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Bacterially induced Mg-calcite formation; role of Mg (super 2+) in development of crystal morphology

M. Teresa Gonzalez-Munoz, Kaoutar Ben Chekroun, Aziza Ben Aboud, Jose M. Arias and Manuel Rodriguez-Gallego
Bacterially induced Mg-calcite formation; role of Mg (super 2+) in development of crystal morphology
Journal of Sedimentary Research (May 2000) 70 (3): 559-564

Abstract

The production of several morphologies of magnesian calcite crystals by the soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus is reported for the first time. Mg-calcite crystallization occurred in agar-agar gel culture media in the presence of the live bacteria. The agar-agar used to solidify the nutritive microbial solution acted as a porous system that allowed slow counterdiffusion of cations and anions and of the bacterial metabolites produced. Under these conditions, crystal nucleation and growth occurs, apparently as a consequence of the localized ion super-saturation produced by the microbial metabolites and by microbial supply of heterogeneous nuclei for crystallization. Several morphologies of Mg-calcite typical of those formed under biotic and abiotic conditions developed simultaneously. The crystals produced were not compositionally zoned and showed no significant variation in Mg content, probably as a consequence of the sponge-like character of the precipitates.


ISSN: 1527-1404
EISSN: 1938-3681
Serial Title: Journal of Sedimentary Research
Serial Volume: 70
Serial Issue: 3
Title: Bacterially induced Mg-calcite formation; role of Mg (super 2+) in development of crystal morphology
Affiliation: Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Microbiologia, Granada, Spain
Pages: 559-564
Published: 200005
Text Language: English
Publisher: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Tulsa, OK, United States
References: 34
Accession Number: 2000-048830
Categories: Mineralogy of non-silicates
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Illustration Description: illus. incl. 2 tables
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2018, American Geosciences Institute. Reference includes data supplied by SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), Tulsa, OK, United States
Update Code: 200016
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