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Cited by 165Microbial Applications in Construction MaterialsPaleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsCalcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition

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Biologically induced mineralization of dypingite by cyanobacteria from an alkaline wetland near Atlin, British Columbia, Canada

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Power, Ian M, Wilson, Sasha, Thom, James M, Dipple, Gregory M, Southam, Gordon·2007·Geochemical Transactions
DOI 10.1186/1467-4866-8-13PMC PMC2213640
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Abstract

Background: This study provides experimental evidence for biologically induced precipitation of magnesium carbonates, specifically dypingite (Mg 5(CO 3)4(OH)2·5H 2 O), by cyanobacteria from an alkaline wetland near Atlin, British Columbia. This wetland is part of a larger hydromagnesite (Mg 5(CO 3)4(OH)2·4H 2 O) playa. Abiotic and biotic processes for magnesium carbonate precipitation in this environment are compared. Results: Field observations show that evaporation of wetland water produces carbonate films of nesquehonite (MgCO 3·3H 2 O) on the water surface and crusts on exposed surfaces. In contrast, benthic microbial mats possessing filamentous cyanobacteria (Lyngbya sp.) contain platy dypingite (Mg 5(CO 3)4(OH)2·5H 2 O) and aragonite. Bulk carbonates in the benthic mats (δ 13 C avg. = 6.7‰, δ 18 O avg. = 17.2‰) were isotopically distinguishable from abiotically formed nesquehonite (δ 13 C avg. = 9.3‰, δ 18 O avg. = 24.9‰). Field and laboratory experiments, which emulated natural conditions, were conducted to provide insight into the processes for magnesium carbonate precipitation in this environment. Field microcosm experiments included an abiotic control and two microbial systems, one containing ambient wetland water and one amended with nutrients to simulate eutrophic conditions. The abiotic control developed an extensive crust of nesquehonite on its bottom surface during which [Mg 2+] decreased by 16.7% relative to the starting concentration. In the microbial systems, precipitation occurred within the mats and was not simply due to the capturing of mineral grains settling out of the water column. Magnesium concentrations decreased by 22.2% and 38.7% in the microbial systems, respectively. Laboratory experiments using natural waters from the Atlin site produced rosettes and flakey globular aggregates of dypingite precipitated in association with filamentous cyanobacteria dominated biofilms cultured from the site, whereas the abiotic control again precipitated nesquehonite. Conclusion: Microbial mats in the Atlin wetland create ideal conditions for biologically induced precipitation of dypingite and have presumably played a significant role in the development of this natural Mg-carbonate playa. This biogeochemical process represents an important link between the biosphere and the inorganic carbon pool.

