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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
earth and planetary sciences
Geochemically generated, energy-rich substrates and indigenous microorganisms in deep, ancient groundwater
Geomicrobiology Journal, Volume 22, No. 6, Year 2005
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Description
Recent studies have shown that the biosphere extends to depths that exceed 3 km, raising questions regarding the age of the microbes in these deep ecosystems and their sources of energy for metabolism. Abiogenic energy sources that are derived from in situ, purely geochemical sources and thus independent from photosynthesis have been suggested. We sampled saline fracture water emanating from a 3.1-km deep borehole in a Au mine in the Witwatersrand Basin of South Africa and characterized the chemical constituents (including stable isotopes), groundwater age, and indigenous microorganisms. Salinity data and ratios of dissolved noble gases indicate that extremely ancient (2.0 Ga) saline fracture water has mixed with meteoric water to yield an average subsurface residence time of 20-160 Ma, the oldest age of any waters collected to date in the Witwatersrand Basin. H2 isotope data suggest the water originated from a depth of 4 to 5 km. Sulfur isotope fractionation indicates biological sulfate reduction. Calculations of free energies and steady state energy fluxes based on water chemistry data also support sulfate reduction as the dominant terminal electron accepting process. Lipid and flow cytometry data indicate a sparse microbial community (103 cells ml-1), despite the presence of relatively high concentrations of energy-rich compounds (H2, CH4, CO, ethane, propane, butane, and acetate). The H2 can be explained by radiolysis of water. Stable isotopic signatures of the CH4 and short chain hydrocarbons indicate abiogenic synthesis. The persistence of energy-rich compounds suggests that other factors are limiting to microbial metabolism and growth, e.g., availability of an inorganic nutrient, such as Fe or phosphate. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kieft, Thomas L.
United States, Socorro
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
McCuddy, S.
United States, Socorro
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Onstott, Tullis C.
United States, Princeton
Princeton University
Davidson, M.
United States, Princeton
Princeton University
Lin, L. H.
United States, Princeton
Princeton University
Mislowack, B.
United States, Princeton
Princeton University
Pratt, Lisa M.
United States, Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Boice, Erik
United States, Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Sherwood-Lollar, Barbara
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Lippmann, J.
Germany, Potsdam
Deutsches Geoforschungszentrum Gfz
Pfiffner, Susan M.
United States, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Phelps, Tommy J.
United States, Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Gihring, Thomas M.
United States, Richland
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Moser, Duane P.
United States, Richland
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
van Heerden, Arnand
South Africa, Johannesburg
Gold Fields
Statistics
Citations: 64
Authors: 15
Affiliations: 9
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/01490450500184876
ISSN:
01490451
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Locations
South Africa