Microbial control of silicate weathering in organic-rich ground water

Journal Article · Fri Oct 09 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.258.5080.278· OSTI ID:7067517

Hiebert, F K; Bennett, P C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin (United States)

An in situ microcosm study of the influence of surface-adhering bacteria on silicate diagenesis in a shallow petroleum-contaminated aquifer showed that minerals were colonized by indigenous bacteria and chemically weathered at a rate faster than theoretically predicted. Feldspar and quartz fragments were placed in anoxic, organic-rich ground water, left for 14 months, recovered, and compared to unreacted controls with scanning electron microscopy. Ground-water geochemistry was characterized before and after the experiment. Localized mineral etching probably occurred in a reaction zone at the bacteria-mineral interface where high concentrations of organic acids, formed by bacteria during metabolism of hydrocarbon, selectively mobilized silica and aluminum from the mineral surface.

• OSTI ID: 7067517
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 258:5080; ISSN SCIEA; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANOXIA
AQUIFERS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
DIAGENESIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MICROCOSMS
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
WATER
WEATHERING