Geomicrobiology


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*Geomicrobiology* is a subset of the scientific discipline microbiology
</wiki/Microbiology>. The field of geomicrobiology concerns the role of
microbe and microbial processes in geological and geochemical processes.
The field is especially important when dealing with microorganisms in
aquifers </wiki/Aquifer> and public drinking water supplies.

Another area of investigation in geomicrobiology is the study of
extremophile </wiki/Extremophile> organisms, the microorganisms that
thrive in environments normally considered hostile. Such environments
may include extremely hot (hot springs </wiki/Hot_spring> or mid-ocean
ridge </wiki/Mid-ocean_ridge> black smoker </wiki/Black_smoker>)
environments, extremely saline </wiki/Salinity> environments, or even
space environments such as Martian </wiki/Mars_(planet)> soil or comets
</wiki/Comet>.

Recent observations and research in hyper-saline lagoon </wiki/Lagoon>
environments in Brazil </wiki/Brazil> and Australia </wiki/Australia>
have shown that anaerobic </wiki/Anaerobic_organism> sulfate-reducing
bacteria </wiki/Sulfate-reducing_bacteria> may be directly involved in
the formation of dolomite </wiki/Dolomite>^[/citation needed
</wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>/] . This suggests the alteration and
replacement of limestone </wiki/Limestone> sediments by dolomitization
in ancient rocks was possibly aided by ancestors to these anaerobic
bacteria.

Some bacteria use metal </wiki/Metal> ions </wiki/Ion> as their energy
source. They convert (or chemically reduce) the dissolved metal ions
from one electrical state to another. This reduction releases energy for
the bacteria's use, and, as a side product, serves to concentrate the
metals into what ultimately become /ore deposits/. Certain iron
</wiki/Iron>, uranium </wiki/Uranium> and even gold </wiki/Gold> ores
</wiki/Ore> are thought to have formed as the result of microbe action.

Microbes are being studied and used to degrade organic and even nuclear
waste </wiki/Nuclear_waste> pollution (see Deinococcus radiodurans
</wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans>) and assist in environmental cleanup.
(It should be stressed however that microorganisms can not decrease the
total radioactivity of nuclear waste.)

An application of geomicrobiology is bioleaching </wiki/Bioleaching>,
the use of microbes to extract metals from mine </wiki/Mining> waste.


    [edit </w/index.php?title=Geomicrobiology&action=edit&section=1>]
    See also

    * Acid mine drainage </wiki/Acid_mine_drainage>
    * Bacterial oxidation </wiki/Bacterial_oxidation>
    * Desulforudis audaxviator </wiki/Desulforudis_audaxviator>


    [edit </w/index.php?title=Geomicrobiology&action=edit&section=2>]
    External links

    * Gold mines may be formed by bacteria - PDF file
      <http://www.geobacter.org/press/2001-07-21-economist.pdf>
    * Biomineralization of magnetic minerals
      <http://www.agu.org/revgeophys/moskow01/moskow01.html>


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