Authors
Ian M Power, Siobhan A Wilson, James M Thom, Gregory M Dipple, Gordon Southam
Publication date
2007/12
Journal
Geochemical Transactions
Volume
8
Pages
1-16
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Description
Background
This study provides experimental evidence for biologically induced precipitation of magnesium carbonates, specifically dypingite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·5H2O), by cyanobacteria from an alkaline wetland near Atlin, British Columbia. This wetland is part of a larger hydromagnesite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O) 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 (MgCO3·3H2O) on the water surface and crusts on exposed surfaces. In contrast, benthic microbial mats possessing filamentous cyanobacteria (Lyngbya sp.) contain platy dypingite (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·5H2O) and aragonite. Bulk carbonates in the benthic mats (δ13C avg. = 6.7‰, δ18O avg. = 17.2‰) were isotopically …
Total citations
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Scholar articles
IM Power, SA Wilson, JM Thom, GM Dipple, G Southam - Geochemical Transactions, 2007