Projects per year
Abstract
Evidence of fossilized microorganisms embedded within mineral veins and mineral-filled fractures has been observed in a wide range of geological environments. Microorganisms can act as sites for mineral nucleation and also contribute to mineral precipitation by inducing local geochemical changes. In this study, we explore fundamental controls on microbially induced mineralization in rock fractures. Specifically, we systematically investigate the influence of hydrodynamics (velocity, flow rate, aperture) on microbially mediated calcite precipitation. Our experimental results demonstrate that a feedback mechanism exists between the gradual reduction in fracture aperture due to precipitation, and its effect on the local fluid velocity. This feedback results in mineral fill distributions that focus flow into a small number of self-organizing channels that remain open, ultimately controlling the final aperture profile that governs flow within the fracture. This hydrodynamic coupling can explain field observations of discrete groundwater flow channeling within fracture-fill mineral geometries where strong evidence of microbial activity is reported.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1-16 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Water Resources Research |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 6 Jan 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 Feb 2014 |
Keywords
- fracture flow
- flocculation
- microbially induced calcite precipitation
- biomineralization
- ureolysis
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Hydrodynamic coupling in microbially mediated fracture mineralization: formation of self-organized groundwater flow channels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Profiles
Projects
- 1 Finished
-
Biogeochemical applications in nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal
Lunn, R. & Sanchez, M.
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/07/09 → 30/06/13
Project: Research
Research output
- 58 Citations
- 1 Article
-
Development of a reactive transport model for field-scale simulation of microbially induced carbonate precipitation
Minto, J. M., Lunn, R. J. & El Mountassir, G., 31 Aug 2019, In: Water Resources Research. 55, 8, p. 7229-7245 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile46 Citations (Scopus)45 Downloads (Pure)