolic activity of chemolithotrophic microorganisms, mostly iron-and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria [9,15]. These iron-oxidizing microorganisms are responsible for the solubilization of sulfidic minerals, mainly pyrite, and the correspondent high concentration of ferric iron, sulfate, and protons in the water [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pyrosequencing-Based Assessment of the Microbial Community Structure of Pastoruri Glacier Area (Huascarán National Park, Perú), a Natural Extreme Acidic Environment

et al. 2015

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The exposure of fresh sulfide-rich lithologies by the retracement of the Nevado Pastoruri glacier (Central Andes, Perú) is increasing the presence of heavy metals in the water as well as decreasing the pH, producing an acid rock drainage (ARD) process in the area. We describe the microbial communities of an extreme ARD site in Huascarán National Park as well as their correlation with the water physicochemistry. Microbial biodiversity was analyzed by FLX 454 sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The suggested geomicrobiological model of the area distinguishes three different zones. The proglacial zone is located in the upper part of the valley, where the ARD process is not evident yet. Most of the OTUs detected in this area were related to sequences associated with cold environments (i.e., psychrotolerant species of Cyanobacteria or Bacteroidetes). After the proglacial area, an ARD-influenced zone appeared, characterized by the presence of phylotypes related to acidophiles (Acidiphilium) as well as other species related to acidic and cold environments (i.e., acidophilic species of Chloroflexi, Clostridium and Verrumicrobia). Sulfur- and iron-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria (Acidithiobacillus) were also identified. The post-ARD area was characterized by the presence of OTUs related to microorganisms detected in soils, permafrost, high mountain environments, and deglaciation areas (Sphingomonadales, Caulobacter or Comamonadaceae).

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Reactive transport controls on sandy acid sulfate soils and impacts on shallow groundwater quality

Salmon

Rate

Rengel

et al. 2014

Water Resources Research

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Disturbance or drainage of potential acid sulfate soils (PASS) can result in the release of acidity and degradation of infrastructure, water resources, and the environment. Soil processes affecting shallow groundwater quality have been investigated using a numerical code that integrates (bio)geochemical processes with water, solute, and gas transport. The patterns of severe and persistent acidification (pH < 4) in the sandy, carbonate-depleted podzols of a coastal plain could be reproduced without calibration, based on oxidation of microcrystalline pyrite after groundwater level decrease and/or residual groundwater acidity, due to slow vertical solute transport rates. The rate of acidification was limited by gas phase diffusion of oxygen and hence was sensitive to soil water retention properties and in some cases also to oxygen consumption by organic matter mineralization. Despite diffusion limitation, the rate of oxidation in sandy soils was rapid once pyrite-bearing horizons were exposed, even to a depth of 7.5 m. Groundwater level movement was thus identified as an important control on acidification, as well as the initial pyrite content. Increase in the rate of Fe(II) oxidation lead to slightly lower pH and greater accumulation of Fe(III) phases, but had little effect on the overall amount of pyrite oxidized. Aluminosilicate (kaolinite) dissolution had a small pH-buffering effect but lead to the release of Al and associated acidity. Simulated dewatering scenarios highlighted the potential of the model for risk assessment of (bio)geochemical impacts on soil and groundwater over a range of temporal and spatial scales.

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Chapter 11. GEOMICROBIOLOGY OF SULFIDE MINERAL OXIDATION

Cited by 197 publications

References 0 publications

The Geology and Habitability of Terrestrial Planets: Fundamental Requirements for Life

The Geology and Habitability of Terrestrial Planets: Fundamental Requirements for Life

Pyrosequencing-Based Assessment of the Microbial Community Structure of Pastoruri Glacier Area (Huascarán National Park, Perú), a Natural Extreme Acidic Environment

Reactive transport controls on sandy acid sulfate soils and impacts on shallow groundwater quality

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