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Figures

Figure 1 A: A photograph showing the underside of a benthic microbial mat found in the wetland. B: A film of nesquehonite on the wetland water surface. C: A light micrograph of the benthic microbial mats showing filamentous cyanobacteria, Lyngbya sp., and unicellular green algae. D: A second light micrograph of the microbial mats with a large crystal of nesquehonite that likely formed after sample collection. E: A SEM micrograph of flakey dypingite associated with filamentous cyanobacteria, which along with aragonite, constitutes the majority of the microbial mat material. F: Radial collection of nesquehonite crystals precipitated in a carbonate film on the water surface.
Figure 1 A: A photograph showing the underside of a benthic microbial mat found in the wetland. B: A film of nesquehonite on the wetland water surface. C: A light micrograph of the benthic microbial mats showing filamentous cyanobacteria, Lyngbya sp., and unicellular green algae. D: A second light micrograph of the microbial mats with a large crystal of nesquehonite that likely formed after sample collection. E: A SEM micrograph of flakey dypingite associated with filamentous cyanobacteria, which along with aragonite, constitutes the majority of the microbial mat material. F: Radial collection of nesquehonite crystals precipitated in a carbonate film on the water surface.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 A: A photograph of the location and basic setup of the microcosm experiment. B-D: Overhead views of the microcosms on day 10 of the experiment. B: The abiotic microcosm showing an extensive crust of nesquehonite on the bottom of the container. C: The unamended mat and D: the amended eutrophic microcosms do not contain a nesquehonite crust. Also the mats in the eutrophic system are considerably greener than the unamended system indicating new microbial growth.
Figure 2 A: A photograph of the location and basic setup of the microcosm experiment. B-D: Overhead views of the microcosms on day 10 of the experiment. B: The abiotic microcosm showing an extensive crust of nesquehonite on the bottom of the container. C: The unamended mat and D: the amended eutrophic microcosms do not contain a nesquehonite crust. Also the mats in the eutrophic system are considerably greener than the unamended system indicating new microbial growth.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Powder X-ray diffraction pattern of minerals in the natural benthic mat. The plot is of X-ray beam intensity (background subtracted) versus 2θ and ICDD data for matching mineral phases are indicated by stick patterns.
Figure 3 Powder X-ray diffraction pattern of minerals in the natural benthic mat. The plot is of X-ray beam intensity (background subtracted) versus 2θ and ICDD data for matching mineral phases are indicated by stick patterns.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Graphs showing changes in [Mg2+], [Ca2+], [Si4+], [Cl-], and pH in the wetland (black diamonds), abiotic control (red triangles), unamended (green circles), and amended microbial mat (blue squares) microcosms with time. The data is presented as a 2-day moving average. The arrow on the Mg-graph indicates the day when new microbial growth was seen as greening of the microbial mats in the amended microcosm. The arrows placed on the Cl-graph show the occurrences of two rainfall events on days 7 (2.6 mm) and 8 (6.5 mm). The pH graph also displays wetland temperature (black open diamonds), which matches microcosm temperatures.
Figure 4 Graphs showing changes in [Mg2+], [Ca2+], [Si4+], [Cl-], and pH in the wetland (black diamonds), abiotic control (red triangles), unamended (green circles), and amended microbial mat (blue squares) microcosms with time. The data is presented as a 2-day moving average. The arrow on the Mg-graph indicates the day when new microbial growth was seen as greening of the microbial mats in the amended microcosm. The arrows placed on the Cl-graph show the occurrences of two rainfall events on days 7 (2.6 mm) and 8 (6.5 mm). The pH graph also displays wetland temperature (black open diamonds), which matches microcosm temperatures.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 SEM micrographs of experimental samples. A: Rosettes of dypingite, covered with extracellular organic material, precipitated from groundwater in association with a biofilm of cyanobacteria. B: Rosette-like dypingite precipitated from Atlin wetland in the presence of cyanobacterial consortium. C: Slender prismatic crystals of nesquehonite precipitated from Atlin wetland water in the abiotic system. D: Dypingite rosettes on prismatic crystals of nesquehonite precipitated from wetland water with the addition of NaOH.
Figure 5 SEM micrographs of experimental samples. A: Rosettes of dypingite, covered with extracellular organic material, precipitated from groundwater in association with a biofilm of cyanobacteria. B: Rosette-like dypingite precipitated from Atlin wetland in the presence of cyanobacterial consortium. C: Slender prismatic crystals of nesquehonite precipitated from Atlin wetland water in the abiotic system. D: Dypingite rosettes on prismatic crystals of nesquehonite precipitated from wetland water with the addition of NaOH.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Micro X-ray diffraction pattern of precipitates formed in association with experimental biofilms using wetland and ground waters from the Atlin site. The plot is of background subtracted X-ray intensity versus 2θ and matching mineral phases from the ICDD database shown by stick patterns.
Figure 6 Micro X-ray diffraction pattern of precipitates formed in association with experimental biofilms using wetland and ground waters from the Atlin site. The plot is of background subtracted X-ray intensity versus 2θ and matching mineral phases from the ICDD database shown by stick patterns.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 Isotope compositions (δ18O vs. δ13C) of natural samples of benthic microbial mat and nesquehonite crusts, as well as precipitates from the field microcosm and laboratory precipitation experiments.
Figure 7 Isotope compositions (δ18O vs. δ13C) of natural samples of benthic microbial mat and nesquehonite crusts, as well as precipitates from the field microcosm and laboratory precipitation experiments.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Raade G: Dypingite, a new hydrous basic carbonate of magnesium, from Norway. Am Mineral. 1970, 55: 1457-1465.

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Metadata

Authors
Power, I. M., Wilson, S., Thom, J. M., Dipple, G. M., & Southam, G.
Affiliations
  • Western University (CA)
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Power, Ian M
ORCID
Venue
Geochemical Transactions
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2007-12-05
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
13-13
ISSN
1467-4866 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1467-4866-8-13
PMC
PMC2213640
OpenAlex
W2040268201
Cited by
165
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Geochemical Transactions (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Scholarship@Western (Western University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of British Columbia
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Applications in Construction Materials
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
Keywords
dypingite, magnesium carbonate precipitation, cyanobacteria, microbial mats, nesquehonite, hydromagnesite, playa, Lyngbya, aragonite, carbonate isotopes, hypomagnesemia, eutrophication, microcosm experiments, biofilm

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