Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T17:50:47.388Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Influence of bacteria on rock-water interaction and clay mineral formation in subsurface granitic environments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

K. Hama
Affiliation:
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, TonoGeoscienceCenter, 959-31, JorinjiIzumi, Toki, Gifu 509-51, Japan
K. Bateman
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
P. Coombs
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
V. L. Hards
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
A. E. Milodowski
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
J. M. West*
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
P. D. Wetton
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
H. Yoshida
Affiliation:
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, TonoGeoscienceCenter, 959-31, JorinjiIzumi, Toki, Gifu 509-51, Japan
K. Aoki
Affiliation:
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, 4-49, MuramatsuTokai-muraNaka-GunIbaraki319-1184, Japan
*

Abstract

Studies of the subsurface microbiology of the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden have revealed the presence of many different bacteria in the deep groundwaters which appear to maintain reducing conditions. Experiments were conducted to study the rock-water and microbial interactions. These used crushed Äspö diorite, Äspö groundwater and iron- and sulphate-reducing bacteria in flowing systems under anaerobic conditions. In column experiments, there was evidence of loss and mobilization of fine-grained crushed material (<5 μm) which had originally adhered to grain surfaces in the starting material. The mobilized fines were trapped between grains. The degree of mineralogical alteration was greater in the experiments when bacteria were present. In both column and continuously stirred reactor experiments, there is evidence for the formation of a secondary clay. These experiments have shown that microbial activity can influence rock-water interactions even in nutrient-poor conditions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Banwart, S. (editor ) (1995) The Äspö Redox Investigations in Block Scale. Project summary and implications for repository performance assessment. SKB Technical Report, 95-26. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Bennett, P.C., Hiebert, F.K. & Choi, W.J. (1995) Microbial colonization and weathering of silicates in a petroleum-contaminated groundwater. Chem. Geol. 132, 4553.Google Scholar
Bennett, P.C., Hiebert, F. & Rogers, J.R. (2000) Microbial control of mine ral- groundwater equi libr ia: Macroscale to microscale. Hydrogeol. J. 8, 4762.Google Scholar
Beveridge, T.J., Makin, S.A., Kadurugamuwa, J.L. & Li, Z. (1997) Interactions between biofilms and the environment. FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 20, 291303.Google Scholar
Cave, M.R. & Green, K.A. (1988) Determination of reduced S content of groundwaters by H2S generation ICP-OES. Atomic Spectrometry, 9, 149153.Google Scholar
Ehrlich, H.L. (1999). Microbes as geologic agents: their role in mineral formation. Geomicrobiol. J. 16, 135153.Google Scholar
Fortin, D. & Beveridge, T.J. (1997a) Microbial sulfate reduction within sulfidic mine tailing: Formation of diagenetic Fe Sulfides Geomicrobiol. J. 14, 121.Google Scholar
Fortin, D. & Beveridge, T.J. (1997b) Role of the bacterium Thiobacillus in the formation of silicates in acidic mine tailing. Chem. Geol. 141, 235250.Google Scholar
Fortin, D., Grant Ferris, F. & Scott, S.D. (1998) Formation of Fe-silicates and Fe-oxides on bacterial surface in samples collected near hydrothermal vents on the Southern Explorer Ridge in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Am. Miner. 83, 13991408 Google Scholar
Goldstein, J.I., Newbury, D.E., Echlin, P., Joy, D.C., Fiori, C. & Lifshin, E. (1981) Scannin g Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis. Plenum Press, New York.Google Scholar
Hobbie, J.E., Daley, R.J. & Jasper, S. (1977) Use of nucleopore Filters for counting bacteria by fluorescence microscopy. Appl. Env. Microbiol. 33, 12251228.Google Scholar
Jass, J. & Lappin-Scott, H.M. (1992) Practical course on biofilm formation using the modified Robbins Device. Biofilm Technologies Research Group, University of Exeter, England, pp. 134.Google Scholar
Konhauser, K.O., Fisher, Q.J., Fyfe, W.S., Longstaffe, F.J. & Powell, M.A. (1998) Authigenic mineralization and detrital clay binding by freshwater biofilms: The Brahmani River, India. Geomicrobiol. J. 15, 209222 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
KornfaÊlt, K.-A. & Wickman, H. (1988) The rocks of the Äspö Island. SKB Swedish Hard Rock Laboratory Progress Report, 25-88-12. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Milodowski, A.E., West, J.M., Pearce, J.M., Hyslop, E.K., Basham, I.R. & Hooker, P.J. (1990) Uranium-mineralized microorganisms associated with uraniferous hydrocarbons in southwest Scotland. Nature, 347, 465467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milodowski, A.E., Gillespie, M.R., Naden, J., Fortey, N.J., Shepherd, T.J., Pearce, J.M. & Metcalfe, R. (1998) The petrology and paragenesis of fracture mineralization in the Sellafield area, west Cumbria. Proc. Yorks. Geol. Soc. 52, 215241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moss, M.L. & Mellon, M.G. (1942) Colorimetric determination of iron with 2,2'-Bipyridil. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Analytical Edition, 14, 862.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Motamedi, M. & Pedersen, K. (1998) Desulfovibrio aespoeensis sp. nov., a mesophilic sulfate reducing bacterium from deep groundwater at Äspö hard rock laboratory, Sweden. Int. J. Systematic Bacteriol. 48, 311315.Google Scholar
