Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms

Abstract

Other| December 01, 1998 Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms J. R. Rogers; J. R. Rogers University of Texas at Austin, Department of Geological Sciences, Austin, TX, United States Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. C. Bennett; P. C. Bennett Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar W. J. Choi W. J. Choi Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information J. R. Rogers University of Texas at Austin, Department of Geological Sciences, Austin, TX, United States P. C. Bennett W. J. Choi Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1945-3027 Print Issn: 0003-004X GeoRef, Copyright 2004, American Geological Institute. American Mineralogist (1998) 83 (11-12_Part_2): 1532–1540. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-1998-11-1241 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J. R. Rogers, P. C. Bennett, W. J. Choi; Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms. American Mineralogist 1998;; 83 (11-12_Part_2): 1532–1540. doi: https://doi.org/10.2138/am-1998-11-1241 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyAmerican Mineralogist Search Advanced Search Abstract Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential macronutrients necessary for the survival of virtually all living organisms. In groundwater systems, these nutrients can be quite scarce and can represent limiting elements for growth of subsurface microorganisms. In this study we examined silicate sources of these elements by characterizing the colonization and weathering of feldspars in situ using field microcosms. We found that in carbon-rich anoxic groundwaters where P and N are scarce, feldspars that contain inclusions of P-minerals such as apatite are preferentially colonized over similar feldspars without P. A microcline from S. Dakota, which contains 0.24% P 2 O 5 but <1 mu mol/g NH 4 (super +) , was heavily colonized and deeply weathered. A similar microcline from Ontario, which has no detectable P or NH 4 (super +) , was barren of attached organisms and completely unweathered after one year. Anorthoclase (0.28% P 2 O 5 , approximately 1 mu mol/g NH 4 (super +) ) was very heavily colonized and weathered, whereas plagioclase specimens (<0.01% P, <1 mu mmol/g NH 4 (super +) ) were uncolonized and unweathered. In addition, the observed weathering rates are faster than expected based on laboratory rates. We propose that this system is particularly sensitive to the availability of P, and the native subsurface microorganisms have developed biochemical strategies to aggressively scavenge P (or some other essential nutrient such as Fe (super 3-) ) from resistant feldspars. The result of this interaction is that only minerals containing P will be significantly colonized, and these feldspars will be preferentially destroyed, as the subsurface microbial community scavenges a limiting nutrient. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.