The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits
Bauxite deposits are studied because of their economic value and because they play an important role in the study of paleoclimate and paleogeography of continents. They provide a rare record of the weathering and evolution of continental surfaces. Geomicrobiological analysis makes it possible to ver...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2010-10-01
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| Series: | Geoscience Frontiers |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987110000095 |
| _version_ | 1797766488176721920 |
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| author | Xiluo Hao Kwunlun Leung Rucheng Wang Weidong Sun Yiliang Li |
| author_facet | Xiluo Hao Kwunlun Leung Rucheng Wang Weidong Sun Yiliang Li |
| author_sort | Xiluo Hao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bauxite deposits are studied because of their economic value and because they play an important role in the study of paleoclimate and paleogeography of continents. They provide a rare record of the weathering and evolution of continental surfaces. Geomicrobiological analysis makes it possible to verify that microorganisms have played a critical role during the formation of bauxite with the possibility already intimated in previous studies. Ambient temperature, abundance of water, organic carbon and bioavailable iron and other metal substrates provide a suitable environment for microbes to inhabit. Thiobacillus, Leptospirilum, Thermophilic bacteria and Heterotrophs have been shown to be able to oxidize ferrous iron and to reduce sulfate-generating sulfuric acid, which can accelerate the weathering of aluminosilicates and precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. Microorganisms referred to the genus Bacillus can mediate the release of alkaline metals. Although the dissimilatory iron-reducing and sulfate-reducing bacteria in bauxites have not yet been identified, some recorded authigenic carbonates and “bacteriopyrites” that appear to be unique in morphology and grain size might record microbial activity. Typical bauxite minerals such as gibbsite, kaolinite, covellite, galena, pyrite, zircon, calcium plagioclase, orthoclase, and albite have been investigated as part of an analysis of microbial mediation. The paleoecology of such bauxitic microorganisms inhabiting continental (sub) surfaces, revealed through geomicrobiological analysis, will add a further dimension to paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:26:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-088b454bb3984d8cae3410728f0d08e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-9871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:26:01Z |
| publishDate | 2010-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscience Frontiers |
| spelling | doaj.art-088b454bb3984d8cae3410728f0d08e02023-08-02T00:31:03ZengElsevierGeoscience Frontiers1674-98712010-10-0111818910.1016/j.gsf.2010.06.001The geomicrobiology of bauxite depositsXiluo Hao0Kwunlun Leung1Rucheng Wang2Weidong Sun3Yiliang Li4Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochronology and Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaDepartment of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaSchool of Geological Sciences & Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaKey Laboratory of Isotope Geochronology and Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaDepartment of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, ChinaBauxite deposits are studied because of their economic value and because they play an important role in the study of paleoclimate and paleogeography of continents. They provide a rare record of the weathering and evolution of continental surfaces. Geomicrobiological analysis makes it possible to verify that microorganisms have played a critical role during the formation of bauxite with the possibility already intimated in previous studies. Ambient temperature, abundance of water, organic carbon and bioavailable iron and other metal substrates provide a suitable environment for microbes to inhabit. Thiobacillus, Leptospirilum, Thermophilic bacteria and Heterotrophs have been shown to be able to oxidize ferrous iron and to reduce sulfate-generating sulfuric acid, which can accelerate the weathering of aluminosilicates and precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. Microorganisms referred to the genus Bacillus can mediate the release of alkaline metals. Although the dissimilatory iron-reducing and sulfate-reducing bacteria in bauxites have not yet been identified, some recorded authigenic carbonates and “bacteriopyrites” that appear to be unique in morphology and grain size might record microbial activity. Typical bauxite minerals such as gibbsite, kaolinite, covellite, galena, pyrite, zircon, calcium plagioclase, orthoclase, and albite have been investigated as part of an analysis of microbial mediation. The paleoecology of such bauxitic microorganisms inhabiting continental (sub) surfaces, revealed through geomicrobiological analysis, will add a further dimension to paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987110000095GeomicrobiologyBauxiteMicrobial activityMicrobial-mediated release of elementsBiomineralization |
| spellingShingle | Xiluo Hao Kwunlun Leung Rucheng Wang Weidong Sun Yiliang Li The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits Geoscience Frontiers Geomicrobiology Bauxite Microbial activity Microbial-mediated release of elements Biomineralization |
| title | The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits |
| title_full | The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits |
| title_fullStr | The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits |
| title_full_unstemmed | The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits |
| title_short | The geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits |
| title_sort | geomicrobiology of bauxite deposits |
| topic | Geomicrobiology Bauxite Microbial activity Microbial-mediated release of elements Biomineralization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987110000095 |
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