Nirex, (1995) Flow-zone characterisation: mineralogical and fracture orientation characteristics in the PRZ and Fleming Hall Fault Zone area boreholes, Sellafield. United Kingdom Nirex Limited Report, SA/95/001. Harwell, UK Google Scholar
Pedersen, K. & Karlson, F. (1995) Investigations of subterranean microorganisms their importance for performance of assessment of radioactive waste disposal. SKB Technical Report, 95-10. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Pedersen, K., Arlinger, J., Ekendahl, S. & Hallbeck, L. (1996) 16S ribosomal- RNA gene diversity of attached and unattached bacteria in boreholes along the access tunnels to the Äspö hard rock laboratory, Sweden. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 19, 249262.Google Scholar
Postgate, J.R. (1984) The Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (2nd edition). Cambridge Univer sity Press, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Puigdomenech, I., Banwart, S.A., Bateman, K., Milodowski, A.E., West, J.M., Griffault, L., Gustafsson, E., Hama, K., Yoshida, H., Kotelnikova, S., Pedersen, K., Lartigue, J.-E., Michaud, V., Trotignon, L., Morosini, M., Rivas Perez, J. & Tullborg, E.-L. (1999) Redox experiment in detailed scale (REX): First Project Status Report. SKB International Cooperation Report, ICR-99-01. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Southam, G. & Beveridge, T.J. (1996) The occurrence of sulfur and phosphorus within bacterially derived crystalline and pseudocrystalline octahedral gold formed in vitro. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 60, 43694376.Google Scholar
Stroes-Gascoyne, S. & West, J.M. (1997) Microbial studies in the Canadian nuclear fuel waste management program. FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 20, 573590.Google Scholar
Talbot, C. & Munier, R. (1989) Faults and fracture zones in Äspö. SKB Swedish Hard Rock Laboratory Progress Report, 25-89-11. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Tazaki, K. (1997) Biomineralisation of layer silicates and hydrated Fe/Mn oxides in microbial mats: an electron microscopical study. Clays Clay Miner. 45, 203212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tullborg, E.-L. (1989) Fracture fillings in the drillcores KAS05-KAS 08 from Äspö, southeastern Sweden. SKB Swedish Hard Rock Laboratory Progress Report, 25-89-16. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Tullborg, E.-L. (1995) Mineralogical and chemical data on rocks and fracture minerals from Äspö. SKB Swedish Hard Rock Laboratory Progress Report, 25-90-01. Swedi sh Nucl ear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Tullborg, E.-L., Wallin, B. & Landström, O. (1991) Hydrochemical studies of fracture minerals from water conducting fractures and deep groundwaters at Äspö. SKB Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory Technical Note, 25-95-07g. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
West, J.M. (1995) A review of progress in the geomicrobiology of radioactive waste disposal. Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Restoration, 19, 263283.Google Scholar
West, J.M. & Chilton, P.J. (1997) Aquifers as environments for microbiological activity. Q. J. Eng. Geol. 30, 147154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
West, J.M. McKinley, I.G. & Vialta, A. (1992) Microbiological analysis at the Pocos de Caldas natural analogue study sites. J. Geochem. Expl. 45, 439449.Google Scholar
West, J.M., Coombs, P., Gardner, S.J. & Rochelle, C.A. (1995) The microbiology of the Maqarin site, Jordan – A natural analogue for cementitious radioactive waste repositories. Pp. 181188 in. Material Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 353, Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Disposal (Murakami, T. & Ewing, R.C., editors).Google Scholar
West, J.M., Aoki, K., Baker, S.J., Bateman, K., Coombs, P., Gillespie, M.R., Henney, P.J., Reeder, S., Milodowski, A.E. & Yoshida, H. (1997) Complementary laboratory work to examine microbial effects on redox and quantification of the effects of microbiological perturbations on the geological disposal of HLW (TRU). Task 1. Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory – Redox Experiment in detailed scale (REX). Report of the British Geological Survey WE/97/3C. Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.Google Scholar
Wickman, H. & KornfaÊlt, K.-A. (1995) Updating of the geological model at Äspö. SKB Swedish Hard Rock Laboratory Progress Report, 25-95-04. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Wickman, H., KornfaÊlt, K.-A., Riad, L., Munier, R. & Tullborg, E.-L. (1988) Detailed investigation of the drillcores KAS 02, KAS 03 and KAS 04 on Äspö Island and KLX 01 at Laxemar. SKB Swedish Hard Rock Laboratory Progress Report, 25-88-11. Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co., Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar