Molecular evidence for bacterial mediation of calcite formation in cold high-altitude caves

Title: Molecular evidence for bacterial mediation of calcite formation in cold high-altitude caves
Creator: Blyth, Alison J.; Frisia, Silvia
Relation: Geomicrobiology Journal Vol. 25, Issue 2, p. 101-111
Publisher Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01490450801934938
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Resource Type: journal article
Date: 2008
Description: Three samples of moonmilk from high-altitude caves in northeast Italy were analysed for their lipid biomarker content, providing the first organic geochemical investigation into the relationship between cave bacterial communities and calcitic speleothems. The results demonstrate a positive association between the moonmilk deposits analysed and bacterial input, which we propose relates to bio-mediation of calcite nucleation processes. Comparison of the analysed moonmilk and a stalagmite from a geographically and climatically related cave suggest that this association is at least partially driven by the characteristics of the soil and overlying vegetation, thus demonstrating the potential use of moonmilk in palaeoenvironmental research.
Subject: moonmilk; bacteria; speleothems; fatty acids; n-alkanols; calcite morphology; crystal nucleation
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/43260
Identifier: uon:5381
Identifier: ISSN:0149-0451
Language: eng
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