Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Microbial mediation as a possible mechanism for natural dolomite formation at low temperatures

Abstract

DOLOMITE (CaMg(CO3)2) is a common carbonate mineral which is found in much greater abundance in ancient rocks than in modern carbonate environments. Why this is so remains a mystery. Over the past 30 years, dolomite formation has been observed in several modern environments, and various thermodynamic, kinetic and hydrological factors have been proposed to explain its formation1,2. But attempts to precipitate dolomite at low temperatures in the laboratory have been unsuccessful3,4, and the 'dolomite problem' remains a source of controversy in sedimentary geology5-7. Here we describe experiments in which a ferroan dolomite with a fairly high degree of cation order was precipitated in the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria from the Desulfovibrio group. We propose that the direct mediation of these anaerobes can overcome the kinetic barrier to dolomite nucleation, and that they may play an active role in the formation of this mineral in natural environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Machel, H.-G. & Mountjoy, E. W. Earth-Sci. Rev. 23, 175–222 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Purser, B. H., Tucker, M. E. & Zenger, D. H. in Dolomites: A Volume in Honour of Dolomieu (eds Purser, B., Tucker, M. E. & Zenger, D. H.) 3–20 (Spec. Publs Int. Ass. Sediment. 21, Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, 1994).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Lippman, F. Sedimentary Carbonate Minerals (Springer, New York, 1973).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Land, L. S. in Concepts and Models of Dolomitization (eds Zenger, D. H., Dunham, J. B. & Ethington, R. L.) 87–110 (SEPM Spec. Publ. 28, Tulsa, OK, 1980).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Gunatilaka, A. Modern Geology 11, 311–324 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  6. McKenzie, J. A. in Controversies in Modern Geology: Evolution of Geological Theories in Sedimentology, Earth History and Tectonics (eds Müller, D. W, McKenzie, J. A. & Weissert, H.) 35–54 (Academic, London, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Land, L. S. in Isotope Signatures and Sedimentary Records (eds Clauer, N. & Chaudhuri, S.) 49–68 (Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 43, Springer, Berlin, 1992).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  8. Vasconcelos, C. thesis, ETH-Zürich (1994).

  9. Folk, R. L. J. sedim. Petrol. 63, 990–999 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Folk, R. L. GSA Abstr., 1993 Ann. Meeting 25, A–397 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Postgate, J. R. The Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria 2nd edn (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge. UK, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Reeder, R. J. in Carbonates: Mineralogy and Chemistry (ed. Reeder, R. J.) 1–47 (Rev. Mineralog. 11, Mineralog. Soc. Am, Washington DC, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Nadson, G. A. Archiv. Hydrobiol. 19, 154–164 (1928).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Garrels, R. M. & Mackenzie, F. T. Evolution of Sedimentary Rocks (Norton, New York, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vasconcelos, C., McKenzie, J., Bernasconi, S. et al. Microbial mediation as a possible mechanism for natural dolomite formation at low temperatures. Nature 377, 220–222 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377220a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/377220a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing