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Microbial mediation as a possible mechanism for natural dolomite formation at low temperatures - Nature

  • ️Tiens, Albert J.
  • ️Thu Sep 21 1995
  • Letter
  • Published: 21 September 1995

Nature volume 377, pages 220–222 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

DOLOMITE (CaMg(CO3)2) is a common carbonate mineral which is found in much greater abundance in ancient rocks than in modern carbonate environments. Why this is so remains a mystery. Over the past 30 years, dolomite formation has been observed in several modern environments, and various thermodynamic, kinetic and hydrological factors have been proposed to explain its formation1,2. But attempts to precipitate dolomite at low temperatures in the laboratory have been unsuccessful3,4, and the 'dolomite problem' remains a source of controversy in sedimentary geology5-7. Here we describe experiments in which a ferroan dolomite with a fairly high degree of cation order was precipitated in the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria from the Desulfovibrio group. We propose that the direct mediation of these anaerobes can overcome the kinetic barrier to dolomite nucleation, and that they may play an active role in the formation of this mineral in natural environments.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Judith A. McKenzie: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Institute, ETH-Zentrum, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Crisogono Vasconcelos, Judith A. McKenzie, Stefano Bernasconi & Djordje Grujic

  2. CNPq-LAGEMAR, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Crisogono Vasconcelos

  3. Microbiology Department, EAWAG, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland

    Albert J. Tiens

Authors

  1. Crisogono Vasconcelos

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  2. Judith A. McKenzie

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  3. Stefano Bernasconi

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  4. Djordje Grujic

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  5. Albert J. Tiens

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Vasconcelos, C., McKenzie, J., Bernasconi, S. et al. Microbial mediation as a possible mechanism for natural dolomite formation at low temperatures. Nature 377, 220–222 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377220a0

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  • Received: 30 May 1995

  • Accepted: 30 August 1995

  • Issue Date: 21 September 1995

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/377220a0