Microbe-Mediated Mn Oxidation—A Proposed Model of Mineral Formation

Manganese oxides occur in a wide range of environmental settings either as coatings on rocks, sediment, and soil particles, or discrete grains. Although the production biologically mediated Mn is well established, relatively little known about microbial-specific strategies for utilizing environment how these affect morphology, structure, chemistry associated mineralizations. Defining such characterizing mineral properties would contribute to better understanding their impact local possibly facilitate evaluation biogenicity recent past accumulations. Here, we supplement field data from rock wall deposit Ytterby mine, Sweden, with retrieved culturing oxidizers isolated this site. Microscopic spectroscopic techniques are used characterize site products precipitates generated by four bacteria (Hydrogenophaga sp., Pedobacter Rhizobium Nevskia sp.) one fungal-bacterial co-culture (Cladosporium sp.—Hydrogenophaga sp. sp.—Nevskia sp.). Two isolates (Pedobacter previously unknown oxidizers. At site, onset oxide mineralization typically occurs areas globular wad-like particles microbial traces. The serve building blocks majority microstructures, forming base further growth into laminated dendrites-botryoids added components an existing structure. most common nanoscale structures networks sheets structurally related birnessite. constructed very few layers elongated along octahedral chains. In places, bend curl under give scroll-like appearance. Culturing experiments show that conditions (biofilm planktonic) ability oxidize taxonomic affiliation influences crystallite size, average oxidation state location precipitation.