Aubineau, Jeremie, Chi Fru, Ernest  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2673-0565, Destrigneville, Christine, Decrausaz, Thierry, Parat, Fleurice, Baron, Fabien, Nederbragt, Alexandra, Henry, Manuel, Castillo, Alain, Rommevaux, Celine and Chavagnac, Valerie
2025.
Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike.
Communications Earth & Environment
6
, 338.
10.1038/s43247-025-02223-2
|
Preview |
PDF
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (19MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Models describing banded iron formation deposition beneath oxygenated Paleoproterozoic marine shelf waters assume that microaerophilic iron-oxidizing microorganisms were significant contributors. However, direct evidence for this mechanism is lacking, and it remains unclear how associated primary organic biomass and biogenic iron oxyhydroxides transformed into organic carbon-poor iron oxide/carbonate-rich bands in banded iron formations. Here we explore in situ modern Zetaproteobacterial iron-oxidizing mats thriving in the Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field to develop an empirical model that explains the potential contribution of iron-based metabolisms to deposition of rocks resembling banded iron formations. Petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical data suggest that abundant production of Zetaproteobacterial stalks nucleates and drives spontaneous biotic/abiotic ferrihydrite precipitation in the mats. Subsequent early diagenetic anaerobic microbial oxidation of dead biomass as the mats aged, coupled to microbial reduction of iron oxyhydroxides/oxides, generates ferrous carbonates and mixed valence magnetite. Collectively, this forms crystalline iron-rich organic carbon-lean 13C-depleted layers reminiscent of Precambrian banded iron formation microbands.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Published Online |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Earth and Environmental Sciences |
| Publisher: | Nature Research |
| ISSN: | 2662-4435 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 7 April 2025 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 18 March 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 07 May 2025 10:46 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/177440 |
Actions (repository staff only)
 |
Edit Item |
Altmetric
Altmetric