Microbial and chemical characterization of a groundwater flow system in an intermontane basin of southern New Mexico,USA |
| |
| Authors: | Dirk Schulze-Makuch Philip Goodell Thomas Kretzschmar John F Kennedy |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Texas-El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968-0555, USA,;(2) Depto. de Geologίa, Divisiόn de Ciencias de la Tierra, CICESE, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico,;(3) , New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-3167, USA, |
| |
| Abstract: | Groundwater of the southern Jornada del Muerto Basin, an intermontane basin structure associated with the Rio Grande rift
located in south-central New Mexico, USA, was analyzed chemically and microbially. A microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA)
analysis revealed a sparse microbial population consisting of relatively simple microorganisms with no major population changes
along the flow system. A nucleic acid (DNA) analysis of the groundwater resulted in the identification of ten eubacterial
and one archeal species. Chemical analyses revealed that sulfate along with calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese is removed
by about an order of magnitude in concentration from the recharge area to the discharge area. The removal of iron, manganese,
magnesium, and to some extent calcium can be explained by oxidation reactions and the precipitation of dolomite. Sulfate and
additional calcium are most likely removed by the precipitation of gypsum. Thiobacillus spp. are oxidizing metal sulfides that occur as subsurface sulfide mineral deposits to sulfuric acid, which subsequently
reacts with calcium carbonate and water to precipitate gypsum. The presence of these sulfide deposits exposed to oxygenated
water in the deep groundwater flow system significantly alters its chemical and bacteriological composition.
Electronic Publication |
| |
| Keywords: | Aerobic groundwater flow system Gypsum precipitation Molecular techniques Sulfide oxidation |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
