Metal corrosion is microbially induced (MIC) and/or electrochemical (ECC) in origin. Here we provide a novel approach to distinguish MIC from ECC, using iron isotope fingerprinting technique. In laboratory experiments, MIC products of Fe in the presence of a pure strain of Thiomonas sp. WJ68 exhibit a major shift in Fe isotope ratios (delta56/54Fe and delta57/54Fe, by 1.26 and 1.95 per mil, respectively) compared to ECC products formed under identical

Prof. Jean-Louis Crovisier (Strasbourg University) and myself (elena.hutchens@ucd.ie) are organizing the session on Geomicrobiology : Mineralization, Weathering, Biofilms at the next meeting of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) which will take place in Vienna (Austria) from 15 to 20 April 2007 http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2007/ The objective of this session is to gather multidisciplinary communications in the domain of interaction between

Municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash can be used in road construction and is therefore likely to be a source of oligoelements for bacteria, the growth of which may impact the rate of leaching of potentially toxic elements. As a consequence, our objective was to highlight the mutual interactions between MSWI bottom ash and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common bacteria found in the environment. Experiments were carried out for 19 weeks at

Field observations suggest that some mineral dissolution rates can be enhanced by microbial activity indirectly, without direct contact with the mineral surface. A series of apatite dissolution experiments was performed to better understand this rate enhancement process. Far-from equilibrium abiotic apatite dissolution rates, measured in mixed-flow reactors at 25°C were enhanced by increasing concentration of aqueous organic acids and decreasing

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study on the influence of heterotrophic bacteria on dissolution of a silicate mineral (K-feldspar) under a variety of growth conditions. Twenty-seven strains of heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from a feldspar rich soil (Shap, NW England). Liquid and solid minimal aerobic media (C/N-sufficient, K-limited, Fe-limited, N-limited and glucose/NH4Cl only) at 26oC were used for isolation of the bacteria.

Movile Cave is an unusual groundwater ecosystem that is supported by in situ chemoautotrophic production. The cave atmosphere contains 1-2% methane (CH4), although much higher concentrations are found in gas bubbles which keep microbial mats afloat on the water surface. Since previous analyses of stable carbon isotope ratios have suggested that methane oxidation occurs in this environment, we hypothesised that aerobic methane oxidising bacteria (methanotrophs)