TY - JOUR
T1 - The microbial role in hot spring silicification
AU - Konhauser, Kurt O.
AU - Jones, Brian
AU - Phoenix, Vernon R.
AU - Ferris, Grant
AU - Renaut, Robin W.
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Recent experimental studies indicate that microorganisms play a passive role in silicification. The organic functional groups that comprise the outer cell surfaces simply serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the adsorption of polymeric and/or colloidal silica, and because different microorganisms have different cell ultrastructural chemistry, species-specific patterns of silicification arise. Despite their templating role, they do not appear to increase the kinetics of silicification, and at the very most, they contribute only marginally to the magnitude of silicification. Instead, silicification is due to the polymerization of silica-supersaturated hydrothermal fluids upon discharge at the surface of the hot spring. Microorganisms do, however, impart an influence on the fabric of the siliceous sinters that form around hot spring vents. Different microorganisms have different growth patterns, that in turn, affect the style of laminations, the primary porosity of the sinter and the distribution of later-stage diagenetic cementation.
AB - Recent experimental studies indicate that microorganisms play a passive role in silicification. The organic functional groups that comprise the outer cell surfaces simply serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the adsorption of polymeric and/or colloidal silica, and because different microorganisms have different cell ultrastructural chemistry, species-specific patterns of silicification arise. Despite their templating role, they do not appear to increase the kinetics of silicification, and at the very most, they contribute only marginally to the magnitude of silicification. Instead, silicification is due to the polymerization of silica-supersaturated hydrothermal fluids upon discharge at the surface of the hot spring. Microorganisms do, however, impart an influence on the fabric of the siliceous sinters that form around hot spring vents. Different microorganisms have different growth patterns, that in turn, affect the style of laminations, the primary porosity of the sinter and the distribution of later-stage diagenetic cementation.
KW - hydrothermal fluid
KW - microbial activity
KW - silicate
KW - silicification
KW - sinter
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=11144288729&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://link.springer.com/journal/13280
U2 - 10.1579/0044-7447-33.8.552
DO - 10.1579/0044-7447-33.8.552
M3 - Article
C2 - 15666688
AN - SCOPUS:11144288729
SN - 0044-7447
VL - 33
SP - 552
EP - 558
JO - Ambio
JF - Ambio
IS - 8
ER -