Breathing Rocks: The Role of Microbes in Iron Geochemistry

Speaker:Everett Salas,
Advanced Ph.D. Candidate,
Geobiology, USCIron is one of the most geochemically important elements on the Earth's surface, making up almost 5 weight percent of most sedimentary environments. Iron can exist in redox states that allow it to transform easily under conditions found in natural sedmimentary and aquatic environments. Iron (hydr)oxides are improtant sorbents of trace metals usch as Al, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, As and U. As such, any changes in the state of iron oxides in soils can have a major impact on the mobility of these trace metals, many of which are considered to be pollutants. Microbes are known to play an important role in the redox cycling of iron. Undertanding the extent to which microbial iron reduction dissolves or produces minerals that are able to immobilize these metals can provide further insight into the impact that iron reducers may have in contaiminated subsurface environments.

Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - rielian Hall, Room 209

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Evangeline Reyes