Mineral-microbe interactions: a review

Abstract

The studies of mineral-microbe interactions lie at the heart of the emerging field of Geomicrobiology, as minerals and rocks are the most fundamental earth materials with which microbes interact at all scales. Microbes have been found in a number of the Earth's extreme environments and beyond. In spite of the diverse geological environments in which microbes are found and diverse approaches taken to study them, a common thread, mineral-microbe interactions, connects all these environments and experimental approaches under the same umbrella, i.e., Geomicrobiology. Minerals and rocks provide microbes with nutrients and living habitats, and microbes impact rock and mineral weathering and diagenesis rates through their effects on mineral solubility and speciation. Given a rapid growth of research in this area in the last two decades, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive review on the topic. This review paper focuses on three area, i.e., microbial dissolution of minerals, microbial formation of minerals, and certain techniques to study mineral-microbe interactions. Under the first area, three subjects are reviewed; they include siderophores as important agents in promoting mineral dissolution, microbial oxidation of reduced minerals (acid mine drainage and microbial leaching of ores), and microbial reduction of oxidized minerals. Under the second topic, both biologically controlled and induced mineralizations are reviewed with a special focus on microbially induced mineralization (microbial surface mediated mineral precipitation and microbial precipitation of carbonates). Under the topic of characterization, the focus is on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy. It is the author's hope that this review will promote more focused research on mineral-microbe interactions and encourage more collaboration between microbiologists and mineralogists.

Enhanced Alcaligenes faecalis Denitrification Rate with Electrodes as the Electron Donor

“…As the semiconducting minerals and microbes are ubiquitous on the surface of the Earth (4), the photoelectrons generated by semiconducting minerals under solar irradiation could be utilized by microbes to support microbial metabolism. This process extends the knowledge of mineral and microbe interactions (including microbial dissolution of minerals and microbial formation of minerals) (36) and helps us to better understand how minerals influence the microbial world.…”

Geochemical Implications of CO2 Leakage Associated with Geologic Storage: A Review

“…However, given the potential for 1) CO 2 to increase the thermodynamic favorability of carbonate precipitation via enhanced CO 2 -induced weathering of soil and aquifer minerals; and 2) the current literature on microbially mediated nucleation of carbonates, the authors of this report believe the consideration of mineral trapping of CO 2 in near surface environments (as a consequence of a CO 2 leak) is warranted (Kenward et al 2009;De Choudens-Sánchez and González 2009;Dean et al 2007;Power et al 2011;Vasconcelos and McKenzie 1997;Roberts et al 2004;Douglas and Beveridge 1998;Dong 2010;Ferris et al 2004;Tobler et al 2011;Mitchell and Ferris 2005).…”

“…There is also some evidence to indicate that microorganisms could enhance CO 2 re-sequestration in near-surface environments via direct assimilation (Pedersen and Ekendahl 1992) or biogenic carbonate formation (Vasconcelos and McKenzie 1997;Roberts et al 2004;Douglas and Beveridge 1998;Dong 2010). Many microorganisms likely to be encountered in near-surface environments above geologic sequestration sites (e.g., sulfate-reducers, nitrate-reducers, iron-reducers, urea-degraders, and methanogens) are capable of biogenic carbonate formation (Roberts et al 2004;Douglas and Beveridge 1998;Dong 2010;Ferris et al 2004;Tobler et al 2011;Mitchell and Ferris 2005;Mitchell et al 2010).…”

“…Many microorganisms likely to be encountered in near-surface environments above geologic sequestration sites (e.g., sulfate-reducers, nitrate-reducers, iron-reducers, urea-degraders, and methanogens) are capable of biogenic carbonate formation (Roberts et al 2004;Douglas and Beveridge 1998;Dong 2010;Ferris et al 2004;Tobler et al 2011;Mitchell and Ferris 2005;Mitchell et al 2010). The formation of carbonate minerals by urea-degraders has been extensively studied (Ferris et al 2004;Tobler et al 2011;Mitchell and Ferris 2005;Mitchell et al 2010).…”

Effects of Montmorillonite on the Mineralization and Cementing Properties of Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate

“…Researchers have found that carbonate mineralization plays an important role in the natural diagenesis process [16]. Minerals can be used to form mineral calcium carbonate crystals (composed of bacteria, cell secretions, and calcium carbonate) [17]. Microbes can cement the surrounding loose debris material into a hard rock through the role of an organic matrix [18,19].…”