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Pietruszka DK, Hanchar JM, Tornos F, Wirth R, Graham NA, Severin KP, Velasco F, Steele-MacInnis M, Bain WM. Magmatic immiscibility and the origin of magnetite-(apatite) iron deposits. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8424. [PMID: 38114455 PMCID: PMC10730833 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43655-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The origin of magnetite-(apatite) iron deposits (MtAp) is one of the most contentious issues in ore geology with competing models that range from hydrothermal to magmatic processes. Here we report melt inclusions trapped in plagioclase phenocrysts in andesite hosting the MtAp mineralization at El Laco, Chile. The results of our study reveal that individual melt inclusions preserve evidence of complex processes involved in melt immiscibility, including separation of Si- and Fe-rich melts, the latter hosting Cu sulfide-rich, phosphate-rich, and residual C-O-HFSE-rich melts, with their melting temperature at 1145 °C. This association is consistent with the assemblages observed in the ore, and provides a link between silicate and Fe-P-rich melts that subsequently produced the magnetite-rich magmas that extruded on the flanks of the volcano. These results strongly suggest that the El Laco mineralization was derived from crystallization of Fe-P-rich melts, thus providing insight into the formation of similar deposits elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota K Pietruszka
- Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - John M Hanchar
- Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X5, Canada.
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X5, Canada
- Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC-UCM), Severo Ochoa 7, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Richard Wirth
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany
| | - Nathan A Graham
- Department of Geosciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Kenneth P Severin
- Department of Geosciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Francisco Velasco
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Matthew Steele-MacInnis
- Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Wyatt M Bain
- Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
- British Columbia Geological Survey, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation, Victoria, BC, V8T 4J1, Canada
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Bullock LA, Alcalde J, Tornos F, Fernandez-Turiel JL. Geochemical carbon dioxide removal potential of Spain. Sci Total Environ 2023; 867:161287. [PMID: 36587666 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Many countries have made pledges to reduce CO2 emissions over the upcoming decades to meet the Paris Agreement targets of limiting warming to no >1.5 °C, aiming for net zero by mid-century. To achieve national reduction targets, there is a further need for CO2 removal (CDR) approaches on a scale of millions of tonnes, necessitating a better understanding of feasible methods. One approach that is gaining attention is geochemical CDR, encompassing (1) in-situ injection of CO2-rich gases into Ca and Mg-rich rocks for geological storage by mineral carbonation, (2) ex-situ ocean alkalinity enhancement, enhanced weathering and mineral carbonation of alkaline-rich materials, and (3) electrochemical separation processes. In this context, Spain may host a notionally high geochemical CDR capacity thanks to its varied geological setting, including extensive mafic-ultramafic and carbonate rocks. However, pilot schemes and large-scale strategies for CDR implementation are presently absent in-country, partly due to gaps in current knowledge and lack of attention paid by regulatory bodies. Here, we identify possible materials, localities and avenues for future geochemical CDR research and implementation strategies within Spain. This study highlights the kilotonne to million tonne scale CDR options for Spain over the rest of the century, with attention paid to chemically and mineralogically appropriate materials, suitable implementation sites and potential strategies that could be followed. Mafic, ultramafic and carbonate rocks, mine tailings, fly ashes, slag by-products, desalination brines and ceramic wastes hosted and produced in Spain are of key interest, with industrial, agricultural and coastal areas providing opportunities to launch pilot schemes. Though there are obstacles to reaching the maximum CDR potential, this study helps to identify focused targets that will facilitate overcoming such barriers. The CDR potential of Spain warrants dedicated investigations to achieve the highest possible CDR to make valuable contributions to national reduction targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam A Bullock
- Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN), CSIC, Lluis Solé i Sabarís s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Juan Alcalde
- Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN), CSIC, Lluis Solé i Sabarís s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Instituto de Geociencias (IGEO, CSIC-UCM), Dr Severo Ochoa, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Mateo L, Tornos F, Hanchar JM, Villa IM, Stein HJ, Delgado A. The Montecristo mining district, northern Chile: the relationship between vein-like magnetite-(apatite) and iron oxide-copper-gold deposits. Miner Depos 2023; 58:1023-1049. [PMID: 37426339 PMCID: PMC10329088 DOI: 10.1007/s00126-023-01172-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The Montecristo district, northern Chile, is one of the few places worldwide where there is a direct relationship between magnetite-(apatite) (MtAp) mineralization and iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) mineralization. The MtAp mineralization includes Ti-poor magnetite, fluorapatite, and actinolite and is crosscut and partially replaced by a younger IOCG mineralization that includes a second generation of actinolite and magnetite with quartz, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and molybdenite. The MtAp stage at Montecristo is interpreted as the crystallized iron-rich melts that used the pre-existing structures of the Atacama Fault System as conduits. These rocks later acted as a trap for hydrothermal IOCG mineralization. Geochronology data at Montecristo indicate that the host diorite (U-Pb zircon 153.3 ± 1.8 Ma, 2-sigma), MtAp mineralization (40Ar-39Ar in actinolite, 154 ± 2 Ma and 153 ± 4 Ma, 2-sigma), and the IOCG event (Re-Os on molybdenite, 151.8 ± 0.6 Ma, 2-sigma) are coeval within error and took place in a time span of less than 3.4 Ma. The εHfi and εNdi values of the host diorite are + 8.0 to + 9.8 and + 4.3 to + 5.4, respectively. The whole-rock 87Sr/86Sri values of the IOCG mineralization (0.70425 to 0.70442) are in the lower end of those of the MtAp mineralization (0.70426-0.70629). In contrast, εNdi values for the IOCG mineralization (+ 5.4 and + 5.7) fall between those of the MtAp rocks (+ 6.6 to + 7.2) and the host diorite, which suggests that the IOCG event was related to fluids having a more crustal Nd (εNdi < + 5.7) composition than the MtAp mineralization. This likely reflects the mixing of Nd from the MtAp protolith and a deep magmatic-hydrothermal source, very likely an unexposed intrusion equivalent to the host diorite. Sulfur isotope compositions (δ34S, + 0.3 to + 3.4‰) are consistent with a magmatic source. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00126-023-01172-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mateo
- Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X5 Canada
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X5 Canada
- Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC-UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - John M. Hanchar
- Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X5 Canada
| | - Igor M. Villa
- Institut Fürr Geologie, Universität Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Centro Universitario Datazioni E Archeometria, Università Di Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Holly J. Stein
- Applied Isotope Research for Industry and Environment, AIRIE, Fort Collins, CO 80524 USA
- Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Antonio Delgado
- Laboratorio de Biogeoquímica de Isotopos Estables, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de La Tierra IACT (CSIC-UGR), 18100 Granada, Spain
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Amils R, Escudero C, Oggerin M, Puente Sánchez F, Arce Rodríguez A, Fernández Remolar D, Rodríguez N, García Villadangos M, Sanz JL, Briones C, Sánchez-Román M, Gómez F, Leandro T, Moreno-Paz M, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Molina A, Tornos F, Sánchez-Andrea I, Timmis K, Pieper DH, Parro V. Coupled C, H, N, S and Fe biogeochemical cycles operating in the continental deep subsurface of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:428-453. [PMID: 36453153 PMCID: PMC10107794 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Microbial activity is a major contributor to the biogeochemical cycles that make up the life support system of planet Earth. A 613 m deep geomicrobiological perforation and a systematic multi-analytical characterization revealed an unexpected diversity associated with the rock matrix microbiome that operates in the subsurface of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Members of 1 class and 16 genera were deemed the most representative microorganisms of the IPB deep subsurface and selected for a deeper analysis. The use of fluorescence in situ hybridization allowed not only the identification of microorganisms but also the detection of novel activities in the subsurface such as anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) and anaerobic methane oxidation, the co-occurrence of microorganisms able to maintain complementary metabolic activities and the existence of biofilms. The use of enrichment cultures sensed the presence of five different complementary metabolic activities along the length of the borehole and isolated 29 bacterial species. Genomic analysis of nine isolates identified the genes involved in the complete operation of the light-independent coupled C, H, N, S and Fe biogeochemical cycles. This study revealed the importance of nitrate reduction microorganisms in the oxidation of iron in the anoxic conditions existing in the subsurface of the IPB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Escudero
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Monike Oggerin
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Arce Rodríguez
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Nuria Rodríguez
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - José Luis Sanz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Briones
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - Felipe Gómez
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Tania Leandro
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonio Molina
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - Kenneth Timmis
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dietmar H Pieper
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
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González-Jiménez JM, Piña R, Kerestedjian TN, Gervilla F, Borrajo I, Pablo JFD, Proenza JA, Tornos F, Roqué J, Nieto F. Mechanisms for Pd-Au enrichment in porphyry-epithermal ores of the Elatsite deposit, Bulgaria. J Geochem Explor 2021; 220:106664. [PMID: 33041466 PMCID: PMC7536136 DOI: 10.1016/j.gexplo.2020.106664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Porphyry Cu can contain significant concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE: Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, Pd). In this study, we provide a comprehensive in situ analysis of noble metals (PGE, Au, Ag) for (Cu-Fe)-rich sulfides from the Elatsite, one of the world's PGE-richest porphyry Cu deposits. These data, acquired using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), indicate that Pd was concentrated in all the (Cu-Fe)-rich sulfides at ppm-levels, with higher values in pyrite (~6 ppm) formed at the latest epithermal stage (i.e., quartz-galena-sphalerite assemblage) than in bornite and chalcopyrite (<5 ppm) from the hypogene quartz-magnetite-bornite-chalcopyrite ores. Likewise, Au is significantly more concentrated in pyrite (~5 ppm) than in the (Cu-Fe)-rich sulfides (≤0.08 ppm). In contrast, Ag reaches hundreds of ppm in pyrite and bornite (~240 ppm) but is in much lesser amounts in chalcopyrite (<25 ppm). The inspection of the time-resolved spectra collected during LA-IPC-MS analyses indicates that noble metals are present in the sulfides in two forms: (1) structurally bound (i.e., solid solution) in the lattice of sulfides and, (2) as nano- to micron-sized inclusions (Pd-Te and Au). These observations are further confirmed by careful investigations of the PGE-rich (Cu-Fe)-rich sulfides by combining high-spatial resolution of field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and focused ion beam and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (FIB/HRTEM). A typical Pd-bearing mineral includes the composition PdTe2 close to the ideal merenskyite but with a distinct crystallographic structure, whereas Au is mainly found as native element. Our detailed mineralogical study coupled with previous knowledge on noble-metal inclusions in the studied ores reveals that noble metal enrichment in the Elatsite porphyry ores was mainly precipitated from droplets of Au-Pd-Ag telluride melt (s) entrained in the high-temperature hydrothermal fluid. These telluride melts could separate at the time of fluid unmixing from the silicate magma or already be present in the latter either derived from deep-seated crustal or mantle sources. Significant enrichment in Pd and Au (the latter correlated with As) in low-temperature pyrite is interpreted as remobilization of these noble metals from pre-existing hypogene ores during the epithermal overprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M González-Jiménez
