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Influence of bacteria on rock-water interaction and clay mineral formation in subsurface granitic environments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

K. Hama ,
K. Bateman ,
P. Coombs ,
V. L. Hards ,
A. E. Milodowski ,
J. M. West ,
P. D. Wetton ,
H. Yoshida  and
K. Aoki
K. Hama
Affiliation:
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, TonoGeoscienceCenter, 959-31, JorinjiIzumi, Toki, Gifu 509-51, Japan
K. Bateman
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
P. Coombs
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
V. L. Hards
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
A. E. Milodowski
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
J. M. West*
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
P. D. Wetton
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, NottinghamNG12 5GG, UK
H. Yoshida
Affiliation:
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, TonoGeoscienceCenter, 959-31, JorinjiIzumi, Toki, Gifu 509-51, Japan
K. Aoki
Affiliation:
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, 4-49, MuramatsuTokai-muraNaka-GunIbaraki319-1184, Japan
*
*E-mail: jmwes@bgs.ac.uk
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Abstract

Studies of the subsurface microbiology of the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden have revealed the presence of many different bacteria in the deep groundwaters which appear to maintain reducing conditions. Experiments were conducted to study the rock-water and microbial interactions. These used crushed Äspö diorite, Äspö groundwater and iron- and sulphate-reducing bacteria in flowing systems under anaerobic conditions. In column experiments, there was evidence of loss and mobilization of fine-grained crushed material (<5 μm) which had originally adhered to grain surfaces in the starting material. The mobilized fines were trapped between grains. The degree of mineralogical alteration was greater in the experiments when bacteria were present. In both column and continuously stirred reactor experiments, there is evidence for the formation of a secondary clay. These experiments have shown that microbial activity can influence rock-water interactions even in nutrient-poor conditions.

Keywords

bacteriawater-rock interactionsclay mineral formationmicrobial interactionsÄspöSweden
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 36 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 599 - 613
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2001

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