Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike−
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 p...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02223-2 |
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| author | Jérémie Aubineau Ernest Chi Fru Christine Destrigneville Thierry Decrausaz Fleurice Parat Fabien Baron Alexandra Nederbragt Manuel Henry Alain Castillo Céline Rommevaux Valérie Chavagnac |
| author_facet | Jérémie Aubineau Ernest Chi Fru Christine Destrigneville Thierry Decrausaz Fleurice Parat Fabien Baron Alexandra Nederbragt Manuel Henry Alain Castillo Céline Rommevaux Valérie Chavagnac |
| author_sort | Jérémie Aubineau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-605deda14b8142b1b95e2758eef14995 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-605deda14b8142b1b95e2758eef149952025-08-20T02:55:32ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-05-016111710.1038/s43247-025-02223-2Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike−Jérémie Aubineau0Ernest Chi Fru1Christine Destrigneville2Thierry Decrausaz3Fleurice Parat4Fabien Baron5Alexandra Nederbragt6Manuel Henry7Alain Castillo8Céline Rommevaux9Valérie Chavagnac10Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), Université de Toulouse, Observatoire Midi-PyrénéesCenter of Geobiology and Geochemistry, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff UniversityGéosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), Université de Toulouse, Observatoire Midi-PyrénéesGéosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRSGéosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRSUniversité de Poitiers, IC2MP CNRSCenter of Geobiology and Geochemistry, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff UniversityGéosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), Université de Toulouse, Observatoire Midi-PyrénéesGéosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), Université de Toulouse, Observatoire Midi-PyrénéesAix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIOGéosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS UMR 5563 (CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES), Université de Toulouse, Observatoire Midi-PyrénéesAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02223-2 |
| spellingShingle | Jérémie Aubineau Ernest Chi Fru Christine Destrigneville Thierry Decrausaz Fleurice Parat Fabien Baron Alexandra Nederbragt Manuel Henry Alain Castillo Céline Rommevaux Valérie Chavagnac Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike− Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike− |
| title_full | Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike− |
| title_fullStr | Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike− |
| title_full_unstemmed | Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike− |
| title_short | Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike− |
| title_sort | iron rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at lucky strike |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02223-2 |
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