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
| | - Rubén Piña
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas N Kerestedjian
- Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 24 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Fernando Gervilla
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT), CSIC-UGR, Avda. de las Palmeras 4, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Iñigo Borrajo
- Instituto de Geosciencias (IGEO, CSIC-UCM), C/Severo Ochoa, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Farré-de Pablo
- Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquín A Proenza
- Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Instituto de Geosciencias (IGEO, CSIC-UCM), C/Severo Ochoa, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep Roqué
- Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Nieto
- Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT), CSIC-UGR, Avda. de las Palmeras 4, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain
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Puente-Sánchez F, Arce-Rodríguez A, Oggerin M, García-Villadangos M, Moreno-Paz M, Blanco Y, Rodríguez N, Bird L, Lincoln SA, Tornos F, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Freeman KH, Pieper DH, Timmis KN, Amils R, Parro V. Viable cyanobacteria in the deep continental subsurface. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:10702-10707. [PMID: 30275328 PMCID: PMC6196553 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808176115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are ecologically versatile microorganisms inhabiting most environments, ranging from marine systems to arid deserts. Although they possess several pathways for light-independent energy generation, until now their ecological range appeared to be restricted to environments with at least occasional exposure to sunlight. Here we present molecular, microscopic, and metagenomic evidence that cyanobacteria predominate in deep subsurface rock samples from the Iberian Pyrite Belt Mars analog (southwestern Spain). Metagenomics showed the potential for a hydrogen-based lithoautotrophic cyanobacterial metabolism. Collectively, our results suggest that they may play an important role as primary producers within the deep-Earth biosphere. Our description of this previously unknown ecological niche for cyanobacteria paves the way for models on their origin and evolution, as well as on their potential presence in current or primitive biospheres in other planetary bodies, and on the extant, primitive, and putative extraterrestrial biospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Puente-Sánchez
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain;
| | - Alejandro Arce-Rodríguez
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Group, Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Monike Oggerin
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam García-Villadangos
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Moreno-Paz
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Blanco
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Rodríguez
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laurence Bird
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Sara A Lincoln
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Instituto de Geociencias, CSIC-Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Prieto-Ballesteros
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katherine H Freeman
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Dietmar H Pieper
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Group, Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kenneth N Timmis
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Parro
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
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7
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Oggerin M, Tornos F, Rodríguez N, del Moral C, Sánchez-Román M, Amils R. Specific jarosite biomineralization by Purpureocillium lilacinum, an acidophilic fungi isolated from Río Tinto. Environ Microbiol 2013; 15:2228-37. [PMID: 23425574 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Río Tinto (Huelva, southwestern Spain) is an extreme environment with a remarkably constant acidic pH and a high concentration of heavy metals, conditions generated by the metabolic activity of chemolithotrophic microorganisms thriving in the rich complex sulfides of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Fungal strains isolated from the Tinto basin were characterized morphologically and phylogenetically. The strain identified as Purpureocillium lilacinum specifically induced the formation of a yellow-ocher precipitate, identified as hydronium-jarosite, an iron sulfate mineral which appears in abundance on the banks of Río Tinto. The biomineral was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and its formation was observed with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) microanalysis. Jarosite began to nucleate on the fungal cell wall, associated to the EPS, due to a local increase in the Fe(3+) /Fe(2+) ratio which generated supersaturation. Its formation has been also observed in non-viable cells, although with much less efficiency. The occurrence of P. lilacinum in an ecosystem with high concentrations of ferric iron and sulfates such as Río Tinto suggests that it could participate in the process of jarosite precipitation, helping to shape and control the geochemical properties of this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Oggerin
- Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
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Darbyshire DPF, Tornos F, Galindo C, Casquet C. Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr constraints on the age and origin of magnetite mineralization in the Jerez De Los Caballeros Iron District of Extremadura, SW Spain. Chin Sci Bull 1998. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02891